WITH MARINES IN OPERATION PROVIDE COMFORT                              55


Marines from the 24th MEU (SOC) sit on their packs as they wait for transportadon to the
humanitarian services support base set up in Silopi, Turkey.

Squadron made a reconnaissance of the area. They brought back photographs and
video imagery of the Operations area and potential camp sites. During the flight
two CH-53Es from llMM-264 stood by as combat search and rescue aircraft, and
a rifle platoon from Company E, BLT 2/8 acted as a "Sparrowhawk" reaction
force. Under cover of darkness, reconnaissance Marines and sailors from SEAL
Team 3 were inserted into northern Iraq and began clandestine Operations
preparing the way for a two-company helicopterborne operation scheduled to
begin three days later.68
   After receiving General Garner's orders to secure Zakho, Colonel Jones met
with his staff, then adopted President Theodore Roosevelt's dictate to `1Speak
softly, but carry a big stick. " The 24th MEU (SOC) was not to back down if the
Iraqis tried to bully the Marines, yet, were to allow them an opportunity to pull
back peacefully. Colonel Jones termed this policy "aggressive restraint," but the
Combined Task Force staff at Incirlik frequently called it "leaning forward in the
saddle. " For its part, the 24th MEU (SOC) obviously was handicapped because
not all of its normal assets were available. Lieutenant Colonel Corwin and BLT
2/8 were "good to go," but were vastly outnumbered and outgunned by the
Iraqis. The Black Knights of HMM-264 had to split their efforts to accomplish
three missions at the same time. In addition to combat support for the MEU,
some helicopters transported supplies and personnel. Others supported JTF-A's
emergency relief efforts. Logistics support was still tied to the ships of Phibron
8 at Iskenderun, so supplies had to be hauled long distances by either helicopters
or trucks. The support base at Silopi was being developed, but was not yet fully
operational. A short-handed MS SG-24 was stretched to the limit because of