Sgt. Vesselian U.S.M.C. killed during “active combat” in Afghanistan with Taliban insurgents

 “Operation Enduring Freedom” (OEF) is the official name used by the U.S. government for the War in Afghanistan.

Sgt. Daniel M. Vasselian, 27, of Abington, Mass., died Dec. 23, died in combat  in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

Helmand is a major poppy producing region in Afghanistan. It was reported earlier this year that Helmand province , despite hundreds of billions of dollars spent on counter narcotic operations in the region produced a bumper crop of poppy this year http://www.voanews.com/content/afghan_opium_crop_headed_for_record_high/1641989.html.

Poppy is the main revenue source used by insurgents to purchase arms and weapons and pay its fighters in cash (American cash, usually in the form of crisp brand new $100 dollar bills).

See article: Taliban cash flow grows from Heroin trade http://www.npr.org/2010/12/20/132205104/talibans-cash-flow-grows-from-heroin-trade-crime

It should be noted that drug cultivation of opium and heroin smuggling are not the only revenue source for the Taliban. Experts say extortion, smuggling, kidnapping and payments extorted from Western contractors (blackmail) trying to keep their projects safe also provide a hefty sum.

The Taliban also taxes water and electricity supplies and other services, as well impose a 10% tax on all small businesses, harvests and crops grown in Taliban controlled areas – which currently is about 70% of the entire nation.

Afghan officials, quoted by the UN report, estimate that the Taliban earned about $100 million from the poppy economy in 2011-12. But the total drug crop is estimated at between $3.6 billion and $4.0 billion per year growing steadily since 20111 when the United States invaded Afghanistan.

Needless to say corruption is rampant in the area.

He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

The unit’s nickname is the “Walking Dead.”

Elements of the unit are stationed currently at Camp Leatherneck a site attacked repeatedly by the Taliban over the years.

According to an article in the Boston Globe his sister said he died in “active combat.” The statement was given to New England Cable News, which shared it with the Globe.

“He was born and raised in Abington and was considered by most as the mayor of this town,” wrote his sister, Jeannine Vasselian. “He was the life of any party and brought humor wherever he went. He was truly amazing.”

She said her brother had recently celebrated his fourth wedding anniversary with his wife, Erin, whom he started dating in high school.

“This was his third tour and [he had] already served in Iraq and Afghanistan,” Jeannine Vasselian said. “He was so proud to be a Marine and serve his country and paid the ultimate sacrifice and this world truly lost an amazing hero. He’ll be missed more than words can express and loved by his family and friends forever” (source: http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2013/12/24/marine-from-abington-killed-afghanistan/ANyVqnI2DikdglcrOPGrLO/story.html).

According to ABC news channel 11 Vesselian died in an ambush http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=news/local&id=9371579.

It is unclear if Vesselian was shot to death or blown up by an IED or “Improvised Explosive Device.”

We contacted the  2nd Marine Division Public Affairs Office during duty hours at 910-450-6575  for more information and officials parroted the same information as the DOD new release (source: http://www.defense.gov/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=16448).

I suspect if we knew the exact details of Sgt. Vesselian’s murder the public would be outraged and angry.