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3rd Battalion 5th Marines...outstanding article

FLY_USMC

FLY_USMC

Well-Known Member
pilot
Read this article in the Los Angeles Times and thought it was an outstanding read. 3/5 is continuing to fight the good the fight, even while taking casualties. Hat's off to these Marines and Hat's off to Squeeze for getting these guys the support they need and deserve. If you ever wonder what being a Marine Officer....or a Naval Aviator in ANY platform is all about, imagine having the opportunity to help these guys out in their times of need. Cheers to them.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-afghanistan-marines-20110123,0,7828727.story?page=1
 
gaijin6423

gaijin6423

Ask me about ninjas!
Sangin is an absolute shithole. If you run into any Brit who served with their task force in the area, ask them about it. Most likely, you'll get a angry, slightly terrified look. The Marines took over the area right as I was leaving country last year, and my replacement running the DASC had to deal with the pain involved. Having been through there on a UK helicopter a couple times, I was not envious. Still, we are far, far better equipped--tactically and technically--deal with it than our cousins from across the pond. It's not a dig on them, because I've worked very closely with the Brits numerous times, and I have a tremendous amount of respect for them. They're just limited in so many ways.

I think if you asked Squeeze about me (I sat next to him during a major op this time last year), he'd probably denounce me as a complete asshole. But that's often the DASC/AirO relationship at times. I will, however, say that I can think of many, many worse people to be there in that fight, but few better. I have no doubt that he's doing good things for 3/5.
 
twobecrazy

twobecrazy

RTB...
Contributor
That is one hell of unit. I am honored to have flown support for them during the "Battle of Fallujah."
 
Fog

Fog

Old RIOs never die: They just can't fast-erect
None
Contributor
My God, 3rd Batt/5th MarDiv, that's Eugene Sledge's old unit from Guadalcanal, Peleliu & Okinawa in WWII. Even in the Corps, there's no unit in American military annals with a greater battle history than these guys.
 
sodajones

sodajones

Combat Engineer
Was with 3/5 in the initial hand over from 40 commando. After spending my first 3 months down in Marjah, Sangin turned out to be a night and day difference. We knew it was serious when half a dozen Marines were killed the first day or two we were there from a single massive IED. That place is indian country. Every wall is covered in bullet and rpg impacts. The enemy wasn't taking pot shots and then hiding. They stood their ground and fought hard. It's the closest thing to conventional combat that I'll ever experience. I pray every night for these guys. I've had the opportunity to work with some really great infantry battalions and some that were not so much. If there were ever a battalion that could succeed it's them.
 
squeeze

squeeze

Retired Harrier Dude
pilot
Super Moderator
Contributor
Wow. Thanks for the kind words guys, but I'm just doing my job (I guess I've been outted too). The guys outside the wire every day are the ones doing all the work.

The actual number of KIA is 28 if you count our attachments and support elements.

We have certainly seen some rough times on this pump, but I assure you, we are putting a serious hurt on the enemy around here and are starting to see some real improvement. This place is unlike anywhere else in Afghanistan; completely different from Marjeh. It has been a knock-down, drag-out fight from the word 'go' and we've had to fight for every bit of progress here. But I couldn't think of a finer group of Marines and Sailors for the job or ones I'd rather serve with in such a situation.

Marine Air out here has been outstanding. We owe plenty of beer to some Skid, Hornet, and Harvest Hawk guys for some truly stellar work. Of course they probably owe me some beer for getting them so much trigger time. 200 controls between 5 FAC/JTACs to date... and we're just past the halfway point. You'll never see how good Marine CAS is until you see it compared to the rest, and from the other end of the radio.


-Darkhorse AirO

PS - Gaijin, I did not even know that was you.
 
gaijin6423

gaijin6423

Ask me about ninjas!
Took me bit to put it together, but I think you gave it away at one point. Stay safe, my (former) guys from last time will be back over soon to take over for their sister squadron.
 
Lovebug201

Lovebug201

standby, mark mark, pull
None
squeeze said:
Wow. Thanks for the kind words guys, but I'm just doing my job (I guess I've been outted too). The guys outside the wire every day are the ones doing all the work.

The actual number of KIA is 28 if you count our attachments and support elements.

We have certainly seen some rough times on this pump, but I assure you, we are putting a serious hurt on the enemy around here and are starting to see some real improvement. This place is unlike anywhere else in Afghanistan; completely different from Marjeh. It has been a knock-down, drag-out fight from the word 'go' and we've had to fight for every bit of progress here. But I couldn't think of a finer group of Marines and Sailors for the job or ones I'd rather serve with in such a situation.

Marine Air out here has been outstanding. We owe plenty of beer to some Skid, Hornet, and Harvest Hawk guys for some truly stellar work. Of course they probably owe me some beer for getting them so much trigger time. 200 controls between 5 FAC/JTACs to date... and we're just past the halfway point. You'll never see how good Marine CAS is until you see it compared to the rest, and from the other end of the radio.


-Darkhorse AirO

PS - Gaijin, I did not even know that was you.
Click to expand...

..........
Squeeze - I happen to know a couple of those Skid guys who would be happy to take some of those beers. Lots of gun time, I am sure they appreciate it.

Stay safe there

Bug
 
G

guest0321

New Member
Not to take a single thing away from the men of 3/5, the other Marine in the photograph at the top of that article is Todd Love of 1st Reconnaissance Battalion. He lost his legs to an IED while we (1st Recon Bn) were operating in the Sangin District (recon was clearing areas for ISAF to come in). We thankfully did not take the losses 3/5 did, and our thoughts and prayers are with all of our Marines.
 
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