Monday, April 7, 2003
AP Iraqi exile's homecoming as volunteer with U.S. forces sparks scenes of jubilation in rural town

"Khuder Al-Emeri, 43, left his Seattle restaurant behind three months ago to join the Free Iraqi Forces, a group of exiles trained by the U.S. military to serve as interpreters and guides in Iraq

Wearing desert camouflage and assisting the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, his return to the Shiite village where he once led an uprising against Saddam's regime was a whirlwind of tears and hugs seeing relatives he didn't even recognize after 12 years away.

''I came to help my people,'' Al-Emeri said. Qal'at Sukkar, [means] ''Fort of Sugar'' [is located] 60 miles north of Nasiriya ... "

Monday, April 7, 2003
NPR The Quiet Battle to Secure Territory. Marines Try to Win Cooperation of Locals, One Town at a Time.

Another report from NPR's Steve Inskeep, there is an audio report as well.

Monday, April 7, 2003
4/6 NPR's Steve Inskeep is with the 24th north of An Nasiriyah: North of Nasiriyah, South of Baghdad, An Online Report from a U.S. Marine Command Post.

Sunday, April 6, 2003
From the 24th's home page:

Message from Col. Mills
6 April 2003

To All:

You can be proud of your Marines and Sailors!

The MEU has ashore a week and we've already moved hundreds of miles. We're taking part in air and ground operations against both Iraqi forces and paramilitary groups.

Everyone has just been magnificent. It's hot, dangerous, dusty, and dry but your hero's are doing their jobs!

To date no one has been seriously injured and we've had no casualties. We know you're behind us 110% and we love you for it.

God bless all of you. Please take care of each other. Stay 24 PROUD!

Richard P. Mills,
Colonel USMC
Commanding Officer
24th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

Sunday, April 6, 2003
4/6 AP Wire "U.S. Marines of the 24th Expeditionary Unit listen to the chaplain Sunday, April 6, 2003, during the first services since their arrival at their military base north of Nasariyah, Iraq. The 24th Expeditionary Unit's main task is to block any enemy forces from returning to the coalition forces rear as they push into Baghdad. (AP Photo/Wally Santana)"

Photo here.

Sunday, April 6, 2003
4/5 AP Camp Lejeune's 24th MEU in Iraq

"The 24th MEU, based at Camp Lejeune, has had several run-ins with enemy forces and have captured several prisoners of war, according to a news release from the unit. The unit, which includes about 2,300 Marines and sailors, had been scheduled to return to North Carolina in February and complete its normal six-month deployment."

Saturday, April 5, 2003
4/4 24th MEU (SOC) conducts convoy through Southern Iraq: Photo Essay

"SOUTHERN IRAQ(April 4, 2003) -- After arriving here in Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Marines and Sailors from the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) received the word to move further north of their current position.

In order to get their supplies and personnel moved successfully, the MEU conducted a convoy with 93 vehicles April 3.

The convoy carried everything from Meals Ready to Eat (MRE) and fuel, to maintenance parts and infantry platoons.

During the trip, the convoy passed through the town of Al Nasiriyah, where Marines from Task Force Tarawa recently saw some heavy fighting."

Saturday, April 5, 2003
Baltimore Sun reports Buffer zone near border fills up with traffic

"Much of the green-and-tan traffic jam is attributable to the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, or MEU, which arrived at Camp Patriot this week with 2,300 personnel and more than 1,000 pieces of rolling equipment -- Humvees, trucks and tanks, equipment that does not roll with any swiftness."

"The load of the 24th MEU put us in a busier state than the normal activities, and the other ships are keeping us moving at a pretty good pace," said Joseph E. Kypel, a Navy petty officer 1st class and spokesman for Camp Patriot. "We've had this kind of activity in spurts before but this has been more or less steady."

Friday, April 4, 2003
4/3 Pres. Bush visits Camp Lejeune

Friday, April 4, 2003
4/3 The BBC's analysis of forces around Baghdad:

"On the right [of Baghdad] but further away [south?] are US marines - the 1st Marine Division plus, it is reported, the 15th and the 24th "expeditionary units" (MEUs) and the 2nd expeditionary brigade (MEB).

3/30 Knight-Ridder reported: "The 2,500-member 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit arrived on the outskirts of Nasiriyah and the 15th MEU was ordered to move there Saturday to help 5,000 Marines who already were in the area to protect Marine convoys crossing two bridges into central Iraq."

Thursday, April 3, 2003
It hasn't been a very news-revealing day today for the 24th ... but here is a link to an article about their departure from Djibouti: 24th MEU (SOC) leaves Camp Lemonier in high spirits. Frankie is quoted near the end of the article.

Thursday, April 3, 2003
A list of care package ideas from the Adopt a Platoon site.

Thursday, April 3, 2003
The handsome young man in the pictures on the right hand side of the page is Frankie's son, Alec. Click on the thumbnails for a larger version.

Thursday, April 3, 2003
A Navy report of the 24th offloading at Camp Patriot. According to the story, it took them nearly 5 days to do.

Wednesday, April 2, 2003
PBS segment about exercises in Djibouti

Wednesday, April 2, 2003
4/2 Washington Post

"The Marine Corps is planning to operate more extensively in the city of Nasiriyah, about 100 miles southwest of Najaf. The military situation confronting U.S. forces is similar in both cities. Nasiriyah anchors the two Marine supply lines and also is the location of a key bridge over the Euphrates. Current plans call for the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, which is now unloading in Kuwait City, to occupy the city, relieving members of the 1st Marine Division who are now holding it.

Nasiriyah is considered too important to simply let alone, officials said. "I don't know if you can readily bypass those places without being attacked," another defense official said. "It's clearly evident we have bad guys in certain places that we have to go in and root out."

Wednesday, April 2, 2003
4/2 Washington Post

"The Marine Corps is planning to operate more extensively in the city of Nasiriyah, about 100 miles southwest of Najaf. The military situation confronting U.S. forces is similar in both cities. Nasiriyah anchors the two Marine supply lines and also is the location of a key bridge over the Euphrates. Current plans call for the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, which is now unloading in Kuwait City, to occupy the city, relieving members of the 1st Marine Division who are now holding it.

Nasiriyah is considered too important to simply let alone, officials said. "I don't know if you can readily bypass those places without being attacked," another defense official said. "It's clearly evident we have bad guys in certain places that we have to go in and root out."

Wednesday, April 2, 2003
4/2 From the BBC page:

Nasiriya:
A US military spokesman has said that a US prisoner of war had been rescued. Nineteen-year-old Private Jessica Lynch, an army supply clerk, was captured on 23 March when her convoy was ambushed in the southern town of Nasiriya. The BBC's Adam Mynott says special forces stormed the hospital where she was held after marines attacked Baath party headquarters in the city to create a distraction.

US marines said on Tuesday they had destroyed two Iraqi T-55 tanks in the centre of the town, as sporadic clashes between US and Iraqi forces continued.

US marines have set up a humanitarian initiative for people in Nasiriya. A BBC correspondent close to the town reported large numbers people queueing for food and water.

An extra 5,000 marines were sent to the area on Monday as the US stepped up efforts to overcome Iraqi forces still holding out in the town. Fighting in the area has slowed the flow of supplies to US troops, our correspondent says.

Wednesday, April 2, 2003
3/29 Knight-Ridder reports: "The 2,500-member 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit arrived on the outskirts of An Nasiriyah and the 15th MEU was ordered to move there Saturday to help 5,000 Marines who already were in the area to protect Marine convoys crossing two bridges into central Iraq."

Wednesday, April 2, 2003
Not news, but an NPR article from July 2002 about the 24th

Wednesday, April 2, 2003
3/30 Arrival in Kuwait

Tuesday, April 1, 2003
3/30 Pictures:

Ready to board

Resting

Waiting

Tuesday, April 1, 2003
3/29 Picture: Offloading at Camp Patriot

From the Jacksonville Daily News 3/28: "In other news involving Lejeune-based troops, the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, which was told this week to expect an extended deployment, remained in the Persian Gulf awaiting orders to go ashore. According to wire service reports, the MEU will be sent to Basra to augment forces there."

3/26 Camp Lejeune Marine Unit To Stay In Iraqi Theater