The FReeper Foxhole - Military Related News in Review - June 9th, 2003

various news sources and FR

[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

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

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Coalition Efforts and Iraq's Recovery June 8, 2003 CAMP DOHA, Kuwait – Coalition Forces continue to assist in developing a safer and more secure environment in Iraq through the following activities. NORTHERN AND CENTRAL IRAQ Coalition Forces recently: •Reported 78 World Food Program trucks crossed into Iraq from Syria in the last 24 hours. •Received 103 benzene and 45 propane trucks (900 tons of fuel) in Northern Iraq from Turkey. •Reported 1200 locals showed up for jobs at a recruiting office set up for former Iraqi soldiers. • Hired 50 individuals for a Joint Iraqi Security Company. • Continued Task Force Neighborhood operations in Makhmur to improve schools, soccer fields and a market area. •Continued "Task Force Neighborhood" mission in the Mansour municipality by making repairs and improvements to 30 vendor stalls and a schoolyard. •Reported an additional $20,000 on repairs/supplies will be spent over the next few days for schools in Imam Garbi, Qayarrah, Sheil Hamd and As Shurah. •Received 11 propane trucks into the Hermmani Alil plant and conducted two benzene delivery missions to Qayyarah and Hermanni Alil. • Conducted Office of the Provisional Coalition Authority (OCPA) payments at six payment sites and six banks in Mosul area. • Met with mayor and city council in Al Fallujah to plan for the future of the city, and discussed infrastructure rebuilding and security/law-and-order issues. • Destroyed 54 tons of captured Iraqi ammunition. •Reported 88 of 95 Neighborhood Advisory Councils have stood up in Baghdad. • Reported 1.4 million liters of fuel were delivered to Baghdad gas stations, creating a 1.6 million liters reserve. • Initiated a work-hire program for former Iraqi military personnel in Baghdad. • Attended a town hall meeting in the Baghdad Airport Village to discuss the World Food Program and security issues. • Met with a contractor to assess the cost to repair the broken windows at Airport Village in Baghdad. • Cleared 2000 meters of roads in support of the Karkh Municpality, and continued to assist local Iraqi officials to identify and repair damaged and degraded power, water, and sewage facilities in Baghdad. • Met with a Baghdad municipality sewer department engineer to turn off a sewage pump station in order for UN and Red Crescent officials to complete temporary fixes of two submersible pumps. • Reported crude oil is now flowing from Kirkuk, which is expected to increase oil production. • Met with Iraqi FDA officials on the scientific campus of Al-Jahdria in Karadah area of Baghdad. There they received a status report on reconstruction of facilities and discussed funding. •Helped OCPA develop a proposed policy for handling displaced persons. • Conducted a meeting with the directors of the Rasheed and Rafidain Banks to discuss payment of civil servants and pensioners. • Coordinated with the Office of Distribution in Fallujah to ensure trucks, filling stations and the propane plant are ready for receipt of fuel. • Reported the first election for the Mosul Bar Association, with nine members elected. • Hosted meeting with the Mayor of Mosul and a leader of former Iraqi military members to discuss coalition reconstruction efforts. • Reported the barley harvest in Northern Iraq is 70% complete and the wheat harvest is on schedule. • Initiated several projects to improve schools and roads in Imam Garbi, As Shurah, and Qayarrah using Coalition discretionary funds. SOUTHERN IRAQ AL AMARAH • Purchased tires for the local ambulances. • Reported a quick impact project has been submitted for the repair and replacement of the pumps in the water treatment plant, which will double the pumping capacity. A local contractor has been found to fix chlorination system. An additional quick impact project has been approved for the purchase of a generator part, which will provide continuous electricity to the plant. AN NAJAF • Met with the Red Cross to discuss water treatment for the five hospitals in Al Najaf Governance. • Reported the Retirement Office began making stipend payments to retirees on Saturday. • Reported six benzene trucks (216,000 liters) and three trucks (108,000 liters) of diesel were received in the last two days. AN NASARIYAH •Met with members of the An Nasiriyah Chamber of Commerce to develop a strategy for stimulating economic activity through small business development. AD DIWANIYAH • Located and delivered several stolen or abandoned gasoline tankers and delivered them to the police department for safekeeping. •Processed 188 teachers and headmasters, who each signed a statement disavowing their Ba’ath party affiliation. AL HILLAH • Assisted in distribution of medical supplies in the Al Hillah governate. • Attended the opening of the Al Hillah Art Gallery with Al Hillah civilian leadership. • Delivered medical supplies to hospitals in Mahawee, Al Musiayb, Iban Saif, and Eskandaria. • Assessed the grain receiving terminals in Al Hillah and have begun an assessment of other terminals in the southern region. • Completed the National Payment Plan distributions to employees of the Courthouse, Orphans Trust and Registration Department. AS SAMAWAH • Started working with the local newspaper to publish stories about security, municipal services and school projects. • Met with Director of Water to discuss repairs to five water treatment plants in Rumaythah. Villages served by the five plants currently receive their water by tanker truck. KARBALA •Initiated an effort to find employment for local handicapped workers. •Met with The Research Triangle Institute to discuss the general security situation and rapid grant options. Also met local leadership and gathered assessments of the governate. •Reported Karbala University has 100% of the students returning to class, with the exception of the hard-line Ba’ath party loyalists, who the University President refused to enroll. • Met with the manager of the Specialized Dental Center of Karbala to assess the facility. • Reported the availability of potable water increased by 53, 000 gallons with the completion of the former Iraqi Army water treatment plant. AL BASRAH • Met with UNICEF, Kharafi National and an Iraqi Well Drilling Company to coordinate installation of test wells on the Al Basrah General Hospital grounds by the local Iraqi Well Drilling Company. • Submitted a proposal to USAID for additional funding to build a medical oxygen refill station in Basra.

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Bush Praises Coalition Troops During Qatar Visit
By Jim Garamone - American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, June 5, 2003 – President Bush thanked coalition service members for enlarging "the realm of liberty" during a stop in Qatar today.

Bush spoke to American, British, Australian and Polish service members at the base that served as a headquarters for U.S. Central Command during Operation Iraqi Freedom. It was the last stop of a trip that took him to Europe, Russia and the Middle East.

In 100-degree heat, Bush praised the U.S. soldiers, saying that America had sent them on a mission "to remove a grave threat and to liberate an oppressed people, and that mission has been accomplished."

Bush also addressed the fact that coalition forces have not found Iraqi weapons of mass destruction yet. "We're on the look," Bush said. "We'll reveal the truth."

Bush pledged that Iraq will not serve as an arsenal for terrorists. "We recently found two mobile biological weapons facilities which were capable of producing biological agents," he said.

Saddam Hussein "is a man who spent decades hiding tools of mass murder," the president noted. "He knew the inspectors were looking for them. You know better than me he's got a big country in which to hide them."

He told the service members that each is a credit to the United States and that America is proud of them. "We are in a war on global terror, and because of you, we're winning the war on global terror," he said.

The president pointed out that they have performed brilliantly in all aspects of the war of terror. "In Afghanistan, forces directed from here (in) Qatar, … you delivered decisive blows against the Taliban and against al Qaeda," he said. "And now the people of Afghanistan are free."

In praising the men and women who served in Afghanistan, with Combined Joint Task Force–Horn of Africa and in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Bush said their commitment has made it clear that the United States will hunt terrorists down.

"Our actions sent a long, clear message that our nation is strong and our nation is compassionate," he said. "And we also sent another clear message: Dictators can no longer shield themselves behind innocent people. Those who threaten the security of others now need to worry about their own."

Bush told the service members that there is a lot of work left to do in Iraq, and the United States will stay the course. "We will stand with them as they build a stable democracy and a peaceful future," he said.

He said U.S. forces will take aggressive steps to increase order throughout Iraq and will remove Baathist officials from positions of power and influence.

U.S. and coalition officials will continue to work on the Iraq's infrastructure. "We also understand that a more just political system will develop when people have food in their stomachs, and their lights work, and they can turn on a faucet and they can find some clean water – things that Saddam did not do for them," he said.

"See, he spent more time building luxurious palaces than he did in building an infrastructure to take care of the Iraqi citizens. And the United States and our friends and allies will first take care of the Iraqi citizens."

Bush said he was encouraged that oil is beginning to flow out of Iraq, giving the citizens of the country money to fund a special account on behalf of the Iraqi people rather than being skimmed off by "greedy gangsters."

Bush remembered those who died in the operation to liberate Iraq. "We fight for freedom, and we sacrifice for freedom, and we have lost some of our finest," he noted. He told the service members that those who died served more than just the United States, but the cause of freedom.

"Because of you, America and our friends and allies, those of us who love freedom are now more secure," the president said. "You have justified the confidence that your country has placed in you. You've served your country well. Your commander in chief is grateful. And as importantly, more importantly, millions of American citizens are grateful for what you have done. You believe in America and America believes in you."
President Delivers Remarks to Troops

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Casuality Identification List for the past week from the DoD

IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 6, 2003

DoD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today that Pfc. Branden F. Oberleitner, 20, of Worthington, Ohio, was killed on June 5 in Al Fallujah, Iraq. Oberleitner was returning from a dismounted patrol when the element was fired upon by a rifle propelled grenade.

Oberleitner was assigned to Company B, 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, Fort Campbell, Ky.

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IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 6, 2003

DoD Identifies Navy Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today that Petty Officer Third Class Doyle W. Bollinger, Jr ., 21, of Poteau, Okla., was killed today in Iraq when a piece of unexploded ordnance accidentally detonated in the area he was working.

Bollinger was assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 133, Gulfport, Miss. The incident is under investigation.

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IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 4, 2003

DoD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today that Sgt. Atanacio Haromarin, 27, of Baldwin Park, Calif., was killed on June 3, south of Balad, Iraq. Haromarin was manning a checkpoint when his unit came under enemy fire from rocket propelled grenades and small arms.

Haromarin was assigned to Battery C, 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment, Fort Hood, Texas.

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IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 4, 2003

DoD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today that Sgt. Keman L. Mitchell, 24, of Hilliard, Fla., was killed on May 26, 2003, in Kirkuk, Iraq. Mitchell jumped into seven-foot deep body of water. When he failed to resurface, members of his squad retrieved him. Medical personnel went to the scene and started cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Mitchell was evacuated to a forward surgical team and was pronounced dead on arrival. Mitchell was assigned to Company C, 4th Engineer Battalion, Fort Carson, Colo.

The Army withheld releasing the soldier's name until today at the request of the family.

The incident is under investigation.

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IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 3, 2003

DoD Identifies Marine Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today that Sgt. Jonathan W. Lambert, 28, of Newsite, Miss., died June 1 at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Germany, as a result of injuries he suffered when his HMMWV rolled over on May 26 in Iraq.

Lambert was assigned to the Headquarters Battalion, 1st Marine Division, Camp Pendleton, Calif. The vehicle mishap is under investigation.

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IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 2, 2003

DoD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today that Staff Sgt. Kenneth R. Bradley, 39, of Utica, Miss ., died on May 28, in Baqubah, Iraq. Bradley’s death was non-combat related.

Bradley was assigned to 588th Engineer Battalion, Fort Hood, Texas. The incident is under investigation.

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IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 2, 2003

DoD Identifies Army Casualties

The Department of Defense announced today that three soldiers were killed on May 30, in Mosul, Iraq, while supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. They are:

Spc. Zachariah W. Long, 20, of Milton, Pa.,

Spc. Michael T. Gleason, 25, of Warren, Pa., and

Spc. Kyle A. Griffin, 20, of Emerson, N.J.

The three soldiers were traveling in a three-vehicle convoy during a storm from Mosul to Tikrit (2 HUMMVs, 1 light medium tactical vehicle). A civilian vehicle dodged a pothole causing the HUMMVs to swerve. There was not enough stopping distance between the vehicles causing the LMTV to swerve off the road and turn over, causing the death of three soldiers.

The soldiers were assigned to the 519th Military Intelligence Battalion, Fort Bragg, N.C. The incident is under investigation.

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Pic of the Week

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[Darksheare]

Same here.
I just wish there was a way to fake Win98 into NOT having to partition a 20 Gb hard drive.

[E.G.C.]

Just finished doing some lawnmowing. Weather is nice and sunny out here.

[SAMWolf]

Our Military Today

Pro-U.S. women protesters display placards during a rally outside the headquarters of the U.S. Marines based in Kut, 112 miles south of Baghdad, Iraq Monday June 9, 2003 to express their solidarity with the U.S. forces. The protesters are demanding Saddam Hussein's Baath Party, whom the U.S. administration in Iraq dissolved recently, be punished for their harsh rule in the country. (AP Photo/Ali Haider)


A pro-US protester shouts slogans during a rally outside the headquarters of the U.S. Marines based in Kut, 1112 miles south of Baghdad, Iraq Monday June 9, 2003 to express support to the U.S. forces. (AP Photo/Ali Haider)


A U.S. Marine watches pro-U.S. protesters as they shout slogans during a rally outside the headquarters of the U.S. Marines based in Kut, 112 miles south of Baghdad, Iraq Monday June 9, 2003 to express support to the U.S. forces.


Angry protesters shout slogans during a rally outside the headquarters of the US Marines based in Kut, 111 miles south of Baghdad, Iraq Monday June 9, 2003 to express support to the U.S. forces

[snippy_about_it]

Thanks for the pics today SAM.

[SAMWolf]

You're welcome Snippy.

Nice to see some people not compaining about the US.

[snippy_about_it]

More lovely flowers. SAM, you're spoiling me.

IT'S BREAK TIME!

[snippy_about_it]

I hear ya

ha ha! Good, I thought it was just me!

[snippy_about_it]

What do you call the french Air Force in a combat zone?

A Mirage

LOL.I'm gonna send that one across the wires.

[SAMWolf]

That's the plan.

[snippy_about_it]

That's the plan.

SAM, you wolf you! LOL.

[SAMWolf]

MOI?

[snippy_about_it]

There you go, speaking French again. LOL!

[SAMWolf]

Not "French", "french"

[snippy_about_it]

oops. You are so right. french

[GailA]

[snippy_about_it]

Thanks Gail, that's cute!

[SAMWolf]

Good Afternoon, GailA.

[Victoria Delsoul]

Hi everyone. Happy Monday!

Love the thread, Snippy. Good job.

[snippy_about_it]

Wow. That's huge! and bright! lol.

Good evening. Hope you are doing fine.

[SAMWolf]

Evening Victoria. How'd the day go?