09/05/08

Operation Iraqi Freedom

Jeff arrived in Bahrain in February, 2003.  Laurel arrived in Kuwait the following month.

Laurel was deployed with the 358th Civil Affairs Brigade, supporting the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force.  She spent time at the following places:  In Kuwait - Camp Arifjan, Camp Commando, and Camp Doha.  In Iraq - Umm Qasr, Al Hillah, and Baghdad.  She spent a total of 366 days in the Middle East, with roughly 5 months in Iraq with the rest spent in Kuwait.

Jeff was deployed as a KC-130 Hercules pilot with VMGR-452.  He spent 4 months in Bahrain, and 3 months in Kuwait.  During the 7 months Jeff was deployed to the Middle East, he flew combat sorties into Iraq, to include:  Al Basrah, Al Kut, Tallil, An Numaniyah, Salman Pak East, Baghdad, and Jalibah.  (and probably a few others he's forgotten!)

We were able to see each other about once a month while overseas.  Here are a few photos...

Camp Arifjan, Kuwait - 3/30/2003	Camp Commando, Kuwait - 04/03/2003	Camp Commando, Kuwait - 4/25/2003	Saddam's Summer Palace, Al Hillah, Iraq - 05/22/2003	Ruins of Babylon, Al Hillah - 5/25/2003
Puzzle fun, Al Hillah - 07/30/2003	Laurel's --'th Birthday, Al Hillah - 08/07/2003	Inside Babylon Ruins, Al Hillah - 8/08/2003	Flying Laurel down to Kuwait for R&R - 8/12/03	Jeff with CNN Crew in An Numaniyah - 4/10/2003
Laurel in Baghdad - July 2003	Laurel & brother Joe in Tallil, Iraq - 08/12/2003	"Joe Foss" Expeditionary Airfield, Kuwait - 3/05/2003	1st combat sortie, pre-mission photo - 03/21/2003	Al Kut, Iraq - June 2003

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