AFGHANISTAN. Mian Poshteh, Helmand. 2009. American Marines of Echo Company at Combat Outpost Sharp, named after Lance Corporal
Seth Sharp. He was the first member of his unit to be killed during the deployment. The outpost
housed the southernmost company of the Second Battalion, Eighth Marine Regiment. Resupply
was dangerous. The roads to the headquarters in Garmsir were heavily mined and nearly twothirds
of all resupply convoys were hit by improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Helicopters were
safer but in short supply. The base had plenty of ammunition and water but little else: no fresh
food, showers or working toilets. At the end of August several reporters embedded at the base.
The Marine commander, General Lawrence Nicholson, made sure that the outpost received
its first batch of fresh food in two months. The cooks grilled up steak, kielbasa, hot dogs and
chicken. The long line of excited, hungry, joking Marines went completely silent when they saw
the striking journalist Lara Logan. They had been fighting nearly every day for two months. She
walked by the line of Marines wearing a tank top, glancing occasionally at the row of silent,
staring faces.