U.S. Marines in Afghanistan, 2001–2009

438 Pages·2015·9.25 MB·English

U.S. Marines in Afghanistan, 2001–2009
Anthology and Annotated Bibliography
U.S. Marines in the Global War on Terrorism
Compiled by
Major David W. Kummer
U.S. Marine Corps
History Division
United States Marine Corps
Quantico, Virginia
2014
Other Publications in the Series
U.S. Marines in the Global War on Terrorism
U.S. Marines in Iraq, 2003: Anthology and Annotated Bibliography
U.S. Marines in Iraq, 2003: Basrah, Baghdad and Beyond
Det One: U.S. Marine Corps U.S. Special Operations Command Detachment, 2003–2006
U.S. Marines in Iraq, 2004–2008: Anthology and Annotated Bibliography
U.S. Marines in Iraq, 2004–2005: Into the Fray
U.S. Marines in Iraq, 2003: Combat Service Support During Operation Iraqi Freedom
U.S. Marines in Afghanistan, 2001–2002: From the Sea
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Kummer, David W.
U.S. Marines in Afghanistan, 2001/2009 : anthology and annotated bibliography / compiled by Major David W. Kummer.
pages cm -- (U.S. Marines in the Global War on Terrorism)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
1. Afghan War, 2001---Campaigns. 2. Afghan War, 2001---Personal narratives. 3. United States. Marine Corps--History--
21st century. 4. United States. Marine Corps--History--Bibliography. 5. Afghan War, 2001---Bibliography. I. Title.
DS371.412.K86 2014
958.104’7450973--dc23
2014001585
PCN 10600011000
ISBN 978-0-9911588-4-3
Table of Contents
Foreword ....................................................................................................................................ix
Preface ........................................................................................................................................xi
Maps .........................................................................................................................................xiv
Part I: America’s 911 Force, 2001–02
Address to the Nation on Operations in Afghanistan
President George W. Bush .................................................................................................5
Thunderbolts: Strike First Marine Corps Blow Against Taliban
Fred H. Allison .................................................................................................................9
Afghanistan Diary
Corps Considerations: Lessons Learned in Phase One
Arthur P. Brill Jr. ..............................................................................................................15
Le Petit Beourge du Decotiis
(1st Platoon Defense at Kandahar)
Second Lieutenant Art G. Decotiis ...................................................................................23
A Deployment To Remember: The Navy’s Seabees in Afghanistan
Lieutenant Commander Leonard W. W. Cooke, USN ......................................................29
The Embassy: Kabul
Lieutenant Colonel Brian D. Perry Sr., USA .....................................................................35
iii
Leatherneck Air on Target During Operation Anaconda
First Lieutenant Jeff Landis ...............................................................................................41
Bagram Nightmares
Fred H. Allison .................................................................................................................45
Part II: Rebuilding a Nation, 2003–07
Fighting “The Other War”: Counterinsurgency Strategy in Afghanistan, 2003–05
Lieutenant General David W. Barno, USA (Ret)...............................................................59
Marine Light Attack Squadron 773 (-) Reinforced Summary of Action .........................................77
From Bridgeport to Blessing
Ed Darack .........................................................................................................................85
Operation Red Wings
Ed Darack .........................................................................................................................91
The Chai Patrols—Conducting Stability Operations in Afghanistan
Colonel James A. Hogberg ................................................................................................99
Interview: Major Thomas Clinton Jr.
Combat Studies Institute ..................................................................................................111
Marines Deliver in Mountain Storm
Colonel Kenneth F. McKenzie, Major Roberta L. Shea,
and Major Christopher Phelps...........................................................................................127
Artillery “Gruntz” It Out
Captain Matthew M. Maz, First Lieutenant Jason R. Gibbs,
First Lieutenant David W. Litkenhus, and First Lieutenant Wayne A. Wood ....................135
A Mission Ends
As Army, NATO Troops Take Over in Afghanistan,
Marines Reflect on a Tour that “You Never Forget”
Christian Lowe .................................................................................................................141
Marines Push to Take Lead in Afghanistan
Sean D. Naylor .................................................................................................................147
iv
Part III: The Buildup, 2008
A Change in Mission
Kristin Henderson ............................................................................................................155
Counterinsurgency on the Ground in Afghanistan:
How Different Units Adapted to Local Conditions
A U.S. Marine Platoon in Gulistan, Farah, 2008
Jerry Meyerle, Megan Katt, and James A. Gavrilis ............................................................169
Belated Honors for Marines in Fierce Battle
Jeanette Steele ...................................................................................................................177
Cobras Strike In Afghanistan
Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force–Afghanistan
Captain Justin M. Welan ..................................................................................................181
Combined Arms in Afghanistan
Major Samuel L. Meyer ....................................................................................................189
Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force–Afghanistan: Bridge to Marine Corps’
Future in Afghanistan
Sergeant Scott A. Whittington ..........................................................................................197
Afghanistan Deployed Aviation Combat Element Performs Above, Beyond Expectations
Sergeant Juan D. Alfonso ..................................................................................................205
Interview: Captain Robert G. Barber
Marine Corps History Division ........................................................................................211
Part IV: Marineistan, 2009
Interview: Brigadier General Lawrence D. Nicholson
Marine Corps History Division ........................................................................................231
Marines Launch Mission in Afghanistan’s South Focused on Security and Governance
Rajiv Chandrasekaran .......................................................................................................265
“Arty” In Afghanistan—“We’re Here to Shoot”
Andrew Lubin ...................................................................................................................271
v
Counterinsurgency on the Ground in Afghanistan:
How Different Units Adapted to Local Conditions
U.S. Marine Battalion Nawa, Helmand, 2009
Jerry Meyerle, Megan Katt, and James A. Gavrilis ............................................................277
With Special Operations Marines in Afghanistan
Stewart Nusbaumer ..........................................................................................................287
Religious Leader Engagement in Southern Afghanistan
Alexs Thompson ...............................................................................................................293
Female Engagement Teams: The Case for More Female Civil Affairs Marines
Master Sergeant Julia L. Watson .......................................................................................305
Acknowledging Limits: Police Advisors and Counterinsurgency in Afghanistan
U.S. Marine Corps Police Mentor, Now Zad District, 2009
William Rosenau ..............................................................................................................313
Victory in Afghanistan
Lieutenant Colonel Patrick J. Carroll (Ret) and
Chief Warrant Officer-5 Terry L. Walker (Ret) .................................................................317
Remarks by the President Awarding the Medal of Honor to Sergeant Dakota Meyer
President Barack H. Obama .............................................................................................323
At Afghan Outpost, Marines Gone Rogue or Leading the Fight Against Counterinsurgency?
Rajiv Chandrasekaran .......................................................................................................331
Remarks by the President in an Address to the Nation
on the Way Forward in Afghanistan and Pakistan
President Barack H. Obama ..............................................................................................337
Appendices
Appendix A
Command and Staff List ..................................................................................................347
Appendix B
Unit List ...........................................................................................................................355
vi
Appendix C
Selected Terms and Abbreviations from Operation Enduring Freedom .............................365
Appendix D
Chronology of Events, 2001–9 ..........................................................................................371
Appendix E
Medal of Honor Citation ..................................................................................................385
Appendix F
Selected Sources and Annotated Bibliography ...................................................................387
Index ..............................................................................................................................................409
vii

Foreword
This volume presents a collection of 38 articles, interviews, and speeches describing many aspects of
the U.S. Marine Corps’ participation in Operation Enduring Freedom from 2001 to 2009. This work
is intended to serve as a general overview and provisional reference to inform both Marines and the
general public until the History Division completes monographs dealing with major Marine Corps
operations during the campaign. The accompanying annotated bibliography provides a detailed look
at selected sources that currently exist until new scholarship and archival materials become available.
Additional support for this work came from Dr. Fred H. Allison, embedded reporter Kristin Hen-
derson, Colonel James A. Hogberg, the Center for Naval Analyses, the Combat Studies Institute, Joint
Force Quarterly, Leatherneck Magazine, Marine Corps Gazette, Marine Corps University Press, Marine
Corps Times, Military Review, Rolling Stone, The San Diego Union-Tribune, Seapower, the United States
Institute of Peace, U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings, and The Washington Post for permission to reprint
their articles. Their cooperation made this anthology possible.
Dr. Charles P. Neimeyer
Director of Marine Corps History
ix