Gates Visits Servicemembers in Afghanistan

Department of Defense Photo Essay

  • U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates speaks to members of the 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment at a forward operating base in Afghanistan, March 9, 2010. DoD photo by Cherie Cullen
  • U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates speaks to members of the 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment at a forward operating base in Afghanistan, March 9, 2010. DoD photo by Cherie Cullen
  • U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates participates in a promotion ceremony during a visit with the 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment at a forward operating base in Afghanistan, March 9, 2010. DoD photo by Cherie Cullen
  • U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates visits the Stryker Tepee Memorial, dedicated to the fallen, during a visit with the 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment at a forward operating base in Afghanistan, March 9, 2010. DoD photo by Cherie Cullen
  • U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates places his coin at each of the photo memorials inside the Stryker Tepee Memorial, dedicated to the fallen, during a visit with the 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment at a forward operating base in Afghanistan, March 9, 2010. DoD photo by Cherie Cullen
  • U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates places his coin at each of the photo memorials inside the Stryker Tepee Memorial, dedicated to the fallen, during a visit with the 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment at a forward operating base in Afghanistan, March 9, 2010. DoD photo by Cherie Cullen
  • U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates exits a V-22 Osprey at a forward operating base in Afghanistan, March 9, 2010. Gates is at the FOB to visit with the 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment. DoD photo by Cherie Cullen
  • U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates walks with Marines through the village of Now Zad in Afghanistan's Helmand province, March 9, 201. The Marines are from the 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment. :DoD photo by Cherie Cullen
  • U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates walks with Marines through the village of Now Zad in Afghanistan's Helmand province, March 9, 201. The Marines are from the 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment. DoD photo by Cherie Cullen
  • U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates walks with Marines through the village of Now Zad in Afghanistan's Helmand province, March 9, 201. The Marines are from the 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment. DoD photo by Cherie Cullen
  • U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates meets with local Afghans as he walks with Marines through the village of Now Zad in Afghanistan's Helmand province, March 9, 2010. The Marines are from the 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment. DoD photo by Cherie Cullen
  • U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates speaks with local Afghans as he walks with Marines through the village of Now Zad in Afghanistan's Helmand province, March 9, 2010. The Marines are from the 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment. DoD photo by Cherie Cullen
  • U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates speaks with local Afghans as he walks with Marines through the village of Now Zad in Afghanistan's Helmand province, March 9, 2010. The Marines are from the 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment. DoD photo by Cherie Cullen
  • U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates speaks with local Afghans as he walks with Marines through the village of Now Zad in Afghanistan's Helmand province, March 9, 2010. The Marines are from the 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment. DoD photo by Cherie Cullen
  • U.S. Army Gen. David M. Rodriguez, deputy commander, U.S. Forces in Afghanistan, buys something from a local boy at a market in Now Zad in Afghanistan's Helmand province, March 9. 2010. DoD photo by Cherie Cullen
  • U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates speaks to Marines of the 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, at a forward operating base in Afghanistan, March 9, 2010. DoD photo by Cherie Cullen
  • U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates speaks to Marines of the 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, at a forward operating base in Afghanistan, March 9, 2010. DoD photo by Cherie Cullen
  • U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates rides in an MRAP during a visit with the 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, at a forward operating base in Afghanistan, March 9, 2010. DoD photo by Cherie Cullen
  • U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates rides in an MRAP during a visit with the 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, at a forward operating base in Afghanistan, March 9, 2010. DoD photo by Cherie Cullen
  • U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates looks at the prototype of the Mobile Trauma Bay during a visit with the 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, at a forward operating base in Afghanistan, March 9, 2010. The vehicle is a mobile operating unit which allows the Marines to drive into locations under fire and pick up the wounded. DoD photo by Cherie Cullen
  • U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates speaks to members of the press following his visit with the 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, at a forward operating base in Afghanistan, March 9, 2010. DoD photo by Cherie Cullen
  • U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates signs a flag during a visit with the 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment at a forward operating base in Afghanistan, March 9, 2010. DoD photo by Cherie Cullen
  • U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates looks out the back of a V-22 Osprey after a visit with the 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, at a forward operating base in Afghanistan, March 9, 2010. DoD photo by Cherie Cullen
  • Brig. Gen. Malcom Brecht, Royal Air Force Commander, salutes U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates as he exits a C-17 in Kandahar, Afghanistan, March 9, 2010. DoD photo by Cherie Cullen
  • U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates pins the silver star on Chief Warrant Officer 3rd Class James Woolley during a visit to Kandahar, Afghanistan, March 9, 2010. DoD photo by Cherie Cullen
  • U.S. Army Lt. Col. John Morgan, center, takes a group photo with his team members after receiving the silver star of his efforts in Kandahar, Afghanistan, March 9, 2010. DoD photo by Cherie Cullen
  • U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates meets with Maj. Gen. Nick Carter, RC-South Commander, during a visit to Kandahar, Afghanistan, March 9, 2010. DoD photo by Cherie Cullen
  • U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates participates in a promotion ceremony during a visit with the 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment at a forward operating base in Afghanistan, March 9, 2010. DoD photo by Cherie Cullen
  • U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates speaks to members of the 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment at a forward operating base in Afghanistan, March 9, 2010. DoD photo by Cherie Cullen
  • A V-22 Osprey takes off from a forward operating base in Afghanistan, March 9, 2010. DoD photo by Cherie Cullen
  • A crew member of a V-22 Osprey looks out the back door as the aircraft lands at a forward operating base in Afghanistan, March 9, 2010. DoD photo by Cherie Cullen