OIF/Transition of Iraq (2003-04)/FOB Prosperity Al Salam Palace, Iraq
From Month/Year
May / 2003
To Month/Year
June / 2004
Description
Camp Arkansas
As of late September 2003 there were between 2,500 and 3,000 people on the whole Al Salam Palace grounds (the Palace and maybe 10 surrounding acres), of which there are 1,000 civilians and 1,500-2,000 military. These consist of about 75% American, 15% British, and a smattering of Australians, Spanish, Italians, Poles, Romanians, and even a Ukrainian or two.
There are giant trailer parks surrounding the Al Salam Palace, and some unfortunate people live on cots in the north wing, and the really unfortunate ones in 500-to-a-tent tents full of bunk beds on the front lawn. This section is known as Camp Arkansas, because it is hundreds of trailers on an ugly expanse of dirt...!
LSA Highlander
In mid-September 2004, as part of an Army-wide effort to give its facilities around Baghdad friendlier connotations, and to try to resolve the issue of constantly-changing facility names, Camp Highlander was renamed Camp Prosperity, with its Arabic translation "Camp Al-Isdehar".
As of April 2004 the 1-161st Infantry Battalion was posted to LSA Highlander, adjacent to the International Zone (formerly known as the Green Zone), in Baghdad. They were attached to the 3rd Brigade Combat Team of the 1st Cavalry Division and were conducting combat operations and civil-military operations in SE Baghdad. Logistical Support Area Highlander was at the Al Salam Palace.
Some sources claim that Logistical Support Area Gunner is also known as LSA Highlander, but this is evidently incorrect, as LSA Gunner is at Taji AB, some distance north of town. It is believed that LSA Highlander was also referred to as Camp Highlander.
