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Bush visits Idaho track star who lost legsTWIN FALLS, Idaho (AP) -- President George W. Bush and first lady Laura Bush personally awarded a Purple Heart to a former Idaho high school track star who lost both his legs in an explosion in Iraq.Marine Cpl. Travis Greene, who graduated from Twin Falls High School in 1999 and was given a track scholarship to Boise State University, received the medal last week at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., where he is being treated.Greene's parents, Terry and Sue Greene, have been visiting their son daily since mid-December. Terry...

BETHESDA, Md. - Since the Iraq war began in 2003, it has become an annual pre- Christmas rite for President Bush to personally comfort wounded soldiers. He continued that tradition Wednesday, going bed-to-bed in an intensive care unit and handing out Purple Hearts to the valiant. Bush was visiting with Marines wounded in Iraq and the medical staff treating them at the National Naval Medical Center here. Before going behind closed doors to spend about two hours with servicemen and women, Bush spoke briefly to medical care givers and troops able to leave their rooms.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 21, 2005 – President Bush traveled today to the National Naval Medical Center at Bethesda, Md., near here to thank an "incredible team of healers" whom he said bring comfort, aid and solace to those who have been hurt on the battlefield, as well as their families. The president recognized the military medical caregivers' "decency and compassion and skill" that assures military members that, if hurt, they will receive the best medical care possible, he said. "And so we're here to thank the nurses and the docs and the healers and the volunteers who put the smile on...

President and Mrs. Bush visited wounded military personnel recovering in the National Medical Center in Bethesda, MD, also thanking caregivers there. He signed the "GO Zone" Gulf Opportunity Zone Act, providing nearly $8 billion in tax breaks for Gulf Coast businesses, as part of the government's plan to help the region rebuild from destructive hurricanes. The Vice President cast a tie-breaking vote as president of the US Senate, enabling passage of a $39.7 billion deficit-reduction bill, the first of its kind in more than ten years. Defense Secretary Rumsfeld is in Pakistan. Saddam Hussein Trial Discussed: Christopher Reid, Regime Crimes...

BETHESDA, Md. - This is not how congressional wives are supposed to act. They are not supposed to curse at Pentagon officials, write angry letters to President Bush or say that members of Congress take bribes. But Beverly Young, the wife of Rep. C.W. Bill Young of Indian Shores, doesn't play by those rules. Spend a day with her visiting wounded Marines at the National Naval Medical Center and you'll hear a few expletives. When she sees a photograph of a former hospital official, Beverly says: "See this b----? If she were here, I'd deck her." But mostly what you...

Today President Bush traveled to the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, where he outlined his strategy for the administration's pandemic influenza preparations and response at the William Natcher Center. The strategy is designed to meet three critical goals:" to detect and contain outbreaks before they spread across the world, to protect the American people by stockpiling vaccines and antiviral drugs and accelerating the development of new vaccine technologies, and to ensure that Federal, State, and local communities are prepared for potential domestic outbreaks. " He also met with Donald Powell, chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp in...

BETHESDA, Md. (AP) -- Among the casualties treated aboard the hospital ship USNS Comfort in the early weeks of the 2003 invasion of Iraq was a civilian shot multiple times while caught in crossfire. The patient was seriously wounded, but stabilized after emergency surgery. But 24 hours later, the Iraqi was dead after bleeding uncontrollably from his wounds, his blood poisoned by an unknown infection that didn't respond to antibiotics. Within a week, about a quarter of the injured troops on the ship in the Persian Gulf had the same bacteria. Soon, another Iraqi in the intensive care unit died....

WASHINGTON, Oct. 21, 2005 – A well-known artist visiting the nation's capital for the dedication of the "Extra Mile" monument celebrating volunteers went an extra mile himself last week. Thomas Kinkade -- known as the "Painter of Light" for his depictions of light-filled buildings -- and his wife, Nanette, visited with nine servicemembers recovering from injuries at the National Naval Medical Center, in Bethesda, Md. The United Service Organizations helped arrange the visit and accompanied the Kinkades. "It was the highlight of our trip. We visited with nine (servicemembers), and the stories we heard were amazing," the artist said. While...

The legendary Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, considered by many as the centerpiece of Army hospitals, will close as a result of a decision Thursday morning by a federal panel. City leaders and health care officials reacted with little surprise, but much frustration, over losing the nearly 100-year-old hospital. D.C. Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, speaking on WTOP's "Ask the Mayor" program, said, "You can't be happy about this if you live in the District of Columbia or work at Walter Reed. But we knew we had an uphill struggle here. They were set to do it their way."...

Just reported on Fox News. Will merge its mission into Bethesda Naval Hospital which is nearby. Good decision: A bad, poorly located campus that needs updating really badly....has needed it for decades.

"These warriors have been coming over and have been as brave in their recovery as the have been in battle. It's been an absolute honor for us to serve them on Friday nights. It's also a pleasure to see them when they get better and walk out of here... You know that the country is with you in your recovery, and we wish you well." Hal Koster, co-owner of Fran O'Brien's Steakhouse ...Marty O'Brien and Hal Koster - took a suggestion from a regular patron (Vietnam veteran Jim Mayer) to invite some wounded troops over for dinner. Nearly two years...

WASHINGTON (Army News Service, July 27, 2005) – The Houston Astros received a special visit at the ball park July 23, shortly after making a special visit of their own. Several wound-recovering Soldiers from Walter Reed Army Medical Center watched the visiting Astros take on the Washington Nationals at RFK Stadium after receiving an invitation by the team’s highest ranking official. The Soldiers were invited guests of team owner Drayton McLane, who took several of his players to visit with recovering troops at Walter Reed and Bethesda Naval Hospital the two afternoons prior to the game. McLane arranged for his...

Laura's breast cancer surgery 'couldn't have gone getter,' in the words of her surgeon Dr. Katherine Alley.Initial sentinel node testing showed done suring surgery showed no signs of cancer involvement in the lymph nodes, and we all hope this is good news confirmed by more in-depth tisse testing done in the next 48 hours.'The outpouring of love and concern, coast to coast in prayer, emails, and telephone calls has left me feeling more blessed than I can possibly convey,' said Laura.'I really dont know what I did to deserve such kindness , but I will gladly wrap myself in it,'...

Sports dominated presidential photo opportunities today. President Bush welcomed the New England Patriots to the White House for winning the 2005 Super Bowl. As honorary chairman of the 2005 President's Cup, Bush received golf officials in the Oval Office. Coming soon: Crown Prince Abdallah of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the ranch on April 25; and President Martin Torrijos of the Republic of Panama to the White House on April 28. Enjoy your visit to Sanity Island!

A large, drab green missile launcher aimed vigilantly skyward has become one of the more distinctive landmarks in the Washington suburb of Bethesda, Md. The launcher claims a commanding position on the lawn at the U.S. Naval Surface Warfare Center's Carderock facility, a science and engineering center overlooking the Potomac River, the WASHINGTON POST will report on Tuesday. The six non-nuclear missiles in the launcher could ``counter an inbound threat.'' Opinions about the upscale neighborhood's newest security system have varied. Developing...

Inaugural Ball Honors Wounded Troops, Raises Support Funds WASHINGTON, Jan. 21, 2005 — Troops wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan were treated here last night to a once-in-a-lifetime experience: an inaugural ball in their honor, with a big lineup of celebrities, entertainers and defense brass thanking them for their sacrifices. Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz chats with Army 1st lt. Phil Goodrun, a patient at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, during the Heroes Red, White and Blue Inaugural Ball. The guests of honor at the first Heroes Red, White and Blue Inaugural Ball were about 150 patients from Walter Reed Army...

Troops wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan were treated here last night to a once-in-a-lifetime experience: an inaugural ball in their honor, with a big lineup of celebrities, entertainers and defense brass thanking them for their sacrifices. The guests of honor at the first Heroes Red, White and Blue Inaugural Ball were about 150 patients from Walter Reed Army Medical Center here and the National Naval Medical Center in nearby Bethesda, Md., and their guests. Most came in dress uniforms they hadn't worn since before their deployments to Southwest Asia, some wore borrowed or rented tuxedos, but all came ready to...

Less is more is the message from Walter Reed Army Medical Center. The hospital has received so many gifts for wounded soldiers and their families that it has run out of space. The hospital announced yesterday that it would not begin accepting new donations until February, at the earliest. "I bet we have at least 10 tons of goods," said Michael Wagner, director of the Medical Family Assistance Center. "It's kind of a pleasant problem." A 40-by-60-foot storage room is nearly stacked up to its 12-foot ceiling with stuffed animals, clothes, shaving kits, books, videos, CDs and DVDs. Girl Scout...

BETHESDA, Md. (AP) -- President Bush was found in good health and pronounced "fit for duty" by his doctors after his annual physical on Saturday. The checkup was delayed for four months because the 58-year-old president had a hectic travel schedule during the campaign. "They determined he is in superior health overall for a man his age," White House spokeswoman Claire Buchan said. The White House put out a short letter signed by the 10 doctors who participated in exam and planned to release further details late Saturday about what the team found. Buchan would not comment on any problems...

A six-story parking garage under construction at the National Institutes of Health collapsed Monday, pinning one person in the debris, authorities said. Authorities don't yet know what caused the top three floors of the structure to collapse around 9 a.m., said NIH spokesman John Burklow. Besides the person pinned in the debris, several people had been trapped, but were being freed, Montgomery County Fire and Rescue spokesman Pete Piringer said. The extent of their injuries was not immediately clear, he said. The sprawling campus of the federal agency covers more than 300 acres on the outskirts of Washington.