Marines, Afghan Soldiers Hunt Taliban

Story and photos by Lance Cpl. John McCall
Date: 11.06.2009
Posted: 11.11.2009 07:26

Please see photos at the bottom of this story.

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Afghan national army soldiers and Marines with Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, conducted an operation to clear out compounds in Norzai, Afghanistan, Nov. 6.

Under the cover of night, Marines maneuvered to a nearby village and waited until sunrise to begin searching compounds for caches of illegal drugs, weapons and improvised, explosive device-making material.

“We hit all the houses that we were trying to get to,” said Lance Cpl. John Franke, 20, an amphibious assault vehicle operator from Greenville, S.C. “Besides looking for weapons caches and IED-making materials, we were trying to catch an IED maker that is supposedly living in one of the villages.”

Marines did their best to clear out as many compounds as they could before losing the element of surprise. With the help of ANA soldiers, Marines were able to move faster and cover more ground.

During their searches, Marines were very cautious of improvised booby traps – a tactic used by the enemy. Each route used by troops was carefully swept using a metal detector.

“I was a little bit nervous, but I’ve been trained how to use the sweeper, so I knew I could do it,” said Frankie, 20, from Greensville, S.C. “I just wanted to make sure I did the job right. Even if that meant taking my time, because I don’t want to see any of these guys get hurt.”

Nearing the end of their seven-month deployment, Marines aren’t taking any chances when it comes to keeping each other safe.

“We try to search houses often to keep [enemy insurgents] guessing,” said Staff Sgt. David Dial, 29, a section leader from Newnan, Ga. “We didn’t find anything this time but no one got hurt either so I guess things worked out.”

Pictures are high resolution and may be clicked twice to enlarge to full size.

Helmand Province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – From left to right: Lance Cpl. John Franke and Staff Sgt. David Dial enter a compound in Nawa District, Helmand Province, Afghanistan on Nov. 6, 2009. Franke is a 20 year old amphibious assault vehicle operator from Greenville, S.C. and Dial is a 29 year old section leader from Newnan, Ga. Both are with Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment. Marines conducted an operation to search compounds for weapons and improvised explosive device making materials in a local village here, Nov. 6. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. John M. McCall)

A Marine with Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, searches through a pile of cotton at a compound in Nawa District, Helmand Province, Afghanistan on Nov. 6, 2009. Marines conducted an operation to search compounds for weapons and improvised explosive device making material in a local village here, Nov. 6.

Marines with Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, use metal detectors to search for hidden items at a compound in Nawa District, Helmand Province, Afghanistan on Nov. 6, 2009. Marines conducted an operation to search compounds for weapons and improvised explosive device making materials in a local village here.

Lance Cpl. John Franke with Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, uses a metal detector to search through a haystack for any hidden items at a compound in Nawa District, Helmand Province, Afghanistan on Nov. 6, 2009. Marines conducted an operation to search compounds for weapons and improvised explosive device making material.

Afghan National Army soldiers and Marines with Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, approach a compound in Nawa District, Helmand Province, Afghanistan on Nov. 6, 2009. Marines conducted an operation to search compounds for weapons and improvised explosive device making materials in a local village here.