US soldiers Stranded Call the Marines to 'rescue' them from Iraq

What happens when you're scheduled for a troop rotation out of Iraq, but the military doesn't have air transport to get you out? Apparently if you're the 16th Military Police Brigade based out of Fort Bragg, N.C. you find the next best option...call the Marines.

This is wild. Our troops are being stranded in Iraq. Are you kidding me? Here are a few excerpts from an article in the Air Force Times on Oct 1.

Having a tough time getting a ride home? Call the 22nd MEU.

That’s what about 600 soldiers and airmen in Iraq did recently when the assets that were originally supposed to fly them to Kuwait couldn’t make it because of technical issues and other, critical missions..

.....

The troops, who had been providing security for eight months at Camp Bucca, Iraq, were flown to Camp Buehring, Kuwait, to start their trip home to the U.S.

“This is possibly the best airlift we’ve ever seen,” said Air Force Capt. Thomas McGillicuddy, a troop commander with the 886th Expeditionary Security Force Squadron, in the release. “The Marines were timely, they were efficient — we’ve never seen something like that before. If the Marines hadn’t agreed to take us out, all of us would have been there for another 10 to 13 days, minimum.”

.....

“We knew this mission was important, and we knew these airmen and soldiers were in need of a lift, so we had to rearrange some of our planned training,” said Col. Doug Stilwell, the MEU commander. “But, ultimately, this will not interfere with our original intentions of getting plenty of quality training during our stay at Camp Buehring.”

From the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit press release.

“The MEU is really the Swiss Army Knife of military units,” said Stilwell. “We can support a full spectrum of operations from sustained combat ashore and precision raids to humanitarian assistance/disaster relief, or a mission such as this where we provide aviation lift to a non-organic unit. Whether the situation involves a crisis or a unit needing support, when the 22nd MEU is around, we can take care of it.”

watch the amazing video

Come on Bush and Company, at least provide our troops their transport out of Iraq. These HEROES deserve better. Sad, sad, sad. ..and people say the military isn't stretched too thin.



Same Players. Different Scandal.