Sgt. Philip Percesepe, the squad leader for 1st Platoon,

Sgt. Philip Percesepe, the squad leader for 1st Platoon, 3rd Squad, India Battery, 3rd Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 2, analyzes a map, after searching a compound in the Kajaki area, Sept. 12. Percesepe’s squad was pushed out after Forward Operating Base Zeegrugge was attacked with indirect fire. The squad entered several compounds searching for weapons, improvised explosive materials and Taliban. “We ended up pushing a little further to see if we could find any enemy egress and entrance routes into the area,” said 22-year-old Percesepe, from Poughkeepsie, N.Y. “We are trying to find out where they are bringing and storing all their weapons and improvised explosive devise making materials.” Each Marine returned to the FOB that afternoon uninjured.