CWO4 Mike Sears has written to me with some selected comments on a recent trip he took to visit some units in and around Ramadi. Much of the news lately has centered, and rightfully so, on Bakubah and Diyala, but Iron Mike has some continuing good news from Anbar.
“Last week I spent time with the Marines of 2nd Bn 5th Marines and 5th ANGLICO in the city of Ramadi. It was a great week of getting out to the tip of the spear… I was given the opportunity to head out into downtown Ramadi which only months ago was still the wild west with heavy insurgent action and Marines in contact virtually everyday. Today under the command of 2/5 and with added Marines from the “surge” effort, Ramadi is a different place. [LtCol P historical comment: the CO of 2/5 was the XO of the very first Marine unit to serve with SOCOM, called MCSOCOM Detachment One, or simply Det One.]
“I visited the Combat Outposts (COPs) within the city and saw first hand the changes taking place. This after experiencing a three-vehicle convoy through the streets of the city, interesting feeling sitting armed to the teeth rolling through what has been a killing field for several battalions on their tours here, locked and loaded with eyes wide. Good old Marine Corps perseverance and the effects of the “Anbar Awakening” combined with outstanding leadership have paid huge dividends in this city. Attacks are on the decline, indirect fire on the base has been reduced and 2/5 has done an amazing job in working with the local Iraqi police and army here, assisting them to take control of their city, living in the COPs out among the locals. There is a much different story to tell here in Al Anbar than in Baghdad, but I will add never let your guard down– just as we had arrived back inside camp Ramadi I stepped outside the vehicle to a loud earth shattering explosion that caused everyone to pause and look around as if we were receiving incoming, I later found out it was a SVBIED attack right outside the wire…
“On LtCol P’s recommendation I also hit 5th ANGLICO and had a good day with them, perfect timing as they had just come off a long mission and had some great stories to tell. When the topic of Ramadi came up we discussed the same issues I had with 2/5 and the turn around that is taking place here and all seemed to be in agreement, tribal engagement, the surge, and AQI overplaying their hand and the locals Iraqi’s seeing a better way have made for success in the city of Ramadi… Bottom line is we are winning. “
(When Milke says 5th ANGLICO he also means a good number of reservists from 4th ANGLICO, who mobilized and deployed with them. That is the sixth detachment that 4th ANGLICO has sent out to OIF. I happen to know a few things about that unit, oddly enough…)
Mike is right. Patient, persistent presence is winning the day. The genius of the IO message in the “No better friend, no worse enemy” slogan is apparent, and it is applicable at every level of war. 2/5′s undoubted successes come on the foundations built by countless Marines (like Brother Slab) and soldiers before them, beginning with the first elements of I MEF in February 2004, when teams from 3d CAG engaged the provincial government day in and day out, and Army and Marine units lived with the unenviable and deadly task of dealing with the city that everyone knew was as bad as Fallujah and maybe worse. In such a way, over many months and years, and with much blood and treasure expended, is the war won. \
Good work, Mike! Now, keep your head down.
