Members of Congress visit Marines of RCT-8

Photo By Cpl. Clayton Vonderahe | Representative Frank Guinta, of New Hampshire’s 1st District, displays the New Hampshire state flag with Regimental Combat Team 8 Marines during his brief visit to Forward Operating Base Delaram II, Afghanistan, Dec. 10. Six U.S. congressmen visited the Marines of Regimental Combat Team 8 and met with their constituents serving in Afghanistan.  

FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELARAM II, AFGHANISTAN

12.11.2011

Story by Cpl. Clayton Vonderahe 

II Marine Expeditionary Force   

FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELARAM II, Afghanistan - Six members of the U.S. House of Representatives arrived at Forward Operating Base Delaram II, Dec. 10, to meet with constituents serving in Afghanistan and gain an understanding of the dynamics in the regiment’s area of operation in Helmand province, the southern most province of Afghanistan.

Representatives Paul Ryan, John Carney, Jason Chaffetz, Frank Guinta, Marlin Stultzman and James Lankford were given a brief overview of the unit’s mission by Col. Eric Smith, the commanding officer of Regimental Combat Team 8, and key personnel within the regiment.

The congressmen then met with Marines within the regiment from each representative’s respective state, to include Wisconsin, Delaware, Utah, New Hampshire, Indiana and Oklahoma.

“It was nice to see them out here,” said Sgt. Joshua Taylor, a personal security detachment Marine from Menasha, Wisc. Taylor talked to Rep. Paul Ryan, representing his home state of Wisconsin. “We talked a little bit about what we do out here and we talked about sports, specifically the Packers.”

The Marines engaged in conversations with the representatives, asking about state-level politics and local events. The representatives, in turn, were able to gain a greater understanding of the individual efforts made by their constituents serving overseas.

After leaving Delaram, the representatives visited with Marines at Forward Operating Base Jackson in Sangin and then moved to Camp Leatherneck, the central hub for all military forces fighting in the Regional Command Southwest’s area of operation, during their tour.

• Date Taken: 12.11.2011
• Date Posted: 12.15.2011 06:24
• Story ID: 81417
• Location: FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELARAM II, AF