Photo By Cpl. Daniel Blatter | Cpl. Jacob Hoag, the Motor Transportation maintenance chief and 50-caliber sniper and...... read more read more
Subscribe
KAJAKI, Afghanistan – After Forward Operating Base Zeegrugge was attacked with indirect fire, Marines with India Battery, 3rd Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 2, suited up in their body armor and pushed toward the sound of gunfire, Sept. 12.
While many were scrambling to find cover, a plan was being made to attack whoever was responsible for the FOB strike.
Within moments a sniper team was dispatched to a rooftop searching for any possible enemy involved in the attack. The Marines kept a keen eye looking for an enemy spotter or a suspicious farmer in the field, each and every individual was thoroughly examined.
Immediately, after the last incoming mortar impacted the ground, a team of Marines pushed out to investigate.
“We did some counter battery and we had eyes on a few possible spotters from camp,” said Sgt. Philip Percesepe, the squad leader for 1st Platoon, 3rd Squad, India Battery. “We immediately punched a team out to go intercept those possible spotters. We then went out to see if we couldn’t find whoever was out there and how they are coming in and out of the area.”
The area around the Kajaki Dam is a valuable area to both friendly forces and the Taliban, as it provides power to nearly a million homes and irrigates more than a half million acres of farmland.
With many underground tunnels and daily suspicious activity, the Marines patrolling the area searched each compound they passed, looking for weapons, tunnels and Taliban.
“We ended up pushing a little further to see if we could find any enemy egress and entrance routes into the area,” said 22-year-old Percesepe, from Poughkeepsie, N.Y. “We are trying to find out where they are bringing and storing all their weapons and improvised explosive devise making materials.”
Even while pursuing the enemy, the Marines understand their top priorities, securing the Kajaki dam and protecting the people. They know they will have to take the fight to the enemy, but must always protect the innocent.
“If we can show the locals that we are here to help and that we care, it will help us in the long run,” said Cpl. Jonathan Jackson, a motor transportation vehicle operator and assistant squad leader for 1st Platoon, 3rd Squad. “They need to know that we want them to have electricity, and also that they don’t have to deal with the Taliban.”
Although the patrol sent out didn’t find any weapons or IED making material, or return with the insurgents who threatened the base and crossed the line, they did show their presence and forced the enemy back from their positions.
“We patrol on a daily basis,” Percesepe said, “and we are going to continue to patrol and force the enemy away from the dam as long as we are here. The further out we can get the Taliban, the safer the dam and local villagers are here.
“What we have been doing has been working so far and hopefully soon, the Taliban will get the picture and realize that they can’t come in this area anymore,” Percesepe added.
Several hours after the attack on the FOB, all Marines returned to base unharmed and untouched.
“We keep taking the fight to them no matter what they try to bring to us,” said Jackson, from White Settlement, Texas. “Just like today, we did take incoming, yet we still pushed a patrol out to give that presence that we are still here. No matter what you do we are going to be here taking the fight to you.”
| Date Taken: | 09.12.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 09.14.2010 04:52 |
| Story ID: | 56227 |
| Location: | KAJAKI, AF |
| Web Views: | 532 |
| Downloads: | 7 |
This work, Kajaki Base takes indirect fire, forces enemy to flee, by Cpl Daniel Blatter, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
