thedrifter
04-26-03, 09:13 AM
Article ran : 04/26/2003
26th MEU bound for Med to continue its deployment
By ERIC STEINKOPFF
DAILY NEWS STAFF
bAfter helping secure the airport at Mosul and restoring order among the civilian population in northern Iraq, Marines with Camp Lejeune’s 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit are preparing to leave Iraq, military officials said Friday.
The announcement is another sign that the mission is winding down for Lejeune and New River Air Station-based troops involved in the war. Earlier this week the military said the 24th MEU from Lejeune would be heading home after a nearly eight-month deployment.
Where the Marines and sailors with the 26th MEU will head next, however, was not released by military officials Friday. The MEU still is on a regular deployment cycle to the Mediterranean Sea. It was not known when it would return to the amphibious assault ships USS Iwo Jima, Nashville and Carter Hall.
“It’s hard to say when we will be getting back on the ships,” said 26th MEU spokesman Capt. James Jarvis. “We are doing repairs and equipment checks.”
The six CH-53E Super Stallion and six CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters the MEU used in Iraq already are out of the country, and the remaining Marines and sailors were in the process of leaving Friday. The MEU is not scheduled to return to Lejeune until August.
Two weeks ago, the 2,300-member 26th MEU flew 400 miles into northern Iraq to join a special operations forces command post at the Mosul airport. The mission included manning checkpoints along the Syiran border to stop fleeing fugitives.
The mission changed as elements of the Iraqi army’s 5th Corps unexpectedly melted away, leaving weapons behind.
“The original mission was the Syrian border, but nobody expected the northern part of the country to collapse so quickly,” said 26th MEU commander Col. Andy Frick. “There was a large quantity of unexploded ordnance and widespread looting at the 5th Corps headquarters about two miles away.
“Probably one of the most difficult things was getting our arms around the problem,” Frick said.
Security at the airfield and peacekeeping took center stage. Marines survived some tense moments on April 15 and 16 when large, excited crowds surrounded the former governor’s residence leathernecks were using as a command post.
“Approximately 85 to 90 percent of the population has been very receptive to our presence,” Frick said. “There were just a few troublemakers in the crowd and the Marines handled the situation with great restraint and discipline.”
Members of 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, assigned to the 26th MEU, practiced how to reinforce embassies and handle rioting crowds before deploying. But when others shoot at them, Marines are allowed to protect themselves.
“(They) were fired upon as they were providing security for the regional coordination center,” Jarvis said. “In both cases, the Marines received directed fire from armed individuals (that included) former Ba’ath party members, terrorists or persons loyal to the former regime. (We) returned directed, well-aimed fire in return (and) from these two exchanges, the Marines and sailors sustained no casualties while an unconfirmed number of Iraqis were killed or wounded.”
Earlier this week, shops in Mosul reopened and there has not been sporadic gunfire in more than three days.
The 26th MEU has turned over its mission in the north to the 101st Airborne Division.
Contact Eric Steinkopff at
esteinkopff@jdnews.com or 353-1171, Ext. 236.
Sempers,
Roger
26th MEU bound for Med to continue its deployment
By ERIC STEINKOPFF
DAILY NEWS STAFF
bAfter helping secure the airport at Mosul and restoring order among the civilian population in northern Iraq, Marines with Camp Lejeune’s 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit are preparing to leave Iraq, military officials said Friday.
The announcement is another sign that the mission is winding down for Lejeune and New River Air Station-based troops involved in the war. Earlier this week the military said the 24th MEU from Lejeune would be heading home after a nearly eight-month deployment.
Where the Marines and sailors with the 26th MEU will head next, however, was not released by military officials Friday. The MEU still is on a regular deployment cycle to the Mediterranean Sea. It was not known when it would return to the amphibious assault ships USS Iwo Jima, Nashville and Carter Hall.
“It’s hard to say when we will be getting back on the ships,” said 26th MEU spokesman Capt. James Jarvis. “We are doing repairs and equipment checks.”
The six CH-53E Super Stallion and six CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters the MEU used in Iraq already are out of the country, and the remaining Marines and sailors were in the process of leaving Friday. The MEU is not scheduled to return to Lejeune until August.
Two weeks ago, the 2,300-member 26th MEU flew 400 miles into northern Iraq to join a special operations forces command post at the Mosul airport. The mission included manning checkpoints along the Syiran border to stop fleeing fugitives.
The mission changed as elements of the Iraqi army’s 5th Corps unexpectedly melted away, leaving weapons behind.
“The original mission was the Syrian border, but nobody expected the northern part of the country to collapse so quickly,” said 26th MEU commander Col. Andy Frick. “There was a large quantity of unexploded ordnance and widespread looting at the 5th Corps headquarters about two miles away.
“Probably one of the most difficult things was getting our arms around the problem,” Frick said.
Security at the airfield and peacekeeping took center stage. Marines survived some tense moments on April 15 and 16 when large, excited crowds surrounded the former governor’s residence leathernecks were using as a command post.
“Approximately 85 to 90 percent of the population has been very receptive to our presence,” Frick said. “There were just a few troublemakers in the crowd and the Marines handled the situation with great restraint and discipline.”
Members of 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, assigned to the 26th MEU, practiced how to reinforce embassies and handle rioting crowds before deploying. But when others shoot at them, Marines are allowed to protect themselves.
“(They) were fired upon as they were providing security for the regional coordination center,” Jarvis said. “In both cases, the Marines received directed fire from armed individuals (that included) former Ba’ath party members, terrorists or persons loyal to the former regime. (We) returned directed, well-aimed fire in return (and) from these two exchanges, the Marines and sailors sustained no casualties while an unconfirmed number of Iraqis were killed or wounded.”
Earlier this week, shops in Mosul reopened and there has not been sporadic gunfire in more than three days.
The 26th MEU has turned over its mission in the north to the 101st Airborne Division.
Contact Eric Steinkopff at
esteinkopff@jdnews.com or 353-1171, Ext. 236.
Sempers,
Roger