2nd ANGLICO assists British forces during Operations Iraqi Freedom
USMC News
Story Identification Number: 200342275653
Story by Staff Sgt. Daniel W. Jones
AL KUT, Iraq (Apr. 22, 2003) -- For nearly 228 years the United States Marine Corps has been making Marines and winning battles. If you trace the Corps' lineage you will discover that it has been molded from the British Royal Marines.
Marines from 2nd Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, Camp Lejeune, N.C. fought during Operation Iraqi Freedom, not with U.S. Marines but their British counterparts.
"We augmented 1st ANGLICO in order to support the British mission," said Major Walter Lee, a Macon, Ga., native and officer-in-charge, 2d ANGLICO Detachment for 1st ANGLICO. "We chopped down to them January 12."
ANGLICO's mission was to provide close air support for the British.
They also assisted in fire support and as forward observers.
According to Lee, 16 Marines were imbedded with the British in mid January.
"We had four, four-man teams," he added. "Two teams stayed in the U.K. with 42nd British Commando (Battalion) and two teams set sail with 40th Commando."
After three weeks of training in the United Kingdom, 42nd Commando flew to Kuwait and arrived Feb. 3, while, 40th Commando arrived mid-February and completed their training there.
One ANGLICO Team was assigned to Charlie Squadron, Queens Dragoon Guard.
"This unit is similar to our Light Armored Reconnaissance," said Capt. Mike Deardorff, whose team was sent from 42nd Commando to the QDG.
"Compatibility was not a problem," Lee said.
According to Deardorff, they (British) were concerned about fratricide (friendly fire).
"They were relieved when we got here," said the Fairhill, Md., native and Firepower Control Team Leader. "They thought that we would be the key to preventing it (friendly fire).
Once the war began the British mission was to prevent Saddam Hussein and his forces from pumping oil into the gulf.
According to Deardorff, after discovering that their initial point of entry into Iraq would not work, QDG decided to land in Kuwait and travel through Umm Qasr en route to Al Basrah. They made a water crossing using a British Landing Craft into a supposedly clear area.
"We landed 15 feet away from a mine field," said Deardorff.
Because of where they landed the British vehicle nearly overturned and filled with water.
"We lost our vehicle the first day of the war," he said.
"The QDG screened out in front of us," said Lee. "They were basically further north on the peninsula."
"At 1200, it seemed that all of the forward vehicles came under fire at the same time," Deardorff said.
Close Air Support was called in but the pilots were unsure about the location of their targets.
"Unless they (pilots) feel comfortable they won't drop any ordnance," said Deardorff.
After several unsuccessful attempts, Deardorff took it upon himself and moved up to a forward observation post.
"Once I got there, the British FAC (Forward Air Controller) showed me where there were some tanks," he said. "They had pulled back into the tree line so I couldn't see them clearly."
Deardorff also located two trucks and a bunker, which was still occupied.
"I requested close air support and neutralized the bunker and destroyed the trucks," he said.
About this time, the tanks came out of the tree line and engaged the C Squadron vehicles.
As the hits just kept on coming, Deardorff called for immediate close air support.
"After this happened, we saw a tank that looked like it was going to fire at the aircraft," he said. "When it fired, the round landed 30 meters away from us."
After destroying the tanks, the QDG moved near Named Area of Interest (NAI) Taku where they destroyed a military compound.
"I put in a call for fire and with 16 guns firing, approximately 18,000 pounds of ordnance landed in the compound," Deardorff said.
According to Lee, 40th Commando pushed north towards Basrah while 42nd Commando did a relief in place with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit in Umm Qasr, where they took part in humanitarian operations.
Lee added that 42nd Commando took part in urban patrols to route out weapons and Ba'ath Party soldiers in Umm Qasr.
"We took part in a pre-dawn direct action to take out the Ba'ath Party leaders in their houses before they woke up," Lee added. "Once we secured it, the aid started rolling in."
"It was difficult for everyone getting restarted from humanitarian missions in Umm Qasar to combat operations in Basrah," said Lee. "Mentally that's a challenge."
After this 40th Commando moved just east of Basrah, March 22 where they encountered heavy resistance.
With Iraqi soldiers changing into civilian clothes it was often difficult to distinguish the two.
"We all had the fear that we would hurt civilians," Lee said.
"We all took artillery, but it didn't take long for us to get rid of it," he said
By April 5th, 42nd Commando arrived on the Eastern edge of Basrah.
"Before we got there we were told to expect heavy casualties," added Lee. "When we got there, the civilians were cheering us and waving British flags. So we moved in and took up positions in Eastern Basrah."
"When we got into Basrah, we saw a local who spoke great English, and was informed that the Iraqi soldiers had left two to three hours earlier," Lee said.
Patrols were sent in to the city to clear out the remaining enemy forces, said Lee.
"That's pretty much where the war ended for us," Deardorff said.
After rejoining Task Force Tarawa, Lee added that the time with the British was time well spent.
"They are a great bunch of guys and true friends. We look forward to working with them again," he concluded.
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