A U.S. soldier carries a bed frame in Camp Carver in this May 27 photo on the outskirts of Madain, about 15 miles southeast of Baghdad, Iraq. Some U.S. military bases are being expanded, and new ones are being built, to house thousands of troops ordered to withdraw from Iraq’s major cities by June 30.

Camp Carver, Iraq ? The U.S. military is expanding some rural bases and building others to house thousands of troops displaced by a June deadline to withdraw from Iraq’s major cities.

With continual power outages pushing temperatures well above 100 degrees, that can’t come soon enough for some soldiers living in sweltering tents at Camp Carver in the small town of Madain, about 15 miles southeast of the capital.

“Can’t wait,” said Spc. Oscar Garza, 20, of Port Lavaca, Texas, as he carted his bed frame to newly constructed plywood houses with air conditioners on the U.S. base.

The Americans have already closed or handed over 60 urban bases since the beginning of the year, with more than 50 others tentatively scheduled to be closed or returned to Iraqi control by the end of June, said Lt. Col. Brian Maka, a military spokesman.

Many of the troops have been transferred to temporary housing on bases outside cities. They go into urban areas to support Iraqi security forces, but don’t sleep there.

A tent city has popped up at Camp Carver, where the population has more than doubled in recent weeks with the influx of troops from Baghdad, said Lt. Col. Greg Parker, chief of staff for the 225th brigade. The military would not release exact figures, citing security.

Parker, who has been overseeing the expansion at Carver, said engineers have been building housing and fortifying the base since early May.

“This should all be completed well before the June 30 deadline,” said Parker, 42, of Gonzales, La.

Under the security agreement that took effect Jan. 1, American troops are required to withdraw from cities by the end of June and leave Iraq completely by the end of 2011. President Barack Obama plans to withdraw all combat troops by Aug. 31, 2010, leaving 30,000 to 50,000 troops to train and advise Iraq’s forces. They would withdraw under the 2011 deadline.

The June deadline has strong political significance, giving the Iraqi government a landmark to show its people that Americans are leaving. But sporadic large-scale attacks in recent months have killed hundreds and prompted concern whether Iraq’s security forces can adequately take over security.

Some American troops will remain in the cities in training and advising roles. Military officials have been considering marking those vehicles and uniforms with a patch or emblem that show they are not combat troops, U.S. officials said.

In central Baghdad, Capt. Andrew Roher, 35, of Grand Rapids, Mich., watched as all signs of his small base — from its concrete blast walls to concertina wire — were removed from a busy commercial street in an area once a favored target of insurgents.

“Leave no trace is the goal,” said Roher, who was heading to a camp outside Madain. “It’s kind of like starting over.”