Photo By Sgt. Walter D. Marino II | Marines with Alpha Company, 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion and 1st battalion, 6th...... read more read more
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HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan — Equipped with plastic hollow tubes and water from local canals, the Marines of 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion created a path for 1st Battalion 6th Marine Regiment, into the Taliban stronghold Marjeh.
It was up to 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion to build a clear route to Marjeh, and they succeeded.
The 2nd CEB brought out all their assets, including route clearance platoons, assault breacher vehicles and Alpha Company.
Alpha Co. Marines filled the canals with large, hollow, plastic tubing, providing a platform for Marines and vehicles to cross. Hallow tubes were used to allow the canal water to flow and prevent any damage to Afghan irrigation systems.
With their work done, the battalion had created a path toward the city but had not yet cleared the route of possible roadside bombs.
On the morning of Feb. 12, 2nd CEB brought out their route clearance platoons and ABVs to lead the breach of Marjeh, and uncovered and eliminated multiple IEDs.
Now, one week after the breach of the city, a new mission unfurls for the battalion.
The engineers have begun to fortify the city with the construction of patrol bases and check points, as well as having RCPs continue to scour the area for IEDs.
"Our goal is to build check points and patrol bases to provide a safe compound to hold a district government," explained Sgt. Kenneth C. Sandefur, a combat engineer for 2nd CEB.
Sandefur believes improvement will follow once a government is in place.
"Once the district government is in there, things will change dramatically. They will have Afghan national army, Afghan national police and the Marines to defend them and keep the Taliban from taking their homes," said Sandefur, from Greenville, N.C.
It's evident that a road of hard work lies ahead, as the fight currently continues between the Marines and insurgents. However, it is a road the Marines of 2nd CEB are not afraid to take to win the fight against insurgency in Afghanistan.
"There's a lot of hard work ahead, but the forward operating bases should help as well as the Afghan national army," said Cpl. Kyle D. Petrie, a field radio operator for 2nd CEB. "We have guys in the city that are trained well. I have trust in my fellow Marines that they will get the job done."
| Date Taken: | 02.20.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 02.20.2010 12:11 |
| Story ID: | 45630 |
| Location: | HELMAND PROVINCE, AF |
| Web Views: | 807 |
| Downloads: | 697 |
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