US Marine hangs helmet on rifle during memorial service at base in central Iraq.
A U.S. Marine from the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit hangs a Kevlar helmet on an inverted rifle during a memorial service for Sergeant Benjamin Edinger and Sergeant Nicholas Nolte at U.S. Forward Operating Base Kalsu, south of the Iraqi capital Baghdad, December 5, 2004. The traditional display is composed of an inverted rifle with attached bayonet, identification tags, desert boots and helmet. Edinger, 24, of Green Bay, Wis., was assigned to the MEU's Force Reconnaissance Platoon. Nolte, 25, of Fall City, Neb., was assigned to the Low-Altitude Air Defense Detachment, Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 263, and to the MEU's Personal Security Detachment. Both Marines died from wounds suffered in separate roadside-bomb attacks last month while conducting security and stability operations south of Baghdad. Picture taken on December 5, 2004. REUTERS/HO/USMC/Lance Cpl. Sarah A. Beavers HH/GB