US marines under attack in south Helmand
The first bang sent United States Marines scrambling for cover behind sandbags and doorways.

By Ben Farmer with the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade in Khan Neshin, south Helmand
Published: 8:00AM BST 25 Jul 2009

Three weeks of occasional attacks had tuned everyone's ears to the whoosh of incoming rockets, but the mortars dropped without warning.

Five more blasts followed, with shouted questions, barked orders and the running footsteps of medics.

The fire was more accurate and more sustained than earlier attacks.

Word spread quickly between the tense American marines that three men had been wounded and one of them was seriously hurt.

Sgt Ryan Lane, 25 and originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was caught in the open when the first mortar bombs fell in Khan Neshin castle, southern Helmand.

In the tense wait for the medical evacuation helicopters, a barrage of gunfire erupted from marines manning the western wall of the 300-year-old baked-mud fort towards the direction of the mortars.

A quick reaction force of vehicles seeking the fleeing bombers pushed out towards the direction of the attack.

The distant thump of a nearby marine artillery battery was followed by the closer explosion of shells as marine gunners also sought the Taliban mortar team.

Around 30 minutes after the attack, a helicopter circled the castle and was loaded with three stretchers as it landed in a cloud of dust.

For those left to wait, minutes ticked by and the temperature continued to rise in the fierce heat of a Helmand summer.

Then a young marine ran through asking for the chaplain. Someone across the castle shouted: "I hate this f------ place!"

Marines cursed, shook their heads and knew the news was bad.

Sgt Lane had died.

Sgt Lane, who was on his second tour of Afghanistan, was described as a popular, "first class marine" by his commanding officers.

He had trained many of his comrades in infantry tactics and was well known for his devotion to the Penguins ice hockey team.

Gunnery Sgt Chris Keisler, his platoon sergeant, described him as being like a little brother.

He said: "Everybody is taking it hard. It's a great loss.

"Before I said something, he knew what I was going to say. We always saw eye to eye and our decisions on tactics were always the same.

"He was an outstanding marine and really knew his knowledge." Sgt Lane was the third member of his delta company marine armoured reconnaissance unit to be killed since the start of the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade's Operation Khanjar, or 'sword strike'.

On July 2, 4,000 US marines pushed south into Taliban strongholds along the snaking southern Helmand river valley.

The marines aim to extend the reach of the Kabul regime before the August 20 presidential elections.

Between 120 and 400 fighters are estimated to be in the Khan Neshin area, which is a key Taliban staging post between the Pakistan border 75 miles south, and British forces in northern Helmand.

The morning after the attack the bazaar, which should be bustling on a Friday, was deserted.

Mohammad Arif, one shopkeeper, said: "We didn't have any sleep last night. If this fighting continues, we will leave our houses."

Ellie