32                            HUMANITARIAN OPERATIONS IN NORThERN IRAQ, 1991:


A "mayor's" tent, the civilian relief workers' tents, a medical center, a water
point, and a supply dump were almost always nearby. The detachment directed
airdrops, received the trucks, pumped potable water, manned delivery points, and
coordinated services. The actual distribution was left up to civilian relief workers
or the Kurds. American influence in the camps was obvious when visiting
dignitaries were greeted by children singing "Old MacDonald Had A Farm" or
little hands flashed a "vee" accompanied by the refrain `1Kowabunga Dude! `36

                              Incirlik Air Base

    Combined Task Force Provide Comfort Headquarters was located at Incirlik
Air Base near Adana, Turkey. Incirlik was a large, modern NATO base. The
airfield  supported a multitude of air operations including fighter, bomber,
reconnaissance, and transport aircraft. A stretch of taxiway and some reinforced


                                                           Photograph by the author
Maj (now LtCo!) Charles V. Mugno, erecutive officer of MSSG 24 was assigned to the 24th MEU
forward command element and flew one of the initial relief missions into northern Iraq.