The 'Darkhorse' Battalion And Wartime Sacrifice
30:18
'Darkhorse' Battalion And The Afghan War
Nearly 1,000 U.S. Marine officers and enlisted men deployed to restive Helmand province in southern Afghanistan in September 2010. By the time their tour ended seven months later, the Marines of the 3rd Battalion, 5th Regiment — known as "Darkhorse" — suffered the highest casualty rate of any Marine unit during the past decade of war. NPR tells the story of the 3/5 — both in Afghanistan and back home.
Lance Cpl. Jake Romo does physical therapy at the Naval Medical Center in San Diego, Calif. He lost both legs in an explosion in Sangin, Afghanistan, in February 2011, while serving with the 3/5 Marines.
For Wounded Marines, The Long, Hard Road Of Rehab
()Dozens of Marines from Darkhorse Battalion returned home with missing limbs and other injuries that will last a lifetime. Learning to cope with their injuries and figure out their futures is a slow, arduous process.
A Marine's Death, And The Family He Left Behind()
November 3, 2011 When Marine Cpl. Derek Wyatt left for Afghanistan, his wife, Kait, was pregnant with their first child. Three months later, Derek was dead. A day after his death, Kait was induced, so she could give birth and attend his funeral.
As Casualties Grew, So Did Marine Families' Fears()
November 1, 2011 When the Marines of the 3rd Battalion, 5th Regiment deployed to Afghanistan, they left behind families who were desperate for information and grew frightened as the death toll grew. For 25 families, the news they received was the worst possible.
An Afghan Hell On Earth For 'Darkhorse' Marines()
October 31, 2011 A year ago, the Marines of the 3rd Battalion, 5th Regiment arrived in Sangin, a Taliban haven in southern Afghanistan, for a seven-month deployment. Known as "Darkhorse," the battalion sustained a higher casualty rate than any other Marine unit during the 10-year Afghan war.
Afghan Success Carries A Price For Commander()
October 30, 2011 In Afghanistan, Lt. Col. Jason Morris led the 3rd Battalion, 5th Regiment, which suffered the highest casualty rate of any Marine unit during the past 10 years of war. The "Darkhorse Battalion" commander says the unit's mission was a success — but he will live with the burden of those deaths.
Timeline: 'Darkhorse' Marines' Deadly Afghan Mission()
October 30, 2011 A year ago, the Marines of the 3rd Battalion, 5th Regiment — known as "Darkhorse" — deployed for southern Afghanistan. When they returned home to Camp Pendleton seven months later, they had lost 25 men and suffered close to 200 wounded.
