cpl. rich mattingly 3/3 marines track down clues, insurgents · pdf file ·...

By Cpl. Rich Mattingly3rd Bn., 3rd Marine Rgt.

KORANGAL VALLEY, Afghanistan - Marines ofIndia Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd MarineRegiment, have been operating at the forwardedge of Operation Enduring Freedom, often inisolated areas where support for insurgencyagainst the Afghan government and CoalitionForces remains.

Last week, India Co. entered the KorangalValley in Konar Province with the mission to cap-ture or kill terrorists suspected of conductingattacks against Coalition Forces, while workingto win over the trust of the local villagers.

"We get intelligence that lets us know wherethe bad guys are," explained 2nd Lt. RoyBechtold, 2nd platoon commander, India Co."After we get grid locations, we work with ourassets to plan the best way to go in and getthem."

The Korangal Valley is infamous for its inac-

cessibility and the numerous defeats theRussians suffered there during their ill-fatedcampaign to control Afghanistan.

After vertically inserting in CH-47 Chinookhelicopters, India Co. set into blocking positionsalong the roads and maneuvered into their posi-tions.

"The best way to come in is on foot or by air,"said Bechtold. "We have to leave as small a sig-nature as possible in order to not spook the guyswere looking for into running. If you come in withvehicles, they'll be long gone before you have achance."

Bechtold admitted that Marines in the pasthave had difficulty getting into villages sympa-thetic to Anti-Coalition Forces without having thetargets flee.

Once in place, the mission of India Co. evolvedto house-by-house searches as the clock startedticking on how long the Marines had until it was

Serving the men and women of Regional Command East, Operation Enduring Freedom - AfghanistanVol. 1, No. 2 Dec. 31, 2004

Inside

New chapel opensat FOB Salerno

Page 7

Marines deliverschool supplies

Page 6

Wolfhounds patrolWaza Khwa area

Page 3

Cpl. Rich MattinglyFacing steep hillsides, Marines from India Co., 3rd Bn., 3rd Marine Regiment search houses inKorangal Valley last week during Operation Cornhuskers.

3/3 Marines track down clues,insurgents in Korangal Valley

See “Korangal” page 4

Now that the holiday season isbehind us and we prepare to enter anew year, I ask that the members ofCombined Task Force Thunder to con-duct an azimuth check.

I ask that the Soldiers, Marines,Airmen and Sailors of the task force-continue to focus on the center of grav-ity of our mission. That mission is win-ning the hearts of the Afghanistan peo-ple and ridding them of the terroristswho wish to harm them.

By our continued presence, positiveattitudes, and our sincerity, the peopleof Afghanistan will understand we willnot leave until our mission is complete.

The tireless efforts of the Soldiers,Marines, Sailors and Airmen of thistask force, including our members fromthe New Zealand Defence Forces, have

already paid huge dividends. Ourefforts helped enable the IslamicRepublic of Afghanistan to holdits first national elections on lessthan three months ago.

What a huge accomplishmentboth for the people of this coun-try and for the members of thistask force.

Just lastmonth,PresidentHamid Karzaiwas sworn inas president.Next up, thecountry willhold parlia-mentary elec-tions in thespring

Afghanistanhas come along way since the Taliban wasousted over three years ago, butour mission is not complete yet.We must and will stay thecourse.

For some of us in the taskforce, this deployment is in the home-stretch, and for others, it is just begin-ning. Regardless, we all must remainfocused and pay attention to detail toensure that this deployment ends suc-cessfully.

The holidays are also an importanttime of year for not so obvious reasons.During this time of year, leaders mustclearly understand how important it isto stay connected to their subordinatesand their families during this time ofyear.

Many younger service members whohave never spent the holidays awayfrom home can get depressed. Being sofar away from family and friends canlead to service members becomingdepressed.

Leaders must stay tuned in and beable to recognize the signs of depres-sion before their subordinates try to dosomething drastic. Ensure they arestaying focused on the mission andtheir minds aren’t drifting back homealready.

We have planned many activities andentertainment for our service members,

and I encourageleaders to show sup-port and allow theirsubordinates to par-ticipate.

I am proud andhonored to be thecommand sergeantmajor of this greattask force. We haveaccomplished a lotin such a shortwhile here inAfghanistan. First

we had to relocate the brigade head-quarters from Bagram Airfield toForward Operating Base Salerno.During that move we had to stayfocused and continue our mission herein Regional Command East.

Throughout my time in country, Ihave witnessed first-hand the greatthings our Soldiers, Marines, Airmenand Sailors are doing. I could not askfor better Americans to servie with.

We have had Soldiers from this taskforce who have paid the ultimate sacri-fice in support of the task force's mis-sion, the Global War on Terrorism andbringing the democratic process toAfghanistan. To them we should allremain eternally grateful.

As leaders, we want to continue toemphasize the importance of safety andnot becoming complacent.Complacency kills ! It is very importantto stay focused on our mission, payattention to detail and finish strong.

Thunder Seven out!

Sentinel is an authorizednewsletter for the personnelof Regional Command East,Operation Enduring Freedom- Afghanistan. It is publishedin accordance with ArmyR e g u l a t i o n360-1.

Sentinel is published bi-

weekly by the CombinedTask Force Thunder PublicAffairs Office at ForwardOperating Base Salerno,Afghanistan.

Contents of the Sentinelare not necessarily the offi-cial view of the U.S. govern-ment, the Department of

Defense or the Department ofthe Army.

The CTF Thunder PublicAffairs Office is located in theTactical Operations Center atFOB Salerno. It can bereached at DSN 318-851-0040 or via e-mail [email protected].

Commander

Col. Gary H. Cheek

Public Affairs Officer

Capt. Juanita Chang

Editor

Staff Sgt. Bradley Rhen

Sentinel December 31, 2004

New year a time for azimuth check

Command Sgt. Maj. Edmund MurrellCTF Thunder command sergeant major

Command Sergeant Major’s Corner

“As leaders, we want tocontinue to emphasize theimportance of safety andnot becoming complacent.”

- Command Sgt. Maj. Edmund Murrell,CTF Thunder commandsergeant major

By Staff Sgt. Bradley RhenEditor

WAZA KHWA, Afghanistan -The Soldiers of Company C,2nd Battalion, 27th InfantryRegiment did not useChristmas as an excuse to letup on their daily patrols insouthern Paktika Province.

One such patrol Dec. 22lasted about three hours andtook them through three vil-lages in what isn't much morethan a barren wasteland thatsurrounds their base here.

The Soldiers first checked onthe construction of a school thebattalion funded in KhezerKheyl and asked locals if theywere satisfied with it.

The patrol then headed toKhoday Nazar Kor, a smallhamlet built into the side of amountain. There they searchedfor the point of origin - or POO -of rockets that have been firedat their base.

After climbing to the top of ahill and finding no evidence ofrockets, the Soldiers headedout.

Finally, the Soldiers stoppedin Marjaneh where theypatrolled the mostly-desertedbazaar before handing outblankets and winter coats tosome of the locals.

The mission was a primeexample of the diversity of the

war here, with the Soldiershunting for insurgents oneinstance, then handing outitems to help the locals keepwarm during the upcomingwinter.

According to 1st Lt. NeilArmstrong, a platoon leader inCo. C., 2nd Bn., 27th Inf. Rgt.,one of the battalion's goals is todeny the enemy [the ability to

influence] the people."With an insurgency, they

try to influence the people, andby us going out and buildingthings and giving out humani-tarian aid, we're denying theenemy the people, becausewe're bringing them over to ourside," he said.

For the Soldiers, that meansswitching back and forthbetween warfighter and goodwill ambassador. Spc.Jonathan Low, a designatedmarksman for Co. C. 2nd Bn.,27th Inf. Rgt., said he doesn'tfind it a difficult transition tomake.

"I look at it this way: thesepeople are our friends and theyneed our help," Low said."Anybody who wants to pick upa weapon and fight us, thenthey become the enemy andonly then. If I don't see aweapon, I look at them like theyneed my help."

Like every other mission theWolfhounds conduct, thispatrol's underlying purposewas to show a presence in thearea, letting any anti-Coalitionmilitants and Taliban knowthere is an American force here.

"We do patrols like that pret-ty much every day," Armstrongsaid. "We're always out with amounted force, just doing thepresence patrols. We alwaysattempt to give out humanitari-an aid on those patrols too,especially in the smaller vil-lages."

Low said the mission was aroutine one, but nevertheless, itshould not be taken lightly.

"Even on a routine mission,complacency kills is what theysay," he said. "Even on a rou-tine mission it can be danger-ous."

At one point in the missionwhile on a hilltop in KhodayNazar Kor, Low dropped to oneknee and brought his M14sniper rifle up as if he weregoing to fire it.

"I noticed somebody on abike and I was just checking tomake sure they weren't carry-ing any weapons or anythinglike that," he said.

The Soldiers returned totheir base cold and dusty asusual, but safe and with theknowledge they are helping thepeople of the surrounding com-munities.

December 31, 2004 Sentinel

Staff Sgt. Bradley RhenSpc. Jonathan Low, a designated marksman for Co. C, 2nd Bn., 27th Inf. Rgt., uses the scopeon his M14 rifle to look at an approaching person Dec. 22 in Khoday Nazar Kor, Afghanistan.

Wolfhounds patrol Paktika, hand out winter gear

Staff Sgt. Bradley RhenA Soldier from Co. C, 2nd Bn., 27th Inf. Rgt. hand out Skittlescandy to Afghan kids Dec. 22 in Khezer Kheyl, Afghanistan.

unlikely that their targets remained.Up and down the bluffs and rocky faces

that double as paths between the impossi-

bly stacked-up houses of the valley, theMarines and their Afghan National Armycounterparts talked to village elders, shookhands and searched houses from top tobottom.

"It all goes back to attention to detail,"

said Sgt. Shawn Kelly, an acting platoonsergeant in India Co. "You can't skip any-thing, it could be that one cache or that oneguy you miss that could help us stop animprovised explosive device emplacementor attack on Coalition Forces."

India Co.'s attentiveness paid off on thesecond day of the operation as Lance Cpl.Sean Decoursey, rifleman fromJacksonville, Fla., crawled through a smallopening in a floor to find a cache ofweapons and ammunition hidden under apile of hay.

"I found the AK-47s and ammunition,"said Decoursey, modest about the find. "Ialmost didn't look in that hole either - itlooked like maybe it only went back abouttwo or three feet until I crawled in there."

With the discovery of the weapons, theMarines held one Afghan man for question-ing, confiscating his illegal weapons andammunition. Their find was a good one.After being questioned, the man namedseveral other anti-Coalition militants oper-ating in the area which put India Co. rightback to work in the villages.

"It feels really good to be here and to begetting something done," said Decoursey,who has been in the Marine Corps just overa year. "It feels like we're really making adifference when we can catch one of them.”


Cpl. Rich MattinglyMarines take a security posture as an Army CH-47 Chinook helicopter leaves thelanding zone they were inserted into during operations in the Korangal Valley.

Korangal from page 1

By Staff Sgt. Bradley Rhen Editor

FORWARD OPERATINGBASE SALERNO, Afghanistan– Taliban and al Qaeda hold-outs operating in RegionalCommand East will not be get-ting a winter vacation this year.

In conjunction withCombined Joint Task Force-76’s Operation LightningFreedom, Combined Task ForceThunder recently launched“Operation Thunder Freedom.”

The operation is designed tocapitalize on the success of theOct. 9 Afghan presidential elec-tion and continue that successthrough parliamentary elec-tions scheduled for the spring,said Maj. Duke Davis, opera-tions officer for CTF Thunder.

Part of that entails huntingTaliban and al Qaeda militantsthrough the Afghan winter, andsapping their strength ahead ofthe elections. Traditionally,fighters in Afghanistan lay lowduring the harsh wintermonths and come back out

strong in the spring.“It’s not all about killing the

bad guys,” Davis said. “It’s per-haps more so about how we getthis country fully back on itsfeet and capable of managingitself.”

Davis said the winter hiber-nation has been a trend forquite a while, if not eons in thiscountry.

“I would expect that nextspring, when the snow melts,that we will see an attempt toincrease activity,” he said. “Butit will be interesting to see howmuch better our police, howmuch better our Kandaks, howmuch more the people are insupport of what we’re trying todo, and how much they pushaway the enemy’s ability to ini-tiate actions.”

Thunder Freedom willinvolve all the command’sassets, including the ProvincialReconstruction Teams, Davissaid.

Operation LightningFreedom was initiated after theDec. 7 inauguration of Afghan

president Hamid Karzai,according to Maj. MarkMcCann, a spokesman forCombined Forces Command-Afghanistan in Kabul. The oper-ation is going on throughoutthe country, he said.

``It's designed basically tosearch out and destroy theremaining remnants of Talibanforces who traditionally webelieve go to ground during thewinter months,'' McCann said.

Maj. Gen. Eric Olson, com-mander of CJTF-76, toldreporters last month that theoperation would include a rede-ployment to tighten security onthe border with Pakistan andraids by Special Forces tosnatch rebel leaders.

Olson said Soldiers deployedin support of OperationEnduring Freedom shouldn’tdiscount the resilience of theenemy, even during the winter.

“I don’t think we shouldunderestimate what’s left of alQaeda,” he said. “The al Qaedaitself is still a viable organiza-tion. In some instances, they

may be more dangerousbecause of their need to launchsome kind of high visibility suc-cess which may cause some torevert to desperate acts.”

The operation is also aimedat persuading militants to takeup an offer of amnesty from thecoalition and the Afghan gov-ernment.

Davis reiterated thatThunder Freedom is not just a“combat” operation, and itinvolves a wide array of assets,including reconstruction proj-ects and security assistanceprograms.

“The election was successful.Thunder Freedom is an attemptto exploit the successes of theelections focused on the oppor-tunities that present them-selves to continue in assistingthis new, democratically electedgovernment in any capacitynecessary,” Davis said. “Webelieve that continuing thatpress throughout the winterwill make the enemy that muchless capable of an effectivespring offensive.”

CTF Thunder begins winter offensive


WAZA KHWA, Afghanistan -The commander of CombinedJoint Task Force-76 switchedplaces with two infantrymenfrom this remote base in south-ern Paktika Province forChristmas.

Maj. Gen. Eric T. Olson leftbehind the comforts of BagramAirfield to spend the holidayhere where there are no show-ers, TV, phones or internet.

Meanwhile, Spc. MichaelHanes and Spc. FreddyBarahona, both infantrymenfrom Company C, 2ndBattalion, 27th InfantryRegiment, flew out on the heli-copter Olson flew in on andspent the day at BAF.

"Waza Khwa is one of themore remote and less developedfire bases, and I thought if therewere any Soldiers who coulduse a good break by switchingwith me for a day in Bagram,Waza Khwa was a good place tofind them," Olson said.

Olson said he was going topull Hanes' and Barahona'sduties while they were gone.

It remains unconfirmedwhether Olson actually pulledall of the two Soldiers' duties,but following Christmas dinner

and a brief tour of the base,Olson accompanied otherSoldiers from Co. C on a patrolto two nearby villages.

Much to the chagrin of thecompany commander and firstsergeant, Olson insisted on rid-ing in the back of a cargoHumvee with other Soldiers,rather than in an up-armoredversion.

"It's always good to get out,show presence in the local com-munity, interact with some ofthe community leaders, andthat's exactly what these guysare doing," Olson said. "There's

always risk when you do it, butthese guys are absolutelyunafraid of accepting that risk.They know it's a job that they'vegot to do."

Spc. Eric Rigsby, an M240Bgunner with Co. C, was thegunner on Olson's Humvee andsaid Olson was talking and jok-ing with the Soldiers through-out the mission. He said thefact Olson chose to spend theholiday at such a remote loca-tion says a lot since he camehere even though he doesn'thave to.

"To show the guys he has

done this before, to sit in a cavtruck in one of the worst seatsand ride with us, to come andpull guard with us, to sit hereand eat chow with us - it reallymakes lower enlisted Soldierslike myself feel good about himas our leader," Rigsby said.

Rigsby said Olson joked andtalked with the Soldiersthroughout the patrol and wasconstantly waving to Afghanchildren who gathered alongthe roads.

"He was just joking aboutthe situation, waving to every-body, talking about how muchwe've improved this area andabout how much he enjoys get-ting out of where he's at tocome out here and hang outwith us," Rigsby said.

Rigsby verified that all of thegeneral's jokes were funny, andall the Soldiers laughed at all ofthem.

Following the patrol, Olsongathered the Soldiers and toldthem all what a fine job theywere doing and that he lovedeach and every one of them.

"The quality of Soldiers hereis top notch, just like we seeacross the CJOA," he said."This is a great battalion, agreat company in that battal-ion, and they're just doingsuper things out here."


CJTF-76 CG switches places with grunts for Christmas

Staff Sgt. Bradley RhenMaj. Gen. Eric T. Olson, commander of CJTF-76, toastsSoldiers with sparkling grape juice during Christmas dinnerDec. 25 at Waza Khwa, Afghanistan.

USMC Commandant visits Marines in AfghanistanBy Cpl. Rich Mattingly3rd Bn., 3rd Marine Rgt.

CAMP BLESSING, Afghanistan - The33rd Commandant of the Marine Corpsand the Sergeant Major of the MarineCorps visited the Marines and Sailors of3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines Regimentoperating in support of OperationEnduring Freedom just beforeChristmas.

Gen. Michael Hagee and Sgt. Maj.John Estrada congratulated the troopsfor their dedication to duty at the for-ward edge of the battle area.

"The American people know what agood job you're doing here," said Hagee,hands on his hips surveying the crowd."And we know what a good job you'redoing here, too."

Estrada echoed the sentiments of thecommandant and assured the troopsthat they were making a difference by

being in the fight."Stay vigilant. You're doing important

things here and you must alwaysremember that you are a Marine,' saidEstrada.

The senior enlisted man and the com-mandant then took questions from thegathered Marines and Sailors who wereeager to ask about future deployments,even as they were still in the first fewmonths of their current deployment.

"It was exciting to get to see the com-mandant and sergeant major" saidLance Cpl. Tim Davis, rifleman withIndia Company, 3rd Bn., 3rd Marines."We asked him about maybe going toIraq. A lot of guys are interested in goingwhere a lot of our friends have gone."

After answering the Marines' ques-tions and passing out coins, the headsof the Marine Corps took time to takepictures with all of the Marines.

"Meeting the 'boss' got me totally

pumped up," said Lance Cpl. JamesO'Brien, team leader with India Co."Getting to meet him before we went out[for operations] in the Korangal Valleywas motivating."

Cpl. Rich MattinglyCommandant of the Marine Corps Gen.Michael Hagee thanks service membersfor their efforts in the Global War onTerrorism



NANGALAM, Afghanistan -Marines from 3rd Battalion,3rd Marine Regiment manninga base along the Pakistan bor-der recently began a campaignto distribute much-neededschool supplies to the childrenof Nagalam in Kunar Province.

"Whenever we can get outand we have the supplies todistribute, we go out,"explained Spc. Chris Ifill, anArmy civil affairs specialistfrom Philadelphia who hasbeen attached to IndiaCompany.

The coupling of Marine andArmy personnel has beeneffective in realizing thehumanitarian portion of theMarines' current mission tostabilize and support the dem-ocratic government ofAfghanistan.

"Having a civil affairsSoldier with us has addedanother tool for us to interactwith the local populace, a wayto provide something to themthat would otherwise be hardfor us," said Gunnery Sgt.Joseph Yantosca, a logisticschief and information opera-

tions officer.Instead of adopting a pure-

ly combat-oriented missionposture, America's Battalionhas become multi-faceted inits approach to its securityand support mission inAfghanistan. By winning"hearts and minds," as theadage goes, the Marines and

Sailors are able to undercutremaining support for insur-gency in an area whereattacks on Coalition Forcesare not infrequent.

"When you start helpingthem, they start helping usout," said Ifill. "They candirectly see the benefit ofworking with us when we can

hand them supplies their chil-dren need."

"You've got to be able to flipthe script," shared Yantosca."One minute you're on apatrol, the next minute you'repassing out school supplies."

On a trip last week to aschool in Nangalam, Ifill andYantosca passed out bookbags full of pens and pencilsand notepads to school chil-dren.

The first thing most chil-dren who approach Marines insouthern Afghanistan ask foris pens.

Thanks to donations, theMarines can start to providethese supplies on a regularbasis as Afghanistan stillstruggles to recover economi-cally.

Yantosca says the schoolsupplies donation goes deeperthan just helping Afghan chil-dren for the short term.

"These children are thefuture of president Karzai'scountry," said Yantosca whiledistributing book bags."Building a relationship withthe kids in this way meansthat as they get older, the rela-tionship can be one of mutualrespect."

Marines deliver school supplies in Nangalam

Cpl. Rich MattinglyGunnery Sgt. Joseph Yantosca, Camp Blessing logistics chiefand information operations officer, passes out school bagsand supplies to children in Nagalam, Afghanistan.

Staff Sgt. Mark Turney

Forward Operating BaseGhazni celebratedChristmas with severaltournements, games, tradi-tional Christmas foods andtopped it all off with aChristmas parade. Theparade featured floats madeby each unit and slice ele-ment at the remote FOB andthe winner was awarded aprize - a cherished exemp-tion from details for oneweek. Detachment 2,1/143rd Fire SupportElement (shown here), aCalifornia National Guardunit, and the 25th MilitaryPolice company, fromSchofield , Hawaii, both wonthe much-coveted prize.

FOB Ghazni celebratesChristmas with parade

New chapel dedicated at SalernoBy Staff Sgt. Bradley Rhen

Editor

FORWARD OPERATING BASE SALER-NO, Afghanistan - Those seeking a placeto worship here no longer have to settlefor a cramped tent that leaks when itrains.

A newly-built, wooden chapel was ded-icated here Dec. 15 that replaced the tentthat was previously used as a chapel forthe 1,500 service members and civiliansliving here.

The new building is more than twicethe size of the old chapel, said Chap.(Maj.) Judith Hamrick, Combined TaskForce Thunder chaplain.

"This facility is available to all our per-sonnel, military and civilian," she said."It's a place they can all feel at home, andit's their house of worship."

Hamrick said the new building is amuch welcome change from the tent.Even before deploying here, Hamrick saidshe heard from other units that thechapel was already out of space.

With the new chapel as well as a sepa-rate Bee Hut behind it that serves asHamrick's office, space no loner seems tobe an issue.

The Army's chief of chaplains, Chap.(Maj. Gen.) David H. Hicks, who is visitingwith Soldiers around Afghanistan, was onhand to help dedicate the new facility.

He said it was very special to be able totake part in a chapel dedication in a com-bat zone.

"We need to recognize this as a veryunique setting, a place that we have beengiven," Hicks said, adding that the chapelwill be a place for worshippers to get away

for a moment of reflection, and place to bein touch with God.

"That's what's beautiful about having aplace set apart, and that's what we wantto do with this facility today," he said. "Wedon't want to hinder, and we don't wantto be hindered in our worship because wedon't have adequate facilities."

The chapel was built by Soldiers of the528th Engineer Battalion of the LouisianaArmy National Guard.

Sgt. Charles Johnson, who was incharge of the project, said the Soldiers

put a lot of extra work into the projectbecause they wanted to make the build-ing special.

"Instead of just building a bland, regu-lar building like you see in the military,we wanted to spruce it up a little," saidJohnson, a carpentry and masonry spe-cialist with Company A, 528th Eng. Bn.

To do so, the Soldiers installed acathedral roof instead of a flat roof, seven-paneled "peak" windows, and woodenbeams across the ceiling of the mainroom.

Many of the Soldiers working on thebuilding put in late nights over the pastweek to get the chapel ready for the dedi-cation, Johnson said.

Because there is still a threat of rocketattacks to the base, the Soldiers had topractice light discipline and were forcedto use small pen-sized flashlight to see sothey could cut wood.

Eventually there will be shutters onthe windows so worshippers can practicelight discipline during night services.

Johnson, a native of Mangham, La.,also helped build a chapel last year atKandahar Airfield, and said they plan toput more work into the Salerno chapel tomake it even nicer.

Although the majority of the personnelstationed here still live and eat in tents,they will now at least be able to worshipin a facility with sturdy walls and a ceil-ing.

Staff Sgt. Bradley RhenSpc. Eric Loche, Co. A, 528th Eng. Bn. (left), leads the Forward Operating BaseSalerno Gospel Choir during the dedication of a new chapel Dec. 15 at FOB Salerno.

Staff Sgt. Bradley RhenAlthough some finishing work remained, the new chapel at Forward Operating BaseSalerno opened its doors Dec. 15, replacing a cramped tent that previously servedas the base chapel.



KUNAR PROVINCE,Afghanistan - The Marines andSailors of "America's Battalion,"3rd Battalion, 3rd MarineRegiment have been trainingside-by-side with AfghanSecurity Forces near thePakistan border since theBattalion arrived inAfghanistan early last month.

In the northern province ofKunar, India Co., 3/3, hastaken control of a small forwardoperating base in the heart ofthe Hindu Kush mountainrange. The Marines' effortsthere have focused on prepar-ing Afghan Forces, employed bythe Coalition, to take an evenlarger role in the protection oftheir country from its enemiesin the form of Al Qaeda andremnants of the Taliban.

"Take a stance!" yells Marine2nd Lt. Gary Bechtold of GreenBrook, N.J., to his pupils, agroup of ASF soldiers quicklyspringing into the MarineCorps Martial Arts Program's"basic warrior's stance" next tothe concertina wire perimeter ofCamp Blessing.

Bechtold, a green-belt mar-tial arts instructor, has beentraining the ASF soldiers livingand working with the Marinesin MCMAP for about a month.The Marines hope to have theirAfghan counterparts tan-beltqualified soon, the first level ofthe Marines' mixed martial artsprogram.

"We've been working withthe ASF soldiers to train themin military operations in urbanterrain, patrolling andMCMAP," said Bechtold. "We'reteaching them our leadershiptraits and core values in addi-tion to some of our basic fight-

ing skills. It's the same trainingMarines get," he continued.

While the Marine martialarts instructor and platooncommander was putting hiseager pupils through body-hardening drills and basicMCMAP movement skills, otherMarines were sitting side-by-side with their Afghan counter-parts in Camp Blessing's forti-fied outposts.

"We try to always have anequal number of Marines andASF soldiers on post and withus on patrol," explained 1st Lt.Justin Bellman, India Co. exec-utive officer, from Newark, Del.

Bellman says that with over100 ASF soldiers currently sta-tioned at Camp Blessing toaugment his Marines, condi-tions couldn't be better forpositioning the Afghan forces totake greater responsibility forproviding security for localAfghans.

"Several of these guys areformer mujahadeen fighters.Many of them have lost family.They've had brothers killed orbeen injured themselvesbecause of them having thecourage to work with us infighting the anti-Afghan forces,"said Bellman. "What we'velearned from the ASF is thatpeople really do want peace inthis area, and they're willing tolet us help them achieve theirgoals."

With the ASF squads nowdivided into Marine-like rankswith Marine squad leadersoverseeing their training andemployment, the commandersof India Co. are also pleasedwith how their noncommis-sioned officers have stepped upto the challenge of integratingwith the Afghans.

"We've been doing a left-seat,right-seat with them since wegot here," explained Bechtold."My job has been easy; it's theNCOs who have really run withit. They're 'alone and unafraid'here. The corporals and ser-geants have taken ownership oftheir squads a lot more than ifwe were doing standard pla-toon operations," he added.

The Marines say their timewith the ASF has also been eye-opening on many levels. Onconvoys and on patrol, theAfghan forces have provenadept and skillful. Many times,the Marines have been sur-prised by how perceptive theAfghan Security Forces are tosubtle changes in their sur-roundings, changes whichcould have been hostilethreats.

"One second, they'll besmoking and laughing, and thenext they'll be aimed in, deadlyserious," explained Lance Cpl.Tim Davis, India Co. riflemanfrom Enfield, Conn. "They'vegot this sixth sense aboutthem. I've looked where they'reaiming in, and even with myoptics I can't see what they justknow is out there."

"They're the most courteouspeople I've ever met," Daviscontinued. "We've seen nothingbut the good side of the Afghanpeople by working with them."


3/3 Marines train with Afghan Security Forces

Cpl. Rich MattinglyCpl. James Rogers, platoon commander of the AfghanSecurity Forces and India Co. squad leader reminds one of hisASF Soldiers to always be ready to block and react.

Cpl. Rich Mattingly2nd Lt. Gary Roy Bechtold drills Afghan Security ForcesSoldiers in the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program.



WAZA KHWA, Afghanistan - Fromnearly sun up to sun down, the soundsof power tools and hammers poundingnails fill the air at this base in southernPaktika Province.

Just about anything that can bemade of wood, from shelves and tablesto guard towers and generator shelters,are produced daily by two Soldiers fromthe 367 Engineer Battalion, an ArmyReserve unit from Duluth, Minn.

Staff Sgt. Brian Damon and Spc.David Baker are here on loan from theirunit at Bagram Airfield. The two arrivedhere on Dec. 18 and were scheduled tostay "until the job is done," according toBaker.

The conditions here are much morespartan than what they're used to atBAF, but Damon and Baker are doingtheir part to help make life better for theSoldiers who call this place home.

Damon, who is originally from the457th Quarry Detachment, an ArmyReserve unit in Milwaukee, Wisc., saidhe's glad he can help improve the quali-ty of life of the Soldiers here.

"It makes me feel real good hereknowing that this base when I got herereally had nothing, and to know that I'mhere to help make sure the Soldiers arecomfortable, and they're living a littleeasier," he said

The Milwaukee native said he enjoysworking with wood and sees this mis-sion as a break from his usual job as aheavy equipment operator and supervi-sor.

"It's kind of a hobby of mine to do

some carpentry on the side at home, soto do this is fun," Damon said.

For Baker, who is originally from the611th Eng. Bn., an Army Reserve unit inSharonville, Ohio, this is the secondtime during the deployment he's come toa forward operating base for this type ofmission.

The West Chester, Ohio, native saidit's gratifying to stand back at the end ofthe day and see the Soldiers actuallyusing the things he and Damon built forthem.

"It's nice that I can help out in someway," Baker said. "Even though I'm notan infantryman, I might be able to helpmake their day when they get back froma patrol or something."

One of thec a r p e n t e r s 'tasks was tobuild tables andbenches for thedining facilitythat were usedfor Christmasdinner.

" H o p e f u l l yeverybody has anice meal andthey can sitdown and eatinstead of sit-ting on theirbunk or lookingfor a chair,"Baker said.

The two alsouseD the tablesand benchesthey built sincethey stayed

here through the holiday. Baker said the fact had to spend

Christmas here is sort of "a bummer,"but it's something he knows he just hasto deal with.

"You just got to make the best of it,"he said. "Supposedly they're going tomake it real nice for us here, so that'sgoing to be good."

Damon, however, said he was happyto spend Christmas here.

"It makes it worthwhile to know thatI'm here making somebody else'sChristmas just a little bit better by mak-ing things for them," he said. "I know I'mnot going to be at home, so I might aswell be here doing something that Ienjoy doing."

Photos by Staff Sgt. Bradley RhenStaff Sgt. Brian Damon, a carpenter from the 367th Eng. Bn., cutswood for a new guard tower at Waza Khwa, Afghanistan, Dec. 22.

Left - Spc. David Baker, a car-penter from the 367th Eng. Bn.,uses a tape measure to checkthe dimensions on a new guardtower at Waza Khwa,Afghanistan.

Carpenters improve life at WCarpenters improve life at Waza Khwaaza Khwa

You’ve got mailAmerica's Battalion makes it mail call to mail call


BAGRAM AIRFIELD,Afghanistan - Even as theirthoughts remain securely onthe task of securingAfghanistan, the Marines andSailors of 3rd Battalion, 3rdMarine Regiment have foundreassurances that "life goeson" back home to be increas-ingly important during theholiday season.

"With being half a worldaway from family and lovedones, and at what seems to bethe furthest edge of the battlearea, mail for the platoon is adriving force," explained StaffSgt. Timothy Ledbetter, pla-toon sergeant with India Co.,3/3 during a recent mail dropto Camp Blessing. "It greatlyimproves morale and it bringsa little bit of home to theboys."

Letters from home are atime-tested tradition when itcomes to American servicemen and women deployed tocombat zones. Even with themodern technology that allowsdeployed troops to make satel-lite phone calls and, moreoften than not, access to e-

mail and other instant-gratifi-cation forms of communica-tion, the Marines of America'sBattalion said nothing beats ahand-written letter.

Marines at even America'sBattalion's farthest outlyingposts recently received amuch-needed lift when mailarrived just in time forChristmas.

"It brings the morale levelup big-time whenever a birdcomes and drops off mail forus," said Lance Cpl. LouisIhrig, a scout observer forIndia Co., 3/3."

Mail heading for the largearea America's Battalion cur-rently covers in easternAfghanistan funnels throughBagram Airfield, where Pfc.Matt Cole from Concord, N.C.,administrative clerk, handleswell over a thousand pieces ofmail each week. Cole says thatthe mail keeps him very busy,especially as holiday packagesfill his "mail hooch" to therafters.

"I'm doing my job as fast asI can because I know how

important getting stuff fromhome is," said Cole, who isresponsible for sorting themail of well over 1200Marines, Sailors and attach-ments to the Battalion.

Cole mentioned that he hasalso learned that mail has amuch higher status as a force-multiplier than he first imag-ined.

"A couple of things I'velearned while sorting the mailis that I'm not allowed to havea trash can in the mail room,just in case something were toget thrown away accidentally,and I've learned that no one,not even a four-star generalcan bump mail off of a flight toone of our bases," said Cole.

Letters and packages cantake up to a month to reachdeployed Marines and Sailorsin Afghanistan, but the lengthof time just makes it thatmuch more worthwhile whenit arrives.

"Supplies, food, candy, any-thing we can't get here isalways great to get in themail," added Ihrig. "No matter

how long it takes to get here, itshows us that people supportus."

And it's not just friends andfamilies that have been sup-porting the deployed HawaiiMarines. Thanks to web siteslike www.anysoldier.com,www.adoptaplatoon.com andw w w . a d o p t a s n i p e r . c o m ,America's Battalion's troopshave gotten some extra atten-tion.

"I signed up my squad toreceive care packages on theinternet and we've gotten del-uged with mail," said LanceCpl. Tim Davis, India Co. fireteam leader from Enfield,Conn. "It's awesome to get thatkind of support when we can'tusually get a lot of things herethat they send to us.

High on the list of "must-haves" for Marines and Sailorswere baby wipes, foot powderand any reading material.

With the help of regularmail delivery, morale remainshigh and Marines can remaininformed even when deployedhalf a world away.

Cpl. Rich MattinglyMarine Pfc. Matt Cole, administrative clerk with Headquarters and Service Co., 3rd Battalion,3rd Marine Regiment, faced a mountain of mail every day during the holiday season.


Cpl. Rich MattinglyWith up to 70 bags of mail aday, Pfc. Matt Cole staysbusy sorting out America'sBattalion mailroom.


KHOST, Afghanistan - TwoHollywood celebrities rolledthrough several bases inRegional Command East Dec.16 and 17.

Author, speaker and leadsinger of the rock groupRollins Band, Henry Rollins,and actor Patrick Kilpatrickvisited with service membersand civilians in Ghazni,Sharana, Khost and Gardezduring their two-day tour.

For Rollins, it was hisfourth USO tour in the last 12months. He's also been toIraq, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan,Honduras and Qatar duringthe last year.

He said he does these toursin the hopes he can brightensomone's day.

"When you see what youguys are up against, what youdo for a living, your relativepay scale for what is poten-tially your fate, I have nothingbut awe, admiration andrespect," Rollins said. "And ifsomeone says 'Wow, youmade my day,' why wouldn't Ishow up to perpetuate more ofthat?"

"I'm a very busy person,but there's nothing I can'tmove around to make thispossible every couple ofmonths," he added.

Despite a hectic schedule,Rollins has spent a total ofone month doing USO toursover the past year. He said hewill keep doing tours as long

as the USO keeps asking himto.

"That's a big chunk of ayear, but I don't care," hesaid. "I'm happy to do it."

Kilpatrick, whose fatherreceived a Silver Star whileserving with the Navy duringWorld War II, said when 9/11happened he tried to enlist in

the Marines, but they said hewas too old. These tours, hesaid, are a way for him toshow his patriotism.

"So that I can serve youguys and serve the country inthe best way I can," Kilpatricksaid.

He added that he getsannoyed at the notion thateveryone in Hollywood isagainst the wars inAfghanistan or Iraq, and thatHollywood is not supportive ofthe military.

"The truth is, there are lotsof us who are really support-ive," he said. "If I can give totroops the notion that thereare millions of us, and we'reall behind you, and we thinkyou're heroes, every one ofyou, just for being here, that'swhy I'm here."

Kilpatrick also said he willcontinue to do these tours aslong as USO asks him, andhe's already asked to visittroops Iraq.

"I'm involved in the produc-tion of movies and the writingof scripts - which I think arevery important - but you gotto take time to address thingsin the larger world, and this isreally important," he said.


USO tour passes through RC East

Staff Sgt. Bradley RhenHenry Rollins signs an autograph for a member of the KhostProvincial Reconstruction Team Dec. 17 in Khost.

Sgt. David West

Soldiers from Battery F,7th Field ArtilleryRegiment hook up anM198 155mm howitzer to aChinook helicopter Dec.17 during elevator trainingat Forward Operating BaseSalerno, Afghanistan.

Fox Battery practicesslingloading big guns


KUNAR PROVINCE,Afghanistan - The author RolloMay once said,"Communication leads to com-munity, understanding andmutual valuing."

In eastern Afghanistan,where mutual understandingand communication betweenvastly different cultures is thecornerstone of OperationEnduring Freedom, theMarines of 3rd Battalion, 3rdMarine Regiment are makingsure that they are able tobridge the lingual and culturalbarriers between Afghans andMarines with a new breed of"warrior-interpreters."

With skilled interpretersembedded with platoons theyoperate with, Marines havebeen able to not only increasethe effectiveness of their workwith the Afghan NationalArmy, but have also dramati-cally expanded their ability tolocate and close with theenemy in many areas whereAfghans might otherwise behesitant to cooperate withMarines for fear of repercus-sions from Anti-CoalitionForces.

Wadeer, an interpreter withAfghan Security Forces oper-ating side-by-side withAmerica's Battalion, was justfinishing his medical schoolstudies when the Taliban tookpower six years ago.

"I was two weeks away fromfinding out the results of myfinal medical school examswhen everything changed,"said the soft-spoken man whois now as comfortable wieldingan AK-47 assault rifle as he isa stethoscope. Before hecould find out the results ofhis tests, the Taliban hadoverthrown Jalalabad.

"The Taliban didn't careabout education," saidWadeer, "I was thrown out ofclass by a Taliban-approvedprofessor because I did not cutmy hair a certain way," contin-ued the interpreter in disgust.

Wadeer is fluent in both

English and Pashtu, the lan-guage of primarily used inAmerica's Battalion's area ofresponsibility. With two yearsof medical practice adding tohis experience and ability tocommunicate, Wadeer bringsa lot to the fight. With his andthe other interpreters' help,Marines are gaining moreground than ever on anti-coalition forces.

"They're our lifeblood forcommunicating with localnationals and our AfghanSecurity Forces," said 2nd Lt.Roy Bechtold, platoon com-mander with India Co. "They'llfight with us to the death, andthey're extremely protective ofthe Marines," said Bechtold.

Wadeer and his fellow inter-preters are extremely loyal tothe Marines they often findthemselves fighting alongside.

"They are good people," saidWadeer, breaking into an easysmile. "They treat us asequals, like we're the samebecause we fight together."

The general consensus inAfghanistan is that the pres-ence of the Marines is a wel-come change. The inter-preters echo this sentiment,

happy to share that they arehappy to see the new peaceand stability that has been adirect result of the MarineCorps' involvement inAfghanistan.

"I think we as Afghans areall happier now," explainedWadeer. "The most importantthing is security. There usedto be these local commandersand no one had freedom," hecontinued, referring to tribalwarlords who abused the landand its people, allowing terror-ism to spread before theCoalition overthrew theTaliban.

"Now we live equal, nowthere is a chance for us to livefree and have a freeAfghanistan," he added.

Wadeer plans on returningto the medical field one day,but for now, he feels his placeis with the ASF and theMarines of America'sBattalion, fighting for hiscountry. With its economy stillrecovering from the fallout ofdecades of internal strife,Wadeer can also earn moremoney for his family workingwith the Marines than he canpracticing medicine in Kabul.

For Afghanistan to recoverand completely remove thestigma that terrorists havebrought to the war-torn coun-try, the interpreter says that itis imperative that Americanskeep faith in his people.

"I think it's necessary forthe Marines to stay here," heshared. "The situation is stillcritical."

Many Afghans shareWadeer's view. With onlyabout 20,000 Afghan NationalArmy troops currently recruit-ed out of the 70,000 theAfghan government says theyhope to eventually have,Coalition Forces must stillbear the brunt of security andstability operations inAfghanistan.

"The Marines help us tomake our government morepowerful so that we can takecare of the terrorists our-selves," said Wadeer.

With the help of Wadeerand the Afghan SecurityForces as well as the entireJoint Task Force operating inAfghanistan, America'sBattalion continues to fight tobring a brighter future toAfghanistan.

Interpreters aid America's Battalion in War on Terrorism

Cpl. Rich MattinglySgt. Shawn Kelly, squad leader with India Co., 3rd Bn., 3rd Marine Rgt., speaks with Wadeer, aninterpreter working for America's Battalion about an unauthorized weapon his squad seizedfrom a house in the Korangal Valley.


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