KB
04-27-2006, 01:06 PM
http://images1.istandfor.com/images/FE/chain171siteType8/site130/client/Anchorball4.gifTo the family and friends of 1st Battalion, 1st Marines, the last week has seen significant activity for the Marines and sailors of TF 1/1.
The week began with success during Operation Hastings, a 5 day combined IA and Marine search operation that targeted enemy weapons caches sites located across the eastern boundary of our AO.
Together with our IA allies we found immense stockpiles of strategic importance located in a 10 K zone along a seam between two unit tactical boundaries. This operation, named for an operation that 1/1 participated in during 1966 in the RVN will have an immediate impact at reducing the enemy"s logistic capabilities in the neighboring AO.
Later in the week during a dismounted patrol in a village called Khan Dari two Marines where wounded by small arms fire and another wounded by a small IED. These Marines are all recuperating in the various medical facilities that support OIF throughout Iraq, Europe, and the US. During these operations we killed one insurgent who was moving into position to fire at a traffic control point and during exploitation of that action discovered a huge IED, several mortar systems and other IED making material.
A few days later, Cpl Waller, while providing over watch to dismounted patrols from Company C in Kahn Dari was shot and killed. He died, as he lived, leading his Marines from the front, accomplishing his mission, and with disregard for his own personal safety. Known as "The Motivator" by his buddies in Charlie Company, he was a fine young NCO in the best traditions of our service and we shall miss him. However, we honor him by completing our mission to the best of our abilities and so we march forward.
Two days after Cpl Waller"s death the enemy attacked us in the city of Karmah. It was a well planned and coordinated attack and it completely failed due to the actions of the IA soldiers and our Marines. They stood resolutely together, held their ground and killed, wounded, and captured many of these terrorists in an action that lasted over 24 hours. During the initial stages of this fight as Marines and IA soldiers reacted to this attack L/Cpl Martini of 2d Platoon Bravo Company was killed by small arms fire as he was moving to reinforce an embattled IA position. Again, this Marine died facing the enemy and attacking! Both of our fallen warriors were on their third deployment, and both possessed the courage, tenacity and resiliency for which Marines throughout our Corps" history are known.
I write this letter to let everyone in the 1/1 family know that while this past week has come at a very high cost, we are attacking, and we are enjoying much success. While most battalions "commute" to the fight, your Marines spend far more time living amongst the people, sleeping on the ground and suffering the elements like their forefathers did in Vietnam. They are always hot, dusty, dirty, and bone tired, but everyday they "gear-up" and take the fight to the enemy while protecting each other and the innocent people of Iraq - that is their mission and they attack it with vigor and determination. This is not a black and white fight and the real decisions out in "the ville" are being made by 18 year old L/Cpls and Cpls and not 45 year old LtCols. Throughout this deployment they have performed brilliantly at finding the right balance of being aggressive and taking the fight to the enemy while maintaining their compassion and respect for the Iraqi people - I am sure that you would well-up with pride at their performance; I do every day.
We appreciate all the support we have received from the committee and of course from our loved ones at home, your care packages and letters sustain our spirit and keep us connected to our homeland, for it is for hearth and home that we fight here in Iraq. In closing let me say that while we morn our loss do not feel pity or sorrow for us, but pride. Pride in a tough job done well, for remember we are Marines and the situation is well in hand!
Lt.Col. David J. Furness, USMC
Commanding
The week began with success during Operation Hastings, a 5 day combined IA and Marine search operation that targeted enemy weapons caches sites located across the eastern boundary of our AO.
Together with our IA allies we found immense stockpiles of strategic importance located in a 10 K zone along a seam between two unit tactical boundaries. This operation, named for an operation that 1/1 participated in during 1966 in the RVN will have an immediate impact at reducing the enemy"s logistic capabilities in the neighboring AO.
Later in the week during a dismounted patrol in a village called Khan Dari two Marines where wounded by small arms fire and another wounded by a small IED. These Marines are all recuperating in the various medical facilities that support OIF throughout Iraq, Europe, and the US. During these operations we killed one insurgent who was moving into position to fire at a traffic control point and during exploitation of that action discovered a huge IED, several mortar systems and other IED making material.
A few days later, Cpl Waller, while providing over watch to dismounted patrols from Company C in Kahn Dari was shot and killed. He died, as he lived, leading his Marines from the front, accomplishing his mission, and with disregard for his own personal safety. Known as "The Motivator" by his buddies in Charlie Company, he was a fine young NCO in the best traditions of our service and we shall miss him. However, we honor him by completing our mission to the best of our abilities and so we march forward.
Two days after Cpl Waller"s death the enemy attacked us in the city of Karmah. It was a well planned and coordinated attack and it completely failed due to the actions of the IA soldiers and our Marines. They stood resolutely together, held their ground and killed, wounded, and captured many of these terrorists in an action that lasted over 24 hours. During the initial stages of this fight as Marines and IA soldiers reacted to this attack L/Cpl Martini of 2d Platoon Bravo Company was killed by small arms fire as he was moving to reinforce an embattled IA position. Again, this Marine died facing the enemy and attacking! Both of our fallen warriors were on their third deployment, and both possessed the courage, tenacity and resiliency for which Marines throughout our Corps" history are known.
I write this letter to let everyone in the 1/1 family know that while this past week has come at a very high cost, we are attacking, and we are enjoying much success. While most battalions "commute" to the fight, your Marines spend far more time living amongst the people, sleeping on the ground and suffering the elements like their forefathers did in Vietnam. They are always hot, dusty, dirty, and bone tired, but everyday they "gear-up" and take the fight to the enemy while protecting each other and the innocent people of Iraq - that is their mission and they attack it with vigor and determination. This is not a black and white fight and the real decisions out in "the ville" are being made by 18 year old L/Cpls and Cpls and not 45 year old LtCols. Throughout this deployment they have performed brilliantly at finding the right balance of being aggressive and taking the fight to the enemy while maintaining their compassion and respect for the Iraqi people - I am sure that you would well-up with pride at their performance; I do every day.
We appreciate all the support we have received from the committee and of course from our loved ones at home, your care packages and letters sustain our spirit and keep us connected to our homeland, for it is for hearth and home that we fight here in Iraq. In closing let me say that while we morn our loss do not feel pity or sorrow for us, but pride. Pride in a tough job done well, for remember we are Marines and the situation is well in hand!
Lt.Col. David J. Furness, USMC
Commanding