WITH MARINES IN OPERATION PROVIDE COMFORT                                     29

was at anchor in Iskenderun Harbor, but the flight was diverted to Incirlik for the
evening because reduced visibility precluded safe returu to the ship.   The first
day's operation had been successful and it provided some important lessons for
future operations. General Jamerson credited the Black Knights with pioneering
low-altitude drop techniques that expedited safe delivery of food and water. The
increased flow of supplies resulted in more subdued crowd reactions. However,
better ground control and a more orderly distribution system were still needed.
The number of needy people vastly outnumbered those being assisted. More
Marines were needed, and a prolonged sustainment effort was required. The
forward base at Silopi needed to be expanded to adequately support large-scale,
long-term operations.
   On the other hand, the Marines achieved several important milestones. The
Black Knights delivered 1,290 MREs and 18 boxes of bottled water to the
refugees. The first forward Humanitarian Service Support Base was operating.
An interesting sidelight was that the Marines were being used as a true
expeditionary force, rather than an amphibious force, operating far from the
nearest sea base. No MEU in Marine Corps history had ever been deployed so
far inland.32


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