WITI-I MARINES IN OPERATION PROVIDE COMFORT                              39

Aerial Ambulance Company flying UH-60 Blackhawks, and the 4th (Aviation)
Battalion, 3d Infantry Division with UH-60 Blackhawks, Ull-1 Hueys, AH-64
Apaches,   011-58 Kiowas,  and EH-60 Nighthawks. The British had three
squadrons: the Royal Air Force Chinook Squadron flying CH-47s, 846th Naval
Air Squadron flying HC.4 Westland Sea King transports and HAS.3 Westland
Lynx attack helicopters, and the 3d Commando Brigade Air Squadron flying
Aerospatiale SA-341/HCC.4 Gazelle utility helicopters. The French Combat
Helicopter Regiment used SA-342 Gazelle light attack and AS-332 Super Puma
transport helicopters. The Dutch Composite Squadron (with several female pilots)
used Chinooks, Gazelles, and SA-361 Alouette III helicopters. The Italians and
Spanish used Hueys and Chinooks. Although the skies of northern Iraq were
crowded, no major air incidents or crashes resulted in Marine deaths during
Provide Comfort.
    As time passed, Silopi's main base not only increased in size but became
more comfortable as well. Engineers dug a 400-foot well to enrich the water
supply. Showers were set up with 32 water points for the men and 8 for women.
Portable covered latrine facilities with running water were set up. The mess hall
was centrally located. It handled 6,000 people twice each day for pre-packaged
1,T" ration hot meals and provided home-made soup, fresh-baked bread, and cold
drinks at noon. The chow lines were sprinkled with soldiers and Marines from
many nations.  British, French, Italian, and Spanish servicemen joined the
Americans waiting for chow ead~ day. The obligatory signpost showing unit
home bases was placed in front of the mess hall. Its more than 20 arrows pointed
to  Europe, North  America,  South America,      and the  Pacific Rim. The
international population was so diverse, Silopi had to be declared a "no saluting
area" because almost no one could correctly identify rank insignia from so many
different nations .43
    There was a busy post office (although postage stamps were not required on
letters, many people mailed packages home). The Mediterranean edition of the
Stars and Stnpes newspaper was distributed daily by the joint public affairs
office. The Army and Air Force operated a joint disbursing office, unofficially
called the "First International Bank of Silopi." The U.S. Army 9th Finance
Group provided $60 "health and comfort" pay advances, cashed checks, and
disbursed emergency Iunds.~
    A post exchange and other morale, welfare, and recreation facilities were
opened for the military and civilian relief workers. At first, the exchange was
caught short because it brought only enough items to cater to the needs of 1,000
people, and an international crowd estimated at more than 4,000 people began
to vi5it the busy exd~ange each week. The store had little to offer until supplies
were sent from Saudi Arabia and its shelves were stocked with snack food,
cameras, film, cassette tapes, tape players, and assorted health and comfort
items. There were two recreation tents, one had two television sets and another
had a game room and a library. Volleyball, soccer, and touch football games
were frequently played.