Foot Patrol [Image 6 of 11]

HIT, IRAQ

06.11.2006

Photo by Staff Sgt. James Goodwin 

I Marine Expeditionary Force

U.S. Army Sgt. Mario Nelson, a 26-year-old infantryman from Brooklyn, interacts with local children during a foot patrol with Iraqi soldiers June 11, 2006, in Hit, Iraq - a city of 30,000 in Al Anbar Province. U.S. soldiers from the Frieberg, Germany-based 1st Battalion, 36th Infantry Regiment say they've gotten a hold of the city, which is still a hot-bed of insurgent activity - improvised explosive devices, small-arms attacks and occasional mortar attacks against U.S. bases. Furthermore, Iraqi soldiers partnered with the U.S. battalion are well on their way to operating independently, according to U.S. soldiers. Four months ago when the battalion arrived in Hit, a mostly Sunni city located 70 miles northwest of Ramadi, U.S. soldiers led daily patrols through the less-than-receptive city. Now, Iraqi soldiers spearhead their own patrols and are finding IEDs, interacting with the local populace, and capturing an average of five insurgents a week. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Jim Goodwin)

• Date Taken: 06.11.2006
• Date Posted: 06.21.2006 07:05
• Photo ID: 23967
• Resolution: 1200x800
• Size: 385.23 KB
• Location: HIT, IQ