First Marine KIA in ‘Sword’ Campaign….

Freedom is not free, but the U.S. Marine Corps will pay most of your share.
Ned Dolan

By JASON STRAZIUSO, Associated Press Writer Jason Straziuso, Associated Press Writer – 24 mins ago

NAWA, Afghanistan – U.S. Marines suffered their first casualties of a massive new military campaign Thursday as they engaged in sporadic gunbattles along 55 miles of Taliban-controlled heartland in southern Afghanistan.

One Marine was killed and several others were injured or wounded on the first full day of the assault, the largest military operation in Afghanistan since the fall of Taliban government in 2001.