Milwaukee Native Leads Joint Military Convoy to Resupply Southern Afghanistan
2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade
Story by Cpl. Aaron Rooks
Date: 09.11.2009
Posted: 09.11.2009 01:29
HELMAND PROVINCE, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – A Marine from Milwaukee helped successfully lead U.K., Afghan and Marine forces in a Sept. 8, convoy to resupply Marines and Afghan soldiers currently serving in the Helmand River valley.
Gunnery Sgt. Steven Baker and his platoon of Marines joined members of Camp Shorabak's Afghan national army and their U.K. mentors in a convoy from Camp Leatherneck to Forward Operating Base Dwyer with the goal of delivering building supplies and mechanical parts to their respective comrades.
The convoy, led by Baker's unit, Truck Platoon 2, General Support Motor Transport Company, Combat Logistics Regiment 2, Marine Expeditionary Brigade-Afghanistan, consisted of more than 40 vehicles, ranging from 7-ton trucks loaded with metal containers to small pickup trucks operated by the ANA.
Baker, the motor transport platoon sergeant for Truck Platoon 2, described the mission as unique because it was the first-ever joint operation between the U.K., U.S. Marines and ANA within the brigade's area of operations in Helmand.
The Marines of GSMT Company have grown accustomed to traveling to FOB Dwyer for resupply missions that can take up the better part of a day.
"We bring everything so that the infantrymen and other units can function," said Cpl. A. M. Peterson, one of Baker's motor transport operators with Truck Platoon 2. "We bring the ammo and everything else. Time is of the essence because of this. If we can't get the gear to where we are going in a timely manner, the unit waiting for the supplies will have to run with the bare minimum instead of what they need."
During the resupply missions, Baker focuses on keeping oversight of the entire convoy, ensuring that accountability is maintained and that every piece of gear reaches its destination. His first convoy with the ANA and U.K. troops "went better than I ever expected," he said.
The fifteen-year Marine veteran deployed with GSMT in May and is slated to return home to Okinawa, Japan this winter.
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