THE TENSION: Combat Camera: US Marines Conduct Patrols in Afghanistan

U.S. Marine Sgt. Derek Forte briefs members of the 3rd Marine Regiment's Gulf Company, 2nd Battalion before a patrol of Now Zad, Afghanistan, a mine-infested town deserted by its residents and controlled by the Taliban, June 26, 2009. (Uncredited U.S. Marine Corps photo.)

U.S. Marines conduct a patrol during early morning operations through the mine-infested town of Now Zad, Afghanistan, has been deserted by its residents and controlled by the Taliban, June 27, 2009. The Marines are assigned to the 3rd Marine Regiment's Gulf Company, 2nd Battalion. (Uncredited U.S. Marine Corps photo.)

U.S. Marines conduct a patrol during early morning operations through the mine-infested town of Now Zad in Afghanistan's Helmand province, June 27, 2009. (Uncredited U.S. Marine Corps photo.)

U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Lukas Ellinger and fellow Marines conduct a patrol during early morning operations through the mine-infested town of Now Zad in Helmand province, Afghanistan, June 27, 2009. (Uncredited U.S. Marine Corps photo.)

A U.S. Marine looks over a terrain map of the Now Zad, Afghanistan, as other Marines conduct a search of a building while on patrol during early morning operations Helmand province, Afghanistan, June 27, 2009. (Uncredited U.S. Marine Corps photo.)

U.S. Marines conduct patrols through the abandoned city of Now Zad, Helmand province, Afghanistan, June 26, 2009. (Uncredited U.S. Marine Corps photo.)

U.S. Marines patrol the small town of Dahanah, next to Now Zad, Helmand province, Afghanistan, in order to develop relationships with the civilians in the area, June 26, 2009. (Uncredited U.S. Marine Corps photo.)

U.S. Marines talk with village elders in Dahanah, the town next to Now Zad, with the aid of interpreters, Helmand province, Afghanistan, June 25, 2009. (Uncredited U.S. Marine Corps photo.)

U.S. Marines meet and talk with a Dahanah village elder with the help of interpreters while on patrol in the small town that neighbors Now Zad, Helmand province, Afghanistan, June 25, 2009. (Uncredited U.S. Marine Corps photo.)

A U.S. Marine meets and talks with a Dahanah village elder with the help of interpreters while on patrol in the small town that neighbors Now Zad, Helmand province, Afghanistan, June 25, 2009. (Uncredited U.S. Marine Corps photo.)

U.S. Marine Sgt. Perry Bessant, right, fellow Marines and Afghan army soldiers conduct a dismounted patrol through the rugged terrain of the Farah province's Golestan district, in Afghanistan in search of improvised explosive devices, June 23, 2009. The Marines are assigned to the 3rd Marine Regiment's Fox Company, 1st Platoon, 2nd Battalion. (Uncredited U.S. Marine Corps photo.)

U.S. Marine Pfc. Dustin Hill uses binoculars to watch the countryside from his guard post on Forward Operating Base Delaram, Farah province, Afghanistan, June 22, 2009. Hill is a radio operator assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 3. (Uncredited U.S. Marine Corps photo.)

U.S. Marine Pfc. Dustin Hill watches attentively from his guard post on Forward Operating Base Delaram, Farah province, Afghanistan, June 22, 2009. Hill is a radio operator assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 3. (Uncredited U.S. Marine Corps photo.)