February 16

12 views 0 May 9, 2023 Updated on June 17, 2023

The following are events related to the Global War On Terrorism (GWOT) that took place on this day.

2003

  • Nearly 7,000 Marines from the 2d Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB) hit the shores of Kuwait, boosting the Corps’ in country strength to more than 40,000 troops. The Marines left Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, in mid-January as the Marine contingent of Amphibious Task Force East and joined up with I MEF already in place in Kuwait in anticipation of hostilities with Iraq.

2005

  • For the first time in its’ history, Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 2 (MWHS-2) not only deployed as an entire unit, but also to a combat zone. MWHS-2 had been performing command and staff functions necessary to 2d Marine Aircraft Wing (2d MAW) since 1955 but always remained at Marine Corps Air Station, Cherry Point, North Carolina. The unit was deployed to Al Asad Air Base, Iraq. 2d MAW assumed the air mission in Iraq’s Al Anbar province from 3d MAW during a ceremony on 28 February.

2008

  • 3d Battalion, 23d Marines, 3d Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion (3d LAR), and Iraqi security forces conducted a joint-heliborne operation in the Al Anbar Province intent on denying enemy insurgents safe havens and to gather intelligence. The operation was also used to show the Iraqi people the capabilities of their own security forces.

 

 

Casualties on February 16:

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