Saturday, September 3
Marines Provide Security for Afghan Elections
| Asadabad, Afghanistan- With an eye towards the future, Marines and sailors from 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, Marine Corps Base Hawaii conducted security operations with the Afghan National Army in the Korengal Valley Aug. 10 - 20. Marines and ANA soldiers, part of Task Force Koa, conducted Operation Whalers to take away enemy safe havens in the Kunar Province and Korengal Valley and to ensure next month’s elections will be secure for Afghans to vote. The Korengal Valley is 400-square kilometers and is well known for the constant attacks against military forces that venture there. Enemy forces can easily attack Afghan and Coalition forces from a distance and hide amongst the steep, jagged mountains. The Marines sent one company to enter from the north end of the valley and another company to enter from the south and yet another to set up blocking positions to deny enemy reinforcements and to trap enemy forces in the valley. Afghan soldiers and Marines were continuously engaged during the operation. Fox Company was engaged in a sustained firefight against an estimated 100 insurgents and Echo Company Marines were victims of a platoon ambush. Despite the constant harassing attacks, the Marines displayed unwavering resolve in their efforts to help the people of Afghanistan. “Our goal going into the operation was to disrupt the insurgents’ ability to interfere with the upcoming elections. We clearly accomplished that goal,” said Lt. Col. James Donnellan, commanding officer, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines. “We also worked for the first time at the battalion level with our ANA counterparts, which was a tremendous experience that will serve us well in future operations. We showed the enemy that we can operate in the rugged mountainous terrain as well as on the valley floors. The Marines, soldiers and sailors performed exceptionally, and the insurgents now know that Task Force Koa will be relentless in pursuing them, wherever they many hide.” Marine and Afghan commanders also met with elders at numerous villages and received information on village needs and to build a trusting relationship—a difficult task. “These people don’t trust us, and we just have to do our best to show them that we’re here to help them. They’ll learn that we’re better for them than the Taliban,” said Lance Cpl. Peter D. Jones, infantryman, from St. Louis, Missouri. “They always tell us that there are no insurgents yet we’re always getting attacked every time we come here.” Insurgents use intimidation, fear and violence to control Afghan villagers in the area, according to the some villagers. One village reported the deaths of twelve citizens after they denied assistance to enemy forces. However, according to local elders and officials, Operation Whalers disrupted enemy activity and continues to undermine the will of the populace who support enemy forces. During Operation Whalers the ANA and Marines fought side by side in 29 separate engagements. Afghan security forces report these engagements resulted in over 40 enemy killed and many more wounded. One Marine was killed and one ANA soldier were also killed during the operation. |
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