CAMP KOREAN VILLAGE, Iraq -- Marine Lance Cpl. Barry K. Miller, 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, performs various tasks in western Iraq to provide security and stability during the country’s rebuilding process.
Miller, a fire direction controlman from Battery K, 3rd Battalion 10th Marine Regiment, and his fellow Marines provide constant security at Waleed, which is on the Iraqi-Syrian border, to deny entrance of foreign fighters into Iraq.
“We basically make sure that nobody is trying to sneak up and hit the FOB (Forward Operating Base) and we stop VBIEDs (vehicle borne improvised explosive device) from entering the gates,” Miller stated.
The Denham Springs, La., native also serves on the Quick Reaction Force, a group of Marines who react to any emergency in the unit’s area of operations, and he works at the gate controlling traffic, checking passports and searching vehicles.
“This is one of the main places for insurgents to enter the country. I think that we are doing a good job of keeping out who we need to keep out,” Miller stated.
The young Marine finds it stressful working in such a hectic environment, but pushes on to help the citizens of Iraq.
“It is hard to wake up everyday knowing that you might not get to go to sleep that night. We had an IED go off and kill two Iraqis close to the gate,” Miller said.
This is Miller’s first deployment and he hopes the remaining months go by quick and quiet. But he knows the threat of danger is high in Waleed as foreign fighters continue to seek access to Iraq.
“The longer we are here the more activity we see. We find more weapons and see more action,” he explained.