Photo By Cpl. J Nava | Cpl. Timothy Banks an air control electronics operator with Marine Tactical Air...... read more read more
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OKINAWA, Japan - Hands trembling slightly from the adrenaline pumping through his veins, the fire team leader issued quiet commands to his men to assault the enemy's final stronghold.
The hostiles barricaded themselves in the church and had no plans of coming out without a fight.
Letting loose a volley of suppressive fire on the building, the Marines made their way toward its entrance, not knowing what dangers lay behind the church walls.
From room to room and house to house the Marines of Marine Tactical Air Command Squadron 18, Marine Air Control Group 18, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, fought their way through the streets and alleys of Combat Town, July 7.
"This training was conducted to familiarize the Marines with urban warfare tactics, techniques and procedures," said Capt. John Franklin, tactical air command center officer, MTACS-18. "We also wanted to help them maintain a strong warrior ethos and keep their minds and reflexes sharp, ready for any deployment."
The Marines' patrol began like any other, on a hot and humid day laden with its share of bugs.
There was an eerie, almost artificial calm in Combat Town as the Marines passed through, when suddenly the calm was broken by nine millimeter paint rounds zipping by their heads.
"As soon as the first round went off, I knew it was on," said Cpl. Julio Etienne, a supply administration and operations clerk with MTACS-18 and a native of Cap Haitien, Haiti.
The Marines' training kicked in immediately as they began clearing houses one at a time, bobbing and weaving carefully in intricate patterns through the dark and dusty rooms of every building.
Combat Town was infested with its simulated hostiles. It seemed as if at every corner they turned there were enemies waiting for them to slip up.
The battle raged on until its final culmination in the form of a showdown at the church. The enemy, unwilling to surrender and unrelenting in their efforts, would not make it easy.
As soon as the Marines entered the church, enemy fire began ringing out from every corner.
Moving closely along a wall, the Marines took cover and returned fire. Carefully placed paint rounds splattered on the enemies' visors rendering them "dead."
"When we entered, there was fire coming from all four corners," said Lance Cpl. Opetaia Sitafine, a supply administration and operations clerk with MTACS-18. "It was a little frightening at first but then I got a rush of adrenaline and started to let the paint fly."
The ground level was clear, but enemy forces still remained on the upper floors. The Marines made their way up the spiral staircase, moving slowly and carefully so as to avoid any pipe bombs or trip mines.
The Marines advanced from the staircase and began to let their paint rounds fly.
The enemy dropped left and right until all threats were eliminated.
With Combat Town clear of hostile activity, only one thing remained, to evacuate the casualties from the area.
The injured were rounded up and transported to landing zone Dodo where a CH-46E Sea Knight helicopter was called in to take them to safety.
Although this was only a training event for the MTACS-18 Marines, the real combat training value was not lost.
"Training like this helps us feel better equipped and experienced for deployments," said Sitafine, of American Samoa. "It makes me feel more confident in my abilities."
| Date Taken: | 07.07.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 08.05.2009 01:09 |
| Story ID: | 37154 |
| Location: | OKINAWA, OKINAWA, JP |
| Web Views: | 233 |
| Downloads: | 81 |
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