The Gun Counter

Outnumbered, but not outgunned
Marines overcome 8-to-1 odds during an 8-hour battle
By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Dec 22, 2008 13:48:49 EST

The platoon was in a remote area of southwestern Afghanistan when it happened — the kind of massive ambush and firefight that is the stuff of Marine legend.

Patrolling the town of Shewan in Farah province, the troops from 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, were attacked by a small group of insurgents that eventually swelled to more than 250 fighters. They had enough rocket-propelled grenades and machine gun ammunition to wage an eight-hour battle against a well-trained, well-equipped Marine force.

And in the end, the results were devastating — for the insurgents.

More than 50 enemy fighters were killed in the battle, and several more wounded, Marine officials said. A single Marine corporal, serving as the unit’s designated marksman, killed 20 insurgents by himself, using only 20 shots to do it.

The estimated 30 Marines involved, on the other hand, rolled away relatively unscathed. No Marines were killed and only one was wounded in the battle, the platoon commander said.

More of this story..............

workinwifdakids wrote:Any mods want to put up a group buy for BevMo gift cards? There's a BevMo about 10 miles outside of Pendleton, and I bet those 30 Marines would love to partake.

If you get the gift cards to me, I'll make sure they get to the right unit.

As 2/7’s deployment comes to an end in December, many details about the Aug. 8 battle at Shewan and the heroism displayed there remain shrouded in secrecy.

The Marines involved in the battle have asked for privacy and the Corps has agreed. Several have been nominated for combat awards, but Marine officials will not disclose who those Marines are, which platoon or company they were with, or what awards they might receive.