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An Indiana, Pa., man was killed Sunday in a helicopter crash near Los Angeles while working on a military-themed reality show for the Discovery Channel. Michael Donatelli, 45, was one of three people, including the pilot, who were killed in the crash, according to Los Angeles County Deputy Sheriff Jason Brandenburg. The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating. The crash occurred about 3:45 a.m. on the Polsa Rosa Ranch in Acton, north of Los Angeles. Officials at the ranch declined to comment. Mr. Donatelli served four tours of duty in Iraq, worked as a Washington, D.C.,...

By a 3-2 majority, the highest military appeals court has upheld Army Ranger 1st  Lt. Michael Behenna's conviction for the unpremediated murder of a detainee and al-Qaeda-operative in Iraq named Ali Mansur. While Michael still could receive clemency, his legal appeals are now officially exhausted. Barring clemency, Michael will remain at Leavenworth military prison until 2024. What a blow. What a disgrace.I just finished reading the majority opinion. It is a chilling document. It contains analysis of whether Michael had "the right to act in self-defense" when the detainee he was questioning about IED attacks that had recently killed two...

Competition to attend the course is fierce, with about 4,000 men eligible to attend each year. Only about half graduate. Of those, only 20% make it through without having to retake various phases. For decades, completion of Ranger School has been the best indicator for determining which young men can handle the enormous responsibility of combat leadership.

A Montara man walking two lapdogs off leash was hit with an electric-shock gun by a National Park Service ranger after allegedly giving a false name and trying to walk away, authorities said Monday. The park ranger encountered Gary Hesterberg with his two small dogs Sunday afternoon at Rancho Corral de Tierra, which was recently incorporated into the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, said Howard Levitt, a spokesman for the park service. Hesterberg, who said he didn't have identification with him, allegedly gave the ranger a false name, Levitt said. The ranger, who wasn't identified, asked Hesterberg to remain at...

While gun prohibitionists tried to exploit the New Year’s Day slaying of a Mount Rainier National Park ranger, a Seattle-based gun rights forum is already working to set up a memorial fund for Ranger Margaret Anderson’s family. Norm Gildroy, owner of SeattleGuns.net and Wesley Sage, one of the forum’s moderators, moved quickly to demonstrate that it was a lone disturbed individual, not a culture or community, that took the 34-year-old Anderson’s life, stealing her forever from a husband and two small daughters, and a community that liked and respected her. This column already took a hard look at the exploitation,...

The government's pending (2016) 35.5 MPG CAFE fuel economy requirements -- which for the first time apply to trucks as well as passenger cars -- are going to make it very difficult for any automaker to sell trucks in volume in this country. Ford has just dropped the compact-size Ranger from its U.S. model lineup -- making it the first CAFE casualty -- and I predict that larger trucks are on the endangered species list now, too.... Even a small truck with a four-cylinder engine will have a hard time averaging 35.5 MPG....

The Supreme Court agreed Monday to hear an important First Amendment case to decide whether the freedom of speech includes a right to lie about military honors. The justices voted to hear the government’s defense of the Stolen Valor Act, a 5-year-old law that makes it a crime to falsely claim to have earned medals for service in the U.S. armed forces. The U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals last year struck down the law on free-speech grounds and said the government cannot act as the “truth police” to punish lies that cause no direct harm. “The sad fact is,...

It has been a while since I have been here but y'all always provide the BEST information! My son is currently deployed in Afghanistan. He is in a very remote area, no internet and intermittent phone. I finally talked to him on Saturday and he said his Commander has selected him for Ranger School!!!! 1 of 6 in his Company! He is so excited as it is something he was going to volunteer for after his deployment. His Capt. said he would go to Pre-Ranger training. The only thing he is worried about is the 5 mile run. He has...

WASHINGTON, July 12, 2011 – President Barack Obama today awarded the country’s highest military honor to Sgt. 1st Class Leroy A. Petry, an Army Ranger who was shot in both legs and had his hand blown off while saving his fellow soldiers during a firefight in Afghanistan. Army Sgt. 1st Class Leroy A. Petry received the Medal of Honor at a July 12, 2011, White House ceremony for conspicuous gallantry in combat. U.S. Army photo   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. Petry became only the second living veteran of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq to receive the award,...

When Army Sergeant First Class Leroy A. Petry receives the Medal of Honor from President Obama next month, the Santa Fe resident will have to make sure the batteries are recharged for the prosthetic right hand he extends to friends and strangers alike. Although custom prohibits medal winners from speaking publicly in advance of their receipt of the honor, three of Petry’s Army Ranger comrades held a news conference in Seattle Thursday to recount his extraordinary heroism and selfless sacrifice in the line of duty.

WASHINGTON — An Army sergeant who lost his right hand throwing an armed grenade away from other wounded soldiers will become only the second living service member from the Afghanistan and Iraq wars to be awarded the Medal of Honor. The White House said Sgt. 1st Class Leroy Arthur Petry will receive the nation's highest military decoration from President Barack Obama in a ceremony July 12. ... The Army News Service said Petry and another soldier came under fire as they searched a courtyard. Petry was shot through both legs and the other soldier also was wounded, the news service...

Sgt. 1st Class Leroy Arthur Petry is someone you should know. Petry will be awarded the Medal of Honor for his courageous actions in Afghanistan on May 26, 2008 – just more than three years ago – when he lost his right hand and suffered shrapnel wounds after he tossed a live grenade away from himself to protect platoon members during combat operations.

Affected lots have last four digits: DK01, DK11, DK21, DK31, DK41, and DK51 Owners of Ranger 223 Remington 64 Grain Power-Point centerfire rifle ammunition may want to pause before chambering a round. Olin Corporation, through its Winchester Division, is recalling six lots of the Ranger 223 ammo after determining that the lots may contain incorrect propellant. The last four characters of the affected lot numbers are: DK01, DK11, DK21, DK31, DK41, and DK51. Incorrect propellant in the Ranger 223 may cause firearm damage

The Atlantic Wire noted recently that the World Association of Chefs has named Master Sergeant Mark Morgan of the U.S. Army Rangers as one of the three best pastry chefs in the world. The local newspaper of Fort Monroe, Va., where Morgan is based, reported the news. Morgan earned the distinction at the recent Culinary World Cup in Luxembourg, where he represented the U.S. culinary team and won two gold medals. Morgan has also been honored in his day job as an Army Ranger. At some point during his six tours of duty--two in Iraq and four in Afghanistan--he was...

Staff Sgt. Kevin M. Pape, 30, of Fort Wayne, Ind., died in Konar province of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with small arms fire, according to the Department of Defense.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official position of the U.S. Army Intelligence Center and Fort Huachuca, U.S. Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government. Few combat commanders will deny the importance of reconnaissance to the success of tactical operations. The opposing force (OPFOR) at the National Training Center (NTC) will attest that the success of any visiting unit operation depends largely on the success of the "Blue" force's (BLUFOR) division and regimental reconnaissance teams. Military Intelligence (MI) soldiers--in particular military occupational specialty 98G (Cryptologic Linguist) and MOS 96R...

What’s the price of defending freedom? 15 years in prison for one Army Ranger. First Lieutenant Michael Behenna was sentenced to 15 years in prison for doing just that, defending freedom. Behenna was prosecuted for shooting al-Qaeda operative Ali Mansur while escorting the terrorist home.

America's generals love to brag about their all-volunteer Army. That's because they tend to overlook Jeffrey Mellinger. He donned his Army uniform for the first time on April 18, 1972, about the time the Nixon Administration was seeking "peace with honor" in Vietnam and The Godfather was opening on the silver screen. Nearly 37 years later, he's still wearing Army green. Mellinger is, by all accounts, the last active-duty draftee serving in the U.S. Army. "I'm a relic," Mellinger concedes with a self-deprecating laugh. But the last of the nearly 2 million men ordered to serve in the Vietnam-era military...

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office announced today that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from the Korean War, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors. He is Cpl. Librado Luna, U.S. Army, of Taylor, Texas. He will be buried on Nov. 25 in Taylor. Representatives from the Army's Mortuary Office met with Luna’s next-of-kin to explain the recovery and identification process, and to coordinate interment with military honors on behalf of the Secretary of the Army. In late November 1950, Luna was assigned to the 8th...