U.S. Marine Cpl. Brandon Fields examines an enemy fighting position on a mountainside Thursday afternoon in eastern Afghanistan’s Kunar province. Marines from 3rd Platoon, Company E, 2nd Battalion of the 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, climbed the mountain in search of four men believed to be carrying weapons. (Steve Mraz / S&S)
U.S. Marine Cpl. Brandon Fields examines an enemy fighting position on a mountainside Thursday afternoon in eastern Afghanistan’s Kunar province. Marines from 3rd Platoon, Company E, 2nd Battalion of the 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, climbed the mountain in search of four men believed to be carrying weapons. (Steve Mraz / S&S)
1st Lt. Nick Guyton, left, and Cpl. Edilberto Fernandez kick down the enemy fighting position. (Steve Mraz / S&S)
QATAR KALA, Afghanistan — Four Afghan men were spotted ascending a mountain trail Thursday in eastern Afghanistan’s Watapoor Valley. It looked as if they had tried to discreetly sling AK-47s around their backs.
When the Marines with the 3rd Platoon, Company E, 2nd Battalion of the 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division out of Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, saw them, they began climbing toward the mountain trail in pursuit.
“Even though it’s a big mountain, you don’t think about it,” said Cpl. Edilberto Fernandez, the platoon’s 3rd Squad leader.
“When you get fired at or you see a guy with an AK[-47], you get that pump. You want to go up there and see what’s up.”
The Marines trudged up the mountain under the noonday sun, strapped with enough fire power to take care of the four men and whatever else might arise.
When they arrived at the place where they had last spotted the men from the valley, no one was around. But a fortified fighting position had been pulled together at the site — a ramshackle stone defense the Marines kicked over before leaving.
Earlier, on Wednesday night, the Marines camped in a harvested cornfield in Watapoor Valley. During a mile-long uphill hike that afternoon, they passed through several villages but did not make contact with enemy forces.
After a quiet evening, Marines were back on the trail, hiking to the village of Qatar Kala. First Lt. Nick Guyton, the 3rd Platoon’s commander, met with village elders there early Thursday morning, asking them about the health, safety and welfare of the residents with winter on its way.
“We want to help you out with humanitarian assistance,” Guyton, 26, of DuBois, Pa., told the elders.
School officials in the village asked for desks and chairs for the students, who are currently sitting on the floor at school.
On the issue of safety, villagers said they live in a very peaceful place and no Taliban were in the area. However, Kunar province has been a hotbed of enemy activity in recent weeks with four Marines injured in a roadside bomb blast and another Marine killed in a mortar attack.
Villagers served tea and candies to Guyton and media accompanying the platoon. The elders themselves refrained from eating or drinking in accordance with the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which began Monday. From sunup to sundown, Muslims cannot eat or drink during October.
Guyton reassured the villagers of the Marines’ desire to provide assistance.
“We’re not here to cause any trouble,” he said. “We want to help. We want to reward the people who are doing the right thing.”
Third Platoon Marines gave an upbeat assessment of their role.
“The mission is definitely an impressionable one,” said Sgt. Correy Wilson, 27, of Chicago.
“The amount of forces we have and working along with the Afghan National Army gives a positive impression to the local population.”
