The Silence of War

by Terry McGowan

  John J. “Jack” McMahon—retired as a lieutenant colonel from the Marine Corps Reserves. He also retired from the state attorney’s office in Rhode Island, where he was a prosecutor for twenty-five years. He is currently working as a contractor-prosecutor on Okinawa.

  “Colonel Thompson”—when he’s not gallivanting around the world, which he is doing at the present moment, he happily resides with his wife in England. They have two grown children.

  Major Lee Helton—was tragically killed in a motorcycle accident shortly after the memorial service. He leaves a wife and children.

  Colonel Richard D. Hall, USMC—was promoted to full colonel and given command of the 4th Marine Regiment stationed on Okinawa.

  “Uncle Frank” Canson—is alive and well, living with his wife and doing security work inside the United States. Frank did two additional tours in Afghanistan as an LEP.

  James McKendree—is the owner and operator of an independent business.

  Captain Van Osborne—is an active-duty Marine. He was promoted to major and lives with his wife, a Navy officer who recently gave birth to their first child.

  Bill Osborne—is still very much involved with the West Side Soldiers’ Aid Society, along with his wife, Becky. They live in a wonderful house in a peaceful part of the country, where they enjoy visits from their many friends and family.

  Kyle Howell—returned to his home area, where he met and married his wife. They have an infant daughter.

  Matt Arguello—resumed civilian life. After a period of time adventuring around South America, Matt returned to the Rocky Mountains of the United States, where he continues the life of a born explorer.

  Lieutenant Ben Brewster—was promoted to captain. He redeployed to Afghanistan and came home again. He is currently living with his wife and their four children near his present duty station inside the United States.

  Sergeant Lance Holter—remains on active duty. He recently became engaged.

  Dave Blizzard—is a firefighter in his hometown.

  “Chaps” Russ Hale—continues to serve as a Navy chaplain. He and his wife are enjoying life with their children at an overseas post.

  “Doc” Adrian Miclea—left the Navy and works as a doctor inside the United States.

  Pat Caffrey—returned to Afghanistan, where he had several encounters with IEDs. Pat was promoted to captain, left the Marine Corps, and works to help veterans who have suffered traumatic brain damage due to IEDs. At the moment Pat is living the life of a modern-day Hemingway in Southeast Asia.

  Nick Harris—went back home. He worked for a time at a local gun shop. He is currently attending a specialty school. I expect wedding bells in the not-too-distant future.

  Stacey McKinnon—the last time I saw her she was living in Milwaukee and staying active in veterans’ affairs.

  Cory Becker—returned to his home area, where he married his fiancée. He is a police officer for the U.S. Air Force. He and his wife have three children.

  “Doc” Kody Watkins—is an active-duty Navy corpsman. He and his wife have two children. They were just transferred from Italy to the opposite side of the world.

  Gunnery Sergeant Manny Mendoza—was promoted to first sergeant prior to retiring. He lives with his wife and children.

  Staff Sergeant Justin Wells—stayed in the Marine Corps. He recently returned from another tour of duty in Afghanistan. He and his wife have been married for ten years. They have three children.

  Dave Demanske—returned to his home area, where he met and married his wife. They have one child.

  Justin Durham—is an active-duty Marine. Shortly after returning from Afghanistan he and his wife married. They have one child.

  Brady Christiansen—went back to his home area. When he isn’t working, he’s at the gym.

  Mike Trujillo—recently left the Marine Corps. He is a devoted father to his young son.

  Tim Perkins—resumed civilian life, where he enjoys life as only Tim can—which is to say immensely. He’s attending college and recently became engaged.

  Steve Jorgensen—stayed in the Marine Corps and was promoted to sergeant. He married while still on active duty. Recently he returned to civilian life and to his home area. He and his wife have three children.

  Bryan Stuart—left the Marine Corps and returned to his home area, where he is attending school.

  “Staff Sergeant Striker”—continues to serve in the Marine Corps. He has deployed several more times to Afghanistan and is currently stationed in the United States with his wife of many years and their children.

  Curt Bartz—remained in the Marine Corps. He was recently promoted to staff sergeant. He and his wife have several children.

  Steve Paine—went back to his home area and began college. Steve is his usual zany self.

  Bobby Harless—left the Marine Corps and married. He and his wife have lived in several parts of the United States.

  Cody Peterson—is still in the Marine Corps. He remains with 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines.

  Brett Miquelon—relocated after leaving the Marines. He graduated from college and married. He and his wife have one young son. Brett is a police officer.

  Dustin Housley—returned home, where he met and married his wife. They just had their first child.

  Kyle Slocum—retired from his local police force as a lieutenant. He is the owner-operator of a small business. He lives with his wife and children.

  Jonathan Zequeida—made it back in time for the birth of his daughter. He is currently a police officer and a very devoted father.

  Jeremy Boucher—returned to his home area, where he regularly participates in “tough mudder” events despite the hole in his leg. He is a police officer.

  Bryan Davidson—resumed the life of an avid outdoorsman.

  Rory Compton—rejoined the civilian world, where he is an avid physical fitness buff and devoted father.

  Justin Gauthier—went back home, where he lives life to the fullest and volunteers at a local fire department.

  “Fighting Doc” Jim Hancock—remained a Navy doctor. He was promoted to captain shortly after Afghanistan. He lives with his wife and their children.

  The West Side Soldiers’ Aid Society, Milwaukee, Wisconsin—and particularly Bill and Becky Osborne, Patrick and Patricia Lynch, Terry and Tom Arliskas, and Laura Rinaldi, are still active in Civil War living history events—and helping veterans at the Milwaukee Veterans Administration Medical Center.

  Bill “Doc Z” Zorrer left the Navy and returned to his home area, where his friends know him as a passionate sports enthusiast.

  Terry “Cookie” Huggins—left the Marine Corps and returned to his home area. He is enjoying life.

  Scott Brown—spent several more years in Afghanistan. He was seriously wounded when an IED took out the vehicle in which he was a passenger. He has made a full recovery and lives with his wife on their ranch in the western part of the United States.

  Michael J. Foley—left the Navy and resumed civilian life. His father owns a local tavern, and Michael J. helps him run it.

  “Grandpa” Joe Billington—left the Marine Corps and went back home. He met and married his wife and is now a proud papa.

  Daniel Flynn Hickey—was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry at Marine Corps Base Twenty-nine Palms approximately two years after returning home. It’s the nation’s third-highest award for bravery. He is currently married with a couple of kids. They live peacefully on a farm.

  Dennis Francis—is still an overseas security contractor. He is in fine health, great spirits, and fighting the good fight even though he is older than dirt. He couldn’t tell me where he is currently located or he’d have had to kill me.

  Greg Lunsford—left the Marine Corps. He is married and has a child.

  Jamie Nielsen—left the Marine Corps and resumed the life of a civilian. He is attendi
ng college.

  Devin Bentz—left the Marine Corps and returned to his home area. He’s learning how to be a helicopter pilot.

  My mom—lived to the ripe old age of eighty-eight. She got to see her old son come home from Afghanistan. I kept my promise and took her to visit her younger son and grandchildren for Thanksgiving and Christmas. After 2008 she was too frail to travel. She then lived happily in a lovely home in Florida for the remainder of her days. She died peacefully shortly after Thanksgiving 2012.

  Each year as the anniversary of the death of cherished comrades rolls around, the Internet is full of photos and sentiments from Marine buddies. They may be gone, but they will never be forgotten.

  Sadly, we keep losing 2/7 Marines to suicide. It’s been seven years since the war. Our home front dead now outnumber our KIAs.

  Those magnificent youngsters who made up 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines in 2008 are in their middle twenties or early thirties now. Whether they remain on active duty or not, they still regard themselves as Marines.

  Afterword

  What you have just read is not a history. A good history is checked and cross-checked for accuracy as to dates, times, and places. This account is subject to the limitations of my perception and memory. However, it is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge and belief.

  A lot happened in the more than eleven months I was privileged to be with 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines in both the United States and Afghanistan. I made friends with a lot of Marines, shared their hardships, and bore witness to their stoic fidelity to duty as they performed deeds both great and small. It’s not all in this book. Their names are not all here. The story has to flow. It was necessary to leave out a great deal. My apologies to one and all—you are all great Marines, worthy inheritors of a proud legacy. Take comfort in the knowledge that when I wrote about the battalion—or any part of the battalion—I was writing about you. Especially Bravo Squad, 1st Platoon, Golf Company—when I wrote of Bravo Squad I wrote about you, whether or not your name appears in print.

  Some individuals were described only by nicknames. This is because either there is lingering concern for their safety—or that of their families—during this ongoing global war on terror (GWOT) or because I have lost touch with them and couldn’t get permission to use their names. I declined to name anyone who hadn’t personally given me the okay.

  With one exception: in the book I took to task a certain key individual. The reader will understand the reasons for this by now. I declined to use his name so as not to cause him or his family embarrassment. My opinions as to his actions and omissions are my own and just that—opinions. Others may have perceived him in a different light.

  I owe a debt to many people that I can never repay. I am particularly grateful to Bill Osborne and the members of the West Side Soldiers’ Aid Society of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for reasons outlined in this book. Amy LaViolette, who although not mentioned in this story sent aid packages and emails of encouragement to me and many others overseas. Lieutenant Colonel John J. “Jack” McMahon, USMCR (Ret.), who kept me going when I hit a writer’s “wall”—and first edited the book.

  I am especially grateful to Colonel Richard D. Hall, USMC, who believed in me enough to let me find my own place in the battalion’s area of operations (AO). He could have kept me on a short leash; he didn’t.

  To all Marines: past and present, particularly our honored dead—semper fidelis.

  Afghan National Police station at Delaram. The walls of the building were riddled with bullet holes.

  All images are published courtesy of Terry McGowan.

  An Army Humvee that had just left Baqua. The vehicle hit an Improvised Explosive Device (IED). No one was killed.

  All images are published courtesy of Terry McGowan.

  A typical “side street” in the sun-scorched village of Golestan. Only mad dogs and Marines walked around in the midday sun.

  All images are published courtesy of Terry McGowan.

  “Blocao el Malo” was painted on an adobe house before we got there. It is the place where Bravo Squad and I were billeted.

  All images are published courtesy of Terry McGowan.

  Two up-armored Humvee vehicles assigned to the platoon. They form a barrier of sorts against attack. The green tent behind them is the command post.

  All images are published courtesy of Terry McGowan.

  Seen from inside the “Alamo.” The letters WWLBD are spray-painted on the lower layer of mini Hesco barriers. The troops did it. The letters stand for “What Would Lieutenant Brewster Do.”

  All images are published courtesy of Terry McGowan.

  The trees are an anomaly. All water from wells in the village of Golestan ended up there. Hence the “woods.” It was from this tree line that the bulk of the attack on the “Alamo” occurred.

  All images are published courtesy of Terry McGowan.

  The “Alamo” was thirteen hours away from the nearest supplies over land. We began to be supplied by airdrop. This is a picture of supply pallets being kicked out the back of a cargo plane with parachutes deploying.

  All images are published courtesy of Terry McGowan.

  Me sitting on my cot cleaning my pistol, rifle propped against my leg. The dirt and dust were so bad that weapons had to be continually cleaned.

  All images are published courtesy of Terry McGowan.

  The platoon adopted a puppy. Pampered by the Marines, in this photo she’s sticking her head right over an ammo belt leading from an ammo can to a “ready to fire” machine gun.

  All images are published courtesy of Terry McGowan.

  On the left is Scott Brown. I am on the right. Scott and I rode up to the battle of Feyz al Bad in one of these trucks.

  All images are published courtesy of Terry McGowan.

  Lance Corporal Jonathan Zequeida. He was shot through the leg by a machine-gun round in an ambush outside Feiz al Bad. Lance Corporal Daniel Hickey got the Silver Star for braving enemy fire and saving Zequeida.

  All images are published courtesy of Terry McGowan.

  Lance Corporal Jeremy Boucher, nineteen years old. He was later shot through the leg during the ambush at Feyz al Bad. He refused to leave his machine gun. He received the Bronze Star.

  All images are published courtesy of Terry McGowan.

  Lance Corporal Daniel Hickey. After saving Zequeida, he then stood out in the open and went head-to-head with an enemy machine gunner. He received the Silver Star.

  All images are published courtesy of Terry McGowan.

  The author at Feyz al Bad. We began going house to house shortly after this picture was taken. For reasons known only to God, I was smiling.

  All images are published courtesy of Terry McGowan.

  2nd Battalion, 7th Marines at the memorial service for those killed in action, Marine Corps Base, 29 Palms, California. Tragically the battalion has lost more men to suicide since returning from Afghanistan than it did from enemy action.

  All images are published courtesy of Terry McGowan.

  Appendix

  WITNESS STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF FIRST LIEUTENANT BENJAMIN BREWSTER, 1ST PLATOON, GOLF COMPANY, 2ND BATTALION, 7TH MARINES.*

  [*I don’t recall when Lieutenant Brewster was promoted to first lieutenant; obviously it was prior to the date of this statement.]

  The writer, an honorably discharged Captain of Marines, was attached to 1st Platoon, Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Golestan from 17 June 2008 to 9 September 2008, and from 1 October 2008 to 10 October, 2008. Lieutenant Benjamin Brewster commanded. The Platoon was minus one rifle squad, reinforced by one 81mm mortar squad. Only one 60mm mortar tube was available. No reinforcements were available within less than six to eight hours by vehicle. During most of this period, helicopters were available for medevacs only. The approximate time for air on station was over 4
5 minutes.

  1st Platoon occupied the strongest position then available, an Afghan-built mud-walled compound with only two mud buildings and a concrete shower building within. The walls did not completely enclose the FOB. Approximately sixty meters to the west of the platoon, a concrete clinic surrounded by a two-foot-thick stone wall provided a potential enemy force with a covered and concealed means to approach, a covered assembly area, and excellent firing positions.

  Adjacent to the platoon, to the south, a concrete boys’ school hindered observation and obscures a draw which began at a dirt road in a natural defilade position. It runs west to a dry river bed. To the southeast, a hill elevated approximately 800 to 1000 meters above the platoon, contains mud wall ruins which afford an enemy an excellent covered observation or indirect fire position. The ruins are reinforced with large rock walls constructed during the Russian invasion. Some positions are impervious to indirect fire other than a direct hit.

  To the immediate east, a road, frequented by local pedestrian and vehicular traffic, ran parallel to the platoon. To the northwest, a wooded area obscured any movement from the north down a dry riverbed. Adjacent to the wooded area, a ridgeline provided excellent enemy firing positions for direct and indirect weapons.

  The terrain in the Platoon’s area of operations (AO) consists of open desert, rugged mountains and numerous dry river washes. Contained within the AO are many villages inhabited by local nationals from several different tribes, various sub-tribes and numerous clans. The District Center is comprised of four distinct villages from two tribes. Three villages are Sunni Muslim and one is Shia.