DefendAmerica 03/31/2004

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Mar 31, 2004

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NIGHT SHIFT — From left to right, Senior Airman Dawn Brown, Senior Master Sgt. Kathryn Rohde and Tech. Sgt. Nathan Perry work the Kirkuk Air Base, Iraq, terminal during the night shift. C-130s fly into Kirkuk at all hours, bringing in new troops and supplies as well as flying out troops whose tours have ended. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jeremy Smith

Iraq Troop Rotation Continues;
Arriving Units Assume Control

By Jim Garamone / American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, March 31, 2004 — The largest rotation of U.S. forces since World War II continues in Iraq, Defense Department officials said today.
In all more than 250,000 U.S. service members are affected. Planning for the rotation began months ago. New units worked with units in Iraq to learn their new missions and to plan the movement. In December, new units began flowing into the region, and in January, they began the relief-in-place process. More

Nine Deaths in Iraq Won’t Deter
Coalition Efforts, Officials Say

By Donna Miles / American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, March 31, 2004 — Five U.S. soldiers and four civilians were killed in separate attacks today in Iraq, coalition officials reported during a Baghdad news briefing.
Army Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt, deputy operations director for Combined Joint Task Force 7, said the U.S. soldiers were patrolling northwest of Habbaniyah when their vehicle hit an improvised explosive device. More

Two Suspected Insurgents Netted in Baghdad Raid

Country Must Do More To Care
For Reserve, Guard Members

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

WASHINGTON, March 31, 2004 — With Reserve and National Guard forces now critical elements in the global war on terrorism, the Defense Department's senior reserve affairs adviser told a Senate subcommittee here today that the country must do more to care for Reserve and Guard members and their families.
Thomas F. Hall, assistant secretary of defense for reserve affairs, provided Congress the reserve affairs fiscal 2005 posture statement and detail the department's budget request. More

Guard, Reserve Program Looks
At Mobilizations, Civilian Jobs

By U.S. Army Master Sgt. Bob Haskell / National Guard Bureau

WASHINGTON, March 31, 2004 — A new Defense Department reporting system has begun so members of all seven reserve components can register their employers.
DoD leaders need to know the civilian employers and government agencies of the department's approximately 1.2 million National Guardsmen and reservists, officials said. More

Logistics Chief
Details Supply Process

WASHINGTON, March 31, 2004 — The Defense Department's logistics organization has procured myriad vital supplies for service members deployed during Operation Iraqi Freedom, Navy Vice Adm. Keith W. Lippert told the House Readiness Subcommittee March 30. Lippert, director of the Defense Logistics Agency, said service members rely on the agency "to provide food, fuel, medical supplies, clothing, construction and barrier material, and more than 90 percent of their weapons systems supply parts, both in times of peace and war." More

Sign an On-line Thank You Note

Defense Leaders Speak

President George W. Bush

The 9/11 "commission has been charged with a crucial task. To prevent future attacks, we must understand the methods of our enemies. The terrorist threat being examined by the commission is still present, still urgent and still demands our full attention...
"Our nation must never forget the loss or the lessons of September the 11th, and we must not assume that the danger has passed. The United States will confront gathering dangers to our freedom and security. The commission knows its responsibility: to collect vital information and to present it to the American people."

Statement March 30, 2004

Defense Views

Quotes by U.S. defense leaders

Defense Officials
Identify Casualties

     WASHINGTON, March 31, 2004 — Defense Department officials announced today the death of two soldiers.
     Pfc. Sean M. Schneider, 22, of Janesville, Wis., died March 29 as the result of a vehicle accident near Baghdad. Pfc. Schneider was assigned to the 115th Forward Support Battalion, Fort Hood, Texas.
     Command Sgt. Maj. Dennis Jallah Jr., 49, of Fayetteville, N.C., died due to a non-combat cause on March 28, in Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, D.C. He was medically evacuated from Afghanistan to Washington, D.C. via Landstuhl on Feb. 16. Jallah was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 10th Aviation Regiment, 10th Aviation Brigade, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, N.Y.
     These incidents are under investigation.

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

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

Radio

Television

U.S. Army Sgt. William D. Schlichting, Headquarters Support Company, 142nd Engineer Combat Battalion, is greeted by a large crowd at Hector International Airport, Fargo, N.D., upon return from a deployment to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, March 13, 2004. Following Schlichting is fellow unit member Spc. Benjamin G. Oster. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Master Sgt. David H. Lipp 7 More Photos

Father, Son Reunite in Baghdad

By Joy Kress / Defense Logistics Agency

FORT BELVOIR, Va., March 31, 2004 — "You could have pushed me over with a feather."
That was Roger McCrady's reaction when he stepped off a plane at Baghdad International Airport in Iraq to find his youngest son waiting for him on the ground. More

Al Anef Primary School Celebrates Reopening

Staff Sgt. Monique Kelly, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Armored Division, sits with some next to some schoolchildren following celebrations at the Al Anef primary school in Abu Ghraib, March 25. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Andy Miller

ABU GHRAIB, Iraq, March 31, 2004 - Soldiers from Headquarters and Headquarters Company 1st Armored Division, the 425th and 478th Civil Affairs Battalions, and members of the Abu Ghraib Municipal Council celebrated the reopening of the Al Anef primary school in Abu Ghraib, March 25, 2004.
Renovations initiated by the 414th Civil Affairs Battalion four months ago are completed and classes are in session. The ribbon cutting ceremony signified the accomplishments made through American-Iraqi cooperation in the Abu Ghraib school district. More

Mich. Civil Affairs Battalion
Tackles Reconstruction Projects

SAMARRA, Iraq, March 30, 2004 (USASOC News Service) — Since landing here in mid-February, soldiers from the Kalamazoo, Mich.-based 415th Civil Affairs Battalion have diligently worked on projects aimed at improving living conditions for locals and gaining residents’ trust.
Among the projects are the reconstruction of 43 primary and secondary schools in and around Samarra. Public Works Team Chief Maj. John P. Lawlor met earlier this month with Samarra chief of council and director of education, Shaikh Adnan Thabet Maher, at a forward operating base here to discuss the status of the projects and the proposed reconstruction of 11 mosques. More

Medics Lend Helping Hand in Afghanistan

By Marine Lance Cpl. John E. Lawson Jr. / Combined Joint Task Force-180

KABUL PROVINCE, Afghanistan, March 26, 2004 (NNS) — Navy corpsmen from 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines conducted a medical civil affairs program (MedCap) recently.
“During the two-day MedCap, a Navy lieutenant and four corpsmen treated about 160 patients at a local hospital,” said Lt. Kenny Uy, assistant battalion surgeon. More

War on Terrorism

. President Bush Lauds First Responders, Military Members

. Dept. of Homeland Security Grants Billions to Help First Responders

. Bush Welcomes NATO Nations, Pledges Unity in War on Terror

. Myers Thanks Italian Defense Minister for Terror War Support

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

. Scientific Innovations Serve Troops Today, Tomorrow

. Special Ops Must Modernize

Iraq

. Spike in Iraq Violence Leaves Two Coalition Soldiers Dead

. Future Iraqi Defense Leaders Train in Washington

. Iraq Survey Group Continues WMD Search

. Marines to Stay No Longer Than Necessary, Officials Say

. Military Police Kill 4 Drive-by Shooting Suspects in Mosul

Military News

. Change Only Constant in European Command, General Says

. Wolfowitz Pins Wounded Soldier with Purple Heart

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

. National Guard, Reserve Update

Weapons Caches Found;
Soldiers Detain Suspects

KABUL, Afghanistan, March 31, 2004 — In the past three days, there have been weapons caches found in Parwan, Oruzgan, Ghazni, and Wardak Provinces, according to Combined Joint Task Force 180 officials. More

. Maps of Afghanistan

58 Northeast Reservists
Remain Forward Deployed

NEWPORT, R.I., March 25, 2004 (NNS) — Of the 2,052 Northeast Reservists mobilized since January 2001, currently only 58 personnel remain on active duty. Even though these 58 people represent a small portion of the service members that were activated, they are still doing very big things in the far reaches of the world. More

Profile

U.S. Marine Corps
Staff Sgt. Armando Figueroa

Marine Staff Sgt. Armando Figueroa prepares his platoon for final drill competition. Figueroa is balancing his drill instructor duties and parenting duties during his wife's deployment to Iraq. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Edward R. Guevara Jr.

MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT SAN DIEGO — Marine Staff Sgt. Armando Figueroa kissed and hugged his wife goodbye — again — in February. This was the second time the drill instructor's wife, Staff Sgt. Angelica M. Figueroa, had left for Iraq. More

More Profiles

In Iraq

Lejeune Marines
Settle into New Home

CAMP AL-MAHMUDIYAH, Iraq, March 21, 2004 — Gone are the long hot nights sweltering in the open air. No more dinners straight out of tan plastic wrapper of a Meal, Ready-to-Eat. Living conditions this time around for Marines in Iraq is proving to be a pleasant surprise. More

In Kuwait

Moonlighting Soldiers
Teach College Courses

CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait, March 31, 2004 — Some soldiers have discovered they don’t need to put college plans off until after their Operation Iraqi Freedom deployment. What’s more, their teachers are also soldiers, often credentialed “in the field” as college professors by major universities. More

'On The Ground' Archive

VALET PARKING — U.S. Navy Seaman Lee Allen, of Houston, Texas, prepares to tow an EA-6B Prowler assigned to the “Patriots” of Electronic Attack Squadron 140 aboard USS George Washington, March 28, 2004. The Norfolk, Va.-based nuclear powered aircraft carrier is on a regularly scheduled deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. U.S. Navy photo by Seaman Michael D. Blackwell II.