36                         HUMANITARIAN OPERATIONS IN NORTHERN IRAQ, 1991:


    The CSC was organized into three sections. A helicopter support base
provided refueling, minor repair, and loading and packaging. It was manned by
a joint air component. There was also a joint ground support component to
provide supply, maintenance, engineer, transportation, medical, and personnel
services. The fl~ird component was Contingency Marine Air-Ground Task Force
1-91. This unit provided terminal air control and helicopter landing support at
forward areas.
    The Combined Support Command Headquarters was located in an abandoned
warehouse that once served Muslims making pilgrimages to the holy city of
Mecca or other Muslim shrines. The Contingency MAGTF 1-91 Command
Element and the International Red Cross Center were collocated with the CSC
Headquarters. A hard-surface helicopter pad was located in front of the CSC
Operations Center (CSCOC), several dirt landing zones were across the road;


                                                     Photograph by the author
The author prepared to ride shotgun' on a supply con voy from HSSB Silopi to 24th MEU (SOC)
headquaflersat2akho. Silopi was the home ofMSSG 24, HMM-264, and CMAGTF 1-91. its 2,400
tents housed more than 10,000 personnel from 14 different nations.