Fort Worth, Texas, native Lance Cpl. Trey Woodward,
Fort Worth, Texas, native Lance Cpl. Trey Woodward, a machine-gunner with 3rd Platoon, Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, patrols through a field. Woodward, 21, is a graduate of Boswell High Scho... More
Columbus, Neb., native Cpl. Nicholas Hardesty, the
Columbus, Neb., native Cpl. Nicholas Hardesty, the machine-guns squad leader for 3rd Platoon, Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, provides security while halted during a patrol. The 22-year-old Har... More
Stockton, Calif., native Lance Cpl. Joseph D. Ramirez,
Stockton, Calif., native Lance Cpl. Joseph D. Ramirez, a rifleman with 3rd Platoon, Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, patrols through a field. The 19-year-old is a graduate of Manteca High School... More
(From Left) Lance Cpl. Jacob S. Brehm, Staff Sgt. Peter
(From Left) Lance Cpl. Jacob S. Brehm, Staff Sgt. Peter S. Ramos, Lance Cpl. Brandyn E. Council, and Cpl. Michael S. Ussery serve with Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Reigment. Brehm, Council and Ussery... More
A Marine with Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine
A Marine with Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, looks at a distant ridgeline through his Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight. The Marines and Afghan Uniformed Police were engaged by insurgent figh... More
Marshall, Minn., native Lance Cpl. Ryan J. Merritt,
Marshall, Minn., native Lance Cpl. Ryan J. Merritt, the turret gunner for Truck Four of the mobile section with Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, watches his sector while providing security overw... More
Corporal Michael S. Ussery, a Rochelle, Ga., native
Corporal Michael S. Ussery, a Rochelle, Ga., native and a rifleman with Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, is currently on his second combat tour to Afghanistan. The team leader with 3rd Platoon ... More
Marines with Echo Company, Afghan Uniformed Police
Marines with Echo Company, Afghan Uniformed Police patrolmen, and interpreters gathered around a fire became a common sight and a daily occurrence during Operation Double Check. The Marines and their Afghan cou... More
Corporal George W. Casey (right), a 29-year-old squad
Corporal George W. Casey (right), a 29-year-old squad leader with 3rd Platoon, counts off Marines from his platoon to gain accountability as they prepare for a recent night extract. Casey led his squad while c... More
Fort Worth, Texas, native Lance Cpl. Trey Woodward,
Fort Worth, Texas, native Lance Cpl. Trey Woodward, a machine-gunner with 3rd Platoon, Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, patrols next to a cornfield. Woodward, 21, is a graduate of Boswell High ... More
Columbus, Neb., native Cpl. Nicholas Hardesty, the
Columbus, Neb., native Cpl. Nicholas Hardesty, the machine-guns squad leader for 3rd Platoon, Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, provides security while halted during a patrol. Hardesty, 22, has ... More
Fort Worth, Texas, native, Lance Cpl. Trey Woodward,
Fort Worth, Texas, native, Lance Cpl. Trey Woodward, a machine gunner with 3rd Platoon, Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, patrols next to a cornfield. The 21-year-old, a graduate of Boswell High... More
Helmand Provincial Governor Gulab Mangal cuts a ceremonial
Helmand Provincial Governor Gulab Mangal cuts a ceremonial ribbon officially opening the Musa Qal'eh Wadi Crossing. The crossing was constructed by Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 4 and will assist the loca... More
(From Left) Lance Cpl. Jacob S. Brehm, Staff Sgt. Peter
(From Left) Lance Cpl. Jacob S. Brehm, Staff Sgt. Peter S. Ramos, Lance Cpl. Brandyn E. Council, and Cpl. Michael S. Ussery serve with Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment. Brehm, Council and Ussery... More
Captain George J. Flynn III, a Woodbridge, Va., native
Captain George J. Flynn III, a Woodbridge, Va., native and the commanding officer for Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, speaks into his field radio operator’s handset. Lance Cpl. Nichalos A. Tuc... More
Marshall, Minn., native Lance Cpl. Ryan J. Merritt,
Marshall, Minn., native Lance Cpl. Ryan J. Merritt, the turret gunner for Truck Four of the mobile section with Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, watches his sector while providing security overw... More
Corporal Michael S. Ussery, a Rochelle, Ga., native
Corporal Michael S. Ussery, a Rochelle, Ga., native and a rifleman with Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, is currently on his second combat tour to Afghanistan. The team leader with 3rd Platoon... More
A Marine with 3rd Platoon catches up on his rest after
A Marine with 3rd Platoon catches up on his rest after a patrol. The platoon members belong to Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, and are participating in Operation Double Check, an operation to ... More
Marines in the foreground use articles of clothing
Marines in the foreground use articles of clothing to cover their faces to get some much-needed rest after a night of patrolling. Marines and sailors in the background prepare for an upcoming patrol, while othe... More
Fort Worth, Texas, native Lance Cpl. Trey Woodward,
Fort Worth, Texas, native Lance Cpl. Trey Woodward, a machine-gunner with 3rd Platoon, Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, provides security while halted during a patrol. Woodward has enjoyed a se... More
Columbus, Neb., native Cpl. Nicholas Hardesty, the
Columbus, Neb., native Cpl. Nicholas Hardesty, the machine-guns squad leader with 3rd Platoon, Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, holds security while Afghan Uniformed Police patrolmen and Marines... More
San Bernardino, Calif., native, 1st Lt. Charlie Robert
San Bernardino, Calif., native, 1st Lt. Charlie Robert Cordova, the commanding officer of 3rd Platoon, Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, crosses a small canal during a patrol. The 25-year-old gra... More
Marines with 3rd Platoon walk toward a CH-53 Sea Stallion
Marines with 3rd Platoon walk toward a CH-53 Sea Stallion during a night extract after participating in the initial phase of Operation Double Check, an ongoing operation to promote legitimate governance and sec... More
Marines and Afghan forces prepare for opening ceremonies
Marines and Afghan forces prepare for opening ceremonies for the Musa Qal’eh water crossing built by Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 4 Seabees. The crossing connects the two parts of the district and allows... More
Corporal Jayananda D. Braeger, a Berkeley, Calif.,
Corporal Jayananda D. Braeger, a Berkeley, Calif., native and an M2 .50 caliber machine gunner with Echo Company’s mobile unit, peers through a set of binoculars looking for any imminent threat that could endan... More
Marshall, Minn., native Lance Cpl. Ryan J. Merritt,
Marshall, Minn., native Lance Cpl. Ryan J. Merritt, the turret gunner for Truck Four of the mobile section with Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, watches his sector while providing security overw... More
Corporal Michael S. Ussery, a Rochelle, Ga., native
Corporal Michael S. Ussery, a Rochelle, Ga., native and a rifleman with Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, conducts a security patrol during Operation Double Check, an ongoing operation to promot... More
Lance Cpl. Adam Ridgeway, a Chicago native and an
Lance Cpl. Adam Ridgeway, a Chicago native and an infantryman with Echo Company, removes the buffer and buffer spring from his M-16A4 service rifle. Marines clean their weapon systems after patrols and engagem... More
Fort Worth, Texas, native Lance Cpl. Trey Woodward,
Fort Worth, Texas, native Lance Cpl. Trey Woodward, a machine-gunner with 3rd Platoon, Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, wipes sweat from his sunglasses during a patrol. Woodward has noticed tha... More
Phoenix native Petty Officer 3rd Class Cameron Mouer,
Phoenix native Petty Officer 3rd Class Cameron Mouer, a corpsman with 3rd Platoon, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, provides security while halted on a patrol. The 22-year-old is a graduate of Agua Fria High... More
Stockton, Calif., native Lance Cpl. Joseph D. Ramirez,
Stockton, Calif., native Lance Cpl. Joseph D. Ramirez, a rifleman with 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, crosses an irrigation ditch with some help from an Afghan Uniformed Police patrolman. The Marines and A... More
Marshall, Minn., native Lance Cpl. Ryan J. Merritt,
Marshall, Minn., native Lance Cpl. Ryan J. Merritt, the turret gunner for Truck Four of the mobile section with Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, watches his sector while providing security overw... More
Marines with Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine
Marines with Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, take a break from patrolling as the sun begins to rise. The Marines, along with their Afghan Uniformed Police counterparts, began clearing one of t... More
Truck Four from the mobile section with Fox Company,
Truck Four from the mobile section with Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, prepares to move from its temporary position after resting overnight. Truck Four’s crew of Marines – Cpl. John Kehoe, fr... More
Corporal Nicholas W. Abey, a Houston native and a scout
Corporal Nicholas W. Abey, a Houston native and a scout sniper with the Scout Sniper Platoon, Echo Company, grabbed the first spot he could find to sleep after a long night of patrolling. The snipers with 2nd ... More
Corporal Michael S. Ussery, a Rochelle, Ga., native
Corporal Michael S. Ussery, a Rochelle, Ga., native and a rifleman with Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, speaks to a local villager during a patrol to gage their feelings on important issues in... More
Marines with 3rd Platoon trudge through a muddy field
Marines with 3rd Platoon trudge through a muddy field while conducting a security patrol west of the village of Regay. The Marines belonging to Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, provided securit... More
Fort Worth, Texas, native Lance Cpl. Trey Woodward,
Fort Worth, Texas, native Lance Cpl. Trey Woodward, a machine-gunner with 3rd Platoon, Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, provides security while halted during a patrol. Woodward has noticed that... More
Marines with 3rd Platoon, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine
Marines with 3rd Platoon, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, and patrolmen from the Afghan Uniformed Police patrol through a field. The Marines and AUP have partnered in recent weeks to show a strong, unified ... More
Lance Cpl. Anthony L. Sickman, a Grand Rapids, Mich.,
Lance Cpl. Anthony L. Sickman, a Grand Rapids, Mich., native and an infantryman with Echo Company, leads his fellow Marines to their next objective compound. Sickman’s platoon and other Marines belonging to 2nd... More
Truck Four from the mobile section with Fox Company,
Truck Four from the mobile section with Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, prepares to move from its temporary position after resting overnight. Truck Four’s crew of Marines – Cpl. John Kehoe, fr... More
After moving about the area around the southern Musa
After moving about the area around the southern Musa Qal’eh’s dry riverbed undetected for nearly two weeks, scout snipers with Echo Company sit down to play a time-honored game of spades. Troops have used play... More
Corporal Michael S. Ussery, a Rochelle, Ga., native
Corporal Michael S. Ussery, a Rochelle, Ga., native and a team leader with 3rd Platoon, scans the adjacent village for insurgent activity. Third Platoon belongs to Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regim... More
Fort Worth, Texas, native Lance Cpl. Trey Woodward,
Fort Worth, Texas, native Lance Cpl. Trey Woodward, a machine-gunner with 3rd Platoon, Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, patrols through a field. The 21-year-old Woodward is a graduate of Boswell... More
Commander Saber (left), an Afghan Uniformed Police
Commander Saber (left), an Afghan Uniformed Police commander for a precinct in Musa Qal’eh district, Helmand province, and San Bernardino, Calif., native 1st Lt. Charlie Robert Cordova (right), the commanding o... More
Marines with Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine
Marines with Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, patrol a ridgeline running along the southern Musa Qal’eh riverbed as the sun peeks over the horizon in the distance. The Marines with the company... More
Joliet, Ill., native Cpl. John Kehoe, the assistant
Joliet, Ill., native Cpl. John Kehoe, the assistant patrol leader of the mobile section with Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, and vehicle commander of Truck Four’s crew of the mobile section, co... More
Marines with Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine
Marines with Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, move to a new position during the opening phase of Operation Double Check, a battalion-level offensive to rid areas of southern Musa Qal’eh district... More
Petty Officer 3rd Class Casey J. Doyle, a Clatskanie,
Petty Officer 3rd Class Casey J. Doyle, a Clatskanie, Ore., native and a field corpsman with 3rd Platoon, takes a knee during a security patrol outside of the village of Regay. Doyle’s platoon belongs to Echo C... More
(Left) Corporal Christopher J. Longo, a West Minster,
(Left) Corporal Christopher J. Longo, a West Minster, Colo., native and a spotter with Scout Sniper Platoon, Echo Company, cuts up market-fresh potatoes from a local bazaar with Sgt. Nathan K. Euing, a Houston ... More
Fort Worth, Texas, native Lance Cpl. Trey Woodward,
Fort Worth, Texas, native Lance Cpl. Trey Woodward, a machine-gunner with 3rd Platoon, Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, patrols next to a small canal. Woodward has enjoyed a sense of camaraderi... More
San Bernardino, Calif., native 1st Lt. Charlie Robert
San Bernardino, Calif., native 1st Lt. Charlie Robert Cordova, the commanding officer of 3rd Platoon, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, scans his surroundings for a good place to establish an overnight observ... More
Marines with Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine
Marines with Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, slept in the open during Operation Double Check, an operation to clear several villages along the southern Musa Qal’eh riverbed to establish a secu... More
Coulterville, Ill., native Lance Cpl. Dakin M. Jausel,
Coulterville, Ill., native Lance Cpl. Dakin M. Jausel, the driver of Truck Four’s crew of the mobile section for Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, communicates via radio with another vehicle befo... More
Petty Officer 3rd Class Casey J. Doyle, a Clatskanie,
Petty Officer 3rd Class Casey J. Doyle, a Clatskanie, Ore., native and a field corpsman with 3rd Platoon, patrols with Marines during the early morning hours just as the sun begins to crest over the mountain ra... More
Seaman James L. Louck, a Riverside, Calif., native
Seaman James L. Louck, a Riverside, Calif., native and a corpsman with Echo Company, tries to keep warm while on midnight radio watch. The Marines and sailors with Echo Company maintain multiple security respo... More
Fort Worth, Texas, native Lance Cpl. Trey Woodward,
Fort Worth, Texas, native Lance Cpl. Trey Woodward, a machine-gunner with 3rd Platoon, Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, patrols across a small canal. Woodward has noticed that Afghan children a... More
Commander Saber (left), an Afghan Uniformed Police
Commander Saber (left), an Afghan Uniformed Police commander for a precinct in Musa Qal’eh district, and San Bernardino, Calif., native 1st Lt. Charlie Robert Cordova (right), the commanding officer of 3rd Plat... More
Marines and Afghans sit down to discuss future security
Marines and Afghans sit down to discuss future security measures and the placement of Afghan Uniformed Police security posts over a cup of chai tea. Marines with Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment... More
Joliet, Ill., native Cpl. John Kehoe, the assistant
Joliet, Ill., native Cpl. John Kehoe, the assistant patrol leader for the mobile section with Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, and vehicle commander of Truck Four’s crew in the mobile section, e... More
Marines with Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine
Marines with Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, boil water retrieved from a local well to be used for drinking during the first phase of Operation Double Check, a battalion-level offensive to rid ... More
Corporal George W. Casey (center), a 29-year-old squad
Corporal George W. Casey (center), a 29-year-old squad leader with 3rd Platoon, and his squad hold security as they wait for an incoming CH-53 Sea Stallion helicopter to extract troops from the nearby village o... More
Marines with 3rd Platoon, Fox Company, 2nd Battalion,
Marines with 3rd Platoon, Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, and an Afghan Uniformed Police patrolman maintain observation on a hill while halted on a patrol. Part of the Marines’ mission is to me... More
A patrolman with the Musa Qal’eh district Afghan Uniformed
A patrolman with the Musa Qal’eh district Afghan Uniformed Police holds security while on a patrol. The patrolmen with the district’s AUP participated in Operation Double Check, in which they cleared a number o... More
Marines with Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine
Marines with Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, return to Patrol Base 7171 after being away for almost a week to participate in the first phase of Operation Double Check, a battalion-level offensi... More
Three Marines with 3rd Platoon prepare for a patrol
Three Marines with 3rd Platoon prepare for a patrol while two others take a load off during Operation Double Check, an ongoing operation to promote legitimate governance and security within the Musa Qal’eh dist... More
Marines from the Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit attached
Marines from the Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit attached to Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, get off their feet before the next patrol. The Marines supported Operation Double Check, patrollin... More
Garland, Texas, native Sgt. Joshua Pearce, a squad
Garland, Texas, native Sgt. Joshua Pearce, a squad leader with 3rd Platoon, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, checks his squad’s location with a map during a patrol. Part of the Marines’ mission is to mentor ... More
Patrolmen with the Musa Qal’eh district Afghan Uniformed
Patrolmen with the Musa Qal’eh district Afghan Uniformed Police lead a local security patrol shortly after the establishment of their new security post. Once the patrolmen and Marines with Echo Company, 2nd Bat... More
Marines from Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine
Marines from Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, scan their surroundings for enemy combatants as an adjacent element of their patrol takes fire during Operation Double Check, a battalion-level offe... More
Molly, an improvised explosive device-detection dog,
Molly, an improvised explosive device-detection dog, keeps Seaman James L. Louck company at a new Afghan Uniformed Police security post in the village of Regay. The Riverside, Calif., native and corpsman with 2... More
Marines with 3rd Platoon, Fox Company, 2nd Battalion,
Marines with 3rd Platoon, Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, conduct a recent patrol through the area. The Marines of 3rd Platoon go on regular security patrols to give local residents a sense of ... More
Marines from Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine
Marines from Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, scan their surroundings for enemy combatants as an adjacent element of their patrol takes fire during Operation Double Check. Fox Company Marines, A... More
An Afghan Uniformed Police security post commander
An Afghan Uniformed Police security post commander and a patrolman scan the local villages, searching for remaining insurgent fighters who recently engaged AUP patrolmen on the eastern side of the southern Musa... More
Marines with Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine
Marines with Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, move from Patrol Base 7171 to another position to begin their participation in the second phase of Operation Double Check, a battalion-level offensi... More
Lance Cpl. Tyler Knight, a Burlington, Iowa, native
Lance Cpl. Tyler Knight, a Burlington, Iowa, native and an infantryman with 2nd Platoon, Echo Company, sits in a window while watching a suspected insurgent nearby arrested by the Afghan Uniformed Police. The M... More
Stockton, Calif., native Lance Cpl. Joseph D. Ramirez,
Stockton, Calif., native Lance Cpl. Joseph D. Ramirez, a rifleman with 3rd Platoon, Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, crosses an irrigation ditch with some help from an Afghan Uniformed Police pa... More
Lance Cpl. Shane W. Stokes, a Springfield, Mo., native
Lance Cpl. Shane W. Stokes, a Springfield, Mo., native and an infantryman with Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, walks with a new friend he met while patrolling through a local bazaar. A mob of ... More
Marines with Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine
Marines with Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, rest during a movement from Patrol Base 7171 to another position to begin their participation in the second phase of Operation Double Check, a batta... More
Lance Cpl. Kevin Adkins, a Surprise, Ariz., native
Lance Cpl. Kevin Adkins, a Surprise, Ariz., native and infantryman with 2nd Platoon, Echo Company, takes a sip of hot chai tea with a patrolman from the Afghan Uniformed Police. The Marines and Afghans spend a... More
Marines with Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine
Marines with Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, patrol through the desert during the opening phase of Operation Double Check. Fox Company Marines, Afghan National Police and Afghan National Secur... More
Lance Cpl. Adam Ridgeway, a Chicago native and an
Lance Cpl. Adam Ridgeway, a Chicago native and an infantryman with Echo Company, provides security for his fellow Marines as the sun begins to set. Ridgeway and other Marines belonging to 2nd Battalion, 4th Mar... More