86                         HUMANITARIAN OPERATIONS IN NORTHERN IRAQ, 1991:


    Once the Kurds began returning to northern Iraq, the main tasks left for
Combined Task Force Provide Comfort were to turn the camps over to civilian
control, surrender the security mission to the United Nations, pull up stakes, and
return home. On 30 May, General Colin L. Powell, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs
of Staff, inspected Joint Task Force Bravo's area of operations. During his tour
he stopped at several checkpoints, talked with some enlisted Marines, and
thanked them for a job well done. Following his visit, General Powell reported
to Washington that all was going well and Operation Provide Comfort should be
terminated soon as the diplomatic situation allowed. 10S
    Battalion Landing Team 2/8 remained at the Muqbal fire support base, named
Camp Denton to honor a Marine acidentally killed during Provide Comfort, from
9 May until 15 June. During this time Colonel Jones insisted on maximum cross
training with other allied forces. Live-fire exercises, combined combat patrols,
parachute jumps, and military schooling were constantly taking place. Lieutenant
Colonel Corwin developed a rotation system whereby BLT 2/8 units manned
forward checkpoints for six days, then rotated to Camp Denton for six days
where they participated in live-fire demonstrations, ran squad-sized tactical
exercises, and held organized athletic events. This last activity featured spirited
competition and was a welcome relief from the military routine. The Marines
won the 1,Northern Iraq International Soccer Championship" after defeating
British, French, Italian, Spanish, and Dutd~ teams.
    Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 264 worked at a hectic pace. Each
morning several Sea Knights and Super Stallions were used for routine supply
runs. One  CH-46  was  stationed at the Zakho landing pad, reserved for
emergency medical evacuation. One or more of the UH-lN's were devoted to
daily aerial reconnaissance, liaison, or transportation missions. Any helicopters
not scheduled underwent a maintenance stand-down. These stand-downs were
necessary because of the hard use and difficult operational environment. The
busy landing zone at Silopi was often crowded and was always dusty. The
squadron headquarters and air control elements operated from tents set up along
the edge of the landing zone. The squadron was billeted in nearby tents.
    When the withdrawal plan was  announced, Lieutenant Colonel Byrtus
realized night operations were ilnminent. He, therefore, ordered the squadron to
become proficient at low-light flying and night takeoffs and landings. Low-light
operations were part of the 18 SOC-related missions, but correct use of night
vision goggles required constant practice. Night vision goggles captured visible
light too dim to be used by the human eye, then electronically displayed a
brightened green image not unlike that of a video camera viewfinder. These
devices allowed Marine pilots to fly after dark, but they also imposed some
limitations. Depth perception and peripheral vision were severely hampered, so
these problems had to be overcome by intense training and frequent repetition.
The result was that by late May, the night sky over Silopi was filled with the
constant drone of helicopter engines as the pilots of HMM-264 honed their night
flying skills.