ANTHOLOGY AND ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY                                         193

   Coalition forces will establish a security zone complete with checkpoints
within a 30-kilometer radius around Zakhu.   No weapons other than those of
coajition forces will be permitted in the zone.

   No members of the Iraqi Army will be permitted in the security zone--in or
out of uniform--without approval from the Military Coordination Committee.

   Shortly after the issuing of this demarche, the Iraqi police were observed
boarding buses headed south. While the full impact of the demarche was being
studied by the Iraqis, LtGen Shalikashvili and MajGen Garner lost no time in
directing the 24th MEU(SOC) to establish this security zone, which it was
thought would permit the Kurds to consider coming out of the mountains without
fear.
   During the hours of darkness on 25 April, BLT 2/8 cordoned off the city
from the south, east, and north, while Dutch Marines sealed off the western
approaches and ensured the integrity of the bridges at the border.  British Royal
Marines from 45th Commando, having just arrived from Northern Ireland, were
tasked with patrolling the streets of Zakhu, sending what few Iraqis remained
scurrying for an escape route.  By nightfall on 26 April, Zakhu enjoyed its first
taste of freedom.
   During this time, the resupply effort continued.    On 26 April alone,
HMM-264 delivered 24.5 tons of relief supplies to the refugees.       They were
soon augmented by helicopter assets from other coalition forces that had begun
to arrive in the area, making operational the Combined Service Command (CS C)
at Silopi, Turkey.   Other reinforcements were forthcoming as well.      On the
morning of 27 April, the 3d Battalion, 325th (3/325) Airborne Combat Team,
commanded by LtCol John Abizaid, was placed under the tactical control of the
24th MEU.    The 18th Engineer Brigade, commanded by Col Steven Windsor,
USA, reinforced by Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 133 (SeaBees), also
arrived during this same timeframe, providing much needed relief for the Sailors
and Marines of the 24th MEU(SOC) who, alone, had raised 1,100 tents in 10
days.
   Another capability of critical importance throughout PROVIDE COMFORT
was the presence of the U.S. State Department Disaster Assistance Relief Team
headed by Fred Cuny, a former Marine.       This team was critical in helping
coordinate the actions of the many multinational government and nongov-
ernmental organizations that played a role in the operation. Bolstered by years
of expertise in such matters, Cuny was invaluable in prosecuting a humanitarian
campaign that ultimately relocated 500,000 Kurds in 60 days.
   24th MEU(SOC)'s MEU Service Support Group (MSSG-24), commanded by
LtCol Richard T. Kohl, also showed its mettle early on by installing a reverse
osmosis water purification unit and establishing medical/dental civic action
projects in Zakhu.   Almost overnight, the local hospital sprang to operating
capability. Coalition engineers sought to restore electricity and water to a city
that had been without for months.    Stores slowly reopened and people once
again took to the streets. (see "Pushing Logistics to the Limit" insert). These