1: July 1, 2009: FOB Dwyer, Afghanistan. Briefing on Operation Khanjar or “strike of the sword.” Echo 2/8s bigger picture objective was to cut off Taliban logistical supply routes coming in from Pakistan. Our company was chosen to go the furtherest south in Helmand.

2. Operation Khanjar was set to become the largest Marine offensive since the Battle of Fallujah in Iraq back in 2004. It would also be the biggest offensive airlift by the Marines since the Vietnam War.

3. Echo Company would fly into Mianposteh, which is on the outskirts of Garmsir in Helmand. There are two main roads that run through the area, which we nicknamed Cowboys and Redskins after the NFL teams. From our position, the Helmand River would be to the west.

4. We were to clear two houses IVO our LZ. These were labeled company objectives 1 & 2. (Note: No one was in the houses when we landed on July 2). 50-75 Taliban strength were expected. We were told the locals “fight for fun” and that the Afghan National Army were better trained.

5. For my platoon, 1st squad was assault. They were to provide overwatch at company objective 1. 2nd squad was support. They were to set up a cordon to the south. For me and my squad, security. We were to set up a cordon to the north and prevent potential Taliban reinforcements.

6. With the briefing complete, we began rehearsals/packing. Here’s a photo of me and my team leader. He’s now a staff sergeant (a lance corporal at the time). Here’s a Marine that served under me. He just finished packing his bag and he’s dreading carrying it (100-120lbs).

7. Tomorrow, Operation Khanjar begins.

8. Lt. Col. Christian Cabaniss, the battalion commander of 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, an infantry unit out of Camp Lejeune, NC, called Echo Company together a day before Operation Khanjar (I'm in there somewhere). This is the "Summer of Decision" speech. Video: Frontline

9. The night before Operation Khanjar, we hiked out to FOB Dwyer's flight line. I remember that night being cold. I got up a few times to find warmth in the porta-potty. I couldn't sleep. The desert winds kicked dirt onto us and our gear throughout the night. Photo: Joe Raedle

10. Every year since July 2, 2009, Marine Col. Christian Cabaniss, now retired, writes a letter to the Marines of 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment. Here’s this years letter.

11. Reveille came early on July 2, 2009 as Echo Company, began to awake from their slumber under the blanket of cool air and the growing anticipation at what the day might bring. As I said, we didn’t get much sleep the night before as a steady stream of dirt rained down onto us.

12. I got up and began to clean my M249 SAW and the rest of my gear. Marines smoked cigarettes or listened to their iPods as CH-53 Sea Stallion helicopters started to land in the background at FOB Dwyer. I took out my camera to snap photos of the helos—I was anxious about the day

13. I don't think anyone would have said it at the time, but in the back of everyone's head, there was a feeling that we were heading into a gunfight and some of us might not make it out. Jokes about the cold and the weight of gear we would all have to carry broke the tension.

14. The plan for getting off the helos was simple but difficult. Carry off two full water cases and drop them as soon as you're off the ramp. Then, drop your 100+ pack. Then, set into a defensive position. We landed in a recently plowed field around 7:05 a.m. it was quiet until..

15. When I got off the helo, I was already sweating profusely and the temperature outside was quickly rising into the 90s. Like I said, it was quiet when I first landed but after about 20 minutes on the ground, things changed. Video: Frontline.

16. I knew I was getting shot at and I knew the bullets were close from the snaps and whizzes next to me and over me, but I couldn't tell where I was being shot from. I didn't fire a single round on July 2 out of fear of killing an innocent person who was not in the gunfight.

17. One Marine had been evacuated for mental reasons—he threw down his weapon and tried digging a fighting hole with his hands (not sure if this was rumor or if it occurred) Another Marine from my platoon went down for heat exhaustion. We were running out of water quickly.

18. My team leader and I tried standing up to see where we were being shot from so we could return fire. An individual stepped out and fired a rocket propelled grenade at us. We dove for cover. It flew overhead and almost hit Marines to our rear. I don’t remember the 2nd RPG.

19. As the gunfight continued, the worst happened. @USMC Lance Cpl. Charles Seth Sharp, was shot. @usairforce PJs (Pedro) were called in. I saw a Blackhawk do a hard combat landing, so the PJs could jump off and help. My squad was sent over to provide them security.

20. Marines of 2nd Platoon huddled around Sharp as his blood poured onto the pants of another Marine holding his head. They called out to him to wake up—but he didn’t. They ran Sharp’s limp body down the long dirt road, hoping they could load him onto the helo in time to save him

21. Sharp would bleed out before ever reaching the helicopter. Sharp's parents said the world should see this footage. In 2019, @Dan_Fogelman - the creator of @NBCThisisUs - gave me an opportunity to tell my story. We named one of the characters after Sharp. Video: Frontline.

22. The gunfight ebbed and flowed from 7 a.m. to around 5 p.m., we began digging two-man fighting holes in the prone position with E-Tools. I remember thinking back to SOI that fighting holes were dumb and something out of WWI. I was wrong. Photo: Joe Raedle.

23. As night fell, the Marines were exhausted and dehydrated. Given the security threat, we tried to stay awake all night. It was impossible. A few Marines opened fire as they looked through their night vision. They said afterwards they thought the trees were moving towards them.

24. Two more things of note on July 2, 2009. I broke my Kevlar strap and my team leader fell into a canal. July 3, 2009 tomorrow.

25. Another note on July 2. According to @wikileaks - TIC (Troops in Contact) was declared at 0808 with sporadic fire continuing into the afternoon (2103D is around 4pm - 5pm I believe) Sharp was medically evacuated to FOB Dwyer but later was classified as DOW (died of wounds).

26. (Note: this is my only entry for July 3, so I'm writing from memory) We began to move out of our makeshift fighting holes early on July 3. Everyone was tired. And I would be lying if I didn't say I was scared. Soon, we would be expanding the company's defensive position.

27. Echo Company's leadership set up a makeshift command operating post in one of the two company objectives. The order came down that we needed to clear out the Mianposteh market and expand the defensive posture of Echo company.

28. (Note: VBS TV, today known as @VICE was embedded with Echo company. This screenshot is from one of their documentaries). This photo I think was taken as we began to move into the Mianposteh market. I could be wrong as it was 11-years ago.

29. I don't remember being shot at while clearing out the market but I do recall this firefight that broke out later in the day.

30. End of reporting for July 3, 2009. Later today, July 4, 2009.

31. Here’s the full entry I have for July 4, 2009, so let’s see how much of this day I can piece back together. Note: as the days turned into months, my entries on a given day become longer and more detailed.

32. I remember July 4, 2009 in pieces but what stands out the most—even more than being shot at, was that it was also the first time I had the opportunity to take off my gear since Operation Khanjar kicked off at 0700 on July 2, 2009. This pic is moments after I took off my gear.

33. I believe our squad was tasked with clearing out a few Afghan buildings. This is when I first realized that the door frames in Afghanistan are much smaller than ones back home. This would be our home for the next day or so. (Note: we still didn't have a combat outpost)

34. Our company leadership quickly realized that if we were wanting to be productive, they needed to start trying to get some of the Marines some sleep. The door next to Sgt. Bates (on the left) is the room we first got some sleep in but there's a scary moment......see next tweet

35. My squad got into the room and we started stripping down to our boxers. In the room were these beautiful blankets—tons of them stacked on top of each other (Afghan winters are brutal). We got comfortable and started to drift off to sleep when a huge explosion goes off near by

36. We all jump up and begin to put on our clothes and grab our gear when someone pops their head in to tell us that it was just a controlled detonation by EOD. They were clearing an IED. We all burst into laughter, which really was breaking the tension of the moment.

37. I don't remember me getting shot at, but if I wrote it down it happened. I remember building a shelter with a poncho (mainly for concealment, but it sucked). I remember Dello (my team leader) shooting at muzzle flashes. He was yelling I got PID (positive identification)

38. Dello shooting at the muzzle flashes may be related to this entry I found within the Afghan War Logs.

39. Well, that’s it for July 4, 2009. July 5, 2009 I’ll tell later today. It’s one of the scariest days I had in Afghanistan because not only does it involve combat, it involves one of these