Posted:
April 12, 2012
The following article was submitted by Captain Jeff Fischer, master of the M/V Ocean Crescent. Some information featured in this article was published by the U.S. Army.
Shuaiba, Kuwait -- The last U.S. Army vehicle to drive out of Iraq in December 2011 was loaded onto the M/V Ocean Crescent at the Port of Shuaiba, Kuwait on March 24, 2012.
The Caiman Plus mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicle, or MRAP, which exited Iraq at the Khabari Crossing Dec. 18, 2011, with Company C, 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, will be traveling into the historical record at the 1st Cavalry Division Museum at Fort Hood, Texas.
"The last vehicle in Iraq represents our nation's efforts over the past nine years to bring freedom to the Iraqi people," said Col. John S. Laskodi, 402nd Army Field Support Brigade commander.
While processing thousands of vehicles and tons of equipment withdrawn from Iraq as part of Operation New Dawn, the brigade took the initiative to preserve the vehicle, making inquiries through Third Army (U.S. Army Central) as to whether there was an interest in preserving the MRAP for its historical value, said Laskodi.
Direction came back through U.S. Army Forces Command to the 402nd advising them to prepare the Caiman for shipment to the 1st Cavalry Division Museum at Fort Hood, Texas, he said.
The MRAP, loaded aboard the Ocean Crescent, is expected to arrive in Texas sometime in April.
"The MRAP didn't exist at the beginning of the war, but has become a symbol of the incredible adaptiveness of the American military and our ability to field the best equipment to our Army," Laskodi said.
"Preserving this vehicle will remind future generations of the hundreds of thousands of Soldiers who served valiantly over the course of this war, the sacrifices of their families back at home and those who were wounded or killed to bring peace," he said.
The Ocean Crescent is operated in the Maritime Security Program (MSP) fleet by Pacific-Gulf Marine. American Maritime Officers represents all licensed officers aboard the ship, and the Seafarers International Union represents the unlicensed crew members. AMO officers working aboard the Ocean Crescent during the mission included Captain Jeff Fischer, Chief Mate Cezary Poninski, Second Mate Jonathan Odell, Third Mate Jeff Thompson, Chief Engineer Jim Brown, First Assistant Engineer Andrew Edlund and Second Assistant Engineer Jeff Amos.
M/V Ocean Crescent loads, transports last U.S. Army vehicle to depart Iraq
 |
| The last U.S. Army Caiman Plus mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicle to depart Iraq was loaded aboard the M/V Ocean Crescent March 24, 2012, for shipment to the 1st Cavalry Division Museum at Fort Hood, Texas. American Maritime Officers members with the MRAP in the Port of Shuaiba, Kuwait, are (left to right) First Assistant Engineer Andrew Edlund, Chief Mate Cezary Poninski, Captain Jeff Fischer, Chief Engineer Jim Brown, Second Assistant Engineer Jeff Amos, Third Mate Jeff Thompson and Second Mate Jonathan Odell. Photo submitted by Captain Jeff Fischer |
Shuaiba, Kuwait -- The last U.S. Army vehicle to drive out of Iraq in December 2011 was loaded onto the M/V Ocean Crescent at the Port of Shuaiba, Kuwait on March 24, 2012.
The Caiman Plus mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicle, or MRAP, which exited Iraq at the Khabari Crossing Dec. 18, 2011, with Company C, 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, will be traveling into the historical record at the 1st Cavalry Division Museum at Fort Hood, Texas.
"The last vehicle in Iraq represents our nation's efforts over the past nine years to bring freedom to the Iraqi people," said Col. John S. Laskodi, 402nd Army Field Support Brigade commander.
While processing thousands of vehicles and tons of equipment withdrawn from Iraq as part of Operation New Dawn, the brigade took the initiative to preserve the vehicle, making inquiries through Third Army (U.S. Army Central) as to whether there was an interest in preserving the MRAP for its historical value, said Laskodi.
Direction came back through U.S. Army Forces Command to the 402nd advising them to prepare the Caiman for shipment to the 1st Cavalry Division Museum at Fort Hood, Texas, he said.
The MRAP, loaded aboard the Ocean Crescent, is expected to arrive in Texas sometime in April.
"The MRAP didn't exist at the beginning of the war, but has become a symbol of the incredible adaptiveness of the American military and our ability to field the best equipment to our Army," Laskodi said.
"Preserving this vehicle will remind future generations of the hundreds of thousands of Soldiers who served valiantly over the course of this war, the sacrifices of their families back at home and those who were wounded or killed to bring peace," he said.
The Ocean Crescent is operated in the Maritime Security Program (MSP) fleet by Pacific-Gulf Marine. American Maritime Officers represents all licensed officers aboard the ship, and the Seafarers International Union represents the unlicensed crew members. AMO officers working aboard the Ocean Crescent during the mission included Captain Jeff Fischer, Chief Mate Cezary Poninski, Second Mate Jonathan Odell, Third Mate Jeff Thompson, Chief Engineer Jim Brown, First Assistant Engineer Andrew Edlund and Second Assistant Engineer Jeff Amos.