THE TENSION: Combat Camera: Operation Chaos Thrasher in Aswad, Iraq

Capt. Shaun Reass, platoon leader, and Staff Sgt. William Houdeshell, squad leader of 3rd Platoon, Company C, 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, discuss movement into the village of Aswad, Iraq, Feb. 19 during Operation Chaos Thrasher. (Photographer: Staff Sgt. Russell Bassett, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division.)

Cpl. Keith Raymond, infantryman in Company C, 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division from Fort Lewis, Wash., prepares to reenter a building after clearing its rooftop Feb. 19 in Aswad, Iraq. (Photographer: Staff Sgt. Russell Bassett, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division.)

A soldier in Company C, 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division from Fort Lewis, Wash., talks with Iraqi children in Aswad, Iraq, Feb. 19 during Operation Chaos Thrasher. The operation was designed to not only clear the village of any remaining al-Qaida in Iraq, but to also build rapport with local populace. (Photographer: Staff Sgt. Russell Bassett, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division.)

Capt. Shaun Reass, platoon leader of 3rd Platoon, Company C, 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division talks with a Son of Iraq in Aswad, Iraq, Feb. 19. SOLs (formerly Concerned Local Citizens) guard the entrances to the town to keep al-Qaida in Iraq from entering. (Photographer: Staff Sgt. Russell Bassett, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division.)

Spc. Kyle Wagner and Sgt. 1st Class Keneti Pauulu of 3rd Platoon, Company C, 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment from Fort Lewis, Wash., pull security during Operation Chaos Thrasher Feb. 19 in Aswad, Iraq. (Photographer: Staff Sgt. Russell Bassett, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division.)

Spc. Kyle Wagner, medic in 3rd Platoon, Company C, 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment from Fort Lewis, Wash., pulls security Feb. 19 during Operation Chaos Thrasher in Aswad, Iraq. (Photographer: Staff Sgt. Russell Bassett, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division.)

Staff Sgt. William Houdeshell, squad leader in 3rd Platoon, Company C, 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment from Fort Lewis, Wash., inspects a vehicle for weapons Feb. 19 in Aswad, Iraq. (Photographer: Staff Sgt. Russell Bassett, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division.)

Cpl. Keith Raymond, infantryman in Company C, 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division from Fort Lewis, Wash., and Iraqi policemen search a palm grove for weapon caches Feb. 19 in Aswad, Iraq, during Operation Chaos Thrasher. (Photographer: Staff Sgt. Russell Bassett, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division.)

Pfc. Toby Obrien and other soldiers from Company C, 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment patrol Aswad, Iraq, with Iraqi policemen Feb. 19 during Operation Chaos Thrasher. (Photographer: Staff Sgt. Russell Bassett, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division.)

Soldiers from Company C, 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry and Iraqi policemen search a field for weapon caches Feb. 19 in Aswad, Iraq, during Operation Chaos Thrasher. (Photographer: Staff Sgt. Russell Bassett, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division.)

Pfc. Toby Obrien navigates over a wall as Cpl. Keith Raymond watches Feb. 19 in Aswad, Iraq. The 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment soldiers worked side-by-side with Iraqi policemen to clear the town and surrounding areas of enemy insurgents. (Photographer: Staff Sgt. Russell Bassett, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division.)

Staff Sgt. William Houdeshell, squad leader in 3rd Platoon, Company C, 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division from Fort Lewis, Wash., looks down a road using his weapon sight Feb. 19 during Operation Chaos Thrasher in Aswad, Iraq. (Photographer: Staff Sgt. Russell Bassett, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division.)