'Ode to Joy'

'Ode to Joy'

October 28, 2011

OPERATION EASTERN STORM: Marines push through Kajaki Sofla


Story by Cpl. James Clark 

Lance Cpl. Joshua Kennedy, an M240 machine gunner from Prattville, Ala., takes up a position behind cover during a recent patrol. Kennedy, a 2007 graduate of Prattville High School, and his fellow Marines and sailors with 2nd Platoon, Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, are working to make the area safe for residents in Operation Eastern Storm. Moving through heavily vegetated terrain, they have faced some enemy ambushes in which they received small-arms and indirect fire, but the operation has been much less kinetic than expected thus far. (Photo by Cpl. Benjamin Crilly)
KAJAKI SOFLA DISTRICT, Helmand province, Afghanistan  — The Marines and sailors of 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, are engaged in Operation Tofan Sharq (Eastern Storm), a major offensive operation to root out the Taliban-led insurgency in the Upper Sangin Valley region of Kajaki.

The battalion is accomplishing its mission to secure Route 611 from Sangin to Kajaki by moving companies into designated areas across the district and relying on individual platoons and squads to operate independently in heavily vegetated and rough terrain.

The men of 2nd Platoon, Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, inserted by helicopter recently under the cover of darkness and, at first light, began a five day march prior to establishing Patrol Base Pennsylvania.

Things have been going pretty slow, but good, said Lance Cpl. Joshua Kennedy, an M240 machine gunner from Prattville, Ala. We dont want to go fast. Its been pretty successful where were at right now, nobodys been hurt. We expected it to be way more kinetic, but luckily it hasnt been too bad so far.

Carrying all the ammunition, weaponry, food, water and other assorted equipment they could fit into their packs, they travelled roughly three miles amidst infrequent and abrupt ambushes and, at times, rounding corners that put them face-to-face with enemy fighters armed with rocket propelled grenades.

Everyones feeling the pain, everyones sore, said Kennedy, a 2007 graduate of Prattville High School. Its hard to pick up your feet as is, and going through the canal systems and corn fields (with all our gear), its bad on your knees and feet. Your knees are taking a sheer beating the whole time, not to include your back.

Kennedy, who hovers around six feet tall and weighs approximately 180 pounds, carries on his body approximately 120 additional pounds of equipment, including rounds for his M240B Medium Machine Gun, the weapon itself, a slew of other munitions, and a few personal comforts, such as a sleeping bag and hygiene supplies.

Seeing a column of Marine Corps infantrymen move through a maze of cornfields, more laden with gear than the most unloved pack animal, one would expect a ceaseless chorus of complaints and sighs, but the few moans they make are drowned out by an endless stream of banter and surprisingly upbeat humor.

We pick up morale by joking around, explained Kennedy, who proudly fulfills the role of stand-up comic for his squad. We all joke around and act like were having a good time – laugh at our misery. If you aint gonna laugh, you gonna cry.

As trivial as humor may seem to the overall success of the mission, it serves as an indicator of the units moral, which, with all they have been through, remains high, explained Altoona, Penn., native 1st Lt. Danny Graziosi, the 2nd Platoon commander and a graduate of Indiana University.

The moral is never a question; they can accomplish whatever I ask them to do, said Graziosi. They just look to the left and right, and thats all the motivation they need.

Kajaki Sofla is now buzzing with citizens who have never seen the Afghan National Security Forces and have known only murder and intimidation for the last several years, said Brig. Gen, Lewis Craparotta, commanding general, 2nd Marine Division (Forward)/Task Force Leatherneck. Villagers are now approaching our coalition forces and returning to their homes.

For more information concerning Task Force Leatherneck operations, contact Major Bradley Gordon, Task Force Leatherneck public affairs officer at bradley.gordon@ afg.usmc.mil.

Editors Note: First Battalion, 6th Marines is currently assigned to Regimental Combat Team 8, 2nd Marine Division (Forward)/Task Force Leatherneck. Task force Leatherneck serves as the ground combat element of Regional Command (Southwest) and works in partnership with the Afghan National Security Forces and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to conduct counterinsurgency operations. The unit is dedicated to securing the Afghan people, defeating insurgent forces, and enabling ANSF assumption of security responsibilities within its area of operations in order to support the expansion of stability, development and legitimate governance.

Photo of the Day

Marines with 2nd Platoon, Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, take up a position and set an ambush for insurgents. The Marines and sailors of Bravo Company are participating in Operation Eastern Storm to drive out insurgents in the area as part of their clearing efforts to free Route 611 from insurgents. (Photo by Cpl. James Clark)

October 27, 2011

Life at Syracuse

It has been some time since I have written on this blog. I have finally got to a point in my studies were I can continue to upload to this site.

Life here at Syracuse has been a whirlwind. We have been completely engaged in the journalism classes that it doesn't seem like I have been here four months already. However, in that short time, I have been learning amazing skill sets including graphic design, advanced news writing, and photojournalism.

My photography skills have increased 10 fold since I have been here. I have mainly focused my talents towards sports photography. Since class started, I have been working for the Syracuse University daily paper as well as freelancing sports photography for the Post Standard, the large daily here in Syracuse.

I have attached some photos of what I have been shooting. I will do my best to keep updating this site with Marine Corps news and pictures. Take care!!





Force Recon builds trust, camaraderie during PHIBLEX


Story by Cpl. Garry J. Welch

BASA AIRBASE, Republic of the Philippines  — Marines with Force Reconnaissance Platoon, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, built trust between themselves and their Philippine Marine counterparts during the Amphibious Landing Exercise, Oct. 25.

The Marines of both nations participated in a bilateral parachute exercises, consisting of low level static line operations as well as free-fall operations.

It was outstanding, said Gunnery Sgt. Tammy Belleville, the parachute loft chief for Combat Logistics Battalion 37, who supported the MEUs parachute jump. It was excellent training between the Philippine Marines and ours, and there was a lot of camaraderie gained from everybody working together.

The jumps allowed the Marines of both nations to gain confidence and become more proficient with their gear and procedures of parachute operations.

It helps improve unit effectiveness and builds onto the trust and confidence of the Marines, as well as build onto their overall moral, said Belleville.

Conducting this type of training requires the Marines to literally trust each other with their lives for many reasons. The first reason is that the Marines have to trust that their fellow Marines know how to properly and safely complete the jump, because one mistake in the air could cost lives.

The second reason is that both Philippine and US Marines do not pack their own parachutes, so they must trust that their brothers-in-arms did it right so it will deploy properly during the jump.

It takes a lot of trust to use that equipment because if there is not trust it can break down everything, said Belleville. If there is not trust in the person that is putting the chute on your back then you would be apprehensive in doing your job, and maybe that one second of apprehensiveness could cause someone to be injured. So trust is everything.

Overall the exercise went well and the Marines left with a very high opinion of their new friends within the Philippine Marine Corps.

They are great guys, said Staff Sgt. Chris Baumgartner, the platoon sergeant of FRP platoon, 31st MEU. They were all very technically and tactically proficient and I hope I get to come back and do this exercise with them again.

PHIBLEX is an opportunity to conduct training which is vital to maintaining the readiness and interoperability of the U.S. and the Republic of the Philippines military forces.

The 31st MEU is operating in support of the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade for the exercise, is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU