Sangin - International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) Operations

International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) Operations

On 31 July 2005 a United Nations convoy of six vehicles came under attack by Taliban forces lying in ambush some 2 km south of the town. All personnel including the international UN staff member managed to escape by reversing their route only to come under fire by a US Army patrol of Humvee vehicles that were advancing to the location of the fire fight. Two Afghan personnel, one driver and the armed guard commander from the Ministry of Interior were wounded by the friendly fire and evacuated by helicopter to Kandahar. The armored vehicle that the UN worker was traveling in was unable to be driven due to being hit with approximately fifteen rounds of fire including two rounds from a .50 caliber machine gun. The retreating Taliban were identified crossing the nearby river some 1,500 meters to the West and were killed by a single 500 lb bomb delivered by air support from a USAF B-52 bomber.

In March 2006 units of the 3/124th Infantry American Security Force (SECFOR) teams and their Afghan counterparts began the construction of FOB Wolf on a plateau over looking the Sangin green zone. The base immediately became a bulls-eye for all the local militants and poppy growers in the area. FOB Wolf would soon be renamed FOB Robinson in honor of Staff Sergeant Christopher L. Robinson, 36, of Brandon, Mississippi. Robinson was killed while on mission "Carpe Diem" with the 20th Special Forces group in the valley center.

In late March a resupply convoy from 1/124th IN SECFOR was sent to FOB Wolf. The convoy was involved in a complex ambush that lasted about an hour resulting in 8 - 10 enemy killed and no friendly forces lost. After regrouping the convoy an ANA vehicle struck an IED outside of Hyderabad and six Afghans were killed. After clearing the scene and recovering the ANA KIA, the convoy continued to FOB Wolf under aerial support of Apache Gun Ships. Later that night a large group of militants attacked the FOB where once again Soldiers from the 1/124th and personnel assigned to FOB Wolf returned fire. However during the melee that followed American Sergeant first class John Thomas Stone and Pte. Robert Costall, a Canadian soldier was killed in action. After a lengthy investigation it was found that both soldiers were killed by friendly fire from the ANA who fired across the camp hitting both Soldiers who were on a roof top position over the TOC. In April the unit was relieved by another SECFOR team from the 207th RCAG from Shindand, the units battles are chronicled in the book "The Poor Bastard's Club" By SSG Paul Mehlos a SECFOR team leader.

On June 2, 2006, the base and all its contents were signed over to the British 3rd Parachute Regiment. After being warned against the "Platoon house" strategy the British became engaged in heavy fighting with Taliban insurgents and allied opium traffickers deep inside the green zone. A number of British and Canadian troops were killed during fighting in the town, including Corporal Bryan Budd (3 PARA) who was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross.

In 2008 without the support of a Marine Air-Ground Task Force, members of Echo Company, 2nd Battalion 7th Marines, were sent to Sangin to assist the British. Within a month of their arrival, 3rd Platoon had branched out from FOB Tangiers and established FOB Wishtan. From June to October 2008 Echo company suffered numerous casualties, to include Cpl. Richard Weinmaster, who despite grievous wounds continued to fight until losing consciousness. His actions on that day earned him a Navy Cross, one of two that 2nd Battalion 7th Marines awarded during their deployment in Afghanistan. On August 14, 2008 two separate IED attacks within a few hundred meters and twenty minutes of one another claimed the lives of Lance Corporal Jacob Tovez, Corporal Anthony Mihalo, and Lance Corporal Juan Lopez-Castenaeda. In October 2008 Echo Company pulled out of Sangin, after handing FOB Tangiers and FOB Wishtan back over to the British. 2nd Battalion 7th Marines received a Navy Unit Commendation for their actions in Afghanistan.

In June 2010, 3rd Battalion 7th Marines& 3rd Combat Engineer Battalion entered Sangin to aid British forces and eventually take over. 3/7 flooded the green zone with Marines and 3rd Combat Engineer Battalion Provided Assault Breacher Vehicle's upon arrival and controlled area's from Route 611 to the Helmand River in a months time. In September 2010, Liam Fox, the United Kingdom's Secretary of State for Defence, announced that northern Helmand would be transferred to the U. S. Marines. A third of all British deaths in Afghanistan, (approximately 100), occurred over four years of occupation in Sangin. The British troops withdrew on September 20, 2010 to be replaced by 3/7.

3/7's Marine combat units aggressively pursued Taliban in and around Sangin in 2010 until they were replaced by 3rd Battalion 5th Marines in early October 2010. Members of 3rd Battalion 5th Marines conducted operations in the Sangin District of Helmand Province, Afghanistan in support of War in Afghanistan (2001–present) between September 2010 and April 2011.Also attached to 3/5 was Echo company 2/9.They came to aid 3/5 because the number of casualties. They were there from Dec 2010 until Feb 2011. The area was handed over by Echo company 2nd Bn 9th Marines to Echo company 2nd Bn 8th Marines to aid in 3/5's operations. 3/5 secured the Sangin area. Twenty-five of the battalion's Marines were killed in action, including the son of Lt. Gen. John F. Kelly, head of the Marine Forces Reserve, and 200 were wounded, many losing limbs. In 520 firefights the battalion killed or wounded an estimated 470 enemy fighters and cleared the Sangin area of the enemy.

3/5 was relieved by 1st Battalion 5th Marines in March 2011, and 1/5 remained there until October 2011 with help from 1st Battalion 6th Marines. 17 marines from 1st Battalion 5th Marines were killed by IEDs and small-arms fire, dozens more were wounded. 1/5 was relieved by 3rd Battalion 7th Marines, who once more returned to Sangin, now a much more peaceful area. currently the Marines are training the afghan national army (ANA) unit there, 3rd Tolai, 2nd Kandak, 2nd Brigade, 215th Corps, and saw positive results. The ANA began to take ownership of many patrol bases, and regularly patrolled the city autonomously. They began to rely on each other and the local villagers to complete day to day missions more than they had at any time previously. The civilians use a tip line to inform the ANA of IEDs in the area, which the ANA interdicts. The ANA soldiers buy food and goods from the locals, strengthening the relationship of the Afghans with their army. the Marines continue to encourage this cooperative attitude between the Afghan National Army, the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, and the People of Sangin.