At sea aboard USS George Washington (CVN 73) Nov. 17, 2002 -- Aviation Boatswain's Mate 3rd Class Michael Cooper of McKenzie, Tenn., directs a C-2A "Greyhound" from the “Rawhides” of Carrier Logistics Support Squadron Four Zero (VRC-40) onto one of four steam catapults on the ship’s flight deck. The Norfolk, Va.-based carrier is on a regularly scheduled six-month deployment conducting combat missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Summer Anderson.
At sea Aboard USS Mount Whitney (LCC/JCC 20)(Nov. 18, 2002) -- Marines practice live fire exercises on the fantail of the Mount Whitney. The marines and crew of Mount Whitney are headed to the Horn of Africa region to conduct combat missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and the continuing war on terrorism. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Journalist Robert Benson.
At sea aboard USS George Washington (CVN 73) Nov. 17, 2002
WOW tomkow, love this first picture!!
Leaflets dropped over Iraq.
Washington, D.C. (Nov. 18, 2002) -- Iraqi forces continue to fire anti-aircraft artillery at coalition airplanes enforcing No-fly zones over Iraq. Coalition aircraft have subsequently been dropping leaflets urging Iraqi military forces not to engage coalition aircrews. Leaflets also lay out the consequences of such actions in an effort to ensure local civilian populations are properly informed. Each leaflet is typically 3-by-6 inches in size, written in Arabic, and are dropped in fiberglass containers that explode over designated areas to increase scatter and drift to the ground. Example shown is the Arabic version of recent drops, with the English translation provided for information purposes. DOD Graphic Illustration.
Washington, D.C. (Nov. 18, 2002) -- Iraqi forces continue to fire anti-aircraft artillery at coalition airplanes enforcing No-fly zones over Iraq. Coalition aircraft have subsequently been dropping leaflets urging Iraqi military forces not to engage coalition aircrews. Leaflets also lay out the consequences of such actions in an effort to ensure local civilian populations are properly informed. Each leaflet is typically 3-by-6 inches in size, written in Arabic, and are dropped in fiberglass containers that explode over designated areas to increase scatter and drift to the ground. Example shown is the Arabic version of recent drops, with the English translation provided for information purposes. DOD Graphic Illustration.
Washington, D.C. (Nov. 18, 2002) -- Iraqi forces continue to fire anti-aircraft artillery at coalition airplanes enforcing No-fly zones over Iraq. Coalition aircraft have subsequently been dropping leaflets urging Iraqi military forces not to engage coalition aircrews. Leaflets also lay out the consequences of such actions in an effort to ensure local civilian populations are properly informed. Each leaflet is typically 3-by-6 inches in size, written in Arabic, and are dropped in fiberglass containers that explode over designated areas to increase scatter and drift to the ground. Example shown is the Arabic version of recent drops, with the English translation provided for information purposes. DOD Graphic Illustration.
Special Forces find missile in Afghan countryside
by Sgt. Don Dees
(Photo by Pfc. Matthew Acosta) KABUL, Afghanistan (Army News Service, Nov. 18, 2002) - U.S. soldiers stationed at the Kabul Military Training Center recovered a British-made anti-aircraft missile near Bagram Air Base recently, making air travel in the area a little safer.
A team from the 5th Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group, mobilized from Fort Carson, Colo., learned of the surface-to-air missile, commonly called a "blowpipe," when a local Afghan civilian approached the team at the training center, said Staff Sgt. Jason, who helped recover the weapon.
Soldiers from the battalion are identified only by rank and first name for security reasons.
The Afghan man came to the front gate and indicated he had information about the weapon and would like to turn it over to U.S. forces.
"He wanted to do it so it wouldn't fall into the hands of organizations trying to cause chaos in Afghanistan," said Jason.
The man received a reward for his patriotic and compassionate act.
Battalion staff members turned the information over to other organizations and through a relationship with the International Security Assistance Force, British explosive ordnance disposal soldiers began working with the 5th Battalion to recover the weapon.
"Their background is EOD, but they are also working on weapons recovery operations," said Jason.
Jason and his team verified that the information the Afghan provided was accurate, he said. Once the location and condition of the blowpipe was confirmed, British and U.S. forces worked to retrieve it. The British soldiers were on hand to verify the weapon's authenticity and to ensure it was safe to handle.
The mission was a success in that no one was hurt and the threat to Coalition forces was reduced by having one less missile that could take down an aircraft, said Jason.
Afghans provide information to U.S. forces frequently, Jason said, but it does not always result in recovered weapons. Sometimes the claims are bogus, he said.
"A lot of man-hours go into verifying something like this," Jason said.
He explained the concepts at work in Afghanistan are very different than the formal training and exercises his soldiers have participated in before. He and his fellow soldiers are re-writing the book.
"I think we are laying the groundwork for future operations everywhere," Jason said.
(Editor's note: Sgt. Don Dees, a member of the 356th BPAD, is attached to the 300th MPAD in Afghanistan.)
I like the graphics of our military in action! Thanks for sharing them, tom.