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The Hills by the Wadi
A Marines Memoir of the war in Afghanistan.
Photos provided will give the reader an up close look at the Marines experience. You will be able to see maps showing specific locations during deployments, and photos taken by Marines at those locations, providing a "street view"
Beginning of deployment
Helicopter flight from Camp Leatherneck to our area of operation. Far right:Pratt, Rod
Flight from Camp Leatherneck to our are of operation. Left:Gray, Drew
Patrol base Minden, waiting to be picked up and driven to 7171. Center: Sappington
Piss tubes at PB Minden
Drew, his first wake up at 7171.
Luncan's first wake up at 7171
1st Section Marines returning after getting shot at on their first patrol. Pictured: Baker
1st Section Marines returning after getting shot at on their first patrol. Pictured: Luncan
1st Section Marines returning after getting shot at on their first patrol. Pictured: Steve
1st Section Marines returning after getting shot at on their first patrol. Pictured: Rayburn
Marines taking cover in the bunker as we experienced incoming indirect fire for the first time.
Marines taking cover in the bunker as we experienced incoming indirect fire for the first time.
Musa Qala Map
Click on the marked locations to see key locations from the 2010-2011 deployment. You can zoom in and move the map around.
7171
Patrol base 7171
Picture taken from the East, possibly from either patrol base Glen, or Patrol base GRC. Smoke from the burn pit marked the North side of ht PB
Photo taken from Western facing post.
Overlooking the village of Khunder and the Musa Qala wadi.
Photo taken from the south facing post at 7171. The pyramids are visible in the distance
Living conditions at 7171 when we arrived.
Chow hall at 7171. Left: Angel, Sappington
Gym
Photo taken from the western side of 7171
Ammo Supply Point
Jackson at post 3
Tommy taking a break from a working party
Boots taking a break
Duff moving sandbags
The pyramids
240 B on the south facing post
West facing post
Beggs, pre patrol
Rod and Lupo pre patrol
My bed
Doc Humphries treating an Afghan National Army members feet.
Lupo and Wilson on the south facing post after a fire fight
Dogs
Pet dog named Rip-it, that wandered onto 7171. She immediately fit right in with the platoon.
Rip-it with Murphy out at Patrol base GRC
Rip-it
Rip-it after delivering her puppies under a floor at the Ammo supply point
Bacon. She was purchased from a local
Bacon and Holm at patrol base GRC
Bacon and Lupo
Bacon, keeping my sleeping bag warm after I came off of post.
Bacon
Bacon out on patrol. Hagen and Murphy
Bacon and Lupo
Bacon, Rip-it, Bear and Lupo
Chewy, our bomb dog and Lupo, in the tent at 7171
Chewy and Murphy
Bear, purchased from a local
Bear and Murphy at 7171
Bacon and Doc Angel at 7171
Bear, keeping Murphy company while standing post
Bacon, resting on patrol
Rip-it, resting on patrol
Patrol base Glen
Inside the courtyard at PB Glen
Sleeping quarters at PB Glen
Holm
Murphy
PB Glen moments before an incendiary grenade was tossed into a room full of hay
Good air quality in our sleeping quarters
East facing post
Doors to the sleeping quarters
Shaving before heading back to 7171
East facing post. Hair
Beggs with bacon
Filling sandbags to build up our defensive positions
Marine using the shitter, which was an ammo can. His face has been cropped out with an AI face
Beggs, Murphy, Holm
East facing post
Patrol base GRC
View from the East facing post
View from the East facing post overlooking the village of Musa Zai
Doc Humphries on the East facing post
Photo taken from the East facing post, facing West. 7171 is the hill in the distance
Overlooking the inside of patrol base GRC
Hair, enjoying a smoke
Murphy, Enjoying a smoke
2nd section Marines before a patrol
Jackson, Hubert, Murphy, pre patrol.
2nd section Marines pre patrol.
Beggs
Hagen
Beggs, explaining why Randy Coutere would beat MikeTyson in a street fight.
Playing spades. Typical of mortar men
Doc Humphries boyfriend wearing his sailor hat back home.
Hair and Cusquillo
Weaponry on the East facing post
Approaching patrol base GRC after a patrol.
In the alleyways outside of patrol base GRC
Fireplace inside our sleeping quarters
Flag flying over patrol base GRC.
Hagen playing spades
Patrol: 7171 AO
Patrol in Khunder
Patrol in Khunder
Pyramids from the East
Patrol, East of 7171, along the M4 wadi
Patrol in Khunder
Khunder
Khunder
Khunder
Khunder
Khunder. Marijuana was everywhere when we first arrived in September
M4 wadi
One tree hill
Khunder
Musa Zai, Village east of patrol base GRC
Musa Zai
Musa Zai
Musa Zai
Bullet impact after enemy ambush in the Musa Qala wadi
Wadi watch patrol, outside of patrol base Glenn
East of patrol base GRC
Fields East of patrol base GRC
village of Darawatay
Darawatay
Darawatay
Kajaki Map
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