United States Marine Corps Official Page's photostream  

U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Tom Morton, a 23-year-old team leader with 3rd Platoon, Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, and native of Nashville, Tenn., hands an Afghan child a toy during a security patrol here, Feb. 25. On the patrol, the 3rd Platoon Marines partnered with Afghan National Police to search for insurgent activity in Safar Bazaar, Garmsir district's busiest commercial center. They mentor the ANP in a partnered combat operations center at PB Bury, and patrol with them throughout Safar. The partnership is a vital part of preparing the Afghan National Security Forces to assume lead security responsibility in Garmsir.
(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Reece Lodder)

President Barack Obama addresses veterans, and their guests, being honored during "A Nation's Gratitude Dinner" hosted by President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama at the White House on Feb. 29, 2012. The dinner included men and women in uniform from all ranks, services, states and backgrounds, representative of the many thousands of Americans who served in Iraq and was an expression of the nation's gratitude for the achievements and enormous sacrifices of those who served there and of the families who supported them.
(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Mark Fayloga)

A Marine with Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, reads with a Thai orphan during a visit in Pattaya, Thailand, Feb. 23. The Marines volunteered their time after successfully completing Exercise Cobra Gold 2012. Cobra Gold 2012 demonstrates the resolve of the U.S. and participating nations to increase interoperability and promote security and peace throughout the Asia-Pacific region. The 31st MEU is the only continuously forward-deployed MEU and remains the nation's force in readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.
(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Garry Welch)

Second Lt. Theodore Hardy, the platoon commander for 2nd platoon, India Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, leads his platoon during a partnered patrol with the 3rd Tolai, 2nd Kandak, 2nd Brigade, 215th Corps, Afghan National Army, Feb. 20. Hardy and the rest of India Company have been mentoring and training the ANA to take over. The Afghan soldier here, patrolled with the Marines in support, through an area known for insurgent activity.
(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Timothy Lenzo)

Petty Officer 3rd Class Michael Soto accompanies litter-bearers as they load an injured Marine into a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter during a medical evacuation in Garmsir, in Afghanistan's Helmand province, Jan. 30. Soto, a native of Lake Villa, Ill., has been with 9th Engineer Support Battalion for the past year and is the primary caregiver to the Marines of Bridge Platoon as they serve on the front lines of Afghanistan. Soto is a hospital corpsman with 9th ESB, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force.
(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Bryan Nygaard)