were still in Okinawa, but approximately a quarter of those were a new infantry battalion, just rotating in from California. The battalion had just two days to gather all their personnel to get ready to deploy. The 31st MEU and ships' company personnel started their initial onloads to the ships on 9 Nov and completed the morning of 11 Nov. In one night alone, they loaded more than 170 pallets of equipment, weapons, and cargo. In addition, a C-5 Galaxy from Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, originally scheduled to bring maintenance supplies and tools to Okinawa two weeks later, arrived early on 10 Nov 1998 in order to restock the MEU’s Air Combat Element. This evolution was a part of the normal supply rotation, but the shipment arrived a week early – just in time to load onto the ships before they departed. From Nov 1998 to Feb 1999, the MEU participated in operations in the Persian Gulf and off the coast of Kuwait, including Operation Southern Watch and Operation Desert Fox. In December 1998 2/4 participated as the Battalion Landing Team (BLT) for the 31 Marine Expeditionary Unit Special Operations Capable (MEUSOC). The operation, named "Desert Fox", was a retaliation to Saddam Hussein's refusal to comply with U.N. Security Council Resolutions that led to a coalition air bombing campaign. The Marines of 2/4 were also set up in a defense at and around Muttla ridge, in Kuwait, to act as a deterrent for any Iraqi attack on Kuwait that might have followed the air campaign. Operation Continue Hope 1993-1994 Golf Battery deployed January 1994 with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit / Special Operations Capable (11th MEUSOC) supporting Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion 5th Marines. Golf Battery was mainly aboard the LSD -36 USS Anchorage and landed on the beaches of Somalia via LCACs in participation and support of the amphibious withdrawal of US forces in Mogadishu, Somalia which occurred on 25 March 1994. Operation Continue Hope, Operation Quick Draw, Operation Distant Runner. Operation Iraqi Freedom 2/11 deployed during January 2003 with the 1st Marine Division to Kuwait. They participated in the 2003 invasion of Iraq as part of Regimental Combat Team 5. 2/11 fired tens of thousands of artillery rounds throughout the war. Destroying all buildings, vehicles, and personnel that were in their way. 2/11 were Amongst the ranks of the U.S forces Striking fear into Saddam Hussein,