16 March          Naval forces continue counter air-defensive, combat air patrols and mine-
                         sweeping operations.
                  Marine forces maintain defensive positions.
                  81 crewmembers of USS L�ADER (MSO 490), whose minesweeping efforts
                         enabled the battleships USS MISSOURI and USS WISCONSIN to
                         safely transit mine-infested waters for close-in gunfire support, return
                         from six-month deployment in the Arabian Gulf to NAVBASE Char-
                         leston SC. Ship remains overseas, manned by crew of USS EXUL-
                         TANT, as part of crew rotation policy for minesweepers.

17 March          Navai forces continue counter air-defensive, combat air patrols and mine-
                         sweeping operations.
                  Marine ground forces hold defensive positions.
                  U.S./coalition military officials meet with 10 Iraqi military officers at Safwan
                         Airfield, rejects Iraqi request to move aircraft around the country.
                         Iraq warned that any Iraqi warplanes that fly would be shot down.
                  Crew of USS TRIPOLI (LPH-10) awarded Combat Action Ribbon for being
                         endangered by enemy mine attack on 18 February. USS TRIPOH
                         remains in Bahrain port undergoing repairs.

18 March          Naval forces- continue counter air~defensive, combat air patrols and mine-
                         sweeping operations.
                  USS NORMANDY (CG-60) diverts a freighter in the N. Red Sea, and assists
                         USS WIWAM V. PRATT (DbG44) with diversion of a second
                         freighter in the North R-e-d Sea.
                  Marine ground forces hold defensive positions.
                  DOD reports over 468,000 U.S. personnel are in the theater (56,000+ Navy,
                         74,500 USMC). To-date, 71,500 + personnel have redeployed to the
                         U.S. (29,000 Navy, 19,500 USMC).
                  USS SYLVANIA (AFS-2) arrives in Norfolk VA homeport, the first return
                         of a ship supporting OPERATION DESERT STORM. During seven-
                        - month deployment, the combat stores ship delivered 19,000+ pallets
                         of cargo (equaling 20,500 tons of supplies), answered 30,000+ requisi-
                         tions, and delivered spare parts and food sustaining 35,000+ sailors
                         aboard 150 ships. - Helicopter Combat Support Squadron Six (HC 6)
                         Det. Four, embarked on USS SYLVANIA, provided vertical replen-
                         ishment service, logging 700+ accident-free hours, transferring 5,000
                         tons of supplies, 915 passengers, 31,000 pounds of mail, and 10 emer-
                         gency medevacs.

19 March          Naval forces continue counter air-defensive, combat air patrols and mine-
                         sweeping operations.
                  Elements of 2d Marine Division hold defensive positions in Kuwait. DOD
                         reports majority of 1st Marine Division is preparing to redeploy.
                  DOD reports over 461,500 U.S. personnel are in the theater (56,000+ Navy,
                         72,500+ USMC). To-date, 78,500+ personnel have rededployed to
                         the U.S. (29,000 Navy, 21,500 USMC).


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