A Marine from Bravo Co., Battalion Landing Team 1st Bn., 2nd Marines gives local Iraqi children bags filled with school supplies in Hit, Iraq in an effort to engender goodwill between the Iraqi people and coalition forces, Dec. 30, 2005. BLT 1/2 is the ground combat element of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), which is in Iraq conducting counterinsurgency operations in Iraq's Al Anbar province with the 2nd Marine Division. - A Marine from Bravo Co., Battalion Landing Team 1st Bn., 2nd Marines gives local Iraqi children bags filled with school supplies in Hit, Iraq in an effort to engender goodwill between the Iraqi people and coalition forces, Dec. 30, 2005. BLT 1/2 is the ground combat element of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), which is in Iraq conducting counterinsurgency operations in Iraq's Al Anbar province with the 2nd Marine Division.

Corporal Stephen M. Koren, of Belleville, Mich., a motor transport mechanic with MEU Service Support Group 22, talks with Col. Harvey C. Barnum Jr. (USMC, Ret.) during his visit to Forward Operating Base Hit, Iraq, Jan. 5, 2006. Colonel. Barnum, who was awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism in Vietnam and is now the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Reserve Affairs), accompanied the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. Robert Magus, on a visit to the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) as it conducts counterinsurgency operations with the Second Marine Division in Iraq's Al Anbar province. - Corporal Stephen M. Koren, of Belleville, Mich., a motor transport mechanic with MEU Service Support Group 22, talks with Col. Harvey C. Barnum Jr. (USMC, Ret.) during his visit to Forward Operating Base Hit, Iraq, Jan. 5, 2006. Colonel. Barnum, who was awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism in Vietnam and is now the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Reserve Affairs), accompanied the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. Robert Magus, on a visit to the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) as it conducts counterinsurgency operations with the Second Marine Division in Iraq's Al Anbar province.

Corporal Stephen Jordan, of Ashland, Ky., a fireteam leader with Alpha Co., Battalion Landing Team 1st Bn., 2nd Marines, gives a young Iraqi girl a muffin during a security patrol near Forward Operating Base New Market, Jan. 2, 2006. BLT 1/2 is the ground combat element of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), which is currently conducting counterinsurgency operations with the 2nd Marine Division in Iraq's Al Anbar province. - Corporal Stephen Jordan, of Ashland, Ky., a fireteam leader with Alpha Co., Battalion Landing Team 1st Bn., 2nd Marines, gives a young Iraqi girl a muffin during a security patrol near Forward Operating Base New Market, Jan. 2, 2006. BLT 1/2 is the ground combat element of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), which is currently conducting counterinsurgency operations with the 2nd Marine Division in Iraq's Al Anbar province.

A rifleman with Bravo Co., Battalion Landing Team 1st Bn., 2nd Marines, uses his ACOG scope to look across the Euphrates River during a foot patrol in search of weapons and improvised explosive devices near Hit, Iraq, Dec. 28, 2005. BLT 1/2 is the ground combat element of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), which is conducting counterinsurgency operations with the 2nd Marine Division in Iraq's Al Anbar province. - A rifleman with Bravo Co., Battalion Landing Team 1st Bn., 2nd Marines, uses his ACOG scope to look across the Euphrates River during a foot patrol in search of weapons and improvised explosive devices near Hit, Iraq, Dec. 28, 2005. BLT 1/2 is the ground combat element of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), which is conducting counterinsurgency operations with the 2nd Marine Division in Iraq's Al Anbar province.

A Marine from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) emerges from the serving line of Field Food Service System located aboard Forward Operating Base Hit, Iraq, Dec. 23, 2005. The mobile kitchen belongs to the 2nd Marine Logistics Group, and is currently being operated in support of the 22nd MEU (SOC) as the unit conducts counterinsurgency operations in Iraq's Al Anbar province. - A Marine from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) emerges from the serving line of Field Food Service System located aboard Forward Operating Base Hit, Iraq, Dec. 23, 2005. The mobile kitchen belongs to the 2nd Marine Logistics Group, and is currently being operated in support of the 22nd MEU (SOC) as the unit conducts counterinsurgency operations in Iraq's Al Anbar province.

As small arms fire echoes through the city of Kubaysah, Iraq, Marines from Battalion Landing Team 1st Bn., 2nd Marines, the ground combat element of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), take cover and scan rooftops and alleyways looking for possible threats during Operation Moon River, Dec. 31, 2005. Operation Moon River is part of the 22nd MEU (SOC)'s ongoing counterinsurgency effort in Iraq's Al Anbar province undertaken as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. - As small arms fire echoes through the city of Kubaysah, Iraq, Marines from Battalion Landing Team 1st Bn., 2nd Marines, the ground combat element of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), take cover and scan rooftops and alleyways looking for possible threats during Operation Moon River, Dec. 31, 2005. Operation Moon River is part of the 22nd MEU (SOC)'s ongoing counterinsurgency effort in Iraq's Al Anbar province undertaken as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

An engineer from MEU Service Support Group 22, the combat service support element of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), directs a TRAM as it packs gravel into a pothole in a road near Hit, Iraq, Jan. 2, 2006. The 22nd MEU (SOC) is currently conducting counterinsurgency operations in Iraq's Al Anbar province. - An engineer from MEU Service Support Group 22, the combat service support element of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), directs a TRAM as it packs gravel into a pothole in a road near Hit, Iraq, Jan. 2, 2006. The 22nd MEU (SOC) is currently conducting counterinsurgency operations in Iraq's Al Anbar province.

Sergeant Ryan McQuillen, of Frederick, Md., an infantryman with Alpha Co., Battalion Landing Team 1st Bn., 2nd Marines make a final 'comm' check before heading out on a security patrol near Hit, Iraq, Dec. 29, 2005. BLT 1/2 is the ground combat element of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), which is conducting combat operations in Iraq's Al Anbar province in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. - Sergeant Ryan McQuillen, of Frederick, Md., an infantryman with Alpha Co., Battalion Landing Team 1st Bn., 2nd Marines make a final 'comm' check before heading out on a security patrol near Hit, Iraq, Dec. 29, 2005. BLT 1/2 is the ground combat element of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), which is conducting combat operations in Iraq's Al Anbar province in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Marines from the Joint Task Force Enabler section of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operation Capable) Command Element work to piece together one of the satellite transmission and reception dishes that will soon connect the MEU to the rest of the world from its location at Forward Operating Base Hit, Iraq, Dec. 15, 2005. The 22nd MEU (SOC) is in Iraq conducting 0perations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. - Marines from the Joint Task Force Enabler section of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operation Capable) Command Element work to piece together one of the satellite transmission and reception dishes that will soon connect the MEU to the rest of the world from its location at Forward Operating Base Hit, Iraq, Dec. 15, 2005. The 22nd MEU (SOC) is in Iraq conducting 0perations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.