FReeper Foxhole - Military News in Review - April 28, 2003

various

[snippy_about_it]

Dear Lord,

There's a young man far from home,
called to serve his nation in time of war;
sent to defend our freedom
on some distant foreign shore.

We pray You keep him safe,
we pray You keep him strong,
we pray You send him safely home ...
for he's been away so long.

There's a young woman far from home,
serving her nation with pride.
Her step is strong, her step is sure,
there is courage in every stride.
We pray You keep her safe,
we pray You keep her strong,
we pray You send her safely home ...
for she's been away too long.

Bless those who await their safe return.
Bless those who mourn the lost.
Bless those who serve this country well,
no matter what the cost.

Author Unknown

.

FReepers from the The Foxhole
join in prayer for all those serving their country at this time.

.

.................................................................................................................................

U.S. Military History, Current Events and Veterans Issues

Where Duty, Honor and Country
are acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated.

Our Mission:

The FReeper Foxhole is dedicated to Veterans of our Nation's military forces and to others who are affected in their relationships with Veterans.

We hope to provide an ongoing source of information about issues and problems that are specific to Veterans and resources that are available to Veterans and their families.

In the FReeper Foxhole, Veterans or their family members should feel free to address their specific circumstances or whatever issues concern them in an atmosphere of peace, understanding, brotherhood and support.

To read previous Foxhole threads or
to add the Foxhole to your sidebar,
click on the books below.

Resource Links For Veterans

Click on the pix

Operation Iraqi Freedom

Mission Objectives

1. End the regime of Saddam Hussein

2. Identify, isolate, and eliminate Iraq’s WMD, systems, and facilities

3. Capture or drive out terrorists sheltered in Iraq

4. Collect intelligence on terrorist networks and on Iraq’s illicit WMD activity

5. Secure Iraq’s oil fields and natural resources for the Iraqi people

6. End sanctions and immediately deliver humanitarian relief and assistance

7. Help the Iraqi people rapidly transition to a representative form of self-government that does not threaten its neighbors and is committed to the territorial integrity of Iraq

Progress to Date

April 24

For the first time since military operations began, oil began flowing from Iraq’s southern fields, and electrical power has been restored to parts of Baghdad.

175,000 barrels of oil per day are now being pumped from the oil fields near Rumaila to an oil refinery in Basra and various power plants in the vicinity.

In the next day or two, it is expected that another 60,000 barrels per day will be pumped into the Baija refinery from oil fields in the north.

One gas well in the north is also operational. Gas is critical to the operation of the gas turbines which drive most of the electrical power grid in the Baghdad area.

Under the direction of retired Lt. Gen. Jay Garner, the Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance is up and running.

Coordinators have been appointed for humanitarian assistance, reconstruction, as well as for the country’s northern and southern regions. Gen. Garner also has two deputies, one for policy and one to coordinate international aid and other ctivities.

American Power Moves Beyond the Mere Super

Stealth drones, G.P.S.-guided smart munitions that hit precisely where aimed; antitank bombs that guide themselves; space-relayed data links that allow individual squad leaders to know exactly where American and opposition forces are during battle — the United States military rolled out all this advanced technology, and more, in its lightning conquest of Iraq.

No other military is even close to the United States. The American military is now the strongest the world has ever known, both in absolute terms and relative to other nations; stronger than the Wehrmacht in 1940, stronger than the legions at the height of Roman power.

For years to come, no other nation is likely even to try to rival American might.

Which means: the global arms race is over, with the United States the undisputed heavyweight champion. Other nations are not even trying to match American armed force, because they are so far behind they have no chance of catching up.

The great-powers arms race, in progress for centuries, has ended with the rest of the world conceding triumph to the United States.

Now only a nuclear state, like, perhaps, North Korea, has any military leverage against the winner.

Paradoxically, the runaway American victory in the conventional arms race might inspire a new round of proliferation of atomic weapons. With no hope of matching the United States plane for plane, more countries may seek atomic weapons to gain deterrence.

North Korea might have been moved last week to declare that it has an atomic bomb by the knowledge that it has no hope of resisting American conventional power. If it becomes generally believed that possession of even a few nuclear munitions is enough to render North Korea immune from American military force, other nations — Iran is an obvious next candidate — may place renewed emphasis on building them.

For the extent of American military superiority has become almost impossible to overstate. The United States sent five of its nine supercarrier battle groups to the region for the Iraq assault. A tenth Nimitz-class supercarrier is under construction. No other nation possesses so much as one supercarrier, let alone nine battle groups ringed by cruisers and guarded by nuclear submarines. More...

Army Co-Sponsors Transformation Wargame

The Army and U.S. Joint Forces Command have entered into a partnership and will co-sponsor the latest in the Army's annual series of its premier transformation wargame, which will be conducted at Carlisle Barracks, Penn.

Unified Quest 03 will last from April 27 until May 2, and it will be a capstone event in a yearlong series of wargames, experiments and seminars.

The theme of the exercise is, ‘Expanding the Power of Coherent, Joint Operations.’ This year’s exercise will focus on solutions to address current interoperability issues as well as planning for future capabilities, which is a significant change from previous exercises. MORE

Miscellaneous Current Military and Veteran News

TRICARE Complying With Stricter Rules on Healthcare

TRICARE, like all other healthcare providers nationwide, is working under stricter rules when it comes to protecting patients' rights and the privacy of their health information. More...

Certain Veterans May Be Eligible for Copayment Refunds

Veterans insured by the Hartford Life Insurance Company or the USAA Life Insurance Company may be eligible for a refund of their VA copayments. More...

Study Needed Before Force 'Footprint' Changes in Gulf

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates, April 27, 2003 – The footprint of U.S. forces in the Persian Gulf region will change in the coming months, but it is too soon to say how, defense leaders said following meetings with leaders of the United Arab Emirates today.

Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and Army Gen. Tommy Franks met with Shaykh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the crown prince of Abu Dhabi, and Lt. Gen. Muhammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the chief of staff of the armed forces of the United Arab Emirates, on the first day on the secretary's visit to the region. Franks heads U.S. Central Command and has led Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Franks said that in each place the secretary and he visit, there is an understanding that with the regime of Saddam Hussein gone, "that in the days and months ahead there will likely be a rearrangement of the footprint in the region."

Forces, for example, are no longer needed for operations Northern Watch and Southern Watch. But Franks said this does not necessarily mean U.S. forces will be reduced. More...

South Fla. Army Reservists Build POW Camp They'll Guard

CAMP BUCCA, Iraq — When the 724th Military Police Battalion arrived at the coalition’s temporary holding facility here, a plan was already in place for the nearby semi-permanent facility they’d be guarding - complete with electricity, plumbing, more space and better tents.

The only problem was, it hadn’t been built yet. And so last week 18 soldiers assigned to guard part of the new facility found themselves put to work laying down the very concertina-wire fence line they’d soon be patrolling.

Spc. Jose Lopez cheerfully grumbled, “You know the joke about what MP stands for - ‘multi-purpose.' You name it, we do it. We’re out here pulling shifts in the towers and along the perimeter, waiting for this camp to be done so we can start doing what we came here to do, and now they want us to build the thing ourselves.” More...

Navy MWR Announces New Discounted Travel Program
Release Date: 4/26/2003 12:00:00 PM

By Ingrid Mueller, Navy MWR Communications Group

MILLINGTON, Tenn. (NNS) -- Navy Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) has established a partnership with the Government Armed Forces Travel Cooperative (GAFTC) to provide a wide range of discounted travel opportunities to active-duty and Reserve personnel, military retirees, and Department of Defense employees and their family members.

“This program gives our authorized patrons access to significantly discounted travel opportunities,” said Karen Fritz, program manager for Navy MWR’s information, Tickets and Travel (ITT) Section. “Using this program is also beneficial to Navy MWR, because vendors pay a commission for every booking placed by Sailors. That money goes directly back into Navy MWR programs for Sailors and their families at the local base level.”

The GAFTC Web site -- govarm.com – allows users to shop for hotel rooms, airline tickets, car rentals, cruises, golf packages and travel insurance. The Web site features access to more than 50,000 hotels, hundreds of airlines, 24 car rental companies, all major cruise lines, 400 golf vacations and the leading travel insurance companies in the world.

More

Homeward-bound crew thankful for support

4/26/2003 - WASHINGTON -- Among the many missions B-52s flew during Operation Iraqi Freedom, crewmembers aboard one Stratofortress said their most eagerly awaited sortie was the one they were on April 24.

The crew spoke to reporters at the Pentagon via a radio-to-telephone connection as they flew home to Minot Air Force Base, N.D. From their position at more than 30,000 feet above the Irish Sea, the crew of “Ironman 1” said they were glad to be on the last leg of their journey.

"I can tell you for the eight guys on board right now, we are all very excited to be headed home," said Lt. Col. John Stuwe, the aircraft's commander.

After the nearly nine-hour flight home, the crew will be given some well-deserved down time before going back to work, Stuwe said. He said the crew already has plans for how they will spend that time. More

[Jen]

Congratulations and welcome to the Post #100 Century Club!!!

[snippy_about_it]

All is forgiven. :)

[GailA]

Evening ALL...no graphic today. Just a poem

From my email

By Jeff Hildebrandt, from his book

Cowboy Up America

When a cowboy's in a pinch,
He just tightens up the cinch,
Spurs his horse and rides right through it
'Cause that's the way the Duke'd do it.
He'd cowboy up.
And when our country is in danger,
A cowboy's like the old Lone Ranger.
Ridin' hard and shootin' straight,
Fightin' those who spread the hate.
He's cowboy'd up.
A cowboy's ready and he's willin'
To face the foe, like Marshal Dillon.
And when the gunsmoke clears away,
Cowboy spirit wins the day.

So, cowboy up. Pull that hat down tight,
And don't back down from what is right.
We'll bring back "Happy Trails" for you
Like Hoppy, Gene, and Roy would do.
Think back about Flight 93
And how those heroes came to be.
They knew that thousands more could die
If they just let that airplane fly.
They cowboy'd up.
One widow had this tale to share,
A husband's love and one last prayer.
And when their sacrifice was done,
Terror lost and Freedom won.
"Let's roll," he said, and cowboy'd up.

'Cause cowboys fight until they win
Just like TV's Paladin.
They will not let our flag unravel
As long as they Have Gun, Will Travel
And cowboy up, hell bent for leather.
'Cause we're all in this fight together.
We're ridin' hard right on their trail
And with God's help, we will prevail.
If Gary Cooper, Joel McCrae,
And Randolph Scott were here today,
They'd fight for what is right and true
Like Rex and Tex and Lash LaRue.
They'd cowboy up.
So, let's give Uncle Sam a hand,
'Cause we're all ridin' for his brand.
Let New York and the Pentagon
Inspire resolve to carry on.

So cowboy up and listen tight.
The world had better do what's right.
Our country's through with playin' games.
We're kickin' butt and taking names.
We've cowboy'd up. In God We Trust.
We fight because our cause is just.
We're standin' tall and standin' free,
'Cause we won't stand for tyranny.
So America, cowboy up.

[Jen]

That poem makes me think about Toby Keith's song "Beer for my Horses". I'll see if I can post it.

[Jen]

Off to the airport to pick up Missy. See y'all later.

[Victoria Delsoul]

LOL!!!

[Victoria Delsoul]

LOL!!!

[Victoria Delsoul]

Thanks.

[SAMWolf]

Thanks GailA.

I don't know if it's good or bad but I recognize all those cowbot names. Grew up watching most of them.

[GailA]

My one and only camping trip I got chigger bit so bad, I don't even want to think about a repeat.

[snippy_about_it]

Lash LaRue

[SAMWolf]

I love camping, bug bites and all.

[SAMWolf]

You say the word "Cowboy"



and my mind pictures "The Duke"

[snippy_about_it]

Higgins, Benfold Crews Complete First Arleigh Burke Crew Swap Release Date: 4/28/2003 7:17:00 PM

From Logistics Group Western Pacific Public Affairs

SINGAPORE (NNS) -- In a break with tradition, Cmdr. Randy Hill relieved Cmdr. Mike Gilday as commanding officer of USS Higgins (DDG 76) during an otherwise traditional ceremony April 24 — and brought his entire crew with him. That new crew took Higgins to sea April 28, when the ship departed here to continue its anything but traditional deployment, marking a key milestone and historic first during the second phase of the Navy’s “Sea Swap” experiment.

Hill’s crew, the former crew of USS Benfold (DDG 65), is now the crew of Higgins. Gilday’s crew, which took Higgins into action during Operation Iraqi Freedom, will return soon to San Diego and take over Benfold, fully completing the first ever crew swap cycle of Arleigh Burke-class destroyers.

“History. Some write it, you made it happen,” Gilday told the assembled crews during the change of command ceremony, just minutes before his crew passed the Higgins torch to the former Benfold crew. “Today, the eyes of the Navy are on you, Higgins, and you, Benfold, and all that you have done for the past year, and especially the past several weeks to prepare for this moment.”

The crew swap keeps Higgins forward-deployed without the need for the timely transit back to the ship’s home port of San Diego. During the experiment, Higgins, which is approaching the six-month mark on its current deployment, will remain forward-deployed for 18 consecutive months. The crew of USS John Paul Jones (DDG 53) is scheduled to relieve the current Higgins crew later this year. The reclaimed transit time results in approximately three months of additional forward presence when compared to a typical three-ship cycle.

The former Benfold crew arrived April 16 and following four days of liberty and the arrival of the ship April 20, began the turnover process with the Higgins crew while the ship took on needed maintenance.

Sailors said communication was the key factor during turnover. “The biggest challenge initially was communication with the other ship, trying to get each other on the same page,” former Higgins crew member Boatswain’s Mate 2nd Class Nicalus Haynes, from Tucson, Ariz., said. “But once we got to Singapore, things worked themselves out, and it went far better than I thought it would.” More

[SAMWolf]

Not being Navy, I guess crew swaps may be a good idea, but I would think you not only were a memmber of a crew but that you became attached to a particular ship.

[Johnny Gage]

WOOOOOO HOOOOOOO!!

The Minnesota Senate passed the Minnesota Personal Protection Act (Shall Issue) law this evening on a vote of 37 to 30.

It's a good day in Minnesota!

ok.. I return you to your regularly scheduled freeping.

We will not tire,
We will not falter,
We will not fail.
President George W. Bush

[snippy_about_it]

I know it's late but maybe tonight or tomorrow Gator Navy and/or Diver Dave could let us know what they think.

GN and DD ping to post 134-135. Your thoughts? Thanks :)

[snippy_about_it]

Thanks for the news Johnny. I don't think Ohio will ever get it until we get rid of our RINO governor.

[SAMWolf]

Thanks for the News Flash, Johnny.

Have to admit that it's surprising coming from Minnesota.

[snippy_about_it]

Time for snippy to call it a day, and a long one it was!

Good night Sam, thank you for inviting me into the Foxhole with you and Jen and all our visitors.

Good night all.