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CAMP BASTION, Afghanistan - A blinding sandstorm swept
across the desert floor surrounding the Regional Command
(Southwest) security-nexus, Task Force Belleau Wood, Aug.
15, 2014. During a brief pause in the storm, Marines with
1st Marine Regiment held a small ceremony to case the unit's
battle colors for the final time in Helmand province,
Afghanistan.
The regiment deployed to southwestern
Afghanistan during Feb. 2014 and led more than 3,000 U.S.
and coalition forces charged with safeguarding the remaining
International Security Assistance Forces in the region.
First Marine Regiment transferred security lead to 1st
Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, which will serve as the last
Marine infantry unit during the Operation Enduring Freedom
mission. By the year's end, RC(SW) will officially close its
doors after more than five years of counterinsurgency and
security force assistance operations and transfer full
security responsibility to the Afghan National Security
Forces.
Master Gunnery Sgt. Douglas P. Fraser,
left, operations chief, Task Force Belleau Wood, Regional Command
(Southwest), stands at attention next to Col. Peter B. Baumgarten,
commanding officer, Task Force Belleau Wood, during a battle colors
casing ceremony aboard Camp Bastion, Aug. 15, 2014. First Marine
Regiment deployed to Helmand province during February 2014 as the
command element for Task Force Belleau Wood and has led security
operations for RC(SW). The end of 1st Marine Regiment's mission
signifies the final Marine regiment to depart Afghanistan during the
Operation Enduring Freedom campaign. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by
1st Lt. Garth Langley)
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READY TO FIGHT
First activated Nov. 27, 1913, in
Philadelphia, 1st Marine Regiment was then designated as the
2nd Advanced Base Regiment. Since then, they've lived up to
their motto as being, “Ready to Fight.”
As a swift
and deadly amphibious force during the "Banana Wars," 1st
Marine Regiment forayed across the Caribbean and waged
decisive battles in Haiti, the Dominican Republic,
Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and Vera Cruz, Mexico. At the end of
the Dominican campaign, the regiment was redesignated as the
1st Marine Regiment.
During World War II, 1st Marine
Regiment fought hard and suffered great losses across the
Pacific including battles in Guadalcanal, Peleliu and
Okinawa, Japan, under then Col. Chesty B. Puller, one of the
Marine Corps' most decorated Marines. During the Korean War,
1st Marine Regiment fought hard under chilling temperatures
along the 38th parallel. The harsh and humid jungle terrain
tested the regiment during the Vietnam War. Ultimately they
were the last regiment to serve in Vietnam before the war's
end.
The regiment's current generation of Marines
have fought across the sandy deserts of southwest Asia in
Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom during the
past 13 years of war.
HELMAND
Colonel Peter
Baumgarten, a native of El Paso, Texas and 1st Marine
Regiment's commanding officer, said the opportunity to serve
as the last regimental headquarters in Helmand was an honor.
“It's really an incredible feeling to be with 1st
Marines at this period of time as their commander,” said
Baumgarten.
During his 26-year career, Baumgarten has
deployed with Marine Expeditionary Units and commanded
infantry units in Baghdad and al Anbar province, Iraq.
Shortly after assuming command of 1st Marine Regiment
during June 2012, Baumgarten said he anticipated the
regiment would deploy to Helmand during the drawdown of U.S
and coalition forces.
“We knew we were being looked
at and we were the regiment that was due for rotation into
Afghanistan,” said Baumgarten. Despite that, “We didn't know
if we would get the call.”
During the summer of 2013,
as the force structure for Marine Expeditionary Brigade –
Afghanistan was developed, the regiment was notified it
would join the list of units to deploy during 2014. At the
time, the regiment had participated in the multinational
amphibious exercise Dawn Blitz with forces from Canada,
Japan and New Zealand during June 2013.
Baumgarten
said his Marines were excited for the opportunity to help
close a significant chapter of Marine Corps history.
“They said, ‘you've got the mission to Afghanistan,'” said
Baumgarten.
At the time, Baumgarten was prepared to
deploy upward of 350 personnel for the mission. In previous
iterations of OEF, regimental combat teams deployed a
headquarters of that size to command multiple infantry
battalions.
Baumgarten's mission would be different,
however. Due to manpower constraints, he would only get the
opportunity to choose 45 Marines to command the sizeable
Task Force Belleau Wood.
BAUMGARTEN'S FORTY FIVE
Baumgarten went to the drawing board in search of a very
select group of Marines.
“I had an entire regimental
headquarters who really wanted to go to combat,” said
Baumgarten.
“It was very satisfying and
heartbreaking. When we went from 350 Marines to 45, we had
to go into a full mission analysis. We knew for sure we were
not going to be the ground combat element for the Marine
Air-Ground Task Force, so we didn't have to have the force
structure to do that.”
Throughout 2013, the regiment
conducted a series of predeployment training exercises to
prepare them for the deployment to Helmand.
“We
focused on base-line skill sets, including the command and
control capabilities, understanding how to run a combined
joint operations center for Task Force Belleau Wood, and the
overall management of security structure,” said Baumgarten.
The unit also completed the Infantry Training Exercise
aboard Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center in Twentynine
Palms, California. During the exercise, he and the staff
observed Marines from across the headquarters. Ultimately,
the Marines who “made the cut” were hand-selected by
Baumgarten.
“I had sergeants who I hand-selected and
they served in billets reserved for gunnery sergeants, and
they acted and performed like gunnys,” said Baumgarten.
He said he chose the Marines based on their individual
capabilities to ensure they could work seamlessly with U.S.
and coalition forces in Helmand. When they arrived they
partnered with forces from Bosnia, Georgia, Jordan, Tonga
and the United Kingdom.
“I couldn't have been more
proud of the group we chose,” said Baumgarten. “One of the
most exciting things was turning my team loose,” said
Baumgarten.
MALDONADO
Corporal Erick R.
Maldonado, 20, administrative clerk and native of
Plainfield, New Jersey, joined the Marines during 2011.
“I joined for the challenge and wanted to be the very
first person to be a Marine in my family,” said Maldonado.
His father served with the Guatemalan military before the
family relocated to the United States during Maldonado's
childhood.
The deployment was his first. Married to a
Marine, he said his wife knew the deployment was something
Maldonado wanted and she supported his decision. Originally
scheduled to deploy with a San Diego-based MEU, he said he
was excited for the opportunity to deploy as one of the last
Marines in Afghanistan.
He said Baumgarten selected
him due to his performance during ITX.
“The
commanding officer chose me, I would say, because of ITX,”
said Maldonado. “It was me and another Marine who handled
the administrative matters.”
During the deployment to
Helmand, Maldonado managed the administrative requirements
for the regiment as well as coalition forces.
Due to
staff constraints, he also conducted security tasks
including security tower inspections and ensured U.S. and
coalition forces on posts were in compliance with OEF
administrative rules and regulations.
“I never
thought I would be called upon to conduct security
operations,” said Maldonado. “I was excited to do something
out of my military occupational specialty though.”
Maldonado said he left the office twice per week while
balancing administrative responsibilities.
He said
the deployment to Helmand fulfilled a longtime goal and
served as an opportunity to work with higher levels of
command.
“I always wanted to come to Afghanistan. I
got the one deployment that I actually wanted,” said
Maldonado. “It is an accomplishment and I realize that I am
part of a unit that has history, and I wouldn't mind doing
it again.”
COOK
Lance Cpl. Brandon Cook, 20,
an intelligence analyst and native of Pulaski, Virginia,
joined the Marines during 2012. He wanted to follow in his
father's footsteps who enlisted in the Marines and then
later became an officer in the Air Force.
Cook said
he was eager to deploy when he arrived at the regiment.
Because of limited spaces available, he wasn't sure his name
would be called.
To his surprise, he earned a spot.
“I didn't really believe them at first,” said Cook. “I
guess they felt I demonstrated the ability to perform well
out here.”
Cook served with the regiment for
approximately six months before he deployed to Afghanistan.
Baumgarten said Cook was one of the youngest of his staff to
deploy.
“We brought out four lance corporals in a
staff of 45, the rest were officers, staff noncommissioned
officers and noncommissioned officers,” said Baumgarten.
Baumgarten said despite his age and experience levels,
he was ready.
“He showed some spark and talent, so we
brought him out as part of the team and he absolutely tore
it up.”
Cook worked in the CJOC and coordinated air
and ground intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance
capabilities. He said it was “trial by fire” at first.
Briefing senior enlisted and officers on a daily basis,
Baumgarten said Cook's maturity impressed the staff.
“You think you are talking to a senior noncommissioned
officer or a young officer,” said Baumgarten. “He's done a
fantastic job.”
During the deployment, Baumgarten
looked for opportunities to promote Marines.
“We
brought out four, young lance corporals and managed to kick
three of them to noncommissioned officers based on their
superb performance,” Baumgarten said.
Baumgarten said
Cook is the last lance corporal on his staff. With the end
of 1st Marine Regiment's mission and 1st Battalion, 2nd
Marine Regiment in the lead for security now, Cook asked to
stay a little longer in Helmand.
“The one guy who
really wanted to stay was Lance Cpl. Cook, and 1st
Battalion, 2nd Marines wanted him,” said Baumgarten. “So
Cook gets to stay, and he is the last one of 1st Marines'
headquarters to remain.”
Jokingly, Baumgarten said the
opportunity for Cook will be beneficial and hopefully propel
him into an advanced rank.
“I told him he doesn't get
to come back until he picks up corporal,” said Baumgarten.
“He needs to come back with his two chevrons.”
Cook
said he was humbled by the opportunity to deploy with 1st
Marine Regiment.
“It was a great experience to be put
on the team to come out here,” said Cook.
CAVRAK
Sergeant Bradley Cavrak, 27, an organizational
automotive mechanic, and native of Monroeville,
Pennsylvania, joined the Marines during 2005. He said family
influenced his decision to serve, including one uncle who
served as a Marine in Beirut, Lebanon, and two uncles who
served in the Army. He has deployed to Iraq and Okinawa,
Japan, during his time. Cavrak said he was not surprised and
was ready for the deployment to Helmand with 1st Marines.
During the unit's ITX in Twentynine Palms, California,
he was selected by Baumgarten to deploy for his leadership.
As a diesel mechanic, Cavrak served as a logistics chief for
the regiment and communicated logistics requests from the
regional command to the task force and coalition partners.
He contributed to the mission by overseeing the movement of
food, ammunition and medical supplies to the infantrymen
within the task force's structure.
Cavrak said
working on a regimental staff came with a high learning
curve and is vastly different than his previous deployments.
“I like working at this level,” said Cavrak.
During
his first deployment to Helmand in 2012, he served with
Combat Logistics Regiment 15 and maintained military
vehicles for more than 20,000 Marines during the height of
U.S. forces here.
“The deployment was a unique
challenge and being with high-caliber of Marines made this
experience different than any other,” said Cavrak.
MERRITT
Sergeant Ian Merritt, 28, a field radio
operator, and native of Delhi, New York, joined the military
to fight for his country. Merritt said he was excited about
the opportunity to deploy with 1st Marine Regiment.
A
radio operator by trade, Merritt was pulled from his job to
serve as a security advisor to the 4th Tolay, a quick
reaction force of the 215th Corps, Afghan National Army.
Baumgarten and Merritt said the security advising
mission was unexpected.
“Brigadier Gen. Yoo and the
Task Force Belleau Wood team managed to get a company-sized
force, a ‘tolay,' from the ANA and Maj. Gen. Malouk,” said
Baumgarten. “One of the things I recognized is that we
needed an in with the 215th Corps, and we needed an in to
understand the battlespace.”
To accomplish the
mission, Baumgarten, along with Lt. Col. Phillip Ash, Capt.
Travis Cooper and Merritt developed training plans to
integrate with the Afghan forces. The team assigned
personnel to train with the ANA on security patrolling
tactics and procedures as well as combat lifesaver medical
training.
Baumgarten said he wasn't necessarily
focused on his Marines serving as advisors.
“Instead,
it was important for them to partner with the security
forces who would be vital during the security transition
process,” said Baumgarten.
Merritt said developing a
friendship and partnership with the Afghan soldiers was a
unique experience.
“It was an eye-opener working with
different military forces,” said Merritt. “Actually working
with the ANA and advising them; it was a privilege.”
Merritt said near the end of the deployment, he and the
other Marines had worked themselves out of a job.
“After observing the ANA, the 4th Tolay soldiers were in
front. They would lead the patrols,” said Merritt.
“Eventually the ANA had it and our mission was complete.”
SLOAN
Sergeant Leonard Sloan, 20, a supply
administration specialist, and native of Kansas City,
Missouri, joined the Marines during 2011 in search of a
real-world experience outside of the classroom. Sloan's
father and grandfather served in the Army and Air Force and
influenced his decision to enlist.
He was eager to
deploy and excited when 1st Marine Regiment gave him the
nod. At the time he was serving with 1st Light Armored
Reconnaissance Battalion. His supply chief, who previously
worked with 1st Marine Regiment, recommended Sloan for the
position.
“I always look for the challenge,” said
Sloan. “Being the best at something is something you should
always want.”
During the deployment, Sloan was
charged with managing the regiment's Theater Provided
Equipment program. The program included equipment used to
locate service members on the battlefield, security cameras
for internal and external surveillance, thermal imaging
devices and improvised explosive device robotic equipment.
“I started off with more than $30 million of TPE,” said
Sloan.
During Feb. 2014, Sloan was meritoriously
promoted to sergeant. “That was probably one of the best
feelings,” said Sloan.
Sloan participated in numerous
resupply convoys with 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment,
and Combat Logistics Battalion 7 to forward operating bases.
He also assisted in the retrograde of equipment the task
force no longer required for security operations.
From April to May 2014, Sloan assisted Merritt in training
the 4th Tolay security team aboard Camp Shorabak,
Afghanistan. He said the training was vital.
“Being
that we were working with the quick reaction force, they are
the ones in charge of the perimeter and security when we
leave,” said Sloan.
He said the Marines and ANA
conducted foot patrols surrounding the expansive security
perimeter of Camps Bastion and Leatherneck.
Sloan enjoyed
working outside of his normal military occupational
specialty.
“It's an honor to be a part of the last
regiment in Afghanistan, and in charge of as much as I was,”
said Sloan. “It was a great opportunity to work with other
people and different nationalities. I really got to branch
out. You don't get to experience these types of things in
supply.”
FARINAS
Sergeant Victor Farinas, 20,
a field radio operator and native of Aiea, Hawaii, joined
the Marines during 2012 to set a good example for his
brothers and sisters and make a difference. A proven leader
in sports, Farinas said he looked toward the Marines as an
opportunity to expand his horizons.
Farinas said he
was excited about the opportunity to deploy to Afghanistan.
During May 2014, he was meritoriously promoted to his
current rank.
By trade, Farinas serves as a radio
operator. Baumgarten called on him to serve in the CJOC to
coordinate common operational pictures and situational
reports for incidents and ongoing security operations taking
place on the battlefield.
“The challenge was trying
to paint a picture,” said Farinas. “The operations center
can get very busy. We get a lot reports, including the
evidence of improvised explosive devices, small arms fire.”
Farinas said he was required to gather the information
and display it quickly on computer systems for the task
force and regional command to review.
“I had the
direct task of building informational products for the
commander to see,” said Farinas. “I tried to do my job as
fast and efficiently as possible to get the job done and
help build the commander's situational awareness to save
lives.”
Farinas also worked closely with forces from
Jordan, Georgia, Bosnia, Tonga and the United Kingdom. He
said despite the inherent language barriers, building
relationships with coalition forces was key.
Farinas
said strong family values helped him during the deployment.
“Ohana means family, and no one gets left behind," said
Farinas. “It's always about that one team, one fight."
He believed he made a difference serving with Task Force
Belleau Wood.
“What did we do to make a difference?”
said Farinas. “We showed that we can work as a cohesive unit
with others to accomplish a mission.”
RAGGIO
Gunnery Sgt. Christopher Raggio a native of Rancho
Cucamonga, California, served as the communications officer
for 1st Marine Regiment. Raggio joined the Marines during
1998 looking for a worldly opportunity. With deployments to
Iraq, Kuwait and Afghanistan, he was relied upon heavily for
his technical expertise to support the regiment.
Raggio first deployed to Afghanistan during 2009 as a watch
officer aboard Camp Dwyer. Baumgarten selected Raggio based
on his experience to serve as the communications officer for
the regiment, a position normally reserved for an officer.
He supported U.S. and coalition forces operating out of the
CJOC and ensured the communications equipment remained
operational for 24 hour a day operations.
“Coming
here and being solely responsible for the communications
officer role was a high learning curve,” said Raggio.
He said working on a regimental staff during 2014 was a
change of pace and a highlight to his 16-year career.
“Because of the history of 1st Marines, and being able
to deploy with my first infantry regiment, I think it is
significant,” said Raggio. “I'll always look back and on
this deployment.”
PARTNERSHIP
Baumgarten said
he relied heavily upon his Marines' to work creatively with
adjacent commands on overlapping security matters. With the
lion share of the security forces reporting directly to
RC(SW), Baumgarten said his staff moved away from doctrinal
concepts and designed a layered security model that
supported Task Force Belleau Wood's mission.
“I
called it a free chicken concept,” said Baumgarten. “We
worked with the other commands on things we believed were
relative to us and things we thought they could do to
support the defensive mission. That became a daily and
weekly activity, to work and interact on a staff level to
get unity of effort on the ground combat arms side of the
house.”
His staff's abilities gave Baumgarten
confidence early in the deployment.
“We were really
relishing in the fact that we had 45 highly capable
Marines,” said Baumgarten. “We were commanding and
controlling a force of 3,000 U.S. and coalition service
members, all assigned with the mission to protect the
Bastion and Leatherneck complexes.”
One of their
first accomplishments was expanding the Task Force Belleau
Wood battlespace.
“That was one of the first things
that we did,” said Baumgarten. “It allowed us to own and
operate within those areas we were most concerned about.”
COALITION
Overall, Baumgarten said his number one
challenge was working with coalition forces.
“The
greatest lesson that I learned here is you cannot ask
something of your coalition partners that is beyond what
they are capable or authorized to do,” said Baumgarten.
Despite the challenges, Baumgarten said he found
creative ways to accomplish the mission.
“I had to
tailor these things into the operational construct to
maximize capabilities to benefit the overall mission,” said
Baumgarten. “Those great relationships across the board were
to the great benefit of Task Force Belleau Wood. It was
something we had to work on every day.”
Baumgarten
said national caveats also posed challenges to the manner in
which he could employ coalition units.
“The Jordanian
forces required a minimum of three Marines for every
Jordanian to leave the wire,” said Baumgarten. “For that
reason, they did not leave the wire very much.”
Other
coalition partners sought enhanced security roles within the
task force. Baumgarten said the Georgian Light Infantry
Battalion conducted numerous security operations in the
battlespace that provided him flexibility to eliminate enemy
threats.
“They had good capabilities and leadership,”
said Baumgarten. “Their commander had a vision on the level
of the U.S. and the U.K.”
In the end, Baumgarten said
the combined effort enhanced the security environment.
“To get all of the efforts associated with the coalition
marching to the beat of the same drum was our enduring
challenge, and I think we met the mark,” said Baumgarten.
CENTENNIAL
2014 was a nostalgic year for 1st
Marine Regiment. To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the
regiment, Baumgarten organized a series of events during
2013 and 2014.
“We held a battle rededication
ceremony during 2013,” said Baumgarten.
He recalled a
nervous moment while looking at historical paperwork.
“I looked down and realized 1st Marines came into
existence during 1913 and had the realization that we were
hitting the 100th anniversary that year,” said Baumgarten.
While the unit was preparing for their deployment to
Helmand, they organized a centennial celebration at the
regiment's headquarters aboard Camp Horno during Jan. 2014.
“We invited all of the former commanders and the Marines
who served with the regiment,” said Baumgarten. “One of the
very special times while in command was talking to the
former commandant of the Marine Corps and commanding officer
of 1st Marine Regiment who got my invitation but could not
attend,” said Baumgarten.
The Marine was retired Gen.
P.X. Kelley who served as the 28th Commandant of the Marine
Corps from 1983 to 1987.
VIETNAM
First Marine
Regiment's deployment during the Helmand drawdown shares
historical significance with the end of the Vietnam War.
During the final year of operations in Vietnam, 1st Marine
Regiment was the last regiment to leave before the war's
end.
At the time, then Col. P.X. Kelley, served as
the regiment's commander. Baumgarten said Gen. Kelley called
him before deploying to Afghanistan.
"It was also
nostalgic to talk to Gen. Kelley and share some of his
wisdom from serving with the final Marines in Vietnam," said
Baumgarten. "I saw the parallels between the end of Vietnam
and Afghanistan."
During a phone interview from
Afghanistan, Gen. Kelley reminisced about his final year in
Vietnam.
"I knew that I would be the last regiment to
leave Vietnam," said Kelley. "A lot of the colonels were
vying for the spot. I was very pleased and honored to
command the 1st Marine Regiment and to be the last ones to
leave Vietnam."
"When I left Vietnam, I packed the
colors of the regiment in my suitcase, and that's how I
carried them all the way back to Camp Pendleton," said Gen.
Kelley. "When I got back to Camp Pendleton, the SNCOs took
the original colors and presented me new colors as a gift."
He kept the colors for a number of years until he
presented them to the current Commandant of the Marine
Corps, Gen. James F. Amos, who returned them to the
regiment.
General Kelley said he is proud of his time
in the Marines and even more so of his time as the commander
of 1st Marine Regiment.
"I've always said that the
1st Marines had that number because they are the first,"
said Gen. Kelley. "I've always considered it the best
regiment."
More than 40 years later, he said it is
suiting that his former regiment is also the last to leave
Afghanistan.
"It is a nice legacy for 1st Marines to
have," said Gen. Kelley.
SACRIFICE
When
Baumgarten served as the battalion commander of 3rd
Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, during Operation Iraqi
Freedom from 2007 to 2008, he said one of his greatest fears
was losing a Marine.
“We were one of the first, then,
to come back with all of our guys,” said Baumgarten.
Tragically during 2014, Task Force Belleau Wood suffered the
loss of a Marine. Four days after arriving in Helmand, Cpl.
Caleb Erickson with 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, was
killed by an insurgent attack.
“We lost one young
Marine with Task Force Belleau Wood,” said Baumgarten.
“You have that weight on your shoulders at this point in
the campaign. Corporal Erickson gave his life, and I think
about him all the time. I think about all of those others
who sacrificed their lives and made the commitment to
serve.”
LEGACY
Baumgarten and the Marines of
1st Marine Regiment are heading back to Camp Pendleton with
a sense of accomplishment.
“I couldn't be more proud
of the guys,” said Baumgarten. “At the end of the
deployment, you have about 40 of them you want to pin medals
on.”
He said the regiment will be in a state of
transition.
“We are going to get back and
reconstitute our headquarters,” said Baumgarten.
During September, Baumgarten will transfer command of the
regiment to Col. William McCollough, who recently served in
Helmand as the officer in charge of the Afghan National
Police Advisor Team in Lashkar Gah, Afghanistan.
Baumgarten said the regiment will not sit idly. In the
coming months, 1st Marine Regiment will take part in
large-scale amphibious exercise Steel Knight and has their
sights set on future contingency operations.
“I don't
think the regimental headquarters will be short on a future
deployment, in contingency or crisis response,” said
Baumgarten.
He said he is proud to contribute to the
legacy of 1st Marine Regiment, just as Lt. Gen. “Chesty” B.
Puller and Gen. P.X. Kelley did so many years before his
time.
“I carried the flag of 1st Marines out here,
and the thought of being a part of Marine Corps history is a
great honor,” said Baumgarten. "We are proud to have been
the last regimental command element to deploy to Afghanistan
during the past 13 years of war.”
More photos available in frame below
By U.S. Marine Corps 1st Lt. Garth Langley
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2014
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