Any MPs on here that were deployed iso Operation Sea Signal in 1994 and lived in the hurricane shelters?

MSG Nicholas Raben — Sat, 20 Feb 2016 19:53:03 -0500

Just curious. I was deployed with the 293rd MP Co there from July 94' to Dec 94'. My platoon was involved with the riot that transpired on 10 Sep 94'. We had the all male camp, Camp Lima at first. Later we would take over the Camps of India, Kilo, and Juliet. We also rotated to the detention camp Mag 110, an outside shelter, and we also secured another area that I can't recall that turned a few bunkers into a detention camp.

I know the 65th MP Co was with my unit at the hurricane shelters. 6yrs later, I would run into another NCO that was there, Brett Petriken, and he knew about one of our Soldiers that walked down the the parachute outside the hurricane shelter of the 65th and pulled on it; all while naked and walked back; funniest thing I ever saw.

Lastly, who knew the iguanas on/ near Cable Beach could run "that" fast when we tossed one a grape; crazy.

Response by MSG Marcel Guaring made Feb 21 at 2016 6:19 PM

MSG Marcel Guaring — Sun, 21 Feb 2016 18:19:15 -0500

MSG Raben,
I am not an MP but was the supply sergeant for the 571st MP Co. and we deployed from Aug 94 to Jan 95. We were responsible for the Migrants at the Rifle Range. That was one of the best experience in my military career in respect to humanitarian assistance. The MP's had their hands full but it was also challenging logistically. We took over from a FA unit and they left us with about 3 pallets of Class 6 supplies. In no time, i made contact with the SSA that provided all the supplies and established and had enough supplies to sustain the mission.

The one that I could not get over was providing the cigarettes for the migrants. I keep a tight control of it and secured it in an ISU-90 because it was a hot commodity. It seems like the only thing the migrants care about was getting their daily ration of cigarettes. It was a great bargaining and incentive tools to get them to clean the camps.

The other one big task was removing all the heaters from the HDRs and the meals that contained pork.

Not to forget the over population of Banana Rats!

Response by Rick Wiseman made Mar 21 at 2016 1:11 PM

Rick Wiseman — Mon, 21 Mar 2016 13:11:20 -0400

I was down there in 92 with my unit, the 21st MP CO ABN. We had some interesting times with the dumbasses lighting their buckets on fire starting riots. That was a not all that unusual experience. I did enjoy the open air theatre we had. Good times...

Response by SGT Bob Robertson made Sep 20 at 2016 3:27 PM

SGT Bob Robertson — Tue, 20 Sep 2016 15:27:29 -0400

I was there, PFC Prescott at the time. I think that other area you were thinking of was Mag 291. Also, not to make him famous, but the naked guy was Mike Saylor, and as I recall he was chaptered over the naked thing. I don't think he wanted an Army career anyways.

Response by SGT Ed Whitman made Feb 4 at 2017 4:34 PM

SGT Ed Whitman — Sat, 04 Feb 2017 16:34:24 -0500

Was there from Sept '94- Jan '95 with the 300th MP Co. We lived in the upper end of hurricane shelters from the parachute. We actually built the snow fence volleyball court on the hill.

Response by SGT Michael Rigney made Feb 12 at 2019 10:39 PM

SGT Michael Rigney — Tue, 12 Feb 2019 22:39:17 -0500

Was there January ‘95 to May ‘95. We had Camp India with rotations through XRay.

Response by SPC Scott Steiner made Sep 6 at 2021 4:10 PM

SPC Scott Steiner — Mon, 06 Sep 2021 16:10:17 -0400

I was QRF with 2-5 ADA July94’- Dec94’, I recall the camps you listed. We were OPSEC at basically McCalla Field. The iguanas were a sight, with their “number plates!” The smell of the camps haunts my senses to this day, felt sorry for the plumbers with their SST’s (Shit Sucking Trucks) so few of them to clear all the honey pots. We beat the snot out of the rioting migrants. It’s always felt more of a civil rights violations issue to me than a humanitarian mission. I pulled guard duty at camp X-Ray in its infancy as you did I can see. MAG-10 for violent offenders(we snatch and grabbed those folks for you. I wish I could say “good times” but that’d be an outright lie.