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On the wing of an Apache By Cpl. Benjamin Cossel, 122nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment CAMP TAJI, Iraq -- For two Apache Longbow pilots, the night of Oct. 16 was just a regular night flying a reconnaissance mission around southern Baghdad. A distorted cry for help came across the emergency radio shattering the chatter of all other communications. They recognized the call sign, they recognized the area and a few minutes later, they were in route to perform what would become a heroic rescue. “I really couldn’t make out at first what was going on. The transmission over the...

NEWS RELEASEHEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND7115 South Boundary BoulevardMacDill AFB, Fla. 33621-5101Phone: (813) 827-5894; FAX: (813) 827-2211; DSN 651-5894 November 2, 2004Release Number: 04-11-04 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MARINES ENGAGE INSURGENTS, CAMERAMAN KILLED NEAR RAMADI, Iraq – Marines from the 1st Marine Division of the I Marine Expeditionary Force engaged several insurgents in a brief small-arms firefight that killed an individual who was carrying a video camera earlier Monday morning. Identification badges found on the dead man confirmed employment with a major news agency. A news agency acknowledged that a man they identified as a stringer for their service was...

  Joint patrol finds insurgent rocket set-up point BAGHDAD, Iraq -- A joint patrol found five rocket tubes and one rocket Oct. 30, not far from a suspected launch point for insurgents firing rockets into the International Zone. Soldiers from the 1st Cavalry Division’s Company D, 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment and the 304th Iraqi National Guard Battalion discovered three fiberglass tubes and two metal tubes near a road not far from the Tigris River. The tubes were set up and pointed in the direction of the International Zone. After searching the surrounding area, the patrol also found one...

NEWS RELEASEHEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND7115 South Boundary BoulevardMacDill AFB, Fla. 33621-5101Phone: (813) 827-5894; FAX: (813) 827-2211; DSN 651-5894 November 2, 2004Release Number: 04-11-03 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE AIR STRIKE IN FALLUJAH FALLUJAH, Iraq – A U.S. Air Force plane engaged a pre-planned target using precision ordnance, which destroyed a known enemy cache site on the southeast side of the city, in support of the Regimental Combat Team-7 of the I Marine Expeditionary Force at 11:27 p.m., Nov. 1. The Multi-National Forces continue to degrade and disrupt the anti-Iraqi forces’ capabilities in the Fallujah-Ramadi area.

    Official U.S. Navy file photo of amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3). View Larger Download HiRes   Successful AT/FP Evaluation Ensures Kearsarge Crew’s Ability to Defend ItselfStory Number: NNS041101-03Release Date: 11/1/2004 3:02:00 PMBy Journalist 3rd Class Liz Baross, USS Kearsarge Public AffairsNORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- USS Kearsarge’s (LHD 3) Anti-terrorism/Force Protection (AT/FP) programs, training and crew were put to the test Oct. 18-22, successfully completing Afloat Training Group (ATG) Atlantic’s AT/FP Phase III evaluation. The evaluation, which consisted of a series of drills and scenarios covering the gamut of AT/FP issues, tested the crew’s ability to...

  'Newslink' provides news from across Iraqby Staff Sgt. Marc Barnes332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs 11/1/2004 - BALAD AIR BASE, Iraq (AFPN) -- Airmen deployed to Iraq, and their family and friends back home, now have an updated resource to help them stay current on Air Force news throughout the country. Iraq Newslink is a Web site built specifically to tell stories of deployed Airmen. The site, located at www.afnews.af.mil/iraq/index.htm, is managed by the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing’s public affairs staff here. It combines stories and photos from here with three other air bases in Iraq -- Kirkuk, Tallil and Baghdad International...

  Police Station in a Box Installed in Samarra Emplacing Police Station in a Box #7 in a field vicinity of RTE Lakers and 50th Street (Photo courtesy of Task Force 1-26 Infantry) SAMARRA, Iraq - Soldiers from Task Force 1-26 Infantry installed the seventh Police Station in a Box in northeast Samarra on Oct. 30.As the Iraqi Security Forces assume a greater role in the protection of the city, they are making more decisions about the mechanics of law enforcement.On Oct. 26, the Iraqi Police Service formally requested that another Police Station in a Box be installed in...

For Armed Services YMCA, November All About Family By Samantha L. QuigleyAmerican Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, Nov. 1, 2004 – It began about two decades ago as part of The Great American Family project. Then in 1996, the Armed Services YMCA expanded Military Family Week, which occurred around Thanksgiving, into Military Family Month, which begins today. And just like the week grew into a monthlong celebration, so to Military families have been growing in number and percentage of force, said retired Navy Rear Adm. Frank Gallo, director of the Armed Services YMCA. "When I came in the service back...

Law Allows Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot for U.S.-based GIs, Families American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, Nov. 1, 2004 – The fiscal 2005 National Defense Authorization Act has made two changes available for some stateside voters, effective, where applicable, for the Nov. 2 election. Changes are: First, if you are on active duty, in the Merchant Marine or a family member living in the United States, but not at your voting residence, you can use the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot as a backup ballot in the same manner overseas voters have been able to do. Secondly, states can now set...

Defense Act Increases Pay, Provides Benefits By Jim GaramoneAmerican Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, Nov. 1, 2004 -- President Bush signed the $420.6 billion National Defense Authorization Act Oct. 28. The bill makes up 19.9 percent of the total fiscal 2005 federal budget and 3.6 percent of the gross domestic product. Last year, the percentages were 20.2 percent and 3.8 percent, respectively. The authorization act is the second of two bills that had to become law for the Defense Department to operate. The first is the Defense Appropriations Act, which the president signed into law Aug. 5. The appropriations act...

Multinational Command Supplies Iraqi Security Forces American Forces Press Service BAGHDAD, Iraq, Nov. 1, 2004 -- Iraqi security forces continue to receive large shipments of weapons and materiel from the Multinational Security Transition Command Iraq, U.S. military officials said today. Munitions delivered in October included more than 12,000 AK-47 rifles; more than 4 million 9 mm pistol rounds; 25 Walther 9 mm pistols; 22,637 9 mm Glock pistols; 2,001 Berretta 9 mm pistols; about 4,500 9 mm pistols of other various brands; 60 Soviet- made PKM machine guns; 594 RPK Soviet light machine guns, 322,000 shotgun shells; roughly 12...

Marine Volunteers To Instruct PeersSubmitted by: 2nd Marine DivisionStory Identification #: 20041029144147Story by Pfc. Terrell A. Turner MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (Oct. 13, 2004) -- For the Marines of 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, you can’t mention Nuclear Biological Chemical training without thinking of Cpl. Anthony J. Cress.When the Second Marine Regiment started the NBC schoolhouse and held their first course, Cress was one of the Marines on hand as an instructor, preparing Marines for deployment to Operation Iraqi Freedom.“Since some of my Marines were here, this was where I wanted to be,” the Frankford, Del., native...

A U.S. Army medic takes the blood pressure and temperature of a local national during a cooperative medical assistance mission in Paktika Province, Afghanistan. The medic is assigned to the 27th Engineer Battalion. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jennifer S. Emmons Coalition Conducts Medical Assistance in Afghanistan Medical personnel treat Afghan people in Paktika Province, helping build a strong rapport with the community. By U.S. Army Sgt. Jennifer S. Emmons17th Public Affairs Detachment PAKTIKA PROVINCE, Afghanistan, Nov. 1, 2004 — Men of Paktika province gathered early in the morning to watch the soldiers unload trucks. They eagerly and patiently...

  Airmen roll past 1 million convoy miles by Staff Sgt. Ryan Hansen332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs10/29/2004 - BALAD AIR BASE, Iraq (AFPN)  -- The convoy escorts of the 732nd Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron rolled over an impressive milestone recently when its Airmen passed 1 million miles driven for missions throughout Iraq. “From my standpoint, it’s a tremendous milestone,” said Col. Eric Pohland, 732nd Expeditionary Mission Support Group commander, who is deployed from Moody Air Force Base, Ga. “It’s a milestone that marks success in a mission, dedication to a mission and a level of effort that the United States Air...

Staff Sgt. Charles Gilbert and Capt Dan Mark, both of Blackhawk Troop, 1-7 Cavalry, question a neighbor of a suspected mortar man Oct. 22. The troop did not uncover the mortar man, but 13 suspected insurgents were taken into custody by other troops within the squadron. Cpl. Bill Putnam Raid in southern Baghdad detains 13 insurgentsBy Cpl. Bill Putnam November 1, 2004 AL RASHID DISTRICT, Baghdad (Army News Service, Nov. 1, 2004) -- In a multi-target raid, cavalry troopers from 1st Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, effectively dismantled an insurgent cell operating in Al Rashid's Furat neighborhood during the early...

Monday, November 1, 2004 Kinser battalion breaks blood drive record by donating 180 pints By Fred Zimmerman, Stars and StripesPacific edition, Monday, November 1, 2004 Fred Zimmerman / S&S Marine Pfc. Ser Thao from 3rd Materiel Readiness Battalion watches as the Armed Services Blood Bank Center's Air Force Staff Sgt. Frank Lobos begins to draw blood from his arm. Thao and fellow servicemembers donated an ASBBC Okinawa record of 180 pints of blood Thursday during 3rd MRB's drive on Camp Kinser, Okinawa. CAMP KINSER, Okinawa — While donating blood may mean giving the gift of life, units on Okinawa have...

U.S. Marines Welcome Arrival of the Black Watch Forward Operating Base Kalsu, Iraq – A British armored battle group of approximately 850 soldiers, led by the 1st Battalion of the Black Watch Regiment, has redeployed from Basra to an area south of Baghdad to bolster U.S. and Iraqi forces hunting down insurgents. The move comes amid mounting efforts by Multi-National Forces, operating in support of the Iraqi Interim government, to root out anti-Iraqi forces bent on fomenting chaos and disrupting national elections in January. The Black Watch has taken up positions in northern Babil province, where the 24th Marine...

     Black Watch Battle Group redeployment    Troops from the Black Watch Battle Group began redeploying to a new area of operations within Multi-National Force (West) on 27 October 2004. As well as armoured infantry from the 1st Battalion The Black Watch, the battle group includes an armoured reconnaissance capability provided by B Squadron, Queen's Dragoon Guards, elements of 40 Commando Royal Marines, and supporting specialists from across the Army, including the Royal Engineers, Royal Logistic Corps, Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers, and Royal Military Police. The road move was supported by vehicle transporters from the US Army's 2123rd Transport Company.The...

506th Air Expeditionary Group - Kirkuk Air Base, Iraq   Commentary: Perspective from a changed Airman   by Staff Sgt. Ruth Curfman506th Air Expeditionary Group KIRKUK AIR BASE, Iraq -- When I found out that I was deploying to Iraq, I was excited and a little bit concerned about what I could expect while I was deployed. I never imagined how awesome of an eye-opening adventure it would be. While I was back in the States, I would watch the news and wonder why the people of Iraq weren’t stepping up to the plate. Since I have been here,...

  Remembering Dondo … a sarcastic, witty leader of MarinesStory by Gunnery Sgt. Chago ZapataFORWARD OPERATING BASE ECHO, Iraq -- This is the sixth in a series of seven articles paying homage to the Marines of the 11th MEU who bravely fought and lost their lives during fighting in An Najaf, Iraq, this August. He was young, barely 20 years old, but he made a lasting impression. His friends fondly remember a ready smile, quick wit, total selflessness and of course, his signature sarcastic sense of humor. As one of the seven Marines who fell in combat during the...