Elliott, Craig, LtCol

Aircraft Maintenance
 
 Service Photo 
 Service Details
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Current Service Status
USMC Retired
Current/Last Rank
Lieutenant Colonel
Current/Last Primary MOS
6004-Aircraft Maintenance Engineer Officer
Current/Last MOSGroup
 Aircraft Maintenance
Previously Held MOS
6015-Aircraft Mechanic, AV-8/TAV-8
6025-Aircraft Power Plants Mechanic, Rolls Royce Pegasus
8156-Marine Security Guard
6035-Aircraft Power Plants Test Cell Operator, Fixed Wing
Primary Unit
2018-2021, 6004, 4th MAW
Service Years
1988 - 2021
Other Languages
Arabic-Standard
Japanese
Spanish
Swahili
Official/Unofficial USMC Certificates
Certificate of Commendation
Desert Rat
Cold War Certificate
Meritorious Mast
Shellback Certificate
Operation Iraqi Freedom
Operation Enduring Freedom
Persian Excursion
Iwo Jima Certificate
Officer Collar Insignia
Lieutenant Colonel

 Official Badges 

USMC Retired Pin (30 Years) US Marines Corps Honorable Discharge Black Belt


 Unofficial Badges 

Cold War Medal Shellback Persian Excursion Casualty Escort

Cold War


 Military Associations and Other Affiliations
United Services Automobile Association (USAA)Marine Corps Mustang AssociationMilitary Officers Association of America (MOAA)Chapter 15
  1997, United Services Automobile Association (USAA)
  2002, Marine Corps Mustang Association
  2020, Military Officers Association of America (MOAA)
  2021, Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Chapter 15 (Life Member) (New Orleans, Louisiana)


 Additional Information
Other Comments:
   

 Remembrance Profiles - 2 Marines Remembered
  • Dixon, Kelly, Sgt, (1991-1994)
  • Jones, Kenneth, SgtMaj, (1980-2007)


Gulf War/Defense of Saudi Arabia/Operation Desert Shield
From Month/Year
August / 1990		 To Month/Year
January / 1991

Description
In 1990, fellow Arab Gulf states refused to endorse Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein's plan to cut production and raise the price of oil, leaving him frustrated and paranoid. Iraq had incurred a mountain of debt during its war with Iran that had lasted for most of the previous decade, and the Iraqi President felt that his Arab brothers were conspiring against him by refusing to raise oil prices. Therefore, after weeks of massing troops along the Iraq-Kuwait border and accusing Kuwait of various crimes, Hussein sent seven divisions of the Iraqi Army into Kuwait in the early morning hours of 2 August 1990. The invasion force of 120,000 troops and 2,000 tanks quickly overwhelmed Iraq's neighbor to the south, allowing Hussein to declare, in less than a week, that Kuwait was his nation's nineteenth province. The United Nations responded quickly, passing a series of resolutions that condemned the invasion, called for an immediate withdrawal of Iraqi troops from Kuwait, imposed a financial and trade embargo on Iraq, and declared the annexation void.

Regarding Iraq's actions as a threat to a vital interest of the US, namely the oil production capability of the Persian Gulf region, President George Bush ordered warplanes and ground forces to Saudi Arabia after obtaining King Fahd's approval. Iraqi troops had begun to mass along the Saudi border, breaching it at some points, and indicating the possibility that Hussein's forces would continue south into Saudi Arabia's oil fields. Operation DESERT SHIELD, the US military deployment to first defend Saudi Arabia grew rapidly to become the largest American deployment since the Southeast Asia Conflict. The Gulf region was within US Central Command's (CENTCOM) area of responsibility. Eventually, 30 nations joined the military coalition arrayed against Iraq, with a further 18 countries supplying economic, humanitarian, or other type of assistance.

Carriers in the Gulf of Oman and the Red Sea responded, US Air Force interceptors deployed from bases in the United States, and airlift transports carried US Army airborne troopers to Saudi Arabia. Navy prepositioning ships rushed equipment and supplies for an entire marine brigade from Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean to the gulf. During the next six months the United States and its allies built up a powerful force in the Arabian peninsula. The navy also began maritime intercept operations in support of a US-led blockade and United Nations sanctions against Iraq.

Coalition forces, specifically XVIII Airborne Corps and VII Corps, used deception cells to create the impression that they were going to attack near the Kuwaiti boot heel, as opposed to the "left hook" strategy actually implemented. XVIII Airborne Corps set up "Forward Operating Base Weasel" near the boot heel, consisting of a phony network of camps manned by several dozen soldiers. Using portable radio equipment, cued by computers, phony radio messages were passed between fictitious headquarters. In addition, smoke generators and loudspeakers playing tape-recorded tank and truck noises were used, as were inflatable Humvees and helicopters.

On 17 January 1991, when it became clear that Saddam would not withdraw, Desert Shield became Desert Storm.
   
My Participation in This Battle or Operation
From Month/Year
August / 1990		 To Month/Year
December / 1990
 
Last Updated:
Mar 16, 2020
   
Personal Memories
   
Units Participated in Operation

7th Marines

4th Marines

1st Bn, 1st Marines (1/1)

MASS-3, MACG-38

6th Engineer Support Bn

VMGR-234

USS Tripoli (LPH-10)

USS Ponce (LPD-15)

USS Trenton (LPD-14)

3rd Bn, 6th Marines (3/6)

5th Marines

10th Marines

2nd Bn, 4th Marines (2/4)

VMA-542

1st Combat Engineer Bn (CEB)

HMM-262

3rd Bn, 9th Marines (3/9)

VMA-121

3rd Bn, 7th Marines (3/7)

2nd Bn, 7th Marines (2/7)

HMH-463

3rd Bn, 2nd Marines (3/2)

HMM-165

3rd Combat Engineer Bn

HMM-161

1st Bn, 2nd Marines (1/2)

MWCS-28

2nd Marine Division

VMAQ-2

1st Bn, 10th Marines (1/10)

L Co, 3rd Bn, 7th Marines (3/7)

L Co, 3rd Bn, 7th Marines (3/7)

1st Bn, 24th Marines (1/24)

2nd Engineer Bn

USS Tarawa (LHA-1)

VMO-2

3rd Bn, 10th Marines (3/10)

VMFA-232

2nd Bn, 3rd Marines (2/3)

HMM-361

MAG-29

1st Bn, 4th Marines (1/4)

VMGR-352

HMLA-167

USS Austin (LPD-4)

12th Marines

8th Comm Bn

9th Engineer Support Bn (ESB)

2nd Medical Bn

8th Engineer Support Bn (ESB)

2nd Bn, 5th Marines (2/5)

4th LAAM Bn

H&S Bn, 1st Marine Logistics Group (1st MLG)

4th Tank Bn

1st Bn, 6th Marines (1/6)

3rd Assault Amphibian Bn (3rd AABn)

9th Comm Bn

2nd Assault Amphibian Bn (2nd AABn)

MARDET USS Midway (CVA-41)

2nd Supply Bn

HMLA-367
 
My Photos From This Battle or Operation
No Available Photos

  3517 Also There at This Battle:
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  • Aarvig, David, Sgt, (1981-1991)
  • Abbaduska, Robert, Sgt, (1986-1992)
  • Abbatoy, William, SSgt, (1971-1991)
  • Abbott, Anthony, GySgt, (1975-1996)
  • Abel, Lonnie, Sgt, (1989-1994)
  • Abney, Steven, Sgt, (1978-1993)
  • Abramowitz, Michael, LCpl, (1988-1992)
  • Abreu, Carlos, Sgt, (1983-1995)
  • Acevedo, Jesus, Cpl, (1989-1993)
  • Acosta, Felix, 1stSgt, (1987-Present)
  • Acree, Clifford M., Col, (1973-2003)
  • Acree, Richard, Cpl, (1988-1995)
  • Adamo, Christine, Sgt, (1987-1993)
  • Adams, Bobby, SSgt, (1996-2008)
  • Adams, Brian, Cpl, (1989-1993)
  • Adams, D. Chad, PFC, (1995-1999)
  • Adkins, Randy, Sgt, (1986-1992)
  • Adorno, Felix, GySgt, (1974-1994)
  • Aguirre, Ismael, Cpl, (1987-1991)
  • Agulia, Richard, MSgt, (1985-2010)
  • Agustin, Norman, MSgt
  • Aiello, Keith, Cpl, (1989-1997)
  • Ainscoe, Daniel, Sgt, (1984-1995)
  • Albert, Eddie, Sgt, (1981-1994)
  • Albert, Matthew, Cpl, (1989-1995)
  • Albrecht, Richard, SSgt, (1980-1995)
  • Albro, Jason, Sgt, (1986-1994)
  • Alden, Bryant, Sgt, (1986-1994)
  • Aleksa, Allen, MSgt, (1974-1999)
  • Alexander, Dean, GySgt, (1980-2000)
  • Alexander, Dennis, Cpl, (1982-1991)
  • Alger, Michael, Sgt, (1983-1991)
  • Alimia, Paul, Cpl, (1988-1994)
  • Alldredge, Ralph (Lane), GySgt, (1972-1993)
  • Allen, Bobby, Sgt, (1988-1998)
  • Allen, Donald, GySgt, (1971-1994)
  • Allen, Harry, Sgt, (1984-1994)
  • Allen, Juan, MSgt, (1984-2008)
  • Allen, Mark, Sgt, (1987-1991)
  • Allen, Michael, Cpl, (1987-1991)
  • Allen, Roy, Cpl, (1986-1991)
  • Allen, Timothy, Cpl, (1989-1993)
  • Allen, Tommy, Sgt, (1987-1993)
  • Allen, Troy, MGySgt, (1988-Present)
  • Allen, Vernon, MGySgt, (1980-2010)
  • Alley II, Bobby, GySgt, (1989-2013)
  • Allison, Michael, Sgt, (1982-1991)
  • Allridge, Craig, MSgt, (1990-2010)
  • Alvarez, Rodolfo, Cpl, (1987-1991)
  • Amaral, Anthony, CWO3, (1979-2000)
  • Amidon, Ken, LtCol, (1981-2004)
  • Ammerman, Larry, Maj, (1975-1997)
  • Anderson, Brian, SSgt, (1983-2000)
  • ANDERSON, CURTIS, GySgt, (1983-2006)
  • Anderson, David, Sgt, (1987-1993)
  • Anderson, David, Sgt, (1984-1995)
  • Anderson, John, LCpl, (1990-1994)
  • Anderson, Sean, SgtMaj, (1989-2008)
  • Anderson, William, GySgt, (1981-2001)
  • Andrade, Juan, SSgt, (1981-2008)
  • Andrade, Robert, Cpl, (1989-1994)
  • Andreasen, Andrew, Cpl, (1988-1993)
  • Andrews, Aaron, Cpl, (1989-1993)
  • [Name Withheld], (1985-2008)
  • Anthony, Antonio, SSgt, (1984-2004)
  • Aponte, Juan, Sgt, (1988-1993)
  • Applegate, Douglas, Col, (1974-2006)
  • Aranda, Timothy, Sgt, (1988-1992)
  • Archer, Charles, MSgt, (1981-2004)
  • ARENAS, Manuel, GySgt, (1983-2006)
  • Armstead, Wali, SSgt, (1986-2006)
  • Armstrong, David, SSgt, (1989-2000)
  • Armstrong, Keith, SSgt, (1984-1991)
  • Arnold, Danny, MSgt, (1985-2008)
  • Arnold, Gary G., SgtMaj, (1978-2005)
  • Arnold, Steve, Cpl, (1987-1991)
  • Arquines, Alvin, Sgt, (1983-1992)
  • Arsenault, Michael, CWO2, (1988-2009)
  • Arthur, Mark, HMC, (1987-Present)
  • Ary, Morgan, 1stSgt, (1987-2011)
  • Ascencio, Arthur, Cpl, (1988-1992)
  • Aschinger, Donald, MSgt, (1988-2010)
  • Asesor, Flor, Sgt, (1987-1994)
  • Asher, Steven, Cpl, (1987-1991)
  • Askeland, Scott, MGySgt, (1987-2008)
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