Marines with Motor Transport Plt, often referred to by Marines as “Motor- T,” TF Belleau Wood, prepare to connect a tow bar to free a MRAP vehicle from the desert sands of Helmand prov., July 11. The platoon plays an essential role in security, as well as the supply lifeline of the FOBs near Camp Leatherneck, on a day-to-day basis.
CAMP LEATHERNECK – “Motor- T,” is tasked with being ready to transport supplies, equipment and personnel as needed throughout the unit’s areas of ops (AO). "This Motor-T Plt is different, and must be almost entirely self-sufficient," said Staff Sgt. Bryan Thrift, the plt’s asst. convoy cmdr. “We run our own trucks, security and communications independently, whereas other logistics plts. operate with the combined support and coordination of other units, in order to stay on mission,” said Thrift. “We manage everything internally that is organic to the plt.”
The Motor-T plt. uses a combination of cargo and MRAP tactical vehicles in its convoys. They pre-plan their missions to identify the least hazardous routes and potential hot spots of insurgent’s activity. “We gather the latest Intel, analyze and plan the routes, prior to going outside the wire,” said Staff Sgt. David Yeingst, the plt’s convoy cmdr. “We're also involved in escorting VIPs, and other ops where we do our own security foot patrols,” added Yeingst. "The unit has also conducted searches in villages in its AO, and have found weapons caches and detained insurgents," he added.The hazards of the area means that the Marines must always practice situational awareness. Their convoys shake, rattle and roll off the beaten path in the desert between villages and fields, always on the lookout for IEDs and suspicious activity. “We make our own path out here,” said Lance Cpl. Gary Weisgerber, a turret gunner and driver with the plt. “This is my first tour of duty; it’s a once in a lifetime experience.”"On the average mission the plt. encounters 3 to 5 suspicious items or potential IED’s that get reported for further investigation," Yeingst said.While every mission is planned, sometimes the path leads to a road less traveled.
Story by Sgt. Dayan Neely
CF soldiers hand out toothbrushes, toothpaste and hygiene kits during the "Children's Day" event, held at a new clinic for the Sangin District, July 9.
“The children and adults were very receptive to the class, and excited that they left the clinic with their own toothbrush, toothpaste and hygiene kit,” said a CST member. SOF members also reported that parents thanked them after the hygiene class was over. “Thank you for teaching us, and giving us new goods for our children,” said a local Afghan woman.
Following the hygiene class, the CST gave paint to the children to decorate the courtyard wall of the new clinic. “The children were very enthusiastic about painting the wall,” added the CST member. “Even some of their parents got involved.”Since the Children’s Day was so successful, CF plan to hold another similar event in the near future. The event was designed for women and children. However, future events will include training for the males, as well. “The local men were just as interested in the classes as the women and children,” said an FTT member.Children’s Day was a step in building relations between CF and local citizens. It also gave many of the women and children the right tools to maintain and practice better personal hygiene, said a member of Special Ops TF-West.According to ANP Capt. Ramazan, TSS Afghan cmdr., this course was one of the most important steps for policemen. He thanked the Polish and Afghan instructors for their commitment, and Afghan policemen recruits for their courage. “Police are to protect the people, to provide the security of all the country. Please protect the people, please protect equipment, but be careful. Please protect yourself too,” Ramazan said.
Ghanzi ANP Maj. Nazer wished the graduates success with upcoming tasks. “Don’t forget these lessons when you go to your Police Posts. It was hard work. Try to teach other policemen, when you go to other Police Posts in other districts. Try to be honest in everything. It's your life; it's your country. You are the leaders,” said Nazer.North
BALKH PROVINCE -- During a security op in Chahar Bolak district, an Afghan-led SECFOR killed 2 insurgents, including a Taliban leader, yesterday. The leader was responsible for several roadside bomb and small arms attacks against Afghan forces in the area. He also facilitated roadside bomb attacks in the Chimtal and Chahar Bolak districts. The leader and another suspected insurgent were killed after they fired weapons at the SECFOR. After the engagement, the SECFOR confiscated several grenades, AK-47 rifles, roadside bomb components, and chest racks. East NANGARHAR PROVINCE -- In Surkh Rod district, an Afghan-led SECFOR detained several suspected insurgents during a security op targeting a Taliban leader, yesterday. The leader directs roadside bomb and direct fire attacks against the Afghan forces, and also distributes weapons to insurgents throughout Khugyani District.South
HELMAND PROVINCE – A combined Afghan and coalition patrol targeted a drug lab during an op in Baghran district, yesterday. The op seized 2,205-lbs (1,000 kilos) of calcium oxide, 3 opium presses, 2 drying vats, and a quantity of narcotics producing equipment. Two insurgents were killed by an air weapons team during the op, when they posed a threat to the combined force.
JOINT BASE BALAD – “Our house is right on the main road where they push the parade past. My parents will try to Skype me during the parade,” Baird said. Baird is just one of several dozen Idaho soldiers mobilized last year to deploy to Iraq as part of eastern Oregon’s 3rd Bn. Members of G Co., hailing from such Idaho towns as Blackfoot, Pocatello, Preston, Montpelier, Boise, Twin Falls and Idaho Falls, will spend this 4th of July far from home.
Baird works in the bn’s TOC, and said that he transported plenty of memories of his hometown’s 4th of July celebration. “When the parade ended, there was always a grease pole we’d put out, and we’d watch about 100 people try to get the $100 bill off the top of it,” he said."Also after the parade, a plane swoops low over the football field in town and drops ping-pong balls. They have numbers on them, and people could take them and get a prize,” he said.While Americans everywhere are in the midst of barbecues and fireworks July 4th, Idaho soldiers will mark the renowned holiday in many different and subtle ways. For some soldiers, the day is like any other – hot, dusty, and, at times, risky. “Over here, it's just another day,” said Capt. Shawn Reese, G Co. cmdr.“Just because it's the 4th of July doesn’t mean we'll sit back and relax,” said Sgt. Jason King, 30, an MRAP vehicle driver with G Co. “If I was back home, I’d take the wife and stepkids and go to Boise, Julia Davis Park, float the Boise River. Floating the Boise River is something I’ve done since I can remember, said King. Sgt. 1st Class Kevin Dean, said that his plt. will mark the day, and then go right back to the mission. Yet Dean said he's happy he'll be able to enjoy the holiday with his soldiers. “I'll be missing a barbecue, sure, but here I’m with my soldier family,” he said.King left a family and new wife when he deployed to Iraq last year, and that separation has been difficult. “It’s been rough, given I just married my wife in March 2010. I’ve been separated longer than I’ve been able to be with her,” he said. Still, he said that the deployment, his first, has proven to be beneficial. “I’d like to think we’ve made a difference, and that the deployment has made me a better person,” he said.For Reese, the 4th of July is a good time to ponder the accomplishments of his unit. “I think we’ve done very well. Everyone has done a good job,” Reese said. Reese said, "while the company’s expedition in Iraq is ending in a few months, the focal point is still convoy escort duties."Baird said that he'll take more than a moment to consider his friends and family back home, enjoying the 4th of July Parade. He said that patriotism runs deep; a fact he discovered when he came home for leave. “There were 20 flags posted in front of our house that the Boy Scouts put out,” he said.He's also confident regarding how his family will look the day of the parade. “They're planning on all wearing yellow ribbons,” he said.
Sgt. Jason King stands next to the logo of the Personal Security Detachment of Golf Co.