On 24 February 2003 , the 11th MEU Command Element deployed to Kuwait in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and later Operation Iraqi Freedom . On 5 March 2003 , the Commanding General , I Marine Expeditionary Force ( I MEF ) , designated the 11th MEU as Task Force Yankee ( TFY ) , named in memory of the victims of the 11 September terrorist attacks . The following units were soon attached to the new task force : 2nd Battalion , 6th Marines ; Sensitive Site Team No. 3 , 75th Exploitation Task Force , U.S. Army ; and Company C , 478th Engineer Battalion , U.S. Army . TFY ’s responsibilities were varied and challenging . They included : planning and operation of the MEF Enemy Prisoner of War ( EPW ) temporary holding facility ; force protection for Camp Commando , MEF Main in Iraq , ships transiting uncertain waters in the region , and MEF ’s primary ammunition supply point ; initial investigations of suspected Weapons of Mass Destruction ( WMD ) sites ; coordination of security plans for designated air bases , logistic support areas and lines of communication in Iraq ; and Phase IV planning . The 11th MEU returned to the United States on 20 May
11 September terrorist attacks
September 11 attacks
11th Marine Expeditionary Unit