Battalion kicks off deployment with successful raid

[thedrifter]

Battalion kicks off deployment with successful raid
Submitted by: 1st Marine Division
Story Identification #: 20047353119
Story by Sgt. Jose E. Guillen



FALLUJAH, Iraq(July 2, 2004) -- After arriving in Iraq only a week and a half ago, the "Thundering Third" has joined the fight of restoring security in Al Anbar Province, conducting a battalion-sized raid July 1.

Marines from 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment cordoned As-Serifah, a village east of Kharma. The raid proved successful. Marines detained high-value targets and uncovered stores of weapons and improvised explosive devices.

The battalion only recently arrived in Iraq to replace 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, scheduled to redeploy soon.

"We were fortunate to detain a number of suspected terrorists on our wanted list," said Lt. Col. Willard A. Buhl, the 41-year-old battalion commander from Los Gratos, Calif. "We also found the largest series of buried caches of IED-making materials that our engineer platoon has seen in Iraq since February."

A detachment of Marines from 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, armed with metal detectors, discovered a large number of rocket-propelled grenades, crew-served and specialty weapons.

"Fifty-one 107 mm rockets, enemy sniper rifles and a silenced submachine gun were found," Buhl said. "We found 15 (rocket-propelled grenade launchers), a rifle and other weapons," added Cpl. Leon A. Rodrigo, a 21-year-old combat engineer with Company K from Pesmo Beach, Calif. "My team just gets on line with the metal detectors and start sweeping the entire area."

Rodrigo said that about 15 different weapons caches were discovered in As-Serifah.

The hamlet only appeared innocent on the outside populated with families, farm animals and plush green gardens and crops. That view changes when Marines began digging for munitions.
"The cluster of family dwellings was identified by people who were aware of terrorist activity in their neighborhood and wanted Coalition Forces to stop it," Buhl said.

The tip gleaned from local Iraqis was the key to the raid's success, Buhl said. It was that sort of intelligence that drove the Marines' training and which continues to drive operations.

"We received Intel about this place, and some of the locals have been real helpful pointing fingers," said Staff Sgt. Chad A. Luers, the 31-year-old Weapons Platoon Sergeant, Company K, and from Wayland, Iowa.

"This raid went very well because we confiscated many weapons that could've been used against our fellow Marines," said Pfc. Patrick C. McCormick, a 19-year-old radio operator from Faribault, Minn., with 2nd Platoon, Company K.

The battalion's Marines were excited to start off the deployment with a success. Buhl said his Marines and sailors are well trained, highly motivated and focused on mission accomplishment.

"There are people who would do harm to the new government and Coalition Forces, and there are many more who want peace and prosperity in Iraq," Buhl said.

McCormick said he was anxious and ready to capture more weapons and terrorists.

"It feels good to capture high-up insurgents and weapons because now there's less of a chance of our brothers being killed," McCormick added.

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/20047353358/$file/raid1lr.jpg

Cpl. Joseph J. Villa Gomez (left) and Lance Cpl. Roger L. Ogden, both combat engineers with Company K, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment carry a wood crate of rocket-propelled grenades to their humvee after discovering it in a cropfield at As-Serifah, Iraq, July 1. The battalion's Marines arrived in Iraq a week and a half ago to replace 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment.
(USMC photo by Sgt. Jose E. Guillen) Photo by: Sgt. Jose E. Guillen

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/84F8F8216A072EC485256EC600344E75?opendocument

Ellie

[thedrifter]

Lejeune Marines unaffected by sovereign government
Submitted by: 1st Marine Division
Story Identification #: 200473709
Story by Cpl. Shawn C. Rhodes



CAMP MAHMUDIYAH, Iraq(July 1, 2004) -- As documents affecting the history of Iraq were signed to his north, Lance Cpl. Timothy C. Stoll, a 20-year-old rifleman with Company F, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment was dealing with his sweat soaking him underneath his flak jacket on a security shift.

Stoll was more concerned with a rocket-propelled grenade being launched at his guard tower than Iraq's sovereignty; events he knew would end up in his children's history books.

"I think there's always going to be a group of people in Iraq who threaten it, even years from now," said Stoll, from Nashville, Tenn. "For me, its no big deal, just another day."

Other Marines around the camp felt the same way. Patrols still went out at their regular times and they still had to be just as wary as they normally are. There were no Times Square style celebrations here. It was business as usual for the Iraqis here, which means that it's business as usual for the anti-Iraqi forces too.

"We can never let our guard down at all, no matter how calm it seems. Just because there's an official government here doesn't mean we let up on our enemies," said Lance Cpl. Gabriel J. Otoole, a 24-year-old Company F rifleman from Portland, Maine. "We still treat all Iraqis with basic human dignity. For the most part they still see us as an occupational force and they want to handle things themselves."

On patrol, Otoole and his fellow Marines still receive friendly smiles, waves and gestures of good faith.

"We're still treated well when we're out in the towns. That's because we've spent a lot of time building relationships with the Iraqis, not because of the transfer of power in Baghdad," Otoole said. "People invite us inside their homes to drink chai tea because we help keep their towns safe, not because they're told to."

Many Marines agree the problem isn't even with Iraqis, but with people from other countries dedicated to seeing the new Iraqi government fail.

There are always going to be a few bad apples, Otoole said. He added that most of the Iraqis he meets are dedicated to seeing Iraq succeed.

From the danger of the mounted patrols to the relative safety of the operations center, Marines aren't feeling a big ripple from events in Baghdad.

"We're not seeing any great spike in insurgent activity. Patrols are still punching out, we're still doing our jobs here," said Cpl. Caleb D. Johnson, a 20-year-old operations clerk from Greenville, S.C. "Across our zone, we're not noticing a visual change in attitudes or perceptions. It's just business as we've been doing it all along."

Marines still keep their eyes and ears open, even as plans are implemented to give the Iraqi National Guard a more active role. Dangers didn't go away with the handover.

"We have a policy to treat everyone we meet as a friend, but to be ready to kill him in seconds if we need to," Otoole said

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/C7758D71D1C0F0BA85256EC6003C7079?opendocument

Ellie

[thedrifter]

Marine heralded for heroism killed in Iraq

By: Staff reports

A Marine who fought for days with a gunshot wound and whose courage won praise from his division died Thursday in Iraq, Department of Defense officials said Friday.

Kenneth Conde Jr., 23, of Orlando, died of injuries he received fighting in the Al Anbar Province, officials said. Conde was assigned to the 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Pendleton.

Marines have seen heavy fighting in the region since taking control of the area from the Army's 82nd Airborne Division in March.


In April, Conde's actions were the focus of an article in the defense department's Defend America News.

The article told of how Conde's unit, the 3rd Mobile Assault Platoon, Mobile Assault Company 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, came under fire while rescuing two wounded troops. Conde shot two attackers, Fitzgerald wrote, but then as he was running he saw "a red mist" coming from his left shoulder.

"I didn't realize I had been shot until one of the Marines said something," Conde told Fitzgerald. Another Marine in the fight said that Conde killed a shooter before falling to the ground.

Over the next few days, Conde's unit was involved in several firefights. "Only when his arm went numb, making it difficult to hold his rifle steady did he finally give in and step out of the fight," Fitzgerald wrote.

"I told them that I couldn't just leave the fight when I still could keep going," Conde told Marines back at base, Fitzgerald wrote.

Conde joined the Marine Corps on May 26, 1999. His personal awards include the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal and the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2004/07/03/military/19_37_597_2_04.txt


Ellie

[thedrifter]

No word on kidnapped Marine

By: DARRIN MORTENSON - Staff Writer

There was no indication Friday that a U.S. Marine who is being held captive and threatened with beheading by militiamen in Iraq has been harmed or released as of Friday.

Masked men who appeared in a video aired on Arabic Television earlier in the week threatened to kill Marine Cpl. Wassef Ali Hassoun, 24, on Wednesday if the U.S. military did not release some imprisoned insurgents, according to reports.

But there were no reports Friday that Hassoun or his captors had been heard from again.


Officials said Hassoun was last seen on June 19 near Fallujah, and was initially reported as missing when he failed to show up for duty on June 20. The U.S. military's last comment on the situation was a statement issued Thursday that his official status was that of "captured."

Neither the U.S. Central Command nor the Marine Corps Headquarters could be reached by phone Friday.

Hassoun's family in Salt Lake City have not issued any new statements and have halted the media interviews that marked the days after his capture was reported.

Members of an Oceanside family who said they knew Hassoun while he was stationed at Camp Pendleton earlier this year said they have had contact with Hassoun's family but have not heard anything new about Hassoun from either the military or other sources.

Contact staff writer Darrin Mortenson at (760) 740-5442 or dmortenson@nctimes.com.


http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2004/07/03/military/20_26_247_2_04.txt


Ellie

[thedrifter]

Marines hand over special projects funding to new Iraqi government
Submitted by: 1st Force Service Support Group
Story Identification #: 20047281638
Story by Sgt. Matt Epright



CAMP TAQADDUM, Iraq(July 2, 2004) -- The Marines yielded one bank roll that funded numerous endeavors aimed to rebuild Iraq to the new interim government June 28, 2004, but they will still draw from their own wallets for future projects.

The Developmental Fund for Iraq, which served as an account for the management of a portion of Iraq's oil revenue, was dissolved, putting the profits back in the hands of Iraqis.

Prior to the handover, the United Nations authorized coalition military leaders to use the DFI to fund the Commander's Emergency Response Program, which paid to improve Iraqi infrastructure in their local areas.

For example, 3rd Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment, which provides camp security here, used the program to finance construction of a $175,000 water purification complex that will deliver fresh water to nearly 3,000 Iraqis in two communities.

The program's guidelines ensure that "the only way you can use it is to help the community," said Cpl. Freddy S. Sobalvarro, the 1st Force Service Support Group comptroller chief, who helps Group commanders request the funds.

Projects were still being authorized in the days leading up to the transfer of power. The battalion received final approval on buying a generator to provide power for a nearby fishing village just two days before the handover, said Maj. Rollin F. Jackson, one of the battalion's company commanders.

After Iraq regained sovereignty, the funds were absorbed into the new government's regular budget, where the money will no longer be required to be spent on community improvement projects, said Capt. Judy J. Yoder, I Marine Expeditionary Force's former budget officer.

However, the Marines are optimistic the Iraqi government will also use the money to improve the country's infrastructure.

"The hope is that they will continue what we've started," said Sobalvarro, a 23-year-old Miami native.

Commanders will also encourage the Iraqis to make requests for new projects through their own new government to give it an opportunity to establish credibility with the people, said Jackson, a 37-year-old native of O'Fallon, Mo.

Though the DFI funds are no longer available, this will not stop multinational forces from completing any projects already in the works. All projects approved prior to June 28 will still be funded.

In addition, commanders are still able to identify and start new civil affairs projects, though Marines will have to look to unspent money from their own account.

As part of an $87 billion Iraqi aid package approved by Congress in November 2003, $140 million was specifically appropriated for coalition forces to use for CERP.

Soon afterward, the now departed Coalition Provisional Authority received authorization from the United Nations to begin using Iraqi oil revenue to back the program. Coalition forces shifted to using this fund because it was regularly replenished by oil sales, which allowed larger projects to be approved. Most of the original $140 million from Congress went unspent.

"We can still afford doing things for the Iraqi people," said Jackson, who recently received approval to purchase desks for one village's school.

However, the appropriated fund is "a much smaller pot of money," said Yoder, who until recently worked with I MEF's Civil Affairs Office trying to allocate more funds for the program, so the Marine Corps could continue to help the Iraqi people.

"No other program more clearly defines the difference between what the coalition is bringing to Iraq compared to that of the enemy," said Yoder.

Originally created in May 2003 as a method to properly use the $178 million in U.S. currency seized from the former Iraqi regime, the CERP proved to be a valuable asset in Iraq. It allowed Marine and Army commanders to give back to the Iraqi people the money that had been taken by Saddam Hussein's government by paying local Iraqi contractors to make improvements to the country's infrastructure.

The program became so popular with commanders that the United States decided to appropriate funding for program after the seized funds ran out.


http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/2004729131/$file/DiazKabani040626_low.jpg

Cpl. Maria C. Diaz, from the 1st Force Service Support Group disbursing office, holds an Iraqi baby during a visit to Al Kabani, Iraq, June 26, 2004. Diaz accompanied Marines from 3rd Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment, who visited the village to check on the progress of a $175,000 water purification complex the unit contracted to have built. The complex will bring clean drinking water to nearly 3,000 Iraqis from Al Kabani and another nearby community. The battalion has made regular visits to Al Kabani to deliver donated shoes, school supplies and toys to the children of the village. Elements of the battalion provide security for nearby Camp Taqaddum. Diaz, 23, is from Los Angeles. Photo by: Sgt. Matt Epright

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/FF1FAB28F152583685256EC5004370F7?opendocument


Ellie