THE TENSION: Combat Camera: US Marines Patrol Helmand Province, Afghanistan; Dec. 26, 2008

2nd Lt. John Langer, a platoon commander with Company L, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, walks down an alley in the Helmand province of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Dec. 22. 3/8 is the ground combat element of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force – Afghanistan. (Photographer: Cpl. Pete Thibodeau, Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force - Afghanistan.)

Lance Cpl. Harrison Bruining, a rifleman with Company L, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, turns around during a census patrol in the Helmand province of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Dec. 22. 3/8 is the ground combat element of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force – Afghanistan. (Photographer: Cpl. Pete Thibodeau, Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force - Afghanistan.)

Lance Cpl. Sean Kunis, a rifleman with Company I, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, maintains security during a patrol in the Helmand province of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Dec. 21. 3/8 is the ground combat element of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force – Afghanistan. (Photographer: Cpl. Pete Thibodeau, Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force - Afghanistan.)

Lance Cpl. Kyle Bower, a rifleman with Company L, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, maintains security during a patrol in the Helmand province of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Dec. 22. 3/8 is the ground combat element of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force - Afghanistan. (Photographer: Cpl. Pete Thibodeau, Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force - Afghanistan.)

Marines and an interpreter with Company L, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, conduct a census patrol in order to speak to the local populace in the Helmand province of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Dec. 22. 3/8 is the ground combat element of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force – Afghanistan. (Photographer: Cpl. Pete Thibodeau, Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force - Afghanistan.)

Lance Cpl. Jesse Raper, a rifleman with Company L, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, maintains security in the Helmand province of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Dec. 22. 3/8 is the ground combat element of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force - Afghanistan. (Photographer: Cpl. Pete Thibodeau, Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force - Afghanistan.)

Marines with Company I, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, conduct a security patrol in the Helmand province of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Dec. 21. 3/8 is the ground combat element of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force - Afghanistan. (Photographer: Cpl. Pete Thibodeau, Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force - Afghanistan.)

Cpl. Josh Reasbeck, a patrol leader with Company I, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, maintains security on the rooftop of an abandoned house in the Helmand province of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Dec. 21. 3/8 is the ground combat element of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force - Afghanistan. (Photographer: Cpl. Pete Thibodeau, Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force - Afghanistan.)

Lance Cpl. Kyle Bower, a rifleman with Company L, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, patrols through a village in the Helmand province of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Dec. 22. 3/8 is the ground combat element of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force – Afghanistan. (Photographer: Cpl. Pete Thibodeau, Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force - Afghanistan.)

Lance Cpl. Sean Kunis, a rifleman with Company I, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, maintains security during a patrol in the Helmand province of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Dec. 21, 2008. 3/8 is the ground combat element of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force – Afghanistan. (Photographer: Cpl. Pete Thibodeau, Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force - Afghanistan.)

Lance Cpl. Harrison Bruining, a rifleman with Company L, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, patrols in the Helmand province of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Dec. 22. 3/8 is the ground combat element of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force – Afghanistan. (Photographer: Cpl. Pete Thibodeau, Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force - Afghanistan.)

Lance Cpl. James Welch, a rifleman with Company I, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, looks through binoculars on the rooftop of an abandoned house in the Helmand province of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Dec. 21. 3/8 is the ground combat element of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force – Afghanistan. (Photographer: Cpl. Pete Thibodeau, Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force - Afghanistan.)