1. A Quiet Reality Chaplain’s Journey into Babylon with I MEF
Rev. Dr. Emilio Marrero Jr.,
CAPT,CHC, USN (Retired)

2. 02 Apr: Outskirts of Baghdad
Al Hillah (Babylon)
I MEF Movements 2003
15 Jan: Staged in Kuwait
20 Mar: Attack
23 Mar: Nasiriyah
02 Apr: Outskirts of Baghdad
09 Apr: Baghdad Secured
12 Apr: Babylon

3. On the Move

4. Sustainment & Support Operations (SASO)
Transition to SASO
Infantry & Artillery primary force
Southern Provinces
Provincial Governors
Security
Stabilization
Fuel, LP Gas, Water
Gov’t Ministries

5. Camp Babylon I MEF HQ Hussein Compound Adjacent to Ruins MEG FRSS
358 Civil Affairs Grp
Hussein Compound
Home of Babylon Festival
Adjacent to Ruins

6. Phased Encampment Camp Babylon Self contained 3 avenues of approach
Palace utilized for berthing
Ruins off limits to all personnel

7. Looters First Day in Babylon Everything stripped Looting rampant
Villagers took over ruins
Facilities burned
Enforcement dilemma

8. Ancient Babylon Key Sites Home of Hammurabi Nebuchadnezzar’s Palaces
Ishtar Gate
Lion of Babylon
Marduk Temples
Biblical Legacy
Alexandrian Coliseum

9. Procession Street
Original paving of Procession Street – road leads around Babylon and into Ishtar Gate dating to 658 BC

10. Legislative Palace
Saddam Hussein rebuilt Legislative Palace in background. Foreground shows original wall that separated Legislative Palace from Residential Palace (wide enough for chariots to ride abreast)

11. Ishtar Gate Foundation
Originally built by Nebuchadnezzar I. Foundation sits at original level – Nebuchadnezzar II raised elevation after flooding of Euphrates.

12. Lion of Babylon
Believed to predate Nebuchadnezzar II – over 2300 years old. Made of Basalt stone.

13. Archaeological Charges
Noted Archaeologist, John Curtis, accuses US military of destroying sites
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) July 2009 report
Charges: armor tracks on procession street, sand bags filled with relics, damage by helicopter field to base walls

15. Cultural Relations
Museum staff and I MEF staff during late afternoon shared meal.

16. Ezekiel’s Tomb
Jewish sector surrounding Ezekiel’s Tomb connected to local mosque. Babylonian Talmud written in Iraq.

17. The Souk
Small souk established outside of secured area but within confined space for troops on R&R inside of our compound.

18. VIP Tours
Provided guided tours of area to demonstrate I MEF efforts, share Biblical history, and request funding for transition.

19. Saddam & Nebuchadnezzar
Mural on ceiling of Saddam bedroom in Palace depicting connection between Saddam & Nebuchadnezzar and ancient history.

20. Lessons Learned Competent Adaptation
Can we train towards this?
How do we incorporate creativity?
Religious Premises: Sacred & Secular
Best Intentions aren’t always rewarded
Warrior-Humanitarian dialogue

21. I MEF thanked by GEN Franks
Modern warrior is not monolithic warrior of past. Modern warriors are complex, ethical and contextual beings.

22. A Quiet Reality
Available on Amazon

23. Questions ??