More than 400 Marines and sailors from 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines returned to Marine Corps Base Hawaii this week from a seven-month deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Seven hundred more service members total will return here throughout next week.
“It’s great to be back to nice weather,” said Cpl. Joseph P. Robinson, rifleman, 1/3, from Shellsburg, Iowa Wednesday night. “I can’t wait to hang out with my family, and it feels good to actually do what I came in the Corps for.”
Families of the deployed were overjoyed when their loved ones arrived back to MCB Hawaii. Banners, balloons and leis were in their hands as the plane pulled up to the hangar.
“I’m so excited to see my husband come down off the plane,” said Raleigh, N.C. native Amanda Edwards, 1/3 spouse. “We are moving tomorrow so this whole thing is a drastic change for our family.”
The service members spent their deployment holding positions in and around forward operating base Geronimo near the town of Nawa in Helmand Province.
One of the unit’s crowning achievements was their participation in Operation Moshtarak, the seizure of the Taliban stronghold of Marjah earlier this year.
“Security was a big issue for us to tackle,” said Maj. Roberto J. Martinez, executive officer, 1/3. “We worked closely with the Afghanistan National Army to fully man their new police precincts and train new recruits to take ownership and charge of the area.”
The Lava Dogs also assisted in opening a new government center. With help from a Marine Corps Civil Affairs attachment, higher levels of Afghanistan government started paying more attention to the region.
“Nawa’s government reformed with the help of 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, and we took over and launched over 500 civil affairs projects for the locals,” Martinez, of Toms River, N.J., said.
Some of the projects included reconstruction and repair of medical buildings, schools, roads and businesses.
To boost the economy, an improved irrigation canal was built and micro-grants were distributed to help locals sustain businesses.
“The majority of our focus remained on the people of Afghanistan because they’re ultimately why we’re there,” said Sgt. Maj. Dwight D. Jones. “I relayed to the men upon our arrival in November that it was our obligation to make it better than when we got it. I feel good to report that it is better than when we got it from 1/5 and 3/3 will make it better for the unit that relieves them, too.”
As 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines takes over, they can take advantage of the progress 1/3 made on updating the living conditions at Geronimo.
Wells and running water for showers have been constructed to ease the stress on incoming service members.
According to Martinez, 1/3 went from living in tents under the stars to sturdy South West Asia huts carried over from the Pacific theater.
The Lava Dogs will continue to prepare for a Pohakuloa Training Area exercise, Mojave Viper in March and, ultimately, their deployment back to Afghanistan in 2011.