[FHTNC Dec. 10]--Marine Corps Master Sgt. Chris M. Patrick, a
1984 graduate of Cambridge Ridge And Latin High School, Cambridge, Mass.,
and fellow Marines and sailors of Marine Wing Support Squadron 172
(MWSS-172), Marine Wing Support Group 17 (MWSG-17), 1st Marine Aircraft
Wing (1st MAW), Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan, recently
returned from a seven-month deployment to Iraq in support of Operation
Iraqi Freedom and the Global War on Terrorism.
MWSS-172 supplied support to the forward element of Marine Aircraft Group
16, 3rd MAW (Forward), to include tenant and visiting squadrons at Al Asad
Air Base, Anbar province, Iraq, as well as provided combat service support
throughout the province.
MWSS-172 constructed more than 25 helicopter landing zones throughout
Anbar province and built a refuel and replenishment point about 100 miles
north of the Euphrates River, increasing the operation area of the 3rd
MAW. Additionally, the squadron's motor transportation company carried
103, 062 tons of cargo more than 429, 733 miles between March 25 and Oct.
15, and the squadron's explosive ordnance disposal unit aided the
newly-trained Iraqi EOD soldiers with controlled detonations as well as
responded to local area requests for EOD support.
The sailors of MWSS-172 are primarily corpsmen, including augments from
Marine Aircraft Group 36, MWSG-17, Naval Hospital San Diego and Naval
Hospital Twentynine Palms, Calif. They maintained the squadron's medical
readiness and secured supplies for two cooperative medical engagements
with the Iraqi medical system as well as provided medical treatment to
Iraqi civilians in remote villages.
MWSS-172 was the first Marine wing support squadron from the III Marine
Expeditionary Force to deploy in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and
the first deployment of the squadron in support of the Global War on
Terrorism.
For more information on MWSS-172, go to http://www.mnfwest.usmc.mil,
http://www.1maw.usmc.mil or http://www.okinawa.usmc.mil
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