For the first time since the Taliban were driven out of the village of Shewan in the Bala Baluk district, members of the Shura, village elders, entered the white mosque, which was previously used by the Taliban as a headquarters. The members of the Shura removed their shoes stacking them in windows or in piles outside the mosque as they attended a meeting in which the Farah Province Governor, Rahool Amin, spoke about the rebuilding of Shewan, Oct. 22, 2009. The Taliban were cleared from the village by members of the Marine Special Operations Command and the Afghan National Army during a mission called Operation Red Thunder that began on Sept. 26, 2009 and ended on Oct. 1, 2009. The Farah Provincial Reconstruction Team, the 82nd Airborne Division, and the local Afghan National Police provided support during Red Thunder. The Governor's visit was the first of many planned visits by the local government in an effort to help Shewan remain Taliban free and to begin rebuilding.
Master Sgt. Tracy DeMarco
Taken on 22 October 2009
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