DefendAmerica - Home Page 12/29/2003

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Dec 29, 2003

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TANK MAINTENANCE — A Marine from the 13th Marine Expeditionary UnitTank Platoon performs maintenance on the M1A1 Abrams tank during a live-fire training exercise in the Central Command area of operation. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Ted Banks

U.S. Delivers Supplies, Experts
Following Earthquake in Iran

By Jim Garamone / American Forces Press Service

U.S. Central Air Forces C-130 aircraft commander, Lt. Col. Scott Decker, center, works with Iranian soldiers and other Air Force personnel to offload 20,000 pounds of medical supplies at Kerman, Iran, Dec. 28, 2003, two days after a devastating earthquake destroyed the city of Bam, Iran. U.S. Central Command plans to provide nearly 150,000 lbs of relief supplies from U.S. military logistics sites in the Arabian Gulf. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Suzanne M. Jenkins

     WASHINGTON, Dec. 29, 2003 — Proving that disaster knows no politics, U.S. service members are delivering humanitarian aid to Iran in wake of an earthquake that has left an estimated 25,000 Iranians dead.
     A 6.7 magnitude earthquake struck the area near the city of Bam. Iranian officials said the death toll could reach 40,000 in Bam and the surrounding countryside.
     The U.S. military responded by deploying more than 150,000 pounds of medical supplies from bases in Kuwait to the people of Iran. It was the first U.S. aircraft to land in Iran since the end of the Iranian hostage crisis in 1981. Story

Ops. Enduring & Iraqi Freedom Show Transformation in Action

By Paul Stone / American Forces Press Service

     WASHINGTON, Dec. 29, 2003 — If you want to see the face of transformation - if you want to see what it looks like in action - you need not look any further than Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.
     That's the view from the top by Retired Vice Adm. Arthur Cebrowski, chief of the Defense Department's Office of Force Transformation and one the department's chief architects in the effort to transform the military.
     Cebrowski said several elements of OEF and OIF were both representative of transformation and historic. More

Bush Praises Troops Fighting Terrorism, Defending Freedom

By Rudi Williams / American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Dec. 28, 2003 — President Bush expressed the nation's gratitude to military men and women "defending freedom around the world," in his weekly radio address Dec. 27.
"These brave Americans are fighting terrorists in Afghanistan, Iraq, and elsewhere so that we do not meet these killers on our own streets," he said. "We are grateful for the courage and commitment of our troops, and we are safer because of their skill and sacrifice. Story

Soldiers Seize 580 Rockets

TIKRIT, Iraq, Dec. 29, 2003 — An Iraqi citizen provided information to U.S. Air Force airmen concerning a large weapons cache that he said consisted of close to 600 rockets, according to U.S. Central Command officials. The Air Force in turn asked the U.S. Army for assistance. Air Force personnel and a patrol from 1st Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment went to the identified site in the evening of Dec. 27 to investigate. More

Task Force All American
Remains Active in Iraq

AR RAMADI, Iraq, Dec. 27, 2003 — During the last 24 hours, Task Force “All-American” conducted 161 patrols, three of which were joint patrols with Iraqis, cleared two caches, conducted two cordon and searches, and dropped two joint attack direct munitions bombs near Khalidiyah, Combined Joint Task Force 7 officials reported.
Officials said the task force made two enemy contacts today - one mortar attack near Husaybah and a direct fire engagement that occurred during a cordon and search northwest of Khalidiyah. More

Iraq Weekly Progress Update (Governance, Electricity, Education, Oil, Security, Economics, Health Care)

U.S. Defense Dept. slides with facts &
figures on reconstruction efforts in Iraq.

. Maps of Iraq

U.S. Central Command
Reports U.S. Casualties

     WASHINGTON, Dec. 29, 2003 — U.S. Central Command reported the deaths of three soldiers during incidents in Iraq.
     A Combined Joint Task Force-7 soldier died of injuries received in a single military vehicle traffic accident at approximately 8 p.m. Dec. 26 in the Baghdad area.
     Northeast of Fallujah, one 82nd Airborne Division soldier was killed and three others were wounded Dec. 28 when their convoy was attacked by an improvised explosive device. The three wounded soldiers were evacuated to a military medical facility for treatment.
     A Task Force Ironhorse soldier died from an undetermined illness at approximately 12:20 p.m. Dec. 28 at a logistical support base 10 kilometers west of Bayji. The soldier was in a medical facility at the time of the incident. Medical personnel attended to the soldier immediately but were unable to revive him.
     The soldiers' names are being withheld pending next-of-kin notification.

Radio

Television

Daily Insurgent Attacks Persist In Iraq, but Numbers Declining

By Rudi Williams / American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Dec. 27, 2003 — Though the number of attacks by insurgents in Iraq continues the decline it has shown since mid-September, the coalition isn't ready to say the trend will continue.
At a Baghdad press conference today, Army Brig. Gen. Mark T. Kimmitt, deputy director of operations for Combined Joint Task Force 7, pointed out that in mid-September, there were as many as 50 attacks on coalition forces per day. More

Operation Avalanche in Afghanistan More Photo Essays

Task Force 1-501st E Company paratroopers board a Ch-47 Helicopter at dawn earlier this month after providing security during Operation Avalanche at Salerno Forward Operating Base, Afghanistan. The operation was designed to impede the enemies of Afghanistan from moving weapons and supplies across the border to stage them for a spring offensive. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Gul A. Alisan 6 More Photos

Ensuring A Silent Night For Those We Love

By U.S. Air Force Col. D. Lee Hall

The commander of the 455th Expeditionary Operations Group
addresses his troops after a midnight rocket attack on their air base.

BAGRAM, Afghanistan — When the Russians pulled out of Afghanistan in February 1989, they left in their wake a country in ruins. Over the next 12 years, Afghanistan became a lawless, dark place and the perfect hideout for thugs like the Taliban and misguided zealots like Osama bin Laden. After the brutal Sept. 11. attacks on the freedoms we hold so precious, America sent her best, brightest and bravest sons and daughters here to clean house, and to shine a light of justice into the Afghan darkness. More

Mosul Firefights Leave Four Enemy Dead, Two Iraqi Police Wounded

     MOSUL, Iraq, Dec. 28, 2003 — Firefights in Mosul Dec. 26 and 27left four terrorists dead and two Iraqi Police officers wounded.
     According to Combined Joint Task Force 7 officials, four people in a silver car fired a rocket-propelled grenade at a U.S. patrol in the city just before 8 a.m. Dec. 27. Soldiers in the 101st Airborne Division’s 2nd Brigade Combat Team returned fire and destroyed the vehicle, killing the four assailants inside.
     A search of the wreckage revealed two AK-47 rifles, an RPG ready to fire, mortar rounds and a sniper rifle with rounds, officials said.
     The afternoon of Dec. 26, the Mosul police chief’s convoy came under fire when and unknown number of people launched two RPGs at it, wounding two police officers. The police officers were treated for minor wounds at a local hospital and released.
     There were no U.S. casualties in these incidents.

Festivities Mark Openings At Bab Muadham Campus

Lt. Col. John Kem, commander of the 16th Engineer Battalion, 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division, speaks to the audience of Baghdad University staff and faculty, with the help of a translator, during the unveiling of the new museum entrance statue, a lion. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Conrad College

BAGHDAD, Iraq, Dec. 26, 2003 – Soldiers and Baghdad University staff, faculty and students mingled earlier this month at the university’s Bab Muadham campus, all apparently realizing, happily, that this was a historic day for the university. The Iraq Museum of Natural History was reopened, a new Internet café was opened and a refurbished child care center for staff and faculty was opened during the ceremonies.
The three projects were a cooperative effort of the Coalition Provisional Authority, the Ministry of Higher Education, the University of Baghdad and the U.S. Army. More

101st Airborne Division
Celebrates Youth Center Opening

TALLAFAR, Iraq, Dec. 28, 2003 - Leaders from the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) participated in the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Tallafar Youth Center today in northern Iraq.
In attendance at the ceremony was Col. Michael Linnington, commander, 3rd Brigade, 187th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), the Mayor and Chief of Police of Tallafar, and Maj. Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander of the 101st. More

Gamble's Deployment Journal

Army Staff Sgt. Zeno Gamble, a Gulf War veteran, is one of the thousands of reservists who have been called to active duty during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. Gamble left his civilian job at the Pentagon Dec. 7. Gamble plans to share some of his deployment journal entries with DefendAmerica.mil.

Dec. 22, 2003 - I made a mistake. I missed the warning on the package that said "take medication with food." That is why at noon on Wednesday, I pulled over at a weigh station on I-95 to get rid of the malaria pill in a very painful fashion. It took a few hours for the pain to subside, and I wanted to double-check with the medics.
I stopped to see Larry Skummer at the Flight Medicine Clinic at the Pentagon for my third anthrax shot. He chuckled at me when I told him about the malaria pill. He told me I should not take it on an empty stomach. That, however, was not my only medical worry. More

Global War on Terrorism

. Heightened Security Not Tied to Saddam Hussein's Capture

. Bush, Blair Welcome Libya's Pledge to Dismantle Weapons

. 'Tremendous Strides' Made in Iraq, Afghanistan, Collins Says

On Iraq

. 5 U.S. Soldiers Killed in Iraq; Operation Nets 66 Prisoners

. Samarra Blast, Urbil Suicide Attack Kill U.S. Troops, Iraqis

. Rewards Announced for Capture Of Former Regime Members

Military News

. Rumsfeld, Myers Laud Troops, Caution Terror Threat Remains

. Military Blood Program Seeks Holiday Donors

. National Guard, Reserve Update

Send your 'Best Wishes' to the
troops waging the global war on terror.

Send your message

Read other messages

Sign an On-line Thank You Note

Affleck Visits Enterprise Crew

Actor Ben Affleck addresses the crew of USS Enterprise while kicking off a United Service Organization-sponsored tour of the Arabian Gulf. U.S. Navy photo by Seaman Justin N. McGarry

ABOARD USS ENTERPRISE, At Sea (NNS) — Just on the heels of a crowd-pleasing show by actor/comedian Robin Williams, the United Service Organization brought another taste of Hollywood aboard USS Enterprise (CVN 65) for the holidays. On Dec. 22nd, actor Ben Affleck came aboard the deployed aircraft carrier to spend some quality time with the "Big E" crew.
Affleck is spending the holidays with forward-deployed troops. He kicked off his USO-sponsored tour with a visit to Enterprise, currently enjoying a port visit to Bahrain. The actor is no stranger to the Navy, having worked with sailors for his films "Armageddon" and "Pearl Harbor." More

Profile

U.S. Navy Lt. Michael Orr

U.S. Navy Lt. Michael 'Bobby' Orr is the first pilot from another branch of the U.S. military to fly the B-2 stealth bomber. U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Nick Martin

NAVAL AIR STATION WHIDBEY ISLAND, Wash. — While the B-2 bomber has already seen many milestones in its first 10 years, the 394th Combat Training Squadron is currently training the program's first Navy pilot, who will fly his first B-2 sortie here next month.
U.S. Navy Lt. Michael Orr, a California native who has been flying the EA-6B Prowler for the Navy since 1998, began his B-2 training with the 394th Combat Training Squadron in April. More

More Profiles

	U.S. Views — Quotes by President Bush & other U.S. leaders
	Defense Views — Quotes by U.S. defense leaders
	Maps of Iraq — Maps of the nation of Iraq and the region

President George W. Bush

“Separation from loved ones is always difficult, especially at this time of year. All our men and women serving abroad can know that their families miss them, millions are praying for them, and their nation is proud of them.”

Remarks during weekly radio address,
Dec. 27, 2003

National Guard Medics Develop
Emergency Response Program

BAGHDAD, Iraq — A bomb explodes in Baghdad. People are injured and need medical treatment quickly. But before help can arrive, a security team is needed for the military medical emergency response team to travel outside the “Green Zone” in the city. How long can the injured wait while the two teams – security and medical – scramble together?
Colorado National Guard medics are developing a pilot program in coordinated military medical emergency response. The Rapid Advance Medical Team, or RAM-T, concept was developed following the U.N. bombing in Baghdad Aug. 17. More

. Maps of Afghanistan

In Iraq

Neighborhood Survey
Sheds Light on Samarra

Trash litters a street corner in Samarra, where the 418th Civil Affairs Battalion of Belton, Mo. is trying to expand its presence in the city, which is located inside the Sunni Triangle. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Tim Berger

SAMARRA, Iraq - The maps inside the detachment's tent simply did not tell the whole story of southeast Sammara or its people. So a team of civil affairs soldiers, armed with digital cameras and global positioning systems, toured the city Dec. 8 to get a clearer picture.
Using the high-tech equipment, members of the 418th Civil Affairs Battalion's general support detachment set out to snap pictures and map points of interest for a neighborhood survey that will be a blueprint for rebuilding an area that is now considered hostile to Coalition forces. More

'On The Ground' Archive