THE TENSION: Combat Camera: Assisting Americans In the Middle East

U.S. Marines from the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, embarked aboard USS Nashville (LPD 13), assist American citizens from the beach in Beirut, Lebanon, onto a waiting landing craft utility July 21, 2006, for transport to USS Nashville. At the request of the U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon and at the direction of the Secretary of Defense, the United States Central Command and elements of Task Force 59 are assisting with the departure of U.S. citizens from Lebanon. DoD photo by Cryptologic Technician 3rd Class Taylor, U.S. Navy. (Released)

USS Nashville (LPD 13) anchors off the coastline of Beirut, Lebanon, July 21, 2006. Nashville is currently part of a mission to assist U.S. citizens in their departure from Lebanon. DoD photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Robert J. Fluegel, U.S. Navy. (Released)

U.S. Navy sailors assist two young American citizens as they arrive on the flight deck of the USS Trenton (LPD 14) as the ship operates off the coast of Lebanon on July 21, 2006. At the request of the U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon and at the direction of the Secretary of Defense, the United States Central Command and elements of Task Force 59 are assisting with the departure of U.S. citizens from Lebanon. The Trenton is an amphibious transport which is used to carry and land Marines, their equipment andsupplies by embarked air cushion or conventional landing craft, amphibious vehicles, helicopters or vertical take off and landing aircraft. DoD photo by Lt. Karen Eifert, U.S. Navy. (Released)

A U.S. Marine from the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit assists an American baby as she prepares to depart the American Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, July 21, 2006. At the request of the U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon and at the direction of the Secretary of Defense, the United States Central Command and elements of Task Force 59 are assisting with the departure of U.S. citizens from Lebanon. DoD photo by Cpl. Jeffrey A. Cosola, U.S. Marine Corps. (Released)

U.S. Marines from the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit assist American citizens as they prepare to depart the American Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, July 21, 2006. At the request of the U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon and at the direction of the Secretary of Defense, the United States Central Command and elements of Task Force 59 are assisting with the departure of U.S. citizens from Lebanon. DoD photo by Cpl. Jeffrey A. Cosola, U.S. Marine Corps. (Released)

A U.S. Navy sailor carries a sleeping child in a stroller from a landing craft utility boat to the USS Trenton (LPD 14) as the ship operates off the coast of Lebanon on July 21, 2006. At the request of the U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon and at the direction of the Secretary of Defense, the United States Central Command and elements of Task Force 59 are assisting with the departure of U.S. citizens from Lebanon. The Trenton is an amphibious transport which is used to carry and land Marines, their equipment and supplies by embarked air cushion or conventional landing craft, amphibious vehicles, helicopters or vertical take off and landing aircraft. DoD photo by Lt. Karen Eifert, U.S. Navy. (Released)

A CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter from Medium Helicopter Squadron 365 takes off as a second Sea Knight prepares to take off from the flight deck of the USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) July 21, 2006. The multipurpose amphibious assault ship is currently part of a mission to assist U.S. citizens in their departure from Lebanon. DoD photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Robert J. Fluegel, U.S. Navy. (Released)

A U.S. Navy Sailor gives candy to an American child before helping him onto a landing craft utility boat in Lebanon for transport to the USS Trenton (LPD 14) July 21, 2006. At the request of the U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon and at the direction of the Secretary of Defense, the United States Central Command and elements of Task Force 59 are assisting with the departure of U.S. citizens from Lebanon. DoD photo by Lt. Karen Eiffert, U.S. Navy. (Released)