News Briefs

[thedrifter]

October 03, 2005 <br />
News Briefs <br />
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A long-delayed Purple Heart <br />
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An effort by a U.S. congressman to set a 60-year-old record straight ended Sept. 19 when a long-overdue Purple Heart was pinned to the...

[thedrifter]

October 03, 2005 <br />
News Breaks <br />
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Intel Marine charged in shooting deaths <br />
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<br />
A Marine with 1st Intelligence Battalion was arrested and charged with murder in the shooting deaths of a woman and her...

[thedrifter]

October 03, 2005
Around the Corps

Compiled from military and other public sources.

North Carolina

26th MEU returnING from 6-month float

The 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit was set to return to Camp Lejeune, N.C., on Sept. 24 from a six-month deployment to the U.S. Central Command region with the ships of the Kearsarge Expeditionary Strike Group.

The MEU, which deployed with more than 2,000 troops from 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines; Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 162; and MEU Service Support Group 26, saw duty in 10 countries, including Israel, Djibouti, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Jordan.

During the deployment, the MEU conducted a monthlong live-fire exercise in Kuwait, reinforced a detainment facility in southern Iraq, trained with Saudi Arabian forces and supported Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa.

Although a failed Aug. 19 rocket attack against the ships of the MEU in Aqaba, Jordan, drew international media attention, it did not affect the MEU’s training, which was completed as scheduled several days after the incident.

Hawaii

Mongolia’s president visits Hawaii Marines

Mongolian President Nambaryn Enkhbayar arrived at Marine Corps Base Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, on Sept. 19 to visit Marines and sailors.

After meeting with Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle, the president saw Marine fire-team tactics, a military working dog demonstration and a Marine Corps martial-arts demonstration.

Marines regularly train Mongolia’s armed forces, according to Capt. Chris Perrine, a base spokesman.

Gulf Coast

11th MEU wraps up Katrina relief ops

Leathernecks with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit on Sept. 20 concluded a two-week humanitarian relief operation aimed at assisting victims of Hurricane Katrina in the Gulf Coast region.

More than 750 Marines from the 11th MEU’s command element; 1st Battalion, 4th Marines; and MEU Service Support Group 11 teamed with elements of MSSG-24 and 8th Communications Battalion to support national relief agencies and public services departments overwhelmed with requests from residents of Gulfport, Miss., and Slidell, La.

The Marines aided the Red Cross and other charitable groups by cleaning and repairing damaged warehouses. They also helped offload, sort and distribute tons of food, water, cleanup and hygiene kits, diapers and other household supplies to families.

The Marines were expected to return to Camp Pendleton, Calif., to resume training in preparation for their upcoming six-month deployment to the Western Pacific.

Iraq

RCT-2 sends troops into Baghdadi area

The 2nd Marine Division announced that leathernecks with Regimental Combat Team 2 moved into a “military housing complex” in the area of Baghdadi, Iraq, on Sept. 22 to “interdict insurgent activity and deny enemy sanctuary.”

A division release said the move was part of ongoing operations and that intelligence-gathering activities throughout previous operations confirmed that terrorists have been operating in the area.

Egypt

Harrier jet pulls flyby of pyramids

An AV-8B Harrier jet with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit joined three other aircraft for a multinational flyby of the pyramids of Giza, Egypt, during Exercise Bright Star on Sept. 15.

The coalition exercise brought several participating and observing countries and about 8,600 U.S. troops into northern Egypt.

A French Mirage 2000, an Egyptian F-16, a U.S. Air Force F-15 and the Harrier took part in the low-altitude flight at a speed of 300 knots.

“To be political about it, this was a public display and execution of a peaceful mission by coalition forces,” explained 1st Lt. Christopher Bourbeau, a MEU operations officer. “The end result is a cool flyby over the pyramids, but a lot of planning went into this. It just showed how well these countries worked together.”

Ellie