Free Republic

California Governor Gavin Newsom has been accused of hypocrisy for harshly criticizing migrant transports from Texas and Florida, despite previously running his own initiative to bus homeless people away from San Francisco. Newsom, a Democrat, engaged in a public war of words with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis after last week's high-profile flights carrying Venezuelan migrants to Martha's Vineyard. In a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland, Newsom demanded a criminal probe into Florida's airlift, calling it a 'morally reprehensible' and possibly illegal attempt to 'humiliate and dehumanize' the group of about 50 migrants. DeSantis fired back at a press conference,...

A stroll through the Civic Center or the Tenderloin or, well, any number of neighborhoods in San Francisco may tell a different story, but Mayor Gavin NewsomWednesday said his administration has moved 12,000 homeless people off the streets since he took office in 2004. He referred to his predecessor, Willie Brown, and his famous claim that homelessness in San Francisco could never be solved. "It can be solved for the people in the city," Newsom said. The 12,000 number includes those helped by programs including Care Not Cash to slash welfare checks in exchange for housing and Homeward Bound to...

The city of Portland, Oregon, has set aside $30,000 to pay for bus fares for homeless individuals to leave town. The program, called Homeward Bound, is similar to programs offered in other cities. It is intended to help solve the homelessness problem in the city, which is so serious a state of emergency was declared last fall....

CAMP RAMADI – As the responsible drawdown of U.S. forces from here continues, a Colorado National Guard battalion cased its colors as the latest unit to end its mission in the once-restive Anbar province, March 19. Lt. Col. Al Morris, commander of 3rd Battalion, 157th Field Artillery, addressed Soldiers of 1st Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division (Advise and Assist), under whom his unit fell, the Anbar Provincial Reconstruction Team, the commander of the 1st Iraqi Quick Response Force Brigade, and the Soldiers of his battalion, who were packed and ready to leave by helicopter once the ceremony concluded. "Like many others...

After nearly a year away from their families, 1,200 members of the Minnesota National Guard will soon be coming home from Iraq. The 34th Infantry Division, known as the Red Bulls, won't be home for the holidays, but they will arrive not long after the new year. The first wave of men and women will start coming home next month. By the end of February, they should all be home. Theresa Nace is counting the days. Her husband Specialist Timothy Nace, is one of the guardsmen returning home. She said, "It's very helpful knowing that once 2010 comes then we're...

BANGOR, Maine — Author Stephen King and his wife are donating money so 150 soldiers from the Maine Army National Guard can come home for the holidays. King and his wife, Tabitha, who live in Bangor, are paying $13,000 toward the cost of two bus trips so that members of the 3rd Battalion, 172nd Infantry Unit can travel from Camp Atterbury in Indiana to Maine for Christmas. The soldiers left Maine last week for training at Camp Atterbury. They are scheduled to depart for Afghanistan in January -snip-

Lt. Col. Kristan L.K. Hericks (center), CO of the 419th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion "Wolfpack," and her 419th Soldiers successfully completed a 12-month tour at Camp Taji and will be redeploying home to Irvine, Calif, soon. Photo courtesy of the 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary). CAMP TAJI — After a long and often-times grueling year here, the 419th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion (CSSB) "Wolfpack" is on its way home. Over the next few days, the Wolfpack Soldiers will see a Relief in Place/Transfer of Authority ceremony where they officially pass the torch to the 541st CSSB, as well as an awards...

Our son, USAFSecurityForces is out of Iraq!!! He can't say where he is just now. But he is safe and sound. Good is good! We are so thankful for all the prayers and kind thoughts shared on his behalf during this deployment.

WASHINGTON, April 17, 2009 – It’s tempting to want to scoop up a handful of sand to take home as a souvenir after deploying to Iraq, or maybe a rock from the mountains in Afghanistan. A soldier empties his backpack of restricted or prohibited items into the red amnesty box at the inspection table at the U.S. Navy customs unit at the Theater Gateway in Kuwait. Troops and civilians traveling on military-contracted airlines back to the United States pass through the unit. DoD photo courtesy of the Media Transit Team, Kuwait  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. But deployed...

FORT HUACHUCA — Nearly 600 soldiers of the 40th Expeditionary Signal Brigade will be returning next week after completing a 15-month deployment to the Middle East and other areas. Most of the battalion, which is part of the 11th Signal Brigade, left the fort in early December to provide communications network support in Iraq. Soldiers of the battalion also served in Kuwait, Qatar and Afghanistan, providing communication support for America’s war on terrorism. It is expected the soldiers will return in two groups over a period of two days, said Eric Hortin, a spokesman for the Network Enterprise Technology Command/9th...

WASHINGTON, Nov. 6, 2008 – About 3,000 soldiers assigned to the 101st Airborne Division’s 2nd Brigade Combat Team will leave Iraq nearly two months earlier than planned, military officials said. Improved security and decreased violence across the unit’s area of operations in northwestern Baghdad is enabling the early redeployment of the soldiers back to Fort Campbell, Ky., Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman told reporters today. The unit is commencing pack-up operations, Whitman said, and its return window is around the Thanksgiving-Christmas holiday season. Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, U.S. Central Command chief, and Army Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, commander of Multinational...

TAJI, Iraq– Soon a group of Iowa National Guardsmen will be leaving Iraq and leaving behind a legacy of training and friendship with their Iraqi Air Force partners.“This day I would like to say goodbye to our dear friends who gave serious assistance and backup for our air force,” said Lt. Gen. Kamal, IqAF commander. “They did a major job to build our new Air Force.”“We would like to thank their families, said Kamal. “Because they were so patient waiting for them to do their duties here. Our salute to their families to wish them all the best happiness and...

The last of the five Army brigades to deploy with the “troop surge” in Iraq will return in July after a 13-month deployment, during which soldiers detained more than 800 terrorist suspects and helped foster Iraqi self-governance. The 3rd Infantry Division’s 2nd Brigade Combat Team has operated in the Arab Jabour area of southeastern Baghdad, where the number of attacks plummeted from about 30 a week when they arrived in May 2007 to about one a week now. “All in all, it's been a very successful operation for us,” Army Col. Terry Ferrell, 2nd Brigade Combat Team commander, told reporters...

JOHNSTON, Iowa -- Homecoming ceremonies will be held on Wednesday in Denison, Johnston and Sioux City for members of two Iowa Army National Guard units returning from Iraq.About 120 soldiers were mobilized from Company D, 1st Battalion, 168th Infantry, based in Denison. Another 120 soldiers were mobilized from Troop A, 1st Squadron, 113th Calvary, based at Camp Dodge in Johnston and Sioux City. The guard said both units were mobilized last May. The soldiers left Iowa in June for additional training at Camp Shelby, Miss., before being sent to Iraq, where both units served in the Baghdad area.The homecoming for...

FR Exclusive !! :) GREETINGS to all of my Family, FRiends, and FReepers. I trust this short note finds you well as we celebrate the birth of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. My Christmas present this year was the safe arrival of my team to KUWAIT. This arrival marks the beginning of my journey HOME to the Land of the Free --- Because of the Brave --- of whom I am proud to be one of many.... If all goes well I should be a FULLY FUNCTIONING -- U.S. CITIZEN on or about New Years Day !!Thank you so...

The Pentagon expects that more than 40,000 U.S. troops will be home by July if the situation in Iraq remains stable, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said yesterday. Declining to cite exact troop numbers, Mr. Gates told reporters that five brigade combat teams are scheduled to be home by July. Defense officials said there are nearly 4,000 front-line troops for each plus about that number of support personnel, who are expected to redeploy as well. "The situation on the ground, I think, makes it likely that General [David H.] Petraeus will be able to decide and bring out the first...

After a nine-month deployment in the province of Uruzgan, the 600 soldiers of Kandak 1 were finally going home. These combat soldiers, under Dutch mentorship, are part of 1st Brigade, 205 Corps of the Afghan National Army (ANA). To bring things full circle, they had to be brought back to the province of Kandahar. My team was given the job of getting these soldiers back to their training base at Camp Hero in Sherzaï. The operation, which proved to be a great success, was carried out in two stages: the soldiers were flown home by plane and their equipment and...

FORT HUACHUCA — The shadows of snow clouds steadily built and enveloped the Huachucas, but never quite managed to engulf hangar No. 3 at Libby Army Airfield late Monday afternoon. There was already enough precipitation flowing as the families, friends, a few pets, and comrades-in-arms gathered for two all-too-brief hours to say a goodbye with a kiss, hug or gentle touch that must last 15 months. “I gave him a present on his birthday,” said Chief Warrant Officer Ramona Hill, indicating little Wilson Hill, born on Oct. 25, held by his daddy with whom he will always share a birthday,...

A US soldier is to return home from Iraq under a military proviso known as the "sole survivor" rule after losing both of his brothers in the war. Jason Hubbard, 33, will be re-united with his family in Clovis, California after his brother Nathan, 21, died in a helicopter crash in Iraq on Wednesday. His other sibling Jared Hubbard was killed by a roadside bomb in 2004. The "sole survivor" policy, which has allowed Jason to leave Iraq, formed the premise of movie Saving Private Ryan. Nathan and Jason Hubbard had joined the army in 2005, shortly after their brother,...

Media Advisory Remains of Four Soldiers Returning Home MA 06-12 - August 5, 2006CHANGE OF TIMING OTTAWA, Ont. - The remains of Sgt. Vaughn Ingram, Cpl. Bryce James Keller, Cpl. Christopher Jonathan Reid and Pte. Kevin Dallaire, all of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, based in Edmonton, are scheduled to return home to Canada Sunday afternoon. Where: 8 Wing Trenton, Canadian Forces Base Trenton, Ontario. When: Sunday, August 6, 7:30 p.m. What:  As per the request of the families, media are invited to view the arrival, though no interviews will be given. Present to pay their respects will be...