Special Ops: A Photo History

Iraq
During the initial assault on Saddam Hussein's Iraq, special ops again played a key role, slipping into the country before the official war began to seize airfields and protect oil fields from sabotage. In this photo, Army Rangers detain two Iraqis inside a municipal building in Baquba on April 28, 2003. The unit also seized three city buildings to use as an operations center. These detainees were later released after the Rangers confiscated a small cache of arms.

• Runner-Up: Admiral William McRaven
• The Hidden World of America's Toughest Warrior