Capt. Christopher Conner, center (with left hand on face), briefs his Marines under a full moon for a mission in Helmand province in Afghanistan on Tuesday, July 7, 2009. The local governor of the region is preparing to visit the province on Wednesday.
Nikki Kahn-The Washington Post
Sgt. Joshua Scafidi, 23, of Greenwich, Conn., left, and Lance Cpl. Cory Johnson, 20, of Statesville, N.C., listen to music during a brief break at Khan Neshin castle.
Nikki Kahn-The Washington Post
A U.S. Marine with 2nd LAR in the courtyard at Khan Neshin castle in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.
Nikki Kahn-The Washington Post
Christopher Conner, left, prepares his men for a mission in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.
Nikki Kahn-The Washington Post
Cpl. Chuck Marion, 22, of Syracuse, N.Y., left, with his yellow lab, Cabela, and Cpl. Wes Dyer, 24, of Albuquerque, N.M., with his black lab, Lottie, with 1st Combat Engineer Battalion Route Clearing Company relax in their makeshift tent at Khan Neshin castle in Helmand province.
Nikki Kahn-The Washington Post
Capt. Christopher Conner, 35, the U.S. Marine Company Commander of Charlie Company, 2nd LAR, of Gastonia, N.C., left, goes over last-minute details of their mission with Capt. Mike Barnett in Khan Neshin, the capital of the Rig District in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
Nikki Kahn-The Washington Post
After days of engagement with the enemy, U.S. Marine Cpl. Lance Andrew Rocker, 20, with with 2nd LAR Charlie Company Headquarters Platoon, catches up on some sleep on his way to an early morning mission in Khan Neshin, Afghanistan.
Nikki Kahn-The Washington Post
U.S. Marines with Charlie Company, 2nd LAR, prepare to leave on a mission in Khan Neshin.
Nikki Kahn-The Washington Post
U.S. Marines with Charlie Company, 1st Combat Engineer Battalion (CEB), attached to the 2nd LAR, use a satchel charge to breach an entrance where insurgents fired small arms fire at troops in Khan Neshin.
Nikki Kahn-The Washington Post
Women and children flee a compound where insurgents launched small arms fire at U.S. Marines Charlie Company, 2nd LAR, as they work their way through Khan Neshin.
Nikki Kahn-The Washington Post
U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Cody Thomas, 20, of Livingston County, N.Y., rides a light armor vehicle with Charlie Company, 2nd LAR, to the scene where insurgents opened small arms fire on Marines working in Khan Neshin.
Nikki Kahn-The Washington Post
A donkey clears a path as light armor vehicles used by U.S. Marines work their way through Khan Neshin.
Nikki Kahn-The Washington Post
An Afghan man watches as U.S. Marines search the area surrounding his yard in Khan Neshin.
Nikki Kahn-The Washington Post
Lance Cpl. Cody Thomas searches an Afghan man as 2nd LAR Headquarters Platoon works its way through Khan Neshin.
Nikki Kahn-The Washington Post
U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Thomas Herr, 20, of Umatilla, Fla., holds security as Marines meet with locals in Khan Neshin.
Nikki Kahn-The Washington Post
U.S. Marine Sgt. Joshua Scafidi, 23, left, of Greenwich, Conn., searches for weapons at a local home in Khan Neshin.
Nikki Kahn-The Washington Post
U.S. Marine 1st Sgt. Julio Meza, 40, of Rushville, N.Y., works the radio as he maneuvers his light armor vehicle through Khan Neshin on a mission in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
Nikki Kahn-The Washington Post
U.S. Marine Christopher Brewer, 3rd Class Petty Officer U.S. Navy, working with Charlie Company 2nd LAR, diagnoses a child with a respiratory infection and gives her medicine as troops maneuver through Khan Neshin.
Nikki Kahn-The Washington Post
Gallery Credits:
Producer, Photo Editor Stephen Cook
Text Editor Amanda Lilly
In his slow decision-making, Obama goes with head, not gut