Well, no actually, there isn't a map of Camp Anaconda. And I thought the military loved maps. Another myth shattered.
I filed an FOIA for a map of Camp Anaconda (also known as Balad Air Base, LSA Anaconda) from the time period of September - December 2003. I wasn't looking for anything fancy, just some basic info, nothing hush hush. According to CENTCOM, such a thing doesn't exist.
Despite our extensive and careful search for documents pertaining to your request, we were unable to locate responsive documents.I was pretty certain CENTCOM were the go-to guys. Maybe I directed my request to the wrong agency and I should have written to the Defense Supply Center or the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency.
So now I'm not sure what to think. I was hoping to use the map in another article I'm working on.Addendum: to the left is the actual FOIA letter with some identifying information blacked out specifically, officer's name, FOIA #, and contact phone number.
2nd Addendum: I thought this article might be of interest.
Terrain Team Ensures Roads are Mapped OutBut nope, no map of Camp Anaconda from the fall of 2003.
By Sgt. Alexandra Hemmerly-Brown, Defend America, April 12, 2007
LOGISTICS SUPPORT AREA ANACONDA, Iraq — Most offices have them, but trailer six in the 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary)’s compound here, holds a very large one.
Operating out of a small trailer is a four-member contingent of the 70th Engineer Company, (currently attached to the 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) ), who have the responsibility of making maps by request of the ever-changing roads of Iraq. And of course, they have a very large plotter printer for printing out their custom-made maps.
“All of our maps are mission-dictated,” said Sgt. Byram D. Faulk of Washington, D.C., the terrain team noncommissioned officer-in-charge.
The team creates maps requested by units who need the maps for specific reasons. They may need a map outlining bodies of water, or other terrain features, or they may just need a more current map then they already have, Faulk said.
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Photo of LSA Anaconda by James Gordon, taken on July 26, 2005
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3 comments:
I believe Pacesetter was actually called Samara East, and Anaconda's official name was Balad Airfield. I was there when we took Anaconda in 2003 and mid deployment it was then referred to as Balad Airfield, And I lived at Pacesetter (Samara East) for a little while. rough area.
Thank you your comment. A while back, I wrote up a short piece on Pacesetter. There's not much information about the place. I'd love to hear about base access at Pacesetter. Specifically how a contractor would get on and off base and whether or not there was a vehicle repair team or did everything on wheels pretty much end up going over to Anaconda.
FOB Pacesetter
December 26, 2007
Search query: Pacesetter for additional posts here at the Missing Man
That was my guys. 864th combat heavy equipment engineers. From Fort Lewis , WA. I've been in going on 15 yrs now. I was a PFC than. Most of my memories are all mixed up in my head now. I never read anything on my unit. We came into Anaconda behind 3ID. Hope this helps.
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