Battle of Sangin (2010)

The Battle for Sangin was an extended campaign during the War in Afghanistan. Third Battalion Seventh Marine Regiment initiated clearing operations. Third Battalion Fifth Marine Regiment continued and is credited with completing the clearing phase. Sangin is considered the bloodiest battleground of Afghanistan by both US and British alike. With both nations suffering the loss of over 100 killed in action, and several hundred moderate to severe casualties. The volatile campaign in the Sangin Valley has been extensively covered in the media by Wall Street Journal, Time, USA Today, and other publications.

US Marine Battle History

In September 2010, Liam Fox, the United Kingdom's Secretary of State for Defense, announced that northern Helmand would be transferred to the U. S. Marines. The British troops withdrew on September 20, 2010 to be replaced by 3rd Battalion 7th Marines. 3/7 began aggressive clearing operations in July 2010. 3rd Battalion 5th Marine Regiment continued clearing operations in early October 2010. Members of 3/5 conducted clearing operations in the Sangin District of Helmand Province, Afghanistan in support of the War in Afghanistan (2001–present) between September 2010 and April 2011. Attached to 3/5 was Kilo company of the Third Battalion Twenty-Fifth Marine Regiment (3/25,) Kilo Company along with Echo company Second Battalion Ninth Marines (2/9,) and Naval Corpsman from Regimental Combat Team 2 (RCT2.) These units came to the aid of 3/5 due to the number of casualties sustained during the immediate months in their deployment in Sangin, thus allowing the unit to more effectively clear through Sangin. They were actively in Sangin from December 2010 until February 2011 at which point the unit was relieved by First Battalion Fifth Marine Regiment which began the second phase (holding phase) of Sangin. Sangin was a region that was primarily shaped, cleared, held, and built (in tactical terms) by the units: (in no specific order) 1/6, 3/7, 3/5, 3/25, 2/8, 2/9, 1/5, 1/7, 2/7, 1st Tanks, 1st/2nd/3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 7th ESB, 1st CEB, 3rd CEB and members of MARSOC/USASOC/NAVSOC (SOTF).

Casualties

6/16/2010 - Cpl Jeffrey R. Standfest, USMC 3D CEB, Alpha Company 2010/08/13- Ssgt. Michael A. Bock, USMC 3rd CEB, H&S Co. ABV PLT. Killed in action by the Sangin Sniper. 10/08/2010 LCpl John T. Sparks USMC 3/5 10/13/2010 PFC Victor A Dew USMC/35 10/13/2010 LCpl Joseph E Rodewald USMC 3/5 10/13/2010 LCpl Phillip D. Vinnedge USMC 3/5 10/13/2010 CPl Justin J. Cain USMC 3/5 10/14/2010 LCpl Irvin M. Ceniceros USMC 3/5 10/14/2010 LCpl Joseph C. Lopez USMC 3/5 10/14/2010 LCpl Alec E. Catherwood USMC 3/5 10/15/2010 LCpl James D. Boelk USMC 3/5 10/16/2010 Sgt Ian M. Tawney USMC 3/5 11/04/2010 LCpl Mathew J. Broehm USMC 3/5 11/04/2010 LCpl Brandon W. Pearson USMC 3/5 11/06/2010 LCpl Randy R. Braggs USMC 3/5 11/09/2010 1stLt Robert M. Kelly USMC 3/5 11/10/2010 LCpl James B. Stack USMC 3/5 11/24/2010 LCpl Ardenjoseph A. Buenagua USMC 3/5 11/25/2010 1stLt William J. Donnelly IV USMC 3/5 12/02/2010 Sgt Mathew T. Abbate USMC 3/5 12/06/2010 Cpl Derek A. Wyatt USMC 3/5 12/06/2010 PFC Colton W. Rusk USMC 3/5 12/07/2010 Sgt Jason D. Peto USMC 3/5 12/17/2010 LCpl Jose L. Maldonado USMC 3/5 12/24/2010 LCpl Kenneth A. Corzine USMC 3/5 12/28/2010 Cpl Tevan L. Nguyen USMC 3/5 01/20/2011 Sgt Jason G. Amores USMC 3/5 20100928 - Lance Cpl. Ralph J. Fabbri - USMC 1stMarDiv, HQBN, H&S, Combat Camera. Was an attachment to 3/7. 5/22/2010 - Cpl Kevin A Cueto, USMC 3/7

09/24/2011 - LCpl Frankie Watson, USMC

10/23/2011 - LCpl Jordan Bastean, USMC 3/7 10/24/2011 - LCpl Jason Barfield, USMC 3/7 11/5/2011 - LCpl Nickolas Daniels, USMC 3/7 11/18/2011 - LCpl Joshua Corral, USMC 3/7 11/21/2011 - Cpl Zachary Reiff, USMC 3/7 1/21/2012 - Cpl Christopher Singer, USMC 3/7 3/27/2012 - SSgt Joseph D'Augustine, USMC 3/7 EOD

See also

• Siege of Sangin