U.s. Marines in Iraq, 2003 : Combat Service Support During Operation Iraqi Freedom

The story of combat service support during Operation Iraqi Freedom-I is one that could have been easily overlooked by history, except what would have been lost is more than a simple tale of Marines performing exceptionally during a time of war. Lost would have been a recollection of historical firsts, an account of extraordinary vision and insight from some of the Marine Corps' top leaders, and a chronicle of miracles performed in the heat of battle by individuals who rarely receive the glory and praise of their front-line combat counterparts. This monograph tells the story of the Marines and sailors from 1st Force Service Support Group and 2d Force Service Support Group, whose combined efforts helped pave the way for the Marine Corps' success during Operation Iraqi Freedom-I. The author, Lieutenant Colonel Melissa D. Mihocko, is a supply officer who has served as a field historian with the History Division since 2002. Before this service, Lt. Col. Mihocko was assigned to 4th Civil Affairs Group and deployed twice to the Balkans and once during a MEU's Mediterranean deployment. In 2003, just months after joining the detachment, she mobilized and deployed as a field historian in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Between February and May of that year, LtCol Mihocko was assigned to 1st Force Service Support Group and traveled to Kuwait and Iraq to collect more than 130 oral history interviews, along with documents, artifacts, and photos. More important, however, she gained a firsthand look at the Marines Corps' combat service support in action. Following her deployment, she remained on active duty and mobilized again to work on this monograph.