Soldiers of Company B, Second Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, Combined Task Force Currahee, of the 101st Airborne Division pass the time by smoking and talking before an air assault into Paktika Province, Afghanistan, Thursday, June 6, 2008, the anniversary of the D-Day landing in Normandy during WWII. The regiment was immortalized in the book and miniseries, "Band of Brothers", which documented their battles in Western Europe during WW II. (Mary F. Calvert / The Washington Times)

A Bravo Company soldier finds an bit of shade under a construction vehicle on the airstrip while waiting for a Chinook helicopter to airlift the company into Paktika Province, Afghanistan, on the anniversary of the D-Day landing in Normandy during WWII. (Mary F. Calvert / The Washington Times)

Spc. Cantu, a soldier with B Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division, grabs some rest before an air assault into Paktika Province, Afghanistan, Thursday, June 6, 2008. The air assault was the beginning of an operation that may last as long as two weeks. (Mary F. Calvert / The Washington Times)

Spc. Stevenson smokes a cigarette while waiting on the airstrip of Forward Operating Base Salerno for helicopters to air assault the soldiers of Bravo Company into Paktika Province, Afghanistan, Thursday, June 6, 2008, the anniversary of the D-Day landing in Normandy during WWII. (Mary F. Calvert / The Washington Times)

Bravo Company soldiers grab some shuteye on the airstrip of Forward Operating Base Salerno before an air assault into Paktika Province, Afghanistan, Thursday, June 6, 2008. (Mary F. Calvert / The Washington Times)

Pfc. Terry adjusts his helmet as Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 506 Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division, prepares to load into Chinook helicopters and air assault into Paktika Province, Afghanistan, Thursday, June 6, 2008. (Mary F. Calvert / The Washington Times)

Pfc. Short, center, gets help with his 100-pound pack before loading onto a helicopter for an air assault into Paktika Province, Afghanistan, Thursday, June 6, 2008, the anniversary of the D-Day landing in Normandy during WWII. (Mary F. Calvert / The Washington Times)

Soldiers move toward a Chinook helicopter that with take them on an air assault into Paktika Province, Afghanistan on the anniversary of the D-Day landing in Normandy during WWII, Thursday, June 6, 2008. (Mary F. Calvert / The Washington Times)

Soldiers load into a Chinook helicopter that with take them on an air assault in Paktika Province, Afghanistan on the anniversary of the D-Day landing in Normandy during WWII, Thursday, June 6, 2008 (Mary F. Calvert / The Washington Times)

Soldiers load a Chinook helicopter for an air assault by Bravo Company, 506th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division into Paktika Province, Afghanistan on the anniversary of the D-Day landing in Normandy during WWII, Thursday, June 6, 2008. (Mary F. Calvert / The Washington Times)

Soldiers in Company B, Second Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, Combined Task Force Currahee, fly a chinook helicopter into Paktika Province, Afghanistan on the anniversary of the D-Day landing in Normandy during WWII, Thursday, June 6, 2008. (Mary F. Calvert / The Washington Times)

Soldiers in Company B, Second Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, Combined Task Force Currahee, fly a chinook helicopter into Paktika Province, Afghanistan on the anniversary of the D-Day landing in Normandy during WWII, Thursday, June 6, 2008. (Mary F. Calvert / The Washington Times)

Sgt. 1st Class Turbyfill looks out the open door of a Chinook helicopter as Bravo Company soldiers near the landing zone of an air assault into Paktika Province, Afghanistan, Thursday, June 6, 2008. (Mary F. Calvert / The Washington Times)

A soldier rubs his hands before hitting the landing zone in Paktika Province, Afghanistan, Thursday, June 6, 2008. (Mary F. Calvert / The Washington Times)

Soldiers deploy in the landing zone in Paktika Province, Afghanistan, for a two-week operation, Thursday, June 6, 2008. (Mary F. Calvert / The Washington Times)

The tail gunner in a Chinook helicopter keeps watch for attacks as the helicopter flies away from the landing zone after inserting soldiers of Company B, Second Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, Combined Task Force Currahee, 101st Airborne Division into Paktika Province, Afghanistan on the anniversary of the D-Day landing in Normandy during WWII, Thursday, June 6, 2008. (Mary F. Calvert / The Washington Times)