Operation Enduring Freedom - Philippines
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Operation Enduring Freedom - Philippines (OEF-PI) is part of Operation Enduring Freedom and the U.S. war on terrorism. About 350 U.S. special operations personnel from the Army, Navy and Air Force are working with Philippine soldiers in the Sulu Archipelago. Another 750 U.S. soldiers are providing logistics support from the headquarters in Zamboanga on Mindanao Island.
Deployment began January 2002 and involved more that 1,200 members of SOCPAC, headed by Brig. Gen. Donny Wurster. The deployment was called Joint Task Force 510 (JTF 510).
The mission was to advise and assist the Armed Forces of the Philippines in combating terrorism in the Philippines. Much of the mission (Exercise Balikatan 02-1) took place on the island of Basilan, a stronghold of Abu Sayyaf. The mission is not to be confused with Balikatan 02-2, which took place April 2002 and was purely a training exercise.
Casualties
- On February 21, 2002, ten U.S. soldiers died when their MH-47 crashed at sea in the southern Philippines.
- On October 2, 2002, one U.S. soldier was killed in an explosion at an open-air market outside the gate of Camp Enrile Malagutay, in Zamboanga.