DefendAmerica 03/29/2004

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Mar 29, 2004

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TROOP VISIT — Acting Secretary of the Army Les Brownlee talks to soldiers from 2nd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, near Baghdad, Iraq, March 23, 2004. The 1st Cavalry Division is replacing the 1st Armored Division in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Daniel J. Reynolds

U.S.-Funded Projects to Propel
Iraqi Economic Renaissance

By Gerry J. Gilmore / American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, March 29, 2004 — After enduring decades under a corrupt state-run economy, the Iraqi people are poised for an economic renaissance through reconstruction projects funded by an $18.4 billion American grant, senior U.S. and Iraqi officials announced today in Baghdad.
"The waiting is all but over. The partnership between the American and Iraqi people for the reconstruction of Iraq is on the move," Ambassador L. Paul Bremer III, Coalition Provisional Authority administrator, told reporters during a news briefing. More Briefing

Military Police Kill 4 Drive-by
Shooting Suspects in Mosul

By American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, March 29, 2004 — Military police killed four anti-coalition suspects in Mosul, Iraq, March 28 after stopping a car matching the description of a vehicle used in a drive-by shooting earlier in the day, Combined Joint Task Force 7 officials said in a news release.
Early in the day, anti-coalition forces engaged a Task Force Olympia military police patrol in Mosul with small-arms fire. The military police pursued but were not able to apprehend the suspects. Late in the afternoon, a second patrol noticed a vehicle similar to the one that engaged the soldiers earlier. Four suspects opened fire when the MPs approached the vehicle. The MPs returned fire, killing all four suspects, the release said. More

Afghan Militia Members Turn in
Weapons at Kandahar Ceremony

By American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, March 29, 2004 — Civilian militia members were scheduled to lay down their arms today in a ceremony in Kandahar, Afghanistan.
This morning's disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration commencement ceremony was scheduled to include a parade of 1,000 demobilizing soldiers, and weapons collection was set to begin this afternoon, according to a Combined Forces Command - Afghanistan news release. More

Rumsfeld: 9/11 Commission's Task 'Legitimate, Important'

By Gerry J. Gilmore / American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, March 28, 2004 — The Defense Department's top civilian today said he supports the 9/11 commission's investigation into the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States, while noting the necessity of preventing future terrorist acts.
"The commission has got a legitimate task to do, and it's an important task," Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld told host Chris Wallace on the Washington-based "Fox News Sunday" television program. 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.

. Iraq Update . Maps of Iraq

. Iraq's 55 Most Wanted

'Band of Brothers'
Series Features Soldiers

WASHINGTON, March 29, 2004 (Army News Service) -The personal experiences of six soldiers will be featured as part of the “Band of Brothers” mini-series on the History Channel. The segments feature soldiers who have recently returned from Iraq and Afghanistan talking about their experiences serving overseas and what their Army service means to them. Story

Sign an On-line Thank You Note

Air Force C-17 Crew
Wins Aeronautical Trophy

ARLINGTON, Va., March 26, 2004 (AFPN) -— One year after they led the biggest combat airdrop since Operation Just Cause in Panama in December 1989, five airmen from McChord Air Force Base, Wash., are the winners of the National Aeronautic Association's Clarence Mackay Trophy for 2003. More

Minuteman ICBMs Soldier on
As Peacekeepers Get Mothballed

WASHINGTON, March 26, 2004 — The U.S. military will upgrade its Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles while retiring its Peacekeeper missile force, a senior officer told a Senate subcommittee March 25. Story

Defense Leaders Speak

Defense Secretary
Donald H. Rumsfeld

"We're trying to stop him (bin Laden), preferably capture him, and prevent him from continuing to operate the al Qaeda network, and fund and finance not just that network, but probably some affiliates, as well."

Interview with ABC, March 28, 2004

Defense Views

Quotes by U.S. defense leaders

http://www.defendamerica.mil/homecoming/archive.html

Saddam's Capture - A Video from Golf Troops' Perspective

Radio

Television

Honoring a Fallen Marine 6 More Photos

Marines from 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment pray during a March 24, 2004 remembrance ceremony for Marine Lance Cpl. Andrew S. Dang. Dang, a combat engineer with 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment. Dang, of San Francisco, was killed during a raid in the town of Ar Ramadi, Iraq, March 22, 2004. The battalion paused operations to honor Dang and his contributions to the Marine Corps during a March 26 ceremony. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Paula M. Fitzgerald 6 More Photos Photo Essay Archive

Soldiers Reflect on a Year in Iraq

By Staff Sgt. Stephen Hudson / Florida National Guard

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla., March 25, 2004 (Army News Service) — They’re back now. The soldiers from the Florida Army National Guard’s three infantry battalions are home and the sands of a Southwest Asia desert are rapidly becoming a distant memory.
They returned home wearing smiles and faded desert camouflage fatigues. After a year of combat foot patrols in Iraq these soldiers, now home, have an opportunity to reflect on a year in Iraq. More

Iraqi Police Chief Takes a
Bite Out of Explosive Device for Marines

CAMP HURRICANE POINT, Iraq, March 25, 2004 — Marines here received a welcome addition to their unexploded ordnance pit recently from the chief of Iraqi police in Ar Ramadi, Iraq.
The chief discovered a spent American-made 155 mm howitzer casing near his home and called his fellow police officers to help disarm the improvised explosvie device. After rendering the bomb safe — by cutting the wires with his teeth — the chief turned the device into Marines from 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment. More

Troops Scour Streets During Iron Promise

By U.S. Army Staff Sgt. James Sailer / 122nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

Soldiers from A Troop, 1st Squadron, 5th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division, prepare to search a house in the Abu Ghuraib neighborhood during a cordon and search operation carried out during Task Force 1st Armored Division's Operation Iron Promise March 17. U.S. Army photo

BAGHDAD, Iraq, March 26, 2004 — In what has become almost a nightly ritual, soldiers from A Troop, 1st Squadron, 5th Cavalry Regiment, lined up their vehicles on a quiet side street in the sleepy town of Abu Ghuraib just before initiating a cordon and search mission March 17. More

USS Bataan to Return
From Operation Iraqi Freedom

ABOARD USS BATAAN, March 26, 2004 (NNS) — The amphibious assault ship USS Bataan will return to its homeport at Naval Station Norfolk March 31, after a 72-day underway period in support of the ongoing Operation Iraqi Freedom troop rotation.
This is the second stint of duty in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom for Bataan, which returned from an Operation Iraqi Freedom deployment in June. More

War on Terrorism

. Global Community to Reaffirm Long-Term Commitment to Afghanistan

. U.S. to Pledge Additional $1 Billion for Afghanistan in Berlin

. Guard, Reserve and Employers Named 'Citizen of Year'

. Cheney Tells Troops America Must Remain on Offensive

. Troop Levels Must Address Challenges of 21st Century

Iraq

. Remembering the 3rd Infantry Division's Thunder Runs

Military News

. Wolfowitz Pins Wounded Soldier with Purple Heart

. Land Warrior System to Improve Soldier's Ability on Battlefield

. Army Report Addresses Troop Suicide Rates

. Fort Campbell Families Adjust To Newfound Togetherness

. National Guard, Reserve Update

Defense Officials
Identify Army Casualty

WASHINGTON, March 28, 2004 — Defense Department officials announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
SSgt. Wentz Jerome Henry Shanaberger III, 33, of Naples, Fla., died March 24 in Iraq when he was investigating a suspicious vehicle and came under attack by individuals using small arms and an improvised explosive device (IED). SSgt. Shanaberger was assigned to the Army’s 21st Military Police Company, 16th Military Police Brigade, XVIIIth Airborne Corps, Fort Bragg, N.C.

Honoring the Fallen

Air Base Renamed in
Honor of NCO Leader

TAJI, Iraq, March 26, 2004 — The memory of a 1st Armored Division senior noncommissioned officer's service will live on at one of the U.S. Army’s enduring base camps in Iraq. The former Iraqi air force base in Taji was officially renamed Camp Cooke March 23 in honor of Command Sgt. Maj. Eric F. Cooke. More

. Maps of Afghanistan

Profile

U.S. Air Force
Col. Linda McTague

Air National Guard Col. Linda McTague is the first woman to command an ANG wing, and historical records show she is the first woman to command an Air Force fighter squadron. Courtesy photo

WASHINGTON — Even before Women’s History Month became a national event in 1987, Air Force Col. Mary Kay Higgins was well on her way to making history. As a captain in 1980, Higgins became one of the first woman to earn both pilot and navigator ratings. More
More Profiles

In Iraq

Marine Engineers Bolster
Defenses at Iraqi Base

FORWARD OPERATING BASE ST. MERE, Iraq, March 26, 2004 — As the 1st Force Service Support Group settles into Iraq, its combat engineers here wasted no time fortifying the base from regular mortar attacks. Arriving in Iraq March 14, 2004, a company from the 7th Engineer Support Battalion quickly noticed several safety concerns and quickly took steps to fix the problems that they found. More

In Afghanistan

Air Force Engineers
Build Up Bagram

BAGRAM, Afghanistan , March 26, 2004 — There’s been some talk lately about “rockin’ and rollin’ ” and “getting in a rhythm” here. The words aren’t used to describe a morale-boosting concert for the men and women at Camp Cunningham; they’re referring to how the 455th Expeditionary Operations Group civil engineer flight has been going about its business. More

In Kyrgyzstan

'Dirt Boyz' Digging In

Tech. Sgt. Rob Carrillo uses a sighting tram at a fuels farm construction site here. He is deployed from Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D. U.S. Air Force photo by James Westfall

MANAS AIR BASE, Kyrgyzstan, March 26, 2004 (AFPN) — Airmen of the 28th Civil Engineer Squadron woke up to a South Dakota blizzard which closed sections of Interstate 90 and the Rapid City airport. Within a week, some of the same airmen began waking up in the snow-covered foothills of the Ala Too Mountains in Kyrgyzstan as part of the 376th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron. More

'On The Ground' Archive