REMINDER: MAIN GATE CLOSURE SEPT. 23 THROUGH 26 Gentleman play a hooligan’s game Page 1B
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New messhall opens on base Page 1C
Lt. Dan Band lifts spirits Page 1D
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VOLUME 73 EDITION 38
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 22, 20 2011
WASHINGTON, D,C.
President presents Medal of Honor to Marine KAREN PARRISH American Forces Press Service
President Barack Obama draped the pale blue ribbon suspending the Medal of Honor around the neck of Sgt. Dakota L. Meyer, the first living Marine to receive the award for actions in Iraq or Afghanistan. “It’s been said that where there is a brave man, in the thickest of the fight, there is the post of honor,” the commander in chief said. “Today, we pay tribute to an American who placed himself in the thick of the fight again, and again, and again.” Obama said Meyer, who is now 23 years old and was just 21 years old that day in Afghanistan, is “one of the most down-to-earth guys you will ever meet.” When the president’s staff called the young Marine so the commander in chief could officially notify him of the medal, Obama said, Meyer was at work on his new civilian job at a construction site. “He felt he couldn’t take the call right then because, he said, ‘If I don’t work, I don’t
get paid,’” Obama said. “So we arranged to make sure he got the call during his lunch break,” the president added. Obama then turned to the events of Sept. 8, 2009, the day Meyer earned the medal as a corporal serving with Marine Embedded Training Team 2-8, Regional Corps Advisory Command 3-7, in Kunar province, Afghanistan. Just before dawn, a patrol of Afghan forces and their American trainers, on foot and making their way through a narrow valley, was planning to meet with a group of village elders, the president said. “Suddenly, all over the valley, the lights go out – and that’s when it happens,” Obama said. About a mile away, Meyer and Staff Sgt. Juan Rodriguez-Chavez could hear the ambush over the radio. Gunfire poured from houses, the hillsides, and even the local school, Obama said. Soon, the patrol was pinned down, taking ferocious fire from three sides. “Men were being wounded and killed, and four Americans – Dakota’s friends – were
surrounded,” he said. After asking four times to go closer to the fight and help, and hearing each time that it was too dangerous, the two Marines got inside a nearby Humvee and headed into the fight, Rodriguez-Chavez at the wheel and Meyer manning the gun turret. “They were defying orders, but they were doing what they thought was right,” the president said. On two solo trips into the ambush area, Meyer repeatedly got out of the Humvee to help Afghan troops, many wounded, inside the vehicle and back to safety. “A third time they went back, insurgents running right up to the front of the Humvee, Dakota fighting them off,” Obama said. This time, the men drove right up to the line of fire, and helped a group of wounded Americans battle their way to safety. They then headed back on the fourth trip with Meyer wounded in the arm and the vehicle riddled with bullets and shrapnel, the president said. SEE MEDAL 11A
Photo by Lance Cpl. Daniel A. Wetzel
President Barack Obama awards Sgt. Dakota Meyer the Medal of Honor Sept. 15. Meyer is the first living Marine recipient of the Medal of Honor for actions in Iraq or Afghanistan. Family and friends were gathered at the White House to commemorate his selfless service.
NAWA DISTRICT, AFGHANISTAN
Trek Nawa gets new beginning with Patrol Base Jersey SGT. EARNEST J. BARNES
2nd Marine Division (Forward)
In the past several years, Trek Nawa has become the hallmark of what the Government of Afghanistan is striving to achieve within Helmand province. The Afghan National Security Forces and the Marines of Company B have moved into a new patrol base within the district to further promote peace and limit the movement of what is left of insurgent fighters operating in the area. Marines with the company, nicknamed “Bad Company,” packed their sea bags recently to move to a location in the southeastern portion of Trek Nawa, along with their Afghan National Army counterparts. The Marines were tasked to secure the new site and make their new patrol base operational in only 10 days with help of Marine engineer reservists from 4th Combat Engineer Battalion, who are currently attached
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to 2nd CEB for the deployment. “One of the main things we were focusing on doing was disrupting improvised explosive device emplacement,” said 1st Lt. William Laverty, a platoon commander with the company. “(Previously), we were patrolling out to Routes Red Dog and Reagan. The establishment of a patrol base at the intersection of Red Dog and Reagan would legitimize the patrolling efforts there, as well as have constant eyes on (the routes).” Bad Company Marines who have patrolled or convoyed through this area have found several IEDs in and around the routes. “Red Dog and Reagan are known highIED emplacement areas,” said Gunnery Sgt. Todd D. Stolte, the company gunnery sergeant for Bad Company. “In just the short time (we have been) there, the number of IED finds has been reduced dramatically.”
Laverty said setting up camp at the intersection of the formerly deadly routes will set the foundation for future development in the province. He added by moving into an area where insurgents are operating sends them a message they cannot ignore. “By going over and moving five kilometers to the east, it put a huge stamp on our place here and I think it sent a huge message to the enemy as well, saying this is our area of operation and your freedom of movement is going to be cut,” said Laverty. “It is patrol bases that are located at key intersections or key terrain that are really going to restrict the enemy’s movement and facilitate ours.” The enemy’s limited movement and reduction in IED emplacements has an overlying benefit, not just for the citizens of Nawa, but also for the entire province. “It is working into what the (battalion commander) wants as far as securing the
roads from Marjah to Nawa, Garmsir to Lashkar Gah. Within just a few days we’ve really seen it open up tremendously,” said Laverty. “I think as we work with 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, and as the ANA take it over from them, (this move) is really going to stretch our presence – it should open up everything. It will increase mission capabilities and mission success.” Laverty pointed out the inside of the compound can house more than a company of Marines or ANA soldiers. “It would be an easy transition for a company to occupy it in the future,” said Laverty. “Realistically, if we are trying to tone down numbers, which we are, this has been built to support a Marine platoon, company, as well as an ANA Tolia. The patrol base is large enough.” Laverty said another benefit of moving his Marines’ position was it opens up the gateway for logistical convoys. Having new SEE NAWA 10A
CAMP LEATHERNECK, AFGHANISTAN
Container Delivery System takes resupply ops airborne CPL. BRUNO J. BEGO
2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward)
WHEN DEPLOYED MARINES RECEIVE CARE PACKAGES PAGE 10A LEJEUNE SPORTS 1B INSIDE LEJEUNE 1C CLASSIFIEDS 4C CAROLINA LIVING 1D
Afghanistan’s rugged terrain and improvised explosive device-laden landscape often impede supply convoys on their journey to remote bases. In many cases however, one must look no further than the skies above them for a little assistance. In order to safely deliver goods such as food, water, batteries, and ammunitions to troops operating throughout Helmand province, airborne and air delivery specialists with 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward) are in charge of packing and dispatching Container Delivery Systems. “(Container Delivery System) is a container we use to deliver supplies,” explained Cpl. Edwin B. Lathrop, an airborne and air delivery specialist with 2nd MLG (Fwd.). “It consists of a skid board, an energy dispersing material in between the board and the cargo, (which is wrapped up – to keep it all together).” The containers can vary in size and weight. They range from three to six-feet tall, weigh up to 2,200 pounds and can be launched from various aircrafts, such as the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III, C-130 Hercules, Sikorsky CH-53 Sea Stallion or the V-22 Osprey. “We attach a parachute to the top of the cargo,” Lathrop said. “As the CDSs leave the plane, a static line in the inside of the airplane will pull the parachute, which will slow down the fall. SEE CDS 10A
Photo by Cpl. Bruno J. Bego
(From left to right) Lance Cpl. Braxten R. Brodie, Cpl. Sherri A. Townsend, and Lance Cpl. Joshua J. Erskine, three airborne and air delivery specialists with 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward), prepare a Container Delivery System, recently, aboard Camp Bastion, Afghanistan.