Winter Nap
January 10th, 2012 | From the Ranks | Posted by Alan Lessig
U.S. Marine Lance Cpls. Matthew Scofield (left), 19, from Syracuse, N.Y., and Jarrett Hatley, 21, from Millingport, N.C., a squad automatic weapon gunner and an improvised explosive device detection dog handler with 3rd Platoon, Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, rest next to Hatley’s dog Blue after clearing compounds with Afghan National Army soldiers during Operation Tageer Shamal (Shifting Winds) here, Jan. 4. Over the past five years, coalition forces have operated with Afghan National Security Forces to defeat the insurgency in the central Helmand River valley. Driven from the green zones, or populated areas, of districts in southern Helmand, enemy fighters have sought refuge in bed-down locations west of the Helmand River. This area on the outskirts of Garmsir district has been, until now, nearly untouched by the partnered forces and the Afghan government. During the operation, Jan. 4-8, Afghan forces and Marines with 3/3 cleared the area of insurgent activity, weapons and improvised explosive device-making materials, and held shuras to address the concerns of local elders. ( Cpl. Reece Lodder/USMC)
Walking the Beat
August 26th, 2011 | The Wires | Posted by Mike Morones
U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Lane Edward Morrow, of Susanville, CA, of 3rd Platoon, Kilo Company, 3/4 Marines, walks during an early morning guard shift at a vehicle checkpoint near Patrol Base 302, in Helmand province, southern Afghanistan, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2011. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley)
Smoke on the Horizon
June 16th, 2011 | The Wires | Posted by Alan Lessig
A US Marine on his way to pick up food supplies after they were dropped off by small parachutes from a plane outside Forward Operating Base Edi in the Helmand Province of southern Afghanistan, Thursday, June 9, 2011. The smoke in the background comes from burning parachutes the Marines destroy after they reached the ground. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)
Like Manna from Heaven
June 12th, 2011 | The Wires | Posted by Alan Lessig
Food supplies for U.S. Marines hanging off small parachutes are dropped from a plane outside Forward Operating Base Edi in the Helmand Province of southern Afghanistan, Monday, June 6, 2011. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)
Flares over the FOB
May 10th, 2011 | The Wires | Posted by Alan Lessig
A United States Marine Cobra attack helicopter fires diversionary flares as it flies near Forward Operating Base Edi in the volatile Helmand Province of southern Afghanistan, Sunday, May 8, 2011. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer)
Back to School Supplies
September 8th, 2010 | From the Ranks | Posted by Alan Lessig
Lt. Col. Kyle B. Ellison, the commanding officer of 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, hands a pencil to an Afghan child in front of the new Marjah Central High School, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Sept. 5. Ellison handed pencils out to children who were on their way to school as a gift to start their school year. (Photo by Lance Cpl. Jeremy Fasci/USMC)
Taking the High Ground
July 30th, 2010 | The Wires | Posted by Alan Lessig
United States Marines from Bravo Company of the 1st Battalion of the 2nd Marines fire machine guns for suppression during a gunbattle as part of an operation to clear the area of insurgents near Musa Qaleh, in northern Helmand Province, southern Afghanistan, Friday, July 23, 2010. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer)
Really Close Air Support
July 29th, 2010 | The Wires | Posted by Alan Lessig
United States Marines from Bravo Company of the 1st Battalion of the 2nd Marines watch the explosion after calling in an air strike during a gun battle as part of an operation to clear the area of insurgents near Musa Qaleh, in northern Helmand Province, southern Afghanistan, Friday, July 23, 2010. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer)
Can’t Stop Mother Nature
June 3rd, 2010 | From the Ranks | Posted by Alan Lessig
Ants in the body armor
March 11th, 2010 | The Wires | Posted by Alan Lessig
Air Force Staff Sgt. Greg Iverson of Chinook, Wash., takes off his protective vest after being covered by ants as he was laying in the field during a shooting in the Badula Qulp area, west of Lashkar Gah in Helmand province, southern Afghanistan on Feb. 17. (AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito)