Operation Resolute Response
Nearly simultaneous blasts on 07 August 1998 at American embassies in Nairobi, Kenya and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania killed more than 250 people, including 12 Americans, and injured about 5,000. Fifth Fleet Sailors and Marines quickly responded to help with recovery, rescue, support, and security efforts.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM), located at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida, dispatched two Marine Corps Fleet Anti-Terrorism Security Teams (FAST) to East Africa. Each FAST team is composed of some 50 Marines equipped with a variety of small arms and machine guns. One team has been sent to Kenya and the other to Tanzania to augment existing security personnel at the two bombing sites. The last FAST deployment occurred in connection with Operation Sharp Edge in Liberia.
CENTCOM Commander Anthony Zinni asked the Naval Forces Central Command to set up a Joint Task Force in Nairobi under the direction of Brigadier General Stephen Johnson. The Navy also sent in a 30-person SEABEE unit to Kenya from Guam to assist in what has been named "Operation Resolute Response." The first priority in both countries was locating people still trapped in buildings, then treating the injured, followed by airlifting those who needed to be treated elsewhere, and, finally, dealing with the Americans who died in the blasts.
Participating in Operation Resolute Response, Marines provide external security at the temporary American Embassy housed in the USAID building. A Platoon of Marines from the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) deployed to Nairobi, Kenya just weeks before they were scheduled to make a routine six month deployment to the Western Pacific, Indian Ocean and Arabian Gulf Region. The Marines of 3rd Platoon, Golf Company, Battalion Landing Team 2/1, 13th MEU(SOC) replaced the Fleet Anti-Terrorist Security Team of Norfolk VA who had been in Kenya since 9 August.
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