Hearing the Troops in Contact alarm at the HMLA-469 compound is nothing new for the Marines. “I told the duty (operations officer) to sound the Troops in Contact alarm and get the alert aircraft airborne immediately.” “I had to get the aircraft airborne,” said Lightfoot, from Azusa, Calif. Upon seeing the fire and explosions, Lightfoot knew he needed to get his aircraft in the sky not only to provide overwatch and close-air support, but also to protect the aircraft.
By the conclusion of the assault, six Harriers were destroyed and two others were significantly damaged. One of the teams of insurgents went to the AV-8B Harrier flightline and began to attack the jets and personnel. I yelled out for everyone to get to the (indirect fire) bunkers on our compound.” “That’s when I saw the flames on the Harrier flightline. “I went outside after hearing the first explosion and within 15 seconds I heard another explosion,” said Lightfoot. Occasionally, friendly forces conduct controlled detonations outside the perimeter fence however, this explosion seemed to be a little louder and closer. Stephen Lightfoot, the commanding officer of Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 469, thought the blast was relatively close. “I told them about the situation and what I saw.”Īfter relaying the information to his chain of command, Pauley ensured his three Marines and one civilian at the A/DACG had proper cover, and then he and his Marines began to provide security, ensuring no insurgents made it past their position. “I called the (Command Operations Center) and told them we were under attack and taking fire,” said Pauley, from Sioux Falls, S.D. “I saw a RPG flying overhead, and I immediately told my Marines to get their (personal protective equipment) on.”ĭespite small-arms fire and indirect fire impacting around his position, Pauley knew he had to make contact with his higher headquarters on Camp Leatherneck to inform them of the current situation he and his Marines were in. Justin Pauley, the landing support detachment chief. “I started hearing explosions, so I went outside to see what was going on,” said Staff Sgt. Three Marines were at the A/DACG, four Marines where at the cargo lot and the remaining Marines were in their living spaces. When the attack began, the landing support specialists were in three different locations. “Then rounds began to impact close to our position, and I think everyone’s training just immediately kicked in.” “When I actually saw it was happening on (Camp) Bastion, I was in a bit of shock,” Thomas said. The insurgents, who were organized into three teams, began to attack fixed and rotary wing aircraft parked on the flightline, aircraft hangars and other buildings on Camp Bastion. Army uniforms armed with automatic rifles, rocket-propelled grenade launchers and suicide vests breached the base’s perimeter fence at approximately 10 p.m. That’s when we knew the base was under attack.”įifteen insurgents dressed in U.S. “We decided to go check on our Marines at the cargo lot and we saw an explosion by the (cryogenics) area. “At first we didn’t know if the explosion was on base or off,” said Thomas, from Manhattan, N.Y. He and a fellow sergeant were driving through a checkpoint close to the airfield when they heard an explosion. Thomas’ first night on Camp Bastion was Friday, Sept. He would be responsible for getting coalition forces and cargo on helicopters departing Camp Bastion’s airfield heading for remote forward operating bases throughout Regional Command Southwest’s area of operations. Instead of working on Camp Leatherneck, Thomas would be working at the rotary wing Arrival Departure Airfield Control Group on Camp Bastion, an adjoining base ran by British Armed Forces. When Thomas was told he was transferring from 1st Platoon to 2nd Platoon, the landing support specialist with Combat Logistics Battalion 2, Combat Logistics Regiment 15, thought nothing of it.
CAMP BASTION, Afghanistan – Sergeant Rasheem Thomas never thought his first night working on Camp Bastion would turn into a gun battle with 15 insurgents.
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