Marines turn town over to British, Afghans

[unhappycamper]

No longer Taliban-held
24th MEU able to pull out of Garmser


Marines turn town over to British, Afghans
By Jason Straziuso - The Associated Press
Posted : Tuesday Sep 9, 2008 7:22:42 EDT

KABUL, Afghanistan — Marines who took back a key town in southern Afghanistan from Taliban militants in an operation earlier this year turned over responsibility for the area to British and Afghan forces Monday.

The 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit is pulling out of Garmser in the southern province of Helmand and beginning to head back to Camp Lejeune, N.C.

The unit launched the operation in the Taliban-held area in late April and killed more than 400 militants during 35 days of fighting, according to Helmand’s governor. The Marines suffered three hostile deaths, two from a roadside bomb and one from gunfire.

Col. Peter Petronzio, commander of the unit, said his forces had accomplished their goal.

“We are not going to solve all the problems with 2,500 Marines for seven or eight months, but what we can do is eat this elephant one bite at time, and we took a big bite and we did some great things in Garmser, and for the people there it will be a lasting, lasting success,” Petronzio said.


Rest of article at: http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2008/09/ap_afghanmarines_090808/%2e