Camp Victory, Baghdad, Iraq
Camp Victory is the primary component of the Victory Base Complex (VBC) which occupies the area surrounding the Baghdad International Airport (BIAP). The Al-Faw Palace, which serves as the headquarters for the Multi-National Corps Iraq, is located on Camp Victory. Camp Victory itself lies approximately 5 kilometers from BIAP.
Camp Victory was named after V Corps, also called Victory Corps, from Heidelberg, Germany. They began to occupy the area in April 2003. Camp Victory has several living support areas; Freedom Village, and Dodge Cities North and South, along with building 51F, which is commonly known as "Area 51". There are also two smaller living areas reserved for government contractors, as well as a third for employees of an Iraqi contracting company.
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In
what is described as the largest re-enlistment ceremony in the history of the
American military, General David Petraeus swore over 1,200 men and women, On
July 4, into their next term of service, at Camp Victory in Iraq. One
observer described the event, saying that service members from over two dozen
allies stood in attendance for the ceremony.
"Beneath a large American flag which dwarfed even the enormous chandelier that Saddam Hussein had built for the Al Faw Palace, members of all services, representing all 50 states took the oath administered by Gen. David Petraeus, Commander of Multi-National Forces Iraq."
General Petraeus' remarks during the mass re-enlistment
ceremony included a statement in which he said, "For no bonus, no matter the
size, can adequately compensate you for the contribution each of you makes as a
custodian of our nation’s defenses.”
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Insurgents attack Camp Victory in Iraq
1 killed, 11 hurt in rocket, mortar
strikes
BAGHDAD - Insurgents fired rockets or mortars Tuesday at the sprawling garrison that houses the headquarters of American forces in Iraq, killing one person and wounding 11 coalition soldiers, the U.S. command said.
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President Bush Visits Camp Victory
" I have a message for you and all who serve our country: I want to thank you for making the noble choice to serve and to protect your fellow Americans. Sometimes it can be hard to tell when history is being made, particularly if you're in the middle of the action. What you're doing in Iraq is as important, and courageous, and selfless as what American troops did in places like Normandy and Iwo Jima and Korea. Your generation is every bit as great as any that came before it. And the work you do every day will shape history for generations to come.
