INDEPENDENCE DAY IN AFGHANISTAN

Bravo Company of the 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, spent Independence Day on the third day of a hike through the 100 plus degree heat of Afghanistan, carrying 100 pounds of gear each. Ammunition, rifle and flak jacket alone weigh 50 pounds. Add another 15 pounds for water, barely enough for the task.

There were some heat causalities. Some Marines threw up, others had dry heaves. Three passed out. Their Navy medic pointed out, "When (body) temperature goes up past 104, your brain starts cooking, and that's what we're trying to prevent."

Each Marine was carrying a full load of ammo, because they had not yet been in a firefight. One said, "It's be great if we took contact. We'd lose so much weight."

Most of the Marines were not aware it was the fourth of July.

(AP)