Clement - The Lieutenant Dont Know: One Marines Story of Warfare and Combat Logistics in Afghanistan

By Gunnery Sergeant Joseph Caravalho; OEF 10-1 Platoon
Sergeant and SNCOIC, 2nd Platoon, Alpha Company, CLB-6

C amp Lejeune, NC was my fourth duty station. Upon checking in, I was informed that Combat Logistics Battalion 6 was on the next rotation for deployment to Afghanistan. I was assigned as the platoon sergeant for 2nd Platoon, Alpha Company, a motor vehicle transportation or truck platoon.

In January 2010, we deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom 10.1. We arrived at Camp Leatherneck and started operations with 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward).

The platoon commander of 2nd Platoon was Lt. Clement AKA Buzz. Buzz was his internal call sign as the convoy commander. Some were given and some were earned. My call sign as assistant convoy commander was Smokecheck. A few of the others in the platoon were Godfather, Pee- Wee, Gator, Lollipop, and Sweettooth. We took pride in our call signs, and they boosted morale and camaraderie. By the end of this deployment we had become stellar professionals in our billets and these call signs would go down in history among the Marines in CLB-6.

Seven months... some days seemed liked forever and the days blurred into weeks. Work was tough, demanding and never ending. Our mission was pushing through the Helmand Province. There were constant convoys, recovery missions and recon patrols. We mapped out routes and created roads that werent there. Our convoys were huge, ranging from 60 to 100-plus vehicles at a time. These routes took us through unknown hostile terrain as well as the heavily compounded area near the Salaam Bazaar, consisting of poppy fields, wadis and gullies. We were in an endless routine of discovering and striking IEDs, encountering enemy automatic fire, and indirect fire, as well as rocket propelled grenades and ambushes. Often times upon returning from a week-long convoy, we would have to do a Quick Reaction Force on short notice, building a recovery team and heading back out to recover damaged vehicles for the infantrymen we supported.

Lieutenant Clement stepped up and did amazing things. I have the utmost respect for him as an officer among all the officers I have worked with in my career. I have confidence in his leadership and decision-making and if he asked me to do something, I would do it with no questions asked even to this day.

Many of our Marines were young. They were fresh out of school, inexperienced and for many, it was their first deployment. However, by the time we left Afghanistan they had gained knowledge and expertise that can only be learned through living it. Anything that could have happened in a convoy, we encountered it. Any scenario taught in training, we did it and succeeded. Everything that could go wrong did go wrong, but we overcame it.

We were successful because of the leadership of the non-commissioned officers. We were successful because of the determination and commitment of the junior Marines and because of this every Marine made it home.

Everyone gave everything during this deployment and though many of the Marines were never formally recognized for it, our platoon built a bond of trust with each other. This was how we survived. We leaned on each other for support and somehow we got through it. This deployment was the toughest one to endure, but it was also the best. It was the definition of our Military Occupational Specialty: Motor T.

By Master Sergeant Mario Locklear, OEF 10-1
Operations Chief, Alpha Company, CLB-6

I t was September 2009 when three new second lieutenants checked into CLB 6. I had just graduated the Advanced Course, a professional military education course for gunnery sergeants, and walked into our company office. I was shocked at how young and new they all looked. Maybe one week after meeting the new second lieutenants our battalion did our first pre-Afghanistan field training operation. What a goat rope! was my first impression of our battalion, company and Marine leadership within it. Lets just say that first field operation was a learning experience for all of us no one had a clue what was to be expected or what our commanding officers intent was.