Operation Black Sand

Marines with 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Division (Forward), set off a controlled detonation in the Ladar Bazaar in southern Musa Qal’ah District, Helmand province, during Operation Black Sand, Aug. 5. Through the combined efforts of 2nd CEB, Regimental Combat Team 8 and The Republic of Georgia’s 33rd Light Infantry Battalion, the Ladar Bazaar, which insurgents used to manufacture and distribute improvised explosive devices, was destroyed.

Lance Cpl. Christopher Davis, an anti-tank assaultman with Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 8, and native of Shreveport, La., uses a command launch unit for a FGM-148 Javelin missile launcher to search for enemies after taking small arms fire from insurgents during Operation Black Sand in the southern portion of Musa Qal’ah District, Helmand province, Aug. 5. Through the combined efforts of 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Division (Forward), RCT-8 and The Republic of Georgia’s 33rd Light Infantry Battalion, the Ladar Bazaar, which insurgents used to manufacture and distribute improvised explosive devices, was destroyed.

A Black Hawk helicopter on a casualty evacuation mission soars through the skies of southern Musa Qal’ah District, Helmand province, Aug. 5. Through the combined efforts of 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Division (Forward), Regimental Combat Team 8 and The Republic of Georgia’s 33rd Light Infantry Battalion, the Ladar Bazaar, which insurgents used to manufacture and distribute improvised explosive devices, was destroyed.

Marines with 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Division (Forward), set off a controlled detonation in the Ladar Bazaar in southern Musa Qal’ah District, Helmand province, during Operation Black Sand, Aug. 6. Through the combined efforts of 2nd CEB, Regimental Combat Team 8 and The Republic of Georgia’s 33rd Light Infantry Battalion, the Ladar Bazaar, which insurgents used to manufacture and distribute improvised explosive devices, was destroyed.

Cpl. Jeff Drew, a combat correspondent assigned to Headquarters Battalion, 2nd Marine Division (Forward), and native of Simsbury, Conn., scans a village for insurgent activity during the early morning hours of Aug. 5 during Operation Black Sand in the southern portion of the Musa Qal’ah District, Helmand province. Through the combined efforts of 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Division (Forward), Regimental Combat Team 8 and The Republic of Georgia’s 33rd Light Infantry Battalion, the Ladar Bazaar, which insurgents used to manufacture and distribute improvised explosive devices, was destroyed.

Cpl. Ryan Eastwick, a cryptologic linguist with Alpha Company, 2nd Radio Battalion, II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward), and native of Sacramento, Calif., points out cordon positions to fellow Marines during Operation Black Sand, in the southern portion of the Musa Qal’ah District, Helmand province, Aug. 5. Through the combined efforts of 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 8 and The Republic of Georgia’s 33rd Light Infantry Battalion, the bazaar, which insurgents used to manufacture and distribute improvised explosive devices, was completely destroyed.

Soldiers with The Republic of Georgia’s 33rd Light Infantry Battalion conduct last minute checks on their Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles at Combat Outpost Shukvani before executing Operation Black Sand in the southern portion of the Musa Qal’ah District, Helmand province, Aug. 5. Through the combined efforts of 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Division (Forward), Regimental Combat Team 8 and the 33rd LIB, the Ladar Bazaar, which insurgents used to manufacture and distribute improvised explosive devices, was destroyed.

An Assault Breaching Vehicle with 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Division (Forward) moves into position during Operation Black Sand, Aug. 5, in southern Musa Qal’ah District, Helmand province. Through the combined efforts of 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Division (Forward), Regimental Combat Team 8 and The Republic of Georgia’s 33rd Light Infantry Battalion, the Ladar Bazaar, which insurgents used to manufacture and distribute improvised explosive devices, was destroyed.