Compass Points - Perilous Pier
Who is providing security?
Compass Points - Perilous Pier
Who is providing security?
March 12, 2024
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The US Commander-in-Chief has announced the Department of Defense will construct a pier in Gaza. Matthew Olay reporting for Defense News writes, "DOD to Construct Pier to Deliver Humanitarian Aid to Gaza"
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The Department of Defense will undertake an emergency mission to establish a temporary pier on the coast of Gaza to deliver up to 2,000,000 humanitarian aid meals per day, the Pentagon announced today.
-- Matthew Olay, Defense News
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Other reports have indicated,
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Administration officials said other countries were expected to assist the U.S. in the effort to develop the pier, and that workers from the United Nations and other aid groups would disperse the aid.
-- Joe Hernandez, NPR
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It sounds like everything has been accounted for. Build the pier, bring in the food, and then the UN and other aid groups will distribute the food. Best of all, according to DOD officials, the US military will have "no boots on the ground." Apparently, there may be a few wet boots, but no boots on the ground. That is reassuring, but it leaves one small detail remaining, who is providing security?
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This pier mission would seem like a perfect mission for the expeditionary Navy and Marine Corps team. The Navy knows how to get supplies ashore and the Marines know how to provide security. Perfect. But DOD is saying the Navy and Marine Corps team will not be involved. It will be an Army operation.
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The mission, which will be under the command of U.S. Central Command and conducted by the 7th Transportation Brigade from Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, and other forces, will deploy DOD's Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore capability, or JLOTS, with a goal of beginning delivery operations in approximately 60 days.
The components of the JLOTS include a floating pier, an approximately 1,800-foot-long causeway that will be attached to the shore, and a group of logistic support vessels and barges that will transport the aid from the pier to the causeway.
-- Defense News
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Before the Army JLOTS arrives at Gaza, one Compass Points reader is waving a warning flag, large crowds of hungry people can be a big problem.
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Polarbear
This is embarrassing! The US Army is sending small amphibious ships to accomplish this mission. Hey! SECNAV how is your amphibious ship building, repair and refit plan going?
And now we are going to build a dock in Gaza with JLOTS and “no boots on the ground” in order to distribute humanity assistance. What could go wrong here in the Israeli War against the Hamas terrorist organization? You would think that we had learned some lessons from the Afghanistan Evacuation. Didn’t our leadership give up Bagram Airfield in order to cut the planned boots on the ground in the Afghan EVAC, only to send in more troops than originally planned in a failed attempt to control the chaos? Why do we now need a pier?
Well apparently during the US air drops, we managed to kill a number of people when a 463L Pallet landed on them. It is extremely difficult, when dropping pallets of food, to keep the drop zone clear when people are desperately hungry. The real problem, however, is not the number of delivered meals but gun toting Hamas terrorist taking control of the meals. Who is going to secure and ensure food distribute to the Palestinian people?
Security and control of the food needs to be the focus effort. The US Marine Corps learned that lesson during the Vietnam EVAC Operation Frequent Wind. As the NVA marched down into South Vietnam MSC Ships were pressed into service to rescue and evacuate thousands of South Vietnamese refugees.
The Marine Corps report on the Frequent Wind evacuation reviews what happened.
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“On the evening of 4 April 1975, the MSC Pioneer Contender ship's captain, fearful of a complete breakdown in order and discipline with over 16000 refugees on board without food and water, sent out a call for assistance. Company B, 1stBn, 4th Marines on board the USS Frederick received orders to place a reinforced Marine rifle platoon on board the distressed Military Sealift Ship. The platoon, led by Second Lieutenant Robert E. Lee, Jr. was assigned this difficult task with minimum notice in less than ideal conditions. The SS Pioneer Contender, fully loaded with refugees and steaming south from Cam Ranh Bay enroute to Phu Quoc Island, had no prior notice either.
"As night settled over the coast of South Vietnam. Lieutenant Lee and his platoon, reinforced with one interpreter, a machine gun squad, and two corpsmen, went over the side of the Frederick and down the wet net…. From this start, there followed a harrowing ride in complete darkness and swelling seas to a slightly, but only slightly, more stable platform, the Pioneer Contender. Lieutenant Lee and his men, each laden with 50 pounds of equipment and consumables, made a precarious ascent up a jury rigged Jacob's ladder suspended from the leeward side of the ship's stern. Following this feat, the Marines struggled to the ship's superstructure, totally oblivious to the teeming mass of refugees, nearly invisible in the dark. Lieutenant Lee surveyed the situation and in a classic understatement, reported to the task force commander, 7,000 on board, everything under control." (At sun rise Lt Lee realized his mistake in his estimates of the number of refugees.)
"Over the next few days Lt. Lee and his Marines worked out and established the MEU Standard Operations Procedures for handling large numbers on refugees on follow MSC ships including the Greenville Victory, Green Forest, Green Port, the American Challenger and others. In order to distribute food and water, step ONE was establish security. Mixed into the refugees were South Viet Nam Army deserters, survivors, and bandits and until the Marines came aboard, whoever possessed a gun ruled. Each platoon going aboard an MSC ship would first move through the crowded ships collecting weapons and ordnance. One platoon leader commented: “You would be surprised how fast one of these gun toting bad guys would pass their weapon over to a Lt with a Marine in full battle rattle on each shoulder.” The next step was working with the family heads for the daily distribution of water and food. After the first distribution stragglers quickly attached themselves to a family. In a few days the offload of refugees onto barges and delivery to Phu Quoc Island."
https://www.marines.mil/Portals/1/Publications/U.S.%20Marines%20in%20Vietnam_The%20Bitter%20End%201973-1975%20%20PCN%201900310900_1.pdf
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In the final evacuation from Vietnam, the US Marine MEU successfully adapted to a very unexpected situation quickly and effectively. It will be interesting to watch the developments of the current JLOTS operation.
-- Polarbear
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Compass Points thanks Polarbear for his engaging comment. Fortunately, the US has a Marine Expeditionary Unit on patrol in the Eastern Mediterranean. Or does it? The 26th MEU, which had extended and extended its deployment, has already left for home. Worse, there is no ARG-MEU sailing to the Eastern Med to take their place. Even though the Eastern Med is a current crisis point, there is no MEU at the scene of the crisis.
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Maybe some of those Pacific island Marine Stand-in-Forces that have been discussed so much, could get to Gaza and "stand-in" right on top of the new pier. It is easy to say, "no boots on the ground" but the soldiers putting together the JLOTS will be in danger. The drivers driving the trucks on the causeway will be in danger. The UN workers trying to maintain order and distribute food will be in danger. Who is providing security? Where is the world famous US Marine crisis response force?
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DOD News - 03/08/2024
DOD to Construct Pier to Deliver Humanitarian Aid to Gaza
By Matthew Olay
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NPR - 03/10/2024
As a U.S. aid ship heads to Gaza, Biden again warns Netanyahu on civilian deaths
By Joe Hernandez
https://www.npr.org/2024/03/10/1237266035/gaza-biden-netanyahu-humanitarian-aid
This whole endeavor is fraught with peril! This would have been a very good fit for Navy Amphip CBs and Marine Landing Support (if they still have such an animal) along with some trigger pullers for security. This is what these units do while in harm's way. Not to take anything away from the Army 7th Trans Brigade who I am sure are fully capable but probably not so much in a semi hostile/chaotic environment. Not to be a Debbie downer but this could be disastrous if it proceeds as we are told. Too bad our former Commandant let our Amphib lift go to hell in hand basket along with innumerable other things. I will hope for the best and trust that those in charge are prepared for the worst!!!!
Hence my question in an earlier posting. “Who guards the pier””?” MEU is heading home and the army would need to be land based