India Battery performs combat gardening [Image 2 of 2]

KAJAKI, AFGHANISTAN

09.11.2010

Photo by Cpl. Daniel Blatter 

II Marine Expeditionary Force   

Marines with India Battery, 3rd Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 2, patrol to several locations along the Helmand River’s green zone to clear openings in tree lines, Sept. 11. Instead of doing the clearing the traditional way with a chain saw, they used explosives. Although the green zone looks to be a farming community, it is also a known Taliban traveled area where they often try to stay in the tree lines and fields to stay out of view of near by observation posts. “The enemy uses the tree lines as rat lines to move improvised explosive devise material, said Capt. Thomas Kearns, the India Battery executive officer. “We requested support of 3rd Combat Engineer Battalion and explosives to quickly establish holes in the tree lines. “Explosives were chosen because the density of the trees was thick and because we wanted to quickly go in there and not use three days worth of work when we can do it with explosives in a few hours,” added Kearns, from Bordentown, N.J. The explosives cleared sufficient holes in the tree lines, however, the Marines did return to quickly touch up the holes with a chain saw, leaving the wood for the local populous to use for cooking.

• Date Taken: 09.11.2010
• Date Posted: 09.14.2010 05:03
• Photo ID: 318483
• VIRIN: 100911-M-8957B-001
• Resolution: 1008x640
• Size: 496.02 KB
• Location: KAJAKI, AF