US Marines from C company 1/6 24 MEU relax at their base in Garmser in the southern province of Helmand on May 8, 2008. Helmand, the main source of Afghanistan's opium output, is in the grip of a Taliban-insurgency launched after it was toppled from government in a US-led invasion in late 2001. Most ISAF soldiers in Helmand are British, and were joined by US Marines last week in a push to remove the Taliban from around southern Garmser district. Getty Images logo Getty Images 18 months ago

US Marines from C company 1/6 24 MEU relax at their base in Garmser in the southern province of Helmand on May 8, 2008. Helmand, the main source of Afghanistan's opium output, is in the grip of a Taliban-insurgency launched after it was toppled from government in a US-led invasion in late 2001. Most ISAF soldiers in Helmand are British, and were joined by US Marines last week in a push to remove the Taliban from around southern Garmser district.

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  1. Representatives of the New York City Fire Department and US Marines (R) watch as the USS New York enters New York harbor Novermber 2, 2009 on its way past the former World Trade Center site. The US Navy ship was built with 7.5 tons of steel from the World Trade Center in her bow and will be commissioned in New York on November 7.
  2. US Marines from Fox Company 2nd Battalion 3rd Marines are engulfed in a storm of dust and debris as a CH-53 helicopter lands to transport them from their forward operating base in Farah Province, southern Afghanistan, on October 12, 2009. Twenty Taliban militants were killed and a number arrested in separate operations involving foreign forces and Afghan troops, police, military commanders and the government said today.
  3. US Marines load onto a CH-53 helicopter to fly over Helmand Province, southern Afghanistan, on October 12, 2009. Twenty Taliban militants were killed and a number arrested in separate operations involving foreign forces and Afghan troops, police, military commanders and the government said today.
  4. US Marines ride aboard a CH-53 helicopter flying over Helmand Province, in southern Afghanistan, on October 12, 2009. Twenty Taliban militants were killed and a number arrested in separate operations involving foreign forces and Afghan troops, police, military commanders and the government said today.
  5. US Marines ride aboard a CH-53 helicopter flying over Helmand Province in southern Afghanistan, on October 12, 2009. Twenty Taliban militants were killed and a number arrested in separate operations involving foreign forces and Afghan troops, police, military commanders and the government said today.
  6. US Marines ride aboard a CH-53 helicopter flying over Helmand Province, southern Afghanistan, on October 12, 2009. Twenty Taliban militants were killed and a number arrested in separate operations involving foreign forces and Afghan troops, police, military commanders and the government said today.
  7. US Marines ride aboard a CH-53 helicopter flying over Helmand Province, in southern Afghanistan, on October 12, 2009. Twenty Taliban militants were killed and a number arrested in separate operations involving foreign forces and Afghan troops, police, military commanders and the government said today.
  8. US Marines ride aboard a CH-53 helicopter flying over Helmand Province, southern Afghanistan, on October 12, 2009. Twenty Taliban militants were killed and a number arrested in separate operations involving foreign forces and Afghan troops, police, military commanders and the government said today.
  9. US Marines from Fox Company 2nd Battalion 3rd Marines are engulfed in a storm of dust and debris as a CH-53 helicopter lands to transport them from their forward operating base in Farah Province, southern Afghanistan, on October 12, 2009. Twenty Taliban militants were killed and a number arrested in separate operations involving foreign forces and Afghan troops, police, military commanders and the government said today.
  10. US Marines from Fox Company 2nd Battalion 3rd Marines watch as a CH-53 helicopter lands to transport them from their forward operating base in Farah Province, southern Afghanistan, on October 12, 2009. Twenty Taliban militants were killed and a number arrested in separate operations involving foreign forces and Afghan troops, police, military commanders and the government said today.
  11. A Marine Corps carry team carries a transfer case containing the remains of Marine Staff Sgt. Aaron J. Taylor Sunday, Oct. 11, 2009 at Dover Air Force Base, Del. According to the Department of Defense, Taylor, of Duluth, Minn., died while serving in Operation Enduring Freedom.
  12. A Marine Corps carry team lifts a transfer case containing the remains of Marine Staff Sgt. Aaron J. Taylor Sunday, Oct. 11, 2009 at Dover Air Force Base, Del. According to the Department of Defense, Taylor, of Duluth, Minn., died while serving in Operation Enduring Freedom.
  13. A Marine Corps carry team bows their heads near a transfer case containing the remains of Marine Staff Sgt. Aaron J. Taylor Sunday, Oct. 11, 2009 at Dover Air Force Base, Del. According to the Department of Defense, Taylor, of Duluth, Minn., died while serving in Operation Enduring Freedom.
  14. A Marine Corps carry team carries a transfer case containing the remains of Marine Staff Sgt. Aaron J. Taylor Sunday, Oct. 11, 2009 at Dover Air Force Base, Del. According to the Department of Defense, Taylor, of Duluth, Minn., died while serving in Operation Enduring Freedom.
  15. A Marine Corps carry team lifts a transfer case containing the remains of Marine Staff Sgt. Aaron J. Taylor Sunday, Oct. 11, 2009 at Dover Air Force Base, Del. According to the Department of Defense, Taylor, of St. Louis, Mo., died while serving in Operation Enduring Freedom.
  16. A Marine Corps carry team carries a transfer case containing the remains of Marine Staff Sgt. Aaron J. Taylor Sunday, Oct. 11, 2009 at Dover Air Force Base, Del. According to the Department of Defense, Taylor, of St. Louis, Mo., died while serving in Operation Enduring Freedom.

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