Lieutenant Colonel Michael Tetu was with the 4th Infantry Division in Iraq from March 2003 to March 2004, serving first as 1-10 Cavalry executive officer and later as 4th Brigade Combat Team S3. Deployment went smoothly from Fort Hood to the railhead to the port, where a field grade officer was assigned to manage every ship. Once in Kuwait, tracked vehicles were loaded aboard heavy equipment transporters for the move north to Taji. Crews, however, remained onboard their tracked vehicles to man the weapons. Next, 1-10 CAV moved east to the Iranian border. Minor logistical problems arose with respect to repair parts for tanks and Bradleys, petroleum products, and drinking water; however, these issues were quickly resolved. In mid-June 2003, Tetu became 4th BCT operations officer. Daily battle rhythms ran very smoothly, thus allowing Colonel Michael Moody (4th BCT commander) to spend considerable in the field with operating units. 4th BCT provided aviation support for high-value target raid missions and in support of other special operations in their area. In December, for example, brigade aviation was involved in the capture of Saddam Hussein in Tikrit. 4th Brigade provided force protection for Tikrit airfield and the surrounding area. Many nation-building missions, restoration projects and political activities were undertaken in support of local Iraqi civilians, including Operation Canvasback in which brigade soldiers went out and met with every family within six kilometers of the airfield. In addition, Colonel Moody built a ground and air live-fire gunnery range on the outskirts of Camp Speicher for use in periodic “demonstrations of force.” Finally, the transition with 1st AD and redeployment were accomplished uneventfully.

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