II Marine Expeditionary Force (Fwd)

Story by Cpl. Triah Pendracki

AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq – The Marine Corps' footprint in Iraq is slowly fading due in large part to the responsible draw down being conducted by the Marines and sailors of II Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group Forward.

Marines with Truck Detachment, II MHG Fwd, have been playing one of the most important roles in the responsible draw down process by transporting gear, weapons and even vehicles to the Marine Corps Logistics Command Forward lot aboard Camp Al Taqaddum, Iraq.

"In the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom, the Marines were storming the sand dunes to fight the enemy, but that part is over now," explained Cpl. Colin Zerby, a motor transport mine roller operator with the unit, who is currently on his second deployment to Iraq. "Now we're packing up Iraq."

"Our mission here is critical in support of OIF," added Cpl. Jon Timmons, assistant truck master for the unit. "We provide support of not only other bases but also taking thousands of pieces of valuable gear to the [MCLC Fwd] lot in Al Taqaddum."

Even with the daunting task of transporting the gear that, in some cases, has been in Iraq since 2004, these Marines have set the example for other units to emulate with their swift mission accomplishment despite the shrinking manpower within Truck Detachment.

"We have become more efficient with the lowering operational tempo," explained Chief Warrant Officer Ceylon Williams, the detachment officer in charge. "There's less static time for the Marines since we have fewer of them."

"Off time doesn't exist here at Truck Detachment. When we're not on the road, we are preparing for the next convoy, doing rehearsals and running drills."

The Marines also provide security for third country nationals who transport goods throughout the Al Anbar province.

"We check the TCNs before taking them with us to verify their credentials and to make sure their trucks and the loads they carry are roadworthy," explained Timmons.

Many of their retrograde convoys also served as security convoys for the TCN convoys, making it easier for the Marines to accomplish their missions, but taking more time during the process due to the size of the convoys.

"When we would take TCNs and our retro gear, we would have two, if not three times the size of our convoys than we normally would," explained Sgt. Juan Tellorios, the truck master for the unit. "Of course it makes the convoys take a lot longer than usual, because we have to make sure all the TCNs are taken care of and everything goes off without any issues."

Despite the reorganization of manpower and equipment at Truck Detachment, the unit has and will continue to fulfill the same requirements with the same enthusiasm and zeal in every mission.

"Even though we face logistical obstacles at times, we strive to complete all of our tasks with perfection, leaving behind a proud legacy for the Marines previously and currently deployed to Iraq," concluded Zerby.

The Marines of Truck Detachment will be running the roads of Al Anbar province efficiently and safely until their end of mission in early 2010.

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