DefendAmerica - U.S. Defense Dept. War on Terror: 07/09/2004

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Jul 9, 2004

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KEEPING WATCH — U.S. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class James Woodward, seated in an MH-60S Knighthawk helicopter, keeps watch on the waters around the amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge, July 5, 2004, as it transits the Straits of Hormuz. The Kearsarge transports elements of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit to the Central Command area of responsibility in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and the global war on terrorism. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Angel Roman-Otero

Detainee Status Review Tribunals to Begin

WASHINGTON, July 9, 2004 — Defense Department officials plan to begin a series of status-review boards for detainees held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, within the next several weeks. Story

Army Seeks Departing Airmen, Sailors

WASHINGTON, July 9, 2004 — After they "Cross Into the Blue" or "Accelerate Their Life," the Army hopes service members leaving the Air Force or Navy will join the "Army of One." Story

Marines, Afghans Fight Taliban Insurgents

FORWARD OPERATING BASE RIPLEY, Afghanistan, July 9, 2004 — When the lead elements of a large 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) and Afghan Militia Force task force recently entered a village in central Afghanistan, nothing seemed out of place and it looked as if another quiet day would soon draw to a close. Story

Defense Dept. to Assist Security Efforts

Lawrence Di Rita (right), Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs, responds to a reporter's question during a Defense Department press briefing at the Pentagon, July 8, 2004. Di Rita is joined by U.S. Army Brig. Gen. David Rodriguez, Joint Staff Deputy Director of Operations. Defense Dept. photo by Helene C. Stikkel

WASHINGTON, July 8, 2004 — The Defense Department is ready to provide support to safeguard this fall's Democratic and Republican national conventions and the presidential election, a senior U.S. military officer said here today. Story

Ridge: Conventions May Be Terror Targets

Afghan, Pakistani, U.S. Officials Meet

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan, July 8, 2004 — Afghan, Pakistani and U.S. military and diplomatic officials met here today to develop a common understanding of current operations along the border region between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Story

Agencies Enforce Reemployment Rights

WASHINGTON, July 8, 2004 — Several government agencies are working together to aggressively defend the reemployment rights of reserve-component service members. Story

Britain Will Stand With U.S. in Terror War

WASHINGTON, July 8, 2004 — British Prime Minister Tony Blair called his country's close relationship with the United States essential in the fight against global terrorism and rogue regimes trying to develop weapons of mass destruction. Story

Hassoun Update

Defense officials have changed the status of Cpl. Wassef A. Hassoun, 24, of Salt Lake City, Utah, from “captured” to “returned to military control.” The circumstances regarding his wherabouts between June 19 and July 8 are under investigation by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service.

Arabic Future Speaks
For the City of Bayji

BAYJI, Iraq, July 9, 2004 — Local Iraqi residents and Task Force Danger soldiers recently celebrated the first edition of The Arabic Future, a newspaper printed for the citizens of Bayji. Story

New Iraqi Reconstruction Archive

Marine Base Adds Hotline
To Report Suspicious Activity

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan, July 9, 2004 — The station's Anti-terrorism Force Protection Office today added a hotline for residents to report suspicious activity. Story

New Zealand Soldiers Educate
Afghanistan’s Future Generations

BAMIAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan, July 9, 2004 — Sitting in a classroom in the rear part of the school, students eagerly await the arrival of the New Zealand soldiers and the start of their next English class. Story

Kabul’s Second National
Army Volunteer Center Opens

KABUL, Afghanistan, July 9, 2004 — The recent grand opening of the Kabul Military High School National Army Volunteer Center marked the latest center to open in Afghanistan and the second in Kabul. Story

Defense Officials
Identify Army Casualty

WASHINGTON, July 9, 2004 — Defense Department officials announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Story

Military Photographers on the Frontlines Flash Slide Show

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

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

Iraqi Female Cadets Part 3 (14 More Photos)

U.S. Army Major Trish Morris cheers with her squad of Iraqi females, June 17, 2004, as they watch their male counterparts graduate at a ceremony in Amman, Jordan, where they have been training. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt Ashley Brokop Photo Essay Archive

'Every Soldier Needs to Know This Stuff '

FORWARD OPERATING BASE DANGER, Iraq, July 9, 2004 — As U.S. Army Sgt. Scott M. Van Order held tightly onto his legs, Spc. Andrew J. Gilmon teetered precariously from the back of a humvee. The awkward exercise was part of the three-day Explosive Hazards Awareness Instructor Course program at Forward Operating Base Danger. Story

Marine Contract Aids Iraqi Schoolchildren

CAMP HABBANIYAH, Iraq, July 9, 2004 — Making small steps to repair Iraq's ailing educational system, Marines here signed a contract with a local Iraqi government official July 1, 2004, to give Iraqi school children some of the learning tools they need. Story

Dragoons Continue Community Assistance

NAJAF, Iraq, July 7, 2004 — The 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment spent a year in Baghdad, helping the people of that city rebuild their lives and regain their livelihood. When the “Dragoons” received orders to move into southern Iraq, they continued to help Iraqis living in Najaf. Story

Airmen Help Bring Wounded Home

POPE AIR FORCE BASE, N.C., July 8, 2004 — Forty-eight wounded airmen, soldiers, sailors and Marines were brought home for Independence Day, and six medical workers from the 43rd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron here were there to help get them back safely. Story

Marines, Soldiers Battle Fire at Camp Al Asad

CANP AL ASAD, Iraq, July 7, 2004 — A fire ripped through tents here July 7, burning the belongings of more than 100 Marines just days before they were slated to return to the United States. Story

Safety First...Or Else!

By David Kitzman / U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

I have been working on the infrastructure reconstruction of Baghdad International Airport for the past seven months. During this time, we have given the airport a new telephone system, refurbished a fire station, satellite communication, radio communication, a checkpoint, runway repairs and painting, power generation, refurbishing the aircraft traffic control tower and substation repairs. Story

Team Rescues Kitten From Palace Wall

Col. Jill Morgenthaler offers Liberty some milk before preparing a new home for her out of a television box. U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Karen Petitt

BAGHDAD, Iraq, July 8, 2004 — In the sprawling Al Faw Palace at Camp Victory where leaders are tough and business is serious, a group of concerned officers led a team in a kitten rescue July 8. The public affairs staff had heard a family of kittens meowing in the ceiling for a couple of days, but said they were surprised to hear a faint meow in one of the pillars outside on the second floor balcony. Story

War on Terrorism

. Gitmo Detainees to Receive Status Review

. U.S., Australia Pledge to Work Together

• Transfer of Swedish Detainee Complete

• Families, Workers Must Leave Bahrain

Iraq

. Tongans Join Marines in Al Anbar Province

. Iraqis Will Help Government End Violence

• Four Marines, Soldier Die in Iraq Incidents

Military News

. Iraq, Afghan Rotation Plans Announced

. Captured Marine Safe at Embassy

. Leaders Discuss Troop Rotations

. National Guard, Reserve Update

Honoring the Fallen

Marine Remembered
In Ar Ramadi

CAMP HURICANE POINT, Iraq, July 7, 2004 — All Sgt. Kenneth K. Conde Jr., ever wanted to do was be a Marine Corps infantryman. He had been living his dream for a little more than five years when he was killed July 1 after an improvised explosive device attack during a patrol through the heart of Ar Ramadi. Story

Massachusetts Youths Seek
'Cell Phones for Soldiers'

WASHINGTON, July 8, 2004 — A Massachusetts brother and sister have set their sights on megabucks to make it easier for all deployed U.S. service members to call home. Story

Corps 'Living Legend'
Visits Marines in Afghanistan

FORWARD OPERATING BASE RIPLEY, Afghanistan, July 8, 2004 — Former Marine James Webb, a writer for "Parade" magazine and author of the Vietnam War classic "Fields of Fire," spent several days with the Marines and sailors as they continued their hunt for Taliban and anti-coalition militia in central Afghanistan. Story

Army Band Reads ‘Letter From
Home’ to Ohio Audience

MANSFIELD, Ohio, July 7, 2004 — Ohio resident Tami Ketteman and the capacity crowd at the Renaissance Theatre listened as U.S. Army Master Sgt. Janet Hjelmgren performed a dramatic reading of a letter that Ketteman wrote to the Army about her son, Marcus, who is deployed to Afghanistan. Story

Marine Celebrity Helps Recruiting Efforts

Sign an On-line Thank You Note

Profile

U.S. Air Force
Lt. Col. Andrew Lourake

ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE, Md., July 9, 2004 — An airman here who had his leg amputated above the knee will soon fly an Air Force aircraft again. Story

More Profiles

In Iraq

Kiowa Crews Patrol Baghdad Skies

CAMP COOKE, Iraq, July 8, 2004 — The best feeling for a ground soldier patrolling in Baghdad is the overhead cover provided by a team of Kiowa Warrior helicopters. Story

Marine and Army Firefighters
Bring Tent Blaze Under Control

CAMP AL ASAD, Iraq, July 7, 2004 — A fire ripped through tents here July 7, burning the belongings of more than 100 Marines just days before they were slated to return to the United States. There were no injuries or fatalities. Story

Signal Battalion Continues
To Sharpen the Sword

BAGHDAD, Iraq, July 7, 2004 — With redeployment approaching and temperatures well over 115 degrees Fahrenheit, the 141st Signal Battalion continues training in order to keep soldiers’ warrior skills sharp. Story

In Afghanistan

Ammo Gives Warthog
Its Lethal Bite

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan, July 8, 2004 — As coalition soldiers conduct operations throughout Afghanistan, A-10 Thunderbolt IIs, or Warthogs as they are commonly known, are a frequent sight in the sky. Story

'On The Ground' Archive