7 – 8 December 2010: Homecoming

“Upon returning [to] Marine Corps Base Hawaii (MCBH) Kaneohe Bay, the battalion main body executed a 96-hour liberty block.” — Source: 3/3 Command Chronology for the Period 01 December to 31 December 2010

---

News

Conduits for Progress: ‘America’s Battalion’ returns successful from Afghanistan deployment

Upon returning [to] Marine Corps Base Hawaii (MCBH) Kaneohe Bay, the battalion main body executed a 96-hour liberty block.

Cpl. Reece Lodder || 10 December 2010

MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII, Hawaii – Every day away was a test — but “America’s Battalion” is finally home.

Families and friends gathered at Hangar 105 here to welcome home about 760 Marines and sailors from 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment returning from the seven-month deployment, Dec. 7.

They joined 150 Marines and sailors from the battalion’s advance party who returned to MCB Hawaii, Nov. 7.

Since May, Marines and sailors with 3/3 have been conduits for progress in the Nawa district of Afghanistan’s Helmand province.

Braving the country’s bitter cold and unbearable heat, 3/3’s warriors secured elections, helped open schools and built relationships with Afghan nationals during their deployment. They performed disruption operations, destroyed weapons caches, and patrolled endless miles through fields, towns and along dusty, rocky roads.

But that was behind them as they walked into the arms of loved ones.

Both excited and anxious for the return of her husband, a corpsman with Company L, 3/3, Melissa Trevino clutched a small Marine Corps flag and bounced their daughter on her hip as she waited.

“I’m nervous,” she said. “It feels great that he is coming home, but it doesn’t feel real yet.”

The reunion, falling on their daughter Jordin’s first birthday, was bittersweet. Melissa said raising Jordin alone during her husband’s deployment made her feel like a single mother, but she worked through the challenges by looking forward to his return.

“You know he’s coming home, so you just keep on doing what you’re doing,” she said.

In May, 3/3 replaced 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, in Nawa district, supporting Regimental Combat Team 7, 1st Marine Division, as part of ongoing counterinsurgency operations in Operation Enduring Freedom. RCT-7 transferred authority over the area to RCT-1, 1st MarDiv, Sept. 28.

“We didn’t know what to expect, but 1/3 set us up for success,” said Sgt. Maj. Andrew Cece, battalion sergeant major, 3/3. “They prepped the battlefield and enabled us to make an easy transition into Nawa district.”

Nestled in southern Afghanistan, 3/3’s area of operations spread over approximately 100 square kilometers and 26 positions, said Maj. Jay Garcia, executive officer, 3/3.

While the battalion’s operations were less kinetic than had been anticipated, the deployment still wasn’t easy, said Lt. Col. Jeffrey Holt, commanding officer, 3/3.

Using Corps leaders’ “clear, hold, build” strategy, 3/3 worked to clear the area of enemy threat, said Garcia, of Honolulu.

Thorough training, preparation, and well-coordinated, distributed operations, formed a strong basis for success, Garcia said, “but it took the young Marines being on the ground every day to make it work.”

He said the battalion’s success was reliant on the Marines’ presence in the community — whether by constant patrols, standing post at patrol bases or the extra hours spent assisting Afghan families.

Lance Cpl. Domingo Luna, a team leader with Company K, 3/3, reaffirmed the importance of his battalion’s presence.

“Building these relationships with the locals enabled us to do a better job assisting them,” said Luna, from Corpus Christi, Texas.

Between “hard days and good days,” Holt, from Dallas, said the union of effort along 3/3’s lines of operation, strengthened tribal unity and strong relationships with district officials helped make Nawa safer and more secure.

Since the region was identified as one of the few ready for transfer of responsibilities back to Afghan National Army security forces, the battalion played an important role in hosting visitors.

During recent visits to Nawa by the deputy U.S. Secretary of Defense, William J. Lynn III, and several senators, Holt said he told each of them, “Nawa is open for business.” He asked them to exploit 3/3’s success in the future, and maintain the battalion’s momentum for progress.

With 3/3’s return, the ongoing task of holding and building Nawa district now falls on 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, who arrived in Nawa last month.

“Our Marines could have just done the seven months and come home, but they didn’t,” said Cece, of Sacramento. “They bonded with the local nationals — it became their lifestyle. As long as 2/3 carries this on, they’ll be successful.”

Returning Dec. 7, Holt noted on that solemn day 3/3 did not return complete.

Sgt. Joe L. Wrightsman, a team leader with Company K, 3/3, died while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, July 18. Wrightsman was from Jonesboro, La.

1st Lt. Scott J. Fleming, a platoon commander with Company K, 3/3, died while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Sept. 17. Fleming was from Marietta, Ga.

“We can’t forget that Lt. Fleming and Sgt. Wrightsman didn’t come home on the flight with us,” Holt said. “Even as we rejoice at our return, the Marines we lost are remembered.”

Source: Hawaii Marine

---

Marines return from seven-month deployment in Afghanistan

Star-Advertiser Staff || December 6, 2010

About 450 Hawaii Marines will return to Kaneohe Bay tomorrow after a seven-month deployment to Afghanistan, officials said.

About 150 of the Marines and sailors are with Lima Company and 300 Marines and sailors are with Kilo Company and Weapons Company. All are part of the 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment.

More than 1,000 Marines and sailors are part of the unit, nicknamed “America’s Battalion.”

The base’s three infantry battalions rotate one after the other to southern Afghanistan. The 2nd Battalion left for the country in November.

The 2nd Battalion replaced the 3rd Battalion in Nawa district in central Helmand province, a poppy-producing region where profits have financed militants.

The 3rd Battalion, which deployed from Hawaii in May, lost at least three Marines on the deployment. One Marine died “while supporting combat operations,” the Marine Corps said; another was swept away in a river; and a third was shot in the neck while on a patrol.

Copyright © Honolulu Star-Advertiser 2010 

---

Photographs

---

Video

KITV 4 Island News

Copyright © KITV 4 Island News 2010