Camp War Eagle

Camp War Eagle was the name of the United States Army camp located at the Northeast corner of the Baghdad slum known as Sadr City. It was established in May 2003 by 1st Squadron 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment (known as the War Eagles) and B Company 2nd Battalion 37th Armor Regiment which is an element of 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division. Some of the first battles with the Mahdi Army were fought out of this camp in early 2004.

It was renamed in early 2005 as Camp Hope. Soldiers from the 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division including 1st battalion 12th Cavalry Regiment and 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment were stationed at Camp War Eagle and fought against the shi'ite Militia of Moqtada al Sadr known as the Mahdi Army during the uprising which began April 4, 2004. The Troops of 1-12 Cav, and 2-5 Cav. Were the hardest of hard, The toughest of tough, and the best of the best during their stay at War Eagle. (March '04-05') It was one of the deadliest campaign's in Army history, being the second most attacked base in U.S of America's Military history.

On April 4, 2004 this was the launch point for what was to be named "black sunday" and later had a book published about the nights bloody battle. Within a 6 hour stretch 9 were killed and 70+ were wounded.On Mothers day, 2004, Camp War Eagle was attacked with approx. 104 detonated Morters and Rockets. It is not known exactly how many were launched as not all were detonations, but 104 were counted as detonated.

On March 10, 2006, the camp, then known as Forward Operating Base (FOB) Hope, was transferred from Multi-National Division – Baghdad control to the Iraqi Army. Specifically, 3rd Battalion, 67th Armored Regiment, 101st Airborne Division handed control to 3rd Battalion, 2nd Brigade ("The Tiger Brigade"), 6th Iraqi Army Division. [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/2006/03/mil-060310-arnews01.htm]