CLB 24 made the initial push to FOB Bastion, In route they Hit a powerful improvised explosive device hidden in a culvert beneath the road detonated around midnight outside of Kandahar killing Battalion Sergeant Major, 1st Sgt.

Canadian troops from a nearby outpost filled in the crater, allowing the convoy to get moving again to FOB Bastion.

The Marines then pushed further into the Taliban stronghold to FOB Dyer and Garmsir, Helmand province around April 24.

By mid-July, after a month and a half of heavy combat, the MEU was reporting that they had killed over 400 Taliban fighters in the Garmser area.

By mid-July, after a month and a half of heavy combat, the Marines were reporting that they had killed over 400 Taliban fighters in the Garmser area.