Combat engineers serve at forefront of 22d MEU (SOC)'s

[thedrifter]

Combat engineers serve at forefront of 22d MEU (SOC)'s Afghanistan operations
Submitted by: 22nd MEU
Story Identification #: 2004526152120
Story by Gunnery Sgt. Keith A. Milks



FORWARD OPERATING BASE PAYNE, Afghanistan (May 26, 2004) -- Lance Cpl. Michael Mason has a dirty, exhausting job.

Carrying a rifle in one hand and an entrenching tool in the other, he trudges up and down the steep, rocky hills of south-central Afghanistan digging holes and climbing through holes and doorways far too small for his six-foot two-inch frame.

As a combat engineer whose squad is assigned to Alpha Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Bn., 6th Marines, Mason has the dubious honor of being first to enter the scores of houses, barns, wells, and miscellaneous compounds littering his unit's assigned search area.

"We go in looking for weapons, drugs, anything the people aren't supposed to have and also check for booby traps or explosives," said Sgt. Johnathan Gonzales, Mason's squad leader and engineer leader in one of the two search times operating with Alpha Company. "When we come up on a building or well, we're the first ones in."

In the area of Afghanistan where BLT 1/6, the ground combat element of the 22d Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) , is operating, the searches require a bit more finesse than most people think Marines are capable.

"When we come up on a compound we let the people know who we are and what we're doing and ask them to bring out any weapons they have," explained Gonzales. "We give them the chance to come clean."

Despite the locals' smiles and assurances they are 'enemies of the Taliban,' Gonzales and his fellow engineers know that this region has long harbored Taliban and anti-coalition militia and refuse to take any claims of innocence at face value until they've had a look around.

"The villagers are real good at hiding stuff," said Gonzales, "and every day we're getting better at finding it."

Searches are usually two-pronged; visual and electronic.

"We look for anything out of the ordinary like fresh-turned dirt or things that look at of place."

But they don't stop there because everything gets close scrutiny. For example, one team found a grenade in a cooking pot and another found rifle ammunition in a jug normally used to carry water.

Another tool used in the search is the metal detector, which the three or four-man teams usually trade off carrying. The Marines scan buildings' walls, roofs and floors thoroughly, and since most rural Afghan buildings are made of clay and thatch, anything that pings off the metal detector's sensors automatically rates another look.

"They've been known to hide stuff inside walls," said Cpl. Brandon Schulte, another engineer team leader, "so we check everything. We make sure the walls aren't too thick and the rooms are the right size for the house [to ensure there are no false rooms]."

Outside, the Marines check under haystacks and piles of brush, beneath mounds of trash, and inside wells. This is where Mason and his shovel checks in.

"It's probably just a piece of metal someone buried with the trash," said Gonzales as he watched Mason flail away at the sun-dried earth with his e-tool.

Every few minutes, the Marine with the metal detector rechecks the spot where they got the hit and the sharp ringing comes in louder so Mason turns to again, eventually trading off with Gonzales before the mid-afternoon heat takes its toll.

In time, Gonzales' prediction comes true as he holds up a rusted a battered piece of tin the size of a sheet of paper. Flinging the tin away, Gonzales watches disappointedly as another scan with the detector comes up clean.

Shrugging off the fruitless effort, the Marines turn to their new objective, another, larger compound several hundred meters away.

In addition to BLT 1/6, the 22d MEU (SOC) consists of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 266 (Reinforced) and MEU Service Support Group 22. The unit is Afghanistan conducting combat and civil military operations as Task Force Linebacker alongside Combined Joint Task Force 76.

For more information on the 22d MEU (SOC)'s role in Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, visit the unit's web site at www.22meu.usmc.mil.

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A combat engineer from Battalion Landing Team 1st Bn., 6th Marines, sweeps the area surrounding an Afghan compound in the Oruzgan province with a minesweeper during a search for hidden weapons caches. BLT 1/6 is the ground combat element of the 22d Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable). Photo by: Gunnery Sgt. Keith A. Milks

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Lance Cpl. Michael Mason, a combat engineer from Battalion Landing Team 1st Bn., 6th Marines, the ground combat element of the 22d Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), digs in an area where a metal detector received a 'hit.' Mason was participating in a cordon and knock operation as the unit searched for hidden weapons caches in Afghanistan's Oruzgan province. Photo by: Gunnery Sgt. Keith A. Milks

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/200452615430/$file/Engineers_Gonzalez_Low.jpg

Sgt. Johnathan Gonzalez, a combat engineer with Battalion Landing Team 1st Bn., 6th Marines, the ground combat element of the 22d Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), uses a string to lower a light into a well in his search for hidden weapons caches during a recent 'cordon and knock' operation in Afghanistan's Oruzgan province. Photo by: Gunnery Sgt. Keith A. Milks

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/8CA410F76111D24D85256EA0006A531F?opendocument

Ellie

[thedrifter]

Refuelers give HMM-266 (Rein) its 'legs'
Submitted by: 22nd MEU
Story Identification #: 2004526145455
Story by Gunnery Sgt. Keith A. Milks



FORWARD OPERATING BASE RIPLEY, Afghanistan (May 25, 2004) -- After weaving through the mountains of south-central Afghanistan, darting back and forth to deter would-be attackers, the three CH-46E Sea Knight helicopters of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 266 (Reinforced) are getting thirsty.

Breaking through the mountain passes and entering the open area known as the Tarin Kowt bowl, the three helicopters descend through clouds of dust and touch down on white squares called mobi-matting, a multi-sectioned expeditionary landing strip held together with tent pin-like stakes.

Almost as soon as the helicopters come to a halt, Marines wearing goggles and many with bandanas or shemagh head cloths covering their noses and mouths sprint, through the billowing clouds of dust to quench the aircrafts' thirst.

These bulk fuel specialists from HMM-266 (Rein), the aviation combat element of the 22d Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), have set up shop at Forward Operating Base Ripley, the MEU's base of operations in south-central Afghanistan. Augmented by engineers from MEU Service Support Group 22, they refuel helicopters supporting the MEU's combat and civil military operations on an almost daily basis.

According to First Lt. Richard Alvarez, a CH-46E Sea Knight pilot from Corpus Christi, Texas, Afghanistan's harsh climate and conditions conspire to degrade the performance of the squadron's helicopter fleet.

"The heat and altitude in Afghanistan affects lift capacity, including how much fuel we can carry," Alvarez said, "so the forward refueling station is absolutely vital to our operations."

Dragging long hoses to the aircraft, the refuelers, working alongside the aircrafts' enlisted flight crews, spend only a few minutes topping off the tanks as another Marine sprints from aircraft to aircraft recording the how much fuel is dispensed. Their task done, the refuelers put their gear away and retreat from the landing spots as the helicopters lift off again, once again blanketing the area with dust.

In addition to HMM-266 (Rein) and MSSG-22, the 22d MEU (SOC) consists of its Command Element and Battalion Landing Team 1st Bn., 6th Marines. Designated Task Force Linebacker, the MEU is operating alongside Combined Joint Task Force 76.

For more information on the MEU's role in Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, visit the unit's web site at www.22meu.usmc.mil.

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Bulk fuelers from Marine Helicopter Squadron 266 (Reinforced), the aviation combat element of the 22d Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), race toward a recently-landed UH-1N Huey helicopter to begin refueling operations at Forward Operating Base Ripley. The 22d MEU (SOC) is in Afghanistan conducting combat and civil military operations as Task Force Linebacker. Photo by: Gunnery Sgt. Keith A. Milks

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/A69784E40985604D85256EA00067E7B2?opendocument


Ellie

[thedrifter]

Month of Afghan combat operations provides tangible results for 22d MEU (SOC)
Submitted by: 22nd MEU
Story Identification #: 20045305581
Story by Gunnery Sgt. Keith A. Milks



FORWARD OPERATING BASE RIPLEY, Afghanistan (May 30, 2004) -- After a month of continuous combat operations, the 22d Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) is helping drive a stake into the heart of Taliban and anti-coalition militia activity in south-central Afghanistan.

Consisting of its Command Element, Battalion Landing Team 1st Bn., 6th Marines, Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 266 (Reinforced), and MEU Service Support Group 22, the MEU arrived in Afghanistan in late March, and by mid-April began sending armed forays into the Oruzgan province, in the south-central part of the country.

These missions, dubbed Operations ULYSSES I-V, were reconnaissance patrols to the region around the town of Tarin Kowt, where the MEU would eventually establish Forward Operating Base Ripley, its base of operations.

Combat operations began in earnest on April 26 with the commencement of Operation RIO BRAVO, which was immediately followed by EL DORADO on May 10. These operations were designed to disrupt Taliban and anti-coalition militia activity in regions long known to harbor and support these insurgent forces.

"This size area [where the MEU operates] is normally assigned to a regiment, or in some cases a brigade," said Lt. Col. Asad A. Khan, commanding officer of BLT 1/6. "It's really rugged terrain and the Marines have done all we've asked and more."

The main focus of these operations was to disrupt the enemy's line of communications, uncover hidden caches of arms and ammunitions, and seek out and destroy Taliban and ACM forces. By establishing random vehicle check points in the region and conducting 'cordon and knock' operations in the province's towns and villages, the MEU has thus far killed at least five enemy insurgents and taken 14 into custody.

To date, the MEU has conducted 156 patrols, 70 cordon and search operations, begun or planned more than 80 civil affairs projects, searched more than 3,700 vehicles, and uncovered at least 37 arms caches.

These discoveries have led to the confiscation of approx. 160 rifles of various make, 10 heavy machine guns, 23 rocket-propelled grenade launchers, nearly 19,000 rounds of ammunition, and 1,500 pieces of ordnance or explosives, including grenades, mines, rocket-propelled grenades, explosive devices, rockets, mortar rounds, and bomb-making materials.

"This is all stuff that would have eventually been used against American or coalition forces," said Christmas. "By keeping it out of their hands, we've dealt them [Taliban and ACM] a major blow."

However, these successes have not been without cost. Five Marines have been wounded in clashes with the enemy, and Cpl. Ronald R. Payne Jr., of Lakeland, Florida, was killed in a firefight May 8 near the village of Sahmardun Ghar. On May 12, BLT 1/6's forward base of operations was renamed FOB Payne in honor of the 23-year-old light armored vehicle scout.

Other operations have included security operations for United Nations voter registration efforts and undertaking civil affairs projects including an aggressive campaign of providing medical and dental assistance to needy Afghan locals throughout the Oruzgan province. More than 340 Afghan people were seen and treated during medical and dental projects by the MEU.

"The proof of our success is that the villagers are starting to return to their homes," continued Khan, commenting on the Taliban practice of forcing villagers to leave their homes so they could be used for nefarious purposes. "They're starting to trust us, and come to us with their problems."

According to Khan, the villagers' openness is indicative that the Taliban and ACM are losing their credibility among the rural populace who for years have provided the insurgents with their base of power. In addition to the combat operations, civil military operations such as well-digging projects and the construction of bases is employing local labor, further boosting pro-U.S. and Afghan government sentiment.

"We have never seen Americans work like this," said one village elder from a village near FOB Payne. "You are all over the place and willing to live with us. You are protecting us from the Taliban and the others. You are willing to help us."

The MEU is designated Task Force Linebacker and is continuing its operations. In time, the MEU will leave FOB Ripley where an Army Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) and coalition forces will continue to support Afghanistan's quest for stability.

For more information on the 22d MEU (SOC)'s role in Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, visit the unit's web site at www.22meu.usmc.mil.

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Supported by Afghan Militia Force troops, Cpl. Christopher Mishowe, front, and 2d Lt. Eric Tee of Bravo Co., Battalion Landing Team 1st Bn., 6th Marines, scan the rooftops of a compound in Afghanistan's Oruzgan province for potential threats during Operation BLADE RUNNER, a hunt for Taliban insurgents and weapons caches. BLT 1/6 is the ground combat element of the 22d Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable). Photo by: Gunnery Sgt. Keith A. Milks

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/77C14FBB206428A485256EA40036C03D?opendocument


Ellie

[thedrifter]

MAGTF Enabler keeps the 22d MEU (SOC) connected <br />
Submitted by: 22nd MEU <br />
Story Identification #: 200453042654 <br />
Story by Sgt. Matt C. Preston <br />
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FORWARD OPERATING BASE RIPLEY, Afghanistan (May...

[thedrifter]

22nd MEU (SOC) battles Taliban insurgents in central Afghanistan
Submitted by: 22nd MEU
Story Identification #: 20046524436
Story by Gunnery Sgt. Keith A. Milks



FORWARD OPERATING BASE RIPLEY, Afghanistan (June 5, 2004) -- In what officials have described as the bloodiest fighting in Afghanistan since last fall, elements of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) participated in two days of pitched firefights with anti-coalition militia (ACM) forces in south-central Afghanistan June 2-3.

The two days of fighting began when Marine attack helicopters were fired upon with rocket-propelled grenades and machineguns as they scouted ahead of a heavily-armed convoy from Battalion Landing Team 1st Bn., 6th Marines, the MEU's ground combat element.

Moving forward to the attack's point of origin, the Marines found and engaged Taliban insurgents hidden in the rocks of a nearby mountain. The Marines used fire and maneuver to fix the enemy and then called in air support to augment their attack.

During the ensuing four-hour firefight, troops on the ground were supported by Marine AH-1W Super Cobra and UH-1N Huey attack helicopters, AV-8B Harrier attack jets, and Army AH-64 Apache attack helicopters and Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II ground attack aircraft.

Eight enemy fighters were confirmed killed in the battle, with an unknown number wounded.

"Our junior NCOs [non-commissioned officers] really were the heroes of the day," said Marine Staff Sgt. Christian Boles, a platoon sergeant in BLT 1/6's Charlie Company, whose unit saw much of the heavy fighting. "They did everything they were supposed to, were aggressive, and carried the fight to the enemy."

The next day, Army Apache helicopters observed a group of approximately 20 ACM fighters attempting to flee a village as the Marine convoy approached. The helicopters fired on the group as Marines on the ground closed in and engaged the enemy in a series of sharp firefights.

Once again, Marine, Army, and Air Force warplanes participated in the attack, and were joined by an Air Force B-1B Lancer bomber.

Three Marines were lightly wounded by enemy fire as they pursued the ACM fighters up a valley's draw. Two have returned to duty and the third was transported to Forward Operating Base Ripley where he was declared in stable condition with prognosis for a full recovery.

Seventeen ACM fighters were killed in this second day of fighting, and four individuals were detained near the fighting.

These firefights were the heaviest since the 22nd MEU (SOC)'s arrival in Afghanistan in late March. Since then, the MEU has supported U.N. voter registration efforts in the country and pursued an aggressive campaign of combat and civil military operations.

For more information, visit the unit's web site at www.22meu.usmc.mil or contact Capt. Eric Dent (denter@22meufwd.usmc.mil) or Gunnery Sgt. Keith Milks (milkska@22meufwd.usmc.mil).

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A Marine from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) engages anti-coalition militia have taken refuge on a mountain in central Afghanistan as rounds impact the wall to his right. During two days of heavy fighting, three Marines were lightly wounded and at least 25 ACM fighters killed. Photo by: Gunnery Sgt. Keith A. Milks

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/D6C13B14E5CA656785256EAA00250B28?opendocument


Ellie

[thedrifter]

22nd MEU (SOC) Harriers join the fight against Taliban insurgents <br />
Submitted by: 22nd MEU <br />
Story Identification #: 20046105260 <br />
Story by Gunnery Sgt. Keith A. Milks <br />
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KANDAHAR AIR FIELD,...

[thedrifter]

22nd MEU-Army teams wraps up Operation NIGHTINGALE
Submitted by: 22nd MEU
Story Identification #: 20046113573
Story by Sgt. Matt C. Preston



FORWARD OPERATING BASE RIPLEY, Afghanistan (June 11, 2004) -- In support of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), Marines, Soldiers and Sailors wrapped up Operation NIGHTENGALE, a joint operation designed to provide humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan.

The operation consisted of civil affairs visits to several villages in Oruzgan, a province in central Afghanistan. Part of the motivation for conducting NIGHTENALE is supporting the new government of Afghanistan in establishing credibility with the Afghan people.

"A lot of the programs we do, we do to legitimize the government," said Maj. Alvalee Cook, 486th Civil Affairs Officer. "We want to the people to think this is a good government."

Cook leads the Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT), which is responsible for being the go-between for the U.S. Forces in Afghanistan and the Afghani people. What the PRT does is sponsor construction and medical assistance programs to help develop the infrastructure of Afghanistan. Programs the PRT has conducted in the past include the building of a radio tower for a police station, and the construction of water wells for drinking and irrigation.

During NIGHTENGALE, the PRT delivered school supplies, grain and vegetable seed, and water tanks, and also conducted medical examinations for the sick and injured in the village. They PRT also followed up on approved contracts for the construction of wells, and nominated another village for a new well.

After years of conflict, first with the Soviet Union and later, under Taliban rule, much of what little infrastructure the country had was destroyed. The need for assistance is great in Afghanistan, particularly in their educational infrastructure.

"When you think things are bad, you come out here," said Marine Sgt. John Croce, a Springfield, Penn., native and civil affairs noncommissioned officer for the 22nd MEU (SOC). "It's worse than Iraq. In Iraq, they have buildings, chairs. Here, everything is on the floor. They have nothing as far as supplies."

Croce acts as a liaison between the Army PRT and the Marine Corps, helping them integrate into the 22nd MEU (SOC) way of conducting operations. Marines also supported the PRT in other ways.

Marines from Golf Battery, Battalion Landing Team 1st Bn., 6th Marines, provided additional security to augment the PRT's resident security teams. Navy Corpsmen from the 22nd MEU (SOC) also supported the medical side of NIGHTENGALE, assisting with examinations and working side-by-side with Army field medics.

In addition to providing supplies, the PRT also gathers information about the areas they visit in the form of village assessments. The PRT sit down with village elders to find out demographic information about the village and its livestock. They also ask questions concerning the general health of the population and what ailments they may have. All the information is compiled into a database to help planners decide what projects to fund.

Elements of the PRT have been in-country since January, and will remain to continue its civil affairs missions when the 22nd MEU (SOC) eventually leaves AFghanistan.

The 22nd MEU (SOC) consists of its Command Element, Battalion Landing Team 1st Bn., 6th Marines, Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 266 (Reinforced), and MEU Service Support Group 22, and is in Afghanistan conducting combat and civil military operations as Task Force Linebacker.

For more information on the 22nd MEU (SOC)'s role in Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, visit the unit's web site at www.22meu.usmc.mil.

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/20046114338/$file/Nightingale_Croce_Low.jpg

Sgt. John Croce, a Springfield, Penn., native who serves as a Civil Affairs Noncommissioned Officer for the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), listens to Afghani English students repeat words and phrases. Croce participated in Operation NIGHTENGALE, which conducted civil affairs missions throughout central Afghanistan. Photo by: Sgt. Matt C. Preston

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/1435C941A8913E6785256EB0002BAD2E?opendocument


Ellie

[thedrifter]

KC-130R Hercules detachment proves reliable force multiplier
Submitted by: 22nd MEU
Story Identification #: 200461141248
Story by Gunnery Sgt. Keith A. Milks



CENTRAL COMMAND AREA OF OPERATIONS (June 11, 2004) -- To successfully operate from a remote location such as Forward Operating Base Ripley, deep in the heart of Afghanistan's Oruzgan province, a unit requires a steady flow of supplies and personnel.

For the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), a key provider of this support since it began conducting combat operations in late April has been a small detachment of Marines and aircraft from Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron (VMGR) 252.

Flying two KC-130R Hercules transport aircraft, the youngest of which came off the assembly line in 1976, the 44-Marine detachment has kept busy pushing supplies and personnel into and out of FOB Ripley.

"We've been flying into Tarin Kowt [home of FOB Ripley] almost nightly," said Capt. Jason Kindred, a KC-130R pilot who served with the 22nd MEU (SOC) as its Hercules air planner during the unit's 2002 deployment. "So far, we've flown almost 250 missions and only cancelled three because of mechanical problems."

With a mission-capable rate of nearly 99 percent, the KC-130Rs have proven their weight in gold to the MEU. In just over a month, the squadron detachment has flown more than 1,500 passengers and more than a million pounds of cargo to and from FOB Ripley.

Much of the detachment's success belongs to the young maintainers who keep the aircraft up and running.

"These guys are doing wonders keeping the planes flying in this environment," said Kindred, commenting on the Marines' efforts working long hours in extreme heat and at the end of supply chain stretched thin by distance and delivery time.

Hercules detachments that normally deploy in support of MEUs rotate aircraft and flight and ground crews every month or six weeks to limit wear on the aircraft and personnel, but this detachment deployed less than two weeks after the 22nd MEU (SOC) set sail and has provided uninterrupted support.

Because the rest of the squadron is transitioning into the newer KC-130J model Hercules, the crews supporting the MEU are flying the older KC-130R model destined for reassignment and eventual retirement. With the squadron's KC-130Js not quite ready for operational deployment, the Marines supporting the MEU will remain doing so for the foreseeable future.

Without relief on the horizon, the detachment has steeled themselves for the long haul, and something they take an odd pride in, calling themselves 'The forgotten children of VMGR-252.'

The 22d MEU (SOC) consists of its Command Element, Battalion Landing Team 1st Bn., 6th Marines, Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 266 (Reinforced), and MEU Service Support Group 22. The MEU is in Afghanistan conducting combat and civil military operations as Task Force Linebacker.

For more information on the 22d MEU (SOC)'s role in Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, visit the unit's web site at www.22meu.usmc.mil.

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/20046114153/$file/KC130R-Support_Landing_Low.jpg

Taken by a small camera through a hand-held night vision device, this image shows the crew of a KC-130R Hercules coming in for a landing at Forward Operating Base Ripley, Afghanistan. Two KC-130Rs are dedicated to supporting the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) during its deployment. Photo by: Gunnery Sgt. Keith A. Milks

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/3751DAD8092C1F3985256EB0002D1E5C?opendocument


Ellie

[thedrifter]

Marine and Army Engineers team up to build Forward Operating Base
Submitted by: 22nd MEU
Story Identification #: 200467214855
Story by Sgt. Matt C. Preston



FORWARD OPERATING BASE RIPLEY, Afghanistan (June 8, 2004) -- If you build it, they will come--in mid-March, Forward Operating Base Ripley was still just a blueprint in the hands of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable). Almost overnight, a small tent city and some concertina wire surrounding it marked the beginnings of a new home for coalition military forces in Afghanistan.

However, none of assets the coalition has now at FOB Ripley would have been possible were it not for the efforts of the combat engineers of the MEU Service Support Group 22 and supporting National Guard Units.

Whether constructing the various projects aboard FOB Ripley themselves or supervising working parties of Marines, Soldiers or local nationals, the combat engineers were the key to that the initial tent city grew into a bona fide military operating base.

"Everyone was involved on way or another," said Gunnery Sgt. Mark D. Rapoport, a MEU Service Support Group 22 engineer and Rensselaer, N.Y., resident. "They possessed the leadership and ability to supervise other Marines, Sailors, other military personnel and nationals in direct support of the construction of the FOB," said Rapoport.

The Marines have been working almost non-stop in building up the defenses and infrastructure of the FOB.

"I've been working my tail off," said Lance Cpl. Manuel Sanchez, a Welch, Tx., native and MSSG-22 combat engineer, "but it's been going pretty good. We've been working sun-up to sundown."

There have been a score of challenges that the engineers faced. The ground on which the FOB is placed has been a source of frustration.

"You've got about four or five inches of dirt and then it's bedrock," said Sanchez.

The close proximity of the bedrock to the surface makes it difficult to pound any stakes into the ground. Stakes are a necessary item for erecting concertina wire, a fundamental force protection measure. With over four miles of triple stranded concertina wire, it amounts to a lot of stakes - and a lot of headaches.

However, concertina wire isn't the only force protection measure the engineers have set up. Over 7,500 feet of barriers know as "Hesco" barriers also protect the Marines inside the FOB. These barriers are containers that hold solid rock and dirt, protecting personnel from shrapnel and small arms fire. The entire FOB is enclosed with concertina wire and barriers.
Keeping bad guys out of the FOB is only one part of the equation. Building up the support services of the FOB is another aspect that the FOB would not be able to survive without. The engineers built the infrastructure for the airstrip, constructed showers and other field sanitation stations, and raised shelters to protect personnel from shrapnel. Many of the major projects have been completed National Guard. One of the major accomplishments of the Army engineers was the lengthening of the airstrip by 1,500 feet, allowing larger aircraft to land, thus increasing the supply pipeline to the FOB. The construction of the FOB couldn't be completed without the mutual support of the Marine and Army engineers of each other.

"It's been a conjoined effort between us and the Army," said Rapoport.

The relationship between the two teams of engineers has been one of cooperation and effectiveness.

"The Marines seem to be appreciative," said Army Staff Sgt. Jeff Philley, a Bastrop, La., native with the 528th Engineer Battalion. "I've been here since the very beginning and intend to stay until they leave."

Living under the same conditions as the Marines has helped bring a unity of purpose under adverse conditions.

"[The Marines] came in and we have some great conversations," said Spc. Robr Ortiz, a Brooklyn, N.Y., native and a National Guard combat engineer from the 204th Engineer Battalion attached to the 528th Engineer Battalion. "Working with them was pleasant. You get used to the Howitzers going off."

Members of the 204th have a special connection with the U.S. mission in Afghanistan - they were the first unit providing security at Ground Zero in New York City when the World Trade Centers were attacked. The experience provides them with extra motivation in their duties.

"A lot of us re-upped at that time," said Oriz. "Some of the younger guys signed up at that time."

For others, Marine or Army, the motivation comes not from where they're coming from, but from what they'll leave as a legacy in Afghanistan.

"When we leave out of here and look down, you're going to see what we built," said Rapoport.

The 22nd MEU (SOC) is in Afghanistan conducting combat and civil military operations as Task Force Linebacker for Combined Joint Task Force 76 in the Oruzgan province.

For more information on the 22nd MEU (SOC)'s role in Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, visit the unit's web site at www.22meu.usmc.mil.

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/20046722172/$file/Hesco_low.jpg

Marine Combat Engineers from MEU Service Support Group 22 load unfilled Hesco Barriers into the bucket of a front-loader for transport to another area. The Hesco barriers provide protection from shrapnel and small arms fire, and surround much of Forward Operating Base Ripley in Afghanistan, which the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) founded. Photo by: Sgt. Matt C. Preston

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/AA84E6EFBDF4497685256EAD0009F8CF?opendocument


Ellie

[thedrifter]

Jun 12, 12:45 PM EDT

U.S. Marines Kill More Than 80 Militants

By STEPHEN GRAHAM
Associated Press Writer

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) -- In the bloodiest fighting this year, U.S. Marines killed more than 80 insurgents in a three-week offensive against a Taliban stronghold in the mountains of southern Afghanistan, the military said Saturday.

The U.S. military insisted the battle was a victory that will help secure fall elections - rather than a sign of the resilience of Taliban-led militants.

Two Marines were wounded in the fighting, the military said.

"The Marines have been aggressive, relentless and successful," U.S. military spokesman Lt. Col. Tucker Mansager said. "They have demonstrated that there is no refuge for the terrorists."



Ellie

[thedrifter]

Ordnance Marines keep Harriers' claws sharp in Afghanistan
Submitted by: 22nd MEU
Story Identification #: 20046124529
Story by Gunnery Sgt. Keith A. Milks



KANDAHAR AIR FIELD, Afghanistan (June 12, 2004) -- For aviation ordnance Marines, one of the most exasperating parts of their job is to see an aircraft return home with a full load of bombs, rockets, and bullets.

However, in recent days, a rash of combat sorties has alleviated that headache for ordnance technicians assigned to Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 266 (Reinforced), the aviation combat element of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable).

Ever since June 2, when infantry forces assigned to the MEU began engaging anti-coalition militia in near-daily of running gun battles in central Afghanistan, the ordnance technicians for the squadron's AV-8B Harrier II detachment have been busier than ever.

"Flying the same bombs every day gets boring," said Lance Cpl. Paul Harrison, of Sonora, California, an HMM-266 (Rein) ordnance technician. "It's motivating now that we're finally dropping stuff."

According to one ordnance tech who had just finished loading a 25mm gun pod onto a Harrier slated for a close air support mission, they are responsible for more than just loading up rockets and bombs.

"We also do all the counter-measures, or chaff," he said, "and we also load the Litening pod [targeting system] and basically all the external systems. After every mission, whether they drop ordnance or not, we're working."

"Most of our work has been loading GBUs [guided bomb units], five-inch rockets, and 25mm gun pods," Harrison added.

In addition to an externally-loaded 25mm gun pod mounted under the centerline of the aircraft, the Harrier is capable of dropping a wide range of munitions, including 500 and 1,000-pound 'dumb' or guided bombs, cluster munitions, anti-armor missiles, and can be outfitted with air-to-air missiles.

According to Harrison, the first time a Harrier returned without the ordnance it left with, the pilot was met with cheers.

"After all, supporting the troops in combat is the only reason we're here."

In addition to HMM-266 (Rein), the 22nd MEU (SOC) consists of its Command Element, Battalion Landing Team 1st Bn., 6th Marines, and MEU Service Support Group 22. The MEU is in Afghanistan conducting combat and civil military operations as Task Force Linebacker.

For more information on the 22nd MEU (SOC)'s role in Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, visit the unit's web site at www.22meu.usmc.mil.

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/200461241030/$file/Ordnance_Bomb_Low.jpg

A GBU-12 Paveway II 500-pound hangs beneath an AV-8B Harrier II attack jet from Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 266 (Reinforced), the aviation combat element of the 22d Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), finishes up attaching a 25mm gun pod to an AV-8B Harrier II attack jet before the aircraft leaves for a combat mission over south-central Afghanistan. Photo by: Gunnery Sgt. Keith A. Milks

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/D0AFDF9E618C3FE985256EB1002C7292?opendocument


Ellie

[thedrifter]

Air Force B-1B bomber supports 22nd MEU attack against Taliban forces
Submitted by: 22nd MEU
Story Identification #: 200461315812
Story by Gunnery Sgt. Keith A. Milks



FORWARD OPERATING BASE RIPLEY, Afghanistan(June 13, 2004) -- At Forward Operating Base Ripley, Afghanistan on May 31, nearly all heads were turned skyward as a sleek, rarely seen aircraft cut through the clear skies overhead.

For nearly 15 minutes, the Air Force B-1B Lancer long-range bomber cut several lazy circles over the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable)'s base in Afghanistan's Oruzgan province as an American show-of-force in a region that to date has seen little U.S. presence.

Most of the Marines who saw the Reagan-era aircraft immediately put the idea out of the mind, at least for a few days.

However, on the second day of intense fighting against anti-coalition militia (ACM), the memory of this aircraft came in loud and clear for the Marines of Charlie Co., Battalion Landing Team 1st Bn., 6th Marines. After a firefight that left three Marines wounded and at least five enemy fighters dead, the company began pursuing the remaining ACM forces up the steep mountains and called for air support.

Instead of another run by Marine attack jets and helicopters, or even Army helicopter gunships, the voice on the other end of the radio reported that a B-1B was in the area and ready to assist in the battle.

To this point, AV-8B Harrier II attack jets and Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II ground attack aircraft had been the aerial heavy-hitters of the fight, but were both overshadowed by the appearance of the Air Force bomber.

Introduced into the U.S. inventory in the early 1980s, the B-1's early life was used exclusively in the nuclear deterrent role. In the post-Cold War world, the Lancer was converted to an exclusive conventional use and with its impressive payload capacity, is an ideal for long-range strategic and tactical bombing.

Flying high out of sight and in the space of only a few minutes, the Lancer dropped two 2,000-pound laser-guided bombs on the mountaintop where the Taliban fighters had fled. The thunderous explosion shook the valley and ridges, and created a huge gray and black cloud that mushroomed and dominated the skyline.

Marines as far as four kilometers away, who were escorting wounded comrades and battlefield detainees to a mobile command post, were caught unaware by the first bomb's detonation.

Sgt. Ryan West, of Lafayette, Indiana, is a squad leader in Charlie Co.'s second platoon, and spun around when the bomb exploded.

"I feel sorry for those guys caught up there," he muttered, referring to the anti-coalition militia targeted by the B-1B.

Since that day, additional B-1B sorties have been dedicated to the MEU's continuing hunt for enemy fighters in south-central Afghanistan.

In addition to BLT 1/6, the 22nd MEU (SOC) consists of its Command Element, Battalion Landing Team 1st Bn., 6th Marines, and MEU Service Support Group 22. The MEU is in Afghanistan conducting combat and civil military operations as Task Force Linebacker.

For more information on the 22nd MEU (SOC)'s role in Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, visit the unit's web site at www.22meu.usmc.mil.

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Smoke erupts from the mountaintop in central Afghanistan where anti-coalition militia have taken refuge during a pitched firefight with elements of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable). The smoke was caused by a bomb dropped from an Air Force B-1B Lancer bomber called in to support the MEU's attack. Photo by: Gunnery Sgt. Keith A. Milks

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/1A783C6AE066145185256EB20020CB69?opendocument


Ellie

[thedrifter]

22nd MEU (SOC) artilleryman meets newborn son courtesy of Fox News Channel
Submitted by: 22nd MEU
Story Identification #: 20046145429
Story by Gunnery Sgt. Keith A. Milks



FORWARD OPERATING BASE RIPLEY, Afghanistan (June 14, 2004) -- On March 25, 2004, as Amelia Huff was being wheeled into a delivery room at Camp Lejeune Naval Hospital, her husband Johnny was preparing to go to war.

When a healthy Alexander Nicholas Huff entered the world that day, his father, a sergeant in Golf Battery, Battalion Landing Team 1st Bn., 6th Marines, was aboard the amphibious assault ship WASP waiting for a flight to take him into Afghanistan.

For the next ten weeks, as Sgt. Johnny Huff scoured south-central Afghanistan for Taliban insurgents, he carried with him the photos of the son he'd never held. Like many other new fathers in the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), Huff resigned himself to not seeing or hearing his son until his return to Camp Lejeune this fall.

A visit to Forward Operating Base Ripley by Fox News Channel's Geraldo Rivera changed all that.

Broadcast live from FOB Ripley, 'At Large with Geraldo Rivera' showcased the MEU's recent activities in Afghanistan to date, and Huff was among the 60 or so service members from drawn from throughout Task Force Linebacker in the audience.

"He'd just returned from a nighttime security patrol and wasn't supposed to be in the audience," said Gunnery Sgt. William Frye, battery gunnery sergeant for Golf Battery. "I just happened to see him after the patrol and told him to get in the crowd."

After nearly 55 minutes of interviews with MEU leadership and personnel, commentary, and interviews with military analysts and congressmen in the United States, Geraldo asked the crowd if there were any new fathers.

Huff, after prodding from his fellow artillerymen, humbly stepped forward and came face to face, via live satellite feed, with his wife Amelia and son Nicholas.

Obviously choked up, Huff, a native of Richmond, Virginia, smiled and greeted his wife and son who were seated with Fox News crews back at Camp Lejeune for the show.

Mumbling 'I love and miss you's," Huff's satellite reunion with his family was, in Geraldo's words, the perfect cap for the show.

In addition to BLT 1/6, the 22nd MEU (SOC) consists of its Command Element, Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 266 (Reinforced), and MEU Service Support Group 22. The unit is Afghanistan conducting combat and civil military operations as Task Force Linebacker.

For more information on the 22nd MEU (SOC)'s role in Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, visit the unit's web site at www.22meu.usmc.mil.

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/200461451735/$file/Geraldo_Huff-2_Low.jpg

Geraldo Rivera from the Fox News Channel smiles for the camera as he chats with Sgt. Johnny Huff, of Richmond, Virginia, during a live broadcast of "At Large with Geraldo Rivera" from Forward Operating Base Ripley, Afghanistan. Huff, an artilleryman with Golf Battery, Battalion Landing Team 1st Bn., 6th Marines, the ground combat element of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), interacted with his wife and newborn son during the broadcast. Photo by: Gunnery Sgt. Keith A. Milks

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/28B0D0FBB5B2410185256EB30031D9A3?opendocument


Ellie

[thedrifter]

Maintainers overcome harsh conditions to keep KC-130Rs flying
Submitted by: 22nd MEU
Story Identification #: 200461314511
Story by Gunnery Sgt. Keith A. Milks



CENTRAL COMMAND AREA OF OPERATIONS (June 13, 2004) -- Far from home in a region where temperatures regularly top 120 degrees and working on planes a decade older than themselves, a small group of KC-130R Hercules maintainers are working miracles behind the scenes and out of sight.

"Our detachment is young, but very experienced," said Staff Sgt. Eric Buchheim, of Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Buchheim is one of the senior Marines in the maintenance section of the two-Hercules detachment from Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron (VMGR) 252 assigned to support the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) as it conducts combat operations in south-central Afghanistan.

"I'd say we have one of the most experienced dets in the squadron," he continued, commenting on the Marines' varied experiences supporting training exercises, Operations ENDURING and IRAQI FREEDOM, and the recent stabilization mission in Liberia. "Everyone knows their stuff. The Marines are tired, but busting their butts to keep the planes flying."

"Since we began flying into FOB Ripley [Forward Operating Base Ripley - the MEU's base of operations] on May 4 we've only had to cancel three missions due to mechanical problems," said Capt. Jason Kindred, a KC-130R Hercules pilot. "These guys are doing wonders keeping the planes flying in this environment."

Canceling three out of nearly 250 missions is a remarkable feat by any standard, and is made all the more impressive by the inhospitable conditions under which the aircraft's maintainers work.

"It's the same job, but made different by the environment," said Cpl. Kevin Jones, of Fair Oaks, Calif., one of the detachment maintainers. "The heat [120 degrees plus] is the biggest problem because it's hard on the Marines and the engines. We have to monitor the aircraft more closely and jump on any discrepancies the flight crew notice."

Based out of Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C. and flying out of a remote airfield in an undisclosed country in the Central Command area of operations, the aircraft have flown daily into FOB Ripley.

Prior to a mission the ground crew's job is relatively easy. While they ensure the aircraft are topped off with fuel, flight mechanics assigned to the air crew conduct pre-flight inspections. It's upon the aircraft's return that the maintainers get busy.

"As soon as the aircraft land we get the list of discrepancies and get to work," said Sgt. Eric Williams, of Lone Pine, Calif., an air frames specialist serving as the detachment's quality assurance supervisor. "We have to make sure the aircraft are ready to turn-around as soon as possible, and once had to work up to 24 hours non-stop to get it done."

"The grunts have their dirty days, and so do we."

Williams knows first-hand the importance of his detachment's mission. Before becoming a KC-130R maintainer, the 28-year-old married father of three was a rifleman in BLT 1/6, one of the units he is supporting. In fact, he deployed with the 24th MEU in 1998 when Col. Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr., the current commanding officer of the 22nd MEU (SOC), had the reins of BLT 1/6.

"I try to tell the young guys how important what we're doing is," said Williams. "Of course our job is the same whether we're training or in an operation, but now there seems to be a greater sense of purpose since we're in a fight."

In addition to BLT 1/6, the 22nd MEU (SOC) consists of its Command Element, Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 266 (Reinforced), and MEU Service Support Group 22. The MEU is in Afghanistan conducting combat and civil military operations as Task Force Linebacker.

For more information on the 22nd MEU (SOC)'s role in Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, visit the unit's web site at www.22meu.usmc.mil.

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/200461315117/$file/KC-130R-Maint_Night_Low.jpg

A KC-130R Hercules transport aircraft sits on an aircraft tarmac in an undisclosed country in the Central Command area of operations after conducting a mission in support of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable). The 22nd MEU (SOC) is in Afghanistan conducting combat and civil military operations as Task Force Linebacker. Photo by: Gunnery Sgt. Keith A. Milks

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/CB59712037D0C0AC85256EB2001F9A51?opendocument


Ellie

[thedrifter]

Army Provincial Reconstruction Team supports 22nd MEU (SOC)'s Afghanistan operations
Submitted by: 22nd MEU
Story Identification #: 20046150592
Story by Sgt. Matt C. Preston



FORWARD OPERATING BASE RIPLEY, Afghanistan (June 15, 2004) -- A village elder watches as a convoy filled with Marines and Soldiers pulls up a short distance from his village. He remembers the days of the Soviets and the Taliban, and wonders what the armored warriors want with his village.

Sitting on a mat under the shade of the largest trees in the village, the elder speaks with the one of the Soldiers as he is peppered with questions about the health of his people. As per Afghan custom, tea is served for host and guests, an expression of Afghani hospitality. They discuss drinking water and the condition of the village's livestock. Soon, a truck filled with grain, school supplies and tools pulls up to deliver them to the village.

The elder smiles. The United States is welcome here.

This is the world of the Army Provincial Reconstruction Team currently attached to the 22d Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) for operations in Afghanistan's Oruzgan province. The primary conduit for civil military operations in the vicinity of Forward Operating Base Ripley, PRT Tarin Kowt is also working to shape the Afghani perception of the United States by showing and demonstrating concern about the welfare of the Afghan people. This is another way to strengthen reception to the central Afghanistan government too.

"You assist in any way you can," said Army Maj. Alvalee Cook, 486th Civil Affairs Officer. "We try to help the people help themselves."

The Soldiers of civil affairs are the connection between U.S. Forces in Afghanistan and the Afghani people.

"We serve as the liaison between the Army and the civilian population," said Army Sgt. Timothy Post, a Civil Affairs specialist from Poteau, Ok. "We legitimize [U.S. Forces] being here. The people see we're here to help, not just busting in doors."

The PRT supports the population of Afghanistan in two major ways. The first is through infrastructure support. This includes helping find money for roads, schools, wells, and other major projects that would need to be contracted out.

The PRT also provides direct support to the Afghan people who have long suffered at the hands of oppressive regions. Capable of purchasing and distributing supplies for agriculture, education and construction, they are working hard to have an impact on the lives of the Afghan villagers, primarily in rural areas where anti-coaliton forces have long enjoyed support.

During Operation NIGHTINGALE, a joint MEU-Army civil affairs operation, the PRT delivered school supplies for over 400 Afghani children, as well as several hundred pounds of grain and vegetable seed. They also distributed shovels, picks, hammers and other construction materials to several villages. Soccer balls and crank-powered radios also serve to engender good will between coalition forces and the Afghan people.

While out in the villages, Cook and the other soldiers in the PRT will meet with the village elders and leaders to find out what the needs of the village are and if they are able to help. If the PRT is able to help, it will either purchase the supplies directly or contract the work out.

The PRT attempts to keep as much of the money spent on contracts for construction and the purchase of supplies inside Afghanistan. For instance, instead of buying school chairs and tables pre-made from another country, the PRT will attempt to find an Afghan contractor to provide these items, thus infusing currency and jobs into local economies.

As with all missions, the PRT doesn't roll without a little muscle to deter troublemakers. The PRT also consists of a security team, which plays a crucial role in allowing the civil affairs Soldiers to conduct their business with the village elders undisturbed. They also conduct crowd control during medical support missions to keep order during these operations when all the villagers are clamoring for medical assistance.

Seeing the condition of the Afghani people is an eye opener for members of the security team.

"It's like reading the Bible," said Army Pfc. Sid Sikes, a Hilton Head, S.C., native and gunner for 265th Air Defense Artillery, part of the PRT's security team. "It's exactly the way you'd imagine it to be. It baffles the mind that in the West we've come so far and not know it."

The nature of civil affairs keeps them on their toes, but also brings in great rewards.

"It's different than the norm," said Post. "We get to interact with the people. It's instant impact."

The PRT has its roots in the civil affairs missions conducted during the Vietnam War when the phrase "winning hearts and minds" became popular. The PRT will remain in Tarin Kowt and continue to conduct civil affairs missions long after the Marines have left Afghanistan.

The 22nd MEU (SOC) is the core of Task Force Linebacker, and in addition to PRT Tarin Kowt, consists of its Command Element, Battalion Landing Team 1st Bn., 6th Marines, Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 266 (Reinforced), and MEU Service Support Group 22.

For more information on the 22nd MEU (SOC)'s role in Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, visit the unit's web site at www.22meu.usmc.mil.

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Specialist Gwen Harding, an Army field medic from Melbourne, Fla. currently assiged to the Army's 265th Air Defense Artillery, prescribes medicine to help aches and pains to residents of an Afghan village in central Afghanistan as part of Operation NIGHTINGALE. Harding is assigned to Provisional Reconstruction Team Tarin Kowt, and is operating alongside the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) in Afghanistan's Oruzgan province. Photo by: Sgt. Matt C. Preston

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/32F779731FDB9CD585256EB4001B60CA?opendocument


Ellie