Free Republic

WACO, Texas - President Barack Obama, standing before a line of flag-draped coffins, consoled family and friends on Thursday at a memorial service for firefighters killed in a massive explosion last week at a Texas fertilizer plant. The deaths of 14 people, nearly all of them emergency responders, ripped a hole in the heart of the town of West, where farming is a way of life and where many people volunteer for the fire department in their spare time. "To the families, the neighbors grappling with unbearable loss, we are here to say you are not alone. You are not...

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer issued the following statement on the death of a Sierra Vista resident during combat operations in Afghanistan, reported Sunday. “Please join me in saluting an American hero who gave his life in service to the United States. Sgt. 1st Class Ryan J. Savard, 29, of Sierra Vista, was killed October 13, 2012, when he came under small-arms fire while on patrol in Khanabad District, Afghanistan. “Sgt. 1st Class Savard was serving in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He had been assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, U.S. Army Special Operations Command, and was based in Fort...

A British soldier who picked up and threw away a live grenade before it could kill him and his men is among 131 members of the Armed Forces whose heroics are being officially honoured. Serjeant Deacon Cutterham was wading through an irrigation ditch knee-deep in water on patrol in Helmand province, Afghanistan, when the grenade came flying over a high wall to one side and landed in front of him. He reached down to grab it and "posted" the grenade into a parallel irrigation channel to get it out of his hand as quickly as possible.

TIME magazine named “The Protester,” particularly the Arab protester fighting against decades of tyrannical regimes in Libya, Egypt, Tunisia and Syria, as the winner last week of its annual designation of “Person of the Year.” Though they don’t have to make such a distinction, if the magazine were to designate a “State of the Year,” I would vote for Wisconsin to win for 2011. If things continue on their current course, the state very likely could repeat the honor in 2012. For starters, this goes well beyond sports. It isn’t just a Green Bay Packers victory in Super Bowl XLV...

'Palestinian Authority' Television, which is controlled by 'moderate' 'Palestinian' President Mahmoud Abbas Abu Mazen, has once again honored Ahlam Tamimi, who drove the suicide bomber to Sbarro's in Jerusalem ten years ago, and then calmly went and broadcast the whole story on 'Palestinian' television. Palestinian Authority TV has chosen to honor two more terrorists serving multiple life sentences for murder in its continuous glorification of Palestinian prisoners in Israel. Terrorist Ahlam Tamimi drove a suicide bomber to the Sbarro pizza shop in Jerusalem in August 2001. 15 people were murdered in the attack, 7 of them children. Muhammad Wael Daghlas...

August 19, 2011 Funeral in Greenville today for fallen firefighter By BRAD KELLAR CNHI GREENVILLE — Hundreds of firefighters are expected to be in Greenville today, to pay their respects to a fallen comrade. Hundreds more people are expected to line the route of the funeral procession for Lt. Todd Krodle of Caddo Mills. Krodle, who’d served with the Dallas Fire Department since September 1993, died Sunday afternoon while fighting an apartment complex blaze. The cemetery itself has been adorned with special ribbons in honor of the fallen hero. Krodle’s funeral will be conducted at Highland Terrace Baptist Church, 3939...

Vladimir Putin, Prime Minister of Russia, and former head of the KGB, rules as de facto czar of enormous empire that spans 11 time zones. A confirmed and dedicated Communist, Putin has decided that Russia should publicly honor another fellow socialist on his 50th birthday. From "The Voice of Russia" English language website we read: Russia's Post Office has issued a collection of stamps and envelopes to mark the 50th jubilee of the US President Barack Obama. The US leader is celebrating his birthday on the 4th of August. In one of his recent interviews Mr. Obama said that fifty...

A Warrior Always First: Rep. West Honors the Army

<p>This warrior did nothing wrong, and to make it worse, it is for training material that is at least 3 years old, was known to everyone, that his crews applauded, and that was all light-hearted banter to get the attention of the sailors aboard the Enterprise.</p>

WASHINGTON, Nov. 17, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Marilyn Roberts, Deputy Administrator for the Office of Justice Programs' (OJP) Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), presented Victor Perez with the AMBER Alert Citizen Award at the National AMBER Alert Symposium in Phoenix, AZ. Victor Perez, of Fresno, CA, responded to an AMBER Alert for an 8-year-old girl who was abducted in a truck from her Fresno home. When Perez saw the truck, he drove his own vehicle in front of it, stopping the driver. The perpetrator pushed the child out of his truck and sped away. The California Highway Patrol...

SIERRA VISTA — Wednesday will be a special day for Lindsey Botkin. In a short ceremony outside the state Capitol in Phoenix, Republican Gov. Jan Brewer will raise the POW/MIA flag. The action will signify that the black and white banner with a silhouette of a captured man is to be forever flown on the Capitol complex’s main flagpole. Not only will Botkin be at the special flag-raising ceremony in Phoenix, but so will a number of veterans, including a contingent from San Diego. Botkin is hoping a large contingent from Cochise County will attend the 8 a.m. event. The...

Only in the Obama administration would a public official sanctioned for a form of malfeasance be honored as a speaker by the same organization that sanctioned him. It helps, of course, when he is a self-proclaimed Friend of the First Couple. It also doesn't hurt that the administration already found it politically convenient to fire the inspector general, Gerald Walpin, who blew the whistle on his misdeeds. Still, the public should consider it a brazen affront for this administration to feature Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson as a key speaker at a major conference sponsored later this month by the Corporation...

5/5/2010 - NEW YORK (AFNS) -- The editors of TIME magazine honored Chief Master Sgt. Antonio D. Travis as one of the 100 most influential people in the world for his efforts following the Haiti earthquake. He was recognized May 4 during the 2010 TIME 100 gala event at New York City's Lincoln Center. Chief Travis was one of the first U.S. military members on the ground at the Toussaint L'Ouverture International Airport in Port au Prince, Haiti, only 30 hours after the earthquake and less than 12 hours after the nation's president requested U.S. assistance. The chief led a...

WASHINGTON, March 17, 2010 – Army Cpl. Adam J. Fargo, a medic, was killed by a homemade bomb while on patrol in Iraq more than three years ago. Sarah Fargo honors her brother's memory by wearing his photo and dog tags at a ceremony honoring fallen military medical personnel at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va., March 16, 2010. Army Cpl. Adam J. Fargo, a medic, was killed in Iraq in July 2006. The Military Health System’s 2010 Remembrance Ceremony honored medical servicemembers who died in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom from 2001 through Dec. 31, 2009....

CANBERRA, Australia, Feb. 16, 2010 – Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III concluded his visit to Australia today by paying tribute to Australian servicemembers who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their nation. U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III and wife, Mary Murphy, tour the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, Australia, Feb. 16, 2010. DoD photo by U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Jerry Morrison  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. Lynn attended the daily closing ceremony at the Australian War Memorial here. He and his wife, Mary, then placed a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown...

FORT HOOD, Texas, Jan. 19, 2010 – Army Spc. Jonathan Emard, 20, was killed June 4, 2008, in Tikrit, Iraq, when his unit was attacked by enemy forces using small-arms fire and hand grenades. A photo of Army Spc. Jonathan Emard hangs in the Hall of Remembrance at Fort Hood, Texas. Emard was killed June 4, 2008, in Tikrit, Iraq. His family submitted the photo to honor their soldier’s memory and sacrifice. U.S. Army photo  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. At Fort Hood, his is one of 97 photographs of fallen servicemembers enshrined in the survivor outreach services program’s...

WASHINGTON, Nov. 30, 2009 – A young Army captain wounded in Iraq and now working to improve conditions for other wounded servicemembers will be honored by the Business Executives for National Service tonight in New York. Capt. D.J. Skelton will receive a special recognition from the group during its annual black-tie Eisenhower Award dinner. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is the recipient of this year’s Eisenhower Award. Skelton, from Elk Point, S.D., was grievously wounded when he was hit in the chest by a rocket-propelled grenade in Fallujah in November 2004. Today, he works in the Office of Warrior...

WASHINGTON, Oct. 8, 2009 – It was a tough act for Hollywood at the annual USO Gala here last night. U.S. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, congratulates U.S Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class William S. Stevens as the USO Sailor of the Year at the 2009 USO Gala at the Marriott Wardman Park, Washington, D.C., Oct. 7, 2009, as USO President and CEO Sloan Gibson, left, and USO Chairman of Board of Governors Edward T. Reilly applaud. DoD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image...

WASHINGTON, Aug. 27, 2009 – The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff noted on a recent visit to the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., that wounded veterans recovering there all had one thing in common. “These are individuals, without arms and legs at that point, who had one common desire -- and that was to get back with their unit,” Navy Adm. Mike Mullen said Aug. 25 at the presentation ceremony for the 2009 International Brain Mapping and Interoperative Surgical Planning Society’s Beacon of Courage and Dedication Awards in Boston. “Their only concern was, ‘How do I...

WASHINGTON, June 4, 2009 – During this season of graduation celebrations, high school seniors heading off to college normally are held in high regard by their teachers, families and friends. Sometimes overlooked are those seniors choosing to bypass college to serve their country. A man from Camden, N.J., started a crusade in his community to make sure these seniors also were recognized for their “honorable” career choice of joining the U.S. military. “To join the military and serve your country is an awesome feat,” said Ken Hartman, founder of Our Community Salutes, a troop-support group. “To serve your country at...

KIRKUK — Ten Iraqi firefighters assigned to this city's unexploded ordnance (UXO) facility received certificates of appreciation for their "outstanding support" to the 506th Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Flight and Weapons Intelligence Team 11 mission, and words of honor from the U.S. base commander, at a ceremony here Sunday. Coalition forces EOD technicians are training Iraqi firefighters charged with the responsibility of identifying and handling UXOs on what to look for, how to handle what they find, reporting procedures, and when to just call for help. "We're recognizing them for the job that they do," said Capt. Jennifer Davenport, 506th...

WASHINGTON, Jan. 12, 2009 – A project engineer from the Balad Resident Office in Iraq was selected as one of the 2009 “Top Five New Faces in Engineering” for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Liz Burg, a project engineer for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Balad, Iraq, briefs Richard Hancock, Gulf Region Division chief of programs, about the Pipeline Exclusion Zone project. Burg was recently named one of the “Top Five Faces in Engineering” by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. U.S. Army photo  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. Elizabeth Burg, an Army civilian who...

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17, 2008 – Starting early next year, the Army will allow full military funeral honors at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia for all soldiers killed in action. Full military honors include a caisson, band, colors team and an escort platoon in addition to the standard honors of a firing party, bugler and chaplain. In the past, the caisson was available only for officers killed in action because of limited availability, Paul Boyce, an Army spokesman, said. The cemetery has two caissons, or horse-drawn vehicles, which now will be available for officers and enlisted soldiers killed in action on...

Britt the bomb-sniffing dog, who served overseas in Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan, will get a funeral befitting a hero at Fort Huachuca. The ashes of the Army canine, recently put down due to neurological illness, will be interred behind the kennels that served as his home base as a military color guard looks on. The 11-year-old German shepherd was euthanized on Sept. 11 and will be buried Dec. 3 at the Southern Arizona Army post. Following tradition, taps will be played and a flag folded and presented to Sgt. Megan Hobson, Britt's last handler. "We lost a fallen comrade,"...

ARLINGTON, Va., Nov. 14, 2008 – On the same day the first woman was promoted to the rank of four-star general, the “Fly Girls of World War II” exhibit opened in honor of the first U.S. military-trained women aviators. Elaine D. Harmon, a former pilot of the Women Airforce Service Pilots program, walks through the "Fly Girls of World War II" exhibit during the exhibit's opening Nov. 14, 2008, at the Women in Military Service for America Memorial in Arlington, Va. DoD photo by Army Staff Sgt. Michael J. Carden   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. Like Army...

ARLINGTON, Va., Nov. 12, 2008 – A Veterans Day observance yesterday at the Women in Military Service for America Memorial here honored the contributions of women in uniform throughout the nation’s history. Retired Air Force Maj. Linda S. Schwartz, left, and Army Reserve Sgt. 1st Class Patricia D. Ruth attend the Veterans Day observance at the Women in Military Service for America Memorial in Arlington, Va., Nov. 11, 2008. DoD photo by Gerry J. Gilmore  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. Retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Wilma L. Vaught, president of the Women’s Memorial foundation, hosted the annual event,...

FORT HOOD, Texas, Nov. 10, 2008 – The roar of nearly 1,200 motorcycle engines split the morning air at Hood Stadium here Nov. 7 as soldiers and civilians in the “Phantom Thunder” motorcycle safety event started their ride to Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Killeen. Nearly 1,200 riders depart the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery following a Nov. 7, 2008, memorial service. The riders participated in a 60-mile safety and mentorship ride. U.S. Army photo by Chris Varville   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. Army Lt. Gen. Rick Lynch, commander of 3rd Corps and Fort Hood, said...

WASHINGTON, Nov. 6, 2008 – More than 1,000 students, teachers and parents crowded into a Fort Mitchell, Ky., school auditorium Oct. 24 to thank Army paratroopers and their families from Fort Bragg, N.C., for their service. Army Spc. Mike Gaither enjoys a handmade card from a Beechwood Elementary School student. Photo courtesy of Beechwood Support Our Troops  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. The Fort Mitchell community “adopted” the 82nd Airborne Division’s Company B, 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, several years ago after learning about America Supporting Americans, a group that connects communities with...

The Oak Park Unified School District voted unanimously Tuesday night to approve a program that will replace the current valedictorian and salutatorian recognition during graduation. Under Oak Park High School's valedictorian and salutatorian system, only students who have taken the most rigorous classes in all subject areas were eligible for the top recognition. However, the school's new Honors at Graduation Program will use unweighted GPA to determine if a student qualifies for Summa Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude or Cum Laude. To receive the Summa Cum Laude recognition, a student must have a 3.90 or higher GPA on a 4.0...

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C., Oct. 17, 2008 – Marines, sailors, family and friends, each displaying a mixture of cheerful and solemn expressions, gathered around the fuel pump house here to honor their fallen hero Oct. 10. Friends and family gather at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., on Oct. 10, 2008, for the ceremony dedicating the installation's fuel pump house in honor of fallen Marine Lance Cpl. Daniel McVicker. McVicker, 20, was killed Oct. 6, 2005, when the vehicle he was riding in hit a roadside bomb near Qaim, Iraq. U.S. Marine Corps photo by...

WASHINGTON, Aug. 20, 2008 – More than 100 runners are expected to participate in a 99-mile run Aug. 23-24 hosted by a Greenville, N.C.-based care package group in honor of the 117 North Carolinians who have lost their lives serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Barbara Whitehead, director of the North Carolina branch of Give2theTroops, said the group’s run is scheduled to coincide with the last two days of the national “Run for the Fallen.” The national event will cover more than 4,000 miles, one mile for each servicemember killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, by the time it ends at...

WASHINGTON, Aug. 5, 2008 – A California troop-support group is paying tribute to servicemembers who died while serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom with a mobile memorial. The Fueled by the Fallen Memorial Race Car Team -- a trio of cars bearing the names of Marines who died in Iraq -- makes appearances around the country to raise awareness of the sacrifices made in defense of the United States. Fueled by the Fallen also strives to provide support for the families of fallen heroes and to support and raise awareness for those who are afflicted with post-traumatic stress disorder, Ken...

WASHINGTON, July 29, 2008 – Iraq’s interior minister thanked U.S. servicemembers and their families for their sacrifices on behalf of his country during a visit with wounded U.S. troops at Walter Reed Army Medical Center here today. Iraqi Interior Minister Jawad al-Bulani speaks with reporters after visiting with wounded U.S. servicemembers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., July 29, 2008. Bulani praised the sacrifices made by U.S. troops and their families on the behalf of Iraq. Defense Dept. photo by Gerry J. Gilmore  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. Through an interpreter, Jawad al-Bulani told reporters...

WASHINGTON, July 3, 2008 – Wounded warriors and the PGA tour kicked off their Independence Day celebration a couple of days early with food and festivities yesterday at Mologne House, on the Walter Reed Army Medical Center campus here. PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem, right, and Dan Nevins, Tour community outreach manager, welcome wounded warriors and their families to the “Birdies for the Brave” barbecue July 2, 2008, at Mologne House, on the Walter Reed Army Medical Center campus in Washington, D.C. Defense Dept. photo by Army Staff Sgt. Michael J. Carden   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available....

BETHESDA, Md., July 2, 2008 – They may not be on the pro tour yet, but two military children got a taste of the big time when they helped pro golfer Fred Couples kick off the second AT&T National at Congressional Country Club here today. Jeffrey Dahl, 9, of New Jersey, left, professional golfer Fred Couples, and Margaret Rollins, 13, of Virginia hit the ceremonial first shot to open the second AT&T National golf tournament July 2, 2008, at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md. Both children’s fathers are servicemembers, serving in Pakistan and California, respectively. Defense Dept. photo...

WASHINGTON, June 15, 2008 – Hundreds of troops and their families were treated to a professional soccer match on Flag Day during D.C. United’s 9th Annual Armed Forces and Veteran’s Appreciation Day at Robert F. Kennedy Stadium in the nation’s capital. “A whole night dedicated to servicemembers makes me feel good,” said Army Spec. Devin Calcote, a member of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, “The Old Guard,” who presented the nation’s colors at the beginning of the match between D.C. United and the New York Red Bulls. The team provided 1,000 free tickets for active-duty servicemembers. Discounted tickets for...

5/27/2008 - BALAD AIR BASE, Iraq (AFPN) -- Airmen from Balad Air Base, Iraq, gathered to observe Memorial Day, May 26. The ceremony had personal significance for many Airmen in attendance. The 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing suffered the loss of three of its brothers-in-arms during the first half of 2008 -- Tech. Sgt. Anthony Capra, Staff Sgt. Travis Griffin and Staff Sgt. Christopher Frost. This reality made the meaning of this Memorial Day more poignant for Airmen assigned to the wing. "Memorial Day here at Balad is not a holiday; it's a day like any of the other 180 I'll...

5/27/2008 - KABUL, Afghanistan (AFPN) -- One word was spoken, reflected upon, honored and emulated May 26: devotion. The servicemembers of the Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan gathered outdoors this morning to honor their fallen brothers and sisters who gave their lives in devotion to their country this Memorial Day. Coalition forces, civilians and servicemembers saluted the American flag at half-staff during the singing of the U.S. national anthem by Exelena Whitaker, Army Corps of Engineers-Afghanistan. Winchester, Mass., native, Army Brig. Gen. Andrew Twomey, CSTC-A deputy commanding general, reflected on the words of President Abraham Lincoln's tribute at Gettysburg, eulogizing those...

5/27/2008 - BRIDESBURG, Pa. (AFPN) -- Airmen paraded down the streets of Bridesburg adorned with red, white and blue flags and banners May 26 to kick off not only Air Force Week in Philadelphia but also the city's annual Memorial Day parade Gen. Arthur J. Lichte, the commander of Air Mobility Command, led a contingent of Airmen and equipment in the parade that included a flyby of two KC-10 Extenders from McGuire Air Force Base, N.J., as more than 10,000 spectators from throughout the region watched. With the general leading the way in a Humvee, approximately 75 Airmen from the...

5/27/2008 - PARIS (AFPN) -- Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley, along with several hundred American and French citizens, paid homage to a special group of World War I aviators May 24 at the Lafayette Escadrille memorial ceremony that took place outside of Paris. The Airmen of the Lafayette Escadrille were the United States' first combat aviators. It was an American squadron of volunteers who flew under the French flag during World War I. Many of them gave their lives in defense of French democracy. General Moseley said it is important that the aviation heroes be honored...

COLUMBUS, Ohio, May 27, 2008 – Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England and other senior officials began the Memorial Day weekend by participating in a ceremony at the Ohio Statehouse here May 23 that included the unveiling of a memorial honoring 22 Marines and a Navy corpsman killed in Iraq. Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England praises the heroism demonstrated by fallen Marines of Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 25th Marines during a dedication of a memorial in their honor in Columbus, Ohio, May 23, 2008. Defense Department photo by Kevin Wensing  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. The memorial consists of...

Old Guard Soldier Master Sgt. Steven Colbert places a flag on a gravesite at Arlington National Cemetery. This year he brought along his son, Jordan, 8, to assist. Photo by Adam Skoczylas FORT MYER, Va. (Army News Service, May 23, 2008) -- The 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) began their rounds Thursday afternoon to place a small American flag into the ground in front of every grave marker at Arlington National Cemetery. The Old Guard became the Army's official ceremonial unit in 1948 and on that Memorial Day every available member of the regiment stood one foot in...

WASHINGTON, May 22, 2008 – In the first “full honors” ceremony he’s hosted as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Navy Adm. Mike Mullen welcomed his counterpart from Poland at the Pentagon today. In full-dress Navy “whites,” Mullen greeted Gen. Franciszek Gagor, chief of general staff of the Polish armed forces, and his staff when they arrived in black sport-utility vehicles. In less formal receptions -- known as “honor cordons” -- the military leaders would have disappeared into the Defense Department headquarters without much fanfare. In contrast, before their closed-door meeting today, Mullen led Gagor onto a podium...

FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md., May 16, 2008 – Award-winning columnist and commentator Andy Rooney feted top Defense Department communicators here today, musing about his own days as a reporter for Stars and Stripes and the challenges and rewards of telling the story of a military at war. Rooney, who got his journalist start covering World War II operations in Europe, was the keynote speaker at the 2008 Department of Defense Communicators of Excellence Awards Ceremony, held here at the Defense Information School, known as DINFOS. The annual competition recognizes the best military journalists, broadcasters, photographers, graphic artists and...

FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla., May 16, 2008 – The current generation of warfighters in Iraq and Afghanistan is poised to be the next “greatest generation,” the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said here yesterday. Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Marine Gen. James Cartwright talks with retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Richard "Tex" Brown at the 2008 Daedalian Awards dinner at Fort Walton Beach, Fla., May 15, 2008. Cartwright was the keynote speaker, presenting awards to military pilots. Defense Department photo by Air Force Tech. Sgt. Adam M. Stump   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution...

WASHINGTON, May 6, 2008 – Military Spouse magazine honored Michelle McIntyre-Brewer as the 2008 Military Spouse of the Year here today. The wife of an Army second lieutenant, McIntyre-Brewer somehow finds time to volunteer at the United Service Organizations, Soldier’s List, American Red Cross, American Heart Association, and March of Dimes, all while raising two young children, including a daughter born with a heart defect. During the award ceremony today, McIntyre-Brewer, 29, said the award represents the idealized military spouse, one who supports the mission of an American military that aims to improve conditions in parts of the world less...

4/30/2008 - SAVANNAH, Ga. (AFPN) -- The Air Force vice chief of staff paid tribute to members of the Air Forces Escape and Evasion Society April 26 during the society's 44th annual reunion near Savannah, Ga. The AFEES primarily comprises Air Force World War II veterans who were forced down behind enemy lines and avoided or escaped captivity to return to allied territory. The society also includes members of the French, Dutch, Belgian and other resistance networks who harbored allied aircrews and guided them to safety. "I cannot thank you enough for your noble service, your selfless sacrifice and for...

WASHINGTON, April 18, 2008 – Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates praised Navy Adm. William J. Fallon during his retirement ceremony today for bringing “unparalleled energy, ideas and diplomatic skill” to U.S. Central Command and for 41 years of service that has left the United States stronger and safer. Adm. William J. Fallon kisses his daughter Christi at the end of his retirement ceremony onboard USS Theodore Roosevelt at Norfolk Naval Station, Va., April 18, 2008. Fallon ended a 41-year naval career that started as an aviator during the Vietnam War and concluded with him overseeing a two-front war as...

WASHINGTON, April 8, 2008 – President Bush today posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor to Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael A. Monsoor, a Navy SEAL whose mortal sacrifice in Iraq saved the lives of two fellow SEALs and several Iraqi soldiers. Video President George W. Bush weeps Tuesday, April 8, 2008 during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House before presenting the Medal of Honor to George and Sally Monsoor for the actions of their son Petty Officer 2nd Class, Michael A. Monsoor, a Navy SEAL, during combat in Iraq. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer...

BUCHAREST, Romania, April 3, 2008 – Deep within the cavernous marble walls of the Palace of the Parliament here today sat two Texans, casually talking about – what else – Texas. Army Spc. Monica Brown, far right, stands with 25 other soldiers representing all 26 nations of the NATO alliance during an April 3, 2008, ceremony during the NATO Summit Conference in Bucharest, Romania, honoring those who have served in NATO operations around the world. Brown received the Silver Star for heroism in combat in Afghanistan. NATO photo  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. The first was President Bush,...