Photos

Iraqi children watch and wave at vehicles carrying Marine combat engineers with 1st Platoon, Alpha Company, 9th Engineer Support Battalion, Combat Logistics Regiment 15, 1st Marine Logistics Group (Fwd), pass by. Cpl. George T. O?Donnell, 25, lead scout vehicle commander with 1st Platoon and an Auburn, Ill., native, expressed that seeing the local children and adults smile and wave at the Marines is a priceless feeling. 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 battalion, augmented from 3rd Marine Logistics Group, is scheduled to remain here until spring 2007.