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VOLUME 74, EDITION 39
The
GL BE SERVING CAMP LEJEUNE AND SURROUNDING AREAS SINCE 1944
Field test
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Photo by Cpl. Mark Garcia
Marines kneel down beside the battlefield cross to pay their final respects to Sgt. Bradley Atwell during a memorial ceremony Sept. 20. During the ceremony, Marines paid tribute to Atwell, an aircraft electrical, instrument and flight control systems technician with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 16, from Kokomo, Ind. Atwell was killed in action while engaging insurgents during an attack on Camp Bastion Sept. 14.
CAMP BASTION, AFGHANISTAN
SGT. JOHN JACKSON
Regional Command Southwest
Photo by Sgt. John Jackson
Landing support specialists with Combat Logistics Battalion 2, Combat Logistics Regiment 15, spent the night providing security and fighting off insurgents on Camp Bastion Sept. 14. For Sgt. Rasheem Thomas, back right, his first night working on Camp Bastion is something he and his Marines will not soon forget. (Back row from left to right: Sgt. John Thornton, Cpl. Timothy Bruce, Staff Sgt. Justin Pauley and Sgt. Rasheem Thomas. Front row from left to right: Pfc. Jacob Karnes, Lance Cpl. Danielle Ritter and Cpl. Jenna Owings.)
Sergeant Rasheem Thomas never thought his first night working on Camp Bastion would turn into a gun battle with 15 insurgents. When Thomas was told he was transferring from 1st Platoon to 2nd Platoon, the landing support specialist with Combat Logistics Battalion 2, Combat Logistics Regiment 15, thought nothing of it. Instead of working on Camp Leatherneck, Thomas would be working at the rotary wing Arrival Departure Airfield Control Group on Camp Bastion, an adjoining base ran by British Armed Forces. He would be responsible for getting coalition forces and cargo on helicopters departing Camp Bastion’s airfield heading for remote forward operating bases throughout Regional Command
Southwest’s area of operations. Thomas’ first night on Camp Bastion was Friday, Sept. 14. He and a fellow sergeant were driving through a checkpoint close to the airfield when they heard an explosion. “At first we didn’t know if the explosion was on base or off,” said Thomas. “We decided to go check on our Marines at the cargo lot, and we saw an explosion by the (cryogenics) area. That’s when we knew the base was under attack.” Fifteen insurgents dressed in U.S. Army uniforms armed with automatic rifles, rocket-propelled grenade launchers and suicide vests breached the base’s perimeter fence at approximately 10 p.m. The insurgents, who were organized into three teams, began to attack fixed and rotary wing aircraft parked on the flightline, aircraft hangars and other buildings on Camp Bastion.
8th Marine’s Regimental Headquarters takes to the field
“When I actually saw it was happening on (Camp) Bastion, I was in a bit of shock,” Thomas said. “Then rounds began to impact close to our position, and I think everyone’s training just immediately kicked in.” SEE BASTION 11A
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SGT. STEVEN CUSHMAN 2nd Marine Division
The Marines with 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division took advantage of a rare opportunity to head to the field for training Sept. 10 through 14. “This training is rare for us to participate in, because the regiment is in place to support the battalion,” said Capt. Daniel Vasser, the officer in charge of the field exercise. The multi-faceted training focused on Command Operations Center Training, Combat Lifesaver training and combat support to the regiment’s battalions. “We’re simulating supporting battalions in the field,” said Vasser, “making sure we have a fluid flow of information and are on top of our battle flow.” The simulations were conducted in real-time by additional players located at the regimental headquarters.Company grade officers and clerks from 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines and 1st Battalion, 9th Marines pushed events for the Marines in the field to react to. For example, if 1st Bn., 9th Marines sent a message that one of their platoons was in contact the regiment has to react and make sure the information is getting where it needs to, to support those Marines, said Vasser. In addition to the Command Operations Center simulation training, the Marines conducted convoy supply training. This entailed convoys to support other battalions in the field.The Marines also participated in Combat Lifesaver training, which covered basic and combat first aid. “The training we conducted was progressive; we covered things many of these Marines weren’t trained on since (Marine Combat Training),” said Seaman Justin Medley, a Fleet Marine Forces corpsman. “When we’re done this week, the Marines will all be Combat Lifesaver certified.” The culmination of the CLS training included simulated
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Photo by Sgt. Steve Cushman
Marines from 8th Marine Regiment run “cherry picker” drills during a regimental field excercise Sept. 12. casualty evacuations with the assistance of an MV-22 Osprey from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 365. “Yesterday, we had a CH-53 support the training and today the Osprey,” said Capt. William Banham, the company commander with the regiment. “It’s been great to have the birds fly out here to support us.” Banham said the training was solid.“The Marines performed well and learned a lot.These Marines are not infantrymen by trade, but we were reinforcing the ‘every Marine a rifleman’ concept throughout this whole exercise.”
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