WITH MARINES IN OPERATION PROVIDE COMFORT                               27


                                                         Photograph by the author
An IIMM-264 CH-46E on board the rnnphibious assault ship Guadalcanal (LPH 7) in Lskenderun
Harbor. The ships of MARG 1-91 served as an afloat logistics base suppordng a Marine landing
force more tItan 500 miks inland.

brought these strangers to their isolated valley, stared at the new arrivals with
unsettled curiosity.
   The 24th MEU Forward was placed under the operational control of General
Potter's Task Force Express Care (redesignated Joint Task Force Alpha on 17
April). Its mission was to support Express Care by providing helicopter support,
air traffic control, air space coordination, and refueling capability at a forward
support base. Colonel Byrtus, the MEU Forward's coinmanding officer, attended
joint task force meetings and acted as Marine liaison between the forward base
and the forces afloat.
   The 24th MEU Forward moved its lead elements to Silopi on 15 April. The
Black Knights used three CH-53E helicopters to deploy the advance party
consisting of helicopter expeditionary refueling system personnel and air traffic
controllers. The difficult five-hour flight required aerial refueling while flying
only a few hundred feet above the undulating terrain to reach an undeveloped
wheatfield earmarked to become the main landing zone at Silopi. Within two
hours of their arrival, the Marines had refueled their helicopters and established
an air traffic control station. A primitive landing zone was in Operation that
afternoon.
   However, the long day was not over. From Silopi, the Black Knights flew
food to Drop Zone One at Isikveren, Turkey. The heavily laden CH-53s followed
the Hazil River as it meandered along the Turkish-Iraqi border, then flew over
a narrow valley dotted by small refugee camps. It was a rough flight because the
helicopters were often buffeted by cold, swirling gusts of wind rising off the
snow-streaked ridges. Eventually, a colorful patchwork of tan, olive, orange,
blue, and white tents came into view. Isikveren was one of the largest refugee