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extremely successful operation that demonstrated the past wisdom of that

approach.


     Additional naval forces were introduced.   The USS Saratoga

battle group, including the battleship Wisconsin, deployed from the United

States on 7 August and eventually replaced USS Eisenhower.     An additional

carrier battlegroup, led by USS Midway, replaced USS Independence.    USS

John Kennedy has also joined our naval forces in the region.   Additional

Marine units were also deployed.


     Other, heavier ground forces began to be airlifted as their tanks and

combat equipment began the long trek by sea.    These units included: the

101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), the 24th Mechanized Division, the

1st Cavalry Division, and the 2nd Armored Division.   In order to move

forces as quickly and efficiently as possible, 38 ships from the Ready

Reserve Fleet were activated, the Military Airlift Command's fleet was

fully utilized and, for the first time in history, we activated a portion of the

Civil Reserve Air fleet (CRAF).


     There can be no doubt that this was one of the largest and most

successful deployment operations in our nation's history.  No other country

could have attempted or even contemplated doing what we have

accomplished.


     To put it in some perspective, to date, the United States has airlifted

over 225,000 personnel and some 246,000 short tons of equipment.      Over

90% of the MAC fleet is committed and over 7,250 missions have been

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