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Pentagon Town Hall
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| Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld answers a question from the audience at a town hall meeting in the Pentagon auditorium on Nov. 21, 2003. Rumsfeld and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Richard B. Myers, U.S. Air Force, delivered opening remarks then fielded questions from military and civilian Pentagon employees. The forum allows people in the Pentagon to direct their questions to the leadership of the Defense Department. Defense Dept. photo by U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Andy Dunaway |
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| Rumsfeld, Myers Thank Troops, Employees for Their Service |
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| Jim Garamone / American Forces Press Service |
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WASHINGTON, Nov. 21, 2003 — As America approaches the Thanksgiving holiday, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said he is grateful for the voluntary service of soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines worldwide as they protect America and take the fight to the terrorists.
Rumsfeld and Joint Chiefs Chairman Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers held a Pentagon Town Hall Meeting today. The men thanked service members and civilian employees for their service and answered questions about the global war on terrorism and the newly passed National Security Personnel System. More
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Mom Returns from Iraq
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 RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany (USAFENS) -- You’re on the list and you receive orders to deploy to Iraq.
“It’s your turn and you gotta go,” said Tech. Sgt. Beth Topa, 86th Logistics Readiness Squadron NCO in charge of the unit control center here.
For five and a half years as the deployment unit manager, Beth has been sending airmen off to remote locations around the world. This time, however, it was her turn and she had to leave her husband and two young children behind. |
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| Unconventional Rocket Attacks Are 'Militarily Insignificant' |
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| By Gerry J. Gilmore / American Forces Press Service |
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WASHINGTON, Nov. 21, 2003 — Unconventional rocket attacks that struck the Iraqi oil ministry and two hotels in Baghdad today indicate insurgents' increasing difficulty in carrying out assaults against U.S. and coalition forces in Iraq, according to a senior U.S. military officer.
Donkey-cart-launched rockets hit the Palestine and Sheraton hotels as well as the ministry building, Army Brig. Gen. Mark T. Kimmitt, deputy director for operations for Combined Joint Task Force 7 in Iraq, told reporters in Baghdad press conference. More
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| Enemy Attacks Drop 70 Percent Since Iron Hammer's Start |
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| By John D. Banusiewicz / American Forces Press Service |
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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
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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. More |
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| Global War on Terrorism |
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| On Iraq |
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| 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 |
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| Profile |
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U.S. Army
Staff Sgt. Gina Gray |
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 KIRKUK, Iraq (Army News Service Nov. 21, 2003) — Staff Sgt. Gina Gray, a broadcast journalist assigned to the 173rd Airborne Brigade, found herself in the unusual position of playing doctor, nurse and midwife to an Iraqi mother too poor to afford a trip to the hospital to give birth.
"Thank god I've watched 'E.R.,'" was about all Gray could mutter as she emerged from the building holding a baby boy. The newborn, Zuher Ahmed Mohowed, was not even an hour old. More |
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Iraqi Freedom Veterans
Teach Younger Marines |
 CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C., Nov. 21, 2003 — A tradition in the armed services is that war veterans will pass on the knowledge they gained to the newer generation of warriors. This tradition doesn't just apply to shooting and squad movements, though.
"In Iraq, it was our job to set up the command operations center tent," said U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. James K. Renner, a vehicle commander during Operation Iraqi Freedom, who quickly realized the seriousness of his job. "The Marines in the front of the column were relying on us for everything from air strikes and medevacs, to sending them supplies." Story |
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| Transformation |
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| Determination Leads Scientist to Develop Improved Protective Suit |
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 WASHINGTON, Nov. 21, 2003 — Fifteen years ago, Quoc Truong knew there had to be a better way to protect service members from chemical and biological agents.
The chemical/biological suit, with its built-in charcoal filter, absorbed chemical materials well enough. But it also absorbed just about anything else in the air, including moisture, gasoline and body sweat.
That meant that, once removed from its package, the suit was no longer usable after 24 hours, even if it was never exposed to contamination. More
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Army Addresses Deployed
Soldier Pay Problems |
WASHINGTON, Nov. 21, 2003 (Army News Service) — The Army is working on immediate actions to eliminate the pay problems of deployed soldiers, and long-term solutions are also underway.
“The basic pay and allowances for most soldiers is there. It’s the situation-unique entitlements based on location, dependent status, special skills – these are the one’s that, because they require additional documentation and inputs, fall through the cracks,” said Eric Reid, chief of Finance & Accounting Oversight and Field Operations Division, U.S. Army Finance Command. More |
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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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Tennis Pro Donates Event Proceeds
To Pentagon Memorial Fund |
WASHINGTON, Nov. 21, 2003 — Michele Heidenberger enjoyed tennis. The lead flight attendant on American Airlines Flight 77 and 183 others lost their lives when the hijacked plane crashed into the Pentagon Sept. 11, 2001.
In honor of her sister-in-law's memory and others who perished that fateful day, tennis pro Betsy Heidenberger donated the proceeds of a tennis tournament/silent auction to the Pentagon Memorial Fund here today. More |
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![Home Page - DefendAmerica
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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."
