USMC Captain Dan Nilsson '98 Afghanistan Weblog

A Message From Steve Nilsson '89 (Brother of Dan Nilsson)

Thu, 14 Oct 2010 19:47:27 GMT

This Friday, more than 20 packages will be arriving at the camp site of Golf Company 2/9 courtesy of your generosity. Items sent to include: blankets made for all Marines in honor of fallen Petty Officer 3rd Class (Hospital Corpsman) James Michael Swink II, United States Navy; dental products; breakfast cereals; notebooks; flashlights; beef stew; soups; drink mix (FOR WATER ONLY); pencils; pens; and periodicals.

In addition, we have also included individual letters written to by the 4th and 5th grade classes of Visitation School in Mendota Heights. I will let these speak for themselves – especially the one from Kevin L in the first batch. Classic.

Lastly, if you have not opened up the two pieces that Stephen Colbert did for Golf Company 2/9, and their response, you should. Pretty priceless.

Colbert's Message:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJdt_exPdmQ<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJdt_exPdmQ>

The link below is a video that a couple marines made in response to Stephen’s message:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AF3wFC88n34

For those of you who have asked, I will be preparing a large package to go out in early November so Golf 2/9 has something to open on Thanksgiving.

Not sure what else to say to those that have contributed so much to our mailings and those who have sent many more items on their own. How about – UNBELIEVABLE? How about – THANK YOU!!!

Enjoy your evening.

Steven T. Nilsson '89

Greetings From Combat Outpost Reilly

Thu, 14 Oct 2010 19:41:24 GMT

It is with a heavy heart that I regret to inform you of the death of Corporal Stephen Coty "Socks" Sockalosky, age 21, of Cordele, GA. He was one hell of a Machine Gunner in Weapons Platoon, Golf Company and was thought of very highly by his peers, junior and senior Marines who he worked with. Socks was involved in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast while he was out on patrol with one of our squads. He received medical attention right away, but succumbed to the injuries he sustained several days ago. He was a tremendous fighter and always drove his men to hold to a higher standard. While sustaining an unsurvivable injury from the IED, he fought and stayed alive long enough that he could be flown to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany to allow his wife and mother to see him one final time there. I received work that his wife and mother were at his side when he passed and that he wasn't in any pain. Please pray for Socks, his wife, family and friends, and the Marines and Sailors that knew, worked, and loved him.

Semper Fidelis,

Dan

Greetings from Marjah, Afghanistan,

Tue, 21 Sep 2010 13:36:36 GMT

Greetings from Marjah, Afghanistan,
19 September 2010

I want to thank you all for the overwhelming support you are showing to the Marines and Sailors of Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines. I can tell you that every time the mail truck from our battalion comes, the Marines and Sailors anxiously await to see what has come. It's great to see photos of new babies, letters from parents and wives, and drawings from sons and daughters.

Things are going well here and we just finished yesterday with the Afghanistan elections. The Taliban insurgent forces tried at many places to intimidate the people from coming to vote, mainly through violence near the polling stations, but the polling went on in our area without too many problems and no one injured...So in my book, it was a success. It has started to cool down here, highs in the mid 80's and lows in the mid 60's. The weather has been good for patrolling and is a definite relief for the heavy equipment that the Marines and Sailors wear. Morale is good and the men are continually focused on what they need to be doing. The people in the area continually say that they are happy we are here and are able to provide security for them. Some, say that we need to provide more security, and that is a challenge for us as we continue to work with the local Afghan Army, Police, or community
organizations to help them to provide their own security. The school
year has started over here for the children and we are working on trying to get a new school built in our area. We also are trying to get the local elders to form a business council where they are able to come up with ideas to stimulate their economic development. Lots of work ahead but the Marines and Sailors are up to the task!

I can't tell you how happy the Marines and Sailors are to receive all of the items that you are sending. It is amazing to see all of the collaborative efforts that great Americans, like you, have put together. Be it a single box by one person with some special packages of love, to a community effort where many favorites from states come forward, they all bring home a little closer to the Marines and Sailors in this challenging and distant land. I can say that all of your time, treasure, and effort are left idle for long as the boxes are divided out amongst the troops and they basically evaporate into thin air. Later, as I walk around, I can see Marines with a smile on their face as they are reading new magazine they just got in, refilling items they may be taking out to the field, or enjoying some of delicious treats that come their way. I'll go to other areas and see Marines and Sailors bickering like old men in a barber shop on who's winning at chess on their newly donated board. I know that many of the Marines are very appreciative and many not write to thank you enough, but I hope my words, and a few enclosed photos, show how much they enjoy everything that you send. As some of you have expressed an interest in what are daily living conditions are like, I was able to snap a few photos around the camp so you can get a glimpse at our lives in Marjah, Afghanistan.

I hope you all are well and look forward to any letters and photos you may send. I would ask if you do send anything, please (if you are comfortable with it) include your email and phone number. There are the opportunities where we can take photos of the Marines getting your packages and send them to you via email or send out a thank you call. Keep the prayers and support coming and we'll make sure to keep our heads up, or down, whichever applies at the time.

Semper Fidelis,

Dan

Prayers

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 14:36:25 GMT

Hi all,

I apologize for not having written in a while. We have had some pretty busy and trying days in the recent past.

It is with a heavy heart that I regret to inform that we have had our company’s, and battalion’s, first casualty. Petty Officer 3rd Class (Hospital Corpsman) James Michael Swink II, United States Navy, was one of our medical corpsman or “Docs” that was killed the night of Aug 27th in an armored vehicle rollover while conducting combat operations. He was assigned to my First Platoon in the company. He was the type of Corpsman that loved to work and care for his Marines and Sailors. One thing he did before he came out here was spend about 500.00 of his own money on medical supplies that he wanted to have, which he couldn’t normally get through military channels, so he could always have them on hand to care for his Marines and Sailors. When a unit has a casualty, we go into “River City” where all communications back home are restricted. This ensures that a casualty’s family is notified in the proper manner and not through some back channel. Once they are notified, normal communications are restored so people can continue to contact people back home.

My First Sergeant and I got him out of the overturned vehicle and rode with him back to the base where he was flown out. We recited a few prayers over him and the Marines (he was in charge of caring for) carried him to the helicopter, known as an “Angel Flight”, which started his journey home. We are planning a memorial service in the next couple of days as operations have already continued again. Please pray for his family, friends, and our Marines and Sailors.

Any notes, cards or packages of sympathy and support can be sent to 1st Platoon or the Golf Company Aid Station (the medical section that is in charge of all the corpsmen who are assigned to our platoons). One important thing is that while the Marines and Sailors mourn the loss, we can’t let it paralyze us and must continue to stay focused on the mission, as he would want us to. We still have a task at hand and not having the right mindset can be lead to other tragic events.

There was some interested in making blankets for the Marines and Sailors and personalizing them with their names. If that does come to be, one idea I was thinking of was having a dozen or so blankets made and having his name on them. They would be in our aid station for patients that come in so the corpsman can keep them warm. This would, in some small way, allow his memory to continue to physically take care of his Marines and Sailors or civilians he would have treated.

1st Platoon (The Platoon he was the corpsman for) or Golf Corpsman (The section in charge of our docs)

Golf Company, 2/9 Golf Company, 2/9

Unit 74130 Unit 74130

FPO AE 09510-4130 FPO AE 09510-4130

If you have never seen it, I recommending seeing the HBO movie “Taking Chance” with Kevin Bacon about a Marine escort who brings a fallen angel back. It gives a good representation of the care that is put into bringing someone to their family. My only disclaimer is that it’s a compassionate and emotional movie, so have some tissue on hand.

All in all, everyone is doing ok. Just need to keep the head high and drive on, 249 other lives depend on it.

Here is the official release: http://www.defense.gov/Releases/Release.aspx?ReleaseID=13839

Semper Fidelis,

Dan

Greetings From Combat Outpost Reilly, Marjeh, Afghanistan,

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 15:55:11 GMT

I've finally arrived at my new home, Combat Outpost Reilly, which is located in the outskirts of Marjeh at a place call "5 points" (because of the 5 road intersection which meets there). The name came to honor Lance Cpl. Thomas J. Reilly, Jr., a fallen Marine of Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines who was killed in Karmah, Iraq the year prior. The world begins to shrink when I realized where he was killed and look back to my time when I operated in the same village in 2005 during my first deployment to Fallujah, Iraq. The unit that we are relieving, Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines, has built the place up from a mound of dirt fighting position. But, we still live in what some may see as relatively rugged conditions.

Showers, when you have time to take them, are taken using a solar shower bag which is hung overhead and a hose that lets out a spray of water over you. Temps have been in the 117's in July will be down to 19 degrees by December, so we'll get to see the best of both worlds. Meals are the standard Meal, Ready to Eat, or the group version which are heated, sealed trays of basically the same thing. Electricity on the camp is by generator and we keep hydrated by drinking thousands of 16 oz water bottles which are delivered by the pallet. Marines normally go through about standard case (24 bottles) to 1.5 cases of water a day. Times that by a couple of hundred people and it adds up. All of us here currently live in tents and the AC that is in (most of them) keep the temperatures in the bearable range.

The level of poverty for the people here is severe as a man, pushing a wheel-barrel, very well may be toting his most expensive possession. Most live in mud huts, similar to what you might imagine during the time of Jesus (seriously), and electricity is an exception, not the norm. The majority of them are farmers or have some trade that they attempt to survive by.

Our mission here is to conduct full-spectrum (from setting up preventative medicine stations for locals to handing out candy to the kids to conducting combined arms assaults on the enemy) counter-insurgency operations in order to protect the local populace, reinforce the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan's legitimacy, support economic development, and defeat destabilizing influences. This comes as no small task when one must take into account the constraints of understanding the complex tribal affiliations, political considerations, prevention of both friendly and civilian casualties, economic concerns, and overall security impact on everything we do. All while an savvy, dangerous, and resourceful enemy is trying to undo all of this and actively kill you at the same time. Our Marines have come well trained and prepared to take on this demanding task and make other peoples' lives better than they currently are, as we so easily enjoy back home in the US. Spirits are high and they are ready to get to work, get into the fight, and be successful.

We have been fortunate to relieve a unit who had made progress, to include (but not limited to): local projects like starting a school and getting the village elders to get their children to go to it, build several mosques and wells for clean water, improve the major thorough-fare which connects Marjeh to the District Capital in Lashkar Gah, restart and bazaar (that the Taliban shut down) to generate jobs and economic development, work with farmers to plant viable crops instead of opium and marijuana, help to treat the medical needs of the people in the area and generally keep the Taliban on the run from trying to undo all of this through their murder and intimidation campaign on the locals. The people are receptive to this even as the insurgency, frankly, tries to keep them out of school and ignorant, fearful to accept help or improve their lives through education or technology, and against anything newer than 1000 years ago (or so). So, we've got our work cut out for us, but it should provide for a few leadership and job skills should one look for a new line of work.

As I found out today that our company call sign of "Gladiator" was approved, it fit well with the "Spartan" conditions that surround us and mentality that we must keep to stay disciplined, fit, and successful. I asked the Marines who we are replacing what they would have us get if they were staying for an additional 8 months (I saw a noticeable cringe at that idea). I got suggestions which ranged from a young, 19 year-old Private First Class to my fellow Captain Company Commander. I pretty much sat down and started typing as they started talking . This is what they came up with: do have some things that would come in very helpful.

-Bug Spray/Avon SSS (keeps Bugs away),

-Unscented Sun Screen

-Tuna/Chicken in a can,

-Ramen noodles, Knorr Rice Packets (or really any Non-perishable, pre-packaged meals/dry good that you can microwave or drop in boiling water, cook, and eat (Meals, Ready-to-Eat (MREs) can get a little old eating them 3x a day every day).

-Slim Jims/Beef Jerky

-Cans of Spam/Vienna Sausages, Smoked Oysters/Sardines

-Multi-spices, (pepper, salt, seasonings to flavor food with)

-Power bars,

-Baby wipes,

-5 hour energy drink (little single use bottles),

-Socks (white crew socks, or any kind of calf high boot sock that can be worn with combat boots, they go through sewage canals and the socks basically get trashed/need to be burned after a couple of times use)

-Razors/Shaving Cream

-Tooth Brushes/Toothpaste

-Deodorant

-AA and AAA batteries (AAA especially hard to get),

-Field mirrors or women's Compact Mirrors (without makeup), for shaving,

-Small candies (jolly rangers) that we can hand out to the local kids,

-Cigarettes and Smokeless tobacco: Stateside tobacco prevent the Marines from turning to smoking middle-eastern cigarettes after they run out of whatever they carried over [lord only knows what they put in them]. It's also a good ice breaker for meeting the locals and has been a proven way to get them to talk to you/give you information, i.e., tell you not to go down a road because an IED is waiting for you! Marines use smokeless tobacco to stay away on post and use this since they can’t smoke on post or the cigarette glow may give away their position (Marines prefer Marlboro Lights and Reds & Copenhagen). Note: Due a snafu in legislative wording with a new Postal regulation signed into law 25 days ago (just my luck), You can’t send tobacco to troops in a combat zone with an APO/FPO using USPS EXPRESS MAIL. If you use Express Mail, they won’t send if you list tobacco on the Customs form. Otherwise, send it regular mail (not express). Jobs, Economy---Gotta love what the government is focused on.

-Eye drops (for sand storms),

-Single Drink Powder packets (like Crystal Lights, Gatorade mixes, etc). Each Marines goes through about 13 quarts of water a day (depending on how hot it is and if they are get into firefights that day) and water gets a little old by itself.

-Duct/Electrical Tape

-Pens/Pencils (Clickable),Markers/Spiral Notebooks (also good to give cheap pens to local kids who always ask for something)

-Cheaper digital watches. Marines are always breaking their watches.

-Wash Clothes

-Laundry Soap, small packets

-Zip Lock bags, heavy duty, sandwich to gallon size

-Not expensive headphones for music players

-Black Sharpie Magic Makers ( to color metal rank with when the black wears off)

-1" Round or 2-3 inch paint brushes (to clean off weapons)

-Desenex Foot Spray/Gold Bond Powder (any kind of anti-bacterial foot spray/powder)

-Nail clippers -Extension Cords (3-5')

-Shower Shoes (7-13 sizes)

-Shower Towels -Patience (just kidding)

-Superfeet Boot Inserts (http://www.superfeet.com/activity/hiking/Green.aspx)

Entertainment/Morale Items

-Any Notes or Letters (a picture so they can connect to who's writing to them is always meaningful, too)

-ANY kind of Magazines/Word puzzles (Marines have every kind of taste from Readers digest to Architecture magazines)

-DVD movies

-Decks of playing cards

-One Eye Projector and speakers (To put up a Morale/Recreation Tent for the Marines when they back from their 10+ days of patrolling)

-Clean White Sheet to project onto -Board Games

Semper Fidelis,

Dan

Greetings from Forward Operating Base Dwyer, Afghanistan.

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 15:46:30 GMT

Still here at Camp Dwyer which is about 50 miles from Marjeh. We're still get our reception training (re-zero-ing our rifles, another round of Improvised Explosive Devise training more specific to the area I’m going into, etc) before we go to our Company’s Combat Outpost (COP) Reilly. The weather hasn’t been as hot as I would have expected it to be, but I guess it’s good training to be out the horrific humidity of North Carolina. It will be reaching 120-130’s so I looking forward to that! I can already tell it's going to be busy as the unit we’re Relief-In-Place (RIPing) with has had two ambush style fire-fights in the last 3 days and the Marines on the ground have been using Cobra attack helicopters, 60mm light and 81mm Medium sized mortars. Otherwise, doing well. Thanks.

Love,

Dan