Interview with MAJ Steven Dowgielewicz

Major Steven Dowgielewicz, Transportation Corps, deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom as the deputy division transportation officer of the 1st Armored Division. In Iraq, Dowgielewicz assumed command of Bravo Company, 123rd Main Support Battalion. Pushing the 1st Armored Division out of nine different kasernes through three different ports required mastering the details and vagaries of all modes of transport for the men and their machines. The division arrived in Kuwait in May 2003, largely moving the equipment by sea. The division moved into Kuwait to Baghdad with numerous challenges to maintenance and road march skills. The division rear set up at Dogwood, 40 miles southwest of Baghdad. It was from Dogwood that Dowgielewicz became the acting division transportation officer until selected to assume command of Bravo Company in the division's main support battalion in July 2003. He made the transition from managing the movement to supporting the division's subordinate units to accomplishing support missions across the division's area of operations. Dowgielewicz found the company split between the division main at the Baghdad International Airport and the rear located at Dogwood. His company moved general supplies for the entire division. The 1st Armored Division reorganized its support operations in October and Dowgielewicz brought his company all together in Baghdad. Bravo Company was short of soldiers for its entire tour in Iraq, never deploying more than 189 of its 253 soldiers. Continuous support missions pushing supplies down to the division's forward operating bases put hundreds of thousands of miles on some vehicles. Communications and cross-leveling of crew-served weapons soon took place as adaptations for support in combat. Primitive improvised explosive devices and small arms fire were the principal threats to Dowgielewicz's convoys. Redeployment to Germany went smoothly in July 2004 after an extension. The family readiness group provided much needed support to soldiers and their families in what was a very austere communications environment at the time.