Operation Distant Runner - Rwanda/Burundi
There were so many interesting operations in the 90's that did not cost any marines their life. Distant Runner was one of them if my memory serves me correctly. I was part of the 15th MEU and I flew in on advance party from Mombassa Kenya on a C130 to Goma, Zaire; Entebbe, Uganda; and some dirt strips in Rwanda and Burundi. It was at one of these dirt strips that I had an unworldly experience. I broke bread one afternoon with members from the German Luftwaffe, some middle eastern unit (Saudi?), and an Israeli Unit. I was sitting at one of the only benches there when German pilots who just flew in a cargo plane of relief supplies walked over and sat down to eat. They had food but little water, and I gave them each a bottle from my ruck. Next thing I know a armored vehicle rolls up and some arab speakers pile out. One of them came over and sat down; I offered him a bottle of water too. The MEU's legal officer came walking over with two members of the IDF. We all offered the food we had and everyone seemed to sample a little here and there. It seems it was all wolfed down fairly quickly and everyone departed (without a shot being fired I might add). It was extremely surreal. Anyone else part of this Op?