|
| Enemy Attacks Drop 70 Percent Since Iron Hammer's Start |
 |
| By John D. Banusiewicz / American Forces Press Service |
|
WASHINGTON, Nov. 20, 2003 — Enemy attacks against the coalition in and around Baghdad have dropped by 70 percent since Operation Iron Hammer began Nov. 12, the commander of the 1st Armored Division said today.
Army Brig. Gen. Martin E. Dempsey told reporters in Baghdad and the Pentagon press corps here by video teleconference that information gathered over several weeks -- mainly from Iraqi citizens -- and pattern analysis of enemy actions have combined to make Iron Hammer "an intelligence-based, precise combat operation." More
|
|
| Terrorists Will Not Drive Wedge Between U.S. and Turkey |
|
| By Jim Garamone / American Forces Press Service |
|
WASHINGTON, Nov. 20, 2003 — Terrorist attacks in Istanbul will not drive a wedge between the United States and Turkey, but will draw them closer together, said Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz today.
Attacks against Jewish temples in Istanbul on Nov. 15 and against the British Consulate and a British bank today, killed at least 45 people and wounded at least 700. Turkish officials said al Qaeda took credit for the Nov. 15 attacks.
Wolfowitz and the Turkish Deputy Chief of Defense Gen. Ilker Basbug talked on the terrorist attacks in Istanbul following meetings in the Pentagon. More
|
|
| Bush, Blair Pledge Solidarity
In Wake of Bombings in Turkey |
|
| By Gerry J. Gilmore / American Forces Press Service |
|
WASHINGTON, Nov. 20, 2003 — The leaders of the United States and Great Britain today pledged to stand fast in Iraq and continue their unified fight against world terrorism as yet another apparent terrorist bombing rocked Istanbul, Turkey.
Meeting with reporters in London, President George Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair both offered condolences to the estimated 25 killed and near-400 injured in separate Istanbul bombings that targeted a London-based bank and the British consulate. More
|
|
|
 |
|
Air, Ground
Raid in Qayyarah, Iraq
|
 |
| Members
of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Battalion,
327th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division (Air
Assault), conduct a mass air assault and raid
on a village in search of weapons and smugglers
near Qayyarah West, Iraqi, Nov. 19, 2003. U.S.
Army Photo by Sgt Justin Harris |
|
|
|
|
|
| 28th Combat Support Hospital
Soldier Invents Life-Saving Device |
|
| By Sgt. Mark Bell / 372nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment |
|
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. More |
|
| 416th Engineer Group Introduces
'Task Force Gryphon' to Afghanistan |
|
| By U.S. Army Sgt. Johnny A. Thompson / 4th Public
Affairs Detachment |
|
BAGRAM,
Afghanistan — In a transfer of authority ceremony Nov. 16 at
the Army Engineer's compound, Bagram was introduced to a Gryphon.
The Gryphon is Task Force Gryphon, the 416th Engineer Group,
a National Guard unit from Walbridge, Ohio. The new headquarters
has command responsiblity for the engineering mission for CJTF-180.
"Our mission is to provide command and
control for the engineering groups within the CJTF-180 Combine Joint Operations
Area," said Col. Allan Rogers, commander of the 416th Eng. Group. More
|
|
|
|
 |
Units Mourn Loss of Soldiers
Killed in Black Hawk Crashes |
By U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Mark Swart and Spc. Joshua Hutcheson
101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) Public Affairs Office |
MOSUL, Iraq (Nov. 20, 2003) – More than 1,000 soldiers from units across the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) spent nearly two days honoring the 17 soldiers who died Nov. 15 in a two-helicopter crash over Mosul.
The ceremonies
took place at the soldiers’ respective
battalion headquarters in both Mosul and Tallafar, in a total of six ceremonies
over the two-day period. More |
|
| . . |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| School Back in Session in Western
Abu Ghraib |
|
| By U.S. Army Spc. Chad D. Wilkerson / 372nd
Moblile Public Affairs Det. |
|
BAGHDAD,
Iraq – For students in the United States, school has
been in session for months now — continuing on its regular
seasonal schedule.
Many school children in Baghdad, who have been out of school
since the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom, have needed
the help of some of the Coalition’s best and brightest
to get their educations back on track. More
|
|
|
 |
| On Iraq |
| . |
| . |
| . |
| Military News |
| . |
| . |
| . |
|
. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Authorization Act Pluses Up Pay, Creates New Civilian System |
WASHINGTON, Nov. 21, 2003 — The fiscal 2004 National Defense Authorization Act pluses up military pay accounts and creates a whole new civilian personnel system.
The act, passed by Congress Nov. 7, authorizes DoD to spend $401.3 billion. The fiscal 2004 Defense Appropriations Act, which actually provides the money, became law Sept. 30. President Bush is expected to sign the authorization bill into law soon. More |
|
| Profile |
 |
U.S.
Marine Lance
Cpl. Justin S. Bailey |
 |
|
CAMP
LEJEUNE, N.C.(Nov. 17, 2003) — Going to Iraq
wasn't as strange an experience for Lance Cpl. Justin
S. Bailey as it was for his fellow Marines of 2nd
Amphibious Assault Battalion. By the time he turned
21, he had been all over the world.
With both of his parents in the Marine Corps, he'd
lived in a few different countries by the time he finished high school. Nothing
he experienced as a Marine Corps family member prepared him for what he would
face on the streets of An Nasiriyah during Operation Iraqi Freedom. More |
|
|
|
|
| One 82nd Airborne
Div. Soldier Killed, Two Wounded in Attack |
BAGHDAD,
Iraq, Nov. 21, 2003 — A 82nd Airborne Division soldier was killed
and two wounded, when their convoy was attacked with two improvised
explosive devices east of Ar Ramadi at approximately 2:40 p.m.
Nov. 20, according to U.S. Central Command offiicials.
The wounded
soldiers were evacuated to the 28th Combat Support Hospital for
treatment. They are in stable condition.
The names of the soldiers
are being withheld pending next-of-kin notification.
This incident is under investigation. |
|
| 4th Infantry Div.
Soldier Killed |
TIKRIT,
Iraq — One 4th Infantry Division soldier was killed during
a combat patrol when the soldier’s vehicle struck an improvised
explosive device near Al Ghalibiyah, 15 km west of Baqubah, at
approximately 10 p.m. Nov. 20.
The soldier’s name is being withheld
pending next-of-kin notification.
The incident is under investigation. |
|
|
| Transformation |
|
New
Protection Ahead
In Helmets, Body Armor |
|
WASHINGTON,
Nov. 20, 2003 — New, reinforced helmets and body
armor being fielded to the military today represent
just the tip of the iceberg in terms of what's on the
drawing board for protecting warfighters of the future.
Tomorrow's fighting force will have far superior
protective systems that provide enhanced capabilities while imposing less weight
on the user, according to officials at the U.S. Army Soldier Systems Center http://www.natick.army.mil/ at
Natick, Mass. The center conducts research and product development for all the
military services. More |
|
|
|
|
|
| Sailors Receive Bronze Star, Presidential Unit Citation |
NAVAL WEAPONS STATION CHARLESTON, S.C., Nov. 21, 2003 (NNS) — Senior Chief Aviation Ordnanceman (EOD) Larry Sabin was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, and 13 others were awarded the Presidential Unit Citation during a ceremony held at Naval Weapons Station Charleston, Nov. 14, for their support during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
It’s a rare occasion that any servicemember is presented the Bronze Star Medal. The medal is awarded for heroic or meritorious achievement of service, not involving aerial flight, in connection with operations against an opposing armed force. More |
|
|
|
|
 |
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. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Logistics
Task Force
Delivers Supplies
from the Heart |
|
 |
|
| BAGRAM,
Afghanistan — The
philanthropic nature
of Logistics Task Force
129, which began with
an ice cream delivery
to a school a few months
ago, blossomed Nov.
19 into a special delivery
for three local villages. More |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 'On The Ground' Archive |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
![Home Page - DefendAmerica
[NOTE: Because of increased web traffic, you may experience delays. Please be patient.]](/images/banners/dabanner12b8_opt_opt.gif)
WASHINGTON, Nov. 23, 2003 — Fourth-grade students Allison Foster and Rebeca Reyes, both 9, said they were sad to see the military go off to war in Iraq. Reyes said she really didn't know much about the war, other than what her mother told her: "that my grandpapa was in the last one."
