Headline News

• America Supports You: Children of Deployed Troops Get ‘Fun Day’ WASHINGTON, DC September 24, 2007 – About 300 children and spouses of deployed servicemembers enjoyed free activities and programs Sept. 22 during “Deployed Family Fun Day” at a Coast Guard installation near Fort Belvoir, Va.
• Pace: Military Will Continue to Stand Against Evil ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY, Va September 18, 2007 – There is evil in the world, and the United States military stands ready to take on that evil, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff told Families United for a Strong America here today.
• Colombian President, Armed Forces Honor Chairman CARTEGENA, Colombia September 14, 2007 – Colombia’s president and top military leaders turned out here today to honor and bid farewell to America’s top ranking general.
• America Supports You: Walk Offers Family Chance to Reflect, Remember SEBRING, OH September 12, 2007 – The more than 1,000 people who walked in the second annual Freedom Walk here yesterday did so to remember, reflect and commemorate those who were killed in the terrorist attacks six years ago.
• Army Boat Supports Dive Teams Trying to Raise Russian Sub PROVIDENCE, RI, September 5, 2007 – A light breeze rippled over the dark water of Providence Harbor as two divers sank below the water’s surface, leaving behind a long trail of air hoses and the sound of their breathing through the radio.
• Afghan Cadets Intern with Army Corps of Engineers KABUL, Afghanistan September 4, 2007 – Four Afghan National Army cadets have finished a two-week internship program with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers here.
• Troops Create Lifeline to Alaskan Village CAMP WY WUH, Alaska August 30, 2007 – Bumping down a dusty, narrow logging trail away from camp in an old red truck, Army Col. Frederick J. West talked about a project that, after 10 years, has literally left him at the end of the road.
• International Military Engineers Work Together in Afghanistan FORWARD OPERATING BASE SHARANA, Afghanistan August 27, 2007 – Afghans and multinational forces are working hand in hand on a variety of construction projects here.
• Alaska Guard Sees Dynamic Change in Face of Deployments FORT RICHARDSON, AK August 23, 2007 – Pvt. Elias Kvasnikoff is traveling down a dusty road through a small Iraqi village when suddenly his Humvee lurches, the windows shatter and the convoy comes to a screeching halt. He has taken a direct hit by an insurgent’s rocket-propelled grenade. If he’s not dead, he’s lucky.
• Twin Sisters Help Promote, Support Brother in Iraq KIRKUK, Iraq August 17, 2007 – Twin sisters and fellow Army Spcs. Sarah and Angela Andrews helped promote their brother, Ryan McCarty, to sergeant here earlier this month.
• U.S. Troops Provide Medical, Dental Treatment to Hondurans WASHINGTON, DC August 16, 2007 – U.S. military personnel are providing medical and dental services to residents in Honduras during a two-week medical readiness training exercise that kicked off Aug. 13.
• After Surviving Sniper’s Bullet, Soldier Looks to Future FORT COLLINS, CO August 13, 2007 – In a decision that had more to do with simple human compassion than a desire to be in the thick of things, Army Staff Sgt. Matthew Keil volunteered for his first tour in Iraq.
• Defense Coordinating Element Provides Assistance in Minneapolis WASHINGTON, DC August 10, 2007 – The Department of Defense has deployed a Defense Coordinating Element to the Minneapolis-St. Paul area to assist with last week's 35W bridge collapse.
• Powell Presents Purple Hearts; Postal Service Reissues Stamp Honoring Medal WASHINGTON, DC August 7, 2007 – Retired Army Gen. Colin Powell presented Purple Heart Medals to two wounded soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center here today, as the U.S. Postal Service reissued a stamp honoring the medal and those who wear it.
• America Supports You: Golfers Tee Up Support for Troops, Families WASHINGTON, DC July 17, 2007 – A San Diego-based group is working to remind troops serving overseas that folks back home are grateful for their efforts, the group’s founder and chairman said.
• National Guard Troops Help Fight Wildfires in Western States WASHINGTON, DC July 12, 2007 – National Guard troops from Utah, South Dakota and California are helping fight wildfires raging in their respective states in the face of blistering temperatures, gusting winds and bone-dry conditions, National Guard Bureau officials reported today.
• America Supports You: Donation Surprises Paratroopers WASHINGTON, DC June 19, 2007 – Soldiers here recently received a special gift from a complete stranger who had read about them in a newspaper.
• National Anthem Project Concludes With Grand Finale Events WASHINGTON, DC June 15, 2007 – In the shadow of the Washington Monument, with its 50 American flags snapping in the breeze, the “President’s Own” U.S. Marine Band helped kick off the grand finale of the National Anthem Project here yesterday.
• America Supports You: Marine Receives Belated Christmas Gift ST. LOUIS, MO June 6, 2007 – While stationed at Camp Fallujah, Iraq, over Christmas 2006, Marine Lance Cpl. Jordan Richards received a special care package with an extraordinary gift to be claimed upon his return to the states.
• Pace Meets with Families, Extended Soldiers SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, Hawaii June 6, 2007 – The military’s top general yesterday told some of the first soldiers and family members to be affected by the Army’s new 15-month deployments to Iraq that they’re heroes, not victims.
• Positive Attitude, Physical Therapy Turns Things Around for Amputees WASHINGTON, DC June 5, 2007 – Working with Army Pfc. Randy Gollinger is, to say the least, challenging.
• America Supports You: Texas Group Packages Morale for Troops WASHINGTON, DC May 25, 2007 – The nearly 500 servicemembers who pass through the United Service Organizations lounge at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport in Texas each day receive a warm greeting from “Defenders of Freedom.”
• Buzby Assumes Command of Joint Task Force Guantanamo GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba May 22, 2007 – Navy Rear Adm. Mark H. “Buz” Buzby assumed command of Joint Task Force-Guantanamo, relieving Navy Rear Adm. Harry B. Harris, Jr., during a change-of-command ceremony here today.
• Vice Chairman: U.S. Military in Busy, Challenging Time WASHINGTON, DC May 17, 2007 – U.S. military forces are engaged in one of the busiest, most challenging and most complex times since World War II, the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said here yesterday.
• America Supports You: Eagle Cane Project Honors Combat-Wounded Troops FORT BELVOIR, VA May 16, 2007 – Two local woodworking groups followed a Civil War custom today by presenting a ceremonial cane to a soldier who lost his leg in Iraq.
• America Supports You: Marines Give Chef His Marching Orders WASHINGTON, DC May 15, 2007 – When Chef Robert Irvine discovered his “mission” was to feed 850 Marines after they’d completed 30 days of desert warfare training at Camp Pendleton, Calif., his reaction was what one might expect.
• Bush Asks for Time, Resources for Iraq Security Plan to Succeed WASHINGTON, DC May 10, 2007 – The new security plan for Baghdad needs a chance to succeed, and troops serving in Iraq deserve the resources they need to make sure it does, President Bush said at the Pentagon today.
• Case Managers Navigate ‘Medical Maze’ for Patients FORT SAM HOUSTON, TX May 9, 2007 – When servicemembers injured in war first arrive at Brooke Army Medical Center here, they not only have to face the daunting task of recovery, but also must navigate a medical maze of treatment plans, appointments and paperwork.
• America Supports You: Jeff Gordon’s No. 24 Car Showcases Program Logo CHARLOTTE, NC May 8, 2007 – NASCAR Nextel Cup points leader Jeff Gordon today unveiled a new design for his No. 24 Dupont-sponsored car sporting a Department of Defense color scheme and the America Supports You logo emblazoned on its hood.
• Guard, Reserve Employer-Support Agency Gains New Chief FORT SAM HOUSTON, TX May 7, 2007 – Maintaining good communications with civilian employers of National Guardsmen and reservists is a major component of mission success at the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, the agency’s new chief said in an interview.
• Defense Secretary Thanks Wounded Warriors for Sacrifice FORT SAM HOUSTON, TX May 4, 2007 – Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates today thanked dozens of wounded warriors for their service and sacrifice during a visit to Brooke Army Medical Center here.
• Edwards Team Stars in ‘Ironman’ Superhero Movie EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, CA May 2, 2007 – This sprawling desert base recently became a Hollywood set, as about 150 airmen, about a dozen Marines and some of the Air Force’s sexiest new aircraft shared the spotlight with Robert Downey Jr., Terrence Howard and Gwyneth Paltrow in filming Hollywood’s next superhero blockbuster.
• America Supports You: Golfers Tee Off for Fisher House WASHINGTON, DC May 1, 2007 – More than 240 golfers, including 10 injured servicemembers, hit the links at Lansdowne Golf Club in Lansdowne, Va., yesterday for the 4th Annual Fisher House Golf Classic fundraiser.
• Edwards Readies for Joint Strike Fighter Testing EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, CA April 27, 2007 – All systems are moving toward “go” here as officials prepare for upcoming tests on the next-generation strike fighter, the F-35 “Lightning II” Joint Strike Fighter.
• Defense Department Dedicates Myers Portrait Legacy Board WASHINGTON, DC April 25, 2007 – The Defense Department honored the 15th chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff today, unveiling retired Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers’ portrait and legacy board on The Chairman’s Corridor in the Pentagon.
• America Supports You: Group Fosters Employer Understanding of Military WASHINGTON, DC April 24, 2007 – The National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve has worked to gain and maintain the support of America’s employers for the nation’s National Guardsmen and reservists since 1972.
• America Supports You: Gridiron Greats Visit Troops in Iraq WASHINGTON, DC April 19, 2007 – To increase troops' morale, three National Football League players, weighing in at a combined 662 pounds, set aside their football gear for a trip to Iraq to visit with Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers April 16.
• Why We Serve: Marine Says Iraqis Appreciate U.S. Military WASHINGTON, DC April 18, 2007 – A Marine who served two tours in Iraq, and is now speaking in American communities about his experiences, said that today’s Iraqi Army soldiers prefer their current system to life in Saddam Hussein’s military.
• Military Runners Conquer Boston Marathon Far From Home WASHINGTON, DC April 17, 2007 – While thousands of runners braved the remnants of a late spring storm to run the Boston Marathon, servicemembers deployed overseas, and one in space, joined in to participate in the prestigious race.
• Gates, Jordanian King Express Condolences to Virginia Tech WASHINGTON, DC April 17, 2007 – Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates today expressed condolences to the victims and families of yesterday’s mass shooting that killed 33 people at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, in Blacksburg, Va.
• America Supports You: Group Provides Stars for Stripes WASHINGTON, DC April 16, 2007 – Stars for Stripes knows troops deployed to remote locations don’t have the luxury of heading out to their favorite venue to take in a concert, so it takes the concerts to them.
• America Supports You: Quilts Provide Comfort to Military Children WASHINGTON, DC April 10, 2007 – Military children missing deployed parents can take comfort in quilts the Armed Services YMCA’s Operation Kid Comfort program is making especially for them.
• USS Cleveland Hosts Naturalization Ceremony SAN DIEGO, CA April 5, 2007 – The United States gained 59 new citizens here yesterday, as 59 servicemembers took the oath of citizenship aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Cleveland.
• Disabled Veterans Aim for Paralympic Dreams SNOWMASS, CO April 4, 2007 – For some participants at the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic here, it’s not enough simply to make it down the mountain. They’ve set their sights on conquering it — and any other obstacle that stands between them and the U.S. Paralympic Ski Team.
• Top Enlisted Soldier at Walter Reed Gets Back to Basics of Soldier Care WASHINGTON, DC April 2, 2007 – During the past three weeks, Army Command Sgt. Maj. Althea Green Dixon has done a lot of walking and talking.
• Disabled Vets Expecting Miracles as Winter Sports Clinic Opens SNOWMASS VILLAGE, Colorado April 1, 2007 – Some 450 disabled veterans converging here today -- about 100 of them wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan -- aren’t looking for April Fools pranks. They’re expecting miracles.
• Progress Continues in Afghanistan’s Panjshir Province PANJSHIR, Afghanistan March 29, 2007 – The tomb of Shaeed Ahmad Shah Masood, “the Lion of Panjshir,” stands on a hilltop overlooking the mountainous river valley which he dedicated his life to protect against Soviet invasions and Taliban assaults.
• America Supports You: First Lady, Military Leaders Praise USO for Troop Support WASHINGTON, DC March 28, 2007 – First lady Laura Bush joined military leaders and other luminaries here last night in praising the United Service Organizations for its support for the military as she accepted the 2007 USO of Metropolitan Washington Service Award.
• Keating Becomes Commander of U.S. Pacific Command CAMP HM SMITH, Hawaii March 26, 2007 – Navy Adm. Timothy J. Keating will bring the same good judgment and decisiveness to the U.S. Pacific Command that he demonstrated as commander of U.S. Northern Command, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said here today.
• America Supports You: Circus Honors Wounded Servicemembers WASHINGTON, DC March 23, 2007 – More than 60 wounded warriors from Walter Reed Army Medical Center here and the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., spent last night clowning around at Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus’s Military Appreciation Night.
• Pace Briefs Japanese Reporters on Iraq TOKYO, JAPAN March 21, 2007 – The Baghdad security plan is buying the Iraqi government the chance it needs to prove to its citizens that it can lead, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said here today.
• America Supports You: Alabama Declares May 1 ‘Silver Star Day’ WASHINGTON, DC March 20, 2007 – May 1 will be “Silver Star Day” in Alabama, as Gov. Bob Riley signed a proclamation officially declaring the observance in a brief ceremony yesterday.
• Paratroopers, Iraqi Police Provide Medical Aid in Sadr City BAGHDAD, IRAQ March 19, 2007 – March 17 was a hectic day inside a makeshift clinic in the desperately poor Sadr City neighborhood here. In classrooms converted into treatment rooms, Iraqi and U.S. medics attended to a constant stream of patients, from white-bearded old men to babies only a few months old.
• America Supports You: Top Enlisted Servicemember Gets Special Delivery WASHINGTON, DC March 15, 2007 – The military’s top enlisted servicemember received a very special care package at his Pentagon office this morning. Jeanette Cram, founder of troop-support group Treat the Troops, personally delivered a box of chocolate chip cookies to Army Command Sgt. Maj. William J. Gainey, senior enlisted advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
• Test Center Focuses on Warfighters While Advancing Innovations ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, MD March 14, 2007 – As the Defense Department hurries to get the latest weapons systems and protective equipment to deployed troops, the Aberdeen Test Center here is operating at what its commander calls a “fast and furious rate” to ensure effectiveness and safety remain top priorities.
• America Supports You: Firefighters Give Back to Injured Veterans VAIL, CO March 11, 2007 – Vail firefighters opened their house here yesterday evening for the fourth year in a row to thank the 25 participants of the Vail Veterans Program, where they treated the veterans and their guests to a homemade lasagna dinner.
• America Supports You: Wounded Veterans Take On Snowboarding in Vail VAIL, CO March 9, 2007 – While many of their comrades learned to ski, three injured veterans hit the snowboard hill under instructors’ guidance yesterday.
• America Supports You: Armed Services YMCA Honors Military Medics, Corpsmen WASHINGTON, DC March 8, 2007 – The Armed Services YMCA paid tribute to military medics and corpsmen here last night during its first Angels of the Battlefield awards dinner.
• Bush Dispatches USNS Comfort on Goodwill Mission WASHINGTON, DC March 6, 2007 – The hospital ship USNS Comfort will provide health care to disadvantaged citizens at several Latin American and Caribbean ports of call this summer, President Bush announced here yesterday.
• New Joint Theater Hospital Offers Advanced Care in Afghanistan BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan March 5, 2007 – In 2006, Army Staff Sgt. Heathe N. Craig, a medic with the 159th Medical Company, 10th Mountain Division, was holding a patient desperately as they were both being hoisted from a ridgeline by a Black Hawk helicopter. Halfway to the chopper, the line snapped, and Craig and his patient fell to their deaths.
• Newest Medal of Honor Recipient Inducted Into Pentagon Hall of Heroes WASHINGTON DC February 27, 2007 – Retired Army Lt. Col. Bruce Crandall was admitted into the Pentagon Hall of Heroes today, one day after President Bush presented him the Medal of Honor for heroism in Vietnam.
• Youth ChalleNGe Cadets Tour Pentagon, Capitol WASHINGTON DC February 26, 2007 – For New Orleans native Myeisha Goldston, it’s all about the attitude – and she used to have a “b-a-a-a-a-d” one, she confessed.
• Chairman Visits Brigade Using New ‘Reset’ Process FORT WAINWRIGHT, AK February 23, 2007 – The 25th Infantry Division’s 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team here is the first unit to employ the Army’s new “reset” process to rapidly refurbish everything from M-16 rifles to state-of-the-art Stryker combat vehicles.
• Bomb-Making Factory Destroyed; Two Suspects Captured WASHINGTON, DC February 16, 2007 – Coalition forces destroyed a munitions factory, detained two suspects and found scores of weapons in operations around Iraq over the past three days.
• National Guard Assists in Storm-Battered New York WASHINGTON, DC February 15, 2007 – About 100 troops from the New York Army National Guard are assisting in snow removal in upstate New York, where winter storms have left more than 10 feet of snow in some areas over the past two weeks.
• Pace Thanks Australians, Seeks Closer Ties WASHINGTON, DC February 13, 2007 – A California-based home builder has donated a 10-passenger, wheelchair-accessible minibus to the Armed Forces YMCA and the Warrior Foundation to be used to transport wounded servicemembers around San Diego.
• Pace Thanks Australians, Seeks Closer Ties CANBERRA, Australia February 12, 2007 – The top U.S. general today thanked Australia for “decades of friendship between our two countries” and paid his respects to Australian military personnel during a visit Down Under.
• America Supports You: ‘eCarePackage’ Program Ships Love to Troops WASHINGTON, D.C. February 9, 2007 – Operation Homefront is encouraging Americans to have a heart and “Share the Love” with a servicemember or military family this Valentine’s Day through its “eCarePackages.org” program.
• Heroes Turn Out for Exhibit Opening at Army Women's Museum FORT LEE, VA February 5, 2007 – The first woman to win the Silver Star Medal for direct actions against an enemy force turned out for the opening of the Global War on Terrorism exhibit Feb. 3 at the U.S. Army Women’s Museum here.
• America Supports You: Wounded War Veterans Reach New Heights STERLING, VA February 12, 2007 – The top U.S. general today thanked Australia for “decades of friendship between our two countries” and paid his respects to Australian military personnel during a visit Down Under.
• America Supports You: Top Enlisted Servicemember Gets Milestone Letter FORT IRWIN, CA February 1, 2007 – “A Million Thanks” presented its milestone 2.6 millionth letter of support for the troops to the Defense Department’s top enlisted servicemember during a ceremony in his Pentagon office today.
• Training Center Transformation Ensures Combat-Ready Troops FORT IRWIN, CA January 30, 2007 – When the National Training Center opened here in 1981, it presented the most realistic environment imaginable for troops to prepare for a potential large-scale, tank-on-tank confrontation with the Soviet Union in Germany’s Fulda Gap.
• America Supports You: M Rehab Center Opens on Fort Sam Houston FORT SAM HOUSTON, TX January 29, 2007 – Thanks to the generosity of 600,000 Americans, wounded warriors now have a million state-of-the-art physical rehabilitation facility.
• DoD Shows Off Non-lethal Energy Weapon WASHINGTON, DC January 26, 2007 – The Defense Department this week unveiled its first non-lethal, counterpersonnel, directed-energy weapon.
• DNA Registry Unlocks Key to Fallen Servicemembers’ Identities GAITHERSBURG, MD January 24, 2007 – Deep within a nondescript warehouse in this Washington suburb lie millions of blood-smeared cardboard cards that hold the key to every servicemember’s unique personal identity, captured in DNA.
• Soldier Honored at State of the Union Address WASHINGTON, DC January 23, 2007 – An Army sergeant who was awarded the Silver Star for his valiant actions in Iraq was honored by President Bush at the annual State of the Union Address here tonight.
• Deputy Secretary Praises Troops Who Serve in Face of Extremism WASHINGTON, DC January 22, 2007 – Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England today told servicemembers deployed to Bahrain that they’re following in their fathers’ and grandfathers’ footsteps by protecting liberty and freedom for future generations.
• Outgoing Commander Says U.S. Commitment Will Live On in Afghanistan KABUL, Afghanistan January 21, 2007 – The outgoing commander of Combined Forces Command-Afghanistan said the United States is committed to NATO’s success in Afghanistan and will remain the single largest contributor of troops to the mission.
• National Guard Rolls Out for Yet Another Midwest Storm WASHINGTON, DC January 16, 2007 – More than 600 citizen-soldiers and airmen in Missouri, Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas have been called out in response to the latest in a series of severe winter storms to blanket the Midwest with snow and ice.
• Texas National Guard Team Puts Training to Good Use AUSTIN, TX January 10, 2007 – In a scene reminiscent of emergency measures seen in cities across the country after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, downtown Austin was temporarily blocked to people and traffic Jan. 8 so authorities could investigate the unexplained deaths of more than 60 birds.
• New Enlisted Advisor Wowed by Guardsmen’s Pride in High-Tempo Missions WASHINGTON, DC January 9, 2007 – The National Guard may be operating at its busiest pace in years, but the new senior enlisted representative looking out for the troops said they’re talking a lot more about pride...
• England Tells Students to Build Relationships One at a Time WASHINGTON, DC January 8, 2007 – Friendships between nations are abstract ideas that only become real when they are built on relationships and friendships among people, Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England told Muslim high school students visiting the Pentagon today.
• America Supports You: Group's Hearts Go Out to Troops WASHINGTON, DC January 5, 2007 – An Illinois-based troop support group wants servicemembers to know they have America’s hearts, literally.
• Authors Remember Ford’s Courage During Fire in WWII BAGHDAD, Iraq January 2, 2007 – Thirty years before fighting political fires in the wake of Watergate, President Gerald R. Ford battled blazes in World War II.
• Gates Meets With Troops Over Breakfast in Baghdad BAGHDAD, Iraq January 2, 2007 – Members of the Michigan National Guard are busy here at the Forward Operations Center, helping ensure that all is ready tomorrow for the final phase of the nation’s farewell to former President Gerald R. Ford.
• Gates Meets With Troops Over Breakfast in Baghdad BAGHDAD, Iraq December 21, 2006 – Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates is here to ask tough questions of generals, diplomats and Iraqi leaders. But this morning, he asked some of the same questions to a different group of the people putting their lives on the line every day here: junior enlisted soldiers and Army noncommissioned officers.
• Iowa Boy Makes Mark Supporting Troops BLAKESBURG, Iowa December 17, 2006 – Of the 136 scrapbook pages Blakesburg (Iowa) Elementary School students made for Connect and Join’s “World’s Largest and Greatest Scrapbook,” one in particular stood out.
• "Operation Christmas" Cheers Military Families SAN ANTONIO, Texas December 14, 2006 – Christmas came a few weeks early this year for military families throughout San Antonio
• Arctic Wolves Dedicate Wall Honoring Fallen Comrades FORT WAINWRIGHT, Alaska December 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.
• Mom & Coworkers Send Cheer to Troops BAGRAM AIR FORCE BASE, Afghanistan December 12, 2006 – Soldiers with the 277th Aviation Support Battalion will have a brighter Christmas, thanks to one soldier’s mother and the generosity of her co-workers..
• Exercise Tests Patient Care Savvy ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE, MD December 5, 2006 – A year of planning culminated in the orchestration of more than five aircraft, 13 organizations and numerous flight surgeons, nurses, technicians, administrators and air and ground crew during Exercise Capital Shield here Dec. 4-7.
• Gates Vows to Focus on Iraq, Troop Welfare if Confirmed WASHINGTON, DC December 5, 2006 – Defense secretary nominee Robert M. Gates told members of the Senate Armed Services Committee that if he’s confirmed to the top Pentagon post, his highest calling will be to ensure success in Iraq and look out for the men and women in uniform.
• Scrapbook Project Helps Students Support Troops WASHINGTON, DC December 4, 2006 – An America Supports You corporate team member is coordinating creation of what it calls the world’s largest scrapbook as a way for the nation’s students to show their support for America’s servicemembers.
• Craddock Takes Reins of U.S. European Command STUTTGART, Germany December 4, 2006 – Army Gen. John Craddock took the reins of U.S. European Command during a change of command ceremony at Patch Barracks here today.
• America Supports You: Actors Visit Troops, Tour Pentagon WASHINGTON, DC November 30, 2006 – Servicemembers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center here and the Pentagon weren't imagining things yesterday; they actually were seeing stars.
• First Arctic Wolves Return to Alaska After 16 Months in Iraq FORT RICHARDSON, Alaska November 27, 2006 – Two days after Thanksgiving, families are thankful as three planeloads of the "Arctic Wolves" returned from a 16 month deployment to Iraq.
• America Supports You: Troops Take Time Out For Horseplay WASHINGTON, DC November 26, 2006 – Wounded servicemembers and their families got the chance to horse around during a recent "Horses for Heroes" event at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas.
• People Should Get Annual Flue Shots, Offical Says WASHINGTON, DC November 21, 2006 – All people, particularly very young and older citizens, should obtain an annual flu shot, a top DoD health official said here today.
• Mechanics Make Quick, Smooth Transition in Baghdad FORWARD OPERATING BASE, IRAQ November 21, 2006 – The new mechanics in town wasted no time getting busy when they arrived in Baghdad.
• Aaron Tippin to Spend Thangsgiving in Afghanistan WASHINGTON, DC November 20, 2006 – Country star Aaron Tippin will spend the Thanksgiving holiday with troops deployed overseas.
• Fewer More Predictable Deployments Coming CAMP BONDSTEEL, Kosovo November 14, 2006 – Changes currently being made ultimately will mean fewer deployments and more predictability for individual troops.
• U.S. Planes Deliver Aid to Ethiopian Flood Victims WASHINGTON, DC November 13, 2006 – U.S. Air Force planes transported 48 tons of relief supplies Nov. 10 to the eastern part of Ethiopia, an area hard hit by floods since August.
• World War II Air Crash Victims Honored at Australian Embassy Event WASHINGTON, DC November 9, 2006 – WWII veteran John A. Glaros clearly remembers the day 63 years ago when he heard that his friend had perished in an air crash in Australia.
• 'Blue to Green' Allows Sailors, Airmen to Transfer to Army WASHINGTON, DC November 7, 2006 – Program called "Operation Blue to Green" means sailors and airmen chosen for separation can transfer to the Army and remain on active duty.
• Veterans urged to Wear Military Medals on Veterans Day WASHINGTON, DC November 6, 2006 – With National Veterans Awareness Week under way and national Veterans Day observance on Nov. 11, veterans are urged to show their pride and wear their military medals.
• Afghan Soldiers Complete Training in U.S. FORT POLK, LA November 6, 2006 – The Joint Readiness Training Center here has conducted joint training missions with U.S. military branches and forces from Germany, Austrailia and other countries.
• Natinal Guard Celebrates Historic Landing of First Plane at South Pole Scotia, NY November 3, 2006 – An LC-130 Hercules from the New York Air National Guard's 109th Airlift Wing touched down at the South Pole on Oct. 30 to commemorate the first plane landing there 50 years ago.
• Gainey Celebrates American Indian heritage, Military Diversity ALEXANDRIA, VA November 1, 2006 – Diversity helps make the military strong, and understanding cultural differences is a key to forming a cohesive force capable of meeting today's challenges.
• Air Force's Stealth Fighter Fleet Heads Toward Retirement WASHINGTON, DC October 31, 2006 – After 25 years of storied service, the F-117 Nighthawk, the Air Force's first stealth figher, is about to retire.
• Operation Christmas Stocking Deadline Quickly Approaches WASHINGTON, DC October 24, 2006 – Time is running out to get the stockings of troops stationed in Iraq stuffed through Operation Christmas Stocking - deadline November 1.
• Young Marines Promote Healthy, Drug-Free Lifestyles WASHINGTON, DC October 23, 2006 – Ask any member of the Young Marines and they'll tell you their organization instructs young people how to be responsible, drug free, citizens.
• Reservists Return Home Proud of Work Done in Iraq CAMP ATTERBURY, IN October 23, 2006 – When asked how it feels to return from a yearlong deployment to Iraq, soldiers of the 655th Transportation Company have a unified response: big smiles.
• Efforts For Troops Earn 'Caring Award' for Massachusetts Teens WASHINGTON, DC October 20, 2006 – A brother-and-sister team that has raised more than million to provide pre-paid calling cards for deployed servicemembers shared the spotlight in Baltimore Oct. 17 with fellow recipients of the 2006 National Caring Awards.
• America Supports You: 'Overhauled' Humvee Benefits Fisher House WASHINGTON, DC October 18, 2006 – CNN is putting an overhauled Humvee that saw action during the war in Iraq on the auction block and will donate the proceeds to the Fisher House Foundation.
• Former Marine Meets with Pace 38 Years After First Meeting WORCESTER, Mass October 17, 2006 – Paul Brunell of Oxford, Mass., was a Marine lance corporal when he served under then-Marine 2nd Lt. Peter Pace during the Vietnam War.
• Personal Security Detachment: Not Your Everyday Job CAMP TAJI, Iraq October 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.
• Personal Security Detachment: Not Your Everyday Job Forward Operating Base Prosperity, Iraq October 16, 2006 – In the early morning hours, a soldier awakens as a stern voice blaring over his internal communications radio instructs the leader to rally his men and be ready to move into southern Baghdad in less than 30 minutes.
• U.S. and Iraqi Officials disput Casualty Estimate Washington, DC October 11, 2006 – U.S. and Iraqi officials today discounted an article in a British medical journal that estimates 650,000 Iraqis have died since the war began three years ago.
• First Woman Thunderbird Pilot Proud to Serve Washington, DC October 11, 2006 – 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.
• America Supports You: Groups Thank Golfers for Support Cromwell, CT October 11, 2006 – Yesterday ended with a wave of gratitude for golfers who participated in the Pratt & Whitney golf tournament.
• Air Force Prepares to Dedicate Memorial San Antonio, TX October 10, 2006 – Construction is nearing completion this week in preparation for the memorial's dedication.
• Military Recruits Civilian Scientists at Hispanic Conference Anaheim, CA October 7, 2006 – Spreading the word about multitude of civilian career opportunities offered in the sciences.
• Woman Banks Books for Servicemembers Columbia, SC October 5, 2006 – Looking for a way to clean out some old books, bank lending assistant came up with a project to support the military.
• Pace Says Differing Tour Lengths Affect Deployment Morale Kirtland Air Force Base, NM October 5, 2006 – Tour lengths are the biggest obstacle to U.S. troop morale in Iraq...
• Wounded Servicemembers Enjoy Picnic With a View Fort Myer, VA October 2, 2006 – 150 wounded servicembmers are the guests of honor at the home of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
• Indiana Soldiers Prepare for Kosovo Mission Camp Atterbury, IN September 27, 2006 – Multi-state National Guard task force prepares to ship out to Kosovo.
• WWI Soldier Buried at Arlington National Cemetery Arlington, VA September 26, 2006 – Eighty eight years after being killed in WWI, Army Pvt. Francis Lupo was buried with honors at Arlington.
• Top NCO's Encourage Gold Star Families Chicago, IL September 26, 2006 – The Army and Marine Corps' top enlisted leaders took part in a poignant Gold Star Mother's Day ceremoney at Chicago's Navy Pier.
• Employers Honored for Stellar Support of Military Employees SPRINGFIELD, VA September 22, 2006 – DoD honors 15 employers for their incredible support of activated military employees.
• Golf Classic Raises K for SemperComm SPRINGFIELD, VA September 21, 2006 – Golfers and sponsors raise funds during the SemperComm Golf Classic.
• Program Paves Road to Jobs for Wounded Vets FORT SAM HOUSTON, TX September 21, 2006 – Navy Petty Officer lost both legs while training, but was standing tall at Hiring Heroes Career Fair.
• Singer Tells Troops "Shut Up and Drive" WASHINGTON, DC September 19, 2006 – Country music star Chely Wright lets troops know how much she cares...
• Navy Muslim Chaplain Finds His Calling in America WASHINGTON, DC September 15, 2006 – Newly promoted Navy Lt. Cmdr. always wanted to serve Islam, even as a young boy growing up in Bangladesh.
• Health Battle Inspires Military Family to Help Others FORT SAM HOUSTON, TX September 14, 2006 – Suffering from disease, 23 year old Jenni Craig and Army Spc. William Craig refuse to let go of hope.
• Two SEALs Receive Posthumous Navy Cross Awards SAN ANTONIO, TX September 13, 2006 – Two SEALs killed in Afghanistan presented with the nation’s second-highest military award for valor.
• San Antonio Freedom Walkers Brave the Weather SAN ANTONIO, TX September 11, 2006 – People braved downpour in San Antonio's first Freedom Walk honoring 9/11 victims.
• Beams of Light Honor Those Who Died at Pentagon WASHINGTON, DC September 10, 2006 – 184 beams of white light emanated from the Pentagon’s center courtyard this evening honoring those who lost their lives 5 years ago.
• Bagram C-130s Use High-Tech Cargo Delivery System WASHINGTON, DC September 6, 2006 – Global positioning technology helps fighter & bomber pilots deliver smart bombs with pinpoint accuracy.
• America Supports You: Troops’ Songwriting Talent Showcased WASHINGTON, DC September 6, 2006 – Service men & women enter the Dallas Songwriters Association's amateur songwriting contest.
• America Supports You: California NASCAR Fans Support Troops WASHINGTON, DC September 5, 2006 – The “A Million Thanks” organization set up its booth at a Nextel Cup NASCAR race.
• Mail-Order Pharmacy Saves Customer & DoD Dollars WASHINGTON, DC September 1, 2006 – More military health system beneficiaries have prescriptions mailed to their homes.
• America Supports You: Groups Honor Troops with Celebration WASHINGTON, DC August 31, 2006 – Waxhaw, N.C. plans an all-American celebration of freedom to commemorate 9/11 and honor US service members.
• America Supports You: Rumsfeld Thanks Utah Volunteer Group SALT LAKE CITY, UT August 30, 2006 – Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld met today with volunteers from "Operation Give".
• America Supports You: Group Helps Keep Families, Troops Connected WASHINGTON, DC August 29, 2006 – The communication gap between families and soon-to-be deployed servicemembers is bridged thanks to Operation Homelink.
• California Guardsmen Help Enforce Airport Security SAN DIEGO, CA, August 25, 2006 – Today California Guardsmen are on duty at seven major airports throughout the state, supporting TSA workers as they enforce new security precautions.
• 'Strong Angel III' Tests Military-Civil Disaster Response SAN DIEGO, CA, August 25, 2006 – Military & Defense Department personnel, first responders, nongovernmental personnel and technologists here this week exploring ways to coordinate disaster response.
• America Supports You: Race Track Honors USS Ronald Reagan Sailors DEL MAR, CA, August 24, 2006 – Del Mar Thoroughbred Club pulled out all the stops yesterday as it saluted more than 1,000 sailors of the USS Ronald Reagan just returned from a deployment to the Persian Gulf.
• America Supports You: ‘Milkshake Man’ Gets His Just ‘Desserts’ BAGHDAD, August 23, 2006 – Yesterday, with Ronald McDonald on hand, a Washington-area McDonald’s restaurant honored the “Milkshake Man,” as Jim Mayer is better known.
• Rumsfeld: All Neighbors Except Iran Benefit From Success in Iraq BAGHDAD, April 26, 2006 – While success in Iraq's march to freedom would mean good things for most of its neighbors, Iran could only view that as a failure, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said here today.
• Rumsfeld, Rice Arrive in Iraq to Meet With Military, Government Leaders BAGHDAD, April 26, 2006 – Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld arrived here this morning on an unannounced visit to meet with his senior military commanders and leaders in Iraq's new unity government. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice also arrived here this afternoon.
• Former Marine, Pro Ball Player Honored for Flag-Saving Play WASHINGTON, April 25, 2006 – Rick Monday credits six years in the Marine Corps Reserve with his saving an American flag on April 25, 1976, during a game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Chicago Cubs.
• Civilians Test Out New Rollover Trainer CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait, April 25, 2006 – Civilian opinion leaders visiting here today got to take a whirl -- literally -- in a new training device that's teaching troops how to survive a rollover in top-heavy up-armored vehicles.
• Representation Issue Arises in Case of Suspected Saudi Terrorist NAVAL STATION GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba, April 25, 2006 – A Saudi man facing trial by military commission today followed the example of several detainees before him and rejected his detailed military defense counsel.
• Author Explains Culture for Fellow Military Brats WASHINGTON, April 25, 2006 – Military "brats" are powerfully shaped by the culture they grow up in, and that culture makes a lasting impression, author Mary Edwards Wertsch said.
• President Congratulates Navy Football Players WASHINGTON, April 25, 2006 – President Bush today congratulated the U.S. Naval Academy football team for its feats on the gridiron, and predicted the young men's real heroics will take place on a field of a different sort -- a battlefield.
• Bush: New Iraqi Government Represents Diverse Society WASHINGTON, April 25, 2006 – The makeup of Iraq's new unity government reflects the diversity of its society, President Bush said here today.
• PRT Joins Forces With World Food Program to Help Afghans FORWARD OPERATING BASE SALERNO, Afghanistan, April 25, 2006 – U.S. military officials from the Mehtar Lam Provincial Reconstruction Team met with Ussama Osman, the eastern region head of office for the U.N. World Food Program, on April 20 to discuss cooperative efforts on projects between the two organizations.
• Iraqi Unity at All-Time High, Rice Says WASHINGTON, April 25, 2006 – Unity is at an all-time high in Iraq, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said yesterday.
• Taliban Killed, Wounded in Firefight; Coalition Aircraft Interdict Enemy WASHINGTON, April 25, 2006 – Afghan National Police fought a significant Taliban force in Mianashin, near Kandahar City, in Kandahar province, while coalition forces interdicted enemy fighters in Helmand province, both yesterday, U.S. military officials in Afghanistan said today.
• Cell Helps Coalition Ships Operate Together MANAMA, Bahrain, April 25, 2006 – Making a coalition work is not an easy job. But the Friendly Forces Coordination Cell at U.S. Naval Forces Central Command here builds on more than 60 years of working with allies.
• CENTCOM Leaders Urge Civilian Group to Observe, Learn During Trip MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla., April 25, 2006 – A top admiral at U.S. Central Command challenged a group of civilian leaders visiting here yesterday to use the experience to learn all they can about ongoing military operations so they can act on that knowledge when they return home as better informed citizens.
• Iraqi Unity Government Huge Accomplishment, Rumsfeld Says WASHINGTON, April 24, 2006 – The steps taken last week to form a unified Iraqi government were a huge accomplishment, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said here today.
• U.S. Military Commissions to Resume This Week at Guantanamo NAVAL STATION GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba, April 24, 2006 – U.S. military commission proceedings will resume this week in the cases of three enemy combatants held here since 2002.
• Bush: Victory in Iraq Will be Blow to Terrorist Ideology WASHINGTON, April 24, 2006 – A successful democracy in Iraq will be a major tactical and ideological blow to the totalitarian vision of Osama bin Laden and his lieutenants, President Bush said in California today.
• Admiral Cites Complexity in Horn of Africa Mission DJIBOUTI, April 24, 2006 – The complexity of operations in the Horn of Africa boggles the mind. A person may be tempted to throw his hands up and decide that conditions are too dire, the people are too many, the politics are too tangled to make any changes in the region. But that person would be wrong, said the commander of Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa.
• Iraqi School Gets New Playground Through Team Effort WASHINGTON, April 24, 2006 – Community members welcomed a new playground for the children of the Al Shrooq primary and secondary school in Taji, Iraq, April 19.
• America Supports You: Mom Works to Show Troops Someone Cares WASHINGTON, April 24, 2006 – The terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, sparked a fire in Carolyn Blashek to do something to show servicemembers in harm's way that somebody cares. She tried to join the military, but the Army Reserve wouldn't accept her. "I was too old," she said.
• America Supports You: Ohio First Lady's Initiative Helps Military Families BEXLEY, Ohio, April 24, 2006 – In an effort to ease the burden military families face when a loved one is deployed, the first lady of Ohio, Hope Taft, started the "On the Ohio Homefront" initiative.
• Bush Praises U.S. Marines, Families at Twentynine Palms WASHINGTON, April 24, 2006 – President Bush praised Marine Corps contributions to the war on terror and shared some good political news from Iraq during a visit to the base at Twentynine Palms, Calif., yesterday.
• Pakistani Admiral Takes Command of Regional Maritime Task Force MINA SALMAN, Bahrain, April 24, 2006 – Pakistan today became the first regional country to command a combined task force in the Middle East in the war on terror.
• Coalition Helps After Plane Crash; Marine Medics Treat Afghans WASHINGTON, April 24, 2006 – Coalition forces sent medical personnel to provide emergency treatment to the victims of a plane crash in Afghanistan's Helmand province today, and Marines in Kunar province are giving villagers free medical treatment, military officials reported.
• Pentagon Channel Launches In-Flight Service on Military Charter Flights WASHINGTON, April 24, 2006 – The Pentagon Channel has launched "Pentagon Channel In Flight," a military news and information service that will be aired on military charter flights worldwide.
• Three U.S. Soldiers, Two Iraqi Citizens Killed in Iraq WASHINGTON, April 23, 2006 – Three Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers and two Iraqi citizens were killed and injured today by roadside bombs near Baghdad, U.S. officials announced.
• Terrorists Detained, Weapons Caches Uncovered WASHINGTON, April 23, 2006 – Coalition forces detained a dozen suspected terrorists today and yesterday, and uncovered large weapons caches around Baghdad, officials in Iraq reported today.
• Iraq Reaches 'Important Milestone' in Forming Unity Government WASHINGTON, April 23, 2006 – After months of deadlock, Iraq reached an "important milestone" in its journey toward democracy with an agreement on top leadership posts for a national unity government, President Bush said yesterday.
• 'Thunder Over Louisville' Ends With Patriotic Bang LOUISVILLE, Ky., April 23, 2006 – The biggest-ever "Thunder Over Louisville" festival closed out with a bang here last night, as two "Thunderators" with military ties turned the keys to start the world's largest annual fireworks show.
• Pre-Derby Festival Features 'America Supports You,' Air Show, Fireworks LOUISVILLE, Ky., April 22, 2006 – Throughout the day here, a steady stream of visitors stopped by the "America Supports You" booth to write messages of support on post cards for U.S. troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.
• Team Accepts Donations GODE, Ethiopia, April 22, 2006 – A team from the 96th Civil Affairs Battalion based here, though, has projects in mind that can help bring about changes, but just need a bit of startup money.
•