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Faces of the Surge

Beneath every policy decision made in the highest echelons of Washington about how a war should be fought are soldiers who live with those decisions every day. These are some of the soldiers of the 2-16 Rangers, one of the infantry battalions of the U.S. strategy known as "the surge."

Specialist Joshua Atchley, who was injured in a firefight: "I don't like pretending I have an eye," he said of why he wanted a prosthetic eye with a crosshair pattern. "I want people to know the price of war."

Specialist Joshua Atchley, who was injured in a firefight: "I don't like pretending I have an eye," he said of why he wanted a prosthetic eye with a crosshair pattern. "I want people to know the price of war."

David Finkel

A soldier poses for his official flag photo, which would be released to the media in the event of his death: "I don't plan on dying, so you don't need a picture of me," one reluctant soldier said. "I'm already dead, so what does it matter what I look like?" said another.

A soldier poses for his official flag photo, which would be released to the media in the event of his death: "I don't plan on dying, so you don't need a picture of me," one reluctant soldier said. "I'm already dead, so what does it matter what I look like?" said another.

David Finkel

Specialist Lucas Sassman, who was shot in the head in a firefight. "I've lost my boyish good looks," he told his mother, soon after arriving at the National Naval Medical Center. "You look good as ever," she told him. "You're a liar, Mom," he said.

Specialist Lucas Sassman, who was shot in the head in a firefight. "I've lost my boyish good looks," he told his mother, soon after arriving at the National Naval Medical Center. "You look good as ever," she told him. "You're a liar, Mom," he said.

David Finkel

Sergeant Michael Emory, who was shot in the head by a sniper, and his wife Maria. "Are you cold?" she asked him one day, early in his recovery, trying to guess what was wrong. "Are you cold?" He moved his lips, ever so slightly. She moved her ear to his mouth. "Yes," he whispered.

Sergeant Michael Emory, who was shot in the head by a sniper, and his wife Maria. "Are you cold?" she asked him one day, early in his recovery, trying to guess what was wrong. "Are you cold?" He moved his lips, ever so slightly. She moved her ear to his mouth. "Yes," he whispered.

David Finkel

Specialist Michael Anderson and his tribute to three dead soldiers. "I fell to my knees on the sidewalk and I started praying," he said, describing his reaction when he learned of the deaths. "'Father your will was done, I fully accept it.' I wasn't cursing God or anything. I'm really religious. I just kept telling myself, 'This is God's will. It's okay. God has a plan for everything. God is always in charge.' "

Specialist Michael Anderson and his tribute to three dead soldiers. "I fell to my knees on the sidewalk and I started praying," he said, describing his reaction when he learned of the deaths. "'Father your will was done, I fully accept it.' I wasn't cursing God or anything. I'm really religious. I just kept telling myself, 'This is God's will. It's okay. God has a plan for everything. God is always in charge.' "

David Finkel

Soldiers of the 2-16 Rangers wait for permission to enter a mosque. "There are weapons inside," the commanding officer told an Iraqi general, explaining why the Americans wanted to search it. "No!" the general exclaimed in shock, and then laughed.

Soldiers of the 2-16 Rangers wait for permission to enter a mosque. "There are weapons inside," the commanding officer told an Iraqi general, explaining why the Americans wanted to search it. "No!" the general exclaimed in shock, and then laughed.

David Finkel

Two soldiers try to collect themselves after their Humvee was hit by a roadside bomb. "When it blew up, everything turned black." ... "I just saw a bunch of dust." ... "I was shaking." ... "We're alive." ... "It's luck. That's all it is."

Two soldiers try to collect themselves after their Humvee was hit by a roadside bomb. "When it blew up, everything turned black." ... "I just saw a bunch of dust." ... "I was shaking." ... "We're alive." ... "It's luck. That's all it is."

David Finkel

Majors Dave Goetze, left, and Brent Cummings, planning an operation. "The normal abnormal," was how Cummings described a war in which he hoped that his soldiers would act morally. "Otherwise we're not human."

Majors Dave Goetze, left, and Brent Cummings, planning an operation. "The normal abnormal," was how Cummings described a war in which he hoped that his soldiers would act morally. "Otherwise we're not human."

David Finkel

Sergeant Adam Schumann, regarded as one of the battalion's best soldiers, on the day he was sent home with severe post-traumatic stress disorder. "I've lost all hope," he wrote in his personal journal after three deployments and a thousand days in Iraq. "I feel the end is near for me, very, very near."

Sergeant Adam Schumann, regarded as one of the battalion's best soldiers, on the day he was sent home with severe post-traumatic stress disorder. "I've lost all hope," he wrote in his personal journal after three deployments and a thousand days in Iraq. "I feel the end is near for me, very, very near."

David Finkel

Colonel Qasim Ibrahim Alwan, of the Iraq National Police, who received constant death threats for working with the 2-16 Rangers. "Iraq is the first country in everything," he declared one day after surprising an American commander with a pizza and cake on his birthday. "In insurgency. In food."

Colonel Qasim Ibrahim Alwan, of the Iraq National Police, who received constant death threats for working with the 2-16 Rangers. "Iraq is the first country in everything," he declared one day after surprising an American commander with a pizza and cake on his birthday. "In insurgency. In food."

David Finkel

Sergeant Frank Gietz, who received a Bronze Star Medal with Valor. "It's a thin line between what we're calling acceptable and not acceptable," he said of the demands of war on a soldier. "As a leader, you're supposed to know when not to cross it. But how do you know? Does the army teach us how to control our emotions? Does the army teach us how to deal with a friend bleeding out in front of you? No."

Sergeant Frank Gietz, who received a Bronze Star Medal with Valor. "It's a thin line between what we're calling acceptable and not acceptable," he said of the demands of war on a soldier. "As a leader, you're supposed to know when not to cross it. But how do you know? Does the army teach us how to control our emotions? Does the army teach us how to deal with a friend bleeding out in front of you? No."

David Finkel

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