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Battle Synopsis

The opening paragraph (or lead section in a longer article) should concisely convey:

1. The name of the battle (including alternate names).
2. When did it happen?
3. Where did it happen?
4. Which war or campaign does it belong to?
5. Who were the combatants?
6. What was its outcome or significance?

The article can be structured along these lines:

1. The background. Why did it take place? Which campaign did it belong to? What happened previously?
2. The prelude. What forces were involved? How did they arrive at the battleground? Was there a plan?
3. A description of the battle. What tactics were used?
4. The aftermath. Who won, if anyone? What were the casualties? Was there a pursuit or followup? What happened next? How did the battle affect the course of the war?

Great Locomotive Chase

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Nawa-I-Barakzayi District

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Iraq War in Anbar Province

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List of decorated Americans from the Iraq War in Anbar Province

This is an incomplete list of United States Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines who were awarded the Silver Star in the Iraq War in Anbar Province. An asterisk after a recipient's name indicates that the award was given posthumously.

Name	Rank	Award	Unit	Date of action	Location	Notes
Elliot Ackerman	Second Lieutenant	Silver Star	1st Battalion 8th Marines	November 10, 2004	Fallujah (Second Battle)	Multiple instances of exposing himself to enemy fire, including while personally conducting MEDEVACs.
Thomas Adametz	Lance Corporal	Silver Star	2nd Battalion 1st Marines	April 26, 2004	Fallujah (First Battle)
Jarred Adams	Corporal	Silver Star	1st Battalion 7th Marines	January 6, 2005	Husaybah

3rd Battalion 3rd Marines

CLEAN-UP

https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=3rd_Battalion,_3rd_Marines&oldid=561511083

Bougainville (1943)

By this time, 3d Battalion, 3d Marines had left Samoa on May 23 and joined up with the 3d Marine Division in Auckland, New Zealand. On June 1, 3d Battalion received a new commanding officer when Lt Colonel Ralph King formally assumed command. On August 25, they moved with the division to a staging area on Guadalcanal, which had become the main US base in the Solomon Islands. For the next nine months 3d Battalion would conduct advanced training out of Camp Coconut Grove near the Tetere Beach. No fewer than three major amphibious assaults would be planned from here. The invasion of Bougainville, announced on September 27, was the first. The plan was for the entire division to land on the western coast on the western coast of the island at Empress Augusta Bay. The division would build an airfield at Torokina Point, and then push inwards and setup a defensive perimeter roughly 2,250 yards inland, in which additional airfields would be constructed.

Figure 2. Bougainville Island While the Japanese had heavily-garrisoned Bougainville, they had relatively few forces in the Empress Augusta Bay region. The terrain was primarily jungle with dense foliage, as well as a series of large swampy areas immediately adjacent to the beach. Roads were practically non-existent, and movement would have to be conducted over a series of narrow footpaths. Despite several covert landings in the area, intelligence on both terrain and enemy forces was minimal. Already proficient in jungle warfare, 3d Battalion continued to improve on its skills. The battalion held its final pre-invasion rehearsal at Efate in the New Hebrides islands from October 16-20. Then, with the rest of the 3d Marine Division, it steamed up the Solomons to Bougainville.

Figure 3. On Bougainville the terrain was every bit as challenging as the enemy. Here a whole squad has been ordered to carry one casualty back to the aid station. On November 1 (D-day), at 0730, the 3d Marine Division hit the beaches of Empress Augusta Bay. Assigned to guard the left flank of the division near the Koromokina River, 3d Battalion’s landing was virtually unopposed although some boats took light rifle and machine gun fire. However, the terrain proved every bit as difficult as the enemy. The jungle came right out to the water’s edge, and the shoreline was too steep for the landing craft to properly beach themselves. In addition, many of the sailors driving the assault craft were inexperienced and many 3d Battalion Marines found themselves unceremoniously dumped into the water when their boats broached under these unfavorable conditions.

Figure 4. A landing craft broaching in the rough surf off Bougainville. Despite heavy defenses around the Torokina Point, as well as strafing attacks by Japanese fighters and even a naval attack by Japanese warships, the 3d Marine Division secured its initial beachhead by November 2 (D+1). After several days of landing additional forces and building up supplies, the 3d Battalion took part in the general offensive inland along the Numa-Numa Trail, which began on November 10, 1943, coincidentally the Marine Corps’ 168th Birthday. Progress was slow. The jungle was thick, forcing Marines to stay close to each other. It rained constantly, turning the swampy ground into a sea of mud. In addition, 3d Battalion was given the mission of constructing a supply road from the beachhead to the Numa-Numa Trail, which it finished on November 16. The Japanese were known to be sending reinforcements to the Empress August Bay area, so 3d Battalion Marines moved in a formation known as “Contact Imminent”. However few enemies were seen. All that changed on November 17, when 3d Battalion encountered an unoccupied Japanese roadblock on the Numa-Numa Trail in the vicinity of an area known as Piva Forks. Lt Colonel King ordered a Rifle Platoon from Lima (Commanded by Lieutenant John O’Neil) and Weapons Platoon from Kilo (Commanded by Lieutenant Frank Railsback) to occupy the position. Both platoons swiftly took the roadblock and dug in. The following morning, a reinforced company of Japanese attempted to reoccupy the roadblock, oblivious to its new owners. A short firefight later, the Japanese withdrew, leaving 3d Battalion with a captured map detailing various enemy positions in the area, as well as strongpoints that the Japanese were hastily building on both the Numa-Numa and East-West Trail. Armed with this knowledge, 3d Battalion quickly resumed the advance. On November 20 the Battalion XO, Major Edwin Hamilton, was wounded while conducting a forward patrol with Lima Company. Another patrol from Kilo Company 1st Platoon was attacked by Japanese riflemen, losing three Marines.

Figure 5. Members of 3d Marines attempting to advance up the Numa-Numa Trail. On November 21st, 3d Battalion crossed the Piva River without incident and maneuvered to cut off the Japanese lines of communication. Following a foot trail up a very steep cliff, Lieutenant Lowell Smith from Kilo Company sighted a group of Japanese at the crest of the hill. Despite the incredibly constrictive terrain, he promptly attacked and seized a mass of high ground overlooking the main Japanese positions (later revealed to be the 23d Infantry Regiment) east of the Piva River. During the attack, Private James Beck won the Navy Cross for single-handedly charging two enemy pillboxes, killing the defending Japanese with grenades, and securing the position. Though the Japanese continued to bracket Kilo Company’s position with 90mm mortars, killing seven, Kilo held its ground. Throughout the day the other battalions from the 3d Marine Regiment drew abreast and by November 23 had completed preparations to launch a major attack on the Japanese. Prior to the attack on November 24 (Thanksgiving Day), the Japanese received the heaviest Marine bombardment seen so far in World War II, 5,600 rounds of 75mm and 105mm HE into an area 800 square yards in just twenty minutes. Following the bombardment, the Marines attack was initially met by silence. However, the Japanese quickly rallied and began hitting the 3d Marines with a coordinated barrage of artillery and mortars that was “walked” up and down the Marine lines. Advancing 500 yards ahead of the main attack, 3d Battalion was hit by a major Japanese counterattack that quickly degenerated into hand-to-hand fighting. 3d Battalion continued to attack, supported by 60mm and 81mm mortars. At one point Kilo Company was encircled by enemy forces, and suffered over 35 dead and wounded. Captain Paul Torian ran five hundred yards through enemy fire and quickly assumed command. He then rallied the survivors and broke out of the encirclement, later winning the Navy Cross. Lima Company’s Executive Officer, Captain Robert Turnball, also won the Navy Cross while personally directing his men against a pair of entrenched machinegun positions. Personally destroying the first with several hand grenades, he then fearlessly exposed himself to Japanese fire while his Marines neutralized the position. Unfortunately Captain Turnball was killed during the engagement. Despite fanatical Japanese resistance, 3d Battalion finished the day roughly 1150 yards in front of the Line of Departure. Casualties in the Japanese 23d Infantry were estimated at 1,107 and the unit was virtually destroyed.

Figure 6. Close quarters fighting near Piva. The Battle of Piva Forks marked the end of serious Japanese resistance in the Empress Augusta Bay area; the remaining Japanese forces on Bougainville would not be able to mount a counteroffensive until March 1944. Following the Battle of Piva Forks, the now veteran 3d Battalion had a rare treat: the first US airfield on Bougainville had become operational, and one of the first cargos flown in was a load of fresh turkey for Thanksgiving. On November 26 3d Battalion, after a month of hard fighting, was relieved by elements of the 9th Marine Regiment, and sent to a quiet area to rest. From November 28 – December 22, the battalion occupied an area on the southern flank of the 3d Marine Division’s lodgment and experienced no significant action. On December 22 the 3d Battalion was relieved by army units and embarked for Guadalcanal on Christmas Day, 1943. They left behind them 40,000 Japanese troops cut off from supplies and a slew of airbases that would be used to continue the isolation of Rabaul. The victory had not been cheap, though: 36 Marines had been killed in action and another 165 had been wounded. Hundreds of Marines in the Regiment were struck down by filiarsis which they had contracted on Samoa and one out of every three non-battle casualties in 3d Marines would be caused by the disease.

Afghanistan

Marines from H&S Company patrolling a marketplace in Garmsir District in 2011.

In October 2011, 3rd Battalion deployed again to Helmand Province, this time to the Garmsir District. Located in southern Helmand, directly south of Nawa District, Garmsir was both a historically infiltration route for Taliban coming from Pakistan, and is considered to have a culture very similar to Pakistan's. The deployment was marred by tragedy at the very beginning when the Chief of Police, LtCol Sayfullah Khan Rashidi, (who had previously served as Nawa District's Chief of Police during 3/3's deployment there) was killed along with two other Afghan National Police (ANP) by an IED on 6 November. Two days later, Hajji Abdullah Khan, an influential tribal elder with the Nurzai Tribe in the Sar Banadar area, was gunned down by a member of the Andar Tribe following a shura with 3rd Battalion Marines. Afghan Border Police (ABP) were able to arrest the murderer, who was then successfully prosecuted under Afghan law. A Taliban commander was also killed in Meyan Pashti around the same time. In mid-December, a squad from Lima Company was able to rescue an entire Afghan family when their car plunged into the Helmand River. Starting in January 2012, 3rd Battalion and elements of the 215th Corps of the Afghan National Army began a series of airborne assaults at sparsely-populated and historically Taliban-controlled areas in Garmsir. On 4 January they launched Operation Tageer Shamal (Shifting Winds), aimed at clearing Taliban fighters from the western side of the Helmand River. On 10 February they followed up with Shahem Tofan (Eagle Storm), a joint effort with the ABP aimed at interdicting smugglers moving through the desert in southeastern Garmsir. On 17 April, over 2,200 Afghans went to the polls to elect the Garmsir District Community Council, which - due to increases in security - now represented the entire district instead of just the northern part. Four days later, on 21 April, a suicide bomber killed four Afghan Police in Garmsir; while conducting a medevac in support of the police, a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crashed, killing all four aboard.

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www.dvidshub.net/news/80225/marines-ready-garmsir-transition-authority#.TsibK1arFR0

News: Marines ready Garmsir for transition of authority

GARMSIR DISTRICT, Helmand province, Afghanistan — When 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, nick-named the Lava Dogs, arrived here mid-April, expectations were of a deployment filled with improvised explosive devices and sporadic firefights.

The Lava Dogs transferred authority from 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, who found more than 400 IEDs and engaged insurgent forces numerous times during their deployment. Seven months later, the Lava Dogs’ deployment experience has been vastly different than that of their predecessors.

“Instead of focusing on 400 IEDs, we focused on the Afghan people,” said Lt. Col. Sean Riordan, 1/3 battalion commander and a native of Montclair, Va. “It was a great surprise to not have to find two or three IEDs everyday because all that does is slow you down and prevent you from being close to the people you are trying to protect.”

Insurgent IED activity has decreased by more than 80 percent, since 2/1’s rotation out of Garmsir. Small arms fire has decreased by more than 90 percent. These statistics are especially remarkable considering 1/3 operated in Garmsir through the summer months, typically known as fighting season for insurgents.

Security in Garmsir has been pushed 20 kilometers farther south to cover the entirety of the district’s political boundaries. Marine forces consolidated from more than 60 positions to approximately 30. Infrastructure improvements paralleled security improvements with more than 10 permanent school buildings under construction. The District Community Council has all representative seats filled and major bazaars have new shops opening weekly.

Each statistic from 1/3’s deployment shows change in Garmsir, but many in the battalion say those accomplishments take a back seat to the improvements of Afghan National Security Forces here.

“The numbers of IED or cache finds aren’t the important things here,” said Maj. Thomas Grace, 1/3 operations officer and a native of Cherry Hill, N.J. “It’s the manner in which they were found — with the local people’s assistance to the ANA (Afghan National Army) and ANP (Afghan National Police). That’s how we are going to win this war, local people working with their own nation’s security forces … not foreign forces.”

When the Lava Dogs arrived, the ANA was spread out over more than 40 positions in groups of four or five soldiers. Now, the ANA operates in squad-sized elements, independently controlling more than 10 posts and partnering at every Marine fighting position.

In April, the ANA relied heavily on Marine forces to provide for the logistical needs of its soldiers. Today, they have an operational tactical re-supply logistics convoy. They have taken the leading role in planning patrols and operations while Marine forces have shifted to a supporting role, observing and mentoring Afghan forces.

“The ANA are never going to be able to do anything in small four to five man teams,” Grace said. “They need to be in cohesive squads of 12 plus people and eventually in a platoon-sized unit. They have been fighting in these positions in small groups for two to three years. So we focused on getting them to recognize that they are a more capable force operating in bigger units, and they realized it and have become more successful because of that.”

Another main focus of 1/3’s deployment was the district’s Afghan Uniformed Police. Since 1/3 arrived, the number of policemen has nearly doubled to 800. The Afghan Local Police program, which employs local Afghans instead of Afghans from other provinces like the ANP, was introduced and is nearing its full task force number of 300.

More than eight new police precinct buildings have been approved for construction. In April, the police had a reputation for corruption and amateur operations. Now, they receive tips from local people about locations of IEDs and weapons caches. Every major arrest during the past seven months has been led by the AUP. Leadership classes are held regularly to improve proficiency and professionalism.

“We got here and the police’s reputation wasn’t the best; their numbers were low and their morale and appearance was lacking,” Grace said. “We tried to help them realize they work for the people, they are here for the people and I think we have made progress in that. They are more professional; they show up to work ready to represent the Afghan government. As a result, their confidence has increased as well.”

Garmsir’s infrastructure, compared to a year ago, is ‘night and day,’ according to battalion leaders, and that thought is echoed by local government officials. More than 40 schools are functional within the district and more than 10 are ready to move into permanent buildings. Thousands of kilometers of canals have been cleared and cleaned, improving the efficiency of irrigation throughout the district.

District Governor Mohammad Fahim visited Safar and Durzay for the first time, an area recently cleared during 2/1’s deployment. A government outreach center has been approved for construction in Safar, which will promote local resident’s involvement with their government and increase regular visits by government officials.

All major bazaars have received electric street lamps and road improvements. Multiple mosques have received refurbishments and more than five shura halls have been approved for construction.

More than five bridges have been constructed over major canals to connect rural communities to bazaars. Every week, thousands of local people flock to the bazaars from across Helmand province to participate in the growing commerce.

Improvements in Garmsir don’t end with the tangibles. Afghan national flags adorn every major bazaar. More than 300 people voted during the District Community Council election in June, the most recorded in Garmsir history. Most farmers in the district have agreed to cooperate with Afghan law to stop growing poppy and switch to wheat or corn.

While on patrol, Afghan and Marine forces are regularly invited into people’s homes for chai tea or dinner. The local mindset is of acceptance and a willingness to recognize the authority of the Afghan government over insurgent forces.

“I think the acceptance from the local communities is the most important thing,” Riordan said. “It comes from all the hard work and sacrifice of the Marines… it’s the number one thing that has helped progress move forward.”

Garmsir is progressing into a secure district, but it would not have been possible without a lineage of successful British and Marine forces. British forces were the first to operate in Garmsir, from 2006 to 2008, and cleared the northern section of the district. From 2008 to present Marine forces have expanded security south to encompass more than 80 kilometers of the district. Every battalion that has rotated into Garmsir has had a hand in the progress seen today.

“A year ago, I don’t think anyone expected the [ANA] to be holding down their own patrol bases and conducting unilateral operations that were planned by their company commanders and supported by their own battalion,” Riordan said. “Even seven months ago, I don’t think anybody would have told us that we would have more than 90 percent of the Afghan Uniformed Police allotted task force. That is a huge step forward.”

For the Marines of 1/3, this deployment held a number of unexpected turns, including deploying early. But the unexpected decrease of insurgent activity has allowed them to vastly improve the quality of ANSF and quality of life for local people in Garmsir.

“Continued mentorship is important because there has been a lot of blood and sweat poured into the district from British, Marine and Afghan forces,” Grace said. “There has been a lot of progress made and we can’t let the Afghans fail. We have to reinforce their success. Everything isn’t going to be squared away, right off the bat. But we will still be here to reinforce their successes, just like you would with anything when building from the bottom up.”

The Lava Dogs began their deployment with more than 50 positions, requiring many junior Marines to step up and lead their squads at small positions. In relative independence, the Lava Dogs found success. Squad leaders, typically lance corporals and corporals, built relationships that have proven successful in partnering with the Garmsir community.

Though the number of engagements with insurgent forces was low, complacency was never an issue. In Weapons Company’s area of operations alone, more than 115,000 vehicles were searched during the past seven months, requiring every squad from the company to search hundreds of cars daily.

The constant mentorship of ANA soldiers and AUP members has proven successful, producing a more independent ANSF in a short, seven months. Throughout Garmsir, the Marines of 1/3 have successfully transitioned the district into an environment that will prove successful during 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment’s deployment. The Lava Dogs will transition authority of Garmsir to “America’s Battalion,” who recently arrived here in early November.

“Eliminating the insurgent threat requires change in a deeply rooted mindset of people who are religiously motivated,” Riordan said. “I don’t know if that is a realistic goal for Afghanistan. Afghanistan has to find a way to reintegrate the people who used to be [insurgents], bring them back in to the fold and make them part of society again. The religious community is an important part of the community in Garmsir that is never going to change.”

America’s Battalion looks to capitalize on the success of the Lava Dogs by continuing the mentorship of Afghan forces in Garmsir. Support will also continue for the district government, which has already taken responsibility for interdicting poppy growth and providing alternative crop programs for farmers.

“We made a concerted effort to ensure government officials, local security force leaders and representatives of the people actually got out to the people,” Grace said. “We were able to get them out to places they haven’t been before and to people who haven’t seen a [Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan] representative before.”

During the past five years, British and Marine forces have earned bragging rights in Garmsir and all of Helmand. What was once known as the most active insurgent haven in Afghanistan is now nearing transition with Afghan forces.

The province still requires much effort to return to the relative peace known more than 30 years ago. Instead of coalition forces leading the way and paying this price in sweat and blood, Garmsir ANSF members, government officials and residents are nearing the level of readiness required to take the helm.

“Afghanistan has a long road ahead of it,” Riordan said. “But I think right now, they are showing real signs of hope that they will be able to take care of their own security situation, reconcile those people within their society who were formally against change and live in a state of … not necessarily peace, but acceptable security.”

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http://www.dvidshub.net/news/79478/lock-down-afghan-national-security-forces-marines-interdict-insurgent-movement#.TrcpFXIprrR

Lock Down: Afghan National Security Forces, Marines interdict insurgent movement

GARMSIR DISTRICT, Helmand Province, Afghanistan — Afghan National Security Forces and Marines from 1st and 3rd Battalions, 3rd Marine Regiment are putting the lock down on roads in Garmsir during operation gridlock here, Nov. 1 and 5.

The operation is focused on bolstering searches conducted at checkpoints, searching every vehicle that passes, on key routes through out the district. Temporary vehicle checkpoints are also conducted while coalition forces are on patrol.

“You close off the routes where checkpoints are at and search what is coming in and going out of the area,” said Capt. Jason Hoffman, officer in-charge of 1/3’s Police Advisor Team and native of Johnson City, Tenn. “It is held to interdict narcotics trafficking and to disrupt enemy activity.”

“If an insurgent is driving around and is randomly stopped and searched, it limits his ability to move around freely and operate,” added Hoffman.

Key items being searched for include poppy seed, nitrate fertilizer – often a key component in improvised explosive devices – and other forms of contraband deemed illegal by the Afghan government. Although there is no primary objective, high value person or equipment, of this operation, its effectiveness is not based on tangible seizures.

With vehicle checkpoints being held randomly across the district, the operation limits insurgent ability to move freely around district.

“It’s kind of like a sobriety checkpoint back in the states,” said Hoffman. “They are looking for a specific type of person, someone under the influence. With this operation we are looking for people who have poppy or contraband.”

Similar operations have been conducted more than five times during 1/3’s deployment. Many of these operations follow or are a precursor to events, and may be conducted as result of intelligence gathered in the district.

This operation is being conducted ahead of the poppy-growing season. Seizing seed and fertilizer will prevent poppy from being planted and, in turn, limit narcotics trafficking in Garmsir.

“This operation is important because when you operate in an area it pushes out the insurgents from that area,” said Afghan National Police Lt. Col. Saifullah, Garmsir chief of police and a native of Sangin district. “So these kinds of operations are effective because they are conducted all over Garmsir and disrupt enemy activity.”

Operation Gridlock is also a way to bolster the confidence of ANSF in Garmsir. For the ANP and Afghan Local Police, vehicle checkpoints are a regular duty. When they coordinate with the rest of the district and conduct synchronized vehicle checkpoints, it creates a unified atmosphere.

“It’s a good learning experience for the policeman and it’s important to be able to work with the Marines and learn from them,” said Saifullah. “The policemen learn how to search vehicles and gather intelligence from an area during these operations.”

“These operations are only a small part of building Garmsir,” added Saifullah. “Other things we can do are build hospitals, schools, and permanent police precincts, but these operations are a necessity to make that happen.”

United Nations intervention in Somalia

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