Indiana National Guard soldiers with 1st Battalion, 293rd Infantry shake hands with VIPs as they leave a plane, Nov. 25, 2008, at the Indianapolis International Airport. The Hoosier soldiers spent nine-months in southwest Asia supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Indiana National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Jeff Lowry
U.S. Marines with Headquarters and Service Company, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment kneel at the firing line during live-fire training on the battle site zero range at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, on Nov. 22, 2008. The Marines are required to complete the training as part of their reception, staging, onward movement and integration training. DoD photo by Cpl. Pete Thibodeau, U.S. Marine Corps. (Released)
U.S. Army Sgt. Mike Heinzig, right, his Military working dog Brandon, and other soldiers walk through a palm grove during an early morning search for weapons caches near Tarmiyah, Iraq, Nov. 18 , 2008. The soldiers are assigned to the 25th Infantry Division's 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jacob H. Smith