“America’s Battalion” Capitalizes on Ramadi’s Security

 Story by Cpl. Nicholas J. Lienemann

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RAMADI, Iraq (April 10, 2008) –  Processions of armored vehicles clamoring down the now busy streets of Ramadi, Iraq, have come to be quite a familiar sight, but for the Marines of Headquarters and Support Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, running re-supply missions during daylight hours is a stark difference from their last deployment.

“We couldn’t so much as leave the wire last year without getting into some sort of fire-fight,” said Cpl. Pirtus Esperience, a rifleman attached to H&S Co., 2nd Bn., 8th Marines. “Now we’re running supply convoys out to the companies in the city during the daylight hours pretty much without incident.”

Capt. Lance T. Pugsley, logistics officer, 2nd Bn., 8th Marines, said the change in tactics can be directly attributed to the increased Iraqi security in and around the city.

“Running daylight re-supply missions during the daytime was practically unheard of when we got out here,” said the 38 year-old from Riverhead, NY. “The Iraqi Police have done a tremendous job… they have definitely stood up and taken control of their city.”

It’s obvious driving through Ramadi that the IP’s have taken the lead in security. They conduct daily joint patrols with Marines as well as post guards at checkpoints throughout the Provincial capital. Such measures have allowed Marines to step back and fill more of a supporting role towards the overall stability in the Anbar region.

The success of the supply Marines’ daily logistical missions unequivocally correlates to the success of the infantrymen’s mission at the Joint Security Stations. The delivered supplies enable Marines at each JSS to operate efficiently in remote locations throughout the city. Not only do the H&S Co. Marines provide crucial gear to the warriors of “America’s Battalion,” they also enhance morale with hot food, mail, and clean laundry.

Kinetic activity has drastically decreased throughout the course of the battalion’s deployment, which actually poses a new predicament for the supply drops, Pugsley explained.

“It’s been a tough adjustment, things are totally different this time around,” he said. “But the warrior mindset still has to be instilled, there’s constantly a possibility of life-threatening situations.”  

Since their arrival to Iraq last October, the H&S Co. supply convoys have conducted about 900 missions and logged more than 15-thousand miles throughout their area of operations. They have also transported approximately four million pounds of cargo and performed 74 vehicle-recovery operations.

            “I think to some degree that logistics side goes unnoticed,” Pugsley said. “But that’s not necessarily a bad thing, that just means everything is flowing smoothly and we’re contributing.”

            The Marines of “America’s Battalion” are set to redeploy to Camp Lejeune, NC, within the next two months.