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BAGHDAD, Sept. 15, 2008 – The Iraqi Defense Ministry held a ceremony today to say goodbye to Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, who turns over command of Multinational Force Iraq tomorrow to Army Gen. Raymond T. Odierno. Army Gen. David H. Petraeus and Iraqi Defense Minister Abd al-Qadir al-Mufriji salute while passing the Iraqi flag during a farewell ceremony for Petraeus Sept. 15, 2008, in Baghdad. Petraeus is turning over command of Multinational Force Iraq to Army Gen. Raymond T. Odierno. Courtesy photo  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. Petraeus, who will take command of U.S. Central Command, has...

WASHINGTON, May 6, 2008 – President Bush presented six military spouses the Presidential Volunteer Service Award today for exceptional support to their communities and the nation. Video Bush made the presentation as 1,100 military spouses gathered for a Military Spouse Recognition Day celebration on the White House South Lawn. This year’s awardees were: Colleen Saffron, an Army wife; Ramona Vazquez, a Coast Guard wife; Bob Davidson, an Air Force husband; Ellen Patton, a Navy wife; Dawnle Scheetz, an Army Reserve wife; and Kaprece James, a Marine Corps wife. “The six individuals we honor here today have earned the respect...

WASHINGTON, May 6, 2008 – President Bush and Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates paid tribute today to about 1,100 military spouses who gathered for a Military Spouse Day celebration at the White House, where Bush promised to continue pushing for more benefits for military families. Alex Loudon, wife of Navy Command Master Chief Petty Officer Michael Dyer, left, and Amanda Villiers, wife of Army Staff Sgt. Stan Villiers, join about 1,100 military spouses at the White House for a Military Spouse Day celebration, May 6, 2008. Defense Department photo by Donna Miles  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. Following...

PHILADELPHIA, April 17, 2008 – The World Affairs Council of Philadelphia honored U.S. troops and veterans of service in Iraq and Afghanistan during a dinner here yesterday. U.S. Marine Gen. James E. Cartwright, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, hands a commemorative coin to a soldier before the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia dinner in Philadelphia, April 16, 2008. The council presented its Atlas Award to U.S. troops and veterans of Iraq and Afghanistanin to recognize their service. Defense Dept. photo by U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Adam M. Stump   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available....

WASHINGTON, March 16, 2008 – A new award administered by troop support groups and sponsored by a major corporation aims to recognize the sacrifices made by military moms. The Operation Homefront Military Motherhood Award will provide the winner with $5,000 and a free trip to the awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. The award pays tribute to mothers of servimembers, military wives with dependent children and women serving in the military who have children. It is sponsored by Lockheed Martin with support from the Military Times Media Group, and it is administered in conjunction with CinCHhouse.com. “We're looking for inspirational...

WASHINGTON, Oct. 30, 2007 – Ten children of servicemembers killed during the war on terrorism were honored for their sacrifices on behalf of the nation at ceremonies held here and in Iraq yesterday. Since 2006, more than 200 Goal Medals of Remembrance like these have been presented to children of fallen U.S. servicemembers who have died in Afghanistan or Iraq. Photo by Gerry J. Gilmore  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. At the Russell Senate Office Building last evening, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Navy Adm. Michael G. Mullen and Army Chief of Staff Gen. George W....

Task Force Guardian honors residents for their volunteer efforts in keeping their neighborhoods safe. By Lance Cpl. Charles E. McKelvey II Marine Expeditionary Force FALLUJAH, Iraq, Sept. 27, 2007 — Iraqi citizens who have volunteered time and effort to keeping their neighborhoods safe were honored during a ceremony at a schoolhouse here. Most of the volunteers had attempted to join the local police force, but were turned away because of the overwhelming number of applicants. “These are just regular people who finally got fed up of being told what to do by insurgent groups.” 1st Lt. Brennan Simi To reinforce...

WASHINGTON, Sept. 7, 2007 – “The Volunteer State” is slated to receive the Defense Department’s top award next week for supporting Tennessee state employees who volunteer to serve in the National Guard and reserves. The state of Tennessee will be among 15 employers nationwide to receive the 2007 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award during a Sept. 12 ceremony here. The Freedom Award is the highest recognition the U.S. government gives to employers for outstanding support of their employees who serve in the National Guard and reserves. State employee and former Tennessee Army National Guard Sgt. Robert S....

WASHINGTON, July 10, 2007 – She’s only 11 years old, but Bailey Reese has logged more community service than many Americans twice her age, all to ensure servicemembers know their sacrifices are appreciated. Bailey Reese, 11, was recently chosen as one of three American Girl doll company’s 2007 Real Girls of the Year for her efforts to thank servicemembers for their sacrifices. She does this through Hero Hugs, which she founded in 2003. She was joined in Los Angeles by Hero the bear, Hero Hugs’ stuffed mascot (left) and American Girl’s 2007 Doll of the Year, Nicki Fleming. Courtesy...

LITTLETON, Colo. (NNS) -- Gunner’s Mate 2nd Class (SEAL) Danny P. Dietz was honored July 4, by his hometown of Littleton, Colo., with the dedication of a larger-than-life bronze statue in a park near his childhood family home. Dietz was killed by enemy forces during a combat mission in Afghanistan on June 28, 2005, as part of Operation Red Wing. The dedication ceremony speakers included the Secretary of the Navy, The Honorable Donald C. Winter; Commander, Naval Special Warfare Command, Rear Admiral Joseph Kernan; United States Congressman Tom Tancredo; Medal of Honor recipient, Petty Officer (SEAL) Mike Thornton; and Mrs....

WASHINGTON, June 29, 2007 – The Defense Department recognized a troop-support group and two of its key players at the Pentagon yesterday for their outstanding support of the nation’s servicemembers. John Gonsalves, left, founder of Homes for Our Troops, receives the Office of the Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Public Service from Gen. Robert Magnus, assistant commandant of the Marine Corps, on June 28, 2007. Held in the Pentagon, the ceremony recognized Gonsalves’ service to servicemembers injured in the global war on terrorism. Photo by Samantha L. Quigley  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. John Gonsalves, founder of...

WASHINGTON, May 20, 2007 – More than 3,100 families and friends of servicemembers lost in Iraq and Afghanistan gathered on the grounds of the Washington Monument today to remember their loved ones during a “Time of Remembrance” tribute. Quincy Jallah, son of a fallen soldier, honors the presentation of colors during the “Time of Remembrance” ceremony today near the Washington Monument. Photo by Melinda L. Larson  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. The event, in its second year, was initiated by the White House Commission on Remembrance, which by Congress in 2000. Its purpose is to encourage Americans to...

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1, 2007 – The Defense Department recognized a California high school at the Pentagon today for supporting one of its students and a program she undertook for the nation’s servicemembers. Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs Dorrance J. Smith (right) presents the Office of the Secretary of Defense Exceptional Public Service Award to Gregg Pinick (left), principal of Orange Lutheran High School in Orange, Calif., for its support of Shauna Fleming's "A Million Thanks" program and the Defense Department's America Supports You program. Pinick accepted the award on the school's behalf. Photo by William D. Moss  '(Click...

WASHINGTON - Not to be outdone by their husbands, the first ladies are getting their chance to shine on the nation's coins. Starting next year, Martha Washington, Abigail Adams and all the rest will begin appearing on a new series of gold coins. It will be the first time in history that the U.S. Mint has produced a series featuring women. While a new presidential series will be $1 circulating coins, the wives will be on half-ounce gold coins with each likely to sell for more than $300. Both coins were authorized by Congress in 2005 with lawmakers modeling the...

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla., Dec. 12, 2006 -- The Defense Department today honored the PGA Tour organization and its network of affiliated golf clubs for their exemplary support of U.S. servicemembers. Allison Barber, deputy assistant secretary of defense for internal communications and public liaison, left, reads the inscription on a plaque before she presents it to PGA (Professional Golfers' Association) Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem during an employee meeting in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., Dec. 12. The Defense Department honored the PGA Tour organization and its network of affiliated golf clubs for exemplary support of U.S. servicemembers through DoD's America...

11/12/2006 - LONDON (AFPN) -- The Royal Air Force Habbaniya Association honored Air Force Capt. Jutta Cortes by obtaining "exceptional permission" for her to march in the annual Remembrance Day Parade near the Cenotaph in London. Captain Cortes earned the honor after she responded to a special request from the association's honorary secretary, Dr. Christopher Morris. Last year, Dr. Morris read an article in an American military publication about Captain Cortes' unit training Iraqi police forces at what used to be RAF Habbaniya. After a few weeks of research, Dr. Morris contacted Captain Cortes requesting that she perform a traditional...

MANHATTAN, Kan., Nov. 10, 2006 -- A Kansas State University building in which a former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff once studied was named in his honor at a ceremony here yesterday. Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld speaks during the dedication ceremony of the Gen. Richard B. Myers Hall at Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kan., Nov. 9. Photo by James M. Bowman  '(Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. Retired Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers, who served as the 15th chairman, graduated from KSU in 1965, where he was a member of the Air Force ROTC. The university...

WASHINGTON, Nov. 9, 2006 -- World War II veteran John A. Glaros clearly remembers the day 63 years ago when he heard that his friend, a fellow U.S. Army Air Forces radioman, had perished in an air crash in Australia that would remain a secret for many years afterward. (Left to right) Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England; Harry McAlpine, president of the Returned and Services League?s Washington, D.C., sub-branch; Robert S. Cutler, executive director of the Bakers Creek Memorial Association; and Australian Ambassador to the United States Dennis Richardson pose for a photograph next to the Bakers Creek air...

WASHINGTON, Sept. 12, 2006 – The Defense Department is honoring the Fred Fletemeyer Company, a small family-owned construction business in Colorado Springs, Colo., with its most prestigious award for employers who support National Guard and reserve troops. The Fred Fletemeyer Company is among 15 employers across the United States named as winners of the 2006 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award. The award publicly recognizes employers for exceptional support beyond the requirements of federal law. Employees who also serve in the Guard or reserve nominate companies for the honor. Navy Reserve Senior Chief Petty Officer Bill Feigt, a Fletemeyer...

WASHINGTON, Aug. 11, 2006 -- A trio of organizations with a long history of military support recognized 12 volunteer groups today for their programs that contribute to servicemembers’ quality of life. Marine Corps Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and his wife Lynne, congratulate Clare Lanigan, 15, Kids Serve Too youth co-chair, for winning a $7,500 grant during the 2006 Newman's Own Award ceremony at the Pentagon Aug. 11. Kids Serve Too, in partnership with Warner Brothers, spearheaded "A Thousand Thanks to Military Children," sending letters of thanks signed by a wide range of children's...

FORT BRAGG, N.C. (Army News Service, Aug. 10, 2006) – Thirty-one Soldiers from the 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) were decorated with honors to include three Silver Star Medals for valorous actions in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom in a ceremony here, Aug. 8. The three Silver Star Medal recipients were Master Sgt. Keith Logsdon, Sgt. 1st Class Bruce Holmes and Staff Sgt. Matthew Keefe. The Silver Star Medal, the Army’s third highest award for combat valor is awarded to Soldiers for distinguished gallantry in action against an enemy of the United States during military operations. Maj. Gen. Thomas R....

AL ASAD, Iraq (July 12, 2006) -- From navigating the jungles of Vietnam to surviving the deserts of Iraq, one warrior has been a part of almost every major campaign that the Marine Corps has had in the past four decades. Marines with Task Force Military Police, 1st Battalion, 14th Marine Regiment, honored Chief Warrant Officer 4 Wayne H. Silva for his 40th anniversary in the Marine Corps while in Al Asad July 8. "June 28, 1966, was the day that I stepped onto the yellow footprints," stated Silva, Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear defense officer, Task Force Military Police....

WASHINGTON, June 9, 2006 – Wounded veterans cruised the Potomac River in style yesterday aboard the presidential yacht USS Sequoia, while area businesses and Defense Department officials honored their sacrifice. Wounded troops and their families board the USS Sequoia, greeted by the yacht's crew and Army Sgt. 1st Class Antonio Giuliano, a tenor with the U.S. Army Band, in Washington, June 8. Photo by Paul X. Rutz  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. "I want them to feel the weight of their sacrifice in a way that brings honor and joy to them as a small form of compensation...

WASHINGTON, May 28, 2006 – Hundreds of servicemembers recently back from overseas deployments were honored with a picnic in the Pentagon's parking lot today. Navy Adm. Edmund P. Giambastiani, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, shares a moment with Medal of Honor recipients at the America Supports You Memorial Day Picnic in the Pentagon's parking lot May 28. Recently deployed troops and their families gathered with troop-support organizations for the event, part of a weekend of activities honoring the nation's servicemembers. Photo by Paul X. Rutz  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. "Welcome back to all our...

ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY, Va., May 26, 2006 – A new version of a postage stamp commemorating the Purple Heart and all those who have earned it was issued in a ceremony here today. Officials from the Department of Veterans Affairs and the U.S. Postal Service unveil the new version of the Purple Heart Definitive stamp at Arlington National Cemetery, May 26. Photo by Sgt. Sara Wood, USA  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. During the ceremony, two veterans of the war in Iraq were awarded Purple Hearts by R. James Nicholson, secretary of Veterans Affairs. "(The Purple Heart) celebrates...

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., May 5, 2006 – The National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve honored eight Florida employers here yesterday for exceptional support of their military employees. Eight Florida employers sign 5-Star Statements of Support for the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve. The signing was part of an awards breakfast held to honor the employers with ESGR's Above and Beyond award. Photo by Samantha L. Quigley  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. ESGR, established in 1972, is a Defense Department organization created to provide education, consultation and, if necessary, mediation...

WASHINGTON, May 3, 2006 – When insurgents attacked Army Sgt. Tommy Rieman's reconnaissance squad near the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq Dec. 3, 2003, Rieman acted on his instincts as a leader. A plastic mold of the action figure that will depict Army Sgt. Tommy Rieman on the day he earned his Silver Star in Iraq. Rieman is among the first participants in the "America's Army: Real Heroes" program, which aims to honor soldiers who have shown heroism in the war on terror by making them into characters in "America's Army," the Army's video game, and action figures. Courtesy...

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (May 2, 2006) -- The family of the fallen Marine, Cpl. Pablo V. Mayorga, of 2nd Tank Battalion, entered the funeral home with tears filling their eyes as they said their final goodbyes to their father, husband, son, brother and friend. Paola Mayorga, Pablo’s widow, was presented with the Purple Heart for the wounds that took her husband’s life. The posthumous award along with a memorial honoring the life of Mayorga brought family and friends together to share memories of the past and lay to rest a beloved friend. “His life was a celebration...

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va., April 26, 2006 – Volunteerism is at the heart of America, a Defense Department official said while honoring volunteers here yesterday. Shannon Mancini (left) and Gina Narvaez speak to a L.I.N.K.S. class at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., April 25. The women received a Presidential Volunteer Service Award for their hours of volunteer service to the Lifestyle Insights, Networking, Knowledge and Skills program and other organizations. Photo by Samantha L. Quigley  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. Leslye Arsht, deputy undersecretary of defense for military community and family policy, presented the President's Volunteer Service...

STENNIS SPACE CENTER, Miss. (NNS) -- The Mississippi state legislature has honored Mississippi Gulf Coast-based Navy commands for their service to their communities in the Hurricane Katrina evacuation and relief effort. State Sen. Scottie Cuevas of Pass Christian, Miss., presented the concurrent resolution April 25 to Rear Adm. Timothy McGee, commander of the Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command. McGee’s command is based at Stennis Space Center on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. The resolution was enacted in the recently adjourned legislative session. “It was very difficult work that nobody [hopes to have] to do,” McGee said of the recovery work that...

WASHINGTON, April 20, 2006 – The National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve has lauded first lady Laura Bush's chief of staff for outstanding support of military reservists. ESGR, an agency of the Department of Defense, announced yesterday that Anita McBride, deputy assistant to the president and chief of staff to the first lady, was honored with an ESGR Patriot Award in recognition of her extraordinary support of a staff employee who serves in the U.S. Naval Reserve. Maria Miller, deputy director of projects in the Office of the First Lady, is a Naval Reservist who nominated...

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (NNS) -- The State of Hawaii held a first of its kind ceremony at the Hawaii State Capitol House chambers April 18, for the families of service members with Hawaii ties who were killed in the global war on terrorism. Members of 48 families of Hawaii's fallen heroes received the state's new Medal of Honor on behalf of service members who gave their lives in operations in Iraq and Afghanistan "Today we have come together to honor those who have sacrificed for our nation, our freedom, our way of life," said Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle. "These were...

FORT MYER, Va. (Army News Service, March 29, 2006) – Twenty four Walter Reed Army Medical Center patients who were injured in the Global War on Terrorism were honored by the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) March 24. The Old Guard gave the patients a tour of Arlington National Cemetery, where they also conducted a wreath laying at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Spc. Noah Bailey said he was happy to see so many servicemen and women showing their support at the Tomb. “It felt good to get all that attention from other military members,” said Bailey,...

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (March 17, 2006) -- A Pacolet Mills, S.C., native was honored in a ceremony March 14 for his actions against enemy forces during combat operations in the Iraqi province of Al Anbar. First Lt. Jeffery T. Lee was awarded the Silver Star Medal here for his actions as 3rd Platoon commander, Company A, 2nd Tank Battalion from Nov. 8 to Nov. 11, 2004 in Fallujah. Then a 2nd Lt. Attached to Company C, Lee accepted great tactical risk and continued to engage and destroy the enemy for more than 12 hours despite being low...

In the officers' club of Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, where aviators swap stories of danger and daring, few can top the tales of Maj. Joseph Galletti. He and his crew braved a blinding sandstorm in Iraq and repeatedly dodged enemy fire to carry out a rescue that made history. The awards they received for it put them in the company of some of the biggest names in aviation. In December, the 32-year-old helicopter pilot was among those awarded one of the service's highest honors, the Mackay Trophy for "most meritorious flight of the year." Galletti also won a Distinguished Flying...

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (Janruary 27, 2006) -- Family, comrades at arms and members of the local police departments gathered at the Marine Memorial Chapel here and remembered Sgt. Adam Cann during a memorial service Jan. 27. Cann, a 24-year-old military working dog handler from Destin, Fla., was killed in action by a suicide bomber Jan. 5 in Ramadi, Iraq while conducting crowd control with one of his best friends, his military working dog Bruno. The primary mission of K-9 handlers is to detect Improvised Explosive Devices, provide psychological deterrent during crowd control, patrol entry control points, detect...

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (Jan. 25, 2006) -- There they were, moving into an area known to be a hot spot for insurgent activity when it happened Oct. 2, 2005. Gunfire, mortars and rocket-propelled grenades began flying around them as they took cover and started their assault on the enemy’s position in Karmah, Iraq. Lance Cpl. Michael A. McGraw, a 20-year-old automatic rifleman with 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, stood up early on in the attack to begin the movement on the enemy when he was struck in the lower leg by heavy machine gun fire. McGraw was...

SAN ANTONIO (Army News Service, Jan. 6, 2006) -- Legends, heroes and all-stars traded their capes for cowboy hats and baseball caps for an evening during last night's Bill Yoast and Herman Boone Barbeque Dinner. The dinner, laid out on the field of the Alamodome, honored players, Soldier heroes, and scholar athletes, and ending with the announcement of the Coach of the Year honors. It was also the first opportunity that the Soldier heroes being recognized during All-American Bowl week got to sit and talk with some of the Army All-Americans. The celebration was one of many leading up to...

Bayou La Batre school is honored Friday, December 16, 2005 By RENA HAVNER Alba Elementary School in hurricane-battered Bayou La Batre has been selected as one of the top schools in the country. Alba was one of two schools in Alabama and 52 nationally to earn "distinguished" recognition by the National Association of State Title I Directors. The schools receive Title I funding because most of their children are poor. The extra federal funding helps the schools hire teachers, buy computers and equipment, and launch programs such as after-school tutoring. At Alba, 92 percent of the children come from families...

WASHINGTON, Dec. 13, 2005 – Six servicemembers were lauded for their distinguished military service at a Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs dinner here Dec. 12. The servicemembers received the Grateful Nation Award, which JINSA established three years ago to express appreciation for the men and women of the armed forces. Each military branch and U.S. Special Operations Command chose one person to be honored. All the award recipients distinguished themselves by exceptional service and an outstanding demonstration of the values of their service branches, Norman Hascoe, the organization's president, said. David Steinmann, chairman of the JINSA board of...

U.S. Army Gen. John Abizaid, U.S. Central Command commander, speaks to U.S. Army soldiers assigned to Combined Task Force Bayonet after an awards presentation held Nov. 30, 2005, at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan. Sgt. Jose Mondragon, 74th Long Range Surveillance Detachment, was one of three soldiers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade presented a Purple Heart during the ceremony. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Jacob Caldwell More Photos Sky Soldiers Honored for Actions in Combat Three Silver Stars and three Purple Hearts were presented to the soldiers fo actions taken and injuries sustained during Operation Enduring Freedom VI. By U.S....

WASHINGTON, Nov. 29, 2005 – For nearly three years, Amy Oxford has packed, wrapped and mailed care packages to servicemembers fighting in the global war on terrorism so they know America remembers them. Now she's being recognized for her good deeds. Oxford and her mother, Kathy Williams, began the Southern Illinois Yellow Ribbon Campaign in March 2003 as a way of encouraging their community of Harrisburg, Ill., to show support for the troops. Oxford said the campaign started with the sales of yellow bows and lapel pins and has evolved into a nonprofit organization that provides custom-designed care packages to...

WASHINGTON - Marine Corps hero "Chesty" Puller would have been proud to be honored with a postage stamp, but he would have wanted to include the face of every Marine he served with, his daughter said Tuesday. Lt. Gen. Lewis B. Puller and three other Marines — Gunnery Sgt. John Basilone, Sgt. Maj. Daniel J. Daly and Lt. Gen. John A. Lejeune — are on a set of four 37-cent stamps being unveiled Thursday in ceremonies at the Marine Corps Barracks in Washington and Camp Pendleton, Calif. The stamps go on sale nationwide the same day. The Postal Service gets...

U.S. Army Spc. Larry Underwood Cavalry Scout Honored by USO By Mark Heeter USAG Schweinfurt Public Affairs SCHWEINFURT, Germany, Nov. 4, 2005 — The quicker the new guys learn that they’re part of a family, the better off they’ll be. Lesson number one from Spc. Larry Underwood to Soldiers new to his unit, the 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment. "Nobody out there does it alone. That goes for soldiers and units," said "Wood," as his comrades call him, reflecting on what makes a great soldier. He should know. A Silver Star and Purple Heart recipient, Underwood, 30, was honored...

WASHINGTON, Oct. 14, 2005 – Representatives of the nation's top organizations in supporting their Reserve and National Guard employees are here today to meet President Bush and Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and to receive the 2005 Secretary of Defense Freedom Award. The award, to be presented here during an Oct. 15 ceremony, publicly recognizes employers for exceptional support above what the law requires. The Freedom Award is the highest in a series of Defense Department employer awards that include the Patriot Award, the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Above and Beyond Award, and the Pro Patria Award....

MONTEBELLO, N.Y., Sept. 23, 2005 – Montebello Civic Association (MCA) and the Village of Montebello recently joined together to honor a couple of local Marines during a community celebration known as Montebello Day 2005. The Associations presented the parents of Cpl. Thomas Greeley and Lance Cpl. Daniel Greeley, two Iraqi war veterans, with a banner signed by the children of Montebello. The children created the banner to honor the Marines as part of National Citizenship Day, under the coordination of Alice DiSanto, a member of Montebello’s Civic Association. “It was a simple idea, really. Whenever you have children gathered, it’s...

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (Aug. 4, 2005) -- When Lance Cpl. Aaron Austin was growing up in the heart of Texas, he would put up a fight when anyone messed with the people he considered his friends or family. Similarly, when insurgents on a rooftop threatened the security of his fellow Marines in Iraq, the warm-hearted Texan threw caution to the wind and entered the line of fire — ultimately fighting to his death and distinction as a certifiable Marine Corps hero. The hard-charging machine gunner from 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, was posthumously awarded the Silver Star...

President Franklin D. Roosevelt said that the generation that survived the Depression and fought World War II had a "rendezvous with destiny." The generation fighting the global war on terrorism has a similar destiny, Marine Gen. Peter Pace said, adding that he hopes Americans "appreciate how truly lucky we are to have young men and women to do what these folks have done for us." "These folks" were representatives of the five armed services who were the focus of the Evening Parade July 8 at the Marine Barracks here. Pace, the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, hosted...

King legacy honored Pols, schools evoke dream BY BILL HUTCHINSON DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER Manhattan Country School on E. 96th St. sponsors march from school to Central Park yesterday in observance of Martin Luther King Day. With soulful songs and stirring speeches, New Yorkers of all colors remembered the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. yesterday. Gov. Pataki paused to praise the civil rights leader for his courageous fight against injustice that was cut short by an assassin's bullet. "Thank God for the memory, for the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.," Pataki said at a ceremony in Albany, where...

HONOLULU (AP) - Sixty-three years after the sneak attack that plunged the United States into World War II, hundreds of men who died aboard the battleship USS Oklahoma are finally getting their own special tribute. A new exhibit of photos, artifacts and oral histories was being unveiled Monday to honor the 429 men from the Oklahoma who died in the Dec. 7, 1941 attack. That is the second-highest number of Pearl Harbor casualties behind the USS Arizona, where most of its 1,177 killed crewmen remain entombed. The anniversary also will be marked with simultaneous ceremonies Tuesday aboard the Arizona Memorial...