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- These photos of US troops hammering ISIS in Syria and then playing baseball are straight outta 'Apocalypse Now'
These photos of US troops hammering ISIS in Syria and then playing baseball are straight outta 'Apocalypse Now'
Here's part of the base, which appears to be surrounded by a sand barrier for protection.
![These photos of US troops hammering ISIS in Syria and then playing baseball are straight outta 'Apocalypse Now'](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fstaticbiassets.in%2Fthumb%2Fmsid-64876859%2Cwidth-700%2Cheight-525%2Cimgsize-324693%2Fheres-part-of-the-base-which-appears-to-be-surrounded-by-a-sand-barrier-for-protection-.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
As well as M109 Paladins.
![As well as M109 Paladins.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-64876857,width-700,height-525,imgsize-397269/as-well-as-m109-paladins-.jpg)
Here's a wide shot of how the M777s are set up.
![Here](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-64876856,width-700,height-525,imgsize-863528/heres-a-wide-shot-of-how-the-m777s-are-set-up-.jpg)
But US troops are not alone at the base as they're operating alongside Iraqi forces.
"Iraqi commanders normally select the targets," NPR's Arraf said. "The strikes are mostly in remote areas. The U.S. military says it takes care to avoid civilian casualties."
Here's a shot of one of the Paladins at night.
![Here](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-64876855,width-700,height-525,imgsize-140371/heres-a-shot-of-one-of-the-paladins-at-night-.jpg)
And an M777 firing at night too.
![And an M777 firing at night too.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-64876854,width-700,height-525,imgsize-162203/and-an-m777-firing-at-night-too-.jpg)
The 155mm rounds "weigh about a hundred pounds each," Sgt. Jason Powell told NPR. "And sometimes we get up to 12-round fire missions. So with your gear on and hauling these rounds, these guys are fricking animals."
![The 155mm rounds "weigh about a hundred pounds each," Sgt. Jason Powell told NPR. "And sometimes we get up to 12-round fire missions. So with your gear on and hauling these rounds, these guys are fricking animals."](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-64876853,width-700,height-525,imgsize-110517/the-155mm-rounds-weigh-about-a-hundred-pounds-each-sgt-jason-powell-told-npr-and-sometimes-we-get-up-to-12-round-fire-missions-so-with-your-gear-on-and-hauling-these-rounds-these-guys-are-fricking-animals-.jpg)
Source: NPR
Here's the first shot released a couple weeks ago of the troops playing baseball.
![Here](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-64876852,width-700,height-525,imgsize-78228/heres-the-first-shot-released-a-couple-weeks-ago-of-the-troops-playing-baseball-.jpg)
"I think Fourth will be good spent playing ball," Private Clayton Mogensen told NPR. "We've got a few baseballs here, and we take the handle from a pickaxe and set bases up and just have a good time."
And here comes the pitch.
![And here comes the pitch.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-64876851,width-700,height-525,imgsize-67021/and-here-comes-the-pitch-.jpg)
U.S. Army Sgt. Juan Vallellanes-Ramos swings the axe handle.
![U.S. Army Sgt. Juan Vallellanes-Ramos swings the axe handle.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-64876850,width-700,height-525,imgsize-74702/u-s-army-sgt-juan-vallellanes-ramos-swings-the-axe-handle-.jpg)
And connects, appearing to crack the wooden handle.
![And connects, appearing to crack the wooden handle.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-64876849,width-700,height-525,imgsize-81097/and-connects-appearing-to-crack-the-wooden-handle-.jpg)
But it's unclear if he scored.
![But it](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-64876848,width-700,height-525,imgsize-98153/but-its-unclear-if-he-scored-.jpg)
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