Marines 'turn the tide' in the Fallujah of Afghanistan

[Sgt Leprechaun]

Marines turn the tide in the ‘Fallujah of Afghanistan’ <br />
<br />
By Gretel C. Kovach <br />
Saturday, April 23, 2011 at 8 p.m. <br />
Photo by Nelvin C. Cepeda <br />
Staff Sgt. Nathan Stocking escorts a prisoner back to...

[Sgt Leprechaun]

http://media.signonsandiego.com/img/photos/2011/04/22/UTI1587928_t352.jpg?980751187beea6fc26a3a9e93795d3 79f58af1c4 (http://www.signonsandiego.com/photos/2011/apr/22/357286/) Photo by Nelvin C. Cepeda
Cpl. Jason Gaal who was promoted to squad leader in January, leads his squad on an overnight combat patrol in Sangin, Afghanistan.


http://media.signonsandiego.com/img/photos/2011/04/22/UTI1587935_t352.jpg?980751187beea6fc26a3a9e93795d3 79f58af1c4 (http://www.signonsandiego.com/photos/2011/apr/22/357291/) Photo by Nelvin C. Cepeda
Marines on patrol maneuver past a small poppy field in Helmand province. The crop is used in the international heroin trade.


http://media.signonsandiego.com/img/photos/2011/04/22/UTI1587933_t352.jpg?980751187beea6fc26a3a9e93795d3 79f58af1c4 (http://www.signonsandiego.com/photos/2011/apr/22/357289/) Photo by Nelvin C. Cepeda
Staff Sgt. Nathan Stocking, from Lima Company, checks on his junior Marines as they take up shooting positions on the rooftop of a mud home to monitor insurgent movements through the night.

[Sgt Leprechaun]

http://media.signonsandiego.com/img/photos/2011/04/22/UTI1587931_t352.jpg?980751187beea6fc26a3a9e93795d3 79f58af1c4 (http://www.signonsandiego.com/photos/2011/apr/22/357288/) Photo by Nelvin C. Cepeda
Marines from Lima Company move past a small village as they prepare to set up a position to monitor possible insurgent activity through the night.


http://media.signonsandiego.com/img/photos/2011/04/22/UTI1587929_t352.jpg?980751187beea6fc26a3a9e93795d3 79f58af1c4 (http://www.signonsandiego.com/photos/2011/apr/22/357287/) Photo by Nelvin C. Cepeda
Sgt. Nat Silva from Lima Company continues his patrol after an Afghan religious leader (right) pointed out a hidden IED to the Marines.


http://media.signonsandiego.com/img/photos/2011/04/22/UTI1587919_t352.jpg?980751187beea6fc26a3a9e93795d3 79f58af1c4 (http://www.signonsandiego.com/photos/2011/apr/22/357281/) Photo by Nelvin C. Cepeda
Sgt. Philip McCulloch, Jr. with Kilo Company puts on his combat gear, as he prepares to take his squad out on a patrol from Patrol Base Fires.

[Sgt Leprechaun]

http://media.signonsandiego.com/img/photos/2011/04/22/UTI1587918_t352.jpg?980751187beea6fc26a3a9e93795d3 79f58af1c4 (http://www.signonsandiego.com/photos/2011/apr/22/357280/) Photo by Nelvin C. Cepeda
Marines walk just outside Patrol Base Fires in what they call the picket line. The line is where Marines position themselves with armored vehicles as a defensive measure for the patrol base.


http://media.signonsandiego.com/img/photos/2011/04/22/UTI1587934_t352.jpg?980751187beea6fc26a3a9e93795d3 79f58af1c4 (http://www.signonsandiego.com/photos/2011/apr/22/357290/) Photo by Nelvin C. Cepeda
An hour before taking the point man position for his squad, Lance Cpl. Zachary Stangle relaxes at his cot. As the point man during patrol, Stangle is responsible for locating IEDs and guiding his fellow Marines on the safest route.


http://media.signonsandiego.com/img/photos/2011/04/23/Afghanistan_t595.jpg?7d3016c2135abb32e11fd45cdffa1 189dee3761c (http://www.signonsandiego.com/photos/2011/apr/23/357910/)