Wounded Warriors walk through the halls of the Camp Bastion Hospital during a visit to Camp Leatherneck, Dec. 6, 2012. The warriors visited Camps Leatherneck and Bastion as part of Operation Proper Exit. (Photo by Cpl. Anthony Ward Jr)

By Cpl. Anthony Ward Jr.

AFGHANISTAN — A harsh reality of war is that some servicemembers must pay the ultimate sacrifice, while others are severely injured in the pursuit of freedom.

For those who are injured, the healing process is not only physical but also mental. Both must be repaired to help these heroes move forward in life.

To aid these wounded warriors, the Troops First foundation started Operation Proper Exit, sending wounded veterans back to the battlefield, allowing them to leave Afghanistan on their own terms.

The tour brought eight servicemembers, to include five soldiers and three Marines, to the Helmand and Kandahar provinces of Afghanistan.

The visit began with the warriors arriving aboard Camp Leatherneck and then escorted to the Camp Bastion Hospital, a place a few of them had already been but under different circumstances.

Army Specialist Adam Bates, who was wounded in Kandahar province, was greeted by a familiar face, the nurse who had helped save his life during his deployment.

After seeing the care providers, they were then taken to the Camp Leatherneck Townhall and given a chance to discuss their injuries and talk with the Marines, sailors and soldiers in attendance.

“I didn’t feel any of the blast,” said Staff Sgt. Glen Silva, a wounded warrior. “Something that’s that violent and that fast just kind of sears all of the nerve endings.”

Silva stepped on an improvised explosive device and was left with amputations to both legs, perforated eardrums and damages to vital organs.

“To date, I’ve had about 45 surgeries,” said Silva. “ I’ve got about five more major surgeries to go. I’m still thankful that I’m here.”

That sentiment was expressed by each warrior as they took turns discussing their injuries and answering questions that from the audience.

No matter how bad their injuries were, they were still happy to be alive and able to live another day.

“This was an opportunity for those soldiers and Marines to come back to Afghanistan and see the progress that has been made and share their story,” said Sgt. Maj. Kenneth Rocquemore, sergeant major for I Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group (Forward). “We read a lot of the reports about IEDs and things of that nature, but a lot of Marines aboard Camp Leatherneck are removed from that, somewhat distant.”

Not actively engaging the enemy can dull the senses of Marines to the harsh reality of Afghanistan. Having service members who have actively engaged the enemy, wounded and are still in high spirits is something that can bring them closer to understanding the seriousness of their environment.

“I think them coming back, telling their stories and still being upbeat and letting everyone know that they were servicemembers and were proud to serve and still proud of their service says a lot,” said Rocquemore.

After sharing their stories, the warriors made their way from the stage amidst rounds of applause and cheers from the audience. An intense sense of respect fell over the crowd. With service members like these, heroes, patriots, it is easy to see why Americans can sleep safely at night and Afghanistan has become a safer place.

The deadline for those wishing to mail holiday care packages to troops overseas is nearing, post office officials said Tuesday.

Sgt. Guadalupe Nicks, assistant postal finance officer on Camp Lejeune, said family and friends planning to mail holiday care packages to troops overseas should do so by Dec. 10 using the Priority Mail option. However, Priority Mail is the most expensive shipping option, Nicks said, so for those hoping to save money on shipping costs, the cheapest option is space-available mail. Those packages should be shipped by Monday, Dec. 3.

For more info: http://www.jdnews.com/news/military/deadline-looming-for-mailing-holiday-packages-to-troops-1.55798?tc=cr

A crew chief with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263 scopes out the area as he prepares to land in the fabricated country of Mica, Nov. 14. VMM-263 and Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command Marines conducted “Operation Sundown”, a mock training event designed to simulate a mission while deployed. (Photo by Lance Cpl. Jorden M. Wells)

Marines with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263, and Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command Marines conducted “Operation Sundown” Nov. 15.

“Operation Sundown is a mock-training event to simulate as accurately as possible a mission while in the field or deployed,” said Capt. Robert E. Wicker, VMM-263 MV-22B Osprey pilot.

The mission began with a detailed brief of the mission objectives and where it would be taking place.

The forces organized under the name Joint Task Force Warhorse and consisted of Special Operations Command Marines, the Army 101st Airborne and the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit.

“The overall mission objective was to deploy JTF Warhorse to support the pro-democratic country of Mica against their continued fight against the fundamentalist Rocky Mountain Resistance Movement,” said Capt. Philip A. Bias, VMM-263 Osprey pilot.

Mica is the fabricated pro-democratic country they are in support of and the RMR is an anti-democratic insurgency they are fighting against.

Upon completion of the brief, the Marines as well as two all-terrain vehicles were loaded into two Ospreys prior to takeoff.

The mission took place more than an hour to the north of Marine Corps Air Station New River, where Forward Operating Base Dawson was set up for the exercise.

“FOB Dawson will provide a staging point for future military operation and political assistance to the pro-democratic country of Mica,” said Bias.

Upon arriving at FOB Dawson, the Marines and the two ATVs were unloaded to carry out their mission of helping to establish stronger defenses for the Mican government.

With the Marines and equipment successfully unloaded at the designated area, the Ospreys were refueled with the aid of the Army 101st Airborne and returned to the air station.

Successfully arriving back at the air station, the pilots and crew chiefs were debriefed as to how the mission was and to discuss the next stage of their mission.

By Master Sgt. Brenda Varnadore

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan — Major Gen. Charles M. Gurganus, Regional Command (Southwest) commanding general, and RC(SW) Sgt. Maj. Harrison Tanksley flew throughout southern Helmand province to shake every Marine’s hand in honor of the 237th Marine Corps Birthday, Nov. 10.

Major Gen. Gregg Sturdevant, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) commanding general, visited the northern areas of Helmand province to wish them a happy birthday.

During each stop, Maj. Gen. Gurganus and Sgt. Maj. Tanksley addressed all available Marines and posed for group photographs, whether there were 10 Marines or 50 on the outlying bases.

“I just came down here to say ‘Happy Birthday,’” said the general. “There is no place I would rather be than out here with you on the birthday. Every other Marine around the world who is celebrating tonight is talking about you out here. You are doing what they all want to be doing right now. And you don’t have to make sure your ribbons are on straight.”

The general also reflected on the accomplishments of Marines in Helmand province.

“You guys have done a great job out here putting the (Afghan National Security Forces) in the lead,” said Maj. Gen. Gurganus. “Are they Marines? No. But, we don’t need them to be Marines. We need them to be able to provide security for their people, and they are doing that.”

Sergeant Maj. Tanksley emphasized the general’s comments to each group.

“Marines have been performing tremendous acts for 237 years,” said Tanksley. “You all are no different. You make the commanding general and I proud on a daily basis. On this birthday of our Corps, we are honored and privileged to come out and see each and every one of you.”

The general also requested one thing from the Marines as he spoke to each one, whether in a group formation or on duty in a guard tower.

“Next time you call home to your wife or your mother, or any of your family, tell them I said thank you,” said Maj. Gen. Gurganus. “Without their love and support, we would not be as successful as we are today. For that, I am thankful.”

Major Gen. Gurganus and Sgt. Maj. Tanksley stopped at 11 bases in southern Helmand province, including a stop at Camp Dwyer for a cake cutting ceremony. They finished the tour at Camp Leatherneck where they finished the night with the RC(SW) cake cutting ceremony.

Lance Cpl. Jeremy P. Krul (left), an electrician and Lance Cpl. Jared M. Cole, a generator Mechanic both with Alpha Company, 8th Communications Battalion, II Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, put fuel into a generator used to power equipment during a field exercise aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Sept. 25. The Marines needed an ample amount of power in order to properly send and receive data from a satellite and establish phone lines and internet. (USMC Photo)

By CPL. DANIEL WULZ

II Marine Expeditionary Force

By CPL. GLEN SANTY
New regulations published in June could be good and bad news for Marines trying to reenlist in fiscal year 2013.

Administrative messages from Headquarters Marine Corps spell out detailed incentives for all those extending their careers, by cutting reenlistment points and offering bonuses to Marines renewing their contracts.

The first message, 357/12, applies to first-term and career Marines whose contracts end between Oct. 1, 2012, and Sept. 30, 2013.

In short, it lists by occupational specialty, the amounts each Marine approved for reenlistment will receive and how soon they will get it.
The bonuses will be paid at a flat rate over a period of 48 months. For Marines reenlisting for a longer period, the bonuses will still be paid in the four-year period. Marines who reenlist for less than 48 months of obligated service will be approved on a case-by-case basis.

The pre-tax selective reenlistment bonus amounts are authorized based on the Marines reenlistment zone, their rank on the date of their reenlistment and military occupation.

Due to caps, no reenlistment bonus will exceed $90,000.

An example given in the message is a sergeant, with 17 months to six years of military service, laterally moves from his current military occupational specialty into the 0372 critical skills operator MOS and reenlists for 60 months additional obligated service as required by current fiscal year retention guidelines. The enlistment bonus authorized will be limited to the full bonus amount of $69,750.

The second message, 358/12, states that effective June 30, Marines will no longer receive reenlistment points toward promotion composite scores.

Marines who currently rate or are awarded the points prior to July 1 will maintain the points until promoted to the next grade or until they leave active duty.

The message explains the program of awarding points was an incentive for reenlisting during the Corps’ period of increasing active duty end strength, which is now no longer required.

For more information about these and other Marine Administrative Messages visit http://www.marines.mil.

U.S. Marine Cpls. Zackery Haglund and Anthony Carapucci, and Lance Cpl. Samuel Pennington, a team leader, machinegunner and rifleman serving with Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, pose with a mortar shell casing fired in memory of Sgt. Frank Zaehringer, a squad leader and native of Reno, Nev., who was killed in action in Marjah District, October 11, 2010. Zaehringer's platoon originally signed and fired the memorial illumination round the day Zaehringer fell. The Weapons Co. Marines searched for the shell casing for the rest of their deployment but had no luck finding it until the returned to Marjah in December 2011. An Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit with the battalion recovered the shell casing in February 2012, and returned it to Zaehringer's platoon. The Weapons Co. Marines plan to bring the shell casing home and present it to the fallen hero's family.

By CPL. ALFRED V. LOPEZ

CAMP DWYER, Afghanistan – On October 11, 2010, Marines with 81mm mortar platoon, Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, lost one of their brothers.

Sergeant Frank Zaehringer, a squad leader and native of Reno, Nev., died of wounds he sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near a patrol he was leading through Helmand province’s Marjah District.

“He was like a father figure to me,” said Cpl. Zackery P. Haglund, a 21-year-old native of Bayou George, Fla., and team leader with Weapons Co. “He knew his Marines really well, and he wasn’t scared of anything. Whenever there was a firefight, he always led towards it.”

The Marines of Zaehringer’s platoon decided to honor him by firing an 81mm illumination mortar on the day of their loss. Each member of the platoon signed the mortar, and fired it downrange to light the battlefield where the beloved Marine had fallen.

“As soon as we came back from the site [where Zaehringer died], we walked in the patrol base and went straight to the mortar tube,” said Gunnery Sgt. Christopher Fisher, Zaehringer’s platoon sergeant.

“We got it cleared through battalion to fire the illumination round, so we passed it around, signed it, and sent it downrange over where he died,” Fisher explained.

Fisher and his Marines wanted to bring the mortar shell home to Zaehringer’s family, so they made a point to search for it during every patrol.

“We still had about three-and-a-half months left on the deployment,” said Fisher, a 38-year-old native of Shelton, Wash. “Every time we went outside the wire we tried to look for that shell casing.”

The platoon hunted for the casing at very opportunity, but to no avail. They left Afghanistan with only memories of an outstanding Marine.

“We couldn’t find it; we found other shell casings but we couldn’t find that one whenever we went outside the wire,” said Fisher. “We checked houses and even trees in the area and we couldn’t find it.”

Shortly after returning to Camp Lejeune, N.C., Fisher learned that his battalion would return to Marjah for one last deployment. He immediately recognized the opportunity to continue their search for the memorial mortar.

After a year of waiting and training, Fisher and his Marines eagerly returned to the Sistani area of western Marjah in December 2011. They continued their search with the same tenacity as they conducted every assigned, but found nothing for months.

One day in February 2012, Fisher received a call from Gunnery Sgt. Michael Beech, the Weapon Co. combined anti-armor team platoon sergeant, who was located at Patrol Base Duluth. Beech told Fisher that he was in possession of the shell casing he was looking for. The casing was found by an Explosive Ordnance Disposal team in Marjah and, fortunately, they kept it from being destroyed.

Fisher immediately traveled to PB Duluth and confirmed that the shell casing was indeed the one his platoon dropped in the mortar tube over a year ago.

“Somehow, at some point in time, during all their cache sweeps, this round showed up,” said Fisher. “When they said they found it, at first I thought they were messing with us. I couldn’t believe we actually found it. To find it, after firing it over a year ago… I think it was meant to be.”

Fisher immediately brought the shell casing to his Marines, who expressed a mixture of joy and disbelief at the discovery.

“I couldn’t believe it until I had it in my hands. As soon as I told the platoon, people started crying,” said Fisher. “I had grown men who are warfighters, crying because we had this one round. They were all ecstatic.”

“I was in shock. I felt goose bumps up my spine after Gunny Fisher told us about it,” said Haglund. “It felt like Frank was right there watching us the entire time.”

Since finding the shell casing, Fisher and his Marines have been working to ensure it gets back to the Camp Lejeune as a memorial for Zaehringer.

“I talked to our commanding officer and got his blessing to take it home, even with all the paper work we had to go through,” said Fisher. “We told the [battalion] sergeant major we wanted to take it and display it in the company office for a while, then bring it home to his family.”

Fisher and his Marines will soon be back on American soil. They plan to present the shell casing to Zaehringer’s wife, Cassie and his parents, Sharon and Frank.

“One way or another, we’re bringing it home to his family,” said Fisher.