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2/8 Marines join the Bagram team

Marine Corps News

Release Date: 3/18/2004

Story by Army Staff Sgt. Johnny A. Thompson

BAGRAM, Afghanistan(December 12, 2003) -- As the quest to kill, capture and deny sanctuary to al Queda and Taliban militants increases in Afghanistan, so increases the number of the coalition force troops here.

Deployed to Bagram Air Base to support the efforts of Combined Joint Task Force-180, Nov. 28, the 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment of the 2nd Marine Division officially joined the fight in a nation's plight to rid itself of an axis of evil.

"We're here to support CJTF-180 in whatever way that want us to serve," said 1st Lt. Ricardo Medal, adjutant for 2nd Bn., 8th Marines. "We are an infantry unit so we provide ground movement capability. We are another asset available (for CJTF-180 in) this region."

The unit, based out of Camp Lejeune, N.C., consists of three infantry companies, one weapon company, and a headquarters and services company.

"We bring a combat-trained, maneuver ground unit with a lot of firing power and military discipline to the CJTF-180(campaign)," said Sgt. Maj. William Wuires, of 2nd Bn., 8th Marines. "We are well trained and ready to engage and mission assigned."

The 2nd Bn.,8th Marines, is not the first Marine unit to take part in the mission of ridding Afghanistan of a terrorist regime, Task Force-58 served here in the initial campaign of Operation Enduring Freedom; however, what does make the unit's presence pertinent is that it is the first active duty unit here since the wages of war (Sept. 11) began two years ago.

"We are the first active duty Marines to be in Afghanistan since 2001 campaign," said Medal. " There have been Marines here supporting the CJTF-180 mission before, but they were reservist, so this is a chance for us to establish an active duty Marine presence(in the coalition campaign) and build a relationship with the coalition forces and the people of Afghanistan."

"This is where it all started." Said Lt. Col. Robert Petit, battalion commander of 2nd Bn., 8th Marines, as he spoke about Operation Enduring Freedom, "and this where the threat still lies, so we are excited about being here to contribute to CJTF-180 and help accomplish its mission."

Though the unit is excited about being in the region where the fight began, that excitement does not come from the anticipation of fighting rebel forces; it comes from having already been battle tested. " We were in Iraq from January to June conducting operations, so we bring in wealth of knowledge and experience because) we have already been in a combat environment," said Petit. "We just came out of a coalition [mission] four months ago, so we bring that sense of understanding and confidence (to the campaign)."

Squires noted that 95 percent of the unit served in Iraq campaign, so "we want to set the standards for any mission (CJTF-180) assigns us."

Though 2nd Bn., 8th Marines, has only been in the fight for two weeks, they completely comprehend the CJTF-180 mission--a free and diplomatic Afghanistan--and are ready to undertake the mission as if it were orchestrated by themselves personally.

"We are here to win the fight and anything less than that isn't an option; failure is not a choice." said Petit. "No one said (the War on Terrorism) was going to be easy, but it is our call to duty and the sooner we take it to these (rebel forces) the sooner we can go home."