Combat Team 1 Completes Third Iraq Tour

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Combat Team 1 Completes Third Iraq Tour
January 20, 2009
Marine Corps News|by SSgt. Joshua S. Higgins

RAMADI, Iraq — Marines with Regimental Combat Team 1 turned another page in the history books, completing the regiment’s third tour in Iraq in only four years, Jan. 20.

RCT-1 was the first Marine Corps unit to take command in the eastern region of al Anbar Province, a mostly Sunni tribal area that includes such vital cities as Fallujah, Saqlawiyah and Karmah.

It is also one of the Corps’ only units to participate in the march up through Baghdad in 2003 and in both Operation Vigilant Resolve and Operation al Fajr in Fallujah in 2004, where they saw some of the heaviest combat of the war in Iraq.

The regiment again took command of the province’s eastern region 12 months ago, and jumped on a wave of momentum set by its predecessors during the last few years to continue the region’s advancements in security, development and governance.

The Marines have seen a lot of positive change since they started their tour. When they arrived the Anbar Awakening had reached its pinnacle, the troop surge was still in effect and al Qaeda was beginning its decline.


Rest of article at: http://www.military.com/news/article/marine-corps-news/...