O'ahu Marines recall mission in Philippines

By William Cole
Advertiser Military Writer

Seeing civilians — sometimes teenagers — toting assault rifles and World War II weapons came as a shock to Kane'ohe Marines recently returned from a counterterrorism mission in the Philippines.

Marines based in Kane'ohe conducted weapons training as part of their recent counterterrorism mission in the Philippines. The six-month exercise, which officially ended July 31, involved 1,200 Americans troops. USMC library photo

About 100 Marines from the 3rd Marine Regiment at Kane'ohe returned from the Philippines July 29.

"So far it's been an extremely successful operation and all of our Marines have done great and returned," Adler said yesterday as several Marines talked about their experiences.

The Marines, who were deployed to Basilan to provide security while roads and bridges were built, had to walk a fine line between extending a hand of friendship to residents and watching out for Abu Sayyaf rebels. Basilan is a jungle island that has been one of the extremist group's main bases.

"You really don't know who is the threat, who is not the threat, so the enemy is not somebody that we could just see and identify as the bad guys," said Capt. Jason Perry, 32, who commanded a Marine security unit.

Two Marines guarding a road construction site on Basilan in mid-June exchanged heavy gunfire with 10 suspected rebels. No Americans were injured, and Marine officials yesterday would acknowledge only that there had been an "engagement" with Abu Sayyaf forces.

For the most part, though, the Marines had to cope with 115-degree heat and differentiating curious locals from those who would seek to do them harm.

Sgt. Justin Strock, 23, said for some Marines under his control, it required an adjustment in their "attack-the-hill kind of mentality."

"It was a lot of PR — talking to people," he said.

It's a scene likely to continue for Hawai'i-based military forces for some time.

"Balikatan (shoulder-to-shoulder) 02-1," a six-month anti-terrorism exercise involving 1,200 U.S. troops in the southern Philippines and the largest deployment in Operation Enduring Freedom outside Afghanistan, officially ended July 31.

But about 400 U.S. troops will resume training Philippine troops elsewhere in October as the second phase of the joint venture.

"We are seeing a return to stability on Basilan Island," Fargo said, adding the Abu Sayyaf "is both in disarray and on the run, unable to eat, rest and resupply."

Fargo said the Philippine military "did the heaviest lifting," while U.S. forces provided training and helped with intelligence gathering.

Army Maj. Cynthia Teramae, a spokeswoman for Joint Task Force 510, said Hawai'i-based forces that remain in the southern Philippines include some Kane'ohe Marines, about 70 service members from Pacific Command or Special Operations Command Pacific at Camp Smith, and about 30 Schofield Barracks soldiers who are part of a Joint Logistics Support Element.

The task force is a quick-reaction unit based at Camp Smith.

Teramae said what began as a counterterrorism mission will continue as a long-term security assistance program with $1 million in "humanitarian action" programs on Basilan. The projects will include the construction of schools, medical facilities and better water distribution systems. Medical and dental assistance is also planned.

The program is "raising the standard of living ... creating hope," Teramae said.

Army Sgt. 1st Class Sean Openshaw, a Schofield Barracks soldier who was in the Philippines from May 17 to July 26 as part of the Joint Logistics Support Unit, said he was part of an airfield control group at Edwin Andrews Air Base in Zamboanga City.

Every day C-17 or C-130 cargo aircraft landed with troops or supplies, he said.

"I thought it (the deployment) was a great opportunity, and when I arrived down there I saw nothing but good things going on," said Openshaw, 35.

One insurgent group had fired mortars at the airfield before the start of the six-month mission, marched hostages through the streets of Zamboanga, and had an arms standoff with police, Openshaw said.

"A lot of local soldiers, prior to our arrival, would not leave home wearing their uniform," Openshaw said. "They felt they could be targeted. They were happy to have the Americans there because they felt their environment was safer."

Six residents were hired to help account for cargo, and "we formed some pretty good friendships," Openshaw said.

"Not only were we providing good jobs for them, but they like Americans," Openshaw said. "They felt like we were there for a greater good."

In Zamboanga and on Basilan, about a 15-minute helicopter ride across the Basilan Strait, 2,000 residents were hired for different jobs.

About 350 Navy and Marine Corps engineers were on the O'ahu-sized island to dig wells, build bridges and improve roads to facilitate training with Philippine forces. Another 160 special operations forces came mostly from the 1st Battalion, 1st Special Forces out of Torii Station in Okinawa.

"It's amazing if you see how many miles of roads they (the engineers) built and how many bridges they put in," the Marine Corps' Adler said.

Some of the roads were so bad the jarring caused four Humvee doors to fall off.

About 180 Marines from Kane'ohe provided security at Zamboanga City and on Basilan as projects went on around the island.

Strock said for the first month, his Marines were living in tents "in about a foot and a half of mud." But the Marines contracted with local residents to build huts that were outfitted with portable bunk beds.

Adler said the Abu Sayyaf would force people from their homes in isolated areas.

"When we came in with our presence, you could see once-abandoned nipa huts — families were back in and felt safe," Adler said.

"When we left, people were crying their heads off," he said. "The Philippine people absolutely appreciated what we were doing."

Reach William Cole at wcole@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-5459.