Camp Taji Camp Taji was a military installation , also known as Camp Cooke used by coalition forces near Taji or Al Taji ( ) , Iraq . The camp is located in a rural region approximately north of the city of Baghdad in the Baghdad Governorate . History . Al - Taji airfield , in the volatile Sunni Triangle , was originally an Iraqi Republican Guard base during the Saddam era . It was once a center for the manufacture of chemical weapons . UNSCOM found at Taji 6 , 000 empty canisters designed to be filled with chemical weapons for use in 122mm rockets . According to the Gulf War Airpower Survey , there was a Sector Operations Center located at Al Taji . The airbase is served by a runway . Taji was also the largest tank maintenance facility in Iraq . Taji was heavily bombed during Operation Desert Fox in which 13 different targets in the Camp were hit during the December 1998 air strikes . The base came under American control following the 2003 invasion of Iraq . Units assigned . 2003 - 2004 . Apr 2003 Al Taji was an airfield and supply depot for Saddam Husseins military prior to the invasion of Iraq . The 14th Combat Engineer BN and 5th Combat Engineer BN " The Fighting Fifth " attached to 4th ID pushed from Kuwait to Al Taji Iraq and cleared the majority of buildings an Al Taji . It was simply referred to as Taji . The 14th ENGR BN pushed further to Tikrit 5th Engr left C . CO and HHC on Taji pushing B . co and A Co . farther into Iraq . C . Co 5th Engr cleared and secured buildings and the perimeter of the Al Taji airfield along with an infantry Unit from a US National Guard . After the C . co 5th Engineers and a National Guard infantry unit had already cleared the Airfield and supply depot . Several weapons and mortar caches were found and taken control of on Taji and the surrounding area . ( More to come have to talk to others who were actually there to make sure timelines are correct first ) The camp was occupied by the Division Artillery ( DIVARTY ) of the 4th Infantry Division the base was then referred to as Forward Operating Base ( FOB ) Gunner by some Coalition Troops after the Artillery commander ( Col Stramera ) who came later as his call sign was Gunner 6 , changed the FOB name to FOB Gunner , after the C . co 5th Engineers and a National Guard Infantry unit had already cleared the Airfield and supply depot . though most still simply referred to it as Al Taji or simply Taji . The Base Defense Operations Center and Mayor Cell during this time was operated by the 44th RAOC , Illinois Army National Guard . The 751st Quartermaster Army reserve unit from Mesa , AZ was there providing much needed fuel and supplies for the day to day operations of the base . Building the F . S . S . P . ( Fuel System Supply Point ) to supply the base and surrounding area . They also ran C . E . M . ( Captured Enemy Materials ) warehouses , storing weapons , ammo , vehicles , statues , and anything deemed historically significant . 2004 - 2005 . In February 2004 the 4th ID DIVARTY handed the camp over to elements of 3rd Brigade , 1st Armored Division . 3rd BCT had been in the process of redeploying , some of its elements having already moved to Kuwait , when it was informed that it would have to assume control of Camp Taji until units from 1st Cavalry Division arrived in March . 3rd BCT deployed 4th Battalion , 1st Field Artillery , the 70th Engineer Battalion and elements of 1st Battalion 69th Armor Regiment to Camp Taji to fill this six week gap . While under the control of 1st Armored Division , the Camp was renamed Camp Cooke , in honor of the 1st Armored Division Command Sergeant Major who was killed during OIF I . 3rd BCT was relieved at Camp Taji on 24 March 2004 by 1st Battalion , 206th Field Artillery , an element of the 39th Brigade Combat Team , 1st Cavalry Division . 1st Cavalry Division elements stationed at Camp Taji included : Early in the 1CD rotation ( OIF II ) , an order was issued by MND - B that all Forward Operating Bases would have Arabic names , so Camp Cooke reverted to Camp Taji and the new Dining Facility at Camp Taji was renamed in honor of CSM Cooke . The 39 BCT controlled the Area of Operations surrounding Camp Taji at this time . The 1st Battalion , 206th Field Artillery of the 39th BCT along with Battery A , 1st Battalion , 103rd Field Artillery of the Rhode Island National Guard where the main base defense force in 2004 to include gate security , QRF , as well as convoy escort and the inherent Field artillery mission . The 1 - 206th FA and A / 1 - 103rd FA supplied a Military Assistance Training Team to train , live with and fight alongside the 307th Iraqi National Guard Battalion . The 593rd Corps Support Group was also headquartered at Camp Taji at this time . The basic units stationed at Camp Taji have remained the same : 2005 - 2006 . The 39th Brigade Combat Team was relieved by 3rd Brigade , 1st Armored Division in March 2005 . This was the same Brigade that had been relieved by 1 - 206th FA in March 2004 . 3rd BCT , 1AD deployed in 2005 as an element of 3rd Infantry Division which was assigned as the Multi National Division - Baghdad headquarters for OIF III . The 1 - 118th Field Artillery Battalion , of the 48th IBCT , Georgia Army National Guard was attached to 3rd BCT , 1AD during this time . The 4 - 1 FA relieved 1 - 206th FA of the Base Defense and Field Artillery Support missions at this time . 51 RAOC was relieved of Mayor Cell responsibilities by 1st Battalion , 151 Field Artillery Regiment , Minnesota National Guard . 4th Infantry Division elements stationed at Camp Taji included : - 428th Qm Company . 2006 - 2007 . 3rd Brigade , 1st Armor Division was relieved by elements of the 4th Infantry Division in 2006 . 1st Battalion , 327 Field Artillery served as the Mayor Cell during this period . In November 2006 , the 4th Infantry Division was relieved , and 1st Cavalry Division was once again in control of the base . The Mayor Cell was supplied at this time by 786th Quarter Master Battalion from the Virgin Islands National Guard . The Base Defense Operations Center was operated by members of 1st Battalion , 82nd Field Artillery , 1st Cavalry Division . September 2006 to September 2007 . 115FA of the Tennessee Army National Guard operated from Bldg . 55 providing gun truck security to supply convoys throughout the region . Also in 2007 , The 756th Transportation Company ( Petroleum , Oils , and Lubricants ) , while stationed at Camp Taji , Iraq , in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 05 – 07 , successfully delivered millions of gallons of class IIIB ( bulk petroleum ) and transported fuel over 200 , 000 miles throughout the Multinational Division - Baghdad sector . This was possible because of the skills the 756th developed in theater that allowed the unit to transform organically to react to opposing forces . Included in the delivery of Petroleum the soldiers of the 756th aided in Security of the FOB ( Forward Operating Base on tower patrol as well as dinning facility security . The 756th assisted with aid to the Multinational Force – Iraq ( MNF – I ) , often referred to as the coalition forces , was a military command during much of the Iraq War , that was led by the United States of America and its allies . The MNF - I was responsible for conducting and handling military operations during Operation Iraqi Freedom and for much of the Iraq War . Multinational Force – Iraq replaced the previous force , Combined Joint Task Force 7 , on 15 May 2004 , and was later itself reorganized into its successor , United States Forces – Iraq , on 1 January 2010 . The Force was significantly reinforced during the Iraq War troop surge of 2007 . As of May 2011 , all non - U . S . coalition members had withdrawn from Iraq , [ 3 ] with the U . S . military withdrawing from the country on December 18 , 2011 , thus , bringing about an end to the Iraq War . [ 4 ] 2007 - 2008 . In December 2007 the 1st Cavalry Division relinquished control and Camp Taji was occupied by multiple brigade sized elements from a variety of units , until they were relieved by the 4th Infantry Division . The 621st Troop Support Command , Arkansas National Guard acted as the Garrison Command Cell ( formerly known as the Mayor Cell ) from October 2007 through March 2008 when it was relieved by 1 - 206th FA . Force protection duties were performed by a number of units , including elements of the California Army National Guard ' s 1 - 143rd FA . 2008 - 2009 . In March 2008 , 1st Battalion , 206th Field Artillery returned to Camp Taji , this time as the Garrison Command Cell ( formerly known as the Mayor Cell . At this time the Base Defense Operations Center was operated by 2nd Battalion , 11th Field Artillery Regiment , a part of the 25th Infantry Division , which was assigned to 4th Infantry Division for the deployment . the 2 - 11 FA was responsible for securing a security contract to provide over 900 private contractor security guard to provide gate and tower guards for Camp Taji , relieving two National Guard Companies of these responsibilities and decreasing the need to mobilize units for these duties in the future . 1 - 206th FA was relieve by the 949th Brigade Support Battalion , Texas National Guard , in December 2008 . 2 - 11 FA was relieved of the BDOC mission by 1st Battalion , 108th Field Artillery Regiment of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard in January 2009 . 2009 - 2010 . In April 2009 the 4th Infantry Division was relieved by the 1st Cavalry Division . The 155th Heavy Brigade Combat Team ( HBCT ) , Mississippi National Guard , assumed the dual role of Garrison Command and Base Defense Operations Center in July 2009 , relieving both the 949 BSB and the 1 - 108th FA . As of March 6 , 2010 The " 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment " ( Tennessee National Guard ) officially took charge of Camp Taji Garrison Command , relieving the 155th . The Garrison Commander was COL Franklin McCauley . The 278th also assumed a dual role of Garrison Command and Base Defense Operations Center ( BDOC ) . During the tenure of the 278th , many changes took place as the 278th had the initial role of downsizing Camp Taji . On May 1 , 2010 , The 278th Garrison Command took over the role of Law and Order and Military Police functions left vacant by the 26th Military Police Detachment . On July 20 , 2010 , the 256th BCT ( Louisiana National Guard ) officially took charge of the Camp Taji Garrison Command and BDOC with LTC Eric Rivers as the Garrison Commander . The downsizing continued and the far north section of Camp Taji was turned over to the Iraqi Government in December 2010 . A joint base . Camp Taji is now known as one of many United States camps that also house members of the new Iraqi Army and the Iraqi National Guard . It is also being used to train the newly established Iraqi Air Force . Camp Taji is broken up between two Camps that are joined by a joint Iraqi / US gate . The Iraqi side , called Camp Bennet , is where the Iraqi troops , as well as the Transition Teams live . There is great controversy over the fact that the camp is divided , between " US and them " . Much has been written on the subject , but with a simple look at the two camps one can see that there is a great difference in the quality of life on the two sides of the camp . Facilities . In December 2004 and until October 2010 , Camp Taji reportedly boasted the largest PX facilities in Iraq , with Subway , Burger King and Pizza Hut franchises . Until October 2010 , the food court also included Taco Bell , Popeye ' s Chicken , and Seattle ' s Best / Cinnabon . These concessions are now gone . Although the PX facility is large , it remains poorly stocked in comparison to Baghdad and Balad due to supply issues . In late May 2011 , the Green Beans Coffee Shop re opened . Of some 106 bases used by the United States in Iraq , Camp Taji is considered one of 14 " enduring " bases . Civilian contractors . Camp Taji is served at any one time by up to 2500 civilian defense contractors in addition to its military personnel . The Basic Life Support Contract ( Food , Laundry , Water ) is supplied by KBR . The Maintenance and Base Support Contract ( Roads and Grounds , Building Maintenance , Construction Services ) is held by RMS , a wholly owned subsidiary of IAP Worldwide Services , Inc . A significant service was provided by over 430 Iraqi translators who were working with companies such as TITAN , L3 and GLS . A large number of local interpreters were killed in action , as well as murdered by terrorists . Significant events . On 24 April 2004 , Camp Taji came under rocket attack , resulting in 4 killed in action , all members of the 39th Support Battalion , an element of the 39th Brigade Combat Team . April 24 was the highest single day casualty total for Arkansas soldiers since the Korean War . On 6 June 2004 , Castle Gate at Camp Taji , fell victim to two VBIEDs . The explosions were one after another , causing approximately 40 casualties . On August 15 , 2007 , nine rockets hit Camp Taji , including one at the PX immediately next to the Pizza Hut booth . Two US Soldiers and two non - Iraqi civilians were killed and five US soldiers and five Iraqi civilians were wounded . One US contractor was hit by shrapnel but not injured . Three days after the killing of Osama bin Laden ( 1 May 2011 ) , on 4 May 2011 at around 0500 , a barrage of 71 rockets , mortars and artillery rounds landed within the confines of the FOB during a highly orchestrated insurgent attack . No significant injuries were reported .