Lance Cpl. Shane W. Stokes, a Springfield, Mo., native and an infantryman with Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, walks with a new friend he met while patrolling through a local bazaar. Mobs of curious children following patrols became a common sight in the village of Regay and the surrounding area, once the Marines and Afghan Uniformed Police patrolmen cleared the area of insurgent influence and emplaced a new security presence there.