Photo By Cpl. Daniel Wulz | After maneuvering out of insurgent fire, Capt. Sean P. Cunningham (center), a fire...... read more read more
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MAIN OPERATING BASE PRICE, Afghanistan - Sitting below the crops and lying in the dirt and rocks along Route California, near Yakchal in Nahr-e Saraj District, Helmand province, Marines with 1st Air-Naval Gunfire Liaison Company and U.K. soldiers with A Squadron, Royal 9th/12th Lancers, called for air support while other A Squadron, and Afghan soldiers came under fire during a patrol, Aug 9.
The patrol had departed just after sunrise so as to escape the dreaded heat of the afternoon Afghan sun and the heat exhaustion and fatigue it can cause. The Marines and U.K. and Afghan soldiers carefully crossed busy roads and trudged through fields of corn and other crops, before coming within approximately 300 yards of a suspected insurgent compound.
The compound itself was multiple stories tall and constructed of mud bricks and wood, as most Afghan structures are. Open holes and walls in and around the compound provided the insurgents with good firing positions.
“We came under fire from multiple points, at which point the ground forces could return fire with their personal weapons,” said Capt. Sean P. Cunningham, a fire control team leader with 1st ANGLICO and an Indialantic, Fla., native.
After more than 30 minutes of taking a heavy volume of enemy fire, Cunningham and Lance Cpl. Aaron Figueroa, a fire support man with 1st ANGLICO, called in air support in the form of two AH-1W Super Cobra attack helicopters.
The helicopters swooped in, raising dust and moving rows upon rows of corn.. The Marines and soldiers laid low, grasping their helmets and braced themselves in the gnarly whirlwind caused by the Cobras.
The patrol’s ground forces and the helicopters coordinated a Hellfire missile strike on the compound as well as gun runs, yelling into their radios above the noise of the battle and gunfire. The close air support allowed friendly forces to maneuver out of the onslaught of insurgent fire.
“The patrol went as I expected,” said Figueroa, a Chicago native. “We expected to take contact and we did. Everyone seemed to handle themselves really well though, everyone did their jobs, and we accomplished our mission without any complications, injuries or casualties.”
After the firefight, the coalition forces patrolled back to their command center at the ANA patrol base, worn down by their dangerous battle with the enemy and their patrol out to the compound.
As a result of the patrol and ensuing fight, the U.S.,U.K. and Afghan forces were able to pinpoint multiple insurgent firing points and discovered locations to exploit on future operations, said Cunningham.
| Date Taken: | 08.09.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 08.16.2011 04:23 |
| Story ID: | 75406 |
| Location: | MAIN OPERATING BASE PRICE, AF |
| Web Views: | 912 |
| Downloads: | 4 |
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