FACES OF WAR

Study the faces of these US Marines, in action in Afghanistan this Fourth of July weekend.

Marine Captain Eric Meador of the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, RCT 2nd Battalion 8th Marines Echo Co. gives his Marines a "Hoo-ah Speech" before moving out on the start of Operation Khanjari, July 2, 2009.

Some of them are teenagers. All of them know what going into combat means.

Marines from 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade move onto the choppers.

The zippered pouch mounted on the front of his gear contains his NODs (Night Observation Device).

The 12-gage shotgun rounds identify this Marine's role as a door breacher.

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf" - George Orwell