THE TENSION: Combat Camera: US Soldiers Conduct Operation Champion Spear, Paktia Province, Afghanistan

U.S. Army soldiers rest at a patrol base atop a mountain during Operation Champion Spear outside the village of Marsac in Paktia province, Afghanistan, Sept. 2, 2009. The soldiers are assigned to the 25th Infantry Division's 3rd Battalion, 509th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Christopher Nicholas.)

U.S. Army soldiers make a security stop while pursuing their mission during Operation Champion Spear outside the village of Marsac in Paktia province, Afghanistan, Sept. 2, 2009. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Christopher Nicholas.)

U.S. Army soldiers look on as a supply helicopter brings in water and food to a mountain ridge during Operation Champion Spear outside the village of Marsac in Paktia province, Afghanistan, Sept. 3, 2009. The soldiers are assigned to the 25th Infantry Division's 3rd Battalion, 509th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Christopher Nicholas.)

U.S. Army soldiers plan to move to the next mission objective during Operation Champion Spear outside the village of Marsac in Paktia province, Afghanistan, Sept. 3, 2009. The soldiers are assigned to the 25th Infantry Division's 1st Battalion, 501st Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Christopher Nicholas.)

A Jingle air helicopter delivers supplies to U.S. Army soldiers to a mountain during Operation Champion Spear outside the village of Marsac in Paktia province, Afghanistan, Sept. 5, 2009. The soldiers are assigned to the 25th Infantry Division's 1st Battalion, 501st Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Christopher Nicholas.)

U.S. Army Cpt. Patrick Tabin stands by to move out from a patrol base on a mountain during Operation Champion Spear, outside the village of Marsac in Paktia province, Afghanistan, Sept. 5, 2009. Tabin is the commander assigned to the 25th Infantry Division's 1st Battalion, 501st Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Christopher Nicholas.)

U.S. Army soldiers board a CH-47 Chinook helicopter to be extracted during Operation Champion Spear outside the village of Marsac in Paktia province, Afghanistan, Sept. 5, 2009. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Christopher Nicholas.)

U.S. Army Pfc. Grella, center, prepares a mortar round for Pfc. Wiley, left, while they engage targets on a mountain side during Operation Champion Spear outside the village of Marsac in Paktia province, Afghanistan, Sept. 6, 2009. The soldiers are assigned to the 25th Infantry Division's 1st Battalion, 501st Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Christopher Nicholas.)

U.S. Army Sgt. Morales engages a target cave with an anti-tank, armor-piercing projectile in the mountains during Operation Champion Spear outside the village of Marsac in Paktia province, Afghanistan, Sept. 6, 2009. Morales is assigned to the 25th Infantry Division's 1st Battalion, 501st Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Christopher Nicholas.)

U.S. Army soldiers return to their patrol base after searching caves during Operation Champion Spear outside the village of Marsac in Paktia province, Afghanistan, Sept. 6, 2009. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Christopher Nicholas.)

U.S. Army soldiers await the landing of a CH-47 Chinook helicopter to be extracted during Operation Champion Spear outside the village of Marsac in Paktia province, Afghanistan, Sept. 7, 2009. The soldiers are assigned to the 25th Infantry Division's 1st Battalion, 501st Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Christopher Nicholas.)

U.S. Army soldiers board a CH-47 Chinook helicopter for extraction during Operation Champion Spear outside the village of Marsac in Paktia province, Afghanistan, Sept. 7, 2009. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Christopher Nicholas.)