243 posts from 2008

Photo by Cpl. Chris T. Mann

FALLUJAH, Iraq – Master Sgt. Douglas P. Fraser, a 39-year-old operations chief from Santa Barbara, Calif., with Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, Regimental Combat Team 1, visits several combat outposts and entry control points, Dec. 24. Fraser and a few staff members with the battalion convoyed to several areas in Fallujah, Iraq, to spread holiday cheer. “It was just great to see the Marines smile during the holidays and hear them laugh,” said Fraser. “This year Santa went around Fallujah with a flak jacket on and brought candy to Marines.” (Official Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Chris T. Mann)
(Released)

Story by Lance Cpl. Jerry Murphy

RAMADI, Iraq (Dec. 25, 2008) – Marines with 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 1, serving throughout Ramadi, Iraq expected very little on Christmas Day.

Thanks to their battalion commander and a generous group of people who make up the Bureau of Diplomatic Security, U.S. Department of State their expectations were upturned.
Lt. Col. Thad R. Trapp, the battalion commander of 2nd Bn., 9th Marines, made stops at his battalion’s forward operating bases (FOB), combat outposts (COP) and outposts (OP), and handed out gifts donated by the BDS.

Trapp showed his Christmas spirit by wearing a Santa Claus hat as he told his Marines that he is proud of them and proud to serve with them in Iraq.

“I wish there was more that I can do for you today but I can promise you a plane ticket home in a few months,” Trapp said to a group of Marines opening the presents. “Make sure to call your families today and keep doing the great job you’re doing.”

Cpl. Mike J. Nygaard, a 23-year-old sergeant of the guard at OP International in Ramadi, from Fort Myers, Fla., with Company E, 2nd Bn., 9th Marines, said it meant a lot to him and his Marines that people back home took time out of their busy holiday schedules to put together the packages and send them overseas.

“It’s encouraging. We greatly appreciate the overwhelming support for us by the folks back home. It’s what keeps us going over here,” Nygaard said. “The fact that people take the time out of their day to send packages to us during the holidays means a lot.”

The packages included DVD’s, hot chocolate, knife sets, candy and other various Christmas items. The Marines seemed glad to have the opportunity to experience their own Christmas in Iraq.

“We weren’t expecting this at all. We kind of just figured that it would just be another day in Iraq, waking up and going on post,” said Lance Cpl. Joe M. Gonzales, an amphibious assault crewman from Lodi, Calif., with Company G, 2nd Bn., 9th Marines. “But it does add to our Christmas out here and it’s nice to know that people back home still care about us over here.”

Story by Lance Cpl. Jerry Murphy

CAMP RAMADI, Iraq (Dec. 19, 2008) – Ramadi - once considered the most dangerous city in Iraq - is now considered by many a model of security and professionalism the rest of Iraq can mold itself after.
The city’s Provincial Security Forces have taken it upon themselves to ensure a safer place for citizens to live.

Commanders of 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 1 and chief leaders of Ramadi’s Provincial Security Forces elements met at Camp Ramadi, Iraq, Dec. 18 to discuss maintaining and building on their successes.

“We brought the leaders of Ramadi here today to discuss the security issues of Ramadi,” said Master Sgt. John A. McGrath, a 41-year-old assistant operations chief from Melbourne, Fla., with 2nd Bn., 9th Marines. “We all share the same goal and that’s to get the bad guys off the street.”

The leaders only hold the security conferences once every few months, making this 2nd Bn., 9th Marines’ first meeting with the PSF leaders since the battalion arrived in Iraq.

The leaders generally hold the conferences at a neutral site, according to Lt. Col. Thad R. Trapp, battalion commander of 2nd Bn., 9th Marines, who decided to host the most recent gathering at his battalion’s headquarters.

“It’s important to hold these conferences at a neutral location because it doesn’t show favoritism towards any one element of the PSF,” Trapp said. “We held it here because this is a neutral site, yet still a secure location and it demonstrates a level of trust we have towards the PSF.”

Inviting the leaders of the PSF elements aboard Camp Ramadi demonstrates a long-standing and ongoing level of trust between the two forces.

“They invite us to their headquarters and we trust that it will be a secure environment for us to meet,” Trapp said. “And it goes the same with when they come here. They trust us and believe that when they are invited here, the environment will be safe and secure. This continues to build on the strong relationship we have with them.”

Although security in Ramadi has improved and the city has become a safer place for its people, there is still work to be done.

“The security in the city has improved significantly in the last year and we are very happy with what is going on and the rebuilding that is being done in the city, but we still have a lot of work to do here,” said Col. Mahdi Saleh, the chief of Ramadi police. “There are still terrorists smuggling explosives and weapons into the city and we are working on putting an end to that, and with the help of Coalition forces it is very possible.”

As the conference ended there seemed to be a general agreement: the main goal is to work together to get the ‘bad guys’ off the street and provide a secure environment for the people of Ramadi.

“This conference is good because all of the different elements of Ramadi’s PSF are able to come together and share information and intelligence and help one another to capture terrorists and make the city a safer place,” Saleh said.

Story by Cpl. Chris T. Mann

FALLUJAH, Iraq – The holiday season can pose a particularly hard time for some service members deployed overseas and away from their families.

Story by Lance Cpl. Achilles Tsantarliotis

KARMAH, Iraq – Marines with Task Force 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 1, and other Coalition forces are making operational adjustments.

In the wake of the decrease in violence tied to the improvements in the Iraqi Security Forces and governance, Marines have started pulling back.

In al Anbar Province, Marines have already begun demilitarizing and realigning operating posts and increasing operational area with fewer Marines, as Iraqi Security Forces continue to step forward and gain control. Coalition forces were once sprawled throughout Anbar, maximizing their presence within communities by operating out of outposts throughout cities and towns.

Living amongst the population enabled Marines to deny insurgents freedom of movement; however, the proficiency and competency of local forces have allowed Coalition forces to continue stepping back.

Camp Fallujah, a central U.S. base in the area, was pivotal in supporting the surrounding combat outposts. Yet with sweeping decreases in enemy activity, the camp, once one of the largest in Anbar province, has been demilitarized and is being turned over to the Government of Iraq.

Marines operating in the greater Fallujah area, a onetime insurgent stronghold widely seen as vital to the province, have already transitioned to an overwatch position. The maturity of Iraqi Security Forces is evident as they have progressively begun conducting patrols independently, requesting Coalition forces support as they feel necessary.

Marines, upon request by Iraqi Security Forces, supplement Iraqi patrols and search or detain suspected insurgents only with approved warrants and Iraqi Security Forces support.

Concurrent with the drawdown of U.S. Forces, Marines of 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines, recently inherited additional areas, over fifty percent larger than its original battle space where it was once necessary for two battalions to provide security. Coalition troops will further disburse and decrease as forces realign their presence and Iraqi Security Forces operate in increasingly independent roles.

“It’s definitely a sign that we, and the Iraqi Security Forces, are headed in the right direction,” said Capt. Michael Deredita, a 26-year-old assistant operations officer from Stafford, Va., with 1st Bn., 3rd Marines.

Once considered the deadliest area in al Anbar, Iraqi Forces operating in Karmah have made the consolidation possible by substantial gains in proficiency and competence.

“On our level, this would be like us passing the baton to the Iraqi people right before the finish line,” Deredita explained.

Iraqi Security Forces in the expanded area and throughout the area of operations have even begun turning away Marines on patrols, thanking them for their support and informing them assistance is not necessary.

With Marines turned away from patrolling and Iraqi Security Forces leading operations, the provisions of the drawdown illustrate much of the operational shift Marines have already made on the ground.

“Due to the nature of the (area of operations), just by pure numbers (Marines) had already begun transitioning to an overwatch position,” said 1st Lt. Daniel Rhodes, the commander of Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines, from Chicago.
With less responsibility in the area Marines have also been able to shift even more focus on training the Iraqi Army and Police.

“Our big focus now is embedded reconstruction teams,” Rhodes said. “Once (Iraqi Security Forces) have their systems in place our withdrawal is imminent at that point.”
The Marines’ guidance and mentorship has shifted to organizational and logistics training, ensuring sustainability for local forces after they are gone.

“We suggest focus areas,” explained Rhodes, regarding the evolving role of Marines. “We facilitate city council meetings, share information, pretty much play the neutral party to keep things moving in the right direction. To be honest, our biggest problem is keeping the platoons, squads, gainfully employed.”

With the rise in Iraqi Security Forces competency and confidence, the vision of a sustainable peace and prosperity in Iraq is closer to becoming reality.

Story by Lance Cpl. Achilles Tsantarliotis

KARMAH, Iraq – Very few Marines have experienced war outside their duties working for Uncle Sam.

Not Cpl. Bajro Buzaljko, a 21-year-old ammunition technician from Utica, N.Y., with Task Force 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 1.

As Bosnia erupted into civil war in the early ‘90’s, Buzaljko’s mixed Muslim-Catholic family’s life in Stolac was shattered. His father and uncle were placed in a Croatian concentration camp, leaving his mother alone to care for Buzaljko and his baby brother.

Buzaljko said he cherishes memories of Bosnia prior to the civil war. He described the country as having a scenic environment with lush fields and streams. Buzaljko said the erupting violence was completely contradictory of everything he remembered up to that point.

“Before the war it was a beautiful place,” he said. “We would always play and have so much fun. It is full of history and had gorgeous scenery. Then one day, tanks and [troops] came through our town.”

Not until mortars began falling in the town did Buzaljko realize the danger his home, and everything he knew, was in.

“My mother tried her best to keep me unaware of the violence surrounding us,” said Buzaljko. “One day we were getting ready to escape the city and we were covering the lights on our car to avoid detection. All of a sudden everyone started running; it was chaos. I heard this loud whistling, and all of a sudden, boom! My school was gone.”

Buzaljko’s father and uncle spent a year doing hard labor and were afforded little food, until United Nations officials helped to free them.

When his mother woke him up to tell him his father was home, Buzaljko did not recognize him.
“I saw him standing in front of me and I didn’t know who he was,” Buzaljko said. “He had several shirts on and I could still see his bones through his clothing.”

Only prisoners nearing death were released from the concentration camp, Buzaljko said. After his family reunited, U.N. officials told them they could go wherever they wished.
They wanted to go to America.

“We moved to New York, and my family started rebuilding our lives,” Buzaljko said. “In Bosnia, my family was established. We had good jobs, financial security, everything we needed. It was taken away.”

Buzaljko grew up appreciating life in Utica, N.Y., quickly accepting it as his new home and thoroughly enjoying the land of opportunity.
“It was great,” he said. “Even as we were leaving Bosnia, they told my mother she could stay, but the children could not since she came from a mixed marriage of Catholicism and Muslim. In America that never even came up.”

Buzaljko’s interest in the military started in high school, where he was actively involved in the JROTC program.

After the attacks of September 11, Buzaljko said he knew he would take his interest further, and joined the Marine Corps after graduating.

“When we were attacked, it just made me feel like my home was being attacked again,” he said. “I wasn’t going to let that happen to me. That was the final factor in my decision to join. I wanted to go help fellow Americans.”

During Buzaljko’s first deployment, to Afghanistan with 1st Bn., 3rd Marines, he discovered another aspect to his service.

“When I got there, I realized not only was I doing my part for a country that took me in and helped my family, but I was helping other people in need, just like (the U.N.) helped me when my family was in trouble.”

Buzaljko’s care and concern has carried over to his current deployment with his unit to Karmah, Iraq.

It says a lot about someone to go back to a similar environment they left under such unfavorable circumstances, explained Cpl. Matthew Clay, a 23-year-old logistics operations center watch chief from Chicago, with 1st Bn., 3rd Marines.

“Anyone who’s lived through a war and volunteered to go back has a lot of courage,” Clay said. “I have a lot of respect for him.”

Despite the hardships Buzaljko’s family endured to leave their war-torn home, they remain supportive of their son and his service to their new country.

“I am very proud; you can’t even imagine,” said the his mother, Vesna Buzaljko. “He joined to say thank you to the [United States] for welcoming us with open arms. It was a tough time when we left, but America took us in and saved our family. Now he has a purpose to help others like we were helped when we needed it and we are so proud.”

Story by Cpl. Chris T. Mann

FALLUJAH, Iraq – There is nothing like a backyard barbecue to take your mind off the daily grind of fighting terrorism.

That was the shared sentiment of Marines with Headquarters and Service Company, 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 1 during their unit barbecue at Camp Baharia, Iraq, Dec. 7.

Leaders with the company organized the event to build camaraderie and to afford the Marines some relaxation time. The unit arrived to Iraq from Camp Pendleton, Calif., in early October and is nearing the halfway mark in the deployment.

Marines periodically joined others at the barbecue as they were relieved of their duties throughout the day. They also played a pick-up soccer game on a dirt lot using hand-made soccer nets.

“We had an awesome game of soccer,” said Cpl. Ruben D. Menachosalas, a 23-year-old administration clerk from Incline Village, Nev. “Games like these get your blood flowing and boost morale for us.”

Lance Cpl. Nathaniel Z. Udovich, a 21-year-old mail clerk from Trenton, Mo., volunteered to cook and prepared chicken and steak.

“I love doing things like this for other Marines. I know they get to enjoy a little food and sometimes things like this just make your day go that much better,” said Udovich. “This is one of the few moments when everyone stops working for a little bit to spend time with each other.”

Although the barbecue offered only a small break from their daily duties in a combat zone, the Marines seemed happy to spend a few relaxing moments with each other. “It is good to spend time with your friends when you don’t have to work, and stuff like soccer takes your mind away from where you are,” said Menachosalas. 

Story by Lance Cpl. Jerry Murphy

RAHALIYAH, Iraq (Dec. 10, 2008) – Marines with Company E, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 1, and Iraqi Police swept through the rough, desolate area outside Rahaliyah, Iraq, Dec. 8, hoping to weed-out any possible insurgents or weapons caches in the area.

The Marines and IPs acted on intelligence reports stating the desert area was a possible safe haven for members of al Qaida in Iraq.

“We heard reports that there were possible HVI’s (high valued individual) hiding out in this area and we wanted to scare them out and capture them,” said Sgt. Steve E. Bonk, a 27-year-old assistant section leader from Pine Hill, N.J., with 1st section, 2nd Platoon, Company E. “We had blocking positions set up so that if someone were to try to run, we would catch them by surprise and corner them.”

The Marines and IPs set up the blocking positions in areas where reports stated were the most-likely routes to be taken by insurgents trying to flee the area. The mission was quiet in terms of uncovering potential ‘hot spots’ until a call came over the radio about a suspicious vehicle traveling away from the Marines’ position at a high rate of speed.

“We got a call from one of the (helicopters) saying that a vehicle matching the descriptions of a BOLO (be on the lookout for) vehicle was traveling at about 60 mph away from our position,” Bonk said.

“Initially, we tried to chase him down but he was too far ahead and we had to let him go. He ended up running right into one of the blocking positions but when he tried to flee, our other positions were able to corner and detain him.”

The suspect’s identification checked out and he was released, but he was warned about the dangers of traveling at such a high rate of speed.
The Marines and IPs also stopped at two cement and construction factories to speak with the owners and workers about any abnormal activities in the area.

“They pretty much all said the same thing; that nothing out of the ordinary has been going on in the area,” said Lance Cpl. Ed M. Davila, a 19-year-old rifleman from Miami with Company E. “They were very cooperative, but just didn’t have anything useful to tell us.”

Upon leaving, the Marines and IPs placed signs throughout the factories informing anyone who passes through that the area is being monitored by Iraqi Security Forces, RCT-1 and Multinational Forces – West, hoping to thwart off insurgents who might try to set up safe havens in the area.

“We hadn’t been that far west of Wadi Ghadaf recently and we want to make sure any insurgents know that the area isn’t forgotten,” Bonk said.
Although no HVIs or weapons caches were discovered, the Marines were able to gain terrain intelligence of the area for future missions.
“Overall, the mission was a success. Now we know what’s back there and how to maneuver through the rough terrain,” Bonk said. “We’ll know if anything suspicious is going on and the people there will report it.”