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| Muslims Celebrate Eid al Fitr |
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| By U.S. Army Sgt. Johnny A. Thompson / 4th Public Affairs Detachment |
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BAGRAM, Afghanistan, Nov. 25, 2003 — While U.S. forces and most of the coalition forces here will celebrate Thanksgiving on Thursday, Afghanistan and other Muslim-faith nations will be giving thanks today as they celebrate Eid Al Fitr.
Eid Al Fitr is the three-day festival that marks the end of Ramadan – the month of fasting when Muslims sacrifice eating during the day to build their spiritual awareness and closeness to Allah.
As the third pillar of Islam, Ramadan is a time of spiritual cleansing and reflection in which Muslims draw strength from their relationship with Allah to sustain them throughout the day as they purge themselves. More
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| Helicopter Crash Kills 5 Near Bagram;
More News From Iraq |
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| American Forces Press Service |
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WASHINGTON,
Nov. 24, 2003 — Five U.S. soldiers were killed and seven
others were injured Nov. 23 when their helicopter crashed near
Bagram, Afghanistan, U.S. Central Command officials said.
A CENTCOM statement did not specify the type of helicopter
or its unit, except to say it was a U.S. military helicopter and that the soldiers
were taking part in an operation called Mountain Resolve in the eastern part
of the country. Officials said the cause of the crash is being investigated. More |
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President Signs Bill at the Pentagon
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| Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld escorts President George W. Bush into the Pentagon on Nov. 24, 2003. Bush will sign the Defense Authorization Act with Rumsfeld. U.S. Air Force photo by 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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1st Infantry Disrupts Attempt
To Emplace Explosive Devices
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AL FALLUJAH, Iraq, Nov. 24,
2003 — Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 16th Mechanized
Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, attached to 82nd
Airborne Division, killed three enemy personnel emplacing
an improvised explosive device last night at approximately
8:30 p.m., according to U.S. Central Command officials.
The soldiers were conducting a patrol along the intersection
of Highway 1 and Highway 10 when they observed two individuals digging a hole
in the median. A sedan arrived shortly after. Three personnel exited the car
and began walking toward the two individuals digging. One of the individuals
from the sedan was carrying a large object to the hole.
The observing troops determined that the individuals
were emplacing an improvised explosive device and initiated direct fire.
Three of the personnel were killed. One of the
individuals fled to the north with the unknown object, while another escaped
to the south.
Soldiers immediately contacted the local police force.
They arrived at the scene and took possession of the vehicles and bodies. No
Coalition soldiers were injured in this incident. |
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| USS Enterprise Aircraft Strike Enemy |
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ABOARD
USS ENTERPRISE, At Sea (NNS) — Strike fighter aircraft
from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 312, flying from the nuclear-powered
aircraft carrier USS Enterprise in the North Arabian Gulf, attacked
enemy targets near Kirkuk, Iraq, Nov. 22 in support of Operation
Iron Hammer.
After flying complex missions over both Afghanistan
and Iraq in recent weeks, this strike was the carrier’s first use of precision-guided
ammunition in the Kirkuk region. More
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| Army Combat Support Hospital
Ward Master 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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| Military News |
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| Some Guard, Reserve
to Get
Unlimited Commissary Benefits |
| WASHINGTON, Nov. 24,
2003 — Defense Department officials announced today that with
the president's signing of the National Defense Authorization
Act for Fiscal Year 2004, includes provisions for unlimited access
to commissary stores for some members of the National Guard and
Reserves. Story |
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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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| 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. 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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'Price
Is Right' Hosts Special
Show for Active Duty, Veterans |
HOLLYWOOD,
Calif., Nov. 21, 2003 (NNS) — CBS hosted a special
taping of "The Price Is Right" game show Nov. 7 honoring
the Armed Forces and Veterans at CBS Television City's
Bob Barker Studio.
More than 300 service members and veterans attended
the taping with hopes of becoming a contestant on the popular daytime game show.
More |
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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. More |
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Bagram
Air Base, Afghanistan - Two coalition soldiers were
wounded when their vehicle struck an improvised explosive
device on a mounted patrol in the vicinity of Shkin
about 1 p.m. today.
The soldiers received initial medical treatment on the
scene and were evacuated by air to the medical facility at Salerno firebase for
further care and evaluation. The names of the wounded are being withheld for
privacy.
There were media from several news outlets accompanying
the soldiers. However, no media personnel were seriously injured in the incident.
No further information is available at this time. |
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| Troops
Enjoy an Entertaining Evening
of International Culture |
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| CAMP
ARIFJAN, Kuwait — More
than 1,500 service
members turned out
Nov. 22 for the most
recent quality of life
diversion offered at
this huge logistics
base. They came to
savor a taste of international
culture and departed
well satisfied. More |
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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.
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.