Story by: Computed Name: Sgt. Tracee L. Jackson
Story Identification #: 20072220955
CAMP FALLUJAH, IRAQ(Feb. 23, 2007) -- The Marines assigned to the Personal Security Company, II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward) exist for one specific reason: to protect their general officer regardless of circumstances. It sounds simple enough, but their general is a combat commander who spends much of his time visiting Marines on the front lines of Operation Iraqi Freedom. To complete their solitary mission, the Marines of the detachment need a laundry list of infantry skills to escort their chieftain safely through a combat zone.
Brig. Gen. Charles. M. Gurganus, commanding general, Ground Combat Element, Multi-National Force-West, makes frequent stops to outposts throughout Iraq to attend ceremonies, take care of business, assess situations and check on the morale of his Marines. His security detail works around the clock to curtail the constant threat of Improvised Explosive Devices during convoys, sniper fire from city buildings, mortar attacks and assaults that can take place while the general conducts his everyday business.
The general’s personal security detail is always with him. Sometimes they’re visible, and sometimes they’re not, but they’re always by his side whenever he steps outside the wire.
Photos included with story:
RAMADI, IRAQ—Brig. Gen. Charles M. Gurganus, commanding general of Ground Combat Element, Multi-National Force-West, peers through an observation post, Feb. 18, at Hurricane Point in downtown Ramadi. The Marines of 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, who live in the compound, keep a low profile around windows to avoid drawing sniper fire from surrounding city buildings.
RAMADI, IRAQ—Brig. Gen. Charles M. Gurganus, commanding general of Ground Combat Element, Multi-National Force-West, meets with Marines from 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment Feb. 18 at Hurricane Point, in the heart of Al Anbar’s capitol city of Ramadi. The Marines of 1st Battalion, 6th Marines live in cramped quarters inside a building notorious for terrorist assaults.
RAMADI, IRAQ—Brig. Gen. Charles M. Gurganus, commander of ground combat elements, Multi-National Force-West, meets with a Marine of the 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, Feb. 18. In the background, seized terrorist weapons double as wallpaper.
RAMADI, IRAQ—Lt. Col. William M. Jurney, commanding officer of 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Divison, is a passenger in a humvee escorting Brig. Gen. Charles M. Gurganus, commanding general of Ground Combat Element, Multi-National Force-West, through the city of Ramadi to give his general a boots-on-the-ground view of the area.
RAMADI, IRAQ—Brig. Gen. Charles M. Gurganus, commanding general of Ground Combat Element, Multi-National Force-West, meets with Marines, Feb. 18, who live in the Government Center in the heart of Ramadi, the capital of Al Anbar Province. The Government Center has been consistently attacked by extremists throughout the past year.
RAMADI, IRAQ—Marines of the personal security detail for Brig. Gen. Charles M. Gurganus, commanding general of Ground Combat Element, Multi-National Force-West, prepare to convoy back to Camp Fallujah Feb. 18. The vehicles and individual Marines are intricately armed.
AL ANBAR PROVINCE, IRAQ—Lance Cpl. John Wood, a Marine assigned to Personal Security Company, II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward), sits in the driver’s seat of a humvee, Feb. 18. Both the humvee and Wood himself are intricately armed in preparation for a convoy from Fallujah to Ramadi.
AL ANBAR PROVINCE, IRAQ—A passenger’s view from the back seat of a tactical convoy Feb. 18 reveals miles of open desert. Military convoy vehicles display Arabic signs, which warn locals to keep a safe distance.
Security detail escorts battlefield leader through dangerous missions
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