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| President Says 3 Pillars Sustain March to Freedom, Justice |
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| By Jim Garamone / American Forces Press Service |
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WASHINGTON, Nov. 19, 2003 — The peace and security of free nations rest on three pillars, President Bush said today during a speech in London.
"We will encourage the strength and effectiveness of international institutions, we will use force when necessary in defense of freedom and we will raise up an ideal of democracy in every part of the world," he said. "On these three pillars we will build the peace and security of all free nations in a time of danger." Story |
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Meeting the Troops
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| Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld waves to Army soldiers as he tours Camp Casey, the headquarters of the 2nd U.S. Infantry Division, at Dongducheon, South Korea , Nov. 18, 2003. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Andy Dunaway |
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| Commentary:
Pentagon Reflections |
| By
1st Lt. Steve Alvarez, USA /
Special to American Forces Press Service |
WASHINGTON,
Nov. 18, 2003 — As a young enlisted man
nearly 20 years ago, I held the Pentagon
in high regard — serving at the military's
corporate headquarters was something to
aim for, a goal to reach.
Since then, I have served at the nation's
military headquarters several times, and
now I'm back yet again, albeit but briefly,
as a reservist. But things have changed,
and my beloved old building is no longer
just a place that houses great professional
and personal memories. It is now hallowed
ground — it is now also a battlefield. More |
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| 28th Combat Support Hospital
Soldier Invents Life-Saving Device |
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| By Sgt. Mark Bell / 372nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment |
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BAGHDAD, Iraq — What do cardboard, plastic pipe, tape and a hair dryer have in common? Probably nothing, but add Staff Sgt. Adam R. Irby into the equation and you get an effective life-saving device proven in combat situations.
As the 25-year-old ward master, from Yorktown, Va., for the Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU) of the 28th Combat Support Hospital, from Fort Bragg, N.C., which is currently deployed in support of Operation Iraq Freedom, Irby said they needed something to warm patients who have lost a large amount of blood.
The result is a makeshift blue cardboard box, which resembles a young child’s playhouse, but it is more commonly known to staff at the 28th CSH as the “Chief Cuddler.” More |
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Iraqis Graduate from
Civil Defense
Course
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By U.S. Army Spc. Chuck D. Meseke / 82nd Airborne Division
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AL ASAD, Iraq — The third class of the Iraqi Civil Defense Corps graduated from training at the Navea Training Center, Iraq, Nov 11.
The class of about 170 Iraqis will be tasked with defending much of Iraq’s infrastructure facilities, such as power plants and pipelines.
The week long training course requires the Corpsmen to complete physical training each day and train on a variety of skills including first aid, guard duty, recognizing and responding to improvised explosive devices, search techniques and detention of personnel, said 1st Sgt. Jack Cooper, the noncommissioned officer in charge of the training center. More
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82nd Airborne Division
Troops Help Refurbish Mosques in Iraq
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| By U.S. Army Cpl. Joe Niesen / 350th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment |
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Al ANBAR, Iraq —The aiding of one’s fellow men and women is something that many religions promote as a way of fostering good relations. Keeping this in mind, the 82nd Airborne Division recently began a program designed to refurbish a number of mosques in the Al Anbar province that had fallen into a state of disrepair.
Building upon the Islamic theme of giving, it is the hope of the Coalition that these mosque repairs and enhancements will provide a visible demonstration of positive coalition intentions. More |
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Iraqi Police Graduate
At Camp Junction City
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By Jamie Bender / 350th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
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RAMADI, Iraq — The Al Anbar Security College at Camp
Junction City graduated its first class of about 45 local
police officers Nov. 6.
Students of the college are taught by soldiers from the
855th Military Police Company, a National Guard unit from Arizona and the 94th
Military Police, a reserve unit from New Hampshire.
Subjects taught at the academy include ethics,
self-defense, religious tolerance and Iraqi law. In the third week of their training,
the students are taught basic rifle marksmanship.
“We teach them the same way privates are
taught at basic training,” said Spc. Arron Medlock, 855th MP Co. More |
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| U.S. Soldiers Help Iraqis Build Playgrounds for Baghdad Kids |
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| By U.S Amry Spc. Chad D. Wilkerson / 372nd MPAD |
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BAGHDAD, Iraq — The children came out in droves as the U.S. Army vehicles pulled up along the sidewalk in the Hayy Karkh district of central Baghdad.
They were always excited to see Coalition soldiers, and this day was no different. The kids swarmed the soldiers as they walked across what was formerly a rotten community dump, where trash was piled in five-meter-high mounds. More
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| Civil Affairs Goes to the Frontlines |
| By U.S. Army Sgt. Greg Heath / 4th Public Affairs Detachment |
NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan — Army civil affairs units in Afghanistan are most commonly known for their roles in the distribution of humanitarian aid and helping facilitate various rebuilding projects throughout the country, but for some civil affairs Soldiers, their calling takes them to the front lines of the War on Terrorism, working on combat operations with the infantrymen.
Recently, During Operation Mountain Resolve, Civil Affairs Specialist Spc. Nick Bernson, 486th Civil Affairs Battalion, helped lift some of the burden from the infantrymen’s backs, literally, when he helped one of the units obtain donkeys from locals to help them carry heavy equipment during a demanding climb up a mountain. More |
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Operation
Iron Hammer Strikes
Saddam-Loyal Neighbor
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By Sgt. Mark Bell / 372nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
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 BAGHDAD, Iraq — The early evening hours of the middle-class Adhamiyah district in Baghdad were interrupted by the thunderous sounds of the M1A1 main battle tanks and Bradley fighting vehicles assigned to Task Force 1-36 during Operation Iron Hammer on Nov. 16. More |
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| On Iraq |
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Outreach Program
Rooted in Patriotism |
 WASHINGTON, Nov. 18, 2003 – Army Sgt. 1st Class Caron Whitby likes talking to young people. The Californian and former drill sergeant has helped shape and prepare hundreds of soldiers for Army life, and many are likely serving in hot spots all over the globe.
These days, her mission and message are slightly different. While still addressing a youthful group, the 17-year veteran's topics are not military customs and courtesies, the chain of command, or parade and ceremonies. Instead, her messages focus on patriotism and the current war on terror as she addressed approximately 2,200 high school students near Chicago last week. More |
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Defense Officials
Identify Army Casualties |
WASHINGTON, Nov. 19, 2003 — Defense Department officials have announced the identities of five soldiers killed while supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Two soldiers were killed on Nov. 15 when two 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters crashed in Mosul, Iraq. Killed were:
Pfc. Damian L. Heidelberg, 21, of Batesville, Miss. Heidelberg was assigned to 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.
Spc. Jeremiah J. Digiovanni, 21, of Tylertown, Miss. Digiovanni was assigned to 4th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.
There are three additional fatalities from this incident pending next of kin notification.
Chief Warrant Officer Alexander S. Coulter, 35, of Tenn, was killed on Nov. 17 in Baqubah, Iraq. Coulter was in a convoy traveling to Tikrit when his vehicle ran over an improvised explosive device. He died of his injuries. Coulter was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 124th Signal Battalion, 4th Infantry Division (Mech), Fort Hood, Texas.
Capt. James A. Shull, 32, of California, was killed on Nov. 17 in Baghdad, Iraq. He died from a non-hostile gunshot wound. Shull was assigned to Headquarters Battery, 4th Battalion, 1st Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Armored Division, Fort Riley, Kan.
Spc. Genaro Acosta, 26, of Fair Oaks, Calif., was killed on Nov. 11 in Taji, Iraq. Acosta was on patrol when his Bradley vehicle hit and detonated two improvised explosive devices. He died of his injuries. Acosta was assigned to 1st Battalion, 44th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 4th Infantry Division (Mech), Fort Hood, Texas. |
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Officials Still Finding
Restricted Items in Military Mail |
KUWAIT, Nov. 17, 2003 — Military and civilian personnel continue to place restricted items capable of destroying life and property into packages mailed home from Operation Iraqi Freedom and Afghanistan, postal officials said.
"We have a huge problem with folks trying to send expended and unexpended ordnance, bayonets, U.S. tools, unit equipment, and captured Iraqi equipment," said Col. Donald Kennedy, commander of the 3rd Personnel Command, the unit responsible for postal operations throughout the theater. More |
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Deadline Nears to Send
Packages to Deployed Soldiers |
WASHINGTON, Army News Service, Nov. 14, 2003 — Christmas is a month away, but individuals only have half that time to get their packages to deployed troops in time for the holidays.
The deadline to get packages to the Central Command area in time for Christmas is Dec. 4 by First Class or Priority Mail, according to the United States Postal Service. More |
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Artist Turns Iowa Graffiti
Rock into Military Tribute |
 WASHINGTON, Nov. 17, 2003 — Something about a 12-foot-high, 56-ton rock north of Greenfield, Iowa, must scream "Paint me!" to the artistically inclined. For years, it played host to teenagers' graffiti as it stood sentry next to Highway 25, about a mile south of the Greenfield exit off Interstate 80 in Iowa.
Ray "Bubba" Sorensen II, 24, now of Des Moines, Iowa, grew up in Greenfield and had seen the rock countless times. Until 1999, if the rock was calling him to paint it, he wasn't listening. But then he saw the Tom Hanks film "Saving Private Ryan," and soon he answered the call. More |
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| Davis-Monthan Warriors Return to Fight War Against Terrorism |
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BAGRAM, Afghanistan — As most Americans look forward to spending the coming holidays with loved ones, many airmen from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., are deploying to remote, desolate areas around the world to join coalition forces in fighting the war on terrorism.
Davis-Monthan pilots, maintainers and support personnel have trained long and hard in preparation for the November Air and Space Expeditionary Force Silver rotation. During the past year, a series of Operational Readiness Exercises at home have kept the airmen ready to take their place at the tip of the sword. More |
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Navy Petty Officer
Adopts Djiboutian Child |
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 CAMP LEMONIER, Africa – With temperatures in the high 120’s and almost no relief from the heat, there aren’t very many people deployed here who would consider this their best deployment ever, but then again, not everyone gets to take back a new son when they go home.
Religious Programming Specialist, Navy Petty Officer 1st Class John Caudle and his wife Lori talked about adopting a child, but it didn’t become a reality until John’s deployment here. More |
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| 'On The Ground' Archive |
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Send Your 'Best Wishes' to the Troops
Pay tribute to service members supporting the global war on terrorism. Send your message. Read messages to the troops. |
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WASHINGTON, Nov. 19, 2003 — A key member of Saddam Hussein's deposed regime now has a $10 million price on his head, Coalition Provisional Authority officials said at a news conference in Baghdad, Iraq, today.
