U.S. Marines pushing deeper into Taliban territory in Afghanistan's Helmand River Valley are short of basic equipment and supplies ranging from radios and vehicles to uniforms.
Here in Garmsir District, critical supplies of food, water and ammunition are being dropped to troops by helicopters ferrying sling-loads to bypass roads implanted with bombs, leaving little room to carry other gear.
Several Marines from one company, for example, ripped their pants during an arduous foot march and are still waiting for replacements — some in boxer shorts, officers said.
"We're short vehicles, we're short frog-suits [uniforms] ... radios are trickling in," said Gunnery Sgt. Robert Larosa of 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment. Larosa said that the lack of basic gear is unprecedented in his experience, which includes seven other deployments. "This is a first," he said.
Another logistical challenge is that Marine camps and outposts here are mainly being built from scratch because the Marines are the first coalition forces to move into southern Helmand in significant numbers, and the area lacks existing facilities to house them.
Many supplies did not begin to arrive until the Marines themselves deployed, Larosa said, and with intensive operations underway, their delivery is still lagging behind.
With such urgent demand for critical items, non-essentials such as mail, toiletries and tobacco have become rare luxuries at Marine outposts. "They either send chow and water or mail — I'd much rather have the water" in the 100-plus degree heat, said Larosa.
Still, the deprivation is taking a toll. "No mail, no PX. People are starting to get ornery," said one officer. Mail has arrived about three times in the past month and a half.
Marines in the battalion are exploiting every possible opportunity to get supplies needed for the troops. For example, when Brig. Gen. Larry Nicholson flew in for a commanders' meeting at Camp Delhi today, he was asked to bring with him a fresh supply of plastic "wag" bags that Marines use to dispose of human waste.
"Hey, did we get the wag bags?" Nicholson asked his staff before departing.
Earlier this week, Larosa decided to launch a one-man supply chain. Armed with orders from his men and a large plastic crate, he jumped on a helicopter to the nearest large base, Camp Leatherneck near the provincial capital of Lashkar Gah. Once there, armed with $1,200 of his own money, he literally stripped the PX shelves of cigarettes and chewing tobacco.
Larosa's shopping spree irritated customers at Leatherneck, but, arriving back at the camp in Garmsir, he was greeted as a conquering hero.
"This is my craziest deployment yet," he said. He is keeping the stash of tobacco at the foot of his cot until he can distribute it all to those who placed orders.
Marines Waiting on Basic Supplies in Afghanistan
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Originally Posted by Ryan Ruck
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