Private first Class Polacek, center, joined by other soldiers from the 1st platoon Apache Company 2-87 Infantry, 10th Mountain Division from Fort Drum, NY, patrols the Tangie valley, Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2009, in Afghanistan. Thousands of U.S. troops are deploying in southern Afghanistan as part of an effort to prevent the Taliban from disrupting the country's Aug. 20 presidential election. (AP Photo/Dima Gavrysh)