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WASHINGTON, Nov. 18, 2008 – Despite losing a leg in combat, Army Sgt. Chris Alvin Burrell is focusing on his rehabilitation to one day return to what he calls his “normal day of work.” Army Sgt. Chris Burrell is focused on his rehabilitation since losing a leg in an explosion in Baghdad's Sadr City neighborhood on Dec. 26, 2007. He hopes to return to his job as a canine handler. Courtesy photo  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. “My main focus right now is to heal properly and quickly in the right timeframe, and just make sure I’m healed...

nov 11th veteran's day

BAGHDAD — The Iraqi Army wants every Iraqi Soldier to receive ethics training just like he receives marksmanship or drill and ceremony training. Since 2003, the primary focus for the Iraqi Army has been building the force. Getting Soldiers trained to fight took precedence over many other military functions. Iraqis came from all locations and all walks of life to join the fight to secure their country from terrorists. Every one of those Soldiers brought a unique set of values with him: personal values, family values, community values and religious values. Creating a culture of ethical behavior means that each...

Presumptive Democrat nominee Barack Obama’s trip to Afghanistan, Iraq and Europe is all part and parcel of a full blown media event that most intuitive Americans will view as contrived and overdone; an event to compensate for Sen. Obama’s lack of experience and extraordinarily thin political portfolio. The media has helped orchestrate this publicity stunt to attract attention to their chosen candidate. There is no more doubt that they are in the tank for the presumptive Democrat presidential nominee.

'Why would any rational human being sign up for this?" The question came up the other day as we discussed one of our public affairs staff sergeants possibly separating for a job in the private sector. There was a certain ease and even a slight euphoric relief about the conversation. He had opted to stay with us. He re- enlists Monday. The question was posed by our senior master sergeant — a man who has re-enlisted multiple times over his distinguished 26-year career. In the last few days, our staff sergeant had been really torn. Like most of us, his...

“Duty” as a New Year's Resolution By W. Thomas Smith, Jr Wednesday, December 26, 2007 On the morning of October 21, 1805, a force of some 33 British warships sailed in two columns toward a 41-ship French-Spanish fleet – the teeth of Napoleon's Navy – off Spain's Cape Trafalgar. The allied fleet commanded by Admiral Pierre Villeneuve was of course larger. But Admiral Horatio Nelson, commanding the British force, possessed the better tactical mind and perhaps the most superbly trained gun-crews in the world. As the British ships neared the range of the enemy's guns, Nelson – aboard his flagship,...

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan, Nov. 28, 2007 – A soldier serving her third combat deployment returned to Afghanistan on Nov. 12 after receiving medical treatment in Germany for injuries suffered in her second improvised-explosive-device detonation. Army Spc. Cassandra L. Miles, a native of New Brunswick, N.J., volunteered to return after suffering a mild concussion and possible brain injury in an Oct. 28 IED attack. She survived another IED attack earlier this year, when she suffered headaches and burns. While Miles was serving as a medic attached to Company D, 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd...

I had the privilege of attending the veteran's day parade yesterday and decided to share some thoughts with you about it. As we watched them march by I was taken by how humble these soldiers were. The crowd was applauding and yelling thank you, God bless you, and other things such as this. Over and over the soldiers pointed back to the crowd and called back no, thank you. To understand the position of a soldier you must know that these are men and women who have made a promise to give their lives in defense of the constitution, our...

When most kids were dreaming of being an astronaut or professional football player, William Scates knew he would be a soldier. "He wanted to fight for his country when he was just a little boy,” Whitson said. "He used to draw pictures of soldiers. It's just what he always wanted to do.”

BOSTON (Reuters) - Health authorities in Canada and Massachusetts are warning consumers of the risk from China-made counterfeit toothpaste after more tainted products were found, deepening concern about the safety of Chinese goods. Preliminary tests conducted in Canada on counterfeit Colgate toothpaste indicate the fake products may contain even more harmful bacteria than authorities first suspected, Health Canada officials said on Friday. Canadian authorities urged consumers on June 29 to avoid Chinese toothpaste in the Canadian market because 21 products were found laced with harmful levels of diethylene glycol, an industrial solvent used in some antifreeze products. New York-based Colgate-Palmolive...

For years now we have been subjected to a steady drumbeat of “it cannot be done” from you with regard to enforcement of our existing immigration laws. We are sick and tired of such and will not tolerate it any longer! You will NEVER convince us that although we can put men on the moon we cannot secure our own borders. That is sophistry of the first order and every one of you is fully aware of the fact. Enough! Stop it NOW! Article II Section 3 of the United States Constitution requires that the president …“shall take care that...

"Why don't you pick up that gun and blow your brains out?" "You could kill a whole lot of people with that gun." "Why not shoot her right now? That would shut her up!" These are the sorts of vile mental suggestions many people experience from within their own minds when they see a gun. That's right. Dark thoughts and impulses, too horrible to dwell upon or even acknowledge, occur to many of us at the mere sight of a firearm or a naked blade. When we see the firearm, we sense the presence of evil – so naturally we...

With a dented bugle, he brings dignity - Mike McCann, 14, plays taps at military funerals, then goes off to algebra. By Cynthia Anderson | Correspondent of The Christian Science Monitor - April 25, 2007 edition HINGHAM, MASS. On a blustery spring day, when other eighth graders are midway through their morning classes, Mike McCann stands with his trumpet on the steps of the Church of the Resurrection, awaiting the signal to play. The sun briefly shines then disappears. Dressed in a buttoned-down shirt and tuxedo pants, Mike looks cold. He waits alongside a color guard as the family of...

Vimy a breakthrough battle for Canada Used new fighting techniques that worked, and helped Allies defeat Germany Lorne Gunter, The Edmonton Journal Published: Sunday, April 08, 2007 The weather was with the Canadian corps at Vimy Ridge in northern France on Easter Monday, April 9, 1917. At least it wasn't against them. Much. The winter of 1916-17 had been an especially bitter one in the trenches. Frostbite claimed hundreds of thousands of fingers, toes, earlobes, cheeks and nose-tips. Troops claimed hot stew often froze in tin mess cups before it could be eaten. The great historian of the Canadian...

Harper government establishes bill of rights, ombudsman for veterans Colin Perkel, Canadian Press Published: Tuesday, April 03, 2007 KITCHENER, Ont. (CP) - Canadian soldiers who have done so much for freedom and peace deserve a government that is responsive to their needs, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Tuesday in announcing an ombudsman and bill of rights for veterans. Speaking to scores of former soldiers, many sporting numerous medals, at a legion hall in this southwestern Ontario city, Harper said his government was delivering on an election promise to ensure veterans get the respect they deserve from Ottawa. "Brave patriotic...

Marine Capt. Jason Schauble and his men were going to hit a certain farmhouse in Faris Town, south of Fallujah in Iraq, and they were going to hit it hard. They did exactly that. But twice the expected number of terrorists were holed up as Schauble's unit burst inside. In the ensuing military maelstrom, the then-29-year-old Schauble exposed himself to almost certain death to rescue a comrade. The captain suffered crippling wounds, but rallied his 30-man task force to win a bloody battle. Schauble's action earned him one of the military's top awards for courage in combat, the Silver Star....

Religious Band of Brothers: The holy men of the Dorchester By Rachel Zabarkes Friedman National Review Online August 17, 2004 Shortly after midnight on February 3, 1943, a German U-boat fired a torpedo into the USAT Dorchester, an American troop carrier on its way to Greenland. Twenty-five minutes later the Dorchester plunged into the Atlantic, and of the 902 men on board only 230 survived. Among the dead were four chaplains — the subjects of Dan Kurzman's No Greater Glory: The Four Immortal Chaplains and the Sinking of the Dorchester in World War II — who had calmed panicked...

"Friends say the 14th Aggie to die in war embodied school's sense of duty More than five years into America's war on terrorism, the routine at Texas A&M University — home of the Corps of Cadets — is well-established. When an Aggie is killed, the school's maroon flag is hoisted in mourning. Then it is lowered, folded and shipped to yet another grieving family. ...... "But the toll has been high. Of the nation's service academies, only the United States Military Academy at West Point has lost more graduates, 51, to the war." .... ""He felt he had a debt...

Casey E. Mellen is going back to the military as a way to honor his son killed in Iraq last year. (Mark Levy-Herald/Review) Herald/Review HUACHUCA CITY — This is a story about a father taking up the warrior’s mantle from a fallen son. Casey E. Mellen took off an Army uniform more than 20 years ago after serving more than six years in the service. In the two decades since, the 44-year-old thought the days of saluting, marching and other GI activities were over. But Mellen’s son, Casey L., who is known as Case, was killed in action while on...

Hi everyone! Our son Mitchell ("Taco") was asked to write an essay for Newsweek magazine online for Christmas and the reporter who wrote these stories is Susanna Schrobsdorff of Newsweek. I hope you enjoy them! And don't forget to vote for them!!! Hugs and Merry Christmas to all! Mary She wrote Mitchell: If you go to Newsweek.com right now, the story is the lead. It will stay on the site under "The War in Iraq" section on the left of the homepage for several months after it moves off the front page. You can send folks these URLs. Hope it...