Marines taking over for Army in Iraq

Stars and Stripes ^ | Feb. 26, 2004 | Scott Schonauer

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

AL-ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq — Once they crossed the Kuwaiti border into Iraq, the Marine helicopters flew so low over the desert that their wake ruffled tents and scared livestock.

A goat herder saw the dual- rotor CH-46s approach from the south and gave a long, slow wave.

Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 261 and Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 167 are the first Marine aviation units to arrive at Al-Asad Air Base.

The sprawling former Iraqi air force base — about 110 miles west of Baghdad — is home to the Army’s 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, but will soon be the nerve center for the 3rd Marine Air Wing.

 

Squadron 261, nicknamed the “Raging Bulls,” have never been to Iraq, let alone on a real mission.

 

....About 25,000 Marines are streaming into western Iraq to take over security and rebuilding duties from the Army.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (3rd MAW)

 

                              

Godspeed, Marines!

 

 

[NormsRevenge]

Salute and Good Flying to our newly arrived Marines from an old 1st MAW Marine.

[MEG33]

Amen.God be with them.

[McGavin999]

That's a tough area, and they've got a hard job to do. They're going to be taking care of the entire western Iraq including the border area with Syria.

I wish them good luck and God's protection.

[68skylark]

Good post. I'm a soldier and I wish these Marines all the best -- every one of them is in our prayers. Wish I could be in Iraq for this rotation.

[river rat]

Count me as an incorrigible old coot - but this does NOT sound like a deployment in line with Marine Corps history or training....

Marines weren't raised to be the Peace Corps..or neighborhood construction crews.....

From day one - they're trained to follow orders and destroy the enemy...
Oh oh.....it's that pesky "follow orders" that is getting them in trouble again.....

This does not feel right...
I hope they won't let their guard down or ignore inbred instincts to distrust anyone not wear Marine Corps web gear....

Semper Fi

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Militant Islam is a cult, flirting with extinction

Damn, I like that tagline!

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

That is just an awesome picture.

From half a world away we put that kind of a force
in the desert where only a camel could be happy!

[VOA]

Marines weren't raised to be the Peace Corps..or neighborhood construction crews.....

As a naive civilian, I'd agree.
But I also wonder if the bad-boys in pockets like Fallujah (sp?), etc.
are about to get a bit more "discipline" now that the USMC is in town.

Please note I'm not knocking the other branches...just wondering if the USMC
is being sent in to "finish the job"...

[Justa]

There's plenty of hostile territory over there to keep them busy. The constant stream of Jihadis and equipment crossing over from Syria is hardly a task for the Peace Corps.

They're in the right place. It's a good mission.

[Ben Chad]

BUMP!

[gonzo]

"...About 25,000 Marines are streaming into western Iraq to take over security and rebuilding duties from the Army..."

May God bless our Marines..............FRegards

[dalebert]

God bless them and keep them safe.

[Grampa Dave]

The US Navy has been helping the US Marines get to where they are needed with their gear and back for over 200 years. The two services have this activity fine tuned!

No other country can do this 12,000 miles away from home. Our Navy and Marines do it.

Go Marines! Do you usual great job and God Speed!

[river rat]

"Damn, I like that tagline!"

Help yourself..

Semper Fi

[68skylark]

It sound like you may be "dissing" the 82d Airborne Division -- something most people would not do. It probably wasn't your intention to leave that impression, I realize.

[blackie]

We are winning ~ the bad guys are losing ~ trolls, terrorists and the democrats are sad ~ very sad!

~~ Bush/Cheney 2004 ~~

[Jim Noble]

Godspeed to all who fight for right and freedom.