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Article: Coast Guard Heads For the Persian Gulf; Largest Frontline Mission Since Vietnam
- Article from:
- The Washington Post
- Article date:
- January 30, 2003
- Author:
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The Coast Guard today began lowering patrol ships onto a
commercial freighter headed to the Persian Gulf in the service's
largest frontline deployment overseas since the Vietnam War.
About 600 members of the Coast Guard, including 200 reservists,
will fly to the Middle East after the eight cutters are loaded onto
two freighters and on their way, officials said. The crews will join
U.S. troops massing for a possible war with Iraq. Citing security
concerns, officials declined to specify the destination, the crews'
departure dates or the anticipated length of deployment.
The mission will be to provide port security and surveillance for
the U.S. ships and personnel streaming into the region as ...