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Attack of the killer grasshopper?

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By on Afghanistan, Embedded journalism

PATROL BASE YAZZIE, Afghanistan — So, perhaps my friend in the photograph got your attention. I took this photo while wandering at Camp Dwyer last week, but really, it could have been taken anywhere I’ve been in Helmand province. The insects are large here, larger than just about anything I’ve seen in my 28 years of life. It doesn’t matter whether you’re talking bees, spiders or mosquitoes, the creepy crawlies here all look like they’ve been taking steroids. The mosquitoes, in particular, wowed me, since they flock to my computer screen late at night. Anyway, another day. After four months…

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Marijuana, fleas and shell casings: A morning in Marjah

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By on Afghanistan, Embedded journalism, Infantry, Marjah

MARJAH, Afghanistan – It was a moment I was simultaneously dreading and seeking: My first time on foot outside the wire. This morning, I went on a four-hour foot patrol with members of 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines. Half of 2nd Platoon’s 3rd squad took me along with them on a routine, early morning security patrol, which can drag on monotonously boring for hours at a time, only to shift into a blood-pumping engagement with the enemy at a moment’s notice. Today’s stayed quiet, but it showed the dynamics Marines deal with on a daily basis. They set out on foot…

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Happy Mother’s Day from Afghanistan

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By on Afghanistan, Embedded journalism, Marjah

PATROL BASE YAZZIE, Afghanistan — Good afternoon, friends. Tom Brown and I have made another move, jumping from Camp Hanson, home of 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines, to Patrol Base Yazzie, a smaller outpost in northwestern Marjah that is home to India Company, 3/6. The drive over from Hanson was certainly an eye-opener for me. While I expected to see poverty, I didn’t expect to see a wasteland. There is obviously no electricity, and modern farming tools are nowhere to be found. Even we and the Marines sleeping on the ground in tents here at Yazzie have far more comforts of…

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Marine mail call in Marjah

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By on Afghanistan, Embedded journalism, Marjah

CAMP HANSON, Afghanistan — We’re waiting for a ride to one of the infantry companies that falls under 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines. In the meantime, photographer Tom Brown and I watched a heartwarming part of Marine life today: Mail call. I’ll be honest: From my tent, all I could hear at first was “Meatloaf!” “Meatloaf!” “Meatloaf!” I assumed they were distributing Meals Ready to Eat. Turns out, the Marines in the back of a 7-ton truck were actually yelling “Kilo!” “Kilo!” “Kilo!” as boxes headed for Kilo Company were pulled off the truck. As the process started to wind down, I…

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When the weather gets hot, Marines get creative

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By on Afghanistan, Embedded journalism

CAMP HANSON, Afghanistan — I’m still at Camp Hanson in a tent without air-conditioning, but before I get any farther into this trip, I thought I’d point out some old-fashioned Marine ingenuity.   While I was at Camp Dwyer, I shared temporary quarters with an embarker from Okinawa.  He shared his interesting way of getting ice-cold water.   While Marines obviously don’t have refrigerators in their tents, the lucky ones do sleep in Alaska Environmental Control Units, or ECUs. As you can see from this photo to the right, they include a long tube that starts on one wall, then makes…

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A view of Helmand province, Afghanistan, by air

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By on Afghanistan, Embedded journalism, Marjah

CAMP HANSON, Afghanistan — Marine Corps Times has reached its destination. Photographer Tom Brown and I caught a few of the last seats available this afternoon on a CH-53E helicopter from Camp Dwyer to Camp Hanson, home of 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines — the Teufelhunden, as they call themselves. The base in northern Marjah, and the unit is spread throughout the region. So far, we’ve met with Lt. Col. Brian Christmas, the battalion commander, and Maj. Billy Ray Moore, the executive officer. I also chatted up several Marines about guns, ammo and not taking showers — all thing relevant to a combat environment.…

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‘Sandblasted’: Afghan storm takes Marine helicopter crew by surprise

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By on Afghanistan, Aviation, Embedded journalism

CAMP DWYER, Afghanistan – Marines are fond of saying, “Welcome to the suck.” I’m beginning to understand why. Last night, a journalist with NATO TV, Military Times photographer Tom Brown and I caught our heavily anticipated flight to Marjah out of Camp Leatherneck, the Marine Corps’ major operating base in Afghanistan. We planned to land at Landing Zone Currier, which services 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines, in northern Marjah. We hopped a CH-53 at Camp Bastion to leave Leatherneck around 7 p.m. under relatively clear skies, and began an easy-going flight.  Throughout the flight, everything appeared to be fine to the…

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Check out the new ‘Battle Rattle’ logo

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By on Afghanistan, Battle Rattle, Camp Leatherneck, Embedded journalism

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan — Just wanted to take a second to point out that the Military Times art department has put together a pretty sweet graphic to serve as Battle Rattle’s new logo. I’m a big fan, as you might expect. I’m heading down to the flightline at nearby Camp Bastion shortly to try and get down to Marjah once again. We’re flying space-available today, so keep your fingers crossed for us. There are about 15 things that could keep us grounded again, including if there are more pressing operational matters. In the meantime, consider following us on Facebook and/or Twitter,…

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