OIP R I
Rv MARKO PRIMORAC
ABOVE: Kneeling, from left to right: Cpl.
Fleary, Pfc. Kunigus, Lcpl. Ames; standing
left to right: Cpl. Kennedy, LopL Rivas, Cpl.
Primorac, Lcpl. Cahill, HMI "Doc" Hinkle,
Lcpl. Moore, Sgt. Barb. RIGHT: Boarding
helicopters in Kuwait, destination: Nasiriyah
Ordinance being destroyed in the distance from our posts; all Iraqi mili-
Life under a Nasiriyah bridge for almost a month
tary ordinances that were captured were destroyed shortly thereafter. We stood post eight hours out of a 24 hour day,
fortified, and fought the elements.
photos taken by Marko Promorac
Following the President's orders which we received in
early March of this year. the Marines of the United States
Marine Corps Infantry Reserve, 2nd Battalion, 25th
Marines mustered at our respective Drill Centers to pack
our gear, say goodbye to loved ones, along with our
civilian lives, and load the buses headed one-way
towards Camp Lejeune. North Carolina, After a few
days, we found ourselves in Kuwait, and then in Iraq.
We were in southern Iraq, in the city of Nasiriyah, after
which our Battalion found itself operating in smaller
towns and hamlets north of it. We were there to maintain
peace and order, protect civilians, enforce the law, and
destroy any remaining Baathist, Republican Guard, or
Iraqi Military personnel still operating against U.S. and
coalition forces. In addition, with the aid of concerned
locals and informants, we were charged with identifying,
locating, and capturing rogue elements through daytime
and nighttime raids. My platoon, lst Platoon of "E"
Company, ended up in a town called Qulat Sikur.
We took charge of and fortified a former government
run casino. From there, we ran patrols-eventually with
Iraqi police-for 24 hours a day, in addition to maintaining
security for our position. Frequently, we were called
upon to meet with the local government, and to oversee
the distribution of propane gas, pay. and other necessi
ties. The local population, by in large, was excited that
the U.S. had liberated Iraq-most of southern Iraq is Shiite
Muslim; Shiites make up over 60 percent of Iraq's popu
lation. Iraqis suffered decades of criminal persecution
Assistant News Edna;