It's against the rules for U.S. servicemembers to play with stray animals in war zones, but sometimes rules are for fools.
And in Iraq and Afghanistan, where the deployments have been long and arduous, having some animal companionship can offer much needed stress relief.
Even soldiers deployed to war zones have a sensitive side.
Like this Marine gunnery sergeant in southwestern Afghanistan.
Navy Corpsmen, like the one pictured here, serve as medics to the Marines; clearly they are affectionate people.
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