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The Dirty Dozen Squared; Marines make ammo supply point their own
Submitted by: 2d Marine Expeditionary Brigade
Story Identification Number: 200331222526
Story by Lance Cpl. Shawn C. Rhodes
AMMO SUPPLY POINT, Kuwait(March 9, 2003) -- "When I first got here, I thought 'This must be my punishment,' because I'm always the one in my unit getting into trouble," said Lance Cpl. Willie R. Anderson, a field wireman with Task Force Tarawa. The supply point guard and New Orleans, native, continued "in my unit, I'm the one always getting assigned to working parties. Here, I am in charge of 38 Marines in my platoon, and take my job here more seriously."
In the middle of a seemingly endless expanse of Kuwaiti desert, Marines not professionally trained in security force tactics guarded I Marine Expeditionary Force's ammunition for two weeks.
Anderson and his fellow guard men and women arrived at the supply point apprehensively. At the end of the two weeks, most of the Marines did not want to return to their units. Their newfound morale, unit cohesion, and sense of responsibility allowed them to improve the living conditions and their post.
Marines from lance corporals to staff sergeants took on leadership positions they would never have been able to hold in their home units. Because of the number of younger enlisted aboard the supply point, Marines like Cpl. Jeffrey M. Tillery were in charge of an entire platoon, a position normally reserved for staff Non-Commissioned Officers.
"I know I speak for the majority of us when I say less desirable Marines have been given a chance to shine," said Tillery. The Afton, N.Y. native, continued "they know they are personally contributing to a very important mission. That gives them a great sense of responsibility."
Staff sergeants held the position of company gunnery sergeant and company first sergeant, positions normally held by senior staff NCOs.
"We call these Marines the 'Dirty Dozen Squared,' because most of them come from such diverse backgrounds. People who've never been responsible for more than police calls are out here, with the most important job in Kuwait," said Staff. Sgt. E. A. Mormur, the company gunnery sergeant. The Plumboro, Pa. native and intelligence analyst for the Marine Corps, added "these are Marines whose units could spare them for two weeks, and are doing a job no one else wanted. In my 14 years in the Marine Corps, this is the best unit I've ever been with."
The Marines guarded a nine-mile perimeter, which contains everything from bullets to patriot missile systems. Although the supply point holds the most sophisticated weapons in the Marine Corps arsenal, the living conditions for the guards were far from four-star hotel quality.
"When we all first arrived, this place was just tents set on the dirt. The junior Marines took the initiative to improve the living conditions ourselves," said Anderson. "At our units, when something needed to get done, we were ordered to do it. Here, we wanted to it."
Because the supply point was nothing more than tents and guard posts, the Marines came together as one to install new security posts and improve their living conditions.
"We had to fight, borrow, and beg for everything we have out here, from the hot chow, to the mail, to the cots we sleep on," said Capt. Michael Jylkka, commanding officer, ammo supply point guard company. The Lexington, Ky. native, continued "what we've done here by starting with nothing and improving our post and the quality of life for Marines is showing everyone that (Task Force Tarawa) can jump out there and get the job done."
The leadership aboard the supply point worked with outside camps until every Marine had the opportunity to make daily bus trips to showers, shop at a post exchange, receive mail and have hot food delivered. Jylkka explained this was hard to do, but because all the Marines were in it together, people stepped up to get the job done.
"I've never seen a lance corporal or private first class start filling sand bags on their own to improve their post," said Mormur. Many of these Marines, for the first time, really care about the job they are doing here, said Mormur. "Because we don't play games with Marines like they are used to, they do an outstanding job at whatever they set themselves to accomplish."
On the last day of their assignment at the post, Marines were sad to be leaving the camp they helped to create.
"I'm sad because I've got to go back to my unit, where nobody will know how I shined here. I'm definitely going to take this experience with me, and hopefully I'll be able to bring back some of the morale and motivation we had here."
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