AFGHANISTAN: Wounded Marines receive Purple Hearts.

They were sent to Afghanistan to tutor the Afghan national police. But as soon as they arrived, the Marines of the Twentynine Palms-based 2nd battalion, 7th regiment found themselves in combat with Taliban insurgents.

The Marines pushed the Taliban out of numerous villages and hiding spots. Twenty members of the battalion were killed, and in December, after the unit had returned home, a memorial service was held in their honor.

And now a second ceremony (above) has been held, where Marines wounded in action received Purple Hearts.

In all, 39 Marines and a sailor from the battalion received the medals. "All of 2/7, as a whole, did a damn good job at cleaning up the area we were in,'' said Pfc. Trenton Walter, one of the Purple Heart recipients.

Tony Perry, San Diego

Photo: Marines from Two-Seven receiving Purple Heart medals. Credit: Marine Corps