Marines repel ambush in Afghanistan

Marines repel ambush in Afghanistan
Submitted by: MCB Hawaii
Story by Sgt. Robert M. Storm

KORENGAL VALLEY, Afghanistan (Sept. 1, 2005) -- Marines with Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment were ambushed on August 18 during an extraction following a mission that lasted nine days in the Korengal Valley. The ambush took place at sundown while Marines were passing through the village Tāleban.

“The road exploded with rocket propelled grenades and small arms fire,” said Cpl. Salvatore Cirencione, infantryman, from Freehold, N.J. “Marines immediately dropped their packs and dove for cover on either side of the road and returned fire.”

The Marines were dangerously exposed to enemy fire from all directions. The insurgents also fired mortars against the Marines during the hour-long firefight. After action reports estimate 20-30 insurgents attacked the platoon.

The mission involved three line companies conducting security and stabilization operations in the Korengal Valley. The area is notorious for the consistent attacks on coalition forces. The purpose of the increased manpower and security was to conduct a show of force and solidarity for the upcoming elections.

“Our platoon’s main mission was to clog up the valley and regulate traffic coming in and out, over the course of the mission the platoon moved about 20 kilometers including the security patrols,” said Staff Sgt. Demetrius King, infantry unit leader, 2nd Bn., 3rd Marines, from Washington, D.C

The Marines from second platoon were leaving the valley to return to base and were reinforced with machine guns and Afghan National Army soldiers. At the end of the mission, while traveling in a tactical column on a road that ran the base of the valley, the platoon was ambushed. They were just two kilometers from the extraction point with coalition forces.

“At first I couldn’t tell how many insurgents were attacking, rounds were coming from everywhere and everything just seemed to be happening in slow motion,” said Cirencione. “It seemed like it was going to last forever and at the same time it was moving so fast you didn’t have time to be afraid, you just reacted the way our training taught us.”

Previously, insurgents in small groups of two or three would fire at Marines and then quickly fade into the hills and backcountry. This time the insurgents were firing at the Marines from three positions, using advanced ambush tactics. They used a pile of rocks placed in the middle of the road as a range marker for their initial volley, and fired from both sides of the high ground towards the Marines. The insurgents also fired from ground level towards the front after the Marines attention was drawn towards the rear.

Marines confirmed the death of at least three insurgents and recovered ammunition and other sources of intelligence after the attack.



Lance Cpl. Ryan R. Irving, infantryman with 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, returns fire at insurgents in the Korengal Valley. The Elburn, Ill., native was one of the Marines with E Company that repelled an insurgent ambush Aug. 18. Photo by: Sgt. Robert M. Storm


Lance Cpl. Jacob Kareus, machinegunner, from Fort Smith, Ark., Lance Cpl. Andrew T. Farlaino, machinegunner, from Helper, Utah, and Lance Cpl. Aaron S. Carnahan, machinegunner,from Peoria, Ariz., return fire at insurgents in the Korengal Valley. Three insurgents were confirmed killed. Photo by: Sgt. Robert M. Storm

Cpl. Anthony Sarmienta, infantryman with 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment from Ennis, Texas was one of the Marines from E Company that repelled an ambush by insurgents in the Korengal Valley. “During the initial volley I thought for sure that I was going to get hit because there were so many rounds flying all around, and we were taking fire from every direction. I could see impacts all around me and hear rounds screaming by,” said Lance Cpl. Erick Gutierrez, infantryman with 2nd Bn., 3rd Marine Regiment from Los Angeles, Calif. Photo by: Sgt. Robert M. Storm

[SR-25]

Semper Fi!

[Curt]

Good work

[ArchAngel]

Oorah!!

[LCpl Lamm]

Semper Fi!

[SpongeJuan]

Kill hagees!!!