Sunday, November 21, 2010

Tattoos in Afghanistan

Posted by Fiona at 5:50 AM Labels: Bizzare

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Outside a bunker in Marjah, Helmand province, southern Afghanistan Agence France-Presse photographer Mauricio Lima created a series of portraits illustrating the tattoos of the members of the 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines. Many United States Marines sport several tattoos, commonly to tell the story of their lives as soldiers, to vanquish their fears, honor their comrades or to proclaim their love.

3rd Battalion, 6th Marines, Corporal Jones Kendall, 20, of Slidell, Louisiania, poses to show his tattoos for a portrait at the entrance to a bunker at a base in Marjah, Helmand province, southern Afghanistan.

3rd Battalion, 6th Marines, Corporal Michael Rice, 29, of Abilene, Texas, poses to show his tattoos for a portrait at the entrance to a bunker at a base in Marjah, Helmand province, southern Afghanistan.

3rd Battalion, 6th Marines, Sergeant Paul Williams, 20, of Fostoria, Ohio, poses to show his chest tattoo with the inscription USMC and a bull dog (or "Devil Dog", a nickname used by US Marines to address each other which was allegedly given to them by the Germans in the First World War), for a portrait at the entrance to a bunker at a base in Marjah, Helmand province, southern Afghanistan.

3rd Battalion, 6th Marines, Corporal Joe McCarty, 21, of Sullivan, Missouri, poses to show his tattoos for a portrait at the entrance to a bunker at a base in Marjah, Helmand province, southern Afghanistan.

3rd Battalion, 6th Marines, Lance Corporal Zane Arnett, 21, of Palisade, Colorado, poses to show his tattoos for a portrait at the entrance to a bunker at a base in Marjah, Helmand province, southern Afghanistan.

3rd Battalion, 6th Marines, Sergeant Paul Williams, 20, of Fostoria, Ohio, poses to show his tattoos, including two bull dogs (or "Devil Dogs", a nickname used by US Marines to address each other which was allegedly given to them by the Germans in the First World War), and lyrics from the Dire Straits song Brothers in Arms "Through these fields of destruction / baptisms of fire / I've witnessed all your suffering / as the battle raged higher", for a portrait at the entrance to a bunker at a base in Marjah, Helmand province, southern Afghanistan.

3rd Battalion, 6th Marines, Staff Sergeant Bobby Stone, 29, of Hatfield, Arizona, poses to show his tattoos for a portrait at the entrance to a bunker at a base in Marjah, Helmand province, southern Afghanistan.

3rd Battalion, 6th Marines, Corporal Jones Kendall, 20, of Slidell, Louisiania, poses to show his back tattoo invoking Saint Micheal [sic], for a portrait at the entrance to a bunker at a base in Marjah, Helmand province, southern Afghanistan.

3rd Battalion, 6th Marines, Corporal Lorenzo Robles, 22, of Anaheim, California, poses to show his chest tattoo of a cross, doves and the inscription "In Loving Memory Mom Jacqueline Campos" for a portrait at a base in Marjah, Helmand province, southern Afghanistan.

3rd Battalion, 6th Marines, Corporal Daniel Anonsen, 22, of Waldorf, Maryland, poses to show his tattoos, including the inscription of the US Marine Corps. motto "Semper Fi", for a portrait at the entrance to a bunker at a base in Marjah, Helmand province, southern Afghanistan.

3rd Battalion, 6th Marines, Lance Corporal Daniel Weber, 23, of Fairfax, Virginia, poses to show his tattoos, including an inscription in Arabic which means "Unfortunate Soldier", for a portrait at the entrance to a bunker at a base in Marjah, Helmand province, southern Afghanistan.

3rd Battalion, 6th Marines, Lance Corporal Scott Obyrne, 22, of Augusta, Georgia, poses to show his tattoos for a portrait at the entrance to a bunker at a base in Marjah, Helmand province, southern Afghanistan.