Warriors in Peace Operations - Strategic Studies Institute - U.S. Army

CHAPTER 4
THE “IRON DUKES” SUPPORTING
OPERATION JOINT ENDEAVOR
Lieutenant Colonel Michael D. Jones
At about 0900, December 13, 1995, I received a phone
call from Colonel Greg Fontenot, the Commander of the 1st
Brigade, 1st Armored Division. He told me the
Commanding General, Major General William L. Nash,
wanted me go to the division Headquarters in Bad
Kreuznach, Germany. He said I would help run the
division’s Deployment Operations Center for the impending
deployment to Bosnia. When I asked starting when and for
how long, he said if I could make it, by noon (it’s about an
hour and a half drive), and “for a long time.” At the time, I
was the Commander of the 2nd Battalion, 67th Armor, the
“Iron Dukes,” in Friedberg, Germany. After talking to
Colonel Fontenot, I gave Major Jim Henderson, my
executive officer, the order to take over the battalion, and
gave a warning order to Major Dick Tracy, my S-3, to be
prepared to bring some staff personnel to help me beginning
that afternoon. Then I went home to pack a week’s worth of
clothes. This event seems in retrospect to be abrupt,
surprising, and chaotic, but it was reflective of the lives of
most of the soldiers and family members in the First
Armored Division during the fall of 1995 through December
of 1996. This monograph is the story of my involvement in
Bosnia as a Battalion Commander, Deployment Operations
Center Commander, and Rear Detachment Commander in
the First Armored Division. It is the story, to some degree, of
the forgotten soldiers, those who were left behind.
My involvement in Bosnia began indirectly almost
immediately after I assumed command in June 1994. I
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