Life with the Marines in Helmand

A U.S. Marine with the 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment adjusts his gear before going on patrol during an operation in the Helmand province of Afghanistan, July 5, 2009. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Pete Thibodeau/Released.

U.S. Marines from the 2nd MEB, 1st Battalion 5th Marines rest during a patrol in a town in the Nawa district of Afghanistan's Helmand province Monday July 6, 2009. Photo: AP.

A U.S. Marine from the 2nd MEB, 1st Battalion 5th Marines, who was overcome by heat exhaustion, lies on a stretcher as he waits to be picked up by a medical evacuation helicopter in the Nawa district of Afghanistan's Helmand province Monday July 6, 2009. Photo: AP.

The tattoo of a U.S. Marine from the 2nd MEB, 1st Battalion 5th Marine, is seen through a hole on the back of his uniform shirt, as he stands guard at a compound in the Nawa district of Afghanistan's Helmand province, Wednesday, July 8, 2009. Photo: AP.

U.S. Marines from the 2nd MEB, 1st Battalion 5th Marines watch as a helicopter drops an emergency water resupply outside a compound where they stayed for the night, in the Nawa district of Afghanistan's Helmand province, Wednesday, July 8, 2009. Photo: AP.

U.S. Marines from the 2nd MEB, 1st Battalion 5th Marines reach the end of a patrol in the Nawa district of Afghanistan's Helmand province Tuesday July 7, 2009. Photo: AP.

U.S. Marines from the 2nd MEB, 1st Battalion 5th Marines arrive at a compound to sleep for the night in a town in the Nawa district of Afghanistan's Helmand province Monday July 6, 2009. Photo: AP.

Bravo Company commander Cpt. Drew Schoenmaker of the U.S. Marines from the 2nd MEB, 1st Battalion 5th Marines shaves his face and head inside a compound where they stayed for the night, in the Nawa district of Afghanistan's Helmand province, Wednesday, July 8, 2009. Photo: AP.

U.S. Marines from the 2nd MEB, 1st Battalion 5th Marines sleep in their fighting holes inside a compound where they stayed for the night, in the Nawa district of Afghanistan's Helmand province, Wednesday July 8, 2009. Photo: AP.

So. How was your day?


See also Op Khanjar (photos) and Afghan flag raised above Khan Neshin for the first time.