1/2 Marines fight off Taliban, secure Salaam Bazaar

Photo By Cpl. Daniel Blatter | Marines roll through the Salaam Bazaar in Helmand province heavily manned. Enemy contact was imminent as they patrolled through the known Taliban stronghold. While clearing the area, April 14, the Marines of Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 2, along with the Afghan national army and the Afghan national police encountered heavy resistance from insurgent forces. (Photos by Cpl. Daniel A. Blatter)  

SALAAM BAZAAR, AFGHANISTAN

04.14.2010

Story by Cpl. Daniel Blatter 

II Marine Expeditionary Force   

By Cpl. Daniel A. Blatter

SALAAM BAZAAR, Helmand province, Afghanistan – It wasn't a question of if there was going to be enemy contact. It was when and how much?

On the evening of April 14, Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 2; partnered with the Afghan national army and Afghan national police, moved through Helmand province during an operation to clear the well-known Taliban stronghold, Salaam Bazaar.
The Salaam Bazaar was known for its unlawful activity; a black market for drug and weapon sales.

"We moved to Salaam Bazaar to clear the area of its known insurgent activity," said Capt. Jeremy S. Wilkinson, company commander of Alpha Company. "By us clearing this piece of terrain and forcing the enemy out of here, it will open key ground lines of communication, and make it safe for innocents."

When the convoy reached the bazaar, danger was in the air and the Marines were ready for anything. As they began to clear the bazaar, everyone inside it had their eyes on the Marines.

For many of the locals, it was their first time seeing a Marine. Most Afghans seemed hesitant to interact, but as the Marines pushed through along-side the ANSF, it became clear to many that the security forces had come to help.

"We came down here heavily partnered with Afghan national security forces," said 1st Sgt. Michael D. Bass, company first sergeant for Alpha Company. "We really want to put the face of the ANSF on this mission."

Trained dogs helped to clear the bazaar, uncovering improvised explosive devices and scattered drugs.

For a moment, the Marines thought the mission had come to an end, but only until the sound of gunfire came from every direction.

"We started taking heavy contact from rocket propelled grenades, small arms and machine guns," Wilkinson said.

The operation had just taken a step in a much more dangerous direction.

As Marines and ANSF exchanged gun fire with insurgents, a massive explosion shook the ground. The lead vehicle in a nearby convoy hit an improvised explosive device.

"We suffered some casualties from the IED strike," Bass said. "We brought in a medical evacuation [helicopter] that was fired upon by RPG's as well."

Nearing the end of the first day, Marines posted 360-degree security while they stayed alert throughout the night. Over the next few days, Marines and ANSF had multiple engagements with Taliban.

"The Marines are doing extraordinary things here," Bass added. "They are taking care of each other and putting pressure on the enemy to get them out of this area so we can get these roads opened up to safe passage for the local populous and for supplies to make it up toward the north."
Even though Marines cleared the Salaam Bazaar of Taliban for now, the push to keep them out of the area is not over.

"We will continue to press the enemy. We will continue to locate him and push him out of the area and deny him a sanctuary of this zone," said Wilkinson. "As we continue to press, we are going to gain and maintain contact with this enemy, we are going to pursue him relentlessly and let him know that the United States Marines are here, partnered with the ANSF, and that he has nowhere to go where we are not willing to go and hunt him."

• Date Taken: 04.14.2010
• Date Posted: 04.27.2010 01:55
• Story ID: 48731
• Location: SALAAM BAZAAR, AF