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CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan (July 4, 2014) — Thomas Paine once said,
"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must,
like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it." As the
nation honors Independence Day during patriotic celebrations
across the nation, deployed U.S. service members with
Regional Command (Southwest) paused briefly to honor
America, July 4, 2014.
Independence Day is a time to
reflect on U.S. sovereignty and serves as an ever-present
reminder that freedom is not free. In southern Afghanistan,
U.S. service members are hard at work ensuring the mission
in Helmand is accomplished by the end of 2014.
Helmand province has been the deployed home for thousands of
U.S. and coalition forces during Operation Enduring Freedom.
U.S. forces were first called to Afghanistan after the
attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City, the
Pentagon and Pennsylvania. In 2006, U.K. forces first
forayed into Helmand to quell a boiling insurgency. During
2008 and 2009 U.S. Marines deployed to Helmand to assist.
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U.S. Marines with Redeployment and Retrograde in support of
Reset and Reconstitution Operations Group pose for a photo on the
Fourth of July aboard Camp Leatherneck, Helmand province,
Afghanistan. U.S. service members throughout Regional Command
(Southwest) gathered with their units to honor Independence Day
while deployed to Afghanistan, July 4, 2014.
(U.S. Marine Corps photo by 1st Lt. Garth Langley)
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In 2010 RC(SW) was formally established under the
International Security Assistance Force and partnered with
developing Afghan National Security Forces in the region.
Together forces occupied key terrain along the fertile green
area surrounding the Helmand River Valley in places such as
Sangin, the birthplace of the Taliban, to eliminate
terrorist sanctuaries. The battles were some of the
bloodiest and costliest to coalition and Afghan treasure.
Over time the mission has changed though. The transition
from coalition-led combat operations to Afghan-partnered
operations turned an important page in the security
environment. Afghan police and army demonstrated the ability
to secure the area and protect their people. During the past
two years, the transfer of lead security to the Afghans
has allowed coalition advisors to hone in on the
institutional development of the ANSF. Now more than 100
advisors serve under the Combined Corps Advisor-Team. The
advisors are partnered with headquarters staff officers of
the 215th Corps, Afghan National Army, at neighboring Camp
Shorabak and tied into the institutional development
processes of the ANSF.
Reaching a high of more than
21,000 Marines in 2011, now, there are 5,000 U.S. forces
remaining in Helmand. The forces are closely focused on
advising, developing and supporting the ANSF while
simultaneously preparing to redeploy equipment and personnel
by the end of 2014.
ON ALERT
Security
operations are ongoing in Helmand. Since the end of the
poppy harvest and the start of the fighting season, the ASNF
have been tested in northern Helmand and Sangin. The ANSF
have battled in skirmishes against the Taliban in key
district centers once held by ISAF, and prevailed.
In
the dark hours on the eve of the Fourth of July, Marines
with 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, and 1st
Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, headed outside the wire near
Camp Leatherneck to patrol, conduct reconnaissance, and
eliminate enemy threats to the coalition in the area.
Across the flight line aboard Camp Bastion, Marines with
Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 467 spent the day on
alert in their mission to provide immediate close air
support to infantry units engaged in the fight.
In
the early afternoon, AH-1W Super Cobra pilots and crew
headed into the daily operations update brief. The pilots
and crew are the first to fight when ground units take
contact from the enemy and require close air support. With
the sound of a single alarm in a moment's notice, the
squadron's AH-1W Super Cobra's and UH-1Y Huey helicopters
can take off into the hazy skies over Helmand and secure the
area.
Capt. Christopher Smith, a native of Lake
Worth, Florida, and pilot with HMLA-467, flew the squadron's
prized helicopter on the Fourth of July. The AH-1W Super
Cobra includes a subdued paint job of the New York City
skyline that includes the shadows of the World Trade Center
Twin Towers and white lettering that reads "Never Forget."
The helicopter joins other patriotic aircraft stationed
at Camp Bastion, such as, "VMM-America," the flagship Osprey
helicopter with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 261.
VMM-America is painted with a subdued image of the iconic
flag raising on Mount Suribachi, Iwo Jima. Both aircraft are
subtle reminders to Marines serving 8,000 miles away from
U.S. soil of the daily sacrifice they make and the ultimate
sacrifice their fellow Marines have given in the defense of
the nation.
Smith and other Marines were on standby
during the Fourth of July. They recorded video messages to
be sent to their loved ones over the internet wishing them a
happy Independence Day. Smith said, "It is an honor and
privilege to serve and carry the American flag 238 years
after our independence."
Within minutes after
recording the messages, twenty-five foot sirens began
blaring. Helicopter close air support was needed to support
infantry Marines on the ground. The Marines with HMLA-467
darted out the squadron's doors, donned their helmets and
took off into the skies to back up the infantry Marines.
Across Camp Leatherneck, other Marines paused from their
daily routines to reflect on the American sacrifice here.
Capt. James R. Smith, a native of Torrington, Connecticut,
and advisor to the Afghan National Army said, "It is an
honor to serve with Marines anywhere in the world during the
Fourth of July, especially in Afghanistan. Today is an
opportunity to remember all of the Marines who have preceded
us and to reflect on the principles that make America a
nation worth serving. It will be one of the more memorable
Independence Days in my life."
Colonel Joseph
Whitaker, a native of Langhorne, Pennsylvania, and
commanding officer of Redeployment and Retrograde in support
of Reset and Reconstitution Operations Group and his staff
put together a unit gathering in a dusty warehouse aboard
Camp Leatherneck to recognize the Fourth of July. Whitaker
and his staff organized a special lunch with, fittingly, a
menu of chicken, sweet potatoes, creamed corn, hot dogs and
a special birthday cake for Old Glory.
As the
footprint of U.S. and coalition forces in the region has
decreased during the past two years, military commanders
have prepared to posture their forces as well as inventory
of equipment to meet a 2014 end-of-mission requirement. R4OG
was tasked early in 2012 with the immense challenge to
receive and clean-up millions of dollars in unused military
equipment and redistribute throughout the Department of
Defense where it is needed.
Whitaker and his Marines
have been hard at work during the past year moving thousands
of pieces of gear out of theater ranging from uniforms,
surveillance equipment, to Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected
vehicles, used during the past decade of conflict here.
Whitaker said they are ahead of schedule and have about
10,000 items to get out of Helmand by the end of the
mission.
Today he wanted the Marines to take the time
to honor the nation and their efforts in Afghanistan. "I
couldn't be more proud than being with Marines on the Fourth
of July in Afghanistan," said Whitaker.
Regardless of
their role, U.S. service members deployed to Helmand
province, Afghanistan, during the past decade of war can be
proud of their contributions. On days like the Fourth of
July, we are reminded that Americans have always been called
upon to defend liberty, whether it is on our own soil or in
a foreign land. As we look back and reflect, we are forever
reminded that freedom is not free and it often comes with a
heavy price. We remember those individuals who paid the
ultimate sacrifice as we celebrate our independence.
By U.S. Marine Corps 1st Lt. Garth Langley
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2014
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