Members of the 1st battalion, 11th Marines, Alpha battery hold their ears as an artillery round from a 155mm Howitzer heads toward a destination in southern Iraq. (Rick Loomis / LAT)
Fighting continues in southern Iraq. March 27, 2003
Sgt. Brendon Frazier, 23, of Puyallup, Wa., a member of the 1st battalion, 11th Marines, Alpha battery smokes a cigarette in the early morning after setting up artillery pieces during the night in southern Iraq. In the background is a 155mm Howitzer. (Rick Loomis / LAT)
Artillery rounds, one with “Bombs Over Baghdad” written on it, from the 1st battalion, 11th Marines, Alpha battery on display in southern Iraq. (Rick Loomis / LAT)
Iraqis in civilian dress surrender to U.S. troops near Nasiriyah, scene of fierce fighting south of Baghdad. (Rick Loomis / LAT)
Members of the 1st battalion, 11th Marines, Alpha battery stand back as they fire a 155mm Howitzer in southern Iraq. (Rick Loomis / LAT)
The sun sets over Iraq as an amphibious assault vehicle pulls into position for the night. (Rick Loomis / LAT)
An American flag hangs from an Apache helicopter from the 1st Cavalry. (Kevin P. Casey / LAT)
This Apache Longbow Delta helicopter may be a total loss after the pilot lost control on take off, destroying the rotor blades and collapsing the landing gear. (Kevin P. Casey / LAT)
Mechanics work on an Apache Attack Delta helicopter’s main rotor blades after being heavily damaged by small arms fire. (Kevin P. Casey / LAT)
One of two large bullets jammed in the barrel of an Apache Longbow Delta’s gun as the sand complicates operations. (Kevin P. Casey / LAT)
