Gateway to Combat With the amphibious assault ship USS Carter Hall trailing closely behind, infantrymen provide security with a machine gun-equipped Humvee on the flight deck of the USS Nassau as the ship transits the Suez Canal, Nov. 26, 2005. In recent years the Suez Canal has earned the unofficial moniker as "the gateway to combat," reflecting the ongoing security and stability operations in the Central Command theater. SHARE: Download: Full Size (0.1 MB) Credit: VIRIN: 124060-W-GUP79-549.jpg Photo Gallery