June 5, 2011

Weekly report
The following content depicts a week’s worth of activity from Regional Command Southwest, commanded by Maj. Gen. John
Toolan and covering Helmand and Nimruz Provinces, Afghanistan. The content was created by Marine Corps Combat
Correspondents, Combat Camera and personnel with UK media operations under Task Force Helmand. Feel free to forward our
stories to family, friends and loved ones supporting those who are deployed.

Featured Story
Coalition Forces Observe Memorial Day Aboard
Camp Leatherneck

Coalition forces aboard Camp Leatherneck gathered together to

honor those who have given the last full measure of devotion during
a Memorial Day ceremony, May 30. The ceremony included a
reading of the Gettysburg Address, and the singing of “God Bless the
USA” and “Amazing Grace.” Maj. Gen. John A. Toolan, the
commanding general of Regional Command Southwest, spoke about
not letting what has been accomplished in Afghanistan be
forgotten… (Read Story)
Story by Lance Cpl. Bryan Nygaard, RC(SW)

Patraeus Notes Success in Southern

Helmand
Gen. David Petraeus, the commanding general of
International Security Assistance Force, toured Camp
Dwyer on Memorial Day … (Read Story)

Story by Sgt. Jesse Stence, Regimental Combat Team 1

Louisiana Marine Survives IED Blast, Continues to
Fight
“I thought it was just another day on the 45-minute drive to get to the
location. My teammate and I were coming up with a plan of attack,” said
Winnfield, La., native Staff Sgt. Tony Palomo. “I never thought I’d be the
one to set off the (improvised explosive device).” The Explosive Ordnance
Disposal technician … (Read Story)

Story by Cpl. Marco Mancha, 2nd MarDiv (Fwd.)

Coalition Recovery Swift to Success

In a combined effort, coalition forces conducted a
ground recovery of a F-2000 Mirage aircraft May 27.
U.S., French and Italian forces conducted an 81-mile
combat logistics patrol from Regional Command
Southwest to retrieve the French jet… (Read Story)

Story by Staff Sgt. Theresa Seng, 2nd MLG (Fwd.)

Marine Corps Hornets, Harriers

Team Up For Tandem Operations in
Afghanistan
There was a different sort of roar across the
southwestern Afghan skies, May 21. For the past
year, Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornets reigned over the
airspace… (Read Story)

Story by Pfc. Sean Dennison, 2nd MAW (Fwd.)

 Rocky Top Marine Gets Out of
Driver's Seat

Each Marine in the Marine Corps is assigned a

specific job and performs tasks to assist the unit in
accomplishing its mission … (Read Story)

Story by Sgt. Earnest J. Barnes, 2nd MarDiv (Fwd.)

Half-a-Decade in Helmand
This year marks the fifth anniversary of when nearly
3,500 British troops deployed to Helmand province.
This was stage three of NATO's plan to bring security
to Afghanistan by expanding ISAF's influence into the
south of the country. This meant that ISAF influence
into the south of the country. The move meant that
ISAF subsumed... (Read Story)

Story courtesy of Task Force Helmand

33rd Georgian Battalion Patrols

Afghan Villages

A brief view of the 33rd Georgian Light Infantry

Battalion performing operations under the command
of Regimental Combat Team 8, in Shukvani,
Afghanistan… (Watch Video)
Story by Lance Cpl. Clayton Vonderahe, Regimental Combat
Team 8
Groundbreaking Ceremony Instills
Hope For Growth in Marjah

As much as 85 percent of Afghanistan’s economic

activity is made up of agricultural enterprises in
the Helmand and Nimroz provinces. This
impressive … (Read Story)
Story by Lance Cpl. Katherine M. Solano, RC(SW)

Navy Chaplain Spreads Good Word,

Good Will to Deployed Troops

A young James C. Ragain found himself face to face

with tragedy in his seventh-grade year. His father, a
Navy dentist, had moved his family to Parris Island,
S.C. where Ragain recalled… (Read Story)
Story by Cpl. Rashaun X. James, 2nd MAW (Fwd.)

Troops, Civilian Run to Remember

Fallen Heroes
More than 140 years ago, Gen. John Logan, the national
commander of the Grand Army of the Republic,
officially proclaimed Memorial Day, and May 30, 1868,
flowers were placed on… (Read Story)
Story by Sgt. Rachael Moore, 2nd MLG (Fwd.)
Radio Battalion Helps ANGLICO
Intercept Insurgents
Marines see a man walking, he does not see them.
He hunches down and starts to dig. The Marines
believe he is planting an improvised explosive
device, but they do not know for sure. There is
nothing that identifies him… (Read Story)
Story by Lance Cpl. Bryan Nygaard, RC(SW)

For additional stories from around RC(SW)

please visit:

Regional Command Southwest

2nd Marine Division
RCT-1
RCT-8
2nd Marine Aircraft Wing
2nd Marine Logistics Group
Task Force Helmand
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Catch all the stories about RC(SW) here