Night Recon

Photo by SPC Olanrewaju Akinwunmi
March 30, 2007

Spc. Dean Goble peers through his rifle scope for signs of suspicious activity at an observation point in Diyarah, Iraq, March 19, during a reconnaissance mission. The mission is to prevent the placing of IEDs on Main Supply Route Tampa. Goble is a forward observer with Company C, 3rd Battalion, 509th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division.

"American Parachutists...devils in baggy pants...are less than 100 meters from my outpost line. I can't sleep at night; they pop up from nowhere and we never know when or how they will strike next. Seems like the black-hearted devils are everywhere..."
(An entry in a German officer's diary found after the Battle of Anzio)