13th MEU Provides Assistance in Southern Iraq

[darrels joy]

13th MEU Provides Assistance in Southern Iraq

From Expeditionary Strike Group 1, Public Affairs

NORTH ARABIAN GULF (NNS) -- Elements of the 13th
Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) Special Operations Capable
(SOC) completed humanitarian assistance, anti-smuggling and
security and stabilization operations, Oct. 25, in southern Iraq as
part of Operation Sweeney. The MEU SOC, a component of
Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 1, delivered food, provided
medical and dental capability and produced more than 3,000
gallons of water for citizens in the region.

The MEU contributed significantly to the coalition effort ashore
by conducting more than 300 patrols in southern Iraq, 50 of
which were riverine operations from the MEU's boat company.
The MEU also trained local police in the setup and operation of
security checkpoints, confiscated weapons and destroyed more
than 2,000 rounds of ordnance, much of which was found in
areas near villages and playgrounds.

ESG 1 arrived in the region in early October, and is among the
most recent U.S. forces to join the coalition reconstruction effort
in Iraq. While the MEU operated ashore throughout southern
Iraq in support of the British-led Multinational Division
Southeast, USS Peleliu (LHA 5), USS Ogden (LPD 5), USS
Port Royal (CG 73) and USS Germantown (LSD 42) operated
with the U.S. Coast Guard and coalition forces from Britain,
Australia and Italy, in support of multinational Maritime
Interception Operations.

"This was a total team effort," said Marine Corps Col. Mike
Regner, commanding officer, 13th MEU SOC. "The Navy and
Marine Corps team of the ESG got the opportunity to do what
we've been trained to do, and it's made it even more rewarding
because we could work directly with the Iraqi people and get
immediate satisfaction from the job we did," said Regner.

The operation also provided Marine Corps and Navy units the
opportunity to contribute to the re-establishment of the Iraqi
judiciary as the country goes about cracking down on smuggling
and other illegal activities. The Coalition Provisional Authority
issued a new confiscation order, Aug. 31, which allows Iraq's
judicial system to investigate alleged smugglers and return the
stolen goods to the people of Iraq.

ESG 1 units helped legitimize the order, both ashore and at sea.
The MEU turned 50 people over to Iraqi police for prosecution
in Iraqi courts for various criminal activities, and confiscated
three vessels. At sea, coalition forces continued to assist in
getting Iraqi judicial officials to sea to conduct hearings to
adjudicate the cases. The most recent hearing was Oct. 18,
aboard USS Fletcher (DD 992).

Coalition officials estimate that oil smuggling costs the Iraqi
people approximately $200,000 per day, along with the loss of
one of its most marketable resources.

This is money that Navy officials believe could go to benefit the
Iraqi people.

"A pillar of our mission is to provide combatant commanders the
flexibility to conduct missions across the spectrum of conflict.
Our mission here, ashore with the 13th MEU, as well as at sea
with our maritime forces, has been a validation of our ability to
provide that kind of flexibility. I couldn't be more proud of the
contributions our Marines and Sailors made to Operation
Sweeney," said Rear Adm. Bob Conway, Jr., commander, ESG
1.

ESG 1 continues to support multinational Maritime Interception
Operations in support of Commander, U.S. 5th Fleet.