'Thundering Third' in Afghanistan Video

'Thundering Third' in Afghanistan Video Transcript

Patrol base karma under attack by the taliban in broad daylight.

>> Straight ahead?

>> Reporter: These marines have only been here two weeks. For some of the younger men, this is their first-ever fire fight. After a lull in the fighting, we've just received some more incoming shots. The marines are waiting to see if there will be a second wave of the attack. But the taliban have melted away in the face of the marines' firepower. Instead, they generally resort to a different weapon-- the improvised explosive device or I.E.D. Which is harder for the marines to fight.

>> Let's go.

>> Reporter: While we were there, they hit a marine patrol just two miles north of the base. Shortly before 10:00 this morning we heard an explosion. Minutes later we heard two american casualties. The explosion happened about 50 yards behind me here. Right now, the marines are securing the area against any possible ambush. Staff sergeant paul worley, who's a ten-year veteran of the marines and a former tobacco farmer from north carolina is in charge of the rescue mission. Across the radio, he hears "two angels." Which means both men are dead. A sergeant in the afghan army approaches. He was walking right behind the two marines who were sweeping the road with metal detectors when the I.E.D. Blew up.

>> They tried to sweep, they took the sweep and do like that, it blew up.

>> Reporter: As they were sweeping it blew up?

>> Yeah.

>> Reporter: Finally, the marines reach the crater itself which is waist deep and stretches across the entire road they retrieve the bodies of the two men, sergeant kenneth may, who was 26, and corporal jeffrey johnson, 21, both from texas. Everyone goes silent as they carry their fallen comrades away. Next day, the marines are still recovering. Worley, on his fourth deployment, has seen this before. Many of his men have not.

>> Any time anything like that happens, it's rough. I mean, that's why... y'all were out there yesterday, i tried to keep the youngest marines back, not let them get good vision on what was happening.

>> Reporter: To keep them focused, worley takes out another patrol straight away, looking for information on the taliban who are placing the I.E.D.S. These marines are quickly learning what type of war they will have to fight here. Terry mccarthy, cbs news, patrol base karma in southern afghanistan.