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Thursday, March 10, 2005

Support Our Troops Alert!!!

Lt. Smash has posted about a profoundly disturbing anti-war, anti-troop movement planning a rally in California in March.

But Lt. Smash has some plans of his own for that day. If you live in California (or have been looking for an excuse to visit), please consider visiting San Diego on March 19th.

You can read more about what Lt. Smash has planned here.

And an FYI to those who support our troops in North Carolina, this same group is planning a rally for that area, too.


Received via Email...

It was just another harried Wednesday afternoon trip to the commissary. My husband was off teaching young men to fly. My daughters were going about their daily activities knowing I would return to them at the appointed time, bearing, among other things, their favorite fruit
snacks frozen pizza and all the little extras that never had to be written down on a grocery list. My grocery list, by the way, was in my 16-month-old daughter's mouth, and while extracting the last of my list from my daughters mouth, I nearly ran over an old man. This man
clearly had no appreciation for the fact that I had 45 minutes left to finish the grocery shopping, pick up my 4-year old from tumbling class and get to school, where my 12-year-old and her car pool mates would be waiting. I knew men didn't belong in a commissary, and this old
guy was no exception. He stood in front of the soap selection staring blankly, as if he'd never had to choose a bar of soap in his life. I was ready to bark an order at him when l realized there was a
tear on his face. Instantly, this grocery isle roadblock transformed into a human. "Can I help you find something?" I asked.

He hesitated, and then told me he was looking for soap. "Any one in particular?" I continued. "Well, I'm trying to find my wife's brand of soap." I started to loan him my cell phone to call her when he said, "She died a year ago, and I just want to smell her again."

Chills ran down my spine. I don't think the 22,000-pound Mother of all Bombs could have had the same impact. As tears welled up in my eyes, my half-eaten grocery list didn't seem so important. Neither did fruit snacks or frozen pizza. I spent the remainder of my time in the
commissary that day listening to a man tell the story of how Important his wife was to him -- how she took care of their children while he served our country. A retired, decorated World War II pilot who flew missions to protect Americans still needed the protection of a woman who served him at home. My life was forever changed that day.

Every time my husband works too late or leaves before the crack of dawn, l try to remember the sense of importance I felt that day in the commissary. Some times the monotony of laundry, housecleaning, grocery shopping and taxi driving leaves military wives feeling empty -- the
kind of emptiness that is rarely fulfilled when our husbands come home and don't want to or can't talk about work. We need to be reminded, at times, of the important role we fill for our family and for our country.

Over the years, I've talked a lot about military spouses... how special they are and the price they pay for freedom too. The funny thing is; most military spouses don't consider themselves different from other spouses. They do what they have to do, bound together not by blood or merely friendship, but with a shared spirit whose origin is in the very essence of what love truly is. Is there truly a difference? I think there is. You have to decide for yourself.

Other spouses get married and look forward to building equity in a home and putting down family roots. Military spouses get married and know they'll live in base housing or rent, and their roots must be short so they can be transplanted frequently.

Other spouses decorate a home with flair and personality that will last a lifetime. Military spouses decorate a home with flare tempered with the knowledge that no two base houses have the same size windows or same size rooms. Curtains have to be flexible and multiple sets
are a plus. Furniture must fit like puzzle pieces.

Other spouses have living rooms that are immaculate and seldom used. Military spouses have immaculate living room/dining room combos. The coffee table got a scratch or two moving from Germany, but it still looks pretty good.

Other spouses say good-bye to their spouse for a business trip and know they won't see them for a week. They are lonely, but can survive. Military spouses say good-bye to their deploying spouse and know they won't see them for months, or for a remote, a year. They are lonely, but will survive.

Other spouses, when a washer hose blows off, call Maytag and then write a check out for having the hose reconnected. Military spouses will cut the water off and fix it themselves. Other spouses get used to saying "hello" to friends they see all the time. Military spouses get used to saying "good-bye" to friends made the last two years.

Other spouses worry about whether their child will be class president next year. Military spouses worry about whether their child will be accepted in yet another school next year and whether that school will be the worst in the city... again.

Other spouses can count on spouse participation in special events... birthdays, anniversaries, concerts, football games, graduation, and even the birth of a child. Military spouses only count on each other; because they realize that the flag has to come first if freedom is to survive. It has to be that way.

Other spouses put up yellow ribbons when the troops are imperiled across the globe and take them down when the troops come home. Military spouses wear yellow ribbons around their hearts and they never go away. Other spouses worry about being late for mom's Thanksgiving dinner. Military spouses worry about getting back from Japan in time for dad's funeral. And, other spouses are touched by the television program showing an elderly lady putting a card down in front of a long, black wall that has names on it. The card simply says, "Happy Birthday, Sweetheart. You would have been sixty today." A military spouse is the lady with the card, and the wall is the Vietnam Memorial.

I would never say military spouses are better than other spouses are. But I will say there is a difference. And I will say that our country asks more of military spouse than is asked of other spouses. And I will say, without hesitation, that military spouses pay just as high a price for freedom as do their active duty husbands and wives. Perhaps the price they pay is even higher. Dying in service to our country isn't near as hard as loving someone who has died in service to our country, and having to live without them.

God bless our military spouses for all they freely give. And God bless America.




Received from a Hero's wife: The picture above is of my husband SGT Morgan & our son the night our Hero was leaving for Iraq. We love & miss our Hero very much & hope that he comes home safe & soon, as well as all the other Soldiers that are deployed. We will pray for all of you.

Sgt. Morgan is based out of Fort Riley, Kansas. Thank you to both of you for sharing the picture with us. Take care, and stay safe, Sgt. Morgan.

Some Words from Italy

My thoughts go to you, US soldiers, one more time. I am particularly close to those who, among you, in this war against terrorism, have lost a friend and bear the weight of a part of public opinion (the communist one), which is against your intervention in Irak.

My heart and my prayers are with you. Concerning prayers, I ask God to protect the soldiers that, by mistake, killed Nicola Calipari, and I know that, unfortunately, also many of you have fallen under the so-called "friend fire". May all of them rest in peace.

I'm Catholic and I also pray with Psalms which are in the Bible. I invite you to ask every day the Lord to protect your lives with Psalm 91: "Under divine wings", Psalm 144: "Hymn for war and victory" and Psalm 140 "Against the bad".

Pray for the soldiers who fired by mistake our Calipari, because Italian and European communist medias will try to paint them as "the bad Americans", but the "real" Italy knows that it is not like that, the non-communist Italians (and we are the majority) stand by your side.

Pray by reading the Prologue of Saint John's Gospel before a battle, and Jesus Christ will be your strength.

Such people as Fabrizio Quattrocchi, Eugene Armstrong, Jack Hensley, Nick Berg, the Sud-Corean Kim Sun Il and all the other innocent guys, soldiers or civilians killed by the murderers of Allah, will live for ever. Vile Giuliana Sgrena is nothing but dust, and she will be soon forgotten, just like all the men and women with no honour.

If I'm talking to you about prayers, it is because I experienced their strength in my life!!!

And so don't lose heart, you are not alone, go on friends, there will be a better future for mankind, let's keep hope alive!

May God bless you all, may God bless America.

Sincerely,
Lorella
Rome
Italy


Grazie, Lorella
Take a look at this great article about organizations (including Soldiers' Angels) helping to support our troops.


Inspire Your World - The Battle at Home >

REMEMBERING THE FALLEN— Hawaiian Gov. Linda Lingle speaks at a memorial service at the Hawaii State Capitol, March 7, 2005. The service was held to honor the 27 Marines and one sailor from 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment who died in a helicopter crash near Ar Rutbah, Iraq, Jan. 26, 2005. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Bernadette L. Ainsworth

In Today's News - Thursday, March 10, 2005

Quote of the Day
He that would make his own liberty secure, must guard even his enemy from oppression; for if he violates this duty, he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself.
Thomas Paine, Dissertation on First Principles of Government, December 23, 1791


JuneauEmpire.com: Associated Press
Gunmen kill five policemen in Baghdad
Pro-Syrian Lebanese premier reappointed
Hong Kong's leader resigns after 8 years
Italy PM disputes U.S. version of shooting
Probe: Leaders didn't order prison abuse
Dan Rather signs off 'CBS Evening News'
Oil prices briefly rise over $55 on demand


Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq
Israeli troops kill Palestinian militant


Ananova: War In Iraq
New battle over anti-terror laws
MoD must improve overseas housing


Yahoo! News: War with Iraq
Iraq Police Find 41 Bodies; Minister Attacked
The Shape of a New Lebanon
Medical team to stay on in Iraq
New Interrogation Rules Set for Detainees in Iraq
Daily Star - Lebanon
On the way to freedom, Niger's slaves stuck in limbo
Israel's aid to illegal settlers
Mounds of 41 corpses give Iraq big shock


The US News: Iraq News
DOD dismisses claims on Saddam capture
Plan to Reimburse Private Costs for Combat Gear Falls Behind
41 Corpses Found in Iraq; Blast Kills Four
Berlusconi demands account of Iraq death
U.N.: Far more than 70,000 dead in Darfur


CNN.com
Two high-level police officials slain in Iraq
Hong Kong leader resigns, cites ill health
Dan Rather signs off with 'courage'
Seeking fates of people in tsunami photos

Fox News
Top Iraqi Cop Murdered
Australia Nixes Torture Probe
Ex-Lebanese PM Back In
U.S. Issues Saudi Terror Alert
Malaysia Warns U.S. of Threat
Iran Warns U.S. Against Attack
Leaders Didn't Order Prison Abuse, Military Probe Finds
Hong Kong's Leader Resigns
Australia Nixes Torture Probe
Iraqi Cops Find Victims of Mass Killings
Iraqi Official Survives Assassination Attempt
Berlusconi: U.S. OK'd Hostage Deal
Shooting Will Be Probed
First Lady: Hope for Iraqi Women
GIs Battle Iraqi Insurgents in Ramadi


The Department of Defense
Tax Refunds May Go to Military Families — Story
India Delivers 50 Trucks to Afghanistan — Story

ON THE GROUND
'Mission Complete,' 3rd Corps Uncases Colors — Story
Troops Help Iraqi Commandos to Communicate — Story
Acquisition Training Graduates Second Class — Story
Afghan Army Trainees Head to School — Story

IN IRAQ
'New Dawn' Goal: Revitalize Iraqi Agriculture
Marines Search Hospital, BAT Those Inside
Unit Completes Longest Deployment in Its History
Civil Affairs Troops Bring Supplies, Soccer Balls
Estonian, U.S. Soldiers Keep Supply Routes Safe

IN AFGHANISTAN
Texas Guard Unit Deploys to Afghanistan
Team Helps Restore Afghan Cultural Art Form
Coalition Aid Effort Honors Afghan Women

IN THE PERSIAN GULF
Truman Stays Connected with Video Teleconferencing

IN UZBEKISTAN
Uzbek Women Host Troops for Women’s Day
Personnel Airmen Count ‘Boots on the Ground'

FACE OF DEFENSE
Marine First One in Family to Join Military — Story

TOP NEWS
IN IRAQ
Insurgency Weakening
Coalition, NATO Train Leaders
Team to Investigate Shooting
Coalition Forces Thwart Terrorists
Iraqi Army Activates Brigade
Iraqis Assume More Responsibility
Iraqis Flush Samarra of Insurgents
Iraq Daily Update
Iraq Reconstruction
Maps
Weekly Progress Report (pdf)

IN AFGHANISTAN
Challenges Face Anti-Drug Effort
Citizens Turn In Weapons
Afghanistan Daily Update
Maps

WAR ON TERRORISM
President Outlines Strategies
NATO Commander Talks Strategy
Innovation Critical to Security
Parties Still Work Detainee Issues
Waging and Winning the War on Terror
Terrorism Timeline
Terrorism Knowledge Base

MILITARY NEWS
Exercises Test Mobilization
Mich. Marines Train for Iraq Duty
Sailors Pass Torch Aboard Raven
National Guard, Reserve Update


Today in History
515 BC - The building of the great Jewish temple in Jerusalem is completed.
241 BC - During the First Punic War, the Romans sink 50 Carthaginian ships at the Battle of Aegusa.
49 BC - Julius Caesar crosses the Rubicon, invading Italy.
1656 - The Colony of Virginia extends the right to vote to all free men, regardless of religion.
1705 - In the Battle of Marbella, the British destroy a French squadron, enabling British and Dutch troops to lay siege to Barcelona.
1776 - Thomas Paine's "Common Sense" is published.
1785 - Thomas Jefferson is appointed minister to France.
1806 - In Cape Town, South Africa, the Dutch surrender to the British.
1814 - Napoleon loses to an allied army at the Battle of Laon.
1848 - The treaty of Guadeloupe-Hidalgo is signed; this ends the U.S. war with Mexico.
1876 - Alexander Graham Bell makes the first telephone call.
1902 - The Boers of South Africa score their last victory over the British, in which they captured a British General and 200 men.
1905 - The Japanese capture Mukden, after three weeks of battle. Mukden is of little strategic importance. The battle took three weeks, and resulted in 50,000 Japanese casualties.
1910 - China abolishes slavery.
1927 - Prussia lifts its Nazi ban, allowing public speeches by Adolf Hitler.
1939 - Germany annexes Czechoslovakia.
1941 - Vichy France threatens use of its navy unless Britain allows deliveries of food to reach mainland France.
1943 - Adolf Hitler calls Field Marshall Erwin Rommel from Tunisia.
1944 - The Irish refuse to oust Axis envoys and deny that they are spying on the Allied troops.
1945 - The firebombing of Tokyo kills 100,000.
1947 - In Moscow, The Big Four meet to discuss Germany's future.
1953 - North Korean gunners fire on the USS Missouri. The USS responds, firing 998 rounds.
1966 - North Vietnamese troops capture a Green Beret camp at Ashau Valley.
1969 - James Earl Ray pleads guilty murdering of Dr. Martin Luther King. He is sentenced to 99 years in prison.
1971 - The Senate approves a Constitutional amendment lowering voting age to 18.
1975 - The North Vietnamese attack the Ban Me Thout.
1980 -Ayatollah Khomeini, lends his support to militants holding American hostages in Tehran, Iran.
1982 -The United States bans Libyan oil imports due to that country's support of terrorists.

Birthdays
1503 - Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor.
1845 - Alexander III, Czar of Russia.
1918 - Günther Rall, (Luftwaffe ace)

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