contingency operations in Haiti. They deployed again in May and June 1997 when a detachment from this squadron participated in Operation Guardian Retrieval in Congo-Brazzaville. The detachment then conducted a non-combatant evacuation (NEO) in Sierra Leone as part of VMM-261(Rein) which was named Operation Noble Obelisk. The NEO saved U.S., British, and other third-country nationals who were threatened by the Revolutionary United Front. 21st century Following the attacks on 11 September 2001, HMH-461 was the first Marine Corps helicopter unit deployed to Djibouti, Africa, in support of Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa. The deployment conducted multiple operations in support of special operations during the Global War on Terror. In June, while on a routine training mission (7) 1000 lbs bombs were dropped on two CH-53Es standing Casevac on the Godoria Range by an Air Force B-52. Captain Seth Michaud was killed in the mishap and both aircraft were destroyed. In October 2003, HMH-461 retrograded home to MCAS New River but would return again with detachments in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2012. At the same time that the squadron main body was deployed to the Horn of Africa, HMH-461's Marines supporting the 22 MEU also encountered difficult flying in the treacherous mountains of Afghanistan. The 22 MEU ACE was stationed at the Kandahar airport in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and designated as part of Task Force Linebacker. The CH-53E proved invaluable in the challenging environmental conditions of Afghanistan. Throughout the spring and summer, the detachment helped efforts to battle Taliban forces, register 58,000 Afghan voters, and treat 2,000 medical and dental patients. After their successful 7-month deployment, the Ironhorses attached to HMM-266 returned to MCAS New River on 16 September 2004. On August 29, 2005, HMH-461 received the order to deploy with 18 hours notice in support of relief operations for Hurricane Katrina. HMH-461 became the parent squadron and formed HMH-461(-)(REIN) with Marines and equipment from HMH-464, VMM-365, HMT-302 and VMM 264 to support the Special Marine Air-Ground Task Force for the disaster area. HMH-461 self-deployed to NAS Pensacola and started relief operations the next day in New Orleans and Mississippi. Their operations would continue for a month and would also serve to relieve the effects felt after Hurricane Rita made landfall. Shortly after returning home, the squadron received a warning to embark HMH-461 to go to Mar Del Plata, Argentina to support