Shortly before the landings began, the sound of gunfire could be heard as troops tested their weapons by firing them into the sea from wide doorways on their ship. Then they hauled their packs, weapons and protective gear - often pushing 100 pounds of equipment - to transport helicopters waiting on deck. As some of the troops boarded helicopters, beads of sweat collected on their faces from the heat and the strain of carrying their heavy gear.
In late November 2001, helicopters and transport aircraft landed Marines of the 26th MEU and equipment from the USS Bataan in the northern Arabian Sea to an isolated airstrip south of the Taliban stronghold of Kandahar in southern Afghanistan. The full deployment totaled to about 1,000 Marines over two days. The soldiers stenciled their vehicles and weapons systems with black silhouettes of the World Trade Center and the numbers "9/11."
The first troops to land were supported by helicopter gunships and Harrier jet fighters. They had to fly as far as 400 miles from their ships in what was described as the longest distance amphibious and air deployment in the history of the U.S. Marine Corps.
Said the task force commander, "The Marines have landed and we now own a piece of Afghanistan."
This Marine is wearing the new lightweight Kevlar vest, officially called "Interceptor body armor." The vest has been credited with holding down casualties in the various battles around Afghanistan. American soldiers have survived AK-47 and other small arms fire to their chest and back. The vest weighs 16 lbs. compared to the 25 lbs. of earlier Kevlar vest, not including U.S. flag. |
