WITH MARINES IN OPERATION PROVIDE COMFORT                             13


Against Hunger, a Swiss Charity Team, Equilibre, Oxfam, German Bergwacht,
the Swiss National Rescue Team, European Helo Mission, the German Red
Cross, Concern International, Danish/Norwegian Church Aid, and Hospitaldienst
Souveraender.12

                          A New Mission

   Three months after entering the Mediterranean the 24th Marine Expeditionary
Unit (Special Operations Capable) tMEU (SOC)], was bogged down in the mud
on the island of Sardinia. Amphibious Exercise Sardinia 1-91 commenced at 0518
on 7 April. A short time later, the initial landing waves of BLT 2/8 were on the
shore slowly crawling through the mire toward their assigned objectives.
Company F crossed the beach in assault amphibian vehicles, Company G
conducted an air assault, and Company E landed using motorized rafts. Lurking
in the hills, Company H played the role of defending threat forces. At sea "on
call" landing waves were preparing to debark when the communications center
on board Amphibious Squadron 8's (PhibRon 8) flagship, the helicopter assault
ship Guadalcanal (LPH 7), received an urgent dispatch.
   Mediterranean Amphibious Ready Group 1-91 (MARG 1-91) was ordered to
stop the exercise, to reembark Landing Force Sixth Fleet (LF6F) immediately,


                                  Pbotograph couflesy of MajOen Jay M. Garner, USA
MajGen Jay M. Garner, USA, CG, JTF-B, discusses Operation Provide Comfort with the leaders
of the 24th MEU (SOC) mi board the USS Guadalcanal (LPH 7). The Marines are, from left, Co!
James L. Jones, Jr. (CO, 24th MEU jSOCj), LtCol Tony L. Corwin (CO, BLT 2/8), and LtCol
Joseph A. Byrtus, Jr. (CO, HMM-264).