Photos

Staff Sgt. Kevin M. Oâ??Brien, infantryman, bridges the language barrier and shares a laugh with a local Iraqi children in a village near Camp Taqaddum, Iraq, March 12th, 2006. Oâ??Brien, 37, of Monticello, Ill., and the other soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 130th Infantry Regiment, performed a multi-faceted mission during the daylong operation as they carried out weapons cache sweeps, investigated possible improvised explosive devices and conducted route clearance operations. The Illinois-based National Guard took a few moments throughout the day to assist Iraqi villagers in the area, handing out supplies and spending time with the local children. The soldiers were grateful it wasnâ??t business as usual and could do something a little light hearted. Whether itâ??s handing out candy or searching for IEDs, the soldiers are proud of what they are doing in Iraq, said Sgt. 1st Class Timothy J. Atteberry, platoon sergeant. â??The individual, personal satisfaction of helping another human being really comes from these kinds of humanitarian-aid type missions,â? said Atteberry, a 38-year-old native of Champagne, Ill.::n::::n::The soldiersâ?? primary mission is to provide base security for the Marines and sailors of the forward-deployed 1st Marine Logistics Group. The 4,200 joint-service members of 1st MLG are part of the 25,000 Marines, airmen, solders and sailors of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Forceâ??s forward deployed element. The 1st MLGâ??s mission is to provide sustained logistics support to I MEF and Iraqi security forces operating in the Al Anbar province of Iraq. First MLG will also support the development of the Iraqi Security Forcesâ?? logistic capabilities in order to enable independent ISF led counter insurgency operations.