Afghanistan My Last Tour

LTC Sanchez's last convoy mission

Working with the joint services always poses challenges, but throughout my career I have worked on occasion with the Army and Navy.  But I never really had the opportunity to work with the US Marines until now.  As such, I have grown a new respect for the Marine Corps and mainly attribute this to Marine “Master Guns” and LTC Sanchez.  Today’s entry is to honor LTC Sanchez.  Yesterday he departed our camp and led his last convoy mission in Afghanistan.  He is returning to Hawaii and in a month from now, he will call MacDill AFB in Tampa, Fla his home.  LTC Sanchez will be assigned to Special Operations Command (SOCOM) Headquarters.  He served nine long months here as the Brigade leader.  [Due to the unique chain of command structure], we can’t really call him a commander, but we treated him as such.

LTC Sanchez at COP Castle this summer

LTC Sanchez hails from the Lone Star State and is a proud graduate of Texas A&M University.  He is happily married and has two lovely little girls whose pictures adorned his walls in his cramped office.    He wasn’t your stereotypical “dog-face” Marine, but don’t let his million dollar smile fool you, because he is a true Marine.

LTC Sanchez, Master Guns & "Georgia Boys" prepping for patrol

What made this Marine stand out was his genuine concern for his people and the way he treated people from the other military branches.  I had the privilege of witnessing this first-hand.  As enlisted, we always respect an officer’s rank, but earned respect is the hardest thing for an officer to achieve.  LTC Sanchez earned the respect of everyone who worked for him due to the way he conducted himself.  This isn’t to say he didn’t give a few motivational butt chewings along the way either, but he still garnered their respect.

LTC Sanchez at shura in Afghanya valley

While out on Village Medical Operations (VMO) I saw LTC Sanchez in action.  Since he usually was the senior ranking officer, he would conduct the tribal meetings with the assistance of his interpreter “Outback”.  LTC Sanchez would give the tribal elders an opportunity to air their grievances and listen empathetically about their requests for new schools, medical clinics, wells, roads, etc.  Then he would address the group.  At times he was firm and scolded the elders about the frequent insurgent attacks and planting of IEDs.  But then he would switch gears and speak powerfully from his heart on how it felt to lose troops in battle.  Often the elders would hang their heads or gaze at him with sympathetic eyes.  It takes a special person to conduct these meetings, because if it’s perceived you are not authentic, they will never meet with you again.

After the tribal meetings, we would return to a combat outpost to stay for the night.  LTC Sanchez made it a point not only to thank everyone for their participation, but afterward he would walk around and sit individually with people to talk about their life or concerns.  He wouldn’t talk much about himself; instead he was eager to learn about other people’s personal lives.  The “Georgia Boys” grew to respect him too.  I overheard one soldier saying this is the best officer he has met in his career.  I too can echo this sentiment and place him in my top 10 list of officers for my 26 year career.

LTC Sanchez was not immune from insurgent attacks either.  On at least 4 occasions, his convoy was attacked by insurgents with RPGs and small-arms fire.  Under his leadership in planning, over 400 enemy weapons in 6 different caches were confiscated.  He participated in 25 combat operations and nine medical outreach programs treating thousands of Afghan patients.

LTC Sanchez smoking a Gurkha Cognac cigar

LTC Sanchez is a bit of a cigar aficionado too.  Out on missions he and Master Guns would light up a stogie before going to sleep.  The pictures you see are him and fellow Marines his last night here.   Master Guns’ troops like him so much, they bought him a bunch of expensive handmade Gurkha Cognac cigars.  In turn, Master Guns supplied the cigars for this last outing.

LTC Sanchez handing out pens to Afghan children

The other picture of LTC Sanchez is him handing out ballpoint pens to the children in the Uzbin valley.

If you look closely at his cigar picture, LTC Sanchez wears a black inscribed memory bracelet on his right wrist.  This bracelet is in honor of his close personal friend and fallen comrade Maj Rocco M. Barnes who died on June 4, 2009 in the Uzbin Valley.  LTC Sanchez was the main facilitator in renaming this Combat Outpost (COP Rocco) after this fallen warrior.  I remember the somber memorial service he conducted in the Uzbin Valley where he reminisced about how Maj Barnes would visit his home and always bring something special for his two daughters and detailed about the book that Maj Barnes was writing.

LTC Sanchez and fellow Marines enjoying cigars during Sanchez's last night at camp

It won’t be the same around here without LTC Sanchez, but the missions will continue.  I am fortunate to have met this man who helped shape my new found respect for the Marine Corps.  I also look forward to seeing him again at MacDill AFB next year after my deployment ends.   Semper Fidelis and safe journey home LTC Sanchez.

Filed under: Uncategorized Tagged: | Afghanistan, Deployment, ETT, MacDill AFB, Marine Lieutenant Colonel Eleazer Omar Sanchez, photography, SOCOM, U.S. Marines