Europa Newswire.
Photo by Lance Cpl. John McCall .
HELMAND PROVINCE, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – Marines possess an
uncanny ability to call any place "home," whether it's a mixture of
sand and gravel, or in this instance, a Taliban compound.
Marines with Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, have
been operating out of what Marines refer to as "the mansion" here,
since Aug. 1.
According to what local Afghans have told Marines, the compound
belonged to a drug lord who was having it built to house his entire
family. However, the construction was never completed because he was
arrested and taken to prison.
Marines were sent to the compound to clear it out, believing it was a
Taliban stronghold. They expected resistance when taking over the
compound, but were met with an empty home in need of some landscaping.
"It was a real mess when we first got here," said Cpl. Jacob Mikesell,
22, a mortarman from Papillion, Neb. "There was grass growing up to our
chests, the buildings had mounds of dust covering everything and trash
was thrown all over the place."
The compound consists of two, three-story buildings, which Marines and Afghan national army soldiers inhabit.
The two main buildings are made out of mostly marble and concrete,
wooden window frames and doors with designs carved into them. Colored
tiles cover the outside. The compound is surrounded by gigantic walls,
giving it the look of a castle from outside. Marines can't help but
call their home a mansion.
"After we moved in, locals told us that most of the Taliban in the area
had run away," said Sgt. Nicholas Hine, a squad leader with Weapons
Co., 1/5. "But we know there are still some here who are trying to
coerce the population to go against us."
Marines conduct foot patrols and vehicle mounted patrols daily to keep the surrounding area safe.
Other Weapons Company forward operating positions rely on being
supplied with food and water from the mansion. During local village
visits, Marines promise to provide security and help them the best that
they can with their issues and concerns.
"We collect a lot of census information and atmospherics too. We try to
get to know people by talking to them, learning where they live and
understand what problems they have," said Hine, a 24-year-old from
Mohnton, Pa.
Source: Regimental Combat Team-7, 1st Marine Division Public Affairs.
Story by Lance Cpl. John McCall.
