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Saturday, April 30, 2005


When Saigon Fell

When Saigon fell, my son was 6.
His father and I had been divorced three years;
his father had been in Vietnam in 1969,
the year Michael was born; the year of tears.
When Saigon fell, I sat in the living room with my mother,

on the couch, while my son played Legos on the carpet,
and we witnessed the chaos--people in their terror
storming the gates of the Embassy--
the choppers taking off, one after another;
people waiting on the roof,
a child in the arms of her mother.
I don't believe my mother and I spoke at all
while we were watching Saigon fall.
My son was making car noises: "vroom, vroom"
while we listened to chopper sounds
in the comfort of our living room.
I remember thinking it was over, what a relief,
what sorrow; what happens to Saigon's people tomorrow?
What good ever comes from War?
All the lives lost, floating away
like the windblown, weightless feather?
(Michael, get up off the rug;
and come give mom a great big hug)
and then, the commentator said
Let's talk about the weather.

Christina Sharik

Copyright ©2003 Christina A Sharik Updated 4-30-03

Sand Storm


A dust storm which originated near the Syrian-Jordanian border swept across Iraq's western desert, April 26, 2005. U.S. Marine Corps weather forecasters stationed at Al Asad, Iraq, described the dust storm as a downburst. The storm passed over in about 45 minutes, leaving a heavy sheet of dust in its wake. Forecasters say the wall of dust may have reached 4,000 to 5,000 feet, based on the height of the clouds above it. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Gunnery Sgt. Shannon Arledge



A dust storm similar to special effects on the big screen bellowed across the western desert of Iraq, April 26, 2005. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Gunnery Sgt. Shannon Arledge



A massive sand storm cloud rolls over Al Asad, Iraq, just before nightfall as U.S. Army Sgt. Michael A. Blaha watches, April 26, 2005. U.S. Marine Corps photo Cpl. Alicia M. Garcia



A massive sand storm cloud is close to enveloping a military camp as it rolls over Al Asad, Iraq, just before nightfall on April 26, 2005. U.S. Marine Corps photo Cpl. Alicia M. Garcia



A massive sand storm cloud is close to enveloping a military camp as it rolls over Al Asad, Iraq, just before nightfall on April 26, 2005. U.S. Marine Corps photo Cpl. Alicia M. Garcia



A massive sand storm cloud is close to enveloping a military camp as it rolls over Al Asad, Iraq, just before night fall as several soldiers watch, April 26, 2005. U.S. Marine Corps photo Cpl. Alicia M. Garcia



A massive sand storm which originated near the Syrian-Jordanian border swept across Iraq's western desert, April 26, 2005. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Gunnery Sgt. Shannon Arledge



Soldiers watch as a massive sand storm cloud is close to enveloping a military camp as it rolls over Al Asad, Iraq, just before nightfall, April 26, 2005. U.S. Marine Corps photo Cpl. Alicia M. Garcia


from http://www.defendamerica.mil

FAREWELL CEREMONY— Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz, right, is escorted by Commander of Troops Col. Chuck Taylor as he inspects the honor guard during his farewell ceremony on the Pentagon River Parade Field, April 29, 2005. Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld presented Wolfowitz with the Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service. Wolfowitz is leaving the Defense Department to become president of the World Bank. Defense Dept. photo by R. D. Ward

In Today's News - Saturday, April 30, 2005

Quote of the Day
"I ask you to look into your hearts and recognize that there is no room for neutrality on the issue of terrorism. You're either with civilization or with terrorists."
-- Former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, in an October, 2001 address to the U.N.


2nd Lt. Ilario Pantano News
Hearing on Marine Officer Is Suspended
Marine's Attorneys Aim to Question Witness


JuneauEmpire.com: Associated Press
U.S. warns of possible N. Korea nuke test
Vietnam marks 30 years since war's end
Four U.S. soldiers killed in Iraq bomb
England to plead guilty to prisoner abuse
Italy, U.S. disagree on agent's Iraq death
NASA delays post-Columbia flight again


Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq
Forensic experts probe Kurdish mass grave
Alleged Zarqawi tape threatens new attacks
Yemen's ambassador to Syria seeks asylum


US News: Iraq News
Bombs Target Iraqi Forces in Baghdad, Kill 15
Terror, Sunni withdrawal bedevil Iraq's regime
England accepts deal in Abu Ghraib case
US, Italy Don't Agree On Shooting
Insurgents Strike Across Iraq, Killing 50
113 Kurds found in Iraqi mass grave
New Iraq govt under pressure to revive economy
Iraq rocked by 10 car-bombs
FAMILIES FIND IT'S HARD TO PART A thousand airmen, many from McConnell, will be deployed for 120 days
Iraq's parliament OKs partial cabinet
Bush says US making 'really good progress' in Iraq
One-time Pentagon favorite gains key spot in Iraq's new government
Italy and U.S. Complete Investigation Into Death of Italian Agent in Iraq


Ananova: War In Iraq
MPs 'should decide on going to war'
3,000 Muslims set for war protest
Poll: Howard's 'liar' jibe rebounds
Sinn Fein launches manifesto


CENTCOM
U.S. NAVY RESCUES 89 IN GULF OF ADEN


Fox News
Four U.S. GIs Killed in Iraq
Afghan Firefight Kills Two
Iran to Resume Some Nuclear Enrichment Activities
AP: N. Korea Readying Test
Lynndie England to Plead Guilty, Lawyer Says
Vietnam Marks 30th Anniversary of War
Indonesia to Prohibit Some Tsunami Rebuilding


Department of Defense
Defense Department Honors Wolfowitz — Story
Bombs Rock Baghdad; U.S. Troops Killed — Story
President Pleased With Progress in Iraq — Story Remarks

ON THE GROUND
Ambassador Visits U.S. Troops in Georgia — Story
Mobile Training Team Visits Camp Lemonier — Story
Marine Unit Storms Djiboutian Shores
Afghan Army Gets Armored Personnel Carriers — Story
Soldiers, K-9 Partners Work to Deter Attacks — Story
Iraqis Train to Fly C-130s in Combat Zone — Story

IN IRAQ
Texas Guard Soldiers Patrol Deadly Grounds
Army Medics Bring Care to Remote Village
Hawaii National Guard Secures Camp Victory

IN AFGHANISTAN
Khost Team Helps Restore Mosque, Shrine
U.S. Army Europe Commander Visits Troops
Team Effort Manages Bagram’s Busy Air Ops

IN SOUTHWEST ASIA
Deployed Airman Says 'I Do' Via Phone

IN THE HORN OF AFRICA
Task Force Troops Dedicate Kenyan Girls' School
Task Force Helps Renovate Ethiopian Schools

FACE OF DEFENSE
Marine Neighbors Serve Together in Iraq — Story

Superheroes Step Up – Story Kids Care Too Photos
Bank Donates Calling Cards
Free Videoconferencing Offered
Wounded, Families Get Tickets
N.Y. Parade Donates to Injured
Grand Ole Opry Shows Support

TOP NEWS
SPECIAL REPORTS
Medal of Honor
Two Years in Iraq

IN IRAQ
U.S. Soldiers Aid Attack Victims
Rice Urges Continued Momentum
Success in Iraq - DoD Fact Sheet
Year in Review 2004 Fact Sheets (pdf)
Iraq Daily Update
Iraq Reconstruction
Maps
Weekly Progress Report (pdf)

IN AFGHANISTAN
Afghans Treated at U.S. Base
Afghans Majority of Workforce
Defense Leaders' Views on Afghanistan
Enduring Freedom Marks 3 Years
Afghanistan Daily Update Maps
Afghan Reconstruction Group Recruiting

WAR ON TERRORISM
Rumsfeld Stresses Troops' Legacy
Waging and Winning the War on Terror
Terrorism Timeline
Terrorism Knowledge Base

MILITARY NEWS
Pace Visits West Point Cadets
Civic Leaders Visit Parris Island
Photos: Civil Leaders Visit Bases
Civic Leaders Visit Georgia Base
Senator Compares Myers to Ike
Survivors Share Stories at Event
Akbar Gets Death Penalty
National Guard, Reserve Update


Today in History
313 - Licinius unifies the eastern Roman Empire under his rule.
1250 - King Louis IX of France is ransomed.
1527 - England and France sign the treaty of Westminster.
1563 - Charles VI expels all Jews from France.
1725 - Spain withdraws from the Quadruple Alliance.
1789 - George Washington is inaugurated as the first US president.
1803 - The United States purchases Louisiana from France for $15 million, instantly doubling in size.
1812 - Louisiana is admitted as the 18th US State; it is the first of 13 to be carved from the Louisiana Purchase territory.
1849 - Giuseppe Garabaldi, Italian patriot / guerrilla leader, repulses an attack on Rome by the French.
1864 - Work begins on the Red River dams, which will allow General Nathaniel Banks' Union troops to sail over rapids above Alexandria, Louisiana.
- At the Battle of Jenkin's Ferry, in Arkansas, General Frederick Steele and Union troops retreating towards Little Rock hold off Confederate General Kirby Smith's Confederates.
1930 - The USSR proposes a military alliance with France and Great Britain.
1943 - The submarine HMS Seraph drops 'the man who never was,' a corpse planted with false invasion plans, into the Mediterranean off the coast of Spain.
1945 - Adolf Hitler commits suicide in his bunker; he is succeeded by Karl Donitz.
1968 - U.S. Marines attack North Vietnamese troops in the village of Dai Do.
1970 - U.S. troops invade Cambodia in order to disrupt North Vietnamese Army bases.
1972 - The North Vietnamese launch an invasion of the South.
1973 - Nixon announces the resignation of a number of top aides, including Haldeman and Ehrlichman.
1975 - North Vietnamese troops enter Independence Palace in Saigon, ending the Vietnam War.
1980 - In London, terrorists seize the Iranian Embassy.

Birthdays
1858
- Mary Scott Lord Dimmick, First Lady to President Benjamin Harrison .
1909 - Juliana, Queen of the Netherlands.

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