A combat engineer from Battalion Landing Team, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines, sweeps for weapons caches in a palm grove July 30 during Operation Pegasus Bridge, near Karmah, Iraq. The operation, which concluded after five days, upturned numerous caches, homemade explosives and other indications of evil activity in the Al Anbar province. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Matthew O. Holly


U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Parker Dial, a native of Katy, Texas, inspects a fresh mix of homemade explosive material, Aug. 3, during Operation Pegasus Bridge, near Karmah, Iraq. Dial, a rifleman from second platoon, India Company, Battalion Landing Team, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines, discovered the mix, said to be 400 pounds, during a routine route observation mission. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Matthew O. Holly


Marines from 2nd Platoon, India Company, Battalion Landing Team, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines, cross the operation's namesake, Pegasus Bridge, near Karmah, Iraq, Aug. 2, 2007, during a counter-insurgency sweep. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Andy Hurt


Navy Corpsman Justin Booker (center) passes a dish of cold water to Lance Cpl. Adam Wano (left) and Cpl. Kristopher VanBeekom (right), all members of 2nd Platoon, India Company, Battalion Landing Team, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines. During Operation Pegasus Bridge, intense heat multiplied the danger of heat-related injuries, and corpsmen took extra precautions to ensure the safety of the troops. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Andy Hurt



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Labels: 3-1 Marines, Iraq, Karmah, Operation Pegasus Bridge, photo essays, photos, USMC