Operation Sharp Edge facts for kids
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Operation Sharp Edge was a special mission by the United States Marine Corps in Liberia, a country in Africa. This mission happened in 1990 and 1991. Its main goal was to safely get people out of the country. These people were mostly American citizens and diplomats. This type of mission is called a non-combatant evacuation operation. It means rescuing people without fighting.
The Marines who did this job were from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (22nd MEU) and the 26th MEU. A MEU is a group of Marines and sailors. They have everything they need for different missions. This includes ground troops, helicopters, and support teams. Several US Navy ships helped them. These ships included the USS Saipan and the USS Ponce.
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Why the Mission Was Needed
The First Liberian Civil War started in December 1989. This was a big fight within Liberia. Different groups in the country were fighting each other. The fighting became very dangerous. It was especially bad in Monrovia, the capital city.
Because of the violence, it was not safe for people to travel. American diplomats and other civilians could not get to the US Embassy. They needed to reach the embassy to leave the country safely. So, the US military had to step in and help.
How the Mission Happened
The 22nd MEU started the rescue mission. They used helicopters to get Marines into the US Embassy area. This happened before dawn, very early in the morning. About 237 Marines landed using large Sikorsky CH-53D Sea Stallion and CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters.
The areas where the helicopters landed were sometimes shot at. The Marines quickly secured the area around the US Embassy. They also helped people from other countries' embassies. US Marine helicopters like the AH-1T SuperCobra and AV-8B Harrier II aircraft helped protect the Marines on the ground.
At the same time, other Marines secured landing spots nearby. They helped more Americans and people from other countries get out. These rescued people were flown to the USS Saipan and USS Ponce ships. From there, they were taken to Freetown, a safe city in Sierra Leone.
Continuing the Rescue Efforts
After the first rescue on August 20, 1990, the 22nd MEU left. The 26th MEU took over the mission. Marines from the 26th MEU continued the evacuation work. They stayed on the USS Whidbey Island. Another ship, the USS Barnstable County, helped carry people out of Monrovia.
The Marines and sailors on the Whidbey Island stayed for 121 days. During this time, they helped over 1,000 civilians leave Monrovia. Most of these people were also taken to Freetown. The 26th MEU finished its part of the mission around December 1990.
In total, the 22nd MEU and 26th MEU rescued many people. Between the summer of 1990 and January 9, 1991, they evacuated 2,439 people. This operation was a success in keeping people safe during a dangerous time.
Images for kids
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USS Saipan and landing craft during Operation Sharp Edge
