Facts and figures from Task Force Tarawa

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Facts and figures from Task Force Tarawa
The Virginian-Pilot
? June 23, 2003



TASK FORCE TARAWA
Facts and figures on the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, also known as Task Force Tarawa, based primarily in Camp Lejeune, N.C.:

Personnel: About 7,000 Marines

Commanding General: Brig. Gen. Richard F. Natonski

Ships: Bataan, Saipan, Gunston Hall, Ponce, Ashland, Kearsarge (returning late), Portland (returned early)

Vehicles: 24 light armored reconnaissance vehicles, two Fox vehicles, 25 logistical vehicle systems (truck with trailer), 73 7-ton trucks, 14 M-1A1 tanks, 32 amphibious assault vehicles, 18 M198 Howitzers, one M88 tank retriever

Aircraft: 16 CH-53 helicopters, 20 CH-46 helicopters, 10 AV-8B Harriers, 18 AH-1 Cobras, nine UH-1 Hueys

Killed in action: 20

Lance Cpl. Brian E. Anderson

Pvt. Jonathan L. Gifford

Sgt. Nicolas M. Hodson

Pvt. Nolen R. Hutchings

Lance Cpl. Brian R. Buesing

Lance Cpl. Tamario Burkett

Lance Cpl. Thomas A. Blair

Lance Cpl. Donald J. Cline Jr.

Lance Cpl. David K. Fribley

Lance Cpl. Thomas J. Slocum

Lance Cpl. Michael J. Williams

Cpl. K.A. Chanawongse

Cpl. Jose A. Garibay

Cpl. Jorge A. Gonzalez

Cpl. Patrick R. Nixon

Cpl. Randel K. Rosacker

Sgt. Michael E. Bitz

Sgt. Brendon Reiss

Gunnery Sgt. Phillip A. Jordan

1st Lt. Frederick E. Pokorney

Killed in accidents: 3 Lance Cpl. Alan D. Lam Chief Warrant Officer A.T. Arnold Chief Warrant Officer R.N. Channell Jr.

Wounded in Action: 58

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

- Notified of mission Jan. 6, sailed Jan. 15

- Conducted mission planning en route - Largest amphibious landing since Operation Desert Storm at Kuwaiti Naval Base

- Built Camp Ryan and Camp Shoup from desert sand to life-support areas

- Rescued survivors of the Army's 507th Maintenance Company

- Secured the bridges in Nasiriyah intact

- Defeated the Iraqi 11th Infantry Division, remnants of the Iraqi 51st Mechanized Infantry Division, Saddam's Fedayeen and Al Quds in Nasiriyah

- Liberated four of Iraq's largest cities: Nasiriyah, Amarah, Diwaniyah and Kut; and 16 smaller cities having populations larger than 10,000

- Controlled an area of 50,000 square kilometers

- Captured more than 1,000 prisoners of war

- Destroyed about 30 paramilitary and military targets

- Destroyed more than 200,000 pounds of enemy unexploded ordnance

- Processed 2 million pounds of mail

- Conducted humanitarian assistance in the provinces of Dhi Qar and Wasit

- At its peak, Task Force Tarawa was 13,000 Marines and sailors strong

Source: U.S. Marine Corps
http://home.hamptonroads.com/stories...5848&ran=68939
Sempers,

Roger