NEWS FROM THE FRONT (vanity)

STRYKER BRIGADE NEWS ^ | 1/5/05 | AIRBORNE

[Indy Pendance]

You're talking about my daughter, sir.

[Indy Pendance]

May God protect these families in their times of need.

[Concentrate]

Thanks for that post. It's good to know that things are going well there. May God bless and keep them safe.

[freedumb2003]

You're talking about my daughter, sir.

*ahem* *gulp*

I tought I might be running that risk. But please understand that it was a compliment. The word "beautiful" is more accurate and more poetic.

But in my sans-child mind I wanted to convey to these lovely ladies that they are desireable -- but that such desire is subject to full paternal authority (i.e. and e.g. "Marriage.")

How about we say -- very pretty?

[Indy Pendance]

Boy, moms have great power over you boys, as it should, You should fear us. But, we love you anyway. LOL!

[mad_as_he$$]

Thanks, I sometimes hesitate to share that much info; but the MEM is so underreporting the truth that it makes me ill!

[airborne]

NEWS RELEASE
HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND
7115 South Boundary Boulevard
MacDill AFB, Fla. 33621-5101
Phone: (813) 827-5894; FAX: (813) 827-2211; DSN 651-5894

---

January 8, 2005
Release Number: 05-01-40


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


THREE OF FOUR KEY TALHA LEADERS CAPTURED IN MOSUL

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Multi-National Forces detained a key leader of the al Qaida-linked Abu Musab al-Zarqawi terrorist network in Mosul on Dec. 22.

Following a thorough investigation, the individual detained was positively identified as Abdul Aziz Sa’dun Ahmed Hamduni, aka Abu Ahmed.

Abu Ahmed served as a deputy to the emir of Mosul, Abu Talha, and assumed command of terrorist operations in Mosul in Abu Talha’s absence. Abu Ahmed admitted to receiving money and weapons from Abu Talha as well as coordinating and conducting terrorist attacks in Mosul.

“The capture of Abu Ahmed, and the subsequent capture of Abu Marwan on 23 December, show significant progress in the inevitable destruction of the Abu Talha-led Al-Queda-Zarqawi terrorist network in Mosul,” said Brig. Gen. Erwin F. Lessel III, spokesman for Multi-National Forces-Iraq.

Security forces in Iraq have previously announced the capture of Abu Marwan, also a senior-level terrorist in the Talha organization. Security forces also recently captured another senior Talha member whose name cannot be released due to operational security reasons.

“Currently, security forces in Iraq have three of Abu Talha’s four most senior leaders in custody,” Lessel said.

The capture of these key members has led to additional captures throughout the Mosul-based AQ-AMZ network. More than 20 percent of Talha’s key members have been captured in the past few weeks.

Abu Ahmed’s capture removed one of Abu Talha’s most valuable officers from the Mosul-based AQ-AMZ terrorist network. Abu Ahmed remains in detention and is providing information regarding the Talha network.

“These terrorists and Saddamists are doing all they can to stop upcoming elections,” Lessel said. “They fear democracy and the day when the Iraqi people vote for a representative government. The vote by the Iraqi people will reject everything the terrorists stand for -- killing innocents, depriving people of food, electricity.”

The use of car bombs and other explosive devices by Abu Ahmed and his affiliates shows disregard for the well-being and security of innocent Iraqi civilians. The Central Criminal Court of Iraq is committed to providing a fair trial to those allegedly engaging in terrorist activities. Those found guilty will be punished accordingly, and thus lose the ability to provide for the future of their families.

The IIG and Multi-National Forces are committed to bringing peace and stability to Iraq and its people. Iraq’s government and security forces grow stronger and more capable every day.

[airborne]

PING to post # 167.

I just put this ping list together from posts on this thread.

If you want on or off, let me know.

Thanks!

Airborne

[freedumb2003]

Good News bump

[Concentrate]

On is good thanks.

[airborne]

Good News From The Front

---

Carrying God's Word in a war zone

Saturday, January 8, 2005
By DEAN BAKER, Columbian staff writer

It's a long trek from a job managing delivery routes for The Columbian to carrying religious services to troops in the mountains of Iraq, but that's where Army Capt. Edward Willis has gone.

Willis, 41, a 1981 Hudson's Bay High School graduate and a U.S. Army chaplain, spent Christmas ministering to troops at a Muslim shrine on a mountaintop outpost near Sinjar, Iraq. He flew in by helicopter along with a Christmas meal for the troops.

Willis narrowly missed being in the mess tent in Mosul on Dec. 22 when a suicide bomber killed 22 people: 14 U.S. soldiers (six of them based at Fort Lewis), four U.S. civilian contractors, three Iraqi security men and an unidentified non-American. Sixty-nine people were wounded, including 44 soldiers.

One of the wounded was a 1999 graduate of Camas High School, Army Spc. Don Larson, 24, who suffered burns and is recovering at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas. His parents, Jim and Marsha Larson, live in Chehalis.

Luckily, Willis flew to other parts of Iraq that day, ministering to troops.

"He had been in Mosul for the first month he was there, and the tent that was bombed was his dining tent," said his wife, Leanne, 34. "He was away at the time of the bombing at Tal Afar."

While Willis is at war, Leanne and the couple's three children celebrated Christmas and New Year's at the home of his parents, Ed and Mardelle Willis of Vancouver. They also celebrated the 7th birthday of the couple's oldest child, Lindsey. Leanne, Lindsey and the little girl's two brothers, Thomas, 3, and Connor, 18 months, returned Tuesday to their home, a duplex at Fort Lewis.

Leanne Willis' mother and stepfather, Kathy and Morry Hitchcock, also live in Vancouver. Her father, Charles Stephens, a retired Vancouver teacher, lives in Costa Rica.

"There are times when this was really hard," said Leanne, a 1987 graduate of Hudson's Bay High School. "We had to redefine ourselves now that daddy was gone, but we settled into it. We've got lots of great friends, and my family is very supportive."

And, she explained later, she also finds help through prayer.

"I'm really not worried because I trust in God," she said. "He is the one who allowed us to have this time in our life. We feel that God really led us into the Army, in the ministry that my husband is good at. He enjoys ministering to the soldiers. We'll wait and see what else God has for us."

Willis has been in Iraq since Oct. 3 and is scheduled to return home in October.

"We've been apart for two or three months before, but this is the first time he's been gone out of the picture for that length of time," Leanne said, admitting she has her hands full taking care of three children, and home-schooling Lindsey.

In a telephone call from Iraq, Willis said he's torn by his duty. "I love the work, but I love my family," he said.

"There's 'good busy' and there's 'bad busy' in this work," said Willis, who is an ordained pastor in the Evangelical Free Church.

"I appreciate the privilege of sharing in people's suffering," he said. "The situation is bad, but it's not bad work by any means."

He said he conducts seven church services a week and Bible studies at so-called "forward operating bases" in the battle zones. He also counsels both the wounded and dying, he said.

"I can't really give you any details on what we are doing," Willis said."We are seeing a bit of activity, and things seem to be going well."

Willis said mostly he works directly with soldiers, doing family and stress counseling, and suicide prevention awareness, and working especially hard on "spiritual fitness."

He said his living quarters are similar to a mobile home.

"The containers we live in are good, and the food is incredible. They're taking really good care of the troops," he said.

Willis, who moved to Vancouver with his family in 1976, worked at The Columbian from 1984 to 1987.

"I met Ed in January of '84 and hired him as a route manager for three years," said Jim Cox, a supervisor in The Columbian circulation department. "He was an ambitious kid. He was a pretty wild fellow when I met him. The Lord toned him down."

He worked on the staff of several Vancouver-area churches and joined the Army Reserves in 1995 right after graduating from Multnomah Bible College in Portland. In the mid-1990s, he also played the baritone horn and was lead vocalist with the 104th Division band at Vancouver Barracks.

In 1997, he transferred to Army active duty and spent two years as a chaplain's assistant at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas. In 2003, he completed Western Seminary in Portland and became an active-duty chaplain. He went to the war zone in October.

"I appreciate the Army," said Leanne. "I love the Army. I believe in what they are doing. I believe in helping the Iraqi people, and I believe that God will take care of it. I trust Him."

[marmar]

This one is humbling but it is so necessary to be able to minister to the dying and wounded. May God keep him in the palm of His hand. May He give him wisdom to do his work.......

[Indy Pendance]

Deployment Ceremony held despite weather

By April Blackmon

1/7/2005 10:06:40 AM

Less than a year after the "Bulldog Brigade" returned to Fort Riley from Iraq, some 3,000 Soldiers of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team are going back. About 500 "Dreadnaught" Soldiers of the 2nd Battalion, 34th Armor, are deploying with the brigade for their first tour supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The nearly 3,500 Soldiers formally said goodbye to family and friends at a Jan. 5 ceremony in nearby Manhattan inside Kansas State University's Bramlage Coliseum, protected from the afternoon's ice, snow and bitterly cold temperatures.

The Soldiers will be deploying to Iraq in late January and early February.

The Fort Riley Soldiers expect to face a challenging and "sometimes dangerous task" in their quest to "help the Iraqi people eliminate insurgent violence," said Col. David Bishop, 3rd BCT commander.

"The newly liberated Iraqi people yearn for a future free from oppression and fear . . . and to earn the pride that comes from rebuilding their nation . . . Thanks to you, they will realize that dream."

"Together, we'll show them how a professional military force serves and protects the people, honors the concepts of liberty and responsibility and selfless service," Bishop said.

That selfless service is what makes Soldiers worthy of emulation, said Maj. Gen. Dennis Hardy, commander of the 24th Infantry Division (Mech) and Fort Riley. "You represent all that is great in America."

Although this is their battalion's first deployment to Operation Iraqi Freedom, the Dreadnaught Soldiers are well-prepared and ready to go, said Capt. Andy Turner, Company A's commander.

"We've been training extensively for the past year for this deployment. So we're ready to go," he said. "It's going to be tough being away from the families, but this is something we have to do."

Several Bulldog Soldiers returning to Iraq said they are more prepared for this deployment, but not just because of their military equipment and training.

Capt. Craig Germano of Company A, 1st Battalion, 41st Infantry, said he plans to take his iPod music player to "listen to some tunes."

"I'm bringing one of those Game Boys for when I'm just standing around. We're having someone ship us an Xbox this time," said 1st Lt. William Murphy of Co. A, 1st Bn., 41st Inf.

In addition to family and friends, Germano and Murphy said they will miss several things while they're gone.

"I'll miss the cleanness of America. It's horrible over there. It smells bad and there's trash everywhere. And the weather sucks," Germano said.

"I'm going to miss the sports seasons and games, watching the games and keeping up with stuff. You come back and all of a sudden there's a new basketball team," Murphy said. "At least I was home to watch the Sox win the World Series."

[Indy Pendance]

Good, kinda fun story.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1318195/posts

(From a mom):

He told me how wonderful the care packages were and wanted me to tell everyone thank you. He said that one guy we’ll call “Marine X” did get a girl care package and everyone was giving him a hard time. My son said, "Marine X got some really nice smelling lotion and everyone really likes it, so everytime he goes to sleep they steal it from him." I told my son I was really sorry about the mistake, and if he wanted I would send Marine X another package. He told me not to worry about Marine X because everytime I send something to him Marine X thinks it's for him too. He said when my husband and I sent the last care package Marine X came over to his cot picked up the box, started fishing through it, and said, "What'd we get this time?" )

My son said they had the most fun with Marine X’s package. He said he wasn't sure who we were sending the pack to, but the panties were size 20, and he said one of the guys got on top of the humvee and jumped off with the panties over his head and yelled, "Look at me, I'm an Airborne Ranger!!!!". He said one of the guys attached the panties to an antenna and it blew in the wind like a windsock. He said it entertained them for quite awhile.

Then of course, they had the tampons. When he brought this up my imagination was just running wild, but I let him continue. My son said they had to go on a mission and Marine X wanted the chapstick and lotion for the trip. He grabbed a bunch of the items out of his care package and got in the humvee. As luck would have it he grabbed the tampons, and My son said everyone was teasing him about "not forgetting his feminine hygiene products". My son said things were going well, and then the convoy was ambushed. He said a Marine in the convoy was shot. He said the wound was pretty clean, but it was deep. He said they were administering first aid but couldn't get the bleeding to slow down, and someone said, "Hey use Marine X’s tampons". My son said they put the tampon in the wound. At this point my son profoundly told me, "Mom did you know that tampons expand?" ) "Well, yeah!". They successfully slowed the bleeding and got the guy medical attention. When they went to check on him later the surgeon told them, "You guys saved his life". If you hadn't stopped that bleeding he would have bled to death. My son said, "Mom, the tampons sent by the Marine Moms by mistake saved a Marines life." At this point I asked him, "Well what did you do with the rest of the tampons?" He said, "Oh, we divided them up and we all have them in our flak jackets, and I kept two for our first aid kit".

I am absolutely amazed by the ingenuity of our Marines, and can't believe that something that started out as a mistake ended up saving someone's life. My sister said she doesn't believe in mistakes. She said that God had a plan all along. She believes that female care package was sent to Marine X to save our Marine. Either way ladies our efforts have boosted the morale of many Marines, provided much needed items for our troops, AND saved the lives of a Marine! God bless each of you for your efforts and hard work, and God bless our Marines!

Thank you

Wendy

Posted by Blackfive in Military | Permalink

[ASA Vet]

Can you email them?

[Indy Pendance]

Read a little further on, airborne told me about photobucket. I got it running and posted several photos.

[marmar]

This is the second time I have read this..the first time I read it I laughed really hard. Now I just reflect on how great these guys are...this is part of what makes America so special....the KISS concept..keep it simple..stupid. I would have loved to have seen the guy jumping off the Humvee with the size 20s, I hope they were pink, just for effects. I love my Wounded Warrior and just my Heroes..

[marmar]

IP, your daughter has a beautiful sunshiny smile. I bet she will be good at keeping up moral. I pray that the Lord brings her safely back to you and all those with her.

[Indy Pendance]

Thanks marmar, you're prayers are appreciated. And, IMO, she does have that type of personality to lift spirits. She's a good addition to the troops.

[marmar]

When I work with the wounded I have that same spirit. Pretty even personality it helps me to know that it is not about me....it is about them and they are what is important.