STUDENT HANDOUT (JUL 2004)

OUTLINE

1. MULTINATIONAL PEACE-KEEPING FORCE

a. At 0500, on August 25, 1982, the 32 Marine Amphibious Unit (MAU) landed in Beirut, Lebanon to help evacuate the Palestine Liberation Organization (P. L.O.). By August 31 the last members of the P.L.O. were evacuated from Beirut. On September 10th, with their mission complete, the 32nd MAU left Beirut.

b. On September 29th, just 19 days after leaving Beirut, the 32nd MAU returned to Lebanon and conducted a combined surface/helicopter landing at the port in Beirut. The mission was to occupy positions south and east of the Beirut International Airport (B.I.A.) in order to establish a presence which would allow the Lebanese Armed Force (L.A.F.) to restore order and control over their capital. The Marines remained in Lebanon for the next year. During this Marines crossed train with the LAF and employed foot patrols and motorized patrols throughout Lebanon. A rise in terrorist activities and repeated shelling from the Syrian backed Druze faction gradually began to take their toll on the U. S. Marines.

c. At 0622 on Sunday, October 23, 1983 at Beirut International Airport, a suicide terrorist drove a five ton truck laden with explosives into the lobby of the four story building being used as the Battalion Landing Team (BLT) command/post/operation center for the 24th Marine Amphibious Unit (MAU). The building also housed a large number of headquarters and service personnel of battalion landing team 1/8. The final death toll would be 241 fellow Americans killed, of which 220 were Marines.

d. The Marines presence ended in Lebanon on July 31, 1984. The final casualty toll was 266 killed in action (KIA) and 151 wounded in action. This short, bloody chapter in our history provided an indication of the future warfare and our role as Marines. Also, we will be known as the nation's premiere force in readiness safeguarding American activities and protecting American interests abroad. (MCCS .02.02j)

2. OPERATION URGENT FURY

a. On October 25, 1983, President Reagan ordered a joint Maine and Army force to land on the small island of Grenada. The name of the operation is "Operation Urgent Fury". This was done to protect American interests and to restore order to the island.

b. TASK FORCE 124 was a contingent of some 400 Marines from the 22nd Marine Amphibious Unit (MAU). They were used to conduct helicopter assaults on Pearls Airport in Grenada from the USS Guam. Two Army Ranger Battalions would make up TAST FORCE 121 and the 82nd Airborne would make up TAST FORCE 123. They would be used to secure Point Salinas and the southern portion of Grenada.

c. Before dawn on October 25, 1983, the Marines quickly seized the airfield and the adjacent town of Grenville on the island's northeast corner. By 0712 the next morning, the Marine force had secured the governor's residence. The rest of the invasion began to foul almost immediately. The Army encountered unexpected resistance at Point Salinas. Part of the invasion called for a platoon of Delta Force commandos to parachute onto the promontory before dawn. This was to happen so the airport would be secured for the Ranger Battalions. However, the Grenadian forces and the Cuban construction workers spotted the Delta troops. They pinned the Delta Force down with heavy automatic weapons. Rather than landing on a secure airstrip, the Rangers were forced to parachute from 500 feet, half the usual height and the lowest combat jump since World War II. They has expected to face six hundred pacific Cubans and twelve hundred poorly equipped , petrified People's Revolutionary Army (PRA) troops. Instead they found themselves pitched in "absolute, total warfare," as the senior Army commander, Major General H. Norman Schwarzkopf, had later described the scene.

d. The battle raged throughout the morning. At fourteen hundred, despite harassing sniper fire, the runway was secure. This allowed the first paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne to land at Salinas. An hour later the defenders counter attacked from the North with three armored personnel carriers (APC) and mortar fire. The Americans shattered two of the APC's with 90mm recoilless rifle rounds and destroyed the third with cannon fire from an aircraft. The airport was re-opened, but the invasion commander, Vice Admiral Joseph Metcalf, asked the Joint Chiefs to send four more battalions from the 82nd Airborne. Nearly 5,000 paratroopers would enter the fray, three times the number originally estimated by the invasion planners.

e. The Marines continued to roll through the north end of the island. General John Vessey, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, reportedly called Major General Edward L. Trobaugh, commander of the 82nd and stated, "We have two companies of Marines running all over the island and thousands of Army troops doing nothing."

f. Nowhere were the shortcomings of military intelligence more apparent than in the effort to rescue American medical students. The American troops presumed that the students would be found near the Salines airfield at the university's True Blue campus. However, while securing True Blue on October 26, 1983, the U. S. soldiers were shocked to learn that an additional 224 students were surrounded by enemy soldiers at Grand Anse beach. The rescuers learned that Cuban and Grenandian troops had dug in only 250 yards from the students, facing the direction of the expected American attack.

g. After five hours of planning, gun ship, naval batteries, and bombers from the USS Independence unleashed a barrage that reduced several buildings to rubble. Twenty seconds after the supporting fire lifted, in a scene like the popular movie "Apocalypse Now," three waves of Marine helicopters carrying Army Rangers swooped in from the Caribbean. The area was secured with the Marine/Army Join efforts.

h. The invasion force evacuated 740 Americans, 595 of whom were medical students. By October 28, 1983, all organized resistance has ceased. The casualty toll for Marines was 3 dead and 15 wounded. The 24th MAU then proceeded to Lebanon for six months of peace keeping duty.

3. PERSIAN GULF

a. The S. S. Bidgeton struck an Iranian mine in international waters in the Persian Gulf. In response to this incident, the Joint Chiefs of Staff ordered the reconstructions of the Mediterranean Amphibious Ready Group MARG). MAGTF 2-88 consisting of 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines, Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 167, and Combat Service Support Detachment 20, was then deployed aboard the USS Trenton. This was to aid in the protection of shipping lanes in international waters of the Persian Gulf.

b. At 0917 on April 18 1987, two Marine Corps Cobra Helicopters delivered prep fire to the Sassan oil platform of Iran. The Marines rendered the platform useless.

c. At 0925 the assault element landed by helicopter with the support of Cobra helicopters. The Marines planted detonation charges and completely destroyed another platform. The Marines retaliation to the Iranians was enough to protect the Persian Gulf, however, we continued our presence.

4. OPERATION JUST CAUSE

a. On May 7, 1989, a Central American country, Panama, held free elections. As the votes were tallied it was clear that military leader Manuel Noriega was defeated. Noriega refused to relinquish his power to the newly elected president. A Pro-Noriega tribunal annulled the elections. Riots broke out in the streets as protesters demanded Noriega step down. Noreiga's "Dignity Battalions" began attacking the political leaders of the opposition party. Panamanian Defense FOrces (PDF) under Noriega's rule attacked civilians in the streets. The country was in turmoil; riots and and looting were everywhere.

b. The Organization of American States (OAS) condemned the actions of Noriega and his political party. U. S. Marine units in Panama were reinforced. The primary Marines units in Panama were Light Armor Vehicle (L.A.V.) units. These units are structured around tactics that combine the LAV with small infantry units. Friction between Noriega's government and U.S. forces escalated. In September of 1989, Noriega ordered road blocks be set up to impede the movement of U.S. forces. This action was a direct violation of the 1977 treaty established during the Carter administration. The treaty authorized and guaranteed freedom of movement for all U.S. forces in the canal zone. On December 16, 1989, 1stLt Robert Paz was shot and killed after being detained at a PDF road block. Three days later, Marines were ordered to ready their equipment for combat.

c. At 2100, December 19, 1989, the Marines were informed of their mission to overthrow Noreiga and his government. The first objective of the Marines was the DNTT building; a radio transmitting station. As the LAVs raced down the street in column formation, the lead vehicle made a hard left and crashed through the locked gates. The LAVs opened fire, spraying the area with their coaxial and pineal mounted machine guns. As the LAVs laid down cover fire, the Marines took their positions along the wall of the building. Corporal Isaak deployed his M-203 to break open the hatches. Using stun grenades and restricted fire the facility was captured without damage to the transmitting equipment. Several PDFs were captured; one Marine was killed.

d. The Marines were called upon when the Army was met with stiff resistance in their attempt to capture the Panamanian Defense Forces Headquarters (PDFHQ). Marine AC-130 gun ships were pounding the compound with 105mm cannons and gatling gun fire. Mortars were raining out of the sky and erupting in the compound. The Light Armored Infantryman (LAI) was tasked with providing cover fire. The 25mm guns of the LAVs were brought to bear on designated windows and hatchways. One hundred fifty personnel from the headquarters surrendered within 45 minutes of the LAI's arrival. The LAI was called to assist in defending the U.S. Embassy after securing the headquarters. The Embassy was under attack as the LAVs rolled into position. Immediately the FAST (Fleet Anti-Terrorist Security Team) Marines were deployed. All streets around the Embassy were sealed off. The FAST Marines gained access to the Embassy by rolling in large trash dumpsters and using them as barriers from which they could return fire. As the Marines took their positions and prepared to defend the Embassy from any assaults, the attack faded. The PDF forces pulled back and except for some occasional sniper fire, the Embassy was secured.

e. Marines would eventually capture 1200 POWs and large numbers of weapons and ammo caches. Part of the success of the Marines was attributed to the cooperation of the local inhabitants. The Marines ensured that non-combatants were treated with dignity and compassion. Thus, the Marines were befriended by the local people who directed the Marines to the location of enemy hide-outs and weapon caches. Marines made up less than 1,300 of the 24,000 U.S. troops involved. Despite such small number, the Marines still take 2,500 POW's; 1/3 of all prisoners taken. After searching the city looking for Noriega, it was revealed on December 24 that Noriega had taken refuge in the Papel Nuncio (church). Two weeks later he would surrender to American authorities. The purpose of the Marines in Operation "Just Cause" was set forth by the Presidential mandate which stated, "U.S. Forces in the Republic of Panama will provide for security of U.S. citizens, defend U.S. property, and defend U.S. rights relative to the 1977 Panama Canal Treaties." In addition to removing Manuel Noriega from power, Guillermo Endara, the president elected by the people of Panama, was placed in power. This established the ground work for a democratic form of government for the people of Panama.

5. NON-COMBAT EVACUATION OPERATIONS IN LIBERIA

a. On May 27, 1990, the 22nd MEU on board four ships from the Mediterranean Amphibious Ready Group (MARG), was stationed 20 miles offshore from Monrovia, Liberia in response to a hostage threat. Two rebel factions were trying to wrestle control from the ruling faction of President Samuel K. Doe. One faction, led by Prince Johnson, temporarily took 16 hostages from seven countries. In doing this, the faction threatened the safety of 100 embassy employees and American businessman.

b. On the morning of August 5, 1990, Operation "Sharp Edge" commenced. The 2nd Battalion, 4th MArines and the 22nd MSSG (MEU Service Support Group) landed in the United States embassy compound. In addition, they also landed in two communication sites to evacuate civilians from the war torn country. Within nine days the Marines successfully guarded and processed 335 people from 21 nations and evacuated them to the waiting ships.

c. The "Sharp Edge" mission was a success as no shots were fired. The mere presence of the combat Marines, along with their AV-8B Harriers and cobra gun ships, deterred the rebel factions from foolishly attacking our people. The significance of Operation "Sharp Edge" was the Marine Air-Ground Task Force, in conjunctions with the Navy, safely evacuated 335 innocent people that were from 21 difference nations.

6. OPERATION DESERT SHIELD/STORM

a. Iraq, a country roughly the size of California, is located in the Middle East. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, Iran and Kuwait. After World War I in 1918, Britain defeated the Turks and occupied all of Iraq until 1932. It then granted Iraq formal independence under a constitutional monarchy with an Arab leader. In 1958, Iraq's army overthrew the monarchy, renounced the treaties with Britain and shunned foreign influence. In 1961 Iraq tried, but could not claim Kuwait as its' own. This move was based on boundaries set during the rule of the Ottoman Turks. In 1966 Saddam Hussein was vice president and by 1979 became President. Following the appointment of Saddam to President, the Iran-Iraq war erupted. The was was over the rights to the Al Arab waterway and it lasted eight years. Iraq received billions of dollars in help from Kuwait and Saudi Arabia in its effort against Iran. After the war, Iraq accused Kuwait of flaunting its wealth at the expense of poor Arabs. On August 1, 1990, Iraq pulled out of talks with Kuwait on Iraqi grievances over oil pricing, Kuwaiti loans to Iraq, and Iraqis claims on Kuwaiti territory. The United States had also aided the Iraqis during its war with Iran. The Iranians did not like U.S. intervention, especially since it had broken diplomatic ties over U.S. support for the Shah.

b. On August 2, 1990, Iraq invaded Kuwait. The Emir of Kuwait, Sheik Jaabir al Ahmen Al Saber, his family and his government were force to exile into neighboring Saudi Arabia. President Bush ordered a U.S. economic embargo against Iraq. U.S. Resolution 660 of August 2 condemned and demanded that Iraq withdraw its forces. By August 3, Iraqi forces had pushed to within a few miles of Saudi Arabia's border with Kuwait. The United Nations acted on finding ways to repel the Iraqi aggression. Responding on August 7, the United States began moving 200,000 American troops, war planes and a series of Maritime Preposition of Ships (MPS) and Navy Warships Groups into Saudi Arabia. It was assumed that Iraq would invade that country next. The majority of the coalition was composted of U.S. and British troops, joined by some Kuwaiti volunteers who wanted to fight to liberate their country. Twelve of 20 Arab league States voted to send an all Arab military force to join the U.S. led coalition. On August 10, 1990, the Pentagon said it would send 250,000 more troops to the region if war broke out. In a show of steadfast resolve, Saddam Hussein, on August 28, declared Kuwait Iraq's 19th Province. Saddam also sent threats of possible terrorist attacks against the United States and her allies.

c. By September 21, Saddam has announced, "Iraq will fight to the finish," in a war with the United States. In a face saving attempt to settle the conflict, Saddam offered a partial withdraw of hostile Iraqi troops on October 17. U.S. and Kuwaiti officials rejected the compromise. Knowing now that Saddam truly did now ant war, Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney cautioned Iraq that time was ticking away. Then the United Nations set January 15, 1991, as the date in which Iraq must pull out of Kuwait. In response to this, Saddam Hussein prepared for a holy war and invited all Arabs to join in.

d. Operation "Imminent Thunder" was conceived by the theater commander, General Schwarzkopf. This was operation to secretly serve as a decoy to make think that there would be an amphibious assault by U. S. Marines. That assault would never come, however it did serve its purpose since eight Iraqi divisions in Kuwait were pointed towards the cover awaiting the assault. President Bush warned the Iraqis once again on December 20, 1990, to pull out of Kuwait. President Bush emphasized that if war did break out, the U.S. would unleash a massive nonstop air campaign that would exceed the "Rolling Thunder" missions of Vietnam. Drawing on another comparison to Vietnam, he also promised them and the American people that this would not be a political war and that we would prevail.

e. Last ditch diplomatic efforts were held on January 9, 1991, by Secretary of State James Baker III and Iraq's Foreign Minister Tariq Aziz. These efforts would be all for nothing; neither party could reach an agreement. Further, Saddam Hussein was sent a letter by Japan urging him to pull his troops out, recalling their own country's defeat by the U.S. during World War II as a result of the atomic destruction.

f. As the deadline of January 15, 1991, passed, the world paused with all of its attention on the Middle East. On January 16, 1991, at 1600, President Bush ordered massive air strikes on Iraqi military positions as well as Iraqi held targets in Kuwait. The U.S. also employed the Tomahawk missile. In retaliation, Iraq began launching their SCUD missiles against Israel. Saddam had hoped that Israel would enter the war, and then the Arab coalition would side with him. However, Israel stayed out and his sadistic ploy didn't work. Iraq's ballistic missiles included the Soviet made SCUD-B and the modified Al-HUSSEIN. Several routes were taken by U.N. coalition air forces in the strikes against Iraq. By January 23, after flying over 12,000 sorties, air superiority was ours. On January 25, allied officials said Iraqi soldiers sabotaged Kuwait's main super-tanker loading pier. This was dumping millions of crude oil into the gulf. On January 28, 1991, more than 80 Iraqi fighter-bombers found refuge in the country of Iran. The Iranians said it would impound the planes until the war ended.

g. The evening of January 29, Marines of the 3rd LAI Battalion were in the vicinity of check point 4 setting up a screen for the 1st Marine Division. Reports of a major Iraqi armor force maneuvering toward them sent the Marines into their fighting positions. Apparently as part of a three pronged attack, the Iraqi's invaded Saudi Arabia on the Eastern border (Al-Khafji) also along the Northwestern and Southwestern Kuwaiti border in the vicinity of Umm Hujul. The Marines did an outstanding job handling the situation, extracting a Recon team at check point 4 and repelling the attack. The effective integration of supporting arms, air and ground scheme of maneuver took out 22 Iraqi tanks. As the battle raged a LAV-25 was struck by a maverick missile fired by an A-10 and a LAV-AT was destroyed by a TOW missile. When the battle ended after 12 hours, the Marines dealt the Iraqi's a serious blow. Eleven Marines were killed in the heavy fighting. During the next three weeks, Marines along the border would continue to conduct small raids on Iraqi observation and listening posts. On February 22, 1991, President Bush told Iraq that it had to begin withdrawing from Kuwait by noon the next day and would have one week. In response to President Bush's order, the Iraqis set the oil fields of Kuwait on fire. (MCCS .02.02k)

h. In Kuwait at 4 a.m. on February 24, 1991, a U.S. led coalition force stage a lightening, multi-prong ground assault into Kuwait and Southern Iraq. Meeting light resistance, the forces achieves a "dramatic success" with the allied forces suffering few casualties while rounding up thousands of Iraqi prisoners. With Iraqi attention focused to the East, anticipating an amphibious landing, the First and Second Marine Divisions liberated the airport by spearheading the attack into Kuwait City. The Marines would achieve all of their objectives within days. On February 26, 1991, Allied forces, along with the First and Second Marine Divisions, entered Kuwait City. At the same time, U.S. forces were bombing the Iraqis who were leaving Kuwait, saying they were retreating and not withdrawing. Meanwhile, the XVIII Corps to the West "leapfrogged: by air and ground into Iraq. The XVIII Corps then began to set up huge fuel and supply stations deep in the desert. The 101st Airborne blocked the retreating Iraqis who were racing further north to the Tigris-Euphrates Valley 100 miles from Baghdad. The VII Corps then outflanked the Republican Guard and other units by attacking from the West and systematically destroyed the Iraqis in several fierce clashes. (MCCS .02.02k)

i. On February 27, 1991, President Bush announce a cease fire. Kuwait City was liberated and the U.S. Commander, General Norma Schwarzkopf said, "Allied forces have crushed the Iraqi military throughout most of Kuwait." The significance of Operation Desert Storm was that we were the first unit to arrive with significant combat power, thus validating Marine COrps MPS doctrine. We also proved ourselves capable of fighting a sustained campaign on the modern battlefield by spearheading the attack through the most heavily fortified area and liberating Kuwait.

7. OPERATION RESTORE HOPE

a. In the pre-dawn house of December 9, 1992, approximately 1,800 Leathernecks of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) navigated through the darkness in three to five foot surf, landing once again in a foreign land known as Somalia for Operation "Restore Hope." In a classic landing, the Marines poured ashore from the Indian Ocean in helicopters and amphibious vehicles. Their mission was to secure the international airport at the Somali capital of Mogadishu. They were greeted by Somali citizens. Marines quickly started disarming anyone with a weapon and in time conduct many foot and mobile patrols into the country side to protect food convoys. Although Marines engaged in 27 firefights while trying to conduct this humanitarian operation, order was quickly restored to the country. This operation will continue for approximately two years and it helped save countless lives from starvation.

8. OPERATION SUPPORT DEMOCRACY

a. When things started heating up in Haiti, the amphibious landing helicopter dock USS WASP (LDH-1) carrying a special purpose Marine air-ground task force was ordered to the Caribbean Sea off the coast of Hispaniola in May, 1994. The special purpose MAGTF would remain in the area until on September 16, 1994 when the Marines entered and secured the airport and port facilities of Cap-Haitien. In sharp contract to the more tentative entry by the U.S. Army in Port-au-Prince, the Marines approached their landing as a hostile action. This action established a message the Marines were ordered to convey which was, "don't mess with us." The swift entry by the Marines enabled them to quickly preserve good order and restore democracy.

9. PRESENT DAY

a. It has been said that Marines are always present in every clime and place. Marines are currently serving their country throughout the world, protecting American lives and interests in every corner of the globe. These Marines are upholding our proud traditions. If you earn the title "MARINE" you too will be responsible to carry on our long honored reputation of Semper Fidelis.

REFERENCE

1. Marine Corps Values: A User's Guide for Discussion Leaders    MCRP 6-11Bw/Ch1