Forward Operating Base Falcon, referred to by some media sources as Camp Falcon, Joint Service Station (JSS) Falcon, or Combat Outpost Falcon, was a United States military forward operating base in Iraq a short distance outside Baghdad, some 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) south of the Green Zone. From the onset of OIF until 2005, it was designated as "Camp Ferrin-Huggins". As of 2009, the base housed up to 5,000 troops.
In September 2003, the construction of FOB Falcon (as-Saqr Base) in Iraq was a major engineering project for the 439th Engineering Battalion. The battalion transported more than 100,000 tons of gravel for constructing roads, and took part in construction of the base's structures.
Because FOB Falcon was considered by Iraqi officials to be outside of Baghdad proper, it was not affected by the planned withdrawal of American combat troops from Iraqi cities by June 30, 2009.
It was not uncommon for bases like FOB Falcon to be mortared by insurgents that used the surrounding neighborhoods as cover, risking the lives of Iraq civilians and those who lived on the FOB while they served. Small arms fire and the use of RPGs (Rocket Propelled Grenades) were also common and more prevalent during the early years of the deployments. The following is one such account. There were, unfortunately, attacks that occurred where loss of life was the result.
Read more about Forward Operating Base Falcon: October 10, 2006 Attack, Operation New Dawn
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