U.S. Marine Sgt. Justin K. Smith, a squad leader with

U.S. Marine Sgt. Justin K. Smith, a squad leader with Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, and native of Greensboro, N.C., kneels in a field while speaking to air support over his radio during a patrol here, March 12, 2012. In 2006, Smith was part of the battle of Ramadi, one of the fiercest battles of Operation Iraqi Freedom, and now serves as a squad leader with 2/6 conducting counterinsurgency operations in Helmand province’s Nawa District.