U.S. Marine 2nd Lt. David F. Samuel hands out bottles of water to an elderly Iraqi woman in the Abu Ghraib area. Company C, 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment performs regular patrols in the area conducting cache sweeps and security patrols. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. William Skelton


Marines from Company C, 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment conduct security patrols in the area surrounding the Abu Ghraib prison. The Marines are learning their new area using a method of stopping, looking, seeing and smelling. The Marines use this tactic to check the area out for insurgent activities. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. William Skelton


U.S. Marine Corps Pfc. Neal A. Wagner keeps a vigilant eye as Marines from his squad crossed an intersection in the area surrounding the Abu Ghraib prison. The prison is located 20 miles west of Baghdad. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. William Skelton


U.S. Marine Sgt. Jose L. Alicea demonstrates to local Iraqi children how his protective glasses keep him safe during an explosion. The children laughed as Alicea acted out an explosion with his hands and provided sound effects. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. William Skelton


An Iraqi man takes time to fill out a survey on how the military is handling the area surrounding the Abu Ghraib prison. Company C, 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment has been patrolling the area for two weeks performing cache searches and security patrols. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. William Skelton


Three young boys living in the outskirts of Abu Ghraib prison take time to pose for a picture while Marines from Company C, 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment conducted a survey in the area. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. William Skelton