The commanding officer of a city Royal Marines unit has written a personal letter to the people of Plymouth revealing his feelings on the conflict and the support his men have received from home.The letter, from Lieutenant Colonel Matt Holmes of 42 Commando, has been written weeks before Plymouth's servicemen begin returning home from their deployment to Afghanistan.
Since the deployment of more than 1,000 servicemen from Plymouth's 3 Commando Brigade began in September last year, four city marines from 42 Commando have died - mostly in encounters with the Taliban.
In his exclusive letter to The Herald, Lt Col Holmes pays tribute to his fallen men and says his marines have done Plymouth, and the country, proud.
He also describes the tough conditions faced by his 700 marines in southern Afghanistan's Helmand Province, and the extreme tactics used by the Taliban.
"The men in the unit continue to impress and are doing you and their country proud," Lt Col Holmes says in his letter.
"They have been awesome. The men have been through a lot and I think, in reality, there will be few back at home who could really understand what many of the men have experienced.
"They will have been through some tense moments under fire coupled with moments of extreme adrenaline and they will have performed and carried on with their tasks regardless of the threat to them.
"They have fixed bayonets at times, and knowingly closed with the enemy in some very close-quarter and personal fighting."
He describes the Taliban as being tenacious and adds that they 'don't respect the Geneva Convention', caring little for Afghanistan's people.
"We have had instances of Taliban using women and children to shield them from us, and we have all seen the fear instilled in the local people and the poverty in which they are forced to live by the insurgents," he said.
"The Taliban are no match for the marines and we have comprehensively defeated them on every occasion, though not without cost."
He says in terms of the level of activity, its duration and the intensity of operations, it will take 'a long time' to surpass what has been achieved in Afghanistan, both tactically and operationally, by 3 Commando Brigade.
"The men will undoubtedly remember their firefights with the enemy," he said.
"They will certainly remember their first contact, and the feeling of adrenaline during the firefight, and how they coped individually and as a team.
"Memories will also include the sound of the enemy's rounds as they fizzed above their heads and lit up their faces as tracer rounds passed between them.
"The sound of the 'whooooosh' of the air-brakes on a bus as it stops on Royal Parade will probably bring back memories, for some, of an incoming rocket-propelled grenade."
Lt Col Holmes says that ultimately the deployment would have been much harder had it not been for the efforts of families and friends back home in Plymouth.
"During this deployment we have relied heavily upon the support of our families and the support of you, the people of Plymouth, and of course The Herald," he adds in his letrer.
"The home front that we have had in support of the commando group has been absolutely tremendous, and has certainly aided a close network with the public and all of our families back at home.
"This has helped us in theatre to get on with our job knowing we have the full support of those we cherish.
"We realise that it has been tough for our families; there is mutual respect.
"I know the marines will always remember the generosity of the people of Plymouth, especially when they sent parcels to us in theatre, particularly at Christmas. We found it humbling and will be for ever indebted."
Impressive blog! -Arron
Posted by: rc helicopter | 21/12/2011 at 08:57