Photos

Machine gunner, Lance Cpl. Jonathon T. Stephens, 21, with 1st Platoon, Alpha Company, 9th Engineer Support Battalion, Combat Logistics Regiment 15, 1st Marine Logistics Group (Fwd) and a St. Louis native, posts security during a vehicle patrol through the Al Anbar Province. The platoon, commanded by 1st Lt. Kirk A. Whittenberg, organizes vehicle patrols to ensure the roads are safe for all local civilians, U.S. and Iraqi military forces. The platoon will remain vigilant on the mission of locating road side bombs until they are replaced by a Marine reserve unit assigned to 9th Engineer Support Battalion. The battalion, augmented from 3rd Marine Logistics Group, is scheduled to remain here until spring 2007.