090627-M-6237R-071

Marines with 3rd Battalion 11th Marines India Battery deploy their M777 A2 Lightweight Howitzers as Marines with Combat Logistics Battalion- 8, 8th Engineer Support Battalion, and 1st Battalion 5th Marines begin building Fire Base Thunder and set up security on June 27th, 2009.
3/11 is deployed to the Helmand Province in support of GIRoA as Part of the US expansion to Afghanistan to conduct counter insurgency operations and train and mentor the Afghan Security Force.

(US Marine Corps photo by Sergeant Christopher R. Rye)