Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Brian Lawrence Sandau helped set the stage for the current battle in Marja, Helmand Province, southern Afghanistan. The Naval Hospital Bremerton’s Ophthalmology Department surgical technician was an Individual Augmentee with Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment conducting much the same offensive in the Helmand River Valley, albeit on a lesser scale—but no less important, critical or perilous.

“It definitely felt like at times being in the middle of hell,” said Sandau, a Tripp, S.D. native, who worked out of Patrol Base Jaker, in the Nawa District of Helmand Province. The area is approximately 40 miles south of Lashgar Gar, the main city of the region, and located on a wide stretch of the Helmand River valley.

Sandau was part of the Marine Corps initial push into the historic Taliban heartland last June. A Marine Corps force of approximately 200 went in to augment and relieve a British force. Sandau was attached with a larger force of 500 that came in several days later. “We flooded the area overnight,” related Sandau. “The Taliban woke up and found they had a Marine battalion in their backyard.”

There is an important market town near by the patrol base. The presence of the British and American troops, along with Afghan Army and National Police forces, systematically turned what was a frightened district back towards normality.

“We have made that area a much more stable and secure place,” Sandau commented. “Residents gradually began to move back. There are now merchants in the market place where once they were none. The bazaar is open for business. People are shopping. Even the school reopened.”

“They felt safer because we were there,” continued Sandau. “The local Afghans told us that they wanted security, but many had to be cautious not to be seen with us. Still, one of the highlights I will remember is when one of the locals came to point out where he had noticed Taliban digging to rig an IED. It took a lot for him to do that. That was a huge risk on his part.”

Sandau attests that the reason why the local shared his knowledge is due to the element of trust that had been established. For his part, being a Navy Corpsman proved valuable not only for the Marines he cared for, but also for the local population.

After beginning the offensive with the command element, Sandau went to a weapons platoon. He was on patrol every day. He interacted and treated locals. Being on patrol meant carrying 75-plus pounds of gear in summer heat that reached an almost un-heard of 140 degrees.

“It was not the most forgiving environment,” noted Sandau, who at age 27, was considered an elder statesmen by most of the Marines and gave them ammunition for some good-natured ribbing. “I was reminded about being the ‘old man’ and they were wondering if I could and would hold up under the high operational tempo. Even the staff sergeant said that I did better than even he thought.”

“Our patrols weren’t high tech. They were down-and-dirty, ‘Boots on the ground,’ front line-duty,” said Sandau. “There were times when it was really difficult for us to tell who was who. Sometimes the scene did it for us. After one firefight with a lot of small arms fire coming at us, three insurgents scattered on motorbikes. Another stayed back. He hung out to be their eyes to see how we responded. They were just feeling us out.”

“Once the locals found out I was the ‘doc,’ they weren’t as worried seeing us or being seen by others seeing us. It was a waterfall effect. The word got around,” said Sandau. His medical kit bag could only carry so much. He provided treatment for a variety of ailments. But additional treatment for many at the patrol base was considered out of the question by locals who continually feared repercussions. “They would take what we could give them at the time.”

By assisting local Afghans with their medical concerns and complaints, it enabled the Marines to establish that element of trust and start a dialogue where snippets of conversation could yield nuggets of information on Taliban movements.

Danger became as common as the swirling dust and suffocating heat. There were constant threat of booby-traps and Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) on patrol. Mortar rounds, rocket propelled grenades (RPGs) and small arms fire continually thudded into the patrol base.

“It took a while but I finally got used to it. As we all did,” said Sandau, explaining on how he and others handled the shooting. “The incoming shots got to me once when answering the call of nature. That was when an RPG round exploded with an air-burst. When that happens, it will make you hurry up whether you realize it or not.”

The patrol base was as Spartan as they come. Sandau spent three months in the close-confined area, with approx 30 Marines, one other corpsman and a host of Afghan forces.  In such an austere environment, it was almost a culture shock to have almost none of the normal accouterments associated with the 21st century. Being able to contact home was a limited luxury. Email connectivity was not available. Gatorade mix for the warm drinking water was considered a treat.

“Everyone was in the same situation, even the colonel in charge,” said Sandau. “We all adapted and we all got through it.”

Sandau’s ability to manage the high OPTEMPO and get through the daily, dusty grind was culminated by earning his Fleet Marine Force qualification during his tenure there. “It was a surprise to even have the option to take the FMF board,” he said.