Associated Press photojournalist David Goldman produced a compelling body of work in July covering U.S. troops in Afghanistan. From a mountain-top outpost called The Shrine to the a combat outpost called Pirtle King, his images show dramatic action as well as the quieter moments of life while deployed in the Helmand and Kunar provinces. (48 images)
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U.S. Marine Sgt. Myron Ellis, 26, of Sacramento, Calif., with the 2nd Battalion 12th Marines based in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, looks out from under a tent at a mountain top outpost called The Shrine Saturday, July 30, 2011 in Kajaki, Helmand province, Afghanistan. AP / David Goldman
Hospital Corpsman Adam Lopez, 25, of Granbury, Texas, with the U.S. Marines 2nd Battalion 12th Marines based in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, pulls security during a patrol through the village of Shabaz Kheyl Sunday, July 31, 2011 in the Kajaki district of Helmand province, Afghanistan. AP / David Goldman
A young Afghan boy peers out from his head covering at U.S. Marine Cpl. Fernando Cabrera, 27, of San Juan, Puerto Rico, left, with the 2nd Battalion 12th Marines based in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, during a patrol through the village of Shabaz Kheyl Sunday, July 31, 2011 in the Kajaki district of Helmand province, Afghanistan. AP / David Goldman
The village of Shabaz Kheyl is seen through a scope at left on a machine gun as U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Larry Alqueza, 23, of El Paso, Texas, with the 2nd Battalion 12th Marines based in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, looks through binoculars for insurgent movement from a mountain top outpost called the Shrine Saturday, July 30, 2011 in Kajaki, Helmand province, Afghanistan. AP / David Goldman
U.S. Marines Cpl. Alan Huff, 22, of Columbus Ohio, left to right, Sgt. Juan Gutierrez, 29, of Abilene Texas, and Cpl. Mike Ryan, 22, of Modesto Calif., all with the 2nd Battalion 12th Marines based in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, watch the movement of a possible insurgent from a mountain top outpost called The Shrine Saturday, July 30, 2011 in Kajaki, Helmand province, Afghanistan. AP / David Goldman
U.S. Marine Cpl. Abraham Willis, 22, of Beech Bottom, W. Va., with the 2nd Battalion 12th Marines based in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, and his IED detection dog Preacher ride in the back of a wagon as they are shuttled over a bridge for a foot patrol at sunrise in Kajaki, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Friday, July 29, 2011. AP / David Goldman
A remnant from the war between the Soviet Union and Afghan Mujahideen is marked by an old Russian tank as U.S. Marines with the 2nd Battalion 12th Marines based in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, patrol in northern Kajaki, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Friday, July 29, 2011. AP / David Goldman
U.S. Marine Sgt. Craig Young, 24, of Forest Grove, Ore., with the 2nd Battalion 12th Marines based in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, stretches before working out Thursday, July 28, 2011 at Forward Operating Base Zeebrugge in Kajaki, Helmand province, Afghanistan. AP / David Goldman
Hospital Corpsman Dionno Walker, 22, of Chicago, Ill., right, with the 2nd Battalion 12th Marines based in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, stands in the doorway of an equipment room before heading out on a night patrol Wednesday, July 27, 2011 at Forward Operating Base Zeebrugge in Kajaki, Helmand province, Afghanistan. AP / David Goldman
U.S. Marine Sgt. Ron Jojola, 29, of Fontana, Calif., with the HMH-461 squadron out of the Marine Corps Air Station New River, N.C., hangs a new American flag inside a CH-53E helicopter before taking off from Bastion Air Field Wednesday, July 27, 2011 in Helmand province, Afghanistan. AP / David Goldman
U.S. Marine Lt. Col. Mike Plaziak, 48, of Apple Valley Calif., with the 2nd Marine Division based in Camp Lejeune, N.C., secures his helmet as an MV-22 Osprey transport aircraft lands Tuesday, July 26, 2011 at Forward Operating Base Musa Qala in Helmand province, Afghanistan. AP / David Goldman
U.S. Marine Pfc. Chad Wiest, 26, of Sunbury, Penna., with the 3rd Battalion 2nd Marines based in Camp Lejeune, N.C., sits under the stars while waiting for a helicopter to land Monday, July 25, 2011 at Forward Operating Base Musa Qala in Helmand province, Afghanistan. AP / David Goldman
Taliban graffiti of a battle against enemy forces decorates a wall in the Musa Qala district center and the current Battalion Command Headquarters for the U.S. Marine 3rd Battalion 2nd Marines based out of Camp Lejeune, N.C., Monday, July 25, 2011 in Helmand province, Afghanistan. The district center, once a large opium market under Taliban control also served as sleeping quarters for opium addicts. The graffiti, from that period, depicts Taliban fighters shooting down Russian, American or coalition planes, blowing up their tanks and taking their prisoners. AP / David Goldman
U.S Marine Sgt. Benjamin Piper, 25, of Cummings, Ga., left, and Sgt. Christopher Kellner, 27, of Little Egg Harbor N.J., with the 3rd Battalion 2nd Marines based in Camp Lejeune, N.C., high-five each other after a watermelon eating contest at Patrol Base Salaam Bazaar in Helmand province, Afghanistan, Saturday, July 23, 2011. AP / David Goldman
U.S. Marine sniper Sgt. Jordan Davis, 23, of Martin, Tenn., with the 3rd Battalion 2nd Marines based in Camp Lejeune, N.C., fires at an insurgent believed to be planting a roadside bomb at Patrol Base Salaam Bazaar in Helmand province, Afghanistan, Saturday, July 23, 2011. AP / David Goldman
U.S. Marine Cpl. Kyle Roberts, 22, left, of New Smyrna Beach, Fla., with the 3rd Battalion 2nd Marines based in Camp Lejeune, N.C., is seen first standing then sitting playing a video game in this long exposure photograph at a tent under the stars at Patrol Base Salaam Bazaar in Helmand province, Afghanistan, Saturday, July 23, 2011 . AP / David Goldman
U.S. Marine Sgt. Jerry Saunders, 25, of Winston-Salem, N.C., right, passes down a gun to Staff Sgt. Charles Frangis, 41, of Great Falls Va., both with the 3rd Battalion 2nd Marines based in Camp Lejeune, N.C., as they come down from a rooftop after the homeowner asked them to leave for fear of being shot at by the Taliban during a mission to look for insurgents in the village of Siraqula Thursday, July 21, 2011 in Helmand province, Afghanistan. AP / David Goldman
Afghan National Army Soldier who goes by the name of Mohammad, right, takes a firing position next to U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. John Brewer, 26, of Southaven, Miss., left, with the 3rd Battalion 2nd Marines based in Camp Lejeune, N.C., before engaging insurgents in a fire fight in the village of Salam Bazaar Wednesday, July 20, 2011 in Helmand province, Afghanistan. AP / David Goldman
U.S. Marines with the 3rd Battalion 2nd Marines based in Camp Lejeune, N.C., fire at insurgents during a fire fight in the village of Salam Bazaar Wednesday, July 20, 2011 in Helmand province, Afghanistan. AP / David Goldman
U.S. Marine Cpl. Michael Mathias, 21, of Harrisburg, Penna., left, with the 3rd Battalion 2nd Marines based in Camp Lejeune, N.C., lights a cigarette while playing darts with fellow Marines at Combat Outpost Shir Ghazay in Helmand province, Afghanistan, Tuesday, July 19, 2011. AP / David Goldman
U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Gregory Rogers, 23, of Charleston S.C., with the 3rd Battalion 2nd Marines based in Camp Lejeune, N.C., takes up position after hearing gunshots from insurgents during a mission in the village of Mushazi, Tuesday, July 19, 2011, in Helmand province, Afghanistan. AP / David Goldman
An afghan boy with his hands covered in a henna dye looks on as U.S. Marine Cpl. Michael Mathias, 21, of Harrisburg, Penna., left, with the 3rd Battalion 2nd Marines based in Camp Lejeune, N.C., patrols through the village of Gurjat Monday, July 18, 2011 in Helmand province, Afghanistan. AP / David Goldman
An Afghan boy shakes hands with U.S. Marine Pfc. Joseph Lipton, 19, of Somers, Conn., right, with the 3rd Battalion 2nd Marines based in Camp Lejeune, N.C., during a patrol through the village of Gurjat Monday, July 18, 2011 in Helmand province, Afghanistan. AP / David Goldman
A young Afghan girl reacts after seeing U.S. Marines with the 3rd Battalion 2nd Marines based in Camp Lejeune, N.C., patrol through the village of Gurjat Monday, July 18, 2011 in Helmand province, Afghanistan. AP / David Goldman
U.S Marine Cpl. Derek Newton, 21, of Jeddo Mich., with Delta Company 1st Tank Battalion out of Twentynine Palms, Calif., waits to board a helicopter home as he wraps up his deployment Sunday, July 17, 2011 at Combat Out Post Shir Ghazay in Helmand province, Afghanistan. AP / David Goldman
A young Afghan boy by the name of Shamaleh looks on as U.S. Marines with the 3rd Battalion 2nd Marines based in Camp Lejeune, N.C., patrol through the village of Shir Ghazay Sunday, July 17, 2011 in Helmand province, Afghanistan. AP / David Goldman
A young Afghan boy looks on as U.S. Marines with the 3rd Battalion 2nd Marines based in Camp Lejeune, N.C., patrol through the village of Shir Ghazay Sunday, July 17, 2011 in Helmand province, Afghanistan. AP / David Goldman
U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Gregory Rogers, 23, of Charleston S.C., left, and Pfc. Joseph Lipton, 19, of Somers, Conn., with the 3rd Battalion 2nd Marines based in Camp Lejeune, N.C., bag a carton of juice bought at a bazaar Sunday, July 17, 2011 while on patrol through the village of Shir Ghazay in Helmand province, Afghanistan. AP / David Goldman
Lance Cpl. Joshua Treis, 20 of St. Louis Mo., second from right, with the U.S. Marines 1st Tank Battalion out of Twentynine Palms, Calif., walks with a baseball bat while collecting garbage with fellow Marines next to their M1A1 Abrams tanks Saturday, July 16, 2011 at Combat Out Post Shir Ghazay in Helmand province, Afghanistan. AP / David Goldman
Sgt. Nick White, 24, of Amber Okla., from left, Pfc. John Crowley 22, of Redlands, Calif., Lance Cpl. Josh Van Devender, 21, of Waldorf, Md., Cpl. John Lamecker, 22, of Hutchinson, Calif., and Cpl. Ryan Duran, 20, of Houston, Texas., all with the U.S. Marines 1st Tank Battalion out of Twentynine Palms, Calif., talk outside their tent Saturday, July 16, 2011 at Combat Out Post Shir Ghazay in Helmand province, Afghanistan. AP / David Goldman
U.S. Marine Hospital Corpsman 3 Chris Verderosa, 28, of West Palm Beach, Fla., with the 3rd Battalion 2nd Marines based in Camp Lejeune, N.C., walks into a tent decorated with the American flag Friday, July 15, 2011 at Combat Out Post Shir Ghazay in Helmand province, Afghanistan. AP / David Goldman
U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Kurtis Langstraat, 20, of Loughlin, Nev., with the 7th Engineer Support Battalion based in Camp Pendleton, Calif., reacts after receiving mail packages from his Mom and Grandfather Friday, July 15, 2011 at Combat Out Post Shir Ghazay in Helmand province, Afghanistan. It was the second time in three months the Marines have been able to receive mail. AP / David Goldman
Staff Sgt. Rulberto Qjendismiranda, 20, of Seaside, Calif, with the U.S. Army's 2nd Battalion 27th Infantry Regiment based in Hawaii, takes cover from the rotor wash of a military transport flight Monday, July 11, 2011 at Forward Operating Base Fenty in Kunar province, Afghanistan. AP / David Goldman
The U.S. Army's Sgt. 1st Class Thomas Cassidy, 36, of Dothan, Ala., left, and U.S Air Force's Capt. Andrew Hunter, 31, of Charlestown, S.C., right, catch some rest aboard a military transport flight Monday, July 11, 2011 out of Forward Operating Base Fenty in Kunar province, Afghanistan. AP / David Goldman
Soldiers with the U.S. Army's 3rd Platoon, Charlie Company, 2nd Battalion 27th Infantry Regiment based in Hawaii, gather for a briefing under the moonlight before heading out on a convoy Sunday, July 10, 2011 at Forward Operating Bostick in Kunar province, Afghanistan. AP / David Goldman
Spc. Jacob Green, 22, of Shreveport, La., with the U.S. Army's 3rd Platoon, Charlie Company, 2nd Battalion 27th Infantry Regiment based in Hawaii, yawns as he wraps up an overnight guard shift in a tower at dawn Sunday, July 10, 2011 at Observation Point Mustang, elevation 6,000 feet, in Kunar province, Afghanistan. AP / David Goldman
Spc. Matt Broce, 21, of Bowling Green, Ky., with the U.S. Army's 10th Mountain Division Combat Aviation Brigade out of Fort Drum, N.Y., looks out of a Blackhawk helicopter during an assessment mission to Observation Point Mace Saturday, July 9, 2011, days after insurgents attacked four outposts in the area killing some two dozen members of Afghan security forces in Kunar province, Afghanistan. AP / David Goldman
1st Lt. Cory Dombrowski, 24, of South Bend Ind., with the U.S. Army's 2nd Battalion 27th Infantry Regiment based in Hawaii, takes position after being dropped off by a Blackhawk helicopter during an assessment mission to Observation Point Mace Saturday, July 9, 2011, days after insurgents attacked four outposts in the area killing some two dozen members of Afghan security forces in Kunar province, Afghanistan. AP / David Goldman
Sr. Airman Todd Newlin, 23, of Columbus, Ohio, with the U.S Air Force's 966th Air Expeditionary Squadron of Laughlin Air Base, out of Del Rio, Texas, does pull ups Saturday, July 9, 2011 at Observation Post Mustang in Kunar province, Afghanistan. AP / David Goldman
Spc. Jacob Green, 22, of Shreveport, La., with the U.S. Army's 3rd Platoon, Charlie Company, 2nd Battalion 27th Infantry Regiment based in Hawaii, reads a book overlooking the Cherigal Valley Saturday, July 9, 2011 at Observation Point Mustang in Kunar province, Afghanistan. AP / David Goldman
Pfc. Pedro Beltran, 24, of LaBelle, Fla., with the U.S. Army's 3rd Platoon, Charlie Company, 2nd Battalion 27th Infantry Regiment based in Hawaii, washes laundry Saturday, July 9, 2011 at Observation Point Mustang in Kunar province, Afghanistan. AP / David Goldman
Pfc. Joseph Calamita, 20, of Buffalo, N.Y., with the U.S. Army's 3rd Platoon, Charlie Company, 2nd Battalion 27th Infantry Regiment based in Hawaii, looks out over the Cherigal Valley at sunset Saturday, July 9, 2011 at Observation Point Mustang in Kunar province, Afghanistan. AP / David Goldman
Spc. Michael Szewczyk, 21, of New Philadelphia, Ohio, with the U.S. Army's Alpha Company 2nd Battalion 27th Infantry Regiment based in Hawaii, wears night vision goggles as a truck passes in the background as he secures a helicopter landing strip Friday, July 8, 2011 at Combat Outpost Pirtle King in Kunar province, Afghanistan. AP / David Goldman
A 155mm round is fired from a 777 Howitzer canon at insurgents during a firing mission by soldiers with 2nd Platoon, Charlie Battery, 3rd Battalion, 321 Field Artillery Regiment out of Fort Bragg, N.C., Friday, July 8, 2011 at Forward Operating Base Bostick in Kunar province, Afghanistan. AP / David Goldman
Sgt. Christian Cisneros, 34, right, of Tijuana, Mexico, right, points out a suspicious object on a mountain top to Staff Sgt. Benjamin George, 26, of Kalihi, Hawaii, both with the U.S. Army's 2nd Battalion 27th Infantry Regiment based in Hawaii, while pulling guard in a watchtower at Combat Outpost Pirtle King Thursday, July 7, 2011, in Kunar province, Afghanistan. AP / David Goldman
Spc. Ronald Weiss, 29, of Crystal River, Fla., with the U.S. Army's 2nd Battalion 27th Infantry Regiment based in Hawaii, fires at a suspicious target on a mountain side Thursday, July 7, 2011 at Combat Outpost Pirtle King in Kunar province, Afghanistan. AP / David Goldman
Sgt. Devin Nehring, 22, of Dixon, Ill., with the U.S. Army's 2nd Battalion 27th Infantry Regiment based in Hawaii, stands guard at a watchtower overlooking the Kunar River Thursday, July 7, 2011 at Combat Outpost Pirtle King in Kunar province, Afghanistan. AP / David Goldman
Sgt. Chris Gidloff, 25, of Delta Junction, Alaska, with the U.S. Army's 2nd Battalion 27th Infantry Regiment based in Hawaii, plays guitar in the cover from mountain top insurgent shooting positions Thursday, July 7, 2011 at Combat Outpost Pirtle King in Kunar province, Afghanistan. AP / David Goldman
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