Mattis to assume command of I MEF

By: MARK WALKER - Staff Writer | Thursday, June 1, 2006 11:34 PM PDT ∞

CAMP PENDLETON ---- A blunt-talking former Camp Pendleton general who got into hot water last year for saying it was "fun to shoot some people" is returning to the base to assume the reins of the I Marine Expeditionary Force.

The Pentagon announced this week that Lt. Gen. James N. Mattis will replace Lt. Gen. John Sattler at the head of the more than 20,000-strong force now on its third deployment to the dangerous western Iraqi province of Anbar.

Sattler, who has remained at Camp Pendleton during the I MEF's most recent deployment while Maj. Gen. Richard Zilmer commands the Marines in Iraq, has been named deputy commandant in the office of Plans, Policy and Operations at the Marine Corps' headquarters in Washington.

Mattis has been working at the Marine Corps Combat Development Command in Quantico, Va., since late 2003. In that job, he was responsible for developing new war-fighting doctrine and training regimens, as well as pushing for equipment upgrades.

In February 2005, Mattis was chastised by Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Michael Hagee for telling a conference in San Diego that he found warfare pleasurable.

"Actually, it's a lot of fun to fight. You know, it's a hell of a hoot ... It's fun to shoot some people. I'll be right up front with you, I like brawling."

He went on to say essentially the same thing about shooting men in Afghanistan, whom he said had been abusing women for not wearing veils.

In 2001, Mattis also got into trouble when he said the U.S. "now owned a piece of Afghanistan" following the invasion of that country after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Those comments came as Mattis was a brigadier general commanding the 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade during Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.

He went on to head up the Camp Pendleton-based 1st Marine Division and led troops in the 2003 invasion of Iraq, during which he was known for often reminding them to "first, do no harm" and "no better friend, no worse enemy."

When Mattis was promoted to lieutenant general and transferred to Quantico, Maj. Gen. Richard Natonski assumed command of the 1st Marine Division. Natonski had previously commanded the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade.

Sattler was named head of the I Marine Expeditionary Force in September 2004, and in August of last year became head of U.S. Marine Corps Forces Central.

He also spent a year as commanding general of the 2nd Marine Division at Camp Lejeune, N.C., and spent part of 2002 and 2003 as commander of the Combined Joint Task Force in the Horn of Africa.

A former Marine Corps general said Sattler's transfer to Washington is a perfect fit, as is the return of Mattis to the I Marine Expeditionary Force.

Neither move should be viewed as having any relationship to ongoing investigations into alleged Marine killings of civilians in Haditha last year, or the April 26 slaying of an Iraqi civilian in the town of Hamandiya, the general said.

The Naval Criminal Investigative Service is heading up the probes of those two incidents, each of which involves Marine units from Camp Pendleton.

The date of Mattis' arrival back at Camp Pendleton was not immediately available.

Contact staff writer Mark Walker at (760) 740-3529 or mlwalker@nctimes.com.