In this article, Brigadier General Simmons describes the U. S. Marine Corps'
involvement in the Persian Gulf from Iraq `5 invasion of Kuwait to the eve of
Desert Stoim.   General Simmons places these actions in their global and
historical perspective, emphasizing the unique capabilities provided by a large
and ready expeditionary force.

Getting Marines To the Gulf

By Brigadier General Edwin H. Simmons, U.S. Marine Corps (Retired)

U.S. Naval Insdtute Proceedings, May 1991.

   Few Americans could have identified Saddam Hussein on Wednesday, 1
August 1990, the day before the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. In the Marine Corps,
the most interesting things that were happening were taking place in the
Philippines and off the coast of Liberia.
   Afloat in Philippine waters was the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit--the 13th
MEU--which had sailed from Southern California on 20 June.             Originally
scheduled for a port visit at Subic Bay and training ashore, the 13th MEU found
itself conveniently present to assist in earthquake relief.  With Colonel John E.
Rhodes as its commander, the MEU included Battalion Landing Team 1/4,
reinforced Medium Helicopter Squadron 164, and MSSG-13, a tailored combat
service support group.
   Already ashore at Subic was a contingency Marine air-ground task force
(CMAGTF 4-90) of about 2,000 Marines drawn from the Okinawa-based III
Marine Expeditionary Force, ostensibly for training but also with the purpose
of providing a deterrent against untoward antiAmerican guerrilla or terrorist
activity. The core of CMAGTF 4-90 was the 3d Battalion, 7th Marines.
   Halfway around the world, standing off Monrovia, Liberia, in amphibious
ships, was the 22d MEU, with BLT 2/4, HMM-261, MSSG-22, and Colonel
Granville R. Amos, commanding. 1 Civil war had progressed to a point where
it was obvious that the government of President Samuel K. Doe would fall.
The 22d MEU      was prepared to  evacuate American           citizens and foreign
nationals .2
   As Marine Expeditionary Units, the 13th MEU and 22d MEU were two of
the smallest of MAGTFS. With an occasional exception, these formations come
in three sizes, Marine Expeditionary Brigades or MEBs being next larger in size,
and Marine Expeditionary Forces or MEFs being the largest.3          By doctrine,
MAGTFs must have four organizational elements: a command element, a ground
combat element, an aviation combat element, and a combat service support
element. 4
   Both the 13th MEU and 22d MEU were Marine Expeditionary Units, Special
Operations Capable [MEU (SOC)s], meaning that they had become trained and
practiced in a wide range of special operations. For example, in addition to
being prepared to reinforce beleaguered U.S. embassies and carry out evacua-
tions, they were trained in a number of other missions, including boarding