Interview With Lt. Paul Herdener From Gainesville Georgia While Deployed To Sangin

1st Lt. Paul Herdener is with Charlie Company 1/5, as the Weapons Platoon Commander. On this day, he was promoted to 1st Lieutenant while deployed to Sangin Afghanistan at FOB Jackson. Raised in Gainesville Georgia, Herdener was in 10th grade on Sept 11th, 2001. He attended Annapolis naval academy and is now stationed in Sangin Afghanistan.Paul and I share some of the same surf breaks here in Carlsbad, his interview was one that I had some fun with. My make-shift director’s chair collapsed from underneath me during the interview.

Part I of II

Part II of II

Interview With XO Hunter Armour – Sums Up Afghan War Smarlty

Executive Officer from Charlie Company 1st Battalion 5th Marines 1st Lt. Hunter Armour from Malibu, CA sums up the strategy in Afghanistan with GIRoA (Government Islamic Republic of Afghanistan).

Not too far on the right, not too far on the left, straight shooting, non sugar-coated perspectives from ass-in-the-grass Marines on the front lines.

I think Lt. Armour does a great job explaining the finer points of the war in Afghanistan in this video, please enjoy and share. I personally believe that all DOD employee’s vote should count ten-fold.

Interview With Staff Sergeant Koehn In Sangin Afghanistan – Charlie Company 2nd Platoon Sergeant

Staff Sergeant Brian Koehn from Champion, OH shares his personal input about the war in Afghanistan, and the value of Sangin poppy-lands.

Brian and I grew up in similar parts of the country, and we both chewed some of the same dirt. His older brother served with me in 1st Battalion 7th Marine regiment in the 1st Marine Division at 29 Palms California.

Interview With Scout Sniper Corporal Madison Jefferson – Sangin Afghanistan

Born and raised in De Queen Arkansas, Corporal Jefferson talks about his job in STA platoon (Surveillance Target  Acquisition) also know as Scout Snipers.

Corporal Jefferson talks about the loss of Lcpl. Donald Hogan from San Clemente, CA.

A Day In Afghanistan – On Patrol With Sgt. Schild In Tugay

The night before this foot-patrol, I stayed at Patrol Base Mateen in the rural farming area of Tugay. Many of the Marines at Mateen are from Texas and Oklahoma, making it a familiar and good ol’ atmosphere to be embeded with.

We stepped off on this patrol prior to the District Governor’s arrival for the local Shura (neighborhood meeting) that had been promoted locally for the residents to attend. Afghans came from far away to meet the DG and to consider returning to the war-torn district of Sangin.

Interview With GySgt. John Wodkowski – Sangin Afghanistan

This interview is with a Marine that is one of my best friends.  John Wodkowski, “Woody” came to the Fleet Marine Force when I was a Non Commissioned Officer back int he late 90’s.

We had recently reconnected over the years and he became one of the major contributing factors to bringing be back to the Marine Corps.  and visiting 1/5 while deployed to Sangin. I wanted to see how the Marines I once helped train are now performing. I hate to admit it, but Woody beat me at the disassembly and assembly of my favorite weapon, the Browning M2 50 cal machine gun while I was visiting him in Sangin.

Interview With Staff Sergeant Minnis – Combat Taxi Service in Sangin Afghanistan

Staff Sergeant Minnis is an absolute riot to work with. On the morning of a vehicle patrol he tossed a huge rock at one of the Afghan building we were staying in.  It impacted against the plywood window cover with a bang. He woke up the Marines taking a nap and barked at them to get going. He defiantly knows how to keep your spirits up, and keep a smile on your face. A fantastic Marine to work with. It’s guys like this that make me miss the corps.

 

Part I

Part II

Interview With Afghan National Working with U.S. Marines In Sangin

Katib Farhad is a 23-year-old Afghan interpreter working with U.S. Marines in Sangin. I met Katib working with Charlie company staff and officers at Camp Jackson.  He first started working as an interpreter with the U.S. Army 10th Mountain Division and Airborne  in the Wardak province near his home in Kabul. He temporarily stopped working as an interpreter due to his family voicing their concerns, and the obvious hazards associated with the profession.

After some sole-searching, Katib came to the realization that he needed to be part of the solution. He took the job that many Afghan interpreters avoid, working with the U.S. Marines in the deadly town of Sangin.

Pointman Mine-sweeper In Sangin Equals Double Danger

Working the most dangerous job, in the world’s most dangerous place equals double-danger. Cpl. Ernest Tubbs works in the most dangerous area of Afghanistan, performing the most dangerous job, and he is known by his peers as the best. He walks on point (leading the patrol) confidently into the unknown, holding only a mine sweeper. His job, to take the Marines into the FEBA (Forward Edge Battle Area), searching for insurgents and their hidden surprises.
The casualty rate for this position is staggering. Every Marines on the planet applauds these guy’s courage and tenacity. Cpl Tubbs talks about how he mentally prepares, and how he does the job.

Interviews With Charlie Company 1/5 Grunts – “Afghanistan Is No Joke”

Speaking with Lcpl Herman and Lcpl Frank. Two young infantry Marines that patrol the Sangin river valley daily.

There is no taking this job lightly, as Lcpl Herman says it best, “Afghanistan is no joke.”

Lcpl Herman

Lcpl Frank