Marines eliminate nearly a dozen Taliban, save two in Garmsir firefight

Photo By Sgt. Dwight Henderson | A Marine with Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, provides security using a M-240G machine gun during a patrol through the streets and fields of Laki, Garmsir District, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Feb. 17. Marines from Weapons Company and Jump Platoon, 2/2, were reported to wound or kill 14 enemy fighters after being engaged during a nine-hour patrol.  

02.17.2010

Story by Lance Cpl. Dwight Henderson 

I Marine Expeditionary Force

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan — Marines from 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment and Afghan national army soldiers patrolled through the fields and compounds of the town of Laki in Garmsir District, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Feb. 17.

The Marines secured the town of Laki, a hotbed of Taliban activity, in early January.

Five squads from Weapons Company and Jump Platoon left Patrol Base Gorgak in mid-morning, each moving south and parallel to one another.

The movement to contact was a success, as Marines from Weapons Company were the first to receive fire from the enemy.

"It was a deliberate attack against us," said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Paul W. Sandy, the battalion gunner for 2/2. "It was just a coincidence that we were deliberately attacking them."

Upon hearing the shots, another squad from Weapons Company moved east toward the gunfire while squads from Jump Platoon moved south toward the gunfire.

As the Marines from Jump Platoon moved on the ambush, they began to receive and return fire as well.

"Literally the whole ambush that was engaging Weapons Company turned on us," said Sandy.

As the firefight intensified, another Weapons Company squad was moving east when they came across two injured enemy fighters. They provided the injured men medical care and quickly called in a helicopter to evacuate them.

"The treatment of the wounded enemy is our duty and obligation," said Capt. Matthew J. Kutilek, the commanding officer of Weapons Company. "That is what sets us apart from other militaries around the world."

After treating the men, the squad continued moving toward the sounds of the firefight.

The Marines were in an intense firefight and they continued to attempt to close with the enemy.

"We were pinned down for a while," said Cpl. Noe A. Torres, a squad leader with Jump Platoon.

The Marines of Jump Platoon used a canal with ice-cold, chest-deep water to move around the enemy. They began to receive more accurate fire as they moved closer to the enemy.

"It got pretty close," said Torres. "I thought we were going to have to go into grenade range. It got pretty intense."

Marines from Weapons Platoon continued to move toward the firefight, stopping when necessary to check for possible machine gun positions and searching possible spots for weapons caches.

The Marines continued to fight aggressively. Jump Platoon fought out of being pinned down, and Weapons Company continued to push south causing the enemy to flee.

"We denied them safe haven and freedom of movement in our area," said Kutilek. "I think they'll think twice before they enter our area of operation. I think they'll think twice before they engage our patrols."

The sun had begun to set by the time the Marines were returning to base. Weapons Company received harassment fire as they pushed back. They attempted to locate their attacker, but eventually decided to continue to pushing back to the patrol base after the fire stopped.

It was reported that 10 to 14 enemy fighters were killed or wounded during the engagement.

"It was a very successful, pre-planned operation," said Kutilek. "The Marines of Weapons Company, CAAT, and Jump Platoon did a terrific job."

• Date Taken: 02.17.2010
• Date Posted: 02.24.2010 01:52
• Story ID: 45768