4th Infantry Division (Mechanized) Artillery.

The Iron Gunners of the 4th Infantry Division (Mechanized) Artillery, Fort Hood, Texas, wrote a new chapter in their glorious history in 2003, deploying for combat for the their first time since the Vietnam War. In January, under orders to deploy through Turkey and invade Iraq from the north, the Iron Gunners loaded equipment onto ships in less than 30 days. As the situation shifted, the Iron Gunners rapidly adjusted and deployed to Kuwait for a southern approach into Iraq, completing reception, staging, onward movement and integration (RSOI) in less than two weeks, and attacked 500 miles to the north. TF Ironhorse's battle-space in north central Iraq was larger than West Virginia, spanning three provinces with more than 3.5 million Iraqis.

TF Gunner, comprised of 2-20 FA, Deep Strike, and HHB Div Arty, Hard Rock, conducted a tactical road march into central Iraq and secured the Al Taji Military Complex. TF Gunner developed plans to manage captured enemy ammunition (CEA) for TF Ironhorse, netting 29 million pounds of CEA and 1,200 pieces of captured equipment. In November 2003, Deep Strike fired three ATACMS unitary missiles. Upon redeployment, Deep Strike planned and executed port and rail operations for the division.

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The Straight Arrows of 4-42 FA occupied Forward Operating Base (FOB) Arrow in Ad Dawr and conducted combat and stability and support operations (SOSO) in an area in excess of 900 square kilometers. They fired more than 1,500 counterfire and harassing and interdiction rounds DS to the 1st BCT. In December 2003, the Straight Arrows provided the outer cordon for Operation Red Dawn--the capture of Saddam Hussein.

3-16 FA. Rolling Thunder, conducted operations from Baqubah to Baghdad and fired more than 2,100 rounds in support of the 2d BCT. In addition to combat operations, Rolling Thunder conducted many SOSO missions, forming governing councils, improving the infrastructure, and building and renovating schools.

The Pacesetters of 3-29 FA deployed to Iraq with the 3d BCT to an area of more than 750 square kilometers centered on Ad Dulu'iyah in the volatile Sunni Triangle north of Baghdad. The Pacesetters fired more than 4,500 rounds, capturing 25 battalion targets and many caches of enemy equipment.

The Iron Gunners will establish the Army's first Fires Brigade on 16 December.

Combat tested and ready to provide fires to the world's most lethal and modern division--Iron Gunners, Sir!