DefendAmerica - Home Page 01/26/2004

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Jan 26, 2004

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SCANNING THE PERIMETER — The sun rises behind a soldier who scans the perimeter of Firebase Gereshk, Afghanistan, Jan. 23, 2004. From his position on the observation tower, the soldier can see deep into the open desert beyond the walls of this remote encampment. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Drew Lockwood

Three Airborne Div. Soldiers
Missing Following Accidents

By Jim Garamone / American Forces Press Service

     WASHINGTON, Jan. 26, 2004 — One accident appears to have spawned another and three American soldiers are missing near Mosul.
     Four U.S. soldiers were conducting a patrol on the Tigris River Jan. 25 when their patrol boat rolled over. Three soldiers escaped and a fourth was missing.
     News reports said two Iraqi policemen and an Iraqi translator died in the incident.
     U.S. and Iraqi personnel began searching the river for the missing American. Two Kiowa OH-58 helicopters responded and joined the search. One crashed into the river, and its pilots are missing. More

Seven Killed, More Wounded During Three Incidents in Iraq

By Jim Garamone / American Forces Press Service

     WASHINGTON, Jan. 24, 2004 – Coalition officials reported seven Americans killed in operations in Iraq overnight and today.
      Three Task Force All American soldiers were killed and six were wounded when a vehicle-based improvised explosive device detonated in Khalidiyah today, according to a U.S. Central Command release. In addition, several Iraqi civilians were wounded in this attack. The attack is under investigation.
     A roadside improvised explosive device exploded and killed two American soldiers this morning north of Fallujah. The city is a center of anti-coalition activity. More

Bush to Request $401.7 Billion
For Fiscal 2005 DoD Budget

By Jim Garamone / American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Jan. 23, 2004 — In a break from past practices, the Defense Department announced that President Bush will request $401.7 billion as the Fiscal 2005 Defense Budget Request. Officials said the number represents about a 7 percent increase from fiscal 2004.
The budget request will not fund the ongoing war on terror. DoD will request supplemental budget requests for those funds. DoD Comptroller Dov Zakheim said during a Defense Writers’ Group briefing that he does not expect to request a supplemental in fiscal 2004. Story

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.

. White House Fact Sheet: Progress in Iraq

. Iraq Update . Maps of Iraq

. Iraq's 55 Most Wanted

. Saddam's Iraq - Reign of Terror

California Resident Shows Support for Troops

WASHINGTON, Jan. 23, 2004 — Last year, when the prospect of war was taking heat from critics, June Downum was concerned about the men and women in uniform about to risk their lives for America.
Her response to the criticism was, “No matter what your opinion of the war, these are our best and bravest, and we need to do something to let them know that we are behind them 100 percent.” More

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

Send your message Read others

Sign an On-line Thank You Note

Task Force 'All American'
Seizes Black Market Fuel

      HIT, Iraq, Jan. 25, 2004 — Members of the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, part of Task Force “All American” discovered a taxicab selling black market fuel in the city of Hit on Friday afternoon, according to U.S. Central Command officials.
     The driver of the vehicle fled as the patrol approached the taxi. The patrol confiscated the taxi along with 250 gallons of black market fuel and turned them over to the Iraqi Police.
      Iraqi security forces and Task Force “All American” will continue patrols to locate black market operations. Seized goods will be turned over to local authorities.

Defense Officials
Identify Army Casualties

      WASHINGTON, Jan. 25, 2004 — Defense Department officials announced the deaths of two soldiers supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
     Chief Warrant Officer Michael T. Blaise, 29, from Tenn. and Chief Warrant Officer Brian D. Hazelgrove, 29, of Fort Rucker, Ala., were killed Jan 23 when their OH-58 Kiowa Warrior helicopter crashed on its way back from a combat mission near Mosul in northern Iraq.
     Blaise was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 101st Aviation Brigade based at Fort Campbell, Ky. Hazelgrove was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 10th Aviation Brigade, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) based at Fort Drum, N.Y.

Radio

Television

Officials Anticipate No Mass National Guard Troop Exodus

By Jim Garamone / American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Jan. 23, 2004 —Though the Army National Guard and Army Reserve specifically and the reserve components in general have been meeting their recruiting and retention goals, Defense Department officials still are concerned and are looking for ways to address retention.
But officials do not expect an exodus of Guard soldiers after they return from duty in Afghanistan and Iraq, contrary to news reports today. More

Enemy ‘Still Lurks Out’There,
Nation Must Remain Vigiliant

By Gerry J. Gilmore / American Forces Press Service

     WASHINGTON, Jan. 23, 2004 —Americans must remain watchful against another terrorist attack on the homeland, President Bush reminded the nation's mayors here today.
     "There's an enemy that still lurks out there," he said. "The most solemn duty of government is to protect the American people."
     The commander in chief also saluted the efforts of U.S. service members deployed to Afghanistan, Iraq and other lands in the fight against terrorism. More     Remarks

Building Up Comanche Firebase More Photo Essays

U.S. Army soldiers from Company C, 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division, work together to build up their new home, Comanche Firebase, in Ghazni Province, Afghanistan. The company arrived in Ghanzi Province Jan. 6, 2004, to support battalion operations in the province. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Greg Heath 4 More Photos

USS George Washington Rejoins War on Terror

By Journalist 3rd Class Elizabeth Enockson / USS George Washington

Friends and family members gathered to say goodbye to sailors embarked aboard the aircraft carrier USS George Washington as they depart on a regularly scheduled deployment in support of the global war on terrorism. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 2nd Class Todd Reeves

USS GEORGE WASHINGTON, At Sea, Jan. 23, 2004 (NNS) — More than 5,000 sailors said goodbye to their families and friends as USS George Washington, the embarked Carrier Air Wing 7, Commander Carrier Group 8 and Destroyer Squadron 28 departed Norfolk Jan. 20, 2004, for a scheduled deployment to the Mediterranean Sea and possibly the Persian Gulf. More

Iraqi Police Provide Secure
Border for Pilgrims During Hajj

An Iraqi Border Police officer confirms the identity of an Iraqi citizen as she travels to Mecca, Saudi Arabia for the Hajj pilgrimage. More than 3,000 Iraqis participated in the pilgrimage thru the border town of Ar Ar. Two hundred Iraqi Border Police secured the area, stamped passports and performed security checks. U.S. Army photo

AR AR, Iraq, Jan. 23, 2004 – More than 200 Iraqi Border Police safely transferred thousands of Iraqi citizens through the Iraqi-Saudi Arabian border headed to Mecca on their Hajj, a religious pilgrimage conducted after Ramadan and lasting 10 days.
Iraqi Border Police spearheaded the complex security arrangement at their base in the remote town of Ar Ar, located on the Iraqi-Saudi Arabian border. More

Task Force All American Troops
Renovate Rural Dental Clinic

Dr. Khamese, director general for health in the Al Anbar region of Iraq, cuts the ribbon to celebrate the reopening of the Specialty Dental Clinic in Ar Ramadi. Army Lt. Col. (Dr.) Frank Christopher (near right), division surgeon for 82nd Airborne Division, and Capt. Tom Schumacher (far right), senior physician assistant for the division, look on. U.S. Army photo by Master Sgt. Dave Johnson

AR RAMADI, Iraq – Task Force All American soldiers celebrated yet another important medical clinic being reopened to treat patients in the Al Anbar Province of Iraq. The Al Assan Specialty Dental Clinic, a subsidiary of Ar Ramdi General Hospital, has been refurbished and reopened during a huge ceremony on Jan. 13.
“It’s more than a dental clinic,” said Dr. Weedat, director of the clinic. “We also teach here. We have 11 interns.” More

California Reservists Train Iraqis
For Embassy Security Duties

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Soldiers from the 382nd Military Police Detachment, an Army Reserve unit from San Diego, Calif., have been training Iraqi security officers for the several foreign embassies across Baghdad to ensure the safety of the diplomats visiting and working there. More

War on Terrorism

. Bush Says Nation Will Prevail, ‘Bring the Terrorists to Justice’

. Officials Explain Commissions That Will Try Terror Detainees

. Nation Strong, Americans Are 'Rising to the Tasks of History'

Iraq

. 101st Brigade Transfers Authority to Strykers

. Coalition Officials: Iraqi Army First Brigade Nearly Complete

Military News

. Bush Praises Nation's Military

. National Guard, Reserve Update

Transformation

Iraq, Afghan Battlefield
Calls Go Through Florida Base

MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (AFPN), Jan. 23, 2004 — When American military commanders in Iraq and Afghanistan want clear, secure and fast communications, they reach for their satellite phones. More often than not, the operator who patches through their calls is sitting in a building at MacDill AFB, Fla.
People at the one-stop-shop Regional Satcom Support Center here process requests for satellite phone time and schedule the required bandwidth to commanders all over the globe. Story

More Transformation News

Exercise Desert Talon
Prepares Marines for Iraq

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION YUMA, Ariz., Jan. 23, 2004 — Marines from aviation units throughout the United States checked in here Jan. 17 for exercise Desert Talon 1-04.
Desert Talon will prepare the air combat element of the Marine Air Ground Task Force going to Iraq, said Maj. James T. Jenkins, special projects officer, Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron 1. More than 1,100 Marine students, 1,000 support personnel and 50 aircraft are participating in the exercise. Story

	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

Vice President Richard B. Cheney

"Month by month, Iraqis are assuming more responsibility for their own security and their own future. The United States and our coalition partners will stand with them, and continue to sacrifice to ensure their safety until that work is done."

Remarks in Davos, Switzerland, Jan. 24 2004

Profile

U.S. Air Force
Heidi Stover

      TALLIL AIR BASE, Iraq (AFPN) — She is outgoing and friendly. She is an icon at the base’s shopette, and she is going home Jan. 24 after serving six months here.
     Anyone who has shopped at the Army and Air Force Exchange Service’s shopette in the Air Force’s tent city here cannot help but know Heidi Stover, the store manager.
     A 62-year-old mother of four and grandmother of seven, Mrs. Stover has seen a lot during the past six months, and said the people she has met here will forever stay in her mind. More

More Profiles

. Maps of Afghanistan

In Ethiopia

Old Guard Establishes
Forward Base in Ethiopia

Two soldiers construct tables at Camp United in Hurso, Ethiopia. Both soldiers are part of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, 'Old Guard,' Bravo Co., which set up Camp United as a forward base for Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa missions and began training with the Ethiopian Army recently. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Eric M. McKeeby

HURSO, Ethiopia - Soldiers from the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, “The Old Guard”, Bravo Company, established and began operating out of a forward base in rural Ethiopia recently.
The camp and the missions are part of the Bravo Co.’s continued involvement in the War on Terrorism as part of the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa. Story

In Kyrgyzstan

Manas Airmen
Assist Local School

MANAS AIR BASE, Kyrgyzstan (AFPN) — Leaving the place better off than when they arrived is one of the goals of the airmen here, and 11 airmen did just that for the local community recently.
The airmen delivered 30 heaters to a vocational school for underprivileged students in the local village of Jany Ger. More

'On The Ground' Archive