thedrifter
07-18-07, 06:28 PM
13th MEU extended in Iraq for 30 days
By Michael Hoffman - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Jul 18, 2007 18:32:56 EDT
The 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit will spend 30 additional days in Iraq before returning to San Diego in mid-November, MEU officials said.
The MEU’s deployment will not be extended, only the time served in Iraq, said MEU commander Col. Carl Mundy.
The unit was extended because of “the absolute need for permanent, persistent presence in an area that has not had much coalition activity in the past,” Mundy wrote via e-mail from Iraq.
Marines with the MEU have patrolled a large swath of rural land north of Karmah, Iraq, searching for insurgents and weapons.
Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines, has found more than 30 weapons caches, including more than 43 tons of explosives, Mundy said.
“The final action will eventually involve turning the Thar Thar area over to Iraqi control,” he added.
The MEU will sail back to San Diego aboard the Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group.
Ellie
By Michael Hoffman - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Jul 18, 2007 18:32:56 EDT
The 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit will spend 30 additional days in Iraq before returning to San Diego in mid-November, MEU officials said.
The MEU’s deployment will not be extended, only the time served in Iraq, said MEU commander Col. Carl Mundy.
The unit was extended because of “the absolute need for permanent, persistent presence in an area that has not had much coalition activity in the past,” Mundy wrote via e-mail from Iraq.
Marines with the MEU have patrolled a large swath of rural land north of Karmah, Iraq, searching for insurgents and weapons.
Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines, has found more than 30 weapons caches, including more than 43 tons of explosives, Mundy said.
“The final action will eventually involve turning the Thar Thar area over to Iraqi control,” he added.
The MEU will sail back to San Diego aboard the Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group.
Ellie