posted 05-05-2004 10:04 AM            

WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO THE LAW OF POSSE COMMITATUS?

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http://www.dominionpost.com/a/news/2004/05/04/bf/

Marines arrive in Morgantown

May 5,2004

BY JAMIE HENLINE

The Dominion Post

Arriving in waves over the past few days, the last of 1,700 members of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit out of Camp LeJune, N.C., washed into Camp Dawson last night.

The MEU is a special operations unit made up of 2,200 soldiers that perform classified, covert missions for the U.S. government. The 24th MEU is one of only three in the world.

For about the next three weeks, the Marines will flood abandoned buildings in downtown Morgantown, downtown Fairmont and surrounding areas to simulate urban combat situations they could encounter on deployment.

When they hit the streets, the Marines will be wearing full combat gear and hopping in and out of helicopters as part of their exercises.

Morgantown residents will also hear gunshots -- most of which will be blanks. Any live ammunition will be fired very sparingly into a bullet trap that will catch the shell and prevent it from exploding and causing any possible injuries, according to MEU C apt. David Nevers.

Staff Sgt. Demetrio Espinosa, public affairs chief for the MEU, said that while they are here, however, the main goal of the Marines is to make as few waves as possible.

"We're working very closely with (the city government and the staff at Camp Dawson) to make sure this training goes as smoothly as possible," Espinosa said.

Bit by bit, the MEU brought two-three medium-lift helicopters called CH-46 Sean Knights to transport the Marines, two-three CH-53 helicopters to transport vehicles and a couple of Cobra helicopters to provide artillery and ammunition to the soldiers during the drills.

"The CH-53 is one of the biggest helicopters in the world," Espinosa said.

He said they also brought along a couple Humvees, food and a supply of MK-19 machine gun grenade launchers, assault rifles and 9mm pistols.

"Right now, we're getting everything ready to start training here at Camp Dawson. We won't be in town until next week sometime," Espinosa said.

He also said the Marines have training every day but one. However, he said he does not know if they will be given liberty to leave Camp Dawson.

Morgantown Mayor Ron Justice said he expects life to go on as usual -- except for the occasional sightings of the Marines.

"In a sense, troops are in and out of Camp Dawson all the time," Justice said. "Anything that the Marines would do that would impact the city, the people will have plenty of notification about."

Justice said the MEU will have one nighttime raid in a student-population area, but it will be done after WVU's May 16 convocation and after most of the students have left town.

Espinosa said a definite schedule of raids is not yet set because the element of surprise is part of the training, but he said residents will be given plenty of advance notice.

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HAVE WE SEEN THE WRITING ON THE WALL?