INDEPENDENCE DAY 2009

These photos of Marines in combat in Helmund Province, Afghanistan are from over the past three days as Operation KHANJAR (STRIKE OF THE SWORD) continues - S.L.

DAY 1 HELO INFIL

US Marines patrol with their Afghan National Army and Police counterparts during Operation KHANJAR.

US Marines pull security overwatch during Operation KHANJAR

A Marine pulls security on patrol during Day 3 of Operation KHANJAR.

US Marines on patrol, Day 3 of Operations KHANJAR

US Marines return to base on the third day of Operation KHANJAR.

Our thoughts & prayers are with our brave Marines, Sailors, Soldiers and Airmen in the combat zones overseas, as we celebrate Independence Day 2009.

US MARINES IN COMBAT

Infil.

Contact.

Movement under fire.

Marines "stack on the door" as they prepare to search a compound. These Marines are from Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, part of the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade.

M240 MG support.

We will be think of these brave men as we enjoy the Independence Day weekend. Be sure to mention them in your prayers, and as you say grace over your Fourth of July cookout meal.

FACES OF WAR

Study the faces of these US Marines, in action in Afghanistan this Fourth of July weekend.

Marine Captain Eric Meador of the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, RCT 2nd Battalion 8th Marines Echo Co. gives his Marines a "Hoo-ah Speech" before moving out on the start of Operation Khanjari, July 2, 2009.

Some of them are teenagers. All of them know what going into combat means.

Marines from 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade move onto the choppers.

The zippered pouch mounted on the front of his gear contains his NODs (Night Observation Device).

The 12-gage shotgun rounds identify this Marine's role as a door breacher.

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf" - George Orwell

GOD LOVES MARINES

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Helmand Province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan

“It’s not about how long your life is, 80 years, 100 years,” said Lt. Col Christian Cabaniss on June 5 to the men of the 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 3, Marine Expeditionary Brigade-Afghanistan. “Your measure is what you do with the time you have. The things you do now, people will remember, and they will remember forever!” Cabaniss, the battalion commander, gathered his Marines for possibly the last time as a unit before departing Camp Leatherneck to take part in what he labeled “a summer of decisions in Afghanistan.” (US Marine Corps photo by Cpl Aaron Rooks).

These Marines are at this very moment carving their names into history with the points of their bayonets. Our thoughts and prayers are with them this Independence Day weekend - S.L.

Operation KHANJAR

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Helmand Province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan

Today, nearly 4,000 U.S. Marines and Sailors of Task Force Leatherneck, partnered with Afghan National Security Forces and supported by Task Force Pegasus, the Combat Aviation Brigade of the U.S. Army's 82nd Airborne Division, conducted a near-simultaneous heliborne and surface insert into the central and southern Helmand River valley.

U.S. Marines from the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, 1st Battalion 5th Marines wait at Camp Leatherneck to board helicopters for a night air assault in Afghanistan's Helmand province Thursday July 2, 2009. (AP Photo/David Guttenfelder)

The rifle beside the Marine racking out against his gear in the middle foreground is a USN Mark 12 Mod 0/1 Special Purpose Rifle (SPR). Here’s another photo of it.

Towards the end of my time in operational units (2004) that weapon was introduced. Since then Marines began fielding the Special Purpose Rifle (SPR) to their Scout Sniper Platoons to be used by the observers to augment the current 8 sniper rifles with its own sub-minute of angle accuracy.

It’s impossible to tell if the helicopters in the background are CH-53 Sea Stallions or MH-53 Pave Lows. Pave Lows have a refueling boom protruding from the front end. The distinction is significant; CH-53’s are organic to the Marine Corps, MH-53’s are part of Air Force Special Operations. If they are Pave Lows, then these are MARSOF troops, the Marine Corps portion of USSOCOM, and they are participating in Joint operations.

Brigadier General Larry D. Nicholson is the Commanding General of Task Force Leatherneck. BG Nicholson was born in Toronto, Canada.