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(somber brass music)

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- VMAQ-2 Started out in 1975.

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It was a composite squadron
of multiple different

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type model series aircraft,
so it wasn't always prowlers,

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it was F-4s, and eventually was EA-6A,

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the Electric Intruder,
and then from that, EA-6B.

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The EA-6B Prowler is an
electronic attack platform,

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so it allows us to attack the enemy

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in the electromagnetic spectrum.

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So, whether it's radars,
anything wireless,

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it gives us the capability to have effects

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in the electromagnetic
spectrum on the battlefield.

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- When the Iraqis went into Kuwait,

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we found ourselves, Q-2,
waiting for an order,

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and ended up going into Shakey's Verain,

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and we were there for
approximately eight months.

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We were flying missions continuously

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overlong the Kuwaiti and Iraqi border.

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Over the 42 day conflict,
we flew over 1,500 hours.

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They did an amazing job of
keeping those aircraft flying,

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and keeping the weapon systems working.

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(airplane engine)

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- When we got deployed to (mumbles),

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support in operations inhered results.

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The Marines performed well,
performed over my expectations.

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Seeing the Marines, how hard
they worked day in and day out,

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I've been telling the
Marines since I've been here

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this is, hands-down, probably
one of the best units

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that I've ever been in in my 21 years

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that I've been in the Marine Corps.

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Everything started here with the MAQ2,

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and eventually all roads are
gonna lead back to the MAQ2

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with the final deactivation
of the first VMAQ squadron.

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Squadron has ties back
all the way to 1952,

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so there's been a lot of folks that have

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worked on this platform.

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So, it's gonna be a very emotional thing,

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and it's also a time
to reflect on the time

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that they had here.

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- [Rick] The MAQ community can do easy

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no matter what the tasking is.

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And that's across the board
from all the way down from

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that PSC all the way up
to the commanding officer.

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- [John] They are
definitely gonna be part of

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Marine Corps history.

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(somber orchestral music)