A Marine befriends children in Haditha. U.S. Marine Corps photo.

BAGHDAD

“Showing a presence in the area does a lot more than people would think,” said U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Joseph A. Cervantes, squad leader, 1st Squad, 3rd Platoon, Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 2. “We mainly do two types of patrols, one being security patrols, which are designed to have a deterrent effect on anything that happens in the area.”

Marines assigned to 1st Sqd., 3rd Plt., conduct up to three patrols a day.  Patrols allow Marines to find the enemy and learn about the populace.

“We also do ‘meet and greet’ patrols. We go out and meet the families, and we start a relationship with them,” said Cervantes. “We speak to them and get their feelings on current situations and take their suggestions on what could be done differently in the city.”

The locals warmed up to the Marines, and now talk to them regularly.

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Edward G. Martin, an automatic rifleman in the unit, said the people didn’t act this way upon their arrival late March 2007.

“They seemed a little distant and cold at first,” said Martin. “They’ve always been friendly, but you can tell we’re now winning them over. They’re beginning to trust us and (they’re) glad we’re here.”

Martin recalled a recent 16-hour operation when the Marines were welcomed with open arms by the locals.

“The people were running out and giving us cold water and allowing us to come into their houses and rest,” he added. “This is what lets me know they’re thankful.”

Due to the large amount of patrols, Marines who patrol the area have begun to recognize people in the area.

“We went firm in a house one day and the locals working there recognized us because we stopped at their house earlier in the week,” said U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Nathan A. Fanning, an automatic rifleman in the unit. “He said he remembered us because of how respectful we were with him and his property.”

The friendliness and openness are a growing trend in the region. Numerous battalions have deployed to the Haditha region and experienced daily fire fights, sniper attacks, improvised explosive device explosions, and other friction, said Martin.

“I thought at first it was going to be non-stop fighting, but I’m glad it’s not. After being here, it’s a lot more fulfilling to be helping out in the way that we are,” he said.

Cervantes believed the area has completely turned around.

“The locals used to be very standoff-ish, but now they’re a lot more vocal,” said Cervantes. “I think they’re starting to realize we sacrifice a lot to come out here and help them. They are grateful, but they would still like to see their own army move in. It would help with their national pride a lot to see the Iraqi Army out here.”

While an Iraqi battalion is deployed in the region, they are not permanently positioned in the area.

Cervantes expects it to keep getting better throughout the remainder of the deployment.

“I hope things continue to go smoothly for the rest of the time we’re out here, but I’ll just take it patrol-by-patrol and day-by-day,” said Martin.

(U.S. Marine Corps story by Cpl. Rick Nelson, Combat Correspondent)

In other developments throughout Iraq:

• Iraqi Security Forces and Task Force Lightning Soldiers discovered an execution house and an illegal prison in the Baqouba neighborhood of Khatoon Sunday during the sixth day of Operation Arrowhead Ripper.  

• Multi-National Division-Baghdad Soldiers defeated multiple insurgent attacks and discovered several caches during clearing operations in the eastern and western portions of the Rashid District of the Iraqi capital Saturday and Sunday.