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Operation Golden Gate to Connect Sangin, Musa Qal'ah Tanks Disrupt

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Operation Golden Gate to Connect Sangin, Musa Qal'ah Tanks Disrupt NEWS Operation Golden Gate to connect Sangin, Musa Qal'ah Story and photos by Cpl. Anthony Ward Jr. SANGIN DISTRICT, Afghanistan – Ground was broken for the start of Operation Golden Gate in the Sangin District of Helmand province, Afghanistan, Nov. 4. Marines, sailors and soldiers are working together in an effort to build a bridge more than 24 feet wide that will span more than 150 feet across the Helmand River, allowing for easy passage for the local people. “This is a joint project to build a permanent bridging solution to connect the east and west banks of the river, “said 2nd Lt. Benjamin Nelson, mission commander for Engineer Company, Combat Logistics Battalion 2, Combat Logistics Regiment 15. The current bridge site is near the northern causeway, which once housed a bridge that connected the people of Sangin and Musa Qal’ah. “The northern causeway was the site of an existing medium girder bridge,” said Lt. j.g. James A. Bruno, platoon commander with Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 133. “Over time, the river expanded west, making it no longer feasible to have the bridge there.” (Read the STORY) Tanks disrupt enemy activity in known insurgent hotbed Story and photos by Cpl. Mark Garcia COMBAT OUTPOST SHIR GHAZAY, Afghanistan – During a time when insurgents typically bed down for the winter, Marines and coalition forces engaged multiple enemy forces during Operation Helmand Viper, Oct. 19 through 27. Tanks with Bravo Company, 2nd Tank Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 7, led the support mission for special operations forces. The operation’s focus was to find and destroy weapons caches, improvised explosive devices and drug producing facilities. Coalition forces localized their efforts to Zamindawar, a known insurgent hotbed between Musa Qal’ah and Kajaki. Marines with Bravo Co., 2nd Tank Bn., along with various supporting units, convoyed through the night and were prepared to attack by first light, Oct. 19. By the time the sun had risen to a chilly Afghan morning, the assault was under way. Throughout the next eight days, Marines provided sustaining firepower and resupply missions for the special forces. (Read the STORY) 2/7 celebrates Marine Corps birthday in Afghanistan Story and photos by Cpl. Anthony Ward Jr. FORWARD OPERATING BASE SABIT QADAM, Afghanistan – Marines with 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, came together to celebrate the Marine Corps’ 237th birthday at Forward Operating Base Sabit Qadam, Afghanistan, Nov. 10. The battalion, like Marines stationed throughout the globe, celebrated the day on which the Marine Corps was created 237 years ago. The ceremony began with an invocation from the battalion chaplain, the reading of the birthday message from the commandant of the Marine Corps, and the reading of Gen. John A. Jejeune’s birthday message. After the messages were read, the Marines did a traditional cake cutting ceremony, where the youngest Marine and oldest Marine present share the first piece of cake, signifying the passing of experience and knowledge. “I know how Marines look up to us in general, so that’s always a good thing,” said Master Gunnery Sgt. Ricardo Hernandez, the oldest Marine present at the ceremony. (Read the STORY) Marines celebrate 237th birthday throughout Afghanistan Story and photos by Master Sgt. Brenda Varnadore HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Major Gen. Charles M. Gurganus, Regional Command (Southwest) commanding general, and RC(SW) Sgt. Maj. Harrison Tanksley flew throughout southern Helmand province to shake every Marine’s hand in honor of the 237th Marine Corps Birthday, Nov. 10. Major Gen. Gregg Sturdevant, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) commanding general, visited the northern areas of Helmand province to wish them a happy birthday. During each stop, Maj. Gen. Gurganus and Sgt. Maj. Tanksley addressed all available Marines and posed for group photographs, whether there were 10 Marines or 50 on the outlying bases. “I just came down here to say ‘Happy Birthday,’” said the general. “There is no place I would rather be than out here with you on the birthday. Every other Marine around the world who is celebrating tonight is talking about you out here. You are doing what they all want to be doing right now. And you don’t have to make sure your ribbons are on straight.” (Read the STORY) 1,000 Afghan brothers recite Oath of Allegiance at Afghan military base Story and photos by Sgt. James Mercure CAMP SHORABAK, Afghanistan – More than 1,000 Afghan soldiers with 215th Maiwand Corps swore the Afghan Army’s Oath of Allegiance during a ceremony on Camp Shorabak, Nov. 8. “This oath is a promise,” said Brig. Gen. Zamin Hassan Ehsan, the 215th Maiwand Corps Chief of Staff, as the soldiers echoed his words in unison. “The promise is to help your friends, help your country and help the people. When the ceremony concluded, more than 1,000 Afghan soldiers had taken the oath and will soon be sent throughout Helmand province to their new duty stations as a surge of force for the Afghan Army. “You are soldiers today, but you will be the future of Afghanistan tomorrow,” said Brig. Gen. Hassan Ehsan to the soldiers taking the oath. “The responsibility of the country will soon be yours. You must be there for the people because they are your people. You must protect their land because it is your land. This is our home. We are one brother fighting against one enemy, and we will protect the people.” (Read the STORY) Combat logistics patrol supports mission, supplies Marines Story and photos by Cpl. Timothy Lenzo CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – The Marines and sailors supplying the infantry and other coalition forces have a job with long hours, late nights and early mornings. Recently, a combat logistics patrol comprised of 22 vehicles and more than 60 Marines and sailors traveled to three forward operating bases. The convoy departed at 8 p.m. and returned 32-hours later. They returned after picking up an additional two vehicles, three trailers and a forklift. For servicemembers with 4th Platoon, Transportation Support Company, Combat Logistic Battalion 2, Combat Logistics Regiment 15, this is a typical convoy. They travel to different bases with supplies for the Marines and pick up anything broken or not needed. “On this last mission, we resupplied 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines,” said 1st. Lt. Andrew Schlottmann, the platoon commander. Schlottmann’s platoon brought food, drinks, surveillance equipment and construction materials to three bases. (Read the STORY) Marines recognized for supporting Army program Story and photos by Sgt. John Jackson CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – More than 20 Marines assigned to Retrograde and Redeployment in support of Reset and Reconstitution Operational Group were recognized by the Installation Management Command (Forward) command sergeant major for their work inventorying and preparing millions of dollars worth of equipment to be distributed throughout Afghanistan, Nov. 1. Army Command Sgt. Maj. James King gave letters of appreciation to the R4OG Marines for their dedication in accomplishing the mission in just a short amount of time. “You never know how much you have till it's time to move,” King told the Marines. “I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your hard work for a job well done.” The Marines were requested to sort through and inventory the serviceable gear, preparing it to be shipped throughout Afghanistan. They started the task Oct. 29 and completed the work by Oct. 31. “The Army didn’t have the manpower here to complete the task, so we asked the Marines for some assistance,” said Wil Seda, the director of logistics for IMCOM (Fwd). “These Marines were just fantastic.” The Marines sorted through more than 100 oversized packing containers filled with a variety of equipment, eight 20-foot ISO containers, eight generators, nine blackwater suction trucks and 11 water containers. The gear deemed serviceable was packed and prepared to be shipped out across Afghanistan to units in need. “I estimate the Marines helped save the Army $3.5 million,” Seda said. “We are able to reuse this gear and get it out to the battlefield where it's needed.” (Read the STORY) Nearly 600 deployed personnel strive to help find cure for breast cancer Story and photos by Cpl. Mark Garcia CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – Participants in the Susan G. Komen five-kilometer Race for the Cure, gathered to do their part in the fight against breast cancer, Nov. 4. Approximately 600 servicemembers and civilian contractors came together to run or walk the 5K in an effort to raise money for people directly affected by breast cancer and the research for a cure. “I contacted the Susan G. Komen foundation in San Diego back in June,” said Gunnery Sgt. Allan Anderson, the Camp Leatherneck provost sergeant and race coordinator, from Lewiston, Maine. “I wanted to do something to make a difference, and they were excited to help us out and coordinate this race out here. Just like most people, breast cancer has affected my family as well, but more so, I just wanted to do something that would make a difference even though we’re out here and busy. I figured there was something I could do, so I figured we’d start this kind of run out here. We opened it up to the entire base and tried to get as much support as we could. We had nearly 600 people attend and raised just under $19,000.” The Susan G. Komen foundation was established in 1982 in an effort to end breast cancer throughout the world. Throughout the years, it has invested nearly $2 billion to fulfilling that promise. “I think it was great. It was way more than I would have expected or hoped for,” Anderson said.
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