05/26/2025
The mission was in Zaranj Afghanistan, a civil affairs mission supporting women's education and a Dam system being installed in the river boarding Iran.
This was our second mission to this area which was controlled by the Afghanistan Police. We were to perform security for the civilians and other civil affairs Marines. Most of our missions up to this point were Mounted and dismounted Patrols in the desert working with Farmers and Small populations.
For these missions we were dropped by Osprey into the "careful care" of the Afghanistan Police to be driven around in the back of Ford Pickup Trucks.
We were stationed at the Mayor's Mansion, we were briefed on our mission and began security operations.
The second night on post I met Master Sergeant Pruit. As the Sergeant of the Guard I was in charge of changing night security posts.
As a Fresh Marine came up for duty after a good ten hours off, Master sergeant Pruit walked up full gear ready to take the walking post outside of the mansion. I informed him there was no need as we had an incoming marine fresh off rest. He insisted he was taking the 10 hour post, I insisted again, but a Master sergeant Beats a Corporal out 100% of the time.
The next day I found master sergeant Pruit in the morning coloring with kids from the neighborhood who wandered into the Mayor's office, they all were drawn to him and his joyful attitude.
That night we were preparing for the next day's mission.
We had done this mission several times, led by the Afghan Army the Marines were disbursed in the back of the pickup truck beds.
We would bring the engineers to the river across from the Iran Border.
As we were choosing who was going on the mission Master Sergeant Pruitt stepped out and again insisted on going on the mission and taking a young Marines Spot, I do not remember the Marines Name who he took, but again he was helping his young Marines.
Once we were attacked, and Master Sergeant Pruitt was announced dead, the mission was called off, we maneuvered back to the helicopter drop off where we waited for the pickup of Master Sergeant and the other injured.
Master Sergeant Pruitt was the Definition of a True Marine putting himself over others no matter the rank or the job.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KQxCexPbRU
https://www.lejeune.marines.mil/News/Article/Article/513240/camp-johnson-celebrates-life-of-master-sgt-scott-e-pruitt/
Thank you and RIP Master Sergeant Pruitt
Zaranj, Afghanistan, is a relatively peaceful town near the border with Iran. But when a su***de bomber struck a convoy there in April, WSJ's Michael M. Phil...
