823rd RED HORSE SQUADRON
823rd RED HORSE SQUADRON
"Either Lead Follow Or Get The Hell Out Of The Way"
Webmaster: R.G."Andy" Anderson
Going into the 823rd Redhorse Compound at Hurlburt Field, Florida
Looking back at the 823rd Redhorse Archway at Hurlburt Field
823rd Redhorse Bulldozer Static Display at Hurlburt Field
Red Horse Statue in the 823rd Compound
Hurlburt Field's 823rd Red Horse Squadron's Engineering Building
823rd Red Horse Kitchen Area
One of the 823rd's LPG Portable Stove's being put to good use by Horsemen.
Horsemen waiting for lunch at Hurlburt Field
One of the Horse's Walk in Coolers that keeps their food good and fresh
Red Horsemen forming up for lunch
Lunch Line is getting larger. hope the cooks have enough food.
Proposed new site for the new Red Horse Pavillion.
Ms. Lillie Grayer's Retirement Announcement Card.
Ms. Lillie spent 42 years of her life working for Civil Service and of this she worked 36 years in the 823rd Red Horse Squadron. Colonel Benjamin Anderson was the 823rd Red Horse Commander when Ms. Lillie Grayer retired.
This is a picture of Colonel Anderson's new secretary.
Static display of a C-130 on display at Hurlburt Fields main gate.
Sent: Monday, July 28, 2004, 6:11 AM
Subject: Detachment 3 Update
Gentlemen,
Fascinating trip yesterday, Sunday 25 July.2004
We convoyed downtown and crossed the Tigris River just opposite the International Zone (formerly known as the Green Zone.) We traveled with elements of the 411th Engineer Battalion and 353d Engineer Group, our mission to evaluate a top-priority new project. The project is part of a Division-wide effort (without getting into details) to improve the living conditions of the local populace. Currently there are a majority of Iraqis who are favorable to the US presence, but still a significant percentage who are assessed to be undecided, this based upon their continued struggles with electric power and other basic services in the community. The aim of 1CD is to pull these remaining people firmly over to our side by restoring, rebuilding, and repairing the community, one neighborhood at a time. One of these areas is a place called Abu Nuwas, a former R&R spot for Saddam Hussein and his cronies. It is actually a very pleasant, tree-shaded segment of land next to the Tigris river, with a couple of cottages and small buildings. The plan is to clean this area up, pave some walking paths, fix the irrigation, renovate the buildings, then turn this area over to the citizens under the supervision of the Iraqi mayor of Baghdad. It is ambitious, but should help in a small way to restore some of the luster of this city, which quite obviously used to be a bustling and relatively modern place.
Anyway, this was another mission with a destination NOT inside another FOB, so it's always interesting to have direct contact with the locals. I've included some photos below:
Cheers,
COD
Christopher O. Darling, Major, USAF
Det 3, 732 ECES/CC
Here's our column just when we arrived into the area of Abu Nawas. The
neighborhood is a pretty good one, assessed to be "safe", which is not the same thing
as "secure." The Tigris River is just beyond, maybe 100 meters to the right of the street.
Civil engineers pulling security. Left to Right: Tsgt Farmer (MHAFB), SSgt Harris (AAFB),
MSGT Keesler (AAFB), and SSgt Everhard (AAFB in the cupola running the SAW.
The Sheraton Ishtar Hotel and the Palestine Hotel are right across the street from our
prospective project site (a small building renovation job). These hotels were favorite TV
broadcast locations during both Gulf Wars.
We had lunch in the top floor restaurant of the Sheraton, which had been converted
into a military chow hall. (It was interesting, walking into the fancy glass and carpet
lobby of this international hotel with automatic weaopons and body armor. Nobody even
cares, just get into the glass walled elevator and go to the 19th floor as if you know
where you are going. When you get to the top, wave to the Uzi-toting security guard and
go on in for lunch!) We went out to the rooftop after lunch and had some spectacular
views of the city.
Aerial view of Abu Nuwas neighborhood. Our prospective job site is the square
building surrounded by green grass in the center of the frame. Dusty area near the top
by the bridge is where photos #1 and #1 were taken. International Zone is across the
river to the west (left). When we drove in, we crossed that first bridge in the background
and we were interested to see the buildings on this side (east side) had been blasted by
tanks and had large round holes punched in the sides.
View off the other side of the Sheraton. This is the famous location where Saddam
Hussein's statue was hauled down by an Army tank retriever vehicle last year. The
pedestal is still there, topped by some kind of temporary metal sculpture.
These are members of the 1st Expeditionary Red Horse Group out of the 823rd Red Horse Squadron at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan. Picture taken im May 2008.
This is Technical Sergeant Mike Mabe at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan. Sgt Mabe is about to deploy out to blow up some explosives that had been captured from terrorists.
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