Free Republic

There are 24 million Americans with these common memories. In the next few hours, many of the nation's veterans will recall their military service — the highs and lows, the guts and glory — not to mention boots, buddies, commanders, bivouacs, chow, deployments, homecomings. Hoo-ah. Oo-rah. Hip-hip. But wear your medals today. That's an order. The Department of Veterans Affairs has suggested all vets pin on their military decorations on Veterans Day for a well-earned display of personal pride and patriotism. There's more at stake, though. "By wearing our decorations, we show the world the unity of our support for...

Multiple terrorist attacks in Mosul met with strong counterattacks. By Multi-National Corps – Iraq Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory MOSUL, Iraq, May 18, 2007 — Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) demonstrated bravery and quick reactions under fire while repelling a large-scale terrorist attack, May 16, in Mosul, according to U.S. Army officials. "There are two things that these events make perfectly clear: The ISF and local leaders are committed to this city and the welfare of the people, and second, the terrorists are cowards." U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Benjamin R. Mixon “This was a total team effort on the part of...

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq (June 12, 2006) -- Many months of preparation, including hours upon hours of diligent study and practical application rehearsals, and a grueling four-hour oral examination were finally rewarded here June 12. Four Navy corpsmen assigned to Regimental Combat Team 5’s Regimental Aid Station were awarded the Fleet Marine Force Warfare Specialist designation. Even better, they were pinned by RCT 5’s Commanding Officer Col. Larry D. Nicholson. The awardees were Navy Petty Officers 3rd Class Orlando A. Soriano, John W. Harper, Andrew W. Tuohy and Seaman Bounmy Meunsy. The designation authorizes the sailors to wear the FMF insignia,...

FRIEDBERG, Germany (Army News Service, June 7, 2006) – A group of oddly dressed U.S. Soldiers patrols a village on the lookout for insurgents. Suddenly ambushers open fire from windows, an assumed casualty springs to life firing at the patrol and the Soldiers quickly head for cover. As members of the 1st Armored Division’s 1st Battalion, 37th Armor Regiment, coached the squadron of Army spouses through the combat course on Friedberg’s Ray Barracks, the competitors discussed their options and took action. It was all part of the 1st Brigade Combat Team’s Combat Spouse Badge Challenge June 3 – an event...

MIAMI (AFP) - They have watched elections in the Balkans, in Asia and South Africa, but the complexity of the US presidential election every four years is enough to give a headache to even the most seasones international observer. It is "not one election, but 13,000 elections," said Canadian expert Ron Gould, a member of a delegation from the Vienna-based Organization for Security and Cooperation (news - web sites) in Europe (OSCE (news - web sites)) in Miami for the 2004 US elections after observing some 70 elections around the world. "We like to see the setup, how organized it...