ANTHOLOGY AND ANN~ATED BIBLIoGRAPHY                                       193

   Rapidly changing events revealed that the entire 24th MEU(SOC) would be
required ashore in short time.  Within a few days, the unit was operating out of
Silopi, Turkey, preparing to be part of the security force that was to enter
northern Iraq.  On 19 April, Marines provided the security element for a
meeting between LtGen Shalikashvili and an Iraqi delegation at the Habur Bridge
border crossing in Iraq.  At that meeting, Iraqi representatives were informed
that coalition forces intended to enter Iraq on 20 April; the mission was to be
humanitarian; there was no intent to engage Iraqi forces; Iraqi forces were to
offer no resistance; and a Military Coordination Committee would be formed for
the purpose of maintaining direct communication with both Kurdish and Iraqi
authorities.
   While plans to cross the border to the west of the city of Zakhu were be-
ing finalized on 19 April, allied coalition forces received instructions from their
respective governments to proceed towards the Turkish-Iraqi border.      CTF
PROVIDE COMFORT responded to the orders of the Supreme Allied Com-
mander Europe, Gen John R. Galvin, USA, the unified commander in Ger-
many who had cognizance over all operations in the area, to proceed into
northern Iraq and establish security zones to expedite the safe transfer of
refugees from their mountain havens to the countryside they had originated
from.   LtGen Shalikashvili quickly activated Joint Task Force-Bravo (JTF-B),
which would be responsible for this part of the mission. Its focus would be to
neutralize the Iraqi Army in the northern region of Iraq and implement a plan
to reintroduce 500,000 Kurdish refugees back into that country.
   The problem for JTF-B was in creating conditions in Iraq that would entice
the refugees to return voluntarily to the region.  Climatic conditions are such
that there are only two seasons in the region-winter and summer.     Coalition
forces were already witnessing winter's last gasp.  Soon the mountain streams,
which were the main source of water for many of the refugees, would dry up
under the intense heat of summer.   For obvious reasons, it was critical that the
refugees be out of the hills before this occurred.
   On 17 April, MajGen Jay M. Garner, USA, arrived in Silopi from his post
as deputy commanding general, V Corps, in Germany, with the lead element of
what was to become the JTF-B staff. At the outset his troop list consisted of the
24th MEU(SOC), which was given the task of conducting a heliborne assault
into a valley to the east of Zakhu on the morning of 20 April.  Overhead U.S.
Air Force A-lOs, F-15s, and F-16s provided air cover, while the Iraqi Army
watched precariously from the high ground surrounding Zakhu.        Previously
inserted force  reconnaissance   Marines  and    Navy SEALs    had  established
observation posts along the main avenues of approach and key terrain around the
city. Assault helicopters were deployed carrying Marines from Battalion Land-
ing Team 2/8 (BLT 2/8), commanded by LtCol Tony L. Corwin, to designated
zones near the city. Reports from the recon units confirmed the presence of a
significant number of Iraqi reinforcements billeted near the MEU command
element.  Consequently, LtCol Corwin sent emissaries to the Iraqi positions
with clear instructions concerning the movements he expected the Iraqi Army to
make in withdrawing from the region and the city of Zakhu.     As a demonstra-