Essex (LHD 2) - Naval Cruise Book

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Coalition Forces conduct Operation United Shield By Sgt. Doug Anderson MOGADISHU, Somalia -- After two years, the mission to restore hope to Somalia ended as United Nations and coalition forces withdrew from the ravaged country. The withdrawal mission, named Operation United Shield, had more than 14,000 troops and 23 coalition task force ships participating. More than 1,800 United States Marines and Sailors from the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), were joined by more than 400 Italian Marines and Paratroopers, to safeguard the withdrawal of 1,500 Pakistani and 900 Bangladeshi troops. These troops were the last of the U.N. forces left in Somalia to try and restore a semblance of peace and sanity in the country. After two years, I feel they (Somalis) have missed their opportunity, said U. S. Marine Lieutenant General Anthony Zinni, Commanding General of Operation United Shield. They ' re going to have to sort things out for themselves now, General Zinni added, standing atop a hill overlooking Mogadishu Airport. The 13th MEU(SOC), Command Element Marines came ashore at 7:30 A.M. on February 27th. Within a few hours, they were ready to control the actual landing force, which landed very early on the 28th. This was the largest MEU (SOC) amphibious assault in recent history. At H-hour, Amphibious Assault Vehicles (AAV) hit the beach just south of the airport while Utility Landing Craft (LCU) brought Marines and Sailors ashore at the new port. The landing force immediately began replacing the Bangladeshi soldiers, who were guarding the perimeter at the new port. Concurrently, Marines began digging in ■ behind the Pakistanis, while the Pakistanis continued to provide security for them around the airport. At 8:30 A.M. on March 1st, the 900 Bangladeshi peacekeepers, the first of the last [ U.N. Forces to leave Somalia, boarded their ; transports to begin their voyage home. We were the first ones (U.N. FORCES) here. We ' re the lastto leave, said Brigadier General Salad Abbas, Commanding General of the U.N. Forces. We ' ve suffered the mbst, Abbas mentioned, recalling that Pakistan had 32 soldiers killed in action in Somalia. A few hours before the Bangladeshi troops had Somalia in their rearview mirrors, the Pakistani forces pulled back to the safety of • the coalition security perimeter. Chaos erupted then as hundreds of Somalis, including some riding in technical vehicles and numerous trucks with machine guns mounted to them, came into the airport area to loot. Gunfire could be heard everywhere as the locals rummaged through and destroyed the areas previously occupied by U.N. Forces. The Marines and Sailors watched intently as stray

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UNITED SHIELD II Take Notice UNITEDSHIELD TIMELINE EVINT PAKISTANI BRIGADE EVACUATES EMBASSY UNIVERSITY COMPOUND, RELOCATES TO AIRPORT. EGYPTIAN FORCES CONDUCTWITHDRAWAL FROM MOGADISHU AIRPORT VIA U.N. CONTRACTED AIRCRAFT. PAKISTANI FORCES RETROGRADES FROM OLD PORTTO NEW PORT. UNITED STATES MARINES FROM 1 3fb MBU(SOC) AND ITALIAN rORCCS LAND AT GUCtNBtACH AND NEW POUT. REMAINING BANGLADESHI FORCESEMBARK ON U.N. CONTRACTED SHIPPING. PAKISTANI FORCES DEPART AIRPORT FOR NEW PORT. REMAINING PAKISTANI FORCES EMBARK ON U.N. CONTRACTED SHIPPING. ITALIAN FORCES COMPLETE WITHDRAWAL FROM GREEN BEACH. UN TEDSTATES FORCES REMAIN AS REAR GUARD. FINALWITHDRAWALOF U.N. FORCES COMPLETEDWITH RETROGRADE OFU.S.=ORCES FROM GREEN BEACH.