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thedrifter
06-29-03, 08:19 AM
Former Cold War adversaries storm the beach
Submitted by: Marine Forces Reserve
Story Identification Number: 2003626184756
Story by Capt. Patrick Kerr



USTKA, Poland(June 26, 2003) -- Even though the Cold War has officially been over for years now, the events that transpired here during BALTOPS 03, an annual military exercise held in the Baltic region of Northern Europe, still managed to turn a lot of heads. Not only were U.S. forces heartily welcomed in this former satellite of the now-defunct Soviet regime, but they also conducted joint exercises with militaries that were once their sworn enemy. The real story, however, occurred when the Marines stormed the beach in an amphibious landing with the Russian Naval Infantry, the Russian equivalent to the Marine Corps. This was the first time in the history of the two forces that such an operation has occurred.

For the Marines of 3rd Platoon, Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 24th Marines, based in Milwaukee, Wis., and a small detachment from 4th ANGLICO out of West Palm Beach, Fla., working side-by-side with their former nemesis was the thrill of a lifetime. Any grudges that may have existed before the encounter quickly vanished as the two teams, along with the Polish and the Lithuanians, established a close bond that enabled them to flawlessly execute the landing. While there were challenges, especially with the language barrier, the Marines found their new allies to be more than capable partners.

"It was so exciting coming off the ship seeing all these other nations performing with us, helicopters flying," said Lance Cpl. Brad Schaefer, 22, machine gunner, 3rd platoon. "Just the whole part of everyone hitting the beach and seeing how hard they train living up to their reputation and us living up to ours."

Each unit had a separate mission: while members of 3rd platoon actually loaded up on Polish ships and hit the shore in Russian landing craft, Marines from 4th ANGLICO inserted near the beach the night before and set up to coordinate simulated air support. Rehearsals between the forces involved were essential to the success of the mission. When verbal communication didn't seem to work, hand-and-arm signals proved to be the most effective way to talk to each other.

"It was an awesome experience just to be there with the different cultures," said Lance Cpl. Nicholas Hudgins, 3rd platoon. "I had an American squad of machine guns and 13 Lithuanians. When we rushed the beach, it was all hand-and-arm signals, and it worked out phenomenally."

Because of the high-profile nature of the exercise, there was a large group of distinguished visitors waiting on the beach to watch everything unfold. During the first wave, the hatch to the Russian landing craft got stuck and stalled the disembarkation by a few minutes. The next wave, an oil tank burst and shot the slimy black substance all over the Marines just as they were about to get off the boat. Judging by the enthusiastic reaction from the VIPs, however, they put on a pretty exciting show.

Although the Marines from ANGLICO didn't anticipate any live-fire training during BALTOPS, they happened upon the Polish Air Force conducting target practice early in the exercise. Without hesitation, they jumped in the middle of the action and, before they knew it, they were providing fire support for Polish SU-22s and MIG-29s. Their experience with the Polish air assets helped things run even more smoothly during the amphibious landing.

"Anybody who watched that (the amphibious landing) probably got a little choked up," said Lt. Col. Tim Dunn, Executive Officer, 4th ANGLICO. "What we were watching were U.S. Marines, with Russian and Lithuanian Marines landing on Polish territory - all part of the Warsaw Pact. When in 1989, we were pointing our weapons at each other."


http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/2003626185111/$file/amphiblandlowres.jpg

F Company, 2nd Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment, 3rd Platoon conducts the first amphibious landing with Russian, Polish, and Lithuanian forces in Ustka, Poland.
Photo by: Sgt. Michael Mullane


Sempers,

Roger
:marine:

Devildogg4ever
06-29-03, 11:11 AM
This is a good read. Makes you wish you were there! ;)