In Iraq: Out on Patrol   At 17:15 hours our five Humvee convoy
rolled past Camp Fallujah’s final checkpoint. Gunnery Sergeant
Dagenhart, riding shotgun in the third vehicle, radios that all
crews may insert—but not cycle—ammo clips into their rifles and
pistols. Dagenhart and his driver, 19 year-old L/Cpl John
Johnson from Shreveport, Louisiana, immediately place extra
clips, flares and stun grenades on the dashboard. These items
mutely testify to the unpleasant possibilities that might await
this patrol on Iraq’s nighttime highways. Yet they explain
little about its mission. The coiled razor wire and safety-
orange plastic cones that were packed in the trunks hold more
answers. These objects, supplemented by twenty pairs of watchful
eyes and the convoy’s three turret mounted .50 caliber machine
guns, will allow the 2nd Platoon to fulfill the first of this
evening’s objectives: establishing random VCPs [Vehicle Check
Points], a temporary roadblock that will enable these Marines to
inspect vehicles for weapons,