Protesting the War is Not a Strategy

By Rose Pedenko and Tanya Simon

The moment the final midterm election votes were counted, Democrats wasted no time stumping for the withdrawal of American troops from Iraq. However, real conservatives-the normal majority-continue to believe, as we always have, that pulling our forces out prematurely will be a blunder of monumental proportions. It would not only be viewed as frailty on our part, but serve to embolden the enemy and further imperil our nation and its allies. It is the liberal wing of the Democratic Party and their "rush to escape" Iraq that causes great consternation. Conservatives believe it is not really Iraq from which they want to retreat-but from the war itself.

Democrats preach for peace. This is a good thing, but it is neither the answer nor a solution to the death threats that dangle every day over our lives like the Sword of Damocles.

Since the horror of 9/11, liberals would have us believe they support the war in Afghanistan, because that is where the Taliban trained and from where Osama bin Ladin directed or still directs his murder/suicide operations. If we had engaged the Taliban in Afghanistan-and not concurrently expanded the front of the war on terrorism to Iraq-the same peace protesters would be calling for a pull-out of troops from Afghanistan as well. Three and a half years have gone by and the early success in Afghanistan remains, at best, tenuous. With no defined war front or uniformed enemy, the anti-war crowd will always find itself in an apparent quagmire.

We must ask: What then, Democrats? You should not demand we withdraw unless and until you have a bulletproof strategy up your collective sleeve-not some blue sky vision of sitting down with the devil to negotiate a better position in hell.

Speaker of the House-Elect Nancy Pelosi and her liberal colleagues, tend not to think about the ghastly realities with which we are threatened but how they can toss more rhetoric into the air without actually delivering decisive action over the next two years. The bluster and brouhaha surrounding their investigations into past-perceived mistakes does not equal a National Security policy.

At this critical turning point for our nation, Pelosi et al. should remove their rose-colored glasses, turn their attention away from the wholly unrealistic expectations of their "peace without honor" constituents, and concentrate on building up our nation's strengths rather than tearing them down. We cannot protest our way to victory.

Every American, regardless of political persuasion, must accept the realities of our war on terrorism. The enemy has no intention of going away, whether from Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon, Iran, Syria, or from inside our own borders. They have but one goal: the destruction of Israel and America. This is burned into their hearts as children and continues until the day they die, taking as many "infidels" with them as they possibly can. This is not some quixotic mission for Allah they are on, but a duty as natural as the wretched air they breathe.

The gravity of this Islamo-fascist indoctrination cannot be dismissed with a knowing smile before Congress or the wasting of taxpayer money on unnecessary partisan investigations. This, like preaching peace, will not bring relief from our fears, and it won't end the war. The enemy we face is terminally serious. They have no timetables, or exit strategies, and are wholly unconcerned with how many of their own people die in order to achieve their ends.

They will not go home until they win.

An injured soldier has a new future... in pizza!

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Feb. 9, 2007 - A U.S. veteran who lost both legs in 2004 when a roadside bomb exploded in Iraq will begin a new career because his indomitable spirit moved a total stranger to give back to those who have served their country.

Army Staff Sgt. Robbie Doughty and Michael Ilitch, the founder of Little Caesars Pizza, one of nation's largest pizza chains, proudly stood side by side for the grand opening of the veteran's new pizza store in Paducah, Ky., yesterday.

Doughty, 31, was honorably discharged from the Army in July 2004 and began a long road to recovery facing an uncertain future with his young family. As he endured months of rehabilitation, he never gave up hope, never lost his courageous spirit and learned to walk again, he said.

Ilitch who, along with Little Caesars Pizza, owns Major League Baseball's world champion Detroit Tigers and the National Hockey League's Detroit Red Wings, read about Doughty in a Nov. 23, 2004, USA Today article.

Ilitch was so moved by Doughty's courage and determination that he called the Kentucky veteran to thank him for serving the country. After many conversations, Ilitch offered Doughty an opportunity to open his own Little Caesars Pizza franchise in his hometown of Paducah.

"Doughty stood strong for our country. I was so impressed by his courage, commitment and upbeat attitude in the face of adversity, that I wanted to do something," Ilitch said. "Offering him a new career path in his hometown seemed like a good transition. Doughty's 'can-do' attitude will make him a strong Little Caesars franchisee."

Doughty accepted Ilitch's offer and followed his suggestion to find a business partner. His choice was fellow veteran Lloyd Allard, who served with Doughty in the 3rd Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group, in a dangerous area in Iraq. "

After a career in the military, I was open to a new venture," Doughty said. "Our military background and familiarity with systems, processes and a teamwork management style make the Little Caesars franchise a good fit.

"Opening a business and becoming an entrepreneur will definitely be an exciting new chapter in my life for my family and me," he said.

"From day one, Doughty was ready for his next challenge," Allard said. "With our leadership skills and Little Caesars' training and ongoing support system, we look forward to becoming strong franchisees and sharing our experience with other veterans."

Their story also prompted Ilitch to launch a new, innovative franchise program to provide qualified, honorably discharged veterans with a business opportunity when they transition to civilian life or seek a career change. The program provides a benefit of $10,000 for qualified veterans and up to $68,000 in benefits for service-disabled veterans. "

Doughty and Allard inspired me with a vision: to develop a program to create career opportunities for military veterans," Ilitch said. "I believe that it's important for Little Caesars and corporate America to thank the men and women who have served in the armed forces and this program offers an exceptional opportunity for veterans who are seeking new career options."

(From a Little Caesars Pizza news release.)

[Web Version: http://www.defenselink.mil/News/NewsArticle.aspx?ID=2989]

Veterans of our military should go to the Little Caesars Pizza site for more information on how to start up a new career. http://www.littlecaesars.com/

Iraq is "Winnable"

By Linda D. Kozaryn
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Feb. 2, 2007 - While the situation in Iraq is challenging, it is "winnable," U.S. Navy Rear Adml. Mark Fox told a group of online journalists and bloggers yesterday during an operational update by telephone.

Fox, who has flown combat and contingency missions over Iraq in Operations Desert Storm, Southern Watch and Iraqi Freedom, is now communications director for Multi-National Force, Iraq.

"Sectarian violence is now the gravest threat to our strategic objectives in Iraq, and to be honest, Iraq is a more complex strategic problem entering 2007 than it was this time last year," he said. However, he noted, he's seen cause to believe the struggle is winnable.

"I draw hope from the fact that we are joined, not opposed, by the overwhelming majority of the Iraqi people in this struggle," Fox said. "In polling conducted in November, 89 percent of Iraqis nationwide agreed with the statement: 'My first loyalty is to my country rather than my sect, ethnic group, or tribe.'"

Fox said he's pleased to be "working in partnership with the liberated people of Iraq as they work to build a stable, secure, and self-governing country." The fact that more Iraqis are joining police forces is cause for optimism, he said.

In December, 1,115 Iraqi men signed up to join the Police Forces. "To put this in context," Fox said, "eight months ago we had zero recruits from Ramadi. In one month, over 600 tribesmen in Ramadi alone qualified for enlistment."

In December, he added, Multinational Force officials restored responsibility for security in Najaf Province to Provincial Iraqi Control.

"Last week, Iraqi forces in Najaf detected and assessed a significant security threat, realized they were outnumbered and facing an entrenched enemy, and did exactly what American forces are trained to do in that tactical situation: call for airpower," he said. "In the end, we killed 262 anti-Iraqi forces, and captured 411. We also recovered 11 mortar systems and enough heavy machine guns to show this was not a group of pilgrims."

Fox attended a city council meeting in Fallujah that he described as raucous and disorganized. He said council members had some significant points of contention. "But it demonstrated even if the Iraqis are not at the levels of Jeffersonian democracy yet, they are eager to find solutions to their problems."

The Iraqi economy is also showing positive signs, Fox said.

"Each time I travel outside the International Zone, I'm amazed that virtually every house in Baghdad has a satellite dish on the roof," he said. "While everybody focuses on the violence in Baghdad, rural Iraq has experienced a post-Saddam boom that is employing and putting cash in the pockets of hundreds of thousands of Iraqi families."

Fox cautioned, however, that it's important to have realistic expectations about short-term progress.

"First, it will take some time for the effects of the additional troops being deployed to take hold," he said. "Second, although (U.S. Army Lt. Gen. David) Petraeus brings unparalleled experience and wisdom to this fight, Iraq's problems are systemic, and will not be turned around immediately in February and March."

Fox went on to highlight what he called "one of the most important intangibles" that doesn't make it through the mainstream media filter: "the sense of mission, and the morale of the people who are serving here.

"It's not every day that you have the opportunity to leave your fingerprints on great work," Fox said. "And this is one of those times where everybody that's here understands what an incredibly important mission we're engaged in.

"We're also focused on this mission to the point where we understand the vast majority of the American people support everything about the military," he continued. "And the people who disagree with the nature of the political decisions that brought us here, we still appreciate the fact that those people also support the military."

[Web Version: http://www.defenselink.mil/News/NewsArticle.aspx?ID=2920]

2007 will be "Battle of the Wills" in Iraq

By Sgt. Sara Wood,
USA American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Jan. 5, 2007 - The next year will be an important time in Iraq, when the Iraqi government must take more responsibility for the country and the coalition must continue its commitment to creating a stable, unified Iraq, a top British general in Iraq said today."

In 2007, we really are in an interesting time in which we hope to see the government understanding its responsibilities and having the confidence to step up and take those responsibilities ... (and) the indigenous Iraqi security forces taking the full responsibility for their security," British Army Maj. Gen. Simon Mayall, deputy commander of Multinational Corps Iraq, said in a Pentagon news conference via satellite.

This year will be a battle of wills in Iraq, Mayall said, as the coalition and the majority of Iraqis struggle against those who don't want a democratic, representative society that responds to the rule of law. The stakes are very high, and the Iraqi security forces and government need to see the strong commitment of the coalition as they grow and develop the ability to take over their own country, he said.

"Those people are absolutely relying on us in the coalition to continue to stand by them to give them the confidence to continue to defend the security of the Iraqi people, to develop their competence to do it, and to take forward this shared mission -- to deliver a new future to Iraq," he said.

When the Iraqis will be ready to take over security completely is conditions-based, Mayall said, but the important thing is to keep them in the fight and continue to develop their capabilities. Iraqi units fight alongside coalition forces every day, and they will continue to improve as they are given more responsibility, he said.

The Iraqi security forces are increasing the coalition's capacity, but a surge in troops alone will not be the answer for Iraq, Mayall said. A surge is needed in every element of the counterinsurgency operation, including development of the Iraqi government and ministerial capabilities, and economic development, he said.

"In any counterinsurgency operation, particularly the type of complexity of operation we're in at the moment, the security line of operation cannot and was never designed to deliver the desired end state," he said. "Therefore, around any application of military force, we must assume that the government of Iraq is also stepping up to the plate."

Speaking from the perspective of a British officer, Mayall said he is utterly impressed by the dedication and courage of the U.S. servicemembers in Iraq. Britain remains a staunch ally in the war on terror, he said, and he expressed optimism about Iraq's future. "I remain utterly confident, with the commitment we have from the Iraqis and ourselves, that we are going to be successful in 2007," he said.

[Web Version: http://www.defenselink.mil/News/NewsArticle.aspx?ID=2603]

Why?

[Author Unknown]

Cindy Sheehan asked President Bush, "Why did my son have to die in Iraq?"

Another mother asked President Johnson, "Why did my son have to die in Vietnam?

Another mother asked President Truman, "Why did my son have to die in Korea?"

Another mother asked President Roosevelt, "Why did my son have to die at Iwo Jima?"

Another mother asked President Wilson, "Why did my son have to die on a battlefield in France?"

Yet another mother asked President Lincoln, "Why did my son have to die at Gettysburg?"

And yet another mother asked President Washington, "Why did my son have to die at Valley Forge?"

Then, long, long ago, a mother asked, "Heavenly Father, why did my Son have to die on a cross?"

The answer to all these questions are the same: "So that others may have life and dwell in peace, happiness, and freedom."

IF YOU CANNOT STAND BEHIND OUR TROOPS, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO STAND IN FRONT OF THEM.

God Bless Our Military

God Bless America

MERRY CHRISTMAS

'Arctic Wolves' Dedicate Wall Honoring Fallen Comrades

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

FORT WAINWRIGHT, Alaska, Dec. 13, 2006 - The Arctic Wolves bid an emotional farewell to 36 of their own yesterday as they gathered here to dedicate the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team Memorial Wall.

Leaders from the unit joined about 25 family members of the fallen in the atrium of the high-tech Battle Command Training Center here to remember 26 Stryker Brigade troops and 10 soldiers from units attached the brigade during its deployment. Another 150 brigade soldiers just back from a 16-month deployment to Iraq watched the ceremony in an overflow room on a large-screen TV.

Col. Michael Shields, the brigade commander, acknowledged the "incredible price" his troops paid in Iraq. "These men and women paid the ultimate sacrifice in places like Mosul, Tal Afar, Rawa and Baghdad," he said. "They died serving their nation, their unit and, I think more accurately, their fellow soldiers," he said.

Those who died were among the small percentage of Americans who have served and fought the war on terror, he said. "While most Americans don't understand the great evil that exists, that threatens our very existence and the security of our children's future, these soldiers did," he said. "They were all volunteers."

Rather than focusing on how these soldiers died, Shields urged those at the ceremony to use it as an opportunity to celebrate how they lived. "This group of warriors consisted of hunters, fishermen, outdoorsmen, mountain climbers, snowboarders, skiers, musicians, cowboys, philosophers, athletes, pilots and so much more," he said.

"These soldiers were someone's best friend, leader, son, brother, fiance, husband and dad," he said. "Several of them left children that will never know their father."

Chaplain (Maj.) Robert Nay opened the ceremony with an invocation expressing thanks for "these brave men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice" and asking for comfort for their families, friends and comrades.

Then Shields and Command Sgt. Maj. William Ulibarri, the brigade command sergeant major, unveiled the memorial, with 36 framed photos of the fallen. In front of the wall stood a memorial stand, with a pair of combat boots, Kevlar helmet, goggles and an M4A1 rifle with bayonet. Thirty-six dog tags with the names of the fallen hung from the rifle.

Nay explained the symbolism of the memorial and how it helps tell the story of those it honors.

"The memorial stand with the boots, weapon and helmet stand (is) alone, empty (to) remind us of the ultimate sacrifice," he said. The headgear represents the soldier's ability to think, react, learn and lead. The rifle symbolizes the battle soldier's face, and the cover on the bayonet, the peace they want. The boots are meant "to carry us wherever our country leads us," Nay said. The dog tags represent the personal aspect of the losses and the soldiers "who are loved and deeply missed ... and will never be forgotten," he said.

"The faces you see before you represent the human nature of war," Nay said. "These men and women remind us that freedom is not free and that it is their shed blood that allows our nation and, more specifically, our families, to pursue life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, which is the American dream."

Troops attending yesterday's ceremony called it a fitting tribute to their fallen comrades and a lasting reminder of the sacrifices they made.

Among those at the ceremony was Sgt. Robert Sult, from 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, who lost four fellow soldiers in Iraq, including his roommate and best friend, Spc. Raymond Henry.

"I think of Henry every day. He meant so much to me. He was the best friend I ever had," Sult said. "We learned a lot from each other, and I know he can touch other people, too. On this memorial wall, he can still show people what it's like to serve his country and just do the right thing."

Sgt. 1st Class Cole Shepherd, who served in the brigade's rear detachment during the deployment, called putting together the memorial wall an act of healing for everyone involved and a way to serve those who didn't return home. Shepherd and three other soldiers took extra pains to make sure it was perfect, including making the frames for the photos at the post craft shop when the ones they bought simply didn't measure up.

"This represents what our lives are about in the Army and the ultimate sacrifice we make for the freedoms our friends and families enjoy every day," he said.

Sgt. David Ferguson, from 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, called the losses the unit took, particularly after the Army extended the unit's deployment by four months, devastating to the unit. "We were so close to coming back, so it hit us all really hard," he said.

But like many of his fellow Arctic Wolves, Ferguson said losing their buddies made them more committed to their mission. "It's really hard on you for awhile; it's kind of hard to get used to not seeing them anymore," he said. "But once you do start going back out (on missions), you remember that for the rest of the time, you're there for them, to fight for their honor."

After the ceremony, family members approached the wall, taking pictures and gathering with soldiers and commanders who knew their loved ones. Jesse Alcozer, father of Pfc. Christopher Alcozer, wore a "Vietnam Veteran" hat as he approached his son's photo and placed his hand on the corner of the wooden plaque. The 36 dog tags clinked as relatives rifled through them, looking for the name of their soldier. Families heard funny stories or memorable moments of their soldiers from those who had served with them in Iraq.

"As you pay tribute in your own way today, leave this hall with your head high, proud of these soldiers' service to their country," Shields told the families and his 172nd Stryker BCT soldiers in closing. "That is what these warriors would want you to do." He recalled the saying that soldiers never truly die until they are forgotten. "Arctic Wolves, you will never be forgotten," he said.

[Web Version: http://www.defenselink.mil/News/NewsArticle.aspx?ID=2407]

Just an Awesome Guy

American Forces Press Service

FORWARD OPERATING BASE LOYALTY, Iraq, Dec. 12, 2006 - Army Pfc. Ross A. McGinnis packed only 136 pounds into his 6-foot frame, but few have ever matched his inner strength.

McGinnis sacrificed himself in an act of supreme bravery on Dec. 4, belying his status as the youngest soldier in Company C, 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, attached to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division.

The 19-year-old amateur mechanic from Knox, Pa., who enjoyed poker and loud music, likely saved the lives of four soldiers riding with him on a mission in Baghdad.

McGinnis was manning the gunner's hatch when an insurgent tossed a grenade from above. It flew past McGinnis and down through the hatch before lodging near the radio. His platoon sergeant, Sgt. 1st Class Cedric Thomas of Longview, Texas, recalled what happened next.

"Pfc. McGinnis yelled 'Grenade! ... It's in the truck,'" Thomas said. "I looked out of the corner of my eye as I was crouching down and I saw him pin it down." McGinnis did so even though he could have escaped. "He had time to jump out of the truck," Thomas said. "He chose not to."

Thomas remembered McGinnis talking about how he would respond in such a situation. McGinnis said then he didn't know how he would act, but when the time came, he delivered. "He gave his life to save his crew and his platoon sergeant," Thomas said. "He's a hero. He's a professional. He was just an awesome guy."

Three of the soldiers with McGinnis who were wounded that day have returned to duty, while a fourth is recovering in Germany.

For saving the lives of his friends and giving up his own in the process, McGinnis earned the Silver Star. His unit comrades paid their final respects in a somber ceremony here Dec. 11.

McGinnis was born June 14, 1987, and joined the Army right after graduating from high school in 2005. He had been in the Army 18 months and made his mark even before his heroic deed.

"He was a good kid," said C Company's senior enlisted soldier, 1st Sgt. Kenneth J. Hendrix. "He had just gotten approved for a waiver to be promoted to specialist." He also appeared on the Nov. 30 cover of Stars & Stripes, manning his turret.

Besides his military accomplishments, McGinnis leaves his friends and family with memories of a fun-loving, loyal man.

Pfc. Brennan Beck, a 1-26 infantryman from Lodi, Calif., said McGinnis made others feel better. "He would go into a room and when he left, everyone was laughing," Beck said. "He did impersonations of others in the company. He was quick-witted, just hilarious. He loved making people laugh. He was a comedian through and through."

While having a witty side, McGinnis took his job seriously.

"He was not a garrison soldier. He hated it back in garrison," Beck said. "He loved it here in Iraq. He loved being a gunner. It was a thrill; he loved everything about it. He was one our best soldiers. He did a great job."

Beck has memories of talking all night with McGinnis about where they wanted their lives to go, and said McGinnis always remembered his friends. "When I had my appendix removed, he was the only one who visited me in the hospital," Beck said. "That meant a lot."

Another 1-26 infantryman, Pfc. Michael Blair of Klamath Falls, Ore., recalled that McGinnis helped him when he arrived at Ledward Barracks in Schweinfurt, Germany.

"When I first came to the unit, ... he was there and took me in and showed me around," Blair said. "He was real easy to talk to. You could tell him anything. He was a funny guy. He was always making somebody laugh."

McGinnis' final heroic act came as no surprise to Blair. "He was that kind of person," Blair said. "He would rather take it himself than have his buddies go down."

The brigade's senior noncommissioned officer, Command Sgt. Maj. William Johnson, also had high praise for McGinnis. "Any time when you get a soldier to do something like that - to give his life to protect his fellow soldiers - that's what heroes are made of," Johnson said.

It also demonstrates, Johnson continued, that the 'MySpace Generation' has what it takes to carry on the Army's proud traditions.

"Some think soldiers who come in today are all about themselves," Johnson said. "I see it differently."

The Silver Star Medal has been approved for McGinnis's actions Dec. 4, and will be awarded posthumously.

(Article courtesy of Multinational Division Baghdad public affairs.)

[Web Version: http://www.defenselink.mil/News/NewsArticle.aspx?ID=2393]

Welcome Home, Maj. Charles L. Bifolchi, U.S. Air Force - Vietnam

NEWS RELEASES from the United States Department of Defense

No. 1087-06 IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 26, 2006
Media Contact: (703) 697-5131/697-5132
Public/Industry(703) 428-0711

Airman Missing in Action from Vietnam War is Identified

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from the Vietnam War, have been identified and returned to his family for burial with full military honors.

He is Maj. Charles L. Bifolchi, U.S. Air Force, of Quincy, Mass. He will be buried on Oct. 27 at Arlington National Cemetery near Washington, D.C.

On Jan. 8, 1968, Bifolchi and a fellow crewmember were flying an armed reconnaissance mission against enemy targets in Kon Tum Province, South Vietnam, when their RF-4C aircraft disappeared. A U.S. Army helicopter crew found their aircraft wreckage soon after first light the next day. Search efforts continued for four days; however, enemy activity in the area, combined with the steep terrain and high winds at the crash site, precluded the recovery of the crewmen.

Between 1993 and 2000, U.S. and Socialist Republic of Vietnam (S.R.V.) teams, led by the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC), conducted two surveys of an area that was believed to be Bifolchi's crash site. One team interviewed two Vietnamese citizens who turned over human remains they claimed to have recovered at the site. Another team found wreckage consistent with Bifolchi's aircraft.

Among other forensic identification tools and circumstantial evidence, scientists from JPAC and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory also used mitochondrial DNA from a known maternal relative in the identification of the remains.

Thank you for your sacrifice, Maj. Bifolchi. Job well done.


For additional information on the Defense Department's mission to account for missing Americans, visit the DPMO web site at http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo or call (703) 699-1169.

[Web Version: http://www.defenselink.mil/Releases/Release.aspx?ReleaseID=10128]

Welcome Home, Pfc. Francis Crater Jr., U.S. Army - Korean Conflict

NEWS RELEASES from the United States Department of Defense

No. 1064-06 IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 20, 2006
Media Contact: (703) 697-5131/697-5132
Public/Industry(703) 428-0711

Soldier Missing in Action from the Korean War is Identified

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from the Korean War, have been identified and returned to his family for burial with full military honors.

He is Pfc. Francis Crater Jr., U.S. Army's 32nd Infantry Regiment, of Barberton, Ohio. He will be buried Oct. 21 in Akron, Ohio.

From Nov. 27-Dec. 1, 1950, the U.S. Army's 31st Regimental Combat Team, to which Crater's regiment was temporarily assigned, fought elements of the Chinese People's Volunteer Forces in the Chosin Reservoir, North Korea. After intense fighting, the 1/32 Infantry was forced to abandon its position, leaving its dead behind. Regimental records compiled after the battle indicate that Crater was killed in action on Nov. 28, 1950.

Between 2002 and 2003, two joint U.S.-Democratic People's Republic of North Korea teams, led by the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC), excavated two, adjacent mass graves on the eastern shore of the Chosin Reservoir believed to be burial sites of U.S. soldiers from the 31st RCT. The team found human remains for eight individuals and other material evidence, including Crater's identification tags.

Among other forensic identification tools and circumstantial evidence, scientists from JPAC and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory also used mitochondrial DNA and dental comparisons in the identification of the remains.

Welcome home, and job well done.


For additional information on the Defense Department's mission to account for missing Americans, visit the DPMO Web site at http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo or call (703) 699-1169.

[Web Version: http://www.defenselink.mil/Releases/Release.aspx?ReleaseID=10106]

Man's Best Friend Is Our Injured Soldiers' Best Friend... and AT NO CHARGE

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, July 26, 2006 - Man's best friend is about to become every military amputee's best friend, thanks to the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind and a new pilot program at Walter Reed Army Medical Center here.

For the past 60 years, the Guide Dog Foundation has provided service dogs free of charge to help people with visual impairments become more mobile and independent. But less well known is the group's work with service dogs for people with other disabilities.

Mike Sergeant, chief training officer for the organization, said he's excited about the potential of a pilot program that will enable amputees at Walter Reed to get their own service dog, without cost. The dogs are trained to help the troops balance as they learn to walk with artificial limbs, to retrieve items the servicemembers drop, and in some cases, to serve as braces as the troops lift themselves from a chair or the floor, Sergeant explained. "The service dog will help the veterans as they learn a new way of mobility with their artificial limbs," he said.

While helping veterans overcome physical barriers, the dogs will help them overcome emotional ones, too, Sergeant said. "They will serve as a companion dog to help during the veteran's transition," he said. "We've been told that a lot of veterans are proud of what they have done, but that there's an awkwardness about adjusting" to life outside the hospital. When a dog accompanies a wounded veteran, the public's focus automatically goes to the dog, not to the wound or disability, Sergeant said.

"A service dog is a great living tool," he said. "It can make life a little easier as they adjust to their civilian life or career. The veteran and dog act together as one, so the veteran is less dependent on human assistance and becomes more independent.

"Plus, there's the benefit of love and companionship that a dog provides," he added. "The two work kind of like the buddy system, going through the transition together."

Dogs used for the program, mostly retrievers, go through a rigorous three- to four-month training program that instills the skills and discipline required for the job. "We need a dog that's disciplined and rock-steady," he said.

Sergeant said he's hopeful the program can kick off at Walter Reed as soon as October. If the pilot program proves successful, it may expand to Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, he said.

His hope is that the pilot program will be an overwhelming success and that "any amputee who is interested will be able to apply to take a service dog home to help with his transition."

Harvey Naranjo, sports and activities coordinator in Walter Reed's Occupational Therapy Amputee Section, has lined up three patients interested in trying out service dogs.

Among them is Eddie Wright, a 30-year-old Marine sergeant who was medically retired after losing both arms in Fallujah, Iraq, in April 2004. "I think it's awesome," Wright said of the opportunity, though he quickly volunteered to Sergeant that he wouldn't accept a service dog if it could go to someone who needed it more than he did.

Sergeant assured Wright his group will work to ensure it generates enough donations to provide a trained service dog to any veteran who needs one. "If you want one, we are going to work with you to provide you a fully trained dog," he said. "And we will teach you how to work with it so that when you do home, this dog will be of real assistance in your life."

Wright said he's hopeful about the new capabilities a service dog will bring him. "It will help me be more independent and more comfortable on my own," he said. "I hate to be dependent."

Naranjo is a big fan of service dogs. He introduced Deuce, a year-and-a-half-old chocolate Labrador retriever, to the Walter Reed staff in March after seeing how well patients responded to dogs during their therapy."

He's a big welcome mat who opens up the door to communication wherever he goes," Naranjo said of Deuce. "I see these service dogs as real ambassadors. They can provide a huge service and therapeutic outlet."

Related Sites:Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind [http://www.guidedog.org/]

America Supports You [http://www.americasupportsyou.mil/]

The USS Iwo Jima Also Saves Lives

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

NORTH ARABIAN GULF, Oct. 18, 2006 - The USS Iwo Jima can unleash tremendous military force by air, land and sea, but the crew takes pride in offering something the ship's captain says is equally important: the ability to reduce suffering and save lives.

"This ship is unique in that it's not just projecting power, but also has the capacity to do a great deal of assistance," Navy Capt. Mike "The Sheriff" Walley told civilian business and community leaders participating in the Joint Civilian Orientation Conference aboard the ship.

The Defense Department's JCOC program has been introducing civilian "movers and shakers" to the military since 1948 by showing them military operations and giving them an opportunity to see men and women in uniform on the job.

"We're not just about taking lives, we're about saving lives," Walley told the JCOC group. "That's one of the things we're proud of -- that we bring not just a warfighting capacity, but also a humanitarian capacity."

Last summer, the USS Iwo Jima got the chance to do just that as it was preparing to return to its home port of Norfolk, Va., Walley told the group. Hurricane Katrina had just devastated the U.S. Gulf Coast, and Iwo Jima was called in to provide a command and control platform and a floating hospital for people who couldn't get care in New Orleans hospitals.

At the same time, Iwo Jima's crew assisted in search and rescue operations, plucking almost 3,400 people from rooftops and saving them from the rising waters.

"This wasn't a new mission," Walley told the JCOC group. "When Katrina happened, we knew exactly what to do."

Crewmembers said they get a lot of gratification from helping fellow Americans in need.

"It really felt good to be a part of something like that," said Airman Courtney Young, who's been an aviation mechanic with Iwo Jima for the past two years. "You get a lot of satisfaction when you turn on CNN and can see our boat doing a lot of good."

Three football fields long, but shorter than an aircraft carrier, Iwo Jima and its 1,100 sailors provide the platform that delivers the 1,600 to 1,800 Marines it typically carries to any contingency in their region.

The ship carries 29 aircraft, including Marine Corps AV-8B "Harriers" that provide air defense and close-ground support, CH-53 "Super Stallions" and CH-46E "Sea Knight" that ferry troops and supplies and AH-1W "Super Cobras" that provide close-in air support.

In addition, the Iwo Jima's Landing Craft Air Cushion is capable of delivering Marines along with their vehicles and equipment for an amphibious assault.

The JCOC participants got a firsthand look at these military capabilities, took a spin in an LCAC at speeds hitting 45 knots, and watch Harriers take off and land from Iwo Jima's flight deck.

In addition to its combat capability, Iwo Jima contributes to the U.S. maritime mission in a way a traditional carrier simply can't, Walley said. "We call a carrier a single-dimensional ship" that projects air power, he said. "This ship is multi-dimensional.

"Just over four months into its current deployment, USS Iwo Jima is once again demonstrating those multi-dimensional capabilities.

Since leaving Norfolk in early June, Iwo Jima already has helped evacuate 14,900 American citizens in Lebanon to safety before providing more traditional support to operations in both Afghanistan and Iraq. The ship is currently operating in the North Arabian Gulf, about 60 miles from the Kuwaiti coast.

Iwo Jima's crew "has done more since they came out here than the three previous strike groups," Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Carl Jensen, commander of Task Force 59, told the group. "This strike group has really done it and done it all - and made it look easy."

Jensen called the Lebanon evacuation mission a big feather in Iwo Jima's hat. "It was a huge, joint effort," Jensen said of the mission that was moving 4,000 people a day at its peak. "But the lion's share was carried out by the Navy and Marine Corps, and we're really proud to have played a role."

The ability to react quickly to a wide variety of missions is a hallmark of U.S. naval forces, Vice Adm. Patrick M. Walsh, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, told the group during a briefing yesterday. "The advantage of maritime forces is that you can move quickly and be responsive to events on the ground," he said.

He cited humanitarian and disaster relief as one of the three key maritime missions in the region, along with maritime security operations and consequence management.

In supporting a humanitarian or disaster relief mission, Iwo Jima can transport people, deliver food, make drinkable water and provide medical care in an onboard facility that includes operating rooms, X-ray rooms, a blood bank, laboratories and patient wards, Walley told the group. In a catastrophic situation, most of the ship's hangar bay and flight deck would provide an overflow triage area.

Members of the Iwo Jima crew said they feel good about their ability to provide, not just combat power, but also life-saving support to people in need. "In the end, I think all warriors like to believe ... that they are helping provide a better world for a country they are in conflict with," Walley said.

Participants in the JCOC program said they were wowed by what they observed on Iwo Jima. "It was awesome, amazing, a one-in-a-lifetime opportunity," said Keith Cooley, chief executive officer for Focus: Hope, based in Detroit."It totally exceeded my expectations - not just the machinery, but the people," Cooley continued. "They're young, honest people of integrity. I'm pretty damned impressed."

The first U.S. defense secretary, James V. Forrestal, created the JCOC in 1948 to introduce civilian "movers and shakers" with little or no military exposure to the workings of the armed forces. Nearly six decades later, it remains DoD's premier civic leader program. Participants are selected from hundreds of candidates nominated by military commands worldwide and pay their own expenses throughout the conference.

We at Vested Power of the People are mighty proud of our men and women sailors who serve our country and the world.

God Bless the whole of our military.

God Bless America.



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The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is Hard at Work in Afghanistan

By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 18, 2006 - Steady progress is being made to provide new roads, electric power and water distribution systems to the Afghan people, the U.S. Army's top engineer said today.

The Taliban destroyed much of Afghanistan's feeble infrastructure while they were in power, Lt. Gen. Carl A. Strock, commander and chief of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, said from Afghanistan during a teleconference with Pentagon reporters.

That's why Afghanistan isn't a reconstruction mission, Strock said.

"This is a construction mission," the three-star general said. "And, when you look at the resources available in this country, it's going to take a while to mobilize them. And, it's going to take time."

Yet today, about 921 kilometers of Afghan roads are under construction or have been completed, representing a $170 million investment, said Strock, who's in Afghanistan to check up on road building and other engineering projects.

The fifth-poorest country in the world, Afghanistan is a large, mountainous country that's in need of a good road system to boost its economic development, Strock said. That's why U.S. Army engineers are partnering with other agencies, he noted, to build a circuitous road network that will connect Afghanistan's chief cities.

"We're very close to completing the national ring road, which is the primary road which links all the major cities of the country around the circumference of the country," Strock explained. Secondary roads are also being built, he said, to connect provincial centers and the villages beyond.

Establishing a modern road system in Afghanistan will provide a conduit between the central government and its people, Strock said. And, he added, new roads will also connect Afghanistan's people to "health care, economic opportunity, education" and other economic generation factors."

So, the roads are really one of the most important areas we're working on now," Strock said.

A recent increase in insurgent-led violence in some rural areas of Afghanistan hasn't slowed reconstruction efforts, Strock said. Provincial reconstruction teams continue to implement Afghan-recommended projects across the country, he noted, especially in areas that have experienced security challenges.

Strock's engineers also are engaged in providing electric power and water distribution systems for Afghanistan's citizens. Since Afghanistan has no national power grid, he explained, the engineers have been building rudimentary water-powered electricity generators around rural areas of the country."

The only practical way to get power to the people is through local pinpoint electrical sources," Strock said. "This is the kind of system they need. It requires no resources to operate except the natural flowing water."

This simpler method of generating electricity dovetails with local agricultural and irrigation programs, Strock said, and provides Afghans "a resource that they have not had available to them."

Strock acknowledged many Afghans might not know about ongoing reconstruction projects conducted on their behalf, because of the size of the country and poor communications."

If you're not in the immediate vicinity of one of our projects, you may not know anything about it," Strock said. The country's rugged terrain, he explained, makes it "very difficult for people to really understand what's going on around them."

Part of the challenge, Strock noted, is getting the word out to the Afghan people about the many reconstruction projects being undertaken that will eventually improve their lives.

Real progress is being made in Afghanistan, Strock said.

"I think we have sufficient resources, and we're now in the process of gaining that irreversible momentum we seek," the general said.

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America Brings More to Iraq Than Just Tanks and Guns

By Spc. C. Terrell Turner, USA
Special to American Forces Press Service

CAMP TAJI, Iraq, Oct. 17, 2006 - On a typical day at the medical clinic in Tarmiya, Iraq, patients and clinic workers witnessed a not-so-typical grand opening last week of a new surgical and pregnancy wing hosted by Ministry of Health personnel, local council members and soldiers from the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division.

The $400,000 project features operating rooms, labor and delivery facilities, and recovery rooms.

After the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Dr. Ali Ibrahim, district clinic manager for the Ministry of Health, gave Army Maj. Herb Joliat, civil affairs officer, Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, a tour of the new wing of the clinic.

Ibrahim is the medical official in charge of several clinics in the northern Baghdad region, including Saab Al Bour, Mushada, Taji, Tapi and others. He is responsible for providing medical services to more than a million people in the region."

The job ran a little over the projected end date because of conditions on the site that were outside of his initial scope that he needed to address for quality assurance," said Joliat. "Despite that, he still brought in his touches with his own photos and plastic plants. It was his building, his work, in his town."

Hameed Halhelal, the local contractor in charge of the project, said he enjoyed the project and the opportunity to help the people of Tarmiya.

"This is my first project here in Tarmiya, and a very good thing for the people," he said. "This clinic is a great project for people needing surgery and for pregnant women and their children."

The clinic serves about 140,000 people in the greater Tarmiya area.

Ibrahim coordinated the movement of additional personnel to work in the new clinic wing. He also said he receives regular assistance from local Iraqi security forces when he needs it.

"We moved our staff around, and also brought in more experienced staff from Baghdad to work in the clinic," he said. "Many people have told me that the new clinic is very beautiful. Everything that we do here is for the benefit of the people."

(Army Spc. C. Terrell Turner is assigned to 1st Brigade Combat Team public affairs, 4th Infantry Division.)

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According the the Liberal MSM, we're losing in Iraq. No, we're not.

REPORT #1

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 15, 2006 - Iraqi security forces teamed up with American GIs to defeat two nearly simultaneously launched enemy attacks in the Mosul area Oct. 12.

U.S. soldiers from Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment, 3nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, attacked and destroyed a terrorist mortar cell after Forward Operating Base Marez received indirect fire.

Two terrorists were killed, one wounded and one detained in the attack. The GIs also found a significant weapons cache in the area that contained three 82 mm mortar tubes with 18 mortar rounds and a 120 mm mortar tube with multiple mortar rounds.

U.S. soldiers saw terrorists flee to a nearby building during the firefight. The building was encircled, and then 2nd Battalion, 4th Brigade, 2nd Iraqi Army Division, soldiers launched an assault, killing two terrorists inside and capturing three.

Around this time in western Mosul, Iraqi troops teamed with U.S. soldiers from 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Battalion, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, to defeat a complex terrorist attack involving small-arms and rocket-propelled-grenade fire.

During the fighting, Iraqi police and soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 2nd Iraqi Army Division, captured several mobile weapons caches and killed and detained numerous terrorists. One Iraqi soldier and four Iraqi police were wounded in the fighting.

Iraqi police in Mosul reported they detained 39 suspected terrorists, wounded two terrorists and killed eight terrorists after the Oct. 12 firefight. The police also captured several small-arms weapons caches, 10 vehicles suspected of being used for terrorist activity and one large truck with weapons.

Twelve coalition forces soldiers were wounded in the initial mortar attack on Forward Operating Base Marez East. Four soldiers were treated and returned to duty, five were not seriously wounded and three were seriously wounded. Their names are being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

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REPORT #2

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 16, 2006 - Iraqi and coalition forces freed a kidnap victim and detained two terrorists in Muqdadiya, Iraq, and combined operations yielded more than 35 suspected insurgents and seven weapons caches last week in Anbar province, military officials in Iraq reported.

Iraqi army and coalition forces discovered a cache, freed a kidnap victim and detained two terrorists yesterday in the town of Muqdadiya.

Soldiers with the 3rd Brigade, 5th Iraqi Army Division, and Company A, 2nd Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, Task Force Lightning, discovered the cache and kidnap victim after a local citizen pointed to a building in the area while they were conducting a combined operation.

A search uncovered a grenade, a stick of TNT, one flare gun, and multiple fake improvised-explosive devices. The kidnap victim was found chained to a wall in the house next door. Two males were detained from the house where the cache was found.

The kidnap victim, detainees and the cache were transported to a secure location. The cache was later destroyed.

Elsewhere, Iraqi security forces, along with U.S. Marines, soldiers and sailors of Regimental Combat Team 7, detained more than 35 suspected insurgents and discovered more than seven weapons and munitions caches last week in western Anbar province.

Last week's efforts yielded more than 11,300 pieces of munitions, bomb initiating devices, explosives, weapons and bomb-making material.

The week-long tally started Oct. 7 and ended Oct. 13.

Among the most significant finds: more than 6,500 rifle, pistol and machine gun rounds of various caliber; 70 explosive mortar rounds; five explosive rocket warheads; 30 rocket-propelled grenades; 2,000 sticks of plastic explosive; 34,500 feet of detonation chord; 400 roadside bomb-initiating devices; five machine guns; four AK-47 assault rifles; 17 suicide-bomb vests and other forms of explosives and equipment.

(Compiled from Multinational Corps Iraq news releases.) [Web Version: http://www.defenselink.mil/News/NewsArticle.aspx?ID=1614]====================================================

Visit the Defense Department's Web site "America Supports You" at http://www.americasupportsyou.mil/, that spotlights what Americans are doing in support of U.S. military men and women serving at home and abroad.

The New Iraqi Government Deserves Our Moral Support

By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 13, 2006 - The new Iraqi government has taken several steps in recent days and weeks to move the country toward peace and prosperity, a senior U.S. military officer said yesterday.

Army Maj. Gen. William Caldwell, a spokesman for Multinational Force Iraq, described some of these initiatives to reporters at a Baghdad news conference.

For example, the Iraqi government's Council of Representatives passed a "Region's Law" on Oct. 11. The law that focuses on an equable distribution of wealth and political power among Iraq's multifaceted citizenry, Caldwell said. It also outlines procedures provinces would use in forming political regions as the result of voter referendums."This is a great beginning to addressing the worries of many Iraqis on fair distribution of wealth and political power," Caldwell said.

The Council of Representatives also passed an investment law on Oct. 10. "This law will provide a legal and regulatory framework for companies -- foreign companies -- interested in investing in Iraq," Caldwell explained. "The Iraqi government is also drafting a hydrocarbon law to ensure fair and equitable distribution of the natures of this country's future oil revenues."

In September, the Council of Representatives passed a law designed to thwart the black-marketing of gasoline and other fuels, Caldwell said. The new law also will bolster fuel supplies and cut corruption by opening up the country's energy sector to private investment. Regulations pursuant to the new law are being developed and should be in place by the end of this year, Caldwell said.

Additionally, Iraqi and Turkish diplomats agreed Oct. 4 to resolve a three-year-old dispute over payments for fuel imports, Caldwell said. The funds involved in the dispute amounted to some $200 million.Resolution of the Turkish-Iraqi dispute "was desperately needed to help open trade and alleviate Iraq's fuel shortage," Caldwell said.

In September, Iraq produced an average of 2.4 million barrels of oil per day, Caldwell noted. This rate surpasses the daily production goal of 2.2 million barrels of oil for the past six consecutive months. Through September, Iraqi oil sales revenues have exceeded projected estimates by about $1.5 billion, he said.

The Iraqi government also is working to reduce a national unemployment rate that's now estimated to be 30 percent, Caldwell said. To support that effort, the government is assembling funding for an employment program that would train and employ 100,000 young men for two years.

All of these initiatives "are critical to Iraq's future," Caldwell said, noting that establishing security and raising the standard of living for Iraq's citizens are closely related."

As we have stated, if you want prosperity, you must have security," Caldwell emphasized. "And, if you want security, you must have unity. We know this, and (Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki) knows this."

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Welcome Home, 1st Lt James L. Hull, U.S. Air Force - Vietnam

NEWS RELEASES from the United States Department of Defense

No. 1025-06 IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 12, 2006
Media Contact: (703) 697-5131/697-5132
Public/Industry(703) 428-0711

Air Force Pilot Missing in Action From Vietnam War is Identified

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office announced today that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from the Vietnam War, have been identified and will soon be returned to his family for burial with full military honors.

He is 1st Lt. James L. Hull, U.S. Air Force, of Lubbock, Texas. He will be buried Nov. 13 at Arlington National Cemetery near Washington, D.C.

On Feb. 19, 1971, Hull and a fellow crew member were flying a mission near the Laos/Vietnam border when their O-2A Skymaster crashed. Both men died, but Hull's body was buried in the wreckage and could not be recovered because of hostile enemy action.

Between 1993 and 1997, the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) led three investigations with U.S. and Socialist Republic of Vietnam (S.R.V.) teams, and one trilateral investigation with a Lao People's Democratic Republic (L.P.D.R.) team. During the first investigation, the team interviewed a Vietnamese citizen who produced human remains and an identification tag for Hull that he claimed to have recovered from a crash site located just inside Laos. The joint team was not allowed to cross the border and the investigation was suspended. The Vietnamese turned over the bone fragment to U.S. officials, but the ID tag's whereabouts are still unknown.

Additional investigations yielded some information concerning a crash site located just inside the Laotian border. The S.R.V. allowed a Vietnamese national to walk to the purported crash site and collect a fragment of the wreckage. Based on the location, type of aircraft and retrieved wreckage, analysts determined it was Hull's crash site.

In May 2006, a joint U.S. and L.P.D.R. team excavated the site where they recovered additional evidence and human remains.

Among other forensic identification tools and circumstantial evidence, scientists from JPAC and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory also used mitochondrial DNA from a known maternal relative in the identification of the remains.

For additional information on the Defense Department's mission to account for missing Americans, visit the DPMO web site at http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo or call (703) 699-1169.

[Web Version: http://www.defenselink.mil/Releases/Release.aspx?ReleaseID=10071]

All Hail The United States Air Force

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 12, 2006 - The nation's youngest military service will kick off its 60th anniversary observance this weekend with the official dedication of the U.S. Air Force Memorial here.

The memorial, composed of three bold and graceful spires soaring skyward to a height of 270 feet, will be dedicated and given to the nation by the Air Force Memorial Foundation at an official ceremony at 1:30 p.m. Oct. 14 on a three-acre promontory next to Arlington National Cemetery and a short walk from the Pentagon.

Officials said the memorial honors the millions of men and women who have served in the Air Force and its predecessor organizations, including the U.S. Signal Corps, the Army Air Corps and the Army Air Forces. It pays tribute to the dedication, sacrifice and contributions of those who pioneered the skies, those who shape the air, space and cyberspace victories of today, and those who will continue to do so in the future, officials added.

The memorial hosts a paved "Runway to Glory" at the site entrance, a larger-than-life bronze Honor Guard statue, two granite inscription walls located at either end of a central lawn, and a glass contemplation wall that reflects the missing-man formation, the final tribute given to fallen airmen. The memorial's surrounding spaces will be landscaped to create a memorial park and parade ground overlooking the nation's capital.

The dedication ceremony will include an aerial review consisting of aircraft from the 1930s through modern day, from the B-17 and B-24 of World War II fame to the B-2 Spirit and C-17 Globemaster III of the global war on terror, as well as a five-ship "Heritage Flight" featuring the P-51 Mustang, the F-86 Sabre, the F-4 Phantom, the F-15C Eagle and the F-22A Raptor. The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds will also perform a flyover and "bomb-burst" maneuver reflecting the design of the memorial's three spires.

Due to space limitations at the Memorial site, overflow seating will be available in Pentagon South Parking with live simulcast of the dedication.

The Air Force also will host an open house in Pentagon South Parking from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Oct. 14. In addition to the live simulcast of the dedication from 1:30 to 3 p.m., the open house will feature performances by the U.S. Air Force Drill Team and the U.S. Air Force Band's high-energy "Max Impact" ensemble, a "Heritage Parade of Uniforms," a concert by country singer Lee Ann Womack and a wide variety of interactive displays and exhibits showcasing America's airmen, Air Force equipment, technology and aircraft.

Static aircraft displays will include the Predator and Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicles; UH-1, HH-60, MH-53 helicopters; the CV-22 tiltrotor aircraft; and an F-35 Joint Strike Fighter display model.

The weekend will conclude with a memorial service Oct. 15 at 10:30 a.m. at the memorial site. Officials will participate in a wreath-laying ceremony punctuated by a missing-man formation flown by F-16s. Again, due to space limitations at the site, overflow seating will be available in Pentagon South Parking with live simulcast of the service.

Immediately following both the official dedication ceremony Oct. 14 and the memorial service Oct. 15, shuttles will transport the public from Pentagon South Parking to the Memorial site to view the Memorial.

The weekend's events are easily accessible from the Pentagon Metro station, and the public is highly encouraged to use the Metro as there will be numerous road closures in the area and parking will be extremely limited, officials said.

The Memorial will be closed to the public Oct. 16 while the grounds are restored following the weekend's activities.

(From a U.S. Air Force news release.)

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Golfers Drive Home Their Support For Our Wounded Warriors

By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service

CROMWELL, Conn., Oct. 11, 2006 - Nearly 150 golfers hit the links at River Highlands TPC golf club here yesterday to support wounded servicemembers.

The day began with opening ceremonies that included a color guard from the Connecticut Recruiting and Retention Command, out of Hartford. Army Spc. Meric Martin, a Connecticut National Guardsman with the 102nd Army Band out of Bristol, performed the national anthem.

"I think (the event) is great," Connecticut Army National Guardsman Sgt. 1st Class Robert Beloff, with Joint Forces Headquarters for the state of Connecticut, said. "When you see the news and you see people protesting (the war) and things like that, something like this almost cancels that all out.

"It's a good feeling," he added.

The Pratt & Whitney America Supports You Tournament raised about $110,000 through donations and golf fees. Three organizations that offer support to wounded servicemembers and their families -- Homes For Our Troops, the Wounded Warrior Project, and the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund -- will share the funds, Tammy Young, director of special events and catering for River Highlands, said.

The groups, respectively, also benefit from the efforts of PGA players Phil Mickelson, Rory Sabbatini and Frank Lickliter, throughout the season. They're also members of America Supports You, a Defense Department program highlighting ways Americans and the corporate sector support the nation's servicemembers.

Pratt & Whitney, a defense contractor and major sponsor of last year's River Highlands event returned to sponsor this year's event. Mike Field, a senior vice president in sales and marketing with Pratt & Whitney, said the company has an ongoing relationship with River Highlands and liked that the event allows people to interact with servicemembers.

"PGA has set out, through these series of America Supports You events, to create awareness in perhaps a nontraditional location and appeal to people's interest to come out and ... have the opportunity to recognize what the men and women of our services do," Field said.

About a dozen servicemembers took advantage of an unusually temperate fall day to play 18 holes of golf on the PGA course. The importance of the event and the visibility it brings to the needs of their wounded comrades was not lost on them.

"Being with the recruiting and retention command, our main thing is to get the word out there to the veterans, the guys that are actually over there ... serving their country," Army Master Sgt. Michael Dezi, said. "The more people that we can get involved and (showing) patriotism, that's our goal.

"While the day was a lighthearted outing with prizes for shooting holes-in-one, getting the closest to the pin, and placing first, second and third overall, it had a serious note, as well. For the civilians involved, it was about honoring servicemembers, Young said.

"It gives a chance for the people that are out there to meet (servicemembers), shake their hands, raise their morale, (and) let them know that they care about them," Young said. "Hopefully the people that participate will take away that feeling and tell other people.

"I think that there's a great ripple effect that comes out of this type of a feel-good day," she said.

As a further show of support, River Highlands has adopted a unit currently serving in Iraq, Young said. The club will send monthly care packages to the servicemembers until they return home.

The America Supports You/TPC partnership began in 2005 and has raised $450,000 in donations through events at all 24 TPC locations nationwide. While each club holds fundraisers, it's up to them to decide the details of each event, Young said.

The River Highlands fundraiser grew considerably from last year's, which was impacted by Hurricane Katrina. Many servicemembers scheduled to participate were deployed to Louisiana and Mississippi, Young said.

This year the event sold out in June, prompting the club to add a smaller-scale event on July 31 to accommodate all those who wished to participate. Plans are already in the works for the 2007 event, which will take place Oct. 9.

THANK YOU TO ALL WHO SUPPORT OUR SOLDIERS IN THESE CRITICAL TIMES.

God Bless our fighting men and women.

God Bless America.


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http://woundedwarriors.org

http://www.homesforourtroops.org/site/PageServer

http://www.fallenheroesfund.org/fallenheroes/index.php

And for the ladies ...

By Sgt. Sara Wood, USA
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 11, 2006 - Women have served in the Air Force for years, making valuable contributions, but gender and race differences have never been an important factor in accomplishing the Air Force mission, the first woman pilot on the Air Force Thunderbirds said here today.

"What we need to concentrate on is what we have in common, which is that warrior spirit that's in all of our hearts, that has created us the way we are -- to choose to be a part of something so much bigger than ourselves," Air Force Maj. Nicole Malachowski said during a speech at the Women in Military Service for America Memorial, at Arlington National Cemetery.

Malachowski, who flies the No. 3 jet as the right wing pilot in the Thunderbirds' diamond formation, is in town with the team for the dedication of the Air Force Memorial Oct. 14. She has been with the Thunderbirds for a year, and this will be her 55th demonstration.

Being the first woman Thunderbird pilot is an honor, Malachowski said, but the more important thing for her is the opportunity to serve with so many talented men and women and share the Air Force story with the public.

"We are a team whose job is to go out there and represent the United States Air Force and the 530,000 men and women who wear Air Force blue with the honor, the respect and the dignity that they deserve," she said. "We're out there to represent what we know to be true -- the fantastic hard work, dedication and professionalism of the men and women in our Air Force that we have the privilege to work alongside."

The Thunderbirds spend a majority of their time doing community outreach. As part of that, they speak to a lot of children, Malachowski said. Meeting with these children, especially those who are part of the Make-a-Wish Foundation, is a blessing for her, she said, and gives her a healthy dose of humility. She recalled meeting one young boy who had only a month to live and whose wish was to meet a Thunderbird pilot.

"People talk about our military people being so courageous and heroic, and they are, and I'm very proud to be a part of the Air Force, but you look at a kid like this and you think, 'What is courage? What is heroism? It's standing right in front of us,'" she said. "This is why we wear these uniforms and why we go out and defend our nation."

Malachowski first became interested in flying at the age of 5, when she saw an air show in her native Las Vegas. She set her sights on becoming an Air Force pilot and never looked back. She started flying with the Civil Air Patrol when she was 12, and by 16 was doing solo flights. After high school, she attended the Air Force Academy and has since seen various assignments as an F-15E pilot, including a tour in Iraq. She said she hopes her service in the Thunderbirds is an example to young girls and to all children that they can achieve their dreams.

"The message to all young Americans is that it's great to have a dream; it's great to have goals," she said. "Pursue something that you are passionate about, and then pursue excellence in that. And surround yourself with a positive team. I hope that when they see the Air Force Thunderbirds, they realize they can achieve any dream, and that a great team to have is certainly the Air Force."

Women have served in the Thunderbirds since 1974, just not in a pilot capacity, Malachowski said. Of the 130 officers and enlisted personnel on the Thunderbird team, 15 are women. Besides the six demonstration pilots, the Thunderbirds are made up of support personnel from about 25 different career fields.

The Thunderbirds have a grueling schedule, as they are on the road about 220 days during their eight-month air show season, but every team member considers it a privilege to serve and share the Air Force story, Malachowski said. For her part, she said she is just glad to have been born into a time of opportunities for women in the military.

"Women love their country too, and there are a lot of us who choose to do that by wearing a military uniform," she said. "I have seen and traveled the world, and it is just a wonderful thing to be a woman living in a country that provides you so many wonderful opportunities and freedoms that are unmatched anywhere else in the world. And the Air Force simply takes that to another level."

[Web Version: http://www.defenselink.mil/News/NewsArticle.aspx?ID=1553]====================================================Visit the Defense Department's Web site "America Supports You" at http://www.americasupportsyou.mil, that spotlights what Americans are doing in support of U.S. military men and women serving at home and abroad.

Iraqi Leaders Step Up To Meet Tough Challenges

By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 10, 2006 - Iraq's elected leaders are taking measures to address the sectarian strife that has gripped Baghdad and other parts of that country in recent weeks, a senior U.S. military officer said yesterday.

"The most telling sign of progress towards reconciliation is that the leaders from diverse factions with different interests are working together and are communicating with each other," Army Maj. Gen. William Caldwell told reporters at a Baghdad news conference.

Caldwell, a spokesman for Multinational Force Iraq, cited a meeting chaired by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in Baghdad on Oct. 8 in which senior Iraqi government officials and tribal sheikhs discussed possible solutions for quelling sectarian and insurgent violence in Anbar province.

Caldwell also cited an Oct. 1 event in which Maliki and leaders of political parties and religious sects "signed a pledge aimed at ending internal battles and sectarian violence in Baghdad by setting up district committees representing community leaders from all sects."

Later this month, hundreds of civil society representatives will gather at the third of four meetings aimed at reducing violence as part of Maliki's reconciliation and national dialogue plan, Caldwell said.

In addition, "there have been number other tribal and civil society conferences at the provincial and local levels to address the same security issues," he said.

Iraqi Sunni and Shiite religious leaders are in Saudi Arabia discussing inter-Islamic fighting at a meeting of the Organization of the Islamic Conference. The Iraqi government also hosted a recent conference in Baghdad in which international and Iraqi officials discussed the establishment of an International Compact for Iraq that would promote foreign investment in the Iraqi economy, Caldwell said.

"So, since the (Iraqi) government formed a few short months ago, Iraqis have made strides towards unity, but it is not easy," Caldwell acknowledged. "Progress takes time, and it is hard to be patient ... when we see innocent people dying.

"With American help, the Iraqi government is "proactively and independently" working to find solutions to stem sectarian strife and insurgent violence, as well as to revive Iraq's economy, Caldwell said.

However, stopping violence in Iraq requires more than just a military solution, Caldwell emphasized. Achieving security in Iraq ultimately depends upon Iraqis supporting their government and reconciliation among the country's tribal and religious factions, he said.

Caldwell offered his condolences to the family of Iraqi Gen. Amir al-Hashimi, who was murdered yesterday in Baghdad. The slain Iraqi general was the brother of Iraqi Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi, Caldwell noted. "Details around this incident are emerging," Caldwell said, noting the Iraqi government "will seek justice against the perpetrators of this deplorable crime.

"Meanwhile, Iraqi security forces are making a difference, Caldwell said, noting they are increasingly taking on independent operations, thereby becoming less dependent on coalition forces.

Caldwell introduced Robert Tillery, the chief of staff from the (Iraq) National Coordination Team, who's working with provincial reconstruction teams throughout Iraq. The PRTs work with local Iraqis in assisting local officials and municipalities to prioritize security and basic services needs for their citizens, Caldwell explained.

The PRT concept was first successfully applied in Afghanistan after the Taliban government was removed from power, Tillery said. PRTs are employed in Iraq "to enforce and bolster the ability of the provincial governments to lead and to respond to the needs of their people," he explained.

Teams of military and civilian reconstruction experts work with provincial reconstruction development committees that in 15 provinces across Iraq, Tillery said.

The system was originally set up to act on Iraq reconstruction needs as determined by U.S. and international officials, he noted.

"The PRDC helped prioritize and identify those electrical, water and roads and bridges projects that required repair, redevelopment and reconstruction," Tillery explained. After prioritization and identification the U.S. government submitted projects for funding, he said.

Today's PRDC program centers on local elected Iraqi officials determining what needs to be built in their cities, towns and villages, Tillery said, noting Iraqi officials have identified 135 projects in 15 provinces valued at more than $100 million.

"By helping local governments more effectively address the needs of their citizens, they will gain the support of their people," Tillery said. "Citizen support and confidence in government institutions is critical to a successful democracy.

"Today's Iraqi economy is breaking new ground, Tillery said, noting it was state-run and badly managed from Baghdad during Saddam Hussein's rule.

"As Iraq emerges from a generation of centralized control from Baghdad, it is essential that constructive relations are developed between the center (of government) and the provinces," Tillery said. "There are a few mechanisms in place to support this, but the PRTs are helping to stimulate constructive dialogue that will build these relationships."

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