WITH MARINES IN OPERATION PROVIDE COMFORT                             63


                                         Painting by Co Peter M. "Mike" (3isli, USMCR
Cot Mike Gish portrays the entrance to Cwnp Sommers in Zahko, Iraq. Camp Sommers, named for
Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps David W. Sommers, housed the 24th MEU (SOC)
headquarters, Naval Mobile Constn~ction Battalion 133, the U.S. Army 18th Engineer Brigade and
18th Military Police Brigade, and the Joint Civil Affairs Group.

Brigade. At the next meeting Colonel Naab reiterated the coalition's insistence
that all Iraqi forces be moved at least 30 kilometers south, but he was answered
by silence. The second major incident of the day occurred that evening when a
flight of Iraqi MI-8 helicopters headed for northern Iraq was intercepted by F-16
fighters from Incirlik. The incident was quickly resolved when the helicopters
landed and offered no resistance.76
   The American Marines   in northern Iraq were joined by their foreign
brothers-in-arms when the British 45th Commando, Royal Marines, was placed
under the tactical control of the 24th MEU. This battalion-size unit of 637 Royal
Marine "Booties" was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Thompson.
Lieutenant Colonel Thompson established his command post in an abandoned
school about 10 kilometers outside Zakho. Thompson's headquarters section was
joined by three rifle companies:  X, Y,  Z, and Company M (the British
Commando Mountain and Arctic Warfare Training Cadre). Historically, British
and Dutch Marines worked closely together and had often forn~d combined
United Kingdom-Netherlands landing forces. This tradition continued in northern
Iraq. On 23 April more than 400 "Cloggers" of the tst Amphibious Combat
Group (1st ACO), Royal Netherlands Marine Corps, commanded by Lieutenant