Operation Noble Obelisk

Evacuess from Freetown

Operation Noble Obelisk was the evacuation of civilians from Sierra Leone in 1997 undertaken by USS Kearsarge (LHD-3) and the 22d Marine Expeditionary Unit.

When, on May 25, 1997, rebel forces and military officers overthrough the government of Sierra Leone, a U.S. Army Special detachment already in the country for joint training exercises, moved to the capital of Freetown to secure the U.S. Embassy and its two residential compounds. It also identified an appropriate location for a helicopter landing zone (HLZ).[1] By virtue of their on scene presence the Special Forces were able to provide the Marine Expeditionary commander with "real-time" intelligence concerning the conditions in the capital. Major General Samuel T. Helland was designated as Commander, Joint Task Force Noble Obelisk.[2]

More than 400 Americans and more than 3000 third-country nationals were taken aboard Kearsarge over 4 days.[3][4]

The Marine 1st Battalion, 2nd Regiment out of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina participated in the Noncombatants Evacuation Operation (NCO),[5] as well as the Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 261. Naval Air Reservists provided logistical support.[6]

References

  1. ↑ "Operation Noble Obelisk", United States Special Operations Command (USSOC)
  2. ↑ "Major General Samuel t. Helland", Official Marine Bio
  3. ↑ Global Security.org "Operation Noble Obelisk" Accessed December 26, 2013
  4. ↑ W. M. Kennedy Operation Noble OBELISK: An Examination of Unity of Effort. Naval War Coll., Newport, RI. Joint Military Operations Dept.Technical report Feb 2001
  5. ↑ Marine 1st Battalion, 2nd Regiment
  6. ↑ "From the CINCs", The Naval Reserve Association

External links

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