16 February 2003 - Kuwait, near border with Iraq - The Marines wait for war in the Kuwaiti desert, training for the battle and passing the time in daily ritual, while remembering life back home. Here, the men of the 2nd Battalion, 11th Marines artillery unit wait for the word to begin live fire exercises in the desert near the Iraqi border at dawn, their helmets and flak jackets placed neatly in a row. PHOTO CREDIT : Kit R. Roane
18 February 2003 - Kuwait, near border with Iraq - Gunny Sgt. Richard Jefferson, 36, of Fox battery, 11th Marines,quietly smokes one Marlboro cigarette after another as he waits to restart live fire artillery practice in the desert near the Iraqi border. PHOTO CREDIT : Kit R. Roane
16 February 2003 - Kuwait, near border with Iraq - The wait turns to agony for Sgt. Jason Schaffer (foreground), 26, head of Fox battery 2nd Battalion, 11th Marines as he and his artillery unit wait to recommence live fire exercises in the desert near the Iraqi border at dawn. PHOTO CREDIT : Kit R. Roane
19 February 2003 - Kuwait, near border with Iraq - LCPL Jeremy Johnson, 22, of Montgomery Alabama, plays cards with other "earth pigs" as the front-line infantry are known by those closer to the rear, as he waits for war near the Iraqi border. Another Marine leafs through Stuff Magazine, which would probably be prohibited by the Kuwaiti's were he not on a Marine base in the desert. PHOTO CREDIT : Kit R. Roane
26 February 2003 - Kuwait,Camp Shoup, near border with Iraq - The "Betio Bastards," U.S. soldiers of 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marines, from Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, play football at their desert camp near the Iraqi Border while they wait for war. PHOTO CREDIT : Kit R. Roane
26 February 2003 - Kuwait,Camp Shoup, near border with Iraq - A soldier who injured his foot is wheeled around in a card to his shower, haircut and chow hall by his fellow "Betio Bastards," U.S. soldiers of 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marines, from Camp Lejeune, North Carolinanow at a desert camp near the Iraqi Border waiting for war. PHOTO CREDIT : Kit R. Roane
27 February 2003 - Kuwait,Camp Shoup, near border with Iraq - A Marine shows off his tatto of his son's name while another Marine sits down for a haricut done by his comrades in the "Betio Bastards," U.S. soldiers of 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marines, from Camp Lejeune, North Carolina at their desert camp near the Iraqi Border while waiting for war. PHOTO CREDIT : Kit R. Roane
19 February 2003 - Near the border with Iraq, Kuwait - The "Earth Pigs" as the front-line infantry are known by those closer to the rear, receive mail after a long wait, as they wait for war near the Iraqi border. PHOTO CREDIT : Kit R. Roane
