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Tennessee Marines Keep A Watchful Eye From The Sky

by Lance Cpl. Stephen McGinnis

Marines of B Company, 1st Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment patrol the streets of Fallujah on foot to make their presence known.

Lance Cpl. Nicholas W. Persinger, a 19-year-old rifleman from Murphysburg, Tenn., provides cover from an abandoned building for Marines patrolling through the industrial area of Fallujah Dec. 9. Marines of B Company, 1st Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment conducted a patrol to hinder terrorist movement in the area. (photo by Lance Cpl. Stephen McGinnis)

The battalion is currently conducting combat operations in the Al Anbar Province in direct support of Regimental Combat Team 5.

While many of the Marines of 3rd Platoon, B Company patrolled through parts of the industrial areas of Fallujah, others took up residence in a nearby abandoned building to get a bird's-eye view of their fellow Marines Dec. 9.

Marines positioned themselves throughout the building to provide overwatch to their fellow Marines, also searching within the building for any insurgent activity.

The overwatch looks out onto one of the main roads in Fallujah and is directly across from a Marine post. It's in a location Marines believed to be used by insurgents to attack Marines living at the post.

"We have been hit from there several times and it gave us a view from a terrorists' perspective," said Cpl. Justin W. Phillips, a 24-year-old infantry squad leader from Cookeville, Tenn. "We got to see their availability of positions to hit us from."

Marines on the streets searched several homes and looked for anything suspicious that might trace to any type of insurgent activity.

"We wanted to have feet on the ground and show a presence," said Cpl. Robert T. Kazmerowski, a 26-year-old infantry squad leader from Nashville, Tenn. "When we don't have a constant presence, it gives insurgents the ability to move freely throughout the city."

No terrorist materials were found, but B Company made their presence known in the industrial area of Fallujah.

"The advantage of being on a foot patrol is that it gives you the ability to speak with the citizens of Fallujah and get a closer, more detailed look for improvised explosive device materials," Kazmerowski said.

Still, Marines never stood still. Their patrol complete, they packed up and moved on, stepping out through the city. Marines used smoke to obscure the vision of any insurgents trying to attack Marines as they crossed one of Fallujah's more dangerous stretches of road.

They took cover in a nearby Marine observation post to catch their breath and regroup before returning to their forward operating base. The next day's mission was only hours away.

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