The Silence of War

by Terry McGowan

  Intelligence reports commencing prior to the writer’s arrival and continuing until approximately mid-August, indicated the enemy planned an attack on the platoon with a force of between one hundred and one hundred fifty combatants.

  Lieutenant Brewster organized firing positions, bunker strongpoints, and pre-planned fires. The Lieutenant ordered the reinforcement of all external walls with layers of sandbags and utilized razor wire to the fullest extent possible. Claymore mines were placed inside the razor wire. The Lieutenant ordered a bunker constructed on the roof of the school. Due to the extreme distances between the platoon and the company and battalion headquarters, Lieutenant Brewster was often unable to obtain the guidance from higher which would normally have been available to an officer of his rank. Lieutenant Brewster epitomized the Marine tradition of “adapt, improvise and overcome.” The Lieutenant strengthened the platoon’s position to the maximum degree achievable.

  Enemy forces attacked the platoon, commencing at 0100 2 July 2008, with indirect fire, rocket propelled grenades, machine guns and small arms fire. A rocket propelled grenade passed through the combat operations center wall early in the attack narrowly missing the Lieutenant. Another Rocket Propelled Grenade passed through the walls near the combat operations center. It splintered upon impact and a piece of shrapnel struck the Platoon Sergeant’s Kevlar helmet. The Platoon Sergeant was knocked senseless at a critical point in the engagement. Undaunted, Lieutenant Brewster remained calm and in control of the entire platoon.

  Other Rocket Propelled Grenades struck the walls of the FOB knocking another Marine unconscious. A fragment of a Rocket Propelled Grenade passed directly through the 81mm mortar position. It destroyed a metal chair and embedded the leg of the chair in the opposite FOB wall. Incoming machine gun tracer rounds and bits of shrapnel filled the air, tearing holes in tents, a flag and camouflage netting. Through it all, the Lieutenant remained calm, cool, collected and in command. Lieutenant Brewster’s demeanor inspired confidence in his Marines.

  As the attack continued, Lieutenant Brewster ordered mortar fire on enemy positions. When muzzle flashes indicated the enemy had moved into the northwest tree line, Lieutenant Brewster shifted Marine forces to that portion of the FOB where suppression fire could most effectively be brought to bear.

  In response to reports of enemy forces moving southward toward the concealed draw south of the FOB, Lieutenant Brewster ordered Marines in vehicles to a position where they could effectively block an enemy attack from that direction. When additional reports of enemy movement to the south came in, Lieutenant Brewster ordered mortar fire on that location. Although air did arrive on station, it could not be utilized due to the relative position of the enemy to friendly forces, and difficulty the pilots had in making positive identification of the FOB.

  The stone-wall-enclosed concrete clinic to the west of the FOB remained a position of critical vulnerability. During a temporary cessation of enemy fire, Lieutenant Brewster ordered a rifle squad to clear the clinic grounds. The Lieutenant ordered other Marines to repair damage done to the FOB’s defenses. Before the enemy could renew the attack, Lieutenant Brewster ordered the Marines back inside the FOB.

  As enemy fire appeared to dwindle, the Lieutenant sent a mounted squad out to assess and, if possible, to flank and attack the enemy. As enemy forces broke contact, Lieutenant Brewster ordered the mounted patrol to attempt to pursue. The attack lasted for approximately three hours and ended just prior to dawn. Lieutenant Brewster ordered mounted and dismounted patrols sent out.

  On another occasion, Lieutenant Brewster’s vehicle struck an improvised explosive device (IED). The vehicle was destroyed and the Lieutenant and several other Marines were injured. Despite a large, noticeable bruise on his leg, and obvious pain, the Lieutenant remained with the platoon and continued to command. His uncomplaining dedication to duty served as an inspiration to all the Marines of the platoon.

  On or about 29 July 2008, enemy forces cruelly tortured and murdered three Afghan National Policemen (ANP). The three were at their homes in a village several kilometers north of the FOB. On 29 July 2008, Lieutenant Brewster personally led a squad of Marines with twenty-two ANP to recover the bodies.

  As darkness fell, the Lieutenant and the squad were caught in a complex ambush. Enemy forces positioned approximately 300 meters to the north and west of the bodies fired Rocket Propelled Grenades and machine guns. The Marines and ANP were, due to the necessity of recovering the bodies, caught in the open. The ill-trained ANP were panic stricken and of little use. The presence of frightened ANP added an element of confusion and disorganization to the fire fight. Lieutenant Brewster, with little regard for his own safety, positioned himself, under fire, wherever he could best command and control both the Marines and the ANP.

  Lieutenant Brewster ordered the bodies to be recovered before breaking contact. He directed counter fire which suppressed the western ambush position. Effective enemy machine gun fire raked the area around the ANP bodies as Marines attempted to gain fire superiority in the darkness. As the patrol moved out to return to the FOB, it was again ambushed from a draw by Rocket Propelled Grenade and machine gun fire. One ANP truck was struck by a Rocket Propelled Grenade and sustained four urgent casualties. Lieutenant Brewster ordered the truck to be recovered and the casualties collected before continuing back to the FOB.

  The patrol was again ambushed. The attackers fired automatic weapons from rooftops of houses inside the District Center. Since positive identification of the enemy could not be made, Lieutenant Brewster ordered his Marines to fire over the heads of the enemy thus ensuring there were no civilian casualties.

  On 2 August 2008, a squad-sized mounted patrol was ambushed near Feydz Abad. As the patrol moved up a wash it was attacked by a platoon sized enemy force from the hills to the east and south. Enemy machine gun positions engaged the Marines from both directions at ranges of 200 to 500 meters. A Rocket Propelled Grenade team fired at the Marine vehicles from a distance of 50 meters, narrowly missing the vehicles. Two Marines were wounded by enemy fire. The Squad’s vehicles sustained four flat tires between three trucks.

  Lieutenant Brewster immediately assembled every available Marine and Afghan National Policeman and went to the squad’s aid. Quickly evaluating the tactical situation, the Lieutenant ordered Marines with ANP to clear an enemy held ridgeline. Other Marines and ANP were ordered into an advantageous position in a parallel wash. Enemy forces could be seen on the ridgeline moving tactically back toward the village. Enemy forces could be seen moving in draws and from a compound 1,000 meters to the south across a river wash. The enemy fought stubbornly and gave ground only when forced to do so.

  Conservative estimates place the number of enemy forces at 50 to 65, divided into 4 to 6 squad sized elements. The enemy held the high ground overlooking the village. Lieutenant Brewster maneuvered Marines on foot, Marines in vehicles and the ANP. He controlled mortar fire and utilized air assets. Lieutenant Brewster commanded a complex combined arms attack which drove the enemy from the ground of the enemy’s choosing. The enemy retreated into the village.

  Lieutenant Brewster led his dismounted Marines and ANP into the village itself. Compound by compound Marines and ANP made certain no enemy forces were near their position. Lieutenant Brewster, pistol in hand, personally cleared several compounds. Under the Lieutenant’s personal direction, Marines and ANP continued to penetrate the enemy held town until the coming of darkness shifted the Lieutenant’s concern to the safety of the FOB.

  Marines and ANP were withdrawn in an orderly fashion. The Lieutenant ordered strict accountability for all personnel, personally supervising while his orders were carried out. An estimated 20 enemy personnel were killed; the body of one Pakistani was recovered. A machine gun, Rocket Propelled Grenade launcher and 10 Rocket Propelled Grenades were recovered.

  Lieutenant Brewster had a decisive impact on the platoon AO. The Lieutenant had to uti
lize an understrength platoon to fullest advantage, strengthen a seriously vulnerable FOB, control the District Center, and patrol many miles of open and rugged mountainous terrain. His intelligent, audacious leadership inspired his Marines and daunted the enemy. After Feydz Abad, the enemy withdrew far up the river valley, out of reach of the Marines. In so doing, the enemy abandoned a training camp in one village, a headquarters in another village, and a third village which had been strengthened by trenches and other defenses.

  Lieutenant Brewster met often with the sub-governor of the district, the district prosecutor, and the Commander of the Afghan National Police (ANP) and encouraged them to become more involved in district affairs. As a result of his efforts, the District Prosecutor conducted a judicial proceeding, the first held in the district in years. The ANP, under the guidance of the District Prosecutor, arrested four individuals and charged them with assault and battery. The individuals were tried without interference from Marines and were convicted and punished in accordance with Afghan civil law.

  Lieutenant Brewster tirelessly met with village elders from the District Center and other villages scattered throughout the AO. He demonstrated a degree of statesmanship rarely found in an Officer of his rank. He actively engaged the local nationals in conversation on every possible occasion. Lieutenant Brewster’s actions produced a noticeable change for the better toward Marine presence in the AO and resulted in a highly comprehensive tribal mapping of the entire Golestan Valley.

  Lieutenant Brewster espoused the cause of education of both boys and girls, giving encouragement to principals and teachers, providing security for the schools in the face of Taliban threats, and distributing what school supplies could be acquired. As a consequence, teachers and students have come to regard Marines as friends.

  Lieutenant Brewster utilized civilian subject matter experts to their fullest potential. His demeanor toward the civilians was always that of an Officer and a gentleman. As a result, they seamlessly integrated with the platoon and enhanced the platoon’s mission. One effect of this integration was the providing of the ANP with the highest quality training which might reasonably be expected at this point in the ANP’s development.

  It is this writer’s belief that Lieutenant Brewster’s impact on the AO is such that the local nationals want the Marines to stay, hope the Marines will defeat the enemy, and are confident that the Marines have come as protectors and not as conquerors. It is this writer’s belief, as a former Marine Officer, that Lieutenant Brewster’s exemplary leadership, personal courage under fire, skillful handling of troops in combat, and statesmanship in dealing with local nationals should not go unrecognized.

  The writer respectfully requests that every consideration be given to awarding Lieutenant Benjamin Brewster the Bronze Star with combat device.

  Very respectfully submitted,

  Terrance P. McGowan

  Law Enforcement Adviser

  14 October 2008

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