Stories

A group of young boys hang out in the Koru Chareh Bazaar in Marjah, Afghanistan, May 5. Since the initial fighting to take the city, residents have returned to their homes and the marketplace, the hub of the community, has reopened. - A group of young boys hang out in the Koru Chareh Bazaar in Marjah, Afghanistan, May 5. Since the initial fighting to take the city, residents have returned to their homes and the marketplace, the hub of the community, has reopened.

Mohammad Lal, left, the provincial governor’s chief of staff, and Mohammad Fahim, right, the district governor of Garmsir District, enjoy dinner on Forward Operating Base Delhi, Garmsir District, Helmand province, Afghanistan, May 1. The dinner was held as a time to begin to establish a strong relationship between 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, and Afghan national security forces similar to the one that 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, and ANSF had. - Mohammad Lal, left, the provincial governor’s chief of staff, and Mohammad Fahim, right, the district governor of Garmsir District, enjoy dinner on Forward Operating Base Delhi, Garmsir District, Helmand province, Afghanistan, May 1. The dinner was held as a time to begin to establish a strong relationship between 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, and Afghan national security forces similar to the one that 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, and ANSF had.

Lance Cpl. Keith Burggraff, a fireteam leader with Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, leaps over an irrigation canal while on a patrol in Marjah, Helmand province, Afghanistan, May 1, 2010. Marines from 3/6 and soldiers from the Afghan National Army have been providing security and winning the support of locals in Marjah, an area accustomed to Taliban oppression in recent years. - Lance Cpl. Keith Burggraff, a fireteam leader with Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, leaps over an irrigation canal while on a patrol in Marjah, Helmand province, Afghanistan, May 1, 2010. Marines from 3/6 and soldiers from the Afghan National Army have been providing security and winning the support of locals in Marjah, an area accustomed to Taliban oppression in recent years.

Sgt. George Gaona, a driver for the Wounded Warrior Battalion from La Puente, Calif., waits for a fellow Marine at the Balboa Naval Hospital. Due to a past injury, Gaona volunteered to work at the Wounded Warrior Battalion and help his fellow Marines as a driver, transporting them to and from medical appointments. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. John M. McCall) - Sgt. George Gaona, a driver for the Wounded Warrior Battalion from La Puente, Calif., waits for a fellow Marine at the Balboa Naval Hospital. Due to a past injury, Gaona volunteered to work at the Wounded Warrior Battalion and help his fellow Marines as a driver, transporting them to and from medical appointments. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. John M. McCall)

A Marjah farmer wheels out bags of fertilizer and crop seeds at the Civil-Military Operations Center at Camp Hansen, Marjah, Afghanistan, April 25. The food zone program, led by the Helmand Provincial Reconstruction Team, has distributed more than 1,066 packages of fertilizer and seeds to farmers throughout northern Marjah. This program, along with other programs led by the Helmand Provincial Reconstruction Team, assists farmers cope with a harsh harvest season, as well as providing an alternative to harvesting poppy, a major source of cash flow for Taliban forces. - A Marjah farmer wheels out bags of fertilizer and crop seeds at the Civil-Military Operations Center at Camp Hansen, Marjah, Afghanistan, April 25. The food zone program, led by the Helmand Provincial Reconstruction Team, has distributed more than 1,066 packages of fertilizer and seeds to farmers throughout northern Marjah. This program, along with other programs led by the Helmand Provincial Reconstruction Team, assists farmers cope with a harsh harvest season, as well as providing an alternative to harvesting poppy, a major source of cash flow for Taliban forces.

Lance Cpl. Vernon K. Akina, a food service specialist with 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, marks a notional improvised explosive device while Lance Cpl. Nicholas A. Weissgerber, a compact metal detector instructor with 3rd Combat Engineer Battalion, watches during IED lane training at Camp Dwyer, Helmand province, Afghanistan, April 24. Akina located the notional IED with a compact metal detector during the practical application portion of reception staging, onward movement and integration training and integration training. - Lance Cpl. Vernon K. Akina, a food service specialist with 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, marks a notional improvised explosive device while Lance Cpl. Nicholas A. Weissgerber, a compact metal detector instructor with 3rd Combat Engineer Battalion, watches during IED lane training at Camp Dwyer, Helmand province, Afghanistan, April 24. Akina located the notional IED with a compact metal detector during the practical application portion of reception staging, onward movement and integration training and integration training.

Marines from Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, pose holding an American flag shortly before leaving Patrol Base Khodi Rhom in Garmsir District, Helmand province, Afghanistan, April 20. Marines alongside a section of Afghan National Army soldiers, man PB Khodi Rhom to patrol and observe an area once known for large amounts of enemy activity. - Marines from Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, pose holding an American flag shortly before leaving Patrol Base Khodi Rhom in Garmsir District, Helmand province, Afghanistan, April 20. Marines alongside a section of Afghan National Army soldiers, man PB Khodi Rhom to patrol and observe an area once known for large amounts of enemy activity.