Heavy Guns, Anti-Armor platoon crushes the enemy's will to fight

Photo By Maj. Barry Morris | First Lt. Sam Tacke, Heavy Guns, Anti-Armor platoon commander, Weapons Company, 1st...... read more read more

Photo By Maj. Barry Morris | First Lt. Sam Tacke, Heavy Guns, Anti-Armor platoon commander, Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 2, briefs the section leaders and vehicle commanders of 3rd Squad, Heavy Guns, Anti-Armor platoon on his scheme of maneuver April 14, inside the confines of Patrol Base Shir Gahzay, prior to establishing an over watch position in order to interdict any enemy movement near Shir Gahzay, Helmand province, Afghanistan during Operation Rising Tide.  see less | View Image Page

SALAAM BAZAAR, AFGHANISTAN

04.23.2010

Story by 1st Lt. Barry Morris 

II Marine Expeditionary Force   

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SALAAM BAZAAR, Afghanistan – Rapidly trekking though the rugged terrain and mine laden country side of Salaam Bazaar, the Marines of 3rd Squad, Heavy Guns, Anti-Armor Platoon, Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 2, took the fight to the Taliban April 14, during Operation Rising Tide.

Providing instantaneous fire power and maneuverability to 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment's scheme of maneuver, the Marines of 3rd Squad, Heavy Guns, Anti-Armor Platoon, continue their mission in seeking out, closing with and destroying the enemy, in order to support their fellow Marines during the operation.

In support of Operation Rising Tide, 3rd Squad, Heavy Guns, Anti-Armor Platoon, supported the battalion's efforts in conducting a partnered operation with Afghan national security forces. During the operation, both Coalition forces and the ANSF worked together to disrupt Taliban activity throughout Salaam Bazaar and Shir Gahzay in order to allow the Afghan government and civilian leadership to have freedom of movement and to increase economic trade throughout the area.

"Our squad is in direct support of the battalion; we rapidly employ our weapon systems to deliver effective fire and mobility throughout our area of operations in order to provide the battalion flexibility when engaging the enemy. Flexibility is key out here [Afghanistan]," said 1st Lt. Sam Tacke, a Springfield, Miss., native, is the Heavy Guns, Anti-Armor platoon commander, Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment.

Mounted with M2 .50-caliber heavy machine guns and MK19s, the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected – All Terrain Vehicles used by 3rd Squad, Heavy Guns, Anti-Armor Platoon, packs a heavy punch, delivering an array of munitions to include Javelin rockets, all designed to obliterate the enemy.

With fire power and mobility on their side, the Marines of 3rd Squad, Heavy Guns, Anti-Armor Platoon, can easily transport and patrol with these weapons systems over longer ranges, allowing them to reach out and touch the enemy with greater standoff distances.

"Our squad has the freedom of movement to swiftly operate within our battle space," said Staff Sgt. Joseph Boehm, a Portsmouth, Ark., native, is a Javelin section leader, 3rd Squad, Heavy Guns, Anti-Armor platoon, Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment. "We go where the friction [enemy] is and reduce it or eliminate it completely, breaking the enemy's will to fight."

Coming together as a team, 3rd Squad brings a variety of skills and specialties to the battlefield. Effectively converging their capabilities, these Marines operate as a mobile assault unit, coining the phrase, 'shoot, move and communicate.'

Cpl. Andrew Hass, a Brockton, Mass. native, is a guided missileman with 3rd Squad, Heavy Guns, Anti-Armor Platoon, Weapons Company, 1/2, provides the communications aspect for his team. Although a guided missileman by trade, Hass has been crossed trained in all communications systems mounted aboard his MATV, maintaining constant communication with the battalion headquarters and adjacent squads operating within the same battle space.

In addition to operating the communications systems within the vehicle, Hass steps in and serves as the driver or operates the heavy machine guns, when required. "The best thing about our squad is everyone knows everyone else's job," stated Hass. "Anyone of us could jump in the driver's seat or gunner's turret and perform just as well."

Acting as the eyes and ears of the vehicle as the turret gunner, Pfc. James Hall, a St. Louis, Miss., native, is a machine gunner for 3rd Squad, Weapons Company, 1/2, continuously looks for and identifies potential enemy threats, continuously maintaining the situational awareness of the truck, while manning his MK 19 Grenade Launcher, a belt-fed automatic grenade launcher.

"My primary job is to put effective rounds down range," said Hall. "I love the MK19; I think it's the greatest weapon in our arsenal."

"It's like an automatic hand grenade thrower, except my arm doesn't get tired," explained Hall. "Everyone in our truck has a job to do, and I just want to do my part."

Pfc. Kirk Blackburn, a Queencreek, Ariz., native, serves as the MATV driver and is trained as a guided missileman, with 3rd Squad, Heavy Guns, Anti-Armor platoon, Weapons Company, 1/2, he keeps his team going in the right direction. "I take our weapon systems where it needs to go, ensuring our team remains mobile and can effectively maneuver them [weapon systems] into the fight," said Blackburn.

"I'm extremely proud of my Marines and the unique capabilities they each bring to the fight," said Tacke. "Our ability to do anything from foot patrols to long-range reconnaissance is something to be proud of."

With the mobility and fire power possessed by this team, there isn't any wonder why the Taliban go running when the Marines from 3rd Squad, Heavy Guns, Anti-Armor Platoon arrive on the scene.