94                           hUMANITARIAN OPERATIONS IN NORTlIERN IRAQ, 1991:

Iraq. But within seven weeks, more than 750,000 starving people were being fed,
the sick were being nursed back to health, and once fearful expatriates had
returned to their homeland filled with hope.
    When they arrived, the Marines were greeted by the horrifying sight of
starving, freezing refugees in the mountain carnps and the haunting images of the
deserted towns of Kurdistan. By mid4uly, however, the mournful wails of
mothers with dying children had given way to the joyous laughter of the children
themselves, and the once empty streets of Zakho and Dohuk teemed with people.
It became business as usual when shepherds drove their flocks to the open-air
markets and the cafes were filled with arguing men. Children who once quaked
with fear when soldiers appeared now stopped playing and yelled "Meester,
Meester, wave at me! " as Marines passed by.
    In the spring of 1991, the Marines proudly called themselves "Devil Dogs,"
but to the appreciative Kurds they were known by a different name, the "Food
Soldiers."   Returning veterans of Desert Storm were cheered by the American
people because of their stunning performance as warriors;  the unheralded
Marines of Provide Comfort proved no less adept at their craft while acting as
Samaritans in northern Iraq. Humanitarian Relief Operations (HROs) are referred
to as "Heroes" in military shorthand, for the Marines of Operation Provide
Comfort it was a fitting accolade.