| Along the Syrian border is a small town called Husaybah. Though diminutive in size, it has seen its fair share of violent clashes between United States Marines and terrorist insurgents. Marines from 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, know this first hand. They take home with them the vivid memories of a fierce encounter. "We were getting small-arms fire, machine-gun fire and mortared on a regular basis for the entire time we were there," said Lance Cpl. Austin T. Herbel, an assaultman for Weapons Platoon, Company L. "The locals were afraid to help us because the terrorist would kill anyone who helped us," said Lance Cpl. Andrew Y. Tuttle, another assaultman for Weapons Platoon. "It was so bad that children would get their hands cut off for selling us sodas," added Lance Cpl. Joshua J. Rutherford, a machine gunner for Weapons Platoon. |