Michael Yon is a former US Army Green Beret who covers combat troops from Iraq and Afghanistan. During one of his journeys with an Army unit, he managed to document the exact moment when they were hit with hostile fire. After an intense car chase, Yon and the soldiers dismounted and attempted to chase the suspects on foot. During this ordeal, even Yon found himself in possession of a weapon and returned fire.

What follows is not only his harrowing images that illustrate the intensity many service members go through in combat, but also the exemplification of the military's mantra for developing leaders: "Lead from the front."

Warning: The following images may be graphic to some.