One Marine platoon seizes naval base, moves on to next objective

Associated Press ^ | 3-27-03 | Doug Mellgren (embedded with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit)

[Oldeconomybuyer]

NEAR AZ ZUBAYR, Iraq (AP) -- Just after dawn, an armored assault vehicle with the words, "Saddam Vaccine" painted on four sides drew close to an Iraqi naval base.

The back ramp dropped and 23 Marines from Echo Company's 1st Platoon poured out, flopping onto their stomachs in defensive positions behind sand dunes.

[SAMWolf]

(((Ping)))

[Coop]

Excellent article. Reminds us all how getting stuck in traffic or losing a shirt button just really isn't that important.

[g'nad]

ping... sounds like old times...

[TADSLOS]

Giants roaming the earth.

[eggette]

BUMP!!

[dd5339]

Ping!

Good read, that part about the SAW jamming makes my skin crawl.

Semper Fi

[wastoute]

Like the last bit best, sitting down with the New Testament... Prayers for ours (and theirs, but different prayers).

[aristeides]

Naval base? I thought Umm Qasr was the only port in the country. Where is this base? Is it on one of the big rivers?

[anymouse]

Marine ping

[XJarhead]

Good read, that part about the SAW jamming makes my skin crawl.

I bet that's the last time that happens. He'll have the cleanest weapon in that platoon.

[kellynla]

Thanks for the post. And Coop, thanks for the ping. When absolutely nothing but the best will do. First Mar Div. Semper Fi

[Oldeconomybuyer]

It's near (south I think) Basra and is aparently an inland "naval base".

[joesnuffy]

-with guns

[North Coast Conservative]

hey, it would really sound like old times if they were swapping c-rats. Ham and MoFus were my favorite. I always had enough to eat.

In God We Trust.....Semper Fi

[Billie]

Thanks for the ping to this, 'nad.

You know, the way they're covering this war, the way this was written, it's almost like we are right there with them. I'm sure you would like to be there...along beside them....tear down Saddam's posters....get a piece of those animals he calls soldiers.

[cavtrooper21]

I can't help but flash back on this, sounds too much like my trip to that fabled party spot....

[Coop]

When absolutely nothing but the best will do. First Mar Div.

Hmmm. I can't let that stand. How about this?

2nd MARDIV. All the firepower, none of the California freaks!

[kellynla]

FIRST MARINE DIVISION: MOST DECORATED DIVISION IN THE MARINE CORPS. CHECKMATE!

[Cap'n Crunch]

I was in the 2nd Mar Div and the 3rd Mar Div, both as an 0311. I was talking to another Marine at work the other day who served in the 1st Gulf War.

We were talking about the 2nd Mar Div being treated like red-headed step kids.

He said it stems from WWII and Vietnam when the 2nd Mar Div had some heavy casualties. I haven't been able to verify any of this on my own.

Any of you Devildog's got any insight into this curiosity?