Back from Iraq: Welcome home, Austin!
Austin Murnane, home in Millwood
May 23, 2008
by Gene Nadel
When 2002 Horace Greeley graduate Austin Murnane said farewell to his classmates and left for Annapolis to accept his appointment to the U S Naval Academy, neither he, his family or friends anticipated that 2007 and 2008 would find him as a Marine lieutenant leading his platoon on frequent search missions in far off Anbar Province, Iraq.
While at home in Millwood last week on a brief furlough following a seven-month deployment in the midst of the current conflict, Murnane took time to reflect on and share some of his military experiences.
In modest fashion, he indicated that the situation in Anbar has significantly improved compared to earlier periods in the war, but nevertheless, current conditions still require extreme caution and utmost care at all times. While the civilian population appears for the most part friendly and is usually cooperative with the American military, one never knows what the next moment might bring and it is still imperative to remain on constant alert.
The Marines’ objective in Anbar Province
The broad objective of the Coalition force efforts in Anbar Province is to work in coordination with Iraqi security forces to disrupt enemy operations and to seek out and capture terrorists. A significant part of the coordination effort involves the training of Iraqi forces including police and army units as well as local militia groups.
Patrols are conducted using “light armored vehicles” (LAV’s) – eight-wheeled, amphibious vehicles well-suited for reconnaissance missions—carrying a commanding officer, a driver, a gunner and generally four to six “scouts.” Any number of LAV’s may be assigned to a particular mission.
No such thing as a typical day in Iraq
There is no such thing as a typical day in Iraq. Murnane’s platoon could be engaged in search missions lasting for less than one day or be involved in patrols extending for more than two weeks. The men wake up not knowing what’s going to happen that day. They might come across wreckage from the wars of the past three decades or identify some friendly civilians and, based on their information, capture some terrorists or discover some weapons. One day they might race across the desert at maximum speed chasing a false report, and the next day they might be forced to park for a full afternoon, scanning the horizon with binoculars while sitting at what seems to be the edge of civilization.
Finding reasonable accommodations not a simple task
While out in the field on overnight patrols, success in locating satisfactory accommodations varies. Troops try hard to avoid disrupting or inconveniencing the civilian population. As a result, unexpected consequences can occur. Murnane described just such an occurrence in an email home about a patrol in early January.
“A few nights ago I was asleep, as usual, in my sleeping bag next to my vehicle. At 3:00 AM one of my corporals woke me up for watch. I unzipped the top of my bag and looked out. I couldn’t believe how bright it seemed to be outside. Sometimes the night sky is so clear that, if there’s a full moon, it’s almost enough light to read by. But still, I’d never seen the sand as white as this. Then I reached out to pull the rest of my sleeping bag off and realized that I was covered with snow.”
Murnane will be leaving Millwood next week to return to his Marine home base with the 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion in 29 Palms, California. We hope that in issues to come, NewCastleNow.org can bring our readers further news from him.
Click here for a printable view of this article.
Click here to read more People articles.Click here to read more Town articles.
Click here to send a copy of this article via email.
We're interested in your opinion. Click here to submit a comment on this article, or any other.
