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PATROL BASE HABIB, Helmand province, Afghanistan (2/16/2012) -
Together with their Afghan National Army partners, the Marines and
sailors from 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines conducted operation
Alekhine's Gun in Musa Qal'eh District, Afghanistan.
A sniper team with 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines prepares to provide cover and overwatch during Operation Alekhine's Gun, a heliborne and motorized raid into an area known for corruption and enemy occupation
on February 15, 2012. Marines made use of their mobilized speed and night vision capability to disrupt and confuse enemy operations in the city of Shah Karez.
Photo by USMC Staff Sgt. Robert Storm
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The “Magnificent Bastards,” as the Marines of 2/4 are known,
launched a heliborne and motorized night raid into areas suspected
of housing improvised explosive device production training camps and
drug running operations. The raid was intended to disrupt these
operations and search for high value personnel.
“We used our
night vision and speed to surprise them,” said 1st Sgt. Adam Bala,
37, Golf Company first sergeant, from San Diego, Calif. “We
obviously caught them off guard, there was some initial resistance
but we overcame it quickly.”
During the operation, the
Marines seized a deserted police compound as a command post and then
searched all buildings in the city to find weapons caches. The speed
and timing of the initial push was used to confuse and disrupt
insurgents from effectively counter-attacking. Several enemy
fighters abandoned their weapons and fled. Some of them attacked the
Marines with indirect fire but friendly forces |
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quickly overwhelmed them. |
During the exchange, Marines took shelter in a nearby
building and found an IED training facility. The house had a
large amount of explosives and various triggering devices.
“This area has a history of corruption and enemy
occupation,” said Capt. Tad Drake, 31, Golf Company
commander, from Tallahassee, Fla. “The enemy forced the
police out. By our taking back over the police station,
we're sending a message.”
During the operation, the Marines captured
enemy personnel and confiscated numerous enemy weapons
caches and even 150 pounds of black-tar heroin. The laundry
list of recovered enemy weapons includes rocket-propelled
grenade launchers, rifles and machineguns with thousands of
rounds of ammunition and homemade explosives. The heroin has
an estimated value between $100,000 and $175,000 per
kilogram.
“This operation was wildly successful. It
was beyond all expectations; we were able to disrupt
insurgents and give the ANA some breathing space,” said Lt
Col. Bill Vivian, 46, battalion commanding officer, from San
Clemente, Calif. “We seriously interfered with their ability
to fight and their funding source. They were caught
completely by surprise.”
“I was able to celebrate my
25th anniversary in the Marines by blowing up an IED
training camp,” Vivian smiled.
While the country
remains sometimes dangerous and uncertain, steps toward a
peaceful and stable government are being made. The presence
of the Marines in areas of Afghanistan is supported by many
of the local villages that have long been threatened and
intimidated by the thuggish tactics of the enemy. Noticeable
progress has been made with the government, allowing for
free elections and the building of schools, hospitals and
roads as provinces continue to improve their infrastructure.
“We're here to separate the enemy from the people
and to get the government close to the people,” said CWO2
Fred Keeney, 36, gunner, from Springhill, Kansas.
More photos available in frame below
By USMC Staff Sgt. Robert Storm
Regimental Combat Team 6
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2012
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