PATROL BASE YAZZIE, Afghanistan — We’re closing in on 10 p.m. here in Afghanistan, and I just realized we haven’t shared much new on the blog today. I’ve spent most of the day preparing a long magazine-style feature for next week’s Marine Corps Times that will cover Taliban tactics in Marjah, and how the Corps counteracts them. Above, a photograph I took last night while out with Marines from 2nd Platoon, 3rd Squad, of 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines, on patrol. I’m certainly not the photographer that Tom Brown is, but I jumped at the opportunity to show what the Sistani…
Browsing: Afghanistan
CAMP HANSON, Afghanistan — We’re waiting for a ride to one of the infantry companies that falls under 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines. In the meantime, photographer Tom Brown and I watched a heartwarming part of Marine life today: Mail call. I’ll be honest: From my tent, all I could hear at first was “Meatloaf!” “Meatloaf!” “Meatloaf!” I assumed they were distributing Meals Ready to Eat. Turns out, the Marines in the back of a 7-ton truck were actually yelling “Kilo!” “Kilo!” “Kilo!” as boxes headed for Kilo Company were pulled off the truck. As the process started to wind down, I…
CAMP HANSON, Afghanistan — I’m still at Camp Hanson in a tent without air-conditioning, but before I get any farther into this trip, I thought I’d point out some old-fashioned Marine ingenuity. While I was at Camp Dwyer, I shared temporary quarters with an embarker from Okinawa. He shared his interesting way of getting ice-cold water. While Marines obviously don’t have refrigerators in their tents, the lucky ones do sleep in Alaska Environmental Control Units, or ECUs. As you can see from this photo to the right, they include a long tube that starts on one wall, then makes…
CAMP HANSON, Afghanistan — Marine Corps Times has reached its destination. Photographer Tom Brown and I caught a few of the last seats available this afternoon on a CH-53E helicopter from Camp Dwyer to Camp Hanson, home of 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines — the Teufelhunden, as they call themselves. The base in northern Marjah, and the unit is spread throughout the region. So far, we’ve met with Lt. Col. Brian Christmas, the battalion commander, and Maj. Billy Ray Moore, the executive officer. I also chatted up several Marines about guns, ammo and not taking showers — all thing relevant to a combat environment.…
CAMP DWYER, Afghanistan – Marines are fond of saying, “Welcome to the suck.” I’m beginning to understand why. Last night, a journalist with NATO TV, Military Times photographer Tom Brown and I caught our heavily anticipated flight to Marjah out of Camp Leatherneck, the Marine Corps’ major operating base in Afghanistan. We planned to land at Landing Zone Currier, which services 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines, in northern Marjah. We hopped a CH-53 at Camp Bastion to leave Leatherneck around 7 p.m. under relatively clear skies, and began an easy-going flight. Throughout the flight, everything appeared to be fine to the…
CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan — Just wanted to take a second to point out that the Military Times art department has put together a pretty sweet graphic to serve as Battle Rattle’s new logo. I’m a big fan, as you might expect. I’m heading down to the flightline at nearby Camp Bastion shortly to try and get down to Marjah once again. We’re flying space-available today, so keep your fingers crossed for us. There are about 15 things that could keep us grounded again, including if there are more pressing operational matters. In the meantime, consider following us on Facebook and/or Twitter,…
Dan Lamothe reflects on life at the Marine Corps’ biggest forward operating base in Afghanistan.
Reporter Dan Lamothe shares some initial thoughts from Afghanistan.
