U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Greensage provides security [with a sock over his googles] during a reconnaissance patrol in the Nawa district of the Helmand province of Afghanistan Aug. 29, 2009. (DoD photo by Lance Cpl. Phillip Elgie, U.S. Marine Corps/Released) Date Posted: 9/2/2009

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Christopher Mullins, with 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, provides security during a patrol in Nawa district, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Aug. 30, 2009. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. William Greeson/Released) Date Posted: 9/2/2009

U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Jay Lappe, operations officer, right, briefs Staff Sgt. Jason Black, with 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, on a convoy route at Patrol Base Jaker, in Nawa district, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Aug. 30, 2009. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. William Greeson/Released) Date Posted: 9/2/2009

U.S. Marine Corps 1st Lt. Michael Kuiper, center, with 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, briefs Marines before a security patrol at Patrol Base Jaker, in Nawa district, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Aug. 30, 2009. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. William Greeson/Released) Date Posted: 9/2/2009

Coalition forces and members of Task Force Khowst react to small arms fire near Khost, Afghanistan, Aug. 31, 2009, as an OH-58D Kiowa helicopter flies overhead. Members of the task force and Afghan commandos are participating in Operation Raven, a joint operation to search for an improvised explosive device-making cell in the area. (DoD photo by Spc. Matthew Freire, U.S. Army/Released)Date Posted: 9/2/2009

U.S. President Barack Obama leaves the Oval Office as he walks toward the Marine One for his departure from the White House September 2, 2009 in Washington, DC. Obama continued his vacation at Camp David and he will return to Washington on Sunday. Getty

A U.S. Marine carry team moves the transfer case of U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. David R. Hall during a dignified transfer at Dover Air Force Base on September 2, 2009 in Dover, Deleware. Lance Cpl. Hall of Elyria, Ohio, died August 31 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Getty