THE TENSION: Combat Camera: US Marines Operate in Now Zad, Afghanistan

An AH-1 Attack helicopter flies over an area just after an explosion occurred as U.S. Marines conducted an operation in the village of Now Zad in Helmand province, Afghanistan, April 3, 2009. The Marines are assigned to the 8th Marine Regiment's Lima Company, 3rd Battalion. The village has been abandoned because of enemy activity. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Gunnery Sgt. James A. Burks.)

Dirt and debris from an explosion fly through a window as U.S. Marines conduct an operation in the abandoned village of Now Zad in Helmand province, Afghanistan, April 3, 2009. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Pete Thibodeau.)

U.S. Marines ride in armored vehicles while conducting an operation in the village of Now Zad in Helmand province, Afghanistan, April 3, 2009. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Gunnery Sgt. James A. Burks.)

U.S. Marines maintain security as fellow Marines assess damage at an impact area during an operation in the abandoned village of Now Zad in Helmand province, Afghanistan, April 3, 2009. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Pete Thibodeau.)

U.S. Marine Cpl. Donovan Saffo exits a building during an operation in the abandoned village of Now Zad in Helmand province, Afghanistan, April 3, 2009. Saffo is a team leader assigned to the 8th Marine Regiment's Lima Company, 3rd Battalion. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Pete Thibodeau.)

U.S. Marine Cpl. Raymond Robinson signals his radio operator during a local security patrol in the abandoned village of Now Zad in Helmand province, Afghanistan, April 4, 2009. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Pete Thibodeau.)

A U.S. Marine uses a metal detector with fellow Marines while conducting a local security patrol in the abandoned village of Now Zad in Helmand province, Afghanistan, April 4, 2009. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Pete Thibodeau.)

U.S. Marines conduct a local security patrol in the abandoned village of Now Zad in Helmand province, Afghanistan, April 4, 2009. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Pete Thibodeau.)

U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Jonathon Mathews looks over a map during a local security patrol in the abandoned village of Now Zad in Helmand province, Afghanistan, April 4, 2009. Matthews is a team leader assigned to the 8th Marine Regiment's Lima Company, 3rd Battalion. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Pete Thibodeau.)

U.S. Marine Cpl. Raymond Robinson talks to a young boy April 4, 2009, during a local security patrol in the abandoned village of Now Zad in Helmand Province of Afghanistan, April 4, 2009. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Pete Thibodeau.)