Photographs

After finishing up training it is customary to take platoon pictures; this one was taken on the beach at Camp Rilea, Oregon, circa 2000. (Nicholas Moore)

Ranger School Graduation Class 11-01 (I am on the third row, sixth from the right). (U.S. Department of Defense photo)

Platoon Leadership 2010–2011 with the 1st Platoon, Bravo Company battle flag. Front row (left to right): Mike, David. Back row: Me, Nick “Nasty,” Brandon, Jake. (Brandon McClure)

Pulling security during the Iraq invasion. This photo was taken while waiting for the link-up of other Ranger elements involved in the jump on H1 (desert landing strip). Later this day would begin our slow crawl back to friendly lines, and ultimately a follow-on to rescue Private First Class Jessica Lynch. (Nicholas Moore)

First Platoon picture taken at one of Saddam Hussein’s many palaces in Baghdad, Iraq. This palace had been claimed as a Command Headquarters for members of the 1st Armored Division, who are not seen in this photo, as they had found the boat house and were enjoying a little water skiing. (Nicholas Moore)

Battalion photo taken prior to redeployment home. After shuttling the Battalion to the Crossed Sabers military parade field in Bagdad, we took Company and Battalion (minus) pictures. I am sitting on the Bradley fighting vehicle on the right side of the picture. (Nicholas Moore)

Rangers “consolidate the force” on day one of the winter strike, before moving by Hilux pick-up into the Kantiwa River Valley. Sergeant Jay Blessing would be killed the next morning. (Casey Davis)

Moving by Hilux pick-up up into the Kantiwa River Valley. The road network to get to our starting point was too narrow for HUMVEEs. (Casey Davis)

In typical Afghanistan mountain village construction, villages are terraced onto the mountainside. While waiting to cross a one-vehicle bridge, Casey snaps a quick picture. (Casey Davis)

The convoy stops short of the next picture location, and leadership sorts out sleeping arrangements. It’s a great opportunity to stretch after a cramped day-long ride. (Casey Davis)

Getting ready to sleep for the night. This photo was taken from the guard post on the second day of the winter strike. The next day, we would start patrolling in the mountains, up into the snow of the Kantiwa River Valley. (Casey Davis)

Chris (platoon sergeant, 3rd Platoon) and Casey (squad leader, 1st Squad) converse about blowing up the small mortar cache we found. (Casey Davis)

Afghanistan rush hour. Casey decides to try and pet the livestock as Afghan herders move the goats down the trail we are walking up. (Casey Davis)

Slow and steady is the pace for patrolling in the Kantiwa River Valley, as fast isn’t possible with 90–120-pound rucks. (Casey Davis)

Afghans hired to pack mules (or donkeys in this case) work out the logistical loads for the donkeys. Rangers in the foreground enjoy the time out from under the rucks and equipment. (Casey Davis)

A short halt during movement to take off “snivel gear” (cold weather gear). Overheating from too much cold weather clothing is always a concern. (Casey Davis)

Casey sucking wind after our mad dash up the mountain to reinforce 1st Platoon (on our “down day”) after they called up a compromise, only for us to watch them drinking tea as we gasp for breath. (Casey Davis)

SEALs hate to walk. Instead of walking across the valley, SEALs waited for a helo to ferry them to target. (Nicholas Moore)

Rangers watching the SEALs’ helo insertion. This was our first morning in the Pesch River Valley. (Casey Davis)

Me (front left) with members of 2nd and 3rd Squads and the platoon headquarters element who recovered Marcus Luttrell. This picture was taken once word was given we would be relieved in place. We wait for darkness to move to the exfil location. (Nicholas Moore)

Vehicle PMCS time in Mosul, as we prepare for the day’s missions to come. After PMCS is complete, there’s always time to reminisce and talk about things from times past and what plans everyone has for after the deployment. (Jason Conde)

A platoon photo in front of the SOF memorial at Bagram airfield, July 2005. This was taken after the recovery of Turbine 33 and Marcus Luttrell. Platoon baseball hats have always been popular, usually for personal wear. They are never authorized for uniforms, unless for platoon pictures. (Nicholas Moore)

Standing on the flight line in Mosul (2006), waiting on the Black Hawks to arrive before some “in-country” Fast Rope Insertion Extraction System (FRIES) rehearsals. I am wearing the soft armor carrier and sporting our platoon patch. (Casey Davis)

Fast-rope training in Mosul. Rangers work on their speed while clearing the aircraft. (Casey Davis)

Perimeter security on the narrow city streets of Mosul. Some streets would only allow us a foot of clearance on each side. (Casey Davis)

Me (left) and Nick, photo op during site exploitation on a daytime operation. (Casey Davis)

Me (left) and Mitch (not Catfish), photo op on the same objective as in the previous photo in Mosul. (Casey Davis)

Waiting on QRF allows the opportunity for a quick squad photo. From left to right: Front row: David, Casey, Me. Second row: Ryan, Mitch, Nick, Josh, Erich, Anousa. Back row: Unknown, Cesar. (Casey Davis)

October 2006 in Ramadi would spark a “costume contest” for the privates, judged by the platoon leader and platoon sergeant. The winner would get a month off from typical details assigned to them. These are 3rd Squad’s entries. From left to right: Splinter cell, cherub angel, scarecrow, and Nick the Nurse, who would be the victor! (Casey Davis)

The battalion standing in formation: from left to right, companies A–E and HHC. This photo was taken in summer of 2009, before the demolition of the original battalion headquarters building. (Nicholas Moore)

Our 2009–10 platoon photo, taken on the Range (FOB Salerno) during my first deployment as platoon sergeant. I am eighth from the left. Everyone loves the “Band of Brothers”-style photo (Nicholas Moore)

The next seven photos show 1st Platoon, Bravo Company during the CAPEX 2011 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. This event lasted a week, with only one hour of mandatory exhibition a day. The rest of the time was spent on the ranges, preparing for the upcoming deployment. (U.S. Army photo by Sergeant First Class Michael R. Noggle/CC BY 2.0)

CAPEX 2011. Pulling security and preparing to move to breach, Rangers show how business is done. (U.S. Army Photo by Trish Harris-Brownlee/CC BY 2.0)

CAPEX 2011. Sergeant Holtz gives sectors of fire to his rifleman. Objective secure, team leaders assign sectors of fire in the event of “counter-attack.” Train as you fight. (U.S. Army photo by Sergeant Marcus Butler/CC BY 2.0)

CAPEX 2011. Captain Jake leads his element during the fast-rope demonstration. Second Squad fast-ropes onto a rooftop to secure the high ground. (U.S. Army photo by Sergeant Marcus Butler/CC BY 2.0)

CAPEX 2011. I run to the Last Cover and Concealment. Off the Chinook, and a mad sprint to the street intersection to cover the fast-rope infil by the second Chinook. (U.S. Army Photo by Trish Harris-Brownlee/CC BY 2.0)

CAPEX 2011. I lead my element during the ground infil. (U.S. Army photo by Specialist Michael Spoor)

First Platoon after the final demonstration during CAPEX 2011. This would be the last platoon photo taken before the death of Sergeant Holtz. (Nicholas Moore)

Rangers conduct fast-rope training from an MH-47 at Gray Army Airfield. Rangers certify this prior to every deployment. This is an easy day of round-robin-style training, switching between the aircraft types. (U.S. Army photo by Private First Class Connor Mendez)

Rangers preparing to conduct parachute training. Loaded on the C-17 Globemaster III, they wait to take off for the flight to the drop zone. (U.S. Army photo by Private First Class Connor Mendez)

A Ranger leader moonlight silhouette – because sometimes the cameraman couldn’t resist a cool photo. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Christopher Callaway)

Rangers on target conducting external site exploitation, while snipers maintain the high ground for security. This is an ongoing process outside, while Rangers conduct exploitation inside at the same time. (55th Combat Camera Photo by Sergeant First Class Walter Reeves/CC BY 2.0)

An MH-47 flares, preparing to land. Rangers are waiting on a knee to exfil the target area. (U.S. Department of Defense photo by Specialist Steven Hitchcock/Released)

A CH-47 and two Black Hawks refuelling at Kandahar airfield. After strike forces are inserted, helicopters will return to base, refuel, and wait for the exfil call. (U.S. Army photo by Corporal Robert Thaler/Released)

Internal site exploitation. Rangers search through everything inside the homes, looking for weapons and information that will further the detention and targeting process. (U.S. Department of Defense photo by U.S. Army Specialist Brian Kohl/Released)

A sniper pulling security from a rooftop position. Never give up the high ground, even if it’s just a rooftop. (U.S. Department of Defense photo by U.S. Army Specialist Brian Kohl/Released)

A Ranger walking to exfil during the early part of the morning. Some missions will be ongoing until the last possible minute, even if it means calling for exfil as the sun is coming up. (U.S. Army photo by Specialist Steven Hitchcock/Released/CC BY 2.0)

Passing information during site exploitation. Ranger leaders ensure everyone involved is tracking important items found on target. (U.S. Army photo by Specialist Philip Diab/RELEASED/CC BY 2.0)

This is the manifest for Extortion 1-7, removed from the pocket of USN Chief Robert Reeves. This was the only complete manifest (SEAL and Ranger). I would pen in for the aircrew to ensure accurate accountability. (Nicholas Moore)

The wound vac placed in my right leg to drain the fluid swelling. This would be changed every third day, so doctors could monitor that no infection was starting and that the healing process was progressing. (Nicholas Moore)

Ranger Memorial Ceremony 2012, picture with the Cerros family. This was the hardest conversation I would have, to explain how I had survived and their son had been killed on October 8, 2011. (Nicholas Moore)

Rangers exfil the target during live-fire training. This is the final evaluation on the platoon’s ability to “certify” ready for the upcoming deployment. (U.S. Army photo by Specialist Steven Hitchcock/Released)

Department of the Army official photo for master sergeant promotion packet. (Nicholas Moore)

Meeting my daughter for the first time post deployment 2012. This would be my last deployment. (Cheryl Moore)

A welcome-home kiss from my wife after returning home from my last deployment. (Cheryl Moore)