THE TENSION: Combat Camera: Defend America for 6 Jan. 2007

A Wyoming Air National Guard C-130 Hercules aircraft prepares to depart from Pueblo Memorial Airport, Colo., on Jan. 3, 2006, after being loaded with hay bales. The hay will be dropped in southeast Colorado to help feed livestock stranded by a snow storm. DoD photo by Senior Master Sgt. John Rohrer, U.S. Air Force. (Released)

U.S. Marines with 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 7, I Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward) and an Iraqi police officer conduct a patrol in Haqlaniyah, Iraq, on Dec. 20, 2006. DoD photo by Cpl. Brian M. Henner, U.S. Marine Corps. (Released)

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Chance Seidell walks behind a Stryker vehicle during a cordon and knock operation outside of Sadar City, Iraq, on Dec. 24, 2006. Seidell is attached to Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division. DoD photo by Sgt. Tierney Nowland, U.S. Army. (Released)

U.S. Navy sailors salute the ensign after bringing it to half-staff in honor of Navy veteran and former President Gerald R. Ford aboard the submarine tender USS Frank Cable (AS 40) in Apra Harbor, Guam, on Jan. 1, 2007. DoD photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Jeremy Johnson, U.S. Navy. (Released)

U.S. Army soldiers dismount from their Humvee after getting stuck in a mud hole while patrolling through Kirkuk, Iraq, on Dec. 28, 2006. The soldiers are from Charlie Company, 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. DoD photo by Staff Sgt. Samuel Bendet, U.S. Air Force. (Released)