Day 1 of Operation Iraqi Freedom - Marines prepare for combat missions

[thedrifter]

Day 1 of Operation Iraqi Freedom - Marines prepare for combat missions
Submitted by: Headquarters Marine Corps
Story Identification Number: 200351662359
Story by Staff Sgt. Cindy Fisher



WASHINGTON(May 16, 2003) -- * Editor's note - This is a recap of March 20, the first day of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

"The Iraqi regime has used diplomacy as a ploy to gain time and advantage. ... All the decades of deceit and cruelty have now reached an end. Saddam Hussein and his sons must leave Iraq within 48 hours. Their refusal to do so will result in military conflict, commenced at a time of our choosing," said President George W. Bush in an address to the nation March 17.

With these words, the president sent a message to Saddam Hussein that America will no longer tolerate the possibility that weapons of mass destruction could be used against Americans.

The president's deadline passed without a response from Hussein.

After months of build up to the Persian Gulf region, U.S. troops and coalition forces were in place. And, in the early morning hours of March 20 a missile attack was launched on selected targets in Baghdad, Iraq. Operation Iraqi Freedom had begun. The operation's goals were to liberate the Iraqi people, eliminate Iraq's weapons of mass destruction and end Saddam Hussein's regime.

On day one of the operation, Marine units from Camp Pendleton, Calif.; Camp Lejeune, N.C.; various Marine Corps air stations, and reserve Marines from throughout the United States were already staged in the Kuwaiti desert at camps like Ripper, Matilda Commando and Coyote.

Day one of Operation Iraqi Freedom was filled with preparations for future operations within Iraq. Many Marines spent some portion of the day in gas masks and mission oriented protective posture gear due to nuclear, biological and chemical alerts and the possibility of incoming Scud missiles launched by Iraq.

After months of waiting, Marines swung into action, ready to play an integral role in the liberation of Iraq.

Sempers,

Roger




NORTHERN KUWAIT - Marines of Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, 5th Regimental Combat Team, sit in skurmisher holes in mission oriented protective posture level 4 gear in preperation of an incomming Scud missle attack that was launched by Iraq into Northern Kuwait March 20. The Marines of Regimental Combat Team 5 moved north from Kuwait in to Iraq in the first phase of operations to disarm the government of Irag with other elements of the American and British forces in the Southern deserts of Irag in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.





KUWAIT-IRAQ BORDER - Marines from Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines, dig fighting holes in the dispursal area near the Iraqi border at the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom March 20.






KUWAIT-IRAQ BORDER - Marines from Explosive Ordnance Disposal sight in on land-mines on a road next to the Kuwait-Iraq border with an M-14 sniper rifle used mainly for ordnance disposal. Kuwait police who guard the Kuwait -Iraq border gave the intel to Delta Company, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, about the mines. 1st LAR Bn. is part of the 1st Marine Division from Camp Pendleton, California.

Photo by: Lance Cpl. Andrew P. Roufs