3 August
From: Commanding
Officer
To:
Commanding Officer, 4th Marines (-)(rein)
Subj:
Lack of Coordination of certain 1st MAW activities within 1/4
TAOR with CO 1/4
- On
3 August I learned from MCB-10 that on 31 July the Engineer Officer, 1st
MAW had been in 1/4 TAOR and had pursued certain activities therein which
were to have direct and grave bearing on relations with local nationals.
Said officer made no contact with my headquarters.
- Outcome
of this officers’ activities resulted in:
a.
Deviation from planned (and agreed-with by local officials) route of road
from new causeway to MSR.
b.
Deviation resulted in desecration of 3 graves and destruction of several
pine trees, which incensed a portion of the populace.
c.
Reported promise by the Officer concerned to the Village Chief that the
III MAF Claims Officer would be present on the following day to pay for
destruction of the pine trees (at a reported agreed price of 25 piasters per
tree). As of this writing this
promise has not been redeemed.
d.
Blame falling on this Command for the ongoing and the Local Officials
looking to me for relief and aid for matters undertaken unilaterally by outside
Commands.
- The
fore going is a source of embarrassment to this Command and it disturbs the
fine relationship established with the local people at no little expenditure
of time and effort. Further, it
violates military etiquette and undermines the principle of unity of
responsibility.
- Therefore,
it is requested that every effort be made to require prior coordination of
all activities taking place within my TAOR with both your Headquarters and
mine; or, alternatively, limit my TAOR so as to include areas in which
outside Commands appear to have some sort of vested interests and require
them to make their own liaison with local officials.
This page last corrected 17 September 2011