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Marines

News

Archive: April, 2003

HMM-263, 24th MEU (SOC), Skids hit Iraq

The "skids" of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 263 flew many combat missions during Operation Iraqi Freedom. The AH1W Super Cobra and the UH1N ("Huey") are two types of aircraft flown by HMM-263. Both the Hueys and the Super Cobras are referred to as "skids," as both feature skids instead of wheels for landing. HMM-263, the Aviation Combat

CH-46 Helicopters, HMM-263 join MAG-29 to support OIF

During Operation Iraqi Freedom, Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 263 split from the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) and rejoined their parent command, Marine Air Group 29, to conduct missions in Iraq. Based out of the occupied airfield in Jabala, CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters worked exclusively with Task Force Tarawa -

24th MEU Marines patrolling Iraqi villages describe reception, reactions

Marines of Echo Co. Battalion Landing Team 2nd Bn., 2nd Marines, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), got the job of keeping the peace in the small town of Al Rifa, Iraq. Among them were Lance Cpl. Gregg A. Thompson from Lexington, KY., gunner, Squad Automatic Weapon, 3rd Plt. and Cpl. Baholo Maphiri from Brooklyn, N.Y.,

24th MEU (SOC) chaplain recounts experiences in Iraq

"'By endurance we conquer' that is the phrase I live by," said Cmdr. Bryan Weaver, as he recalled some of his experiences as the chaplain for the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) in Iraq. And endure and conquer he did. As the 24th MEU's chaplain, Weaver, affectionately known as "Battle Chaps" by the Marines in the MEU,

24th MEU Marines outfit Iraqi emergency services with ambulance, police training

In the final days of the war, Marines manning a vehicle checkpoint near their base at Camp Fenway, Iraq stopped an ordinary ambulance along with other traffic. Upon closer inspection, it was quickly discovered that this vehicle, designed to save lives, was being used for anything but its intended purpose -- in the back they found a cache of

Golf 2/2 recaps successful stay in Iraq

Its 0200 Zulu - just after dawn - and the Marines from Golf Co., Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Bn., 2nd Marines, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) crawl out from their sleeping bags and move their stiff and tired bodies into the heavy body armor they have been wearing for weeks. They grab their weapons and stand silently in

24th MEU (SOC) Linguists prove communication is key

Communication is essential to the accomplishment of any mission. For the Arabic-speaking members of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), this theory has been proven many times in training. Now it has been proven for them in a real world operation, Operation Iraqi Freedom. The training these Marines go through is

24th MEU (SOC) encounters many faces of Iraqi people: Photo Essay

Since arriving in Iraq three weeks ago, the Marines from the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) have encountered many different faces of Iraqi people.Whether they were in the small villages like Hasham or in larger cities like Al Kut, one common theme seems to be the fact that they are happy to see the end of the Ba'ath

JTFE provides communication and morale in Iraq

"I hope you guys aren't leaving anytime soon," said Cpl. Maurice Yazzie, heavy equipment operator, from Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 371, Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Az., who had just made a phone call home using the morale phone line from Camp Fenway - the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) command base in Iraq.

24th MEU (SOC), builds soccer field for local Iraqi village

If someone was to take a walk through the village of Hasam, Iraq, they couldn't help but notice a town that looks like something described in a biblical setting. Mud houses baked by the harsh sun line small dirt alleys as the sounds of goats and chickens are heard in some of the resident's yards. Children play with rocks and sticks and local women