60                         HUMANITARIAN OPERATIONS IN NORTHERN IRAQ, 1991:


            Rcs~rvo
   2                        ~  52       Positions of 24th MEU (SOC)


minefields. In closing, General Shalikashvili proposed establishing a Military
Coordination Center (MCC) to prevent future misunderstandings.
   At 1330 on 20 April, HMM-264 delivered the first wave of a two-company
helicopterborne task force to Zaicho. Company G landed just outside the city.
The heavily laden Marines (some carrying more than 60 pounds of equipment
and ammunition) moved to the high ground and occupied overwatch positions
which gave them a clear view of the objective. The remainder of the force
included the BLT Alpha Command Group, Company F, and an 81rnm mortar
section. Lieutenant Colonel Tony L. Corwin noticed Iraqi soldiers still in the
objective area, despite the fact they should have been gone. Reports from the
reconnaissance teams confirmed the presence of many Iraqis and a few armored
vehicles. The Marines and Iraqis were soon standing eyeball-to-eyeball with
neither side about to blink.
   Lieutenant Colonel Corwin gave clear instructions for the Iraqis to move out
of Zakho. At first, the Iraqi commander belligerently replied he ki~w nothing
about Operation Provide Comfort and had no orders to vacate. However, some
menacing overflights by heavily armed American A-tO Warthogs and Sea Cobra
helicopter gunships convinced the Iraqis to sling arms and hit the road. As soon
as the Iraqis left, the Marines began building a refugee camp to demonstrate their
humanitarian intent. Before nightfall, a dozen bright blue and white tents had