U.S. soldiers with the Army’s 1-6 Field Artillery Unit test fire an M198 Howitzer at a forward operating base in Kala Gush, Afghanistan, Monday, Feb. 16, 2009.

U.S. soldiers with the Army’s 1-6 Field Artillery Unit test fire an M198 Howitzer at a forward operating base in Kala Gush, Afghanistan, Monday, Feb. 16, 2009.

U.S. soldiers with the Army’s 1-6 Field Artillery Unit test fire an M198 Howitzer at a forward operating base in Kala Gush, Afghanistan, Monday, Feb. 16, 2009. (Photo credit: Spencer Platt / Getty Images)