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thedrifter
12-13-03, 08:32 AM
Marine Battalion
Joins Bagram Team
By Staff Sgt. Johnny A. Thompson / 4th Public Affairs Detachment

BAGRAM, Afghanistan, Dec. 12, 2003 — As the pursuit of al Queda and Taliban forces continues in Afghanistan, the number of the coalition force troops have increased as the 2nd Battalion, 8th Regiment of the 2nd Marine Division, recently arrived here to support the efforts of Combined Joint Task Force-180.

“We’re here to support (the task force) in whatever way that want us to serve,” said 1st Lt. Ricardo Medal, 2nd Battalion, 8th Regiment Marines Adjutant. “We are an infantry unit so we provide ground movement capability. We are another asset available (for the task force in) this region.”

The unit, based out of Camp LeJeune, N.C., consists of three infantry companies, one weapons company, and a headquarters and services company.

“We bring a combat-trained, maneuver ground unit with a lot of firing power and military discipline to the (task force campaign),” said Sgt. Maj. William Squires, of 2nd Battalion, 8th Regiment Marines. “We are well trained and ready to engage any mission assigned.”

The 2nd Battalion, 8th Regiment is not the first Marine unit to take part in the mission of ridding Afghanistan of a terrorist regime, Task Force-58 served here in the initial campaign of Operation Enduring Freedom; however, what does make the unit’s presence pertinent is that it is the first active duty unit here since the wages of war (Sept. 11) began two years ago.

“We are the first active duty Marines to be in Afghanistan since the 2001 campaign,” said Medal. “There have been Marines here supporting the (task force) mission before, but they were Reservist, so this is a chance for us to establish

an active duty Marine presence (in the coalition campaign) and build a relationship with the coalition forces and the people of Afghanistan.”

“This is where it all started,” said Lt. Col, Robert Petit, battalion commander of the battalion as he spoke about Operation Enduring Freedom, “and this where the threat still lies, so we are excited about being here to contribute to (the task force) and help accomplish its mission.”

Thought the unit is excited about being in the region where the fight began, that excitement does not come from the anticipation of fighting rebel forces; it comes from having already been battle tested. “We were in Iraq from January to June conducting operations, so we bring a wealth of knowledge and experience (because) we have already been in a combat environment,” said Petit. “We just came out of a coalition (mission) four months ago, so we bring that sense of understanding and confidence (to this campaign).”

Squires noted that 95 percent of the unit served in the Iraq campaign, so “we want to set the standards for any mission (the task force) assigns us.”

Though the battalion has only been in the fight for two weeks, they completely comprehend the task force mission - a free and diplomatic Afghanistan - and are ready to undertake the mission as if it were orchestrated by themselves personally.

“We are here to win the fight and anything less than that isn’t an option; failure is not a choice,” said Petit. “No one said (the war on terrorism) was going to be easy, but it is our call to duty and the sooner we take it to these (rebel forces) the sooner we can go home.”

http://www.defendamerica.mil/articles/dec2003/a121203d.html


Sempers,

Roger
:marine: