A good day for the marines

[sgser]

"A good day for the Marine Corps"

November 25, 2008 Posted by Scott (Powerline)at 5:27 AM
Michael Ledeen highlights this stirring account of Marines fighting in Afghanistan:

FARAH PROVINCE, Afghanistan -- In the city of Shewan, approximately 250 insurgents ambushed 30 Marines and paid a heavy price for it.

Shewan has historically been a safe haven for insurgents, who used to plan and stage attacks against Coalition Forces in the Bala Baluk district.

The city is home to several major insurgent leaders. Reports indicate that more than 250 full time fighters reside in the city and in the surrounding villages.

Shewan had been a thorn in the side of Task Force 2d Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force Afghanistan throughout the Marines' deployment here in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, because it controls an important supply route into the Bala Baluk district. Opening the route was key to continuing combat operations in the area.

"The day started out with a 10-kilometer patrol with elements mounted and dismounted, so by the time we got to Shewan, we were pretty beat," said a designated marksman who requested to remain unidentified. "Our vehicles came under a barrage of enemy RPGs (rocket propelled grenades) and machine gun fire. One of our 'humvees' was disabled from RPG fire, and the Marines inside dismounted and laid down suppression fire so they could evacuate a Marine who was knocked unconscious from the blast."

The vicious attack that left the humvee destroyed and several of the Marines pinned down in the kill zone sparked an intense eight-hour battle as the platoon desperately fought to recover their comrades. After recovering the Marines trapped in the kill zone, another platoon sergeant personally led numerous attacks on enemy fortified positions while the platoon fought house to house and trench to trench in order to clear through the enemy ambush site.

"The biggest thing to take from that day is what Marines can accomplish when they're given the opportunity to fight," the sniper said. "A small group of Marines met a numerically superior force and embarrassed them in their own backyard. The insurgents told the townspeople that they were stronger than the Americans, and that day we showed them they were wrong."

During the battle, the designated marksman single handedly thwarted a company-sized enemy RPG and machinegun ambush by reportedly killing 20 enemy fighters with his devastatingly accurate precision fire. He selflessly exposed himself time and again to intense enemy fire during a critical point in the eight-hour battle for Shewan in order to kill any enemy combatants who attempted to engage or maneuver on the Marines in the kill zone. What made his actions even more impressive was the fact that he didn't miss any shots, despite the enemies' rounds impacting within a foot of his fighting position.

"I was in my own little world," the young corporal said. "I wasn't even aware of a lot of the rounds impacting near my position, because I was concentrating so hard on making sure my rounds were on target."

After calling for close-air support, the small group of Marines pushed forward and broke the enemies' spirit as many of them dropped their weapons and fled the battlefield. At the end of the battle, the Marines had reduced an enemy stronghold, killed more than 50 insurgents and wounded several more.

"I didn't realize how many bad guys there were until we had broken through the enemies' lines and forced them to retreat. It was roughly 250 insurgents against 30 of us," the corporal said. "It was a good day for the Marine Corps. We killed a lot of bad guys, and none of our guys were seriously injured."


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[jofreder]

Semper Fi

[Swarner793]

I got choked up reading that. I hope, someday, we learn that Marksman's name, I want my children to know it. From a Soldier, Thank You Marines!

Just had a couple friends return from Afghanistan this weekend, one very dear. Treacherous terrain as they tell. Kipling was right, so many years ago.

Be safe (and do not get "left on Afghanistan's plains").

Scott

[mjfletcher]

I'll second the desire to know the Marskmans name, that man should get a chest full of medals.

[Mtbkski]

Your always proud of the fact that your a Marine. But then you read something like this. And your chest just swells with pride. Guess all of your young people are waste after all. SEMPER FI. OOORRAAAHHHHH

[mjfletcher]

Your always proud of the fact that your a Marine. But then you read something like this. And your chest just swells with pride. Guess all of your young people are waste after all. SEMPER FI. OOORRAAAHHHHH

I hope I'm misreading this, if I am I apologize in advance. Now onto my response.

HEY NOW!!!!! Not all young people are a waste, some of us were told we weren't allowed to serve because we're "medically unfit" even though the condition they're citing is a complete non-issue.

[Mtbkski]

I hope I'm misreading this, if I am I apologize in advance. Now onto my response.

HEY NOW!!!!! Not all young people are a waste, some of us were told we weren't allowed to serve because we're "medically unfit" even though the condition they're citing is a complete non-issue.

Nope you can relax.

Anyone my age, will probably tell you that it seems that most kids now a days lack total discipline. No respect for anyone. (Course I think my parents said that about my friends too) Being medically unfit, isn't your fault. You find them sitting on their ass, disrespecting their parents / adults, not giving a sh*t what their shirt says and wearing it out in public for my kids to read. NO, whole lot of kids just don't have any discipline, or respect these days.

And then you read something like this OP, and realize, that maybe there is hope after all. Not all young people are the pieces of Sh*t that you run into daily at the mall or the street corner. Some are worth keeping.

SEMPER FI

[mjfletcher]

Nope you can relax.

Anyone my age, will probably tell you that it seems that most kids now a days lack total discipline. No respect for anyone. (Course I think my parents said that about my friends too) Being medically unfit, isn't your fault. You find them sitting on their ass, disrespecting their parents / adults, not giving a sh*t what their shirt says and wearing it out in public for my kids to read. NO, whole lot of kids just don't have any discipline, or respect these days.

And then you read something like this OP, and realize, that maybe there is hope after all. Not all young people are the pieces of Sh*t that you run into daily at the mall or the street corner. Some are worth keeping.

SEMPER FI

Ok, then I apologize again for my response. Honestly though, being as my grandmother raised me to question everything, I don't think i'dve lasted long in the military, something about having a recruit/soldier that asks questions rather than just following orders as soon as they're given.

[Rosco the Iroc]

Back to 1st post-
YEA GET SOME!!!!

[dman]

Made even my chest tweek a little, give em hell and get your asses home !