Camp Victory

Camp Victory was the primary component of the Victory Base Complex (VBC) which occupied the area surrounding the Baghdad International Airport (BIAP). The Al-Faw Palace, which served as the headquarters for the Multi-National Corps – Iraq (and later United States Forces – Iraq until it was turned over to the Government of Iraq on December 1, 2011), was located on Camp Victory. Camp Victory itself lay approximately 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) from BIAP.[1]

Camp Victory
Baghdad International Airport grounds
Al Faw palace, illuminated during the change of command ceremony between III Corps and XVIII Airborne Corps, early February 2005.
TypeLogistics facility
Site information
Owner Iraq
Site history
In use2003 – 1 December 2011 (United States)
1 December 2011 – present (Iraq)
Battles/warsIraq War
Garrison information
Past
commanders		GEN Lloyd J. Austin (September 2010- December 2011)
GEN Raymond T. Odierno (May 2009–September 2010)
LTG Lloyd J. Austin (February 2008–May 2009)
LTG Raymond T. Odierno (December 2006–February 2008)
LTG Peter W. Chiarelli (January 2006–December 2006)
LTG John R. Vines (February 2005–January 2006)
GarrisonXVIII Airborne Corps (September 2010–December 2011)
III Corps (February 2010–?)
I Corps (March 2009–February 2010)
XVIII Airborne Corps (February 2008–March 2009)
III Corps (December 2006–February 2008)

Other Camps that made up the Victory Base Complex included Camp Liberty (formerly known as Camp Victory North), Camp Striker, and Camp Slayer. On December 1, 2011, Camp Victory, under an agreement with the Iraqi Government in 2008, was handed over by the United States to the Iraqis.[2]

Living conditions

Camp Victory was named after V Corps, also called Victory Corps, from Heidelberg, Germany. They began to occupy the area in April 2003. Camp Victory had several living support areas; Freedom Village,[3] Dodge Cities North and South, Omaha Beach, Audie Murphy LSAs, Red Leg LSA, the Brickyard along with building 51F, which is commonly known as "Area 51". There were also two smaller living areas reserved for government contractors, as well as a third for employees of an Iraqi contracting company.

The trailers of Dodge City North. The tall structure in the distance is a Saddam-era bat house.

Camp Victory contained the Sports Oasis dining facility (DFAC) and the Coalition Cafe. There were also several chain restaurants, located near the PX on Camp Liberty; including a Pizza Hut, a Subway, a Cinnabon, a Burger King, a Taco Bell, and a Green Beans coffee cafe. Additionally a new bowling center were opened to the northwest of Camp Victory main and a Turkish restaurant/hookah/coffee bar near Lost Lake just east of Dodge City North.

Camp Victory had a small AAFES shoppette south of the Sports Oasis DFAC with an additional Green Beans Cafe, Pizza Hut, Barber Shop, and Turkish novelty goods stores. Two basketball courts also occupy this area and one has been converted to a soccer court. Separating the containerized housing units or CHUs and the eating establishments was "Tumlin Field" a popular spot for American football pickup games. The Tumlin Field sign read "Tumlin Field, cause not all the fighting is done outside the wire".

Morale, welfare, and recreation
WWE superstars performing for the Coalition troops at Camp Victory, December 2003

Camp Victory was also a common stop for USO tours, including entertainers such as Charlie Daniels,[4] Stephen Colbert, and NFL players. Camp Victory had a well-equipped gym, and was always in use by the many troops on post. There were two Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) buildings on Camp Victory, one near Building 51F and the other near Dodge City South. They provided free internet access, commercial phones, televisions, and indoor sports equipment such as table tennis and air hockey. Internet access was also available at housing on post to soldiers at a rate of $65 per month, which was provided by Jackal Wireless, a private contractor.

WWE had held their annual Tribute to the Troops at the base several times.

Cultural references

Part of the 2008 film The Hurt Locker was set at Camp Liberty.

Camp Victory was a featured "Santa Cam" location for the 2007 NORAD Tracks Santa tracking season.[5]

It was also featured in season 22 episode 8 of Law and Order in a story centering around a homicide due to burn pits. [6]

References
  1. "American bases in Iraq". Archived from the original on April 19, 2007. Retrieved April 5, 2007.
  2. "Most Popular E-mail Newsletter". USA Today. December 2, 2011.
  3. "Baghdad Bulletin" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on September 30, 2007. Retrieved April 5, 2007.
  4. "Charlie Daniels visits Camp Victory". Archived from the original on March 16, 2007. Retrieved April 5, 2007.
  5. NORAD Tracks Santa - Dec 2007 - Baghdad, Iraq - English from YouTube

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