DefendAmerica - Home Page 01/28/2004

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Jan 29, 2004

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LEFTOVER MORTARS — U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Tarrio and Spc. McCarthy load mortar rounds left over from Afghanistan's war with Russia on a vehicle in Kholm, Afghanistan, Jan. 25, 2004. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Thomas Bray

Kimmitt: Foreign Terrorists Use Iraqis to ‘Achieve Their Aims’

By John D. Banusiewicz / American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Jan. 30, 2004 — Terror groups from other countries are going out of their way to use Iraqi citizens in pursuing their objectives, a coalition military official said at a Baghdad news conference today.
"They have demonstrated time after time that the foreign terrorists will fight to the last Iraqi to achieve their aims here in Iraq," said Army Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt, deputy operations director for Combined Joint Task force 7. More

Experience Shows Anthrax,
Smallpox Immunizations Safe

By Gerry J. Gilmore / American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Jan. 30, 2004 — The military's anthrax and smallpox immunizations are safe to administer to service members, a senior military medical officer told 2004 Tricare conference attendees here Jan. 28.
"The vaccination programs we operate are designed to keep troops healthy, to help troops get back home safely," said Army Col. John D. Grabenstein, deputy director of clinical operations for the Military Vaccine Agency. More

Sanchez: al Qaeda Seeking
To Establish Foothold In Iraq

By U.S.Army Sgt. 1st Class Doug Sample / American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29, 2004 — Last week's capture of Hassan Ghul along the Iran-Iraq border proves al Qaeda terrorists actively are seeking a foothold in Iraq "to continue their murderous campaigns," the commander of Combined Joint Task Force 7 said in Baghdad today.
"For months I've been saying that al Qaeda's fingerprints have been here in Iraq," Army Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez told reporters during a briefing. "Those (fingerprints) are showing themselves in the techniques that were being employed by foreign fighters, and this included the tactics being employed by suicide bombers against innocent Iraqis and against coalition forces." More Briefing

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

NORAD, U.S. Northern
Command Ready for Super Bowl

PETERSON AFB, Colo., Jan. 29, 2004 — The men and women of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and United States Northern Command are working to thwart any possible threats against Sunday’s Super Bowl.
“The NORAD and [U.S. Northern Command] staffs have reviewed possible scenarios surrounding Sunday’s game," said Mike Perini, NORAD and U.S. Northern Command director of public affairs. More

Naples Girl Scouts, Brownies
Send Troops a Taste of Home

NAPLES, Italy, Jan. 30, 2004 — The Naples area Girl Scouts and Brownies have organized a program that gives the community the opportunity to send a taste of home to deployed troops.
Through the Treats to Troops Program, people can “sponsor” a box or several boxes of Girl Scout cookies to be sent to troops serving around the world. Story

Entertainers Spices It Up for Troops

Bo Jackson Will Host Super Bowl Bash

NASCAR Driver Hamilton Visits Quantico

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

Although I have not met you I call you friend. I cannot begin to express the pride and emotion that swells in my heart for our military. Your dedicated service to our nation and your fellow servicemen did make a difference. As a Vietnam Veteran, retired military officer, father and grandfather I tip my hat to you and say "thank you" for being there for all of us. God Bless you!

Send your message Read more messages

Sign an On-line Thank You Note

Radio

Television

Back to School in Kirkuk More Photo Essays

A member of the 173rd Airborne Brigade tours a school with an Iraqi boy in Kirkuk, Iraq, Jan. 28, 2004. The school will be reopening soon thanks to the efforts of the coalition and local contractors. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jeffrey A. Wolfe 6 More Photos

Kay: Iraq May Have Been ‘More
Dangerous’ Than We Thought

By John D. Banusiewicz / American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29, 2004 — The man who spent eight months leading the hunt for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq told senators here Jan. 28 that although no such weapons have been found, he believes Iraq may have been "even more dangerous than we thought" before Saddam Hussein was removed from power.
David Kay, who stepped down last week as head of the Iraq Survey Group, appeared before the Senate Armed Services Committee. More

Army Restructure: Temporary
Measure To Add 30,000 Troops

By Jim Garamone / American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29, 2004 — The Army will grow to 510,000 soldiers over the next four years as a temporary measure, a senior Army official said today.
The official briefed the press on background after Army Chief of Staff Gen. Peter Schoomaker told Congress Jan. 28 that Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld has authorized the Army to exceed end strength limits by 30,000. More

Myers: Reserve Components
Vital to Winning War on Terror

By Jim Garamone / American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29, 2004 — In this time of crisis, the reserve components are doing exactly what they were designed to do, Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers said here Jan. 28, and America is grateful for their service.
The biggest point in Myers' speech: America needs its reservists if the country is to win the war on terror. Story

Defense Dept. to Transform Reserve, Guard by Rebalancing Mission

Troops Transfer Authority
Of Baghdad’s Al Rashid District

Soldiers from the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment stand proudly as 2nd Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division transfers authority of Camp Falcon and the surrounding districts to 1st Armored Division Artillery, Jan. 23, 2004. U.S. Army photo BAGHDAD, Iraq, Jan. 29, 2004 - The 1st Armored Division Artillery accepted authority of the Al Rashid district in southern Baghdad from 2nd Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division, during a transfer of authority ceremony at Camp Falcon, Jan. 23.
With numerous local District Advisory Council members watching the ceremony, Col. Jon Brockman, Division Artillery commander, accepted the job of helping rebuild Baghdad's southern district of more than 1.5 million people from Col. Kurt Fuller, commander of 2 nd Brigade, 82 nd Airborne Division. More

Defense Officials Outline Iraq
Rotation Plans to Congress

By Jim Garamone / American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28, 2004 — Military officials detailed to the House Armed Services Committee just how the troop rotation plan for Iraq will work.
At the heart of the matter is how the military takes troops that are in contact with the enemy and replaces them with fresh forces. The troops leaving must give information to those replacing them so there is continuity of mission. Air Force Lt. Gen. Norton Schwartz, the director of operations with the Joint Staff, briefed the congressmen today. More

Journey to Iraq

Ms Joyce Reed, Manager, Community Relations for Tyson Foods contemplates her thoughts aboard a C-130 Transport Aircraft enroute to visit troops in Iraq. Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve photo      As a recipient of the Defense Dept. 2003 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Awards, Tyson Foods, of Springfield, Ark., was recognized for its support of employees who serve in the Guard or Reserves.
     Joyce Reed, Tyson Foods' community relations manager, was given the opportunity to participate in a six-day trip to visit U.S. troops serving in Southwest Asia.
     Reed kept a diary of her recent trip for her children and grandchildren, recording her impressions of dedicated troops performing their mission in often dangerous circumstances. Diary

War on Terrorism

. Turkish Prime Minister Thanks Bush for Anti-Terror Support

. ‘Today’s Generation’ Faces New Kind of War, Cheney Says

. 'No Doubt' Terrorists Would Use WMD If Given Opportunity

. Enemy 'Still Lurks' Out There, Nation Must Remain Vigiliant

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

Iraq

. Marines Ready for Another Iraqi Endeavor

. Thousands Gather, Pledge to Support New Iraq

. Three Airborne Div. Soldiers Missing Following Accidents

. 101st Brigade Transfers Authority to Strykers

Military News

. Army Chief 'Adamantly Opposes' Added End Strength

. Army Support Command Keeps Supplies Flowing to Troops

. National Guard, Reserve Update

Task Force 'All American'
Continues Patrols, Searches

AR RAMADI, Iraq, Jan. 30, 2004 — The 82nd Airborne Division and its subordinate units continued patrols Jan. 29 in the Al Anbar province, according to U.S. Central Command officials. More

Explosion Kills
7 Soldiers in Afghanistan

Kabul, Afghanistan, Jan. 29, 2004 — Seven U.S. soldiers from Combined Forces Command-Afghanistan were killed, one is missing and three U.S. soldiers and one interpreter were injured after an explosion at approximately 3 p.m. today west of Ghazni, according to U.S. Central Command officials. More

Defense Officials
Identify Army Casualties

     WASHINGTON, Jan. 29, 2004 — Defense Department officials announced today the death of three soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. The three Combined Joint Task Force Seven soldiers were killed in an improvised explosive device attack on Jan. 27 near Iskandariyah. Killed were:
     2nd Lt. Luke S. James, 24, of Oklahoma, Staff Sgt. Lester O. Kinney II, 27, of Zanesville, Ohio. Kinney and Luke were assigned to 2nd Battalion, 505th Infantry, Fort Bragg, N.C.
     Sgt. Cory R. Mracek, 26, of Hay Springs, Neb. Mracek was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 319th Field Artillery, Fort Bragg, N.C.

Honoring the Fallen

Florida Guardsman Killed
In Afghanistan Laid to Rest

MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga., Jan. 27, 2004 — The soldier who gave up his major’s rank to deploy as a Special Forces medic was laid to rest on a hillside in the Georgia Veterans Memorial Cemetery here Jan 20.
Florida Army National Guard Sgt. Roy A. Wood, 47, who worked as an emergency room surgeon before his Special Forces unit was mobilized, volunteered to go even though it meant going as a sergeant. 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

Gen. Richard B. Myers
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs

"Our reservists and all our armed forces are meeting the challenge that these global terrorists represent with steel in their spines against adversaries, and hands outstretched in friendship to our friends and allies. Let there be no doubt that we are winning this war. It's going to take us a while...but the fact is we're winning this war."

Remarks to Reserve Officers Association,
Jan. 28, 2004

Profile

U.S. Air Force
Capt. James Dykas

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. — If you ask Blake Henderson, a young boy from nearby Niceville, to tell you who Air Force Capt. James Dykas is he will most likely reply, “my pilot,” with a look of ownership and pride. But is was not until recently that the two met.
When Blake was born four years ago, he underwent heart surgery for congenital defects. Last year, he and his grandparents were trying to overcome Blake’s latest battle -- lung disease. More

More Profiles

. Maps of Afghanistan

In Iraq

Tallil's All-Guard Legal Office
Maintains Full Docket

Lt. Col. Brent Wright (right), 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing staff judge advocate, and Master Sgt. Mary Alice Rebis (left), 332 Air Expeditionary Wing paralegal, reviews a legal claim with 1st lt. Kim Kwankoo, a Korean military JAG at Tallil. National Guard photo

TALLIL AIR BASE, Iraq, Jan. 29, 2004 -- For some, the base legal office is a place to take care of wills or powers of attorney, but the office staff here does a lot more than that.
Lt. Col. Brent Wright, an Oklahoma Air National Guard staff judge advocate, and Master Sgt. Mary Alice Rebis, a New York Air National Guard paralegal, are teamed together to provide legal advice and counsel to commanders here on such topics as military justice, fiscal law issues; and international and operational laws, such as rules of engagement. More

'On The Ground' Archive