MARJAH, Afghanistan - Gunnery Sgt. Brandon Dickinson, a Marine with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment comforts an injured child, Feb 14, 2010. The child's home was partially destroyed during a scene of intense fighting when insurgents, one armed with a suicide vest attempted to breach a Marine position the night prior.
HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Marines with Alpha Company, 1st Battalion 6th Marine Regiment open fire on insurgents taking cover in a nearby compound, Jan. 18, 2010.
HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Marines with Alpha Company, 1st Battalion 6th Marine Regiment provide covering fire as their squad prepares to move to a new position, Jan. 18, 2010.
HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Marines with Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment step out on patrol through the Shorshurak region of Helmand Province, Jan. 29, 2010.
MARJAH, Afghanistan -The 81mm mortar-men attached to Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment open fire with their weapons' systems during the initial assault on the Taliban held city of Marjah, Feb. 13, 2010.
MARJAH, Afghanistan – Sgt. Daniel Pluth, a Marine with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment takes aim as military aged males begin to surround the Marine position in Marjah, Feb. 13, 2010. Over the next several weeks the Marines of B. Co., come under heavy fire each day as they fight to clear the insurgent held city.
MARJAH, Afghanistan – Marines with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment keep low to the ground as a medical evacuation for a critically injured Marine, takes place in Marjah, Feb. 13, 2010. Over the next several weeks the Marines of B. Co., come under heavy fire each day as they fight to clear the insurgent held city.
MARJAH, Afghanistan – A Marine walks through the abandoned bazaar in the center of Marjah, Feb. 15, 2010. Normally a bustling center of commerce, most civilians have fled to avoid becoming caught in the crossfire between Marine and Taliban forces.
MARJAH, Afghanistan - A young boy poses with a Marines' Kevlar helmet in the city of Marjah, April 23, 2010.
MARJAH, Afghanistan - A Marine with Weapon’s Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment jokes with an Afghan boy while out on patrol, April 23, 2010.
MARJAH, Afghanistan - An Afghan girl poses for a photo with a scarf that a Marine with 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment gave her during their patrol, April 23, 2010.
MARJAH, Afghanistan - A young girl escapes from the sun under a row of trees on her family's farm, April 23, 2010.
MARJAH, Afghanistan - A Marine with the police mentor team attached to Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment patrols through a bazaar in downtown Marjah, May 3, 2010.
MARJAH, Afghanistan - Lance Cpl. Jimmy Borzillieri, an 81mm mortar-man with 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment plays with one of the many stray puppies that inhabit the city, May 12, 2010.
HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan - A village elder outside his compound.
MARJAH, Afghanistan - A young boy sits on his family's produce stand at one of Marjah's many Bazaars. Locals are returning home after a major coalition offensive which aimed to push entrenched Taliban forces from the city.
CAMP DWYER, Afghanistan - An Afghan National Army soldier during marksmanship training.