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VMU-2 Night Owls welcomed home

Marine Corps News

Release Date: 9/25/2003

Story by Cpl. Nathaniel C. LeBlanc

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C.(Sept. 11, 2003) -- After seven long months of supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom, the Marines of Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 2 returned home Sept. 8.

Since early February, the Marines provided aerial surveillance and reconnaissance to the war fighters on the ground and close air support in the sky.

"Our Marines performed phenomenally and far exceeded all expectations," said Maj. John Pryce, operations officer with VMU-2. "We had no idea that we were going to be a maneuvering unit for the entire war."

The UAV squadron was constantly on the move throughout the war, providing their support every step of the way on the road to Baghdad.

"We were always on the go, moving from sight to sight," Pryce said. "Sometimes we would stop in the middle of the night, set up thousands of chemlights (chemical lights) to direct the convoy around us, take a highway for our runway and launch from there."

The squadron's vital information was key to eliminating enemy artillery, tanks, convoys, and many other threats.

"We gave the reconnaissance needed to root out, hunt, and kill the enemy," Pryce added. "There were times where we would take out 200 artillery positions or 200 tanks, and even entire convoys at a single time. Soon our primary mission became supporting the artillery adjustments and the surveillance of the whole left flank of 1st Marine Division. With our support, the 1st MarDiv had zero altercations with indirect weapons systems."

The Night Owls surpassed 1000 flight hours for fiscal year 2003, equaling to five years worth of flight time, during the efforts of OIF. It has become a record year for the Night Owls with the most hours flown since it was established as 1996. Nearly 900 of those hours were flown over the battlefield in Iraq.

"We were probably the most forward deployed wing unit out there, just stopping at the out skirts of Baghdad," said Lt. Col. Robert Rice, commanding officer of VMU-2. "The Marines did a tremendous job. Early on we were finding enemy artillery, tanks and keeping the division clear from problems ahead. We were the forward eyes for division, and covered the entire left flank after moving across the Tigris River."

The Night Owls vital surveillance gave Marines on the ground and in the air the tactical edge against opposing threats across the battlefield. With their mission accomplished the Marines are glad to be back with their families.

"It's an indescribable feeling being back home. When I was with the infantry we did cruises for a few months, but nothing like this," said Sgt. Joseph Whitehead, avionics noncommissioned officer in charge. "During the main portion of the war it was 24-hour days of non-stop flying. The only way to describe it, is that it was hectic. But knowing that you're saving lives makes it all worth it in the end."