Arson Families and Friends,
Greetings! I apologize for being off the radar for some time, however, 1stSgt Ellington and I have recently returned from our trip to see the Marines at FOB Edinburgh. I am happy to report that all of your Marines at FB Saenz and FOB Edi are doing extremely well. We recently had our first introduction to winter weather this past week. Temperatures dropped significantly and it rained for two straight days with little to no sunshine. It’s hard to believe that only a few weeks ago it was in the 100’s. Despite the changes in weather, the Marines continue to perform their duties with utmost confidence and motivation. We are all looking forward to the day that we are back in the arms of our loved ones. Until then, know that Arson Marines are performing their duties of firing howitzers, standing post or watch, and supporting each other above anyone’s expectations. Although the deadline for mail has already passed, I ask that you please continue to support and encourage your Marines until they are safely home.
Respectfully,
Capt Rich Lee
Update from Fire Base Saenz (1stLt Sagerholm):
Families and friends,
It is mid-October, which means you are that much closer to seeing your loved ones. Marines here at Fire Base Saenz continue to impress with their outstanding work and professional attitudes. We have a lot of changes and activities going on at the moment. We continue to improve our position in anticipation for winter. We are currently improving our position with decking for our living areas in order to mitigate the effects of rain and mud. Additionally, we are really looking forward to possibly receiving a shower unit that will have hot and cold water. We had our first real rain here a few days ago preceded by a sand and electrical storm. It was a nice change to the daily 110+ weather we have experienced for the last 5 months. It also brought the temperatures down to the low 50’s during the evening.
Please continue to keep us all in your thoughts and prayers. Your support has been a great factor in the morale of the Marines here and I assure you it is greatly appreciated.
Semper Fidelis,
1stLt Dane Sagerholm
Greetings once again from Forward Operating Base Fid- dler‘s Green, Marjah District, Helmand Province, Afghanistan.
Happy October to everyone! We are all anxiously waiting for Halloween to come our way so we may celebrate the turning of the calendar for the last time during the deployment. Last month, I described the weather in the mornings as pleasant with temperatures in the high 70s. Lately, it has been in the 60s (almost cold) and it still gets warm during the mid-day. As always, the SgtMaj and I spend a few days traveling in an effort to ensure we see the Marines and Sailors of the battalion on a regular basis. The morale everywhere continues to remain high and the Marines and Sailors continue to perform beyond our expectations. I received two separate accolades from others travelling the area commenting on the conduct and professionalism of the 1/12 Marines and Sailors. We are nearing the end, which means there is a great deal of work to be done in preparation for our replacements.
The battalion is planning to have a formal evening event in February called Ho'opili Koa which means bring together the warriors in Hawaiian. The focus of that evening will be as the name implies...bringing the battalion together. We will celebrate the battalion‘s reunion since it has been nearly a year since we have functioned as a cohesive unit. We still have some final details to plan for that evening but it will be done in true 1/12 fashion - but let‘s get through our Homecoming first!
Patience, understanding, and flexibility will be the keys for the remainder of the deployment. We will need everyone to understand that rosters, schedules, and flights may adjust by a few hours or days without warning or advance notice. As your Marine or Sailor begins the long journey there are various locations where he will have access to phones and computers to stay in contact and provide updates.
Our marathon (26.2 miles) is nearing its end...20.929 miles down – second wind is kicking in (data as of 10 Oct). For the faster folks (ADVON) 23.635 miles down!!! And the end is in sight.
Semper Fidelis, LtCol Sean Charney ―Kahuna 6
Fellow 1/12 Warriors, family and friends, I am excited to report that we are in the midst of our last full month here in Afghanistan. The Marines grow more and more excited each day, and everyone is anxious to get back home. As we prepare for our homecoming, this is the perfect time to address a few administrative things.
First, please keep in mind the deployment is not over until we land at K-Bay. It is still a very volatile place and your Marines need to be 100% focused on the task at hand. Secondly, OPSEC is even more important at this stage of the deployment. If your Marine or Sailor, in his excitement, posts something he shouldn‘t, please just delete it as soon as you read it or tell him to take it off. Same goes for your friends and family, if you see someone post something that may compromise their personal safety or the safety of others, kindly remind them of our OPSEC efforts and ask them to remove the postings, immediately. Finally, once back in KBay, you will have an opportunity to greet your returning loved ones. However, we will be focused on turning in weapons and accounting for all gear. You can help us all out by greeting your Marine and Sailor and then encouraging them to expedite the accountability process--that means you have to let them finish the task at hand. Once all gear is accounted for, that Marine or Sailor is all yours for the next four days!
As we prepare to return home and reunite as families, I encourage each of you to take advantage of the Return and Reunion classes offered by Marine and Family Team Building. It doesn‘t matter if this is your first deployment or your tenth, reintegration is not always easy and these classes will better prepare you for what lies ahead.
For more than six months, your Marine has lived in an environment drastically different from the peace and serenity that exists at home. It is very plausible he may just want to relax for a few days and take some time to unwind and enjoy the peace and quiet. It is very likely that he will have a much greater appreciation for the simpler things in life like watching the kids play, walking barefoot in the grass, or taking a swim in the beautiful blue ocean. He will need some time to adjust to your established routines but don‘t fret, that is completely normal. It may take a little time, but eventually he will be ready to take on the world hand in hand, with you.
To all the Marines that were promoted to the next higher rank, Outstanding job, the Marine Corps is expecting great things from you.
In closing, I would like to thank each one of you for all of your sup- port and prayers throughout the deployment. Thank you all for every- thing that you all are doing to support us here at 1/12 and we will see you all next month.
Semper Fidelis, SgtMaj Lewis
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| He tucks me in even from Afghanistan <3 |
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