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Tuesday, May 24, 2005

Received this from Seamus, via his "All Hands" list:

All Hands:
Here is a good way to start off the morning. This is from Del Del Vecchio, and it is, finally, an admission that the main stream media is guilty, yes guilty, of anti-military bias. I have been using the All Hands for 3 years now fighting this bias, and it is good to read that some one publishable is writing of this bias. Bias can also be expressed as Bravo Sierra.

Thanks and Semper Fi, Del,
Seamus

A teaser for the article he sent:
"The last few years have seen a heightened awareness of the mainstream media's anti-military bias. Plenty of people are noticing it, and even some media brand name correspondents are admitting it. There is plenty of evidence..."

See the rest at:
Military-haters in the press

A Fallen Hero

Seamus sends this information on a fallen Marine, forwarded from Master Gunnery Sergeant Richard Zahn -

I just attended the funeral of Ssgt Anthony Goodwin last nite, he is a fellow member of our Rolling Thunder North Carolina Chapter # 5 here at Camp Lejeune.. He will be interned at Arlington today, May 16th at 15:30.. Anthony's wife Kim and his children, daughter Alyssa and son Oury have requested that in lieu of flowers or other donations, for anyone interested to please make donations to the Rolling Thunder NC # 5 Scholarship Fund. As appropriate, the Chapter has unanimously renamed the fund, the "Ssgt Anthony Goodwin Memorial Dependants Scholarship Fund".. Not only is Anthony a brother but he is also a homeboy, his home of record is Mount Holly N.J. where his parents live and his brother Greg now lives in Roebling N.J. The Ssgt was carrying out missions Al Qaim, Iraq..

For those interested, forward donations to:

POW / MIA, c/o Rolling Thunder Chapter 5
115 Spring Drive Jacksonville, North Carolina 28540

Just in case,

The Marines Prayer

Almighty Father, whose command is over all and whose love never fails, make me aware of Thy presence and obedient to Thy will.. Keep me true to my best self, guarding me against dishonesty in purpose and deed and helping me to live so that I can face my fellow Marines, my loved ones and Thee without shame or fear.. Protect my family.. Give me the will to do the work of a Marine and to accept my share of responsibilities with vigor and enthusiasm.. Grant me the courage to be proficient in my daily performance.. Keep me loyal and faithful to my superiors and to the duties my country and the Marine Corps have entrusted to me.. Make me considerate of those committed to my leadership.. Help me to wear my uniform with dignity and let it remind me daily of the traditions which I must uphold..

If I am inclined to doubt, steady my faith; if I am tempted, make me strong to resist; if I should miss the mark, give me the courage to try again..

Guide me with the light of truth and grant me the wisdom by which I may understand the answer to my prayer...



Our hearts go out to the family, friends, and Marine brothers of this fallen hero. Godspeed, Ssgt. Goodwin.

A Visit from the President of Afghanistan


President George W. Bush welcomes Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai into the Oval Office Monday, May 23, 2005, following his arrival to the White House. White House photo by Eric Draper



Afghan President Hamid Karzai thanks U.S. military personnel for their service to his country during arrival ceremonies at the Pentagon, May 23, 2005. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, right, invited about 30 U.S. soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines to help him welcome Karzai to the Pentagon. Defense Dept. photo by R. D. Ward

Story and more photos - from http://www.defendamerica.mil

Marine Corps League - Injured Marine Fund

Forwarded by Seamus:

As a Marine veteran and former officer of the Marine Corps League, San Diego Bulldog Detachment, I became involved with visiting Operation Iraq Freedom (OIF) Marines that were being treated at the Naval Medical Center here in San Diego. For the past year or so, on a daily and weekly basis, numerous 18-21 year-old Marines were being brought into the hospital suffering from devastating injuries. The United States Marine Corps goes above and beyond to support Marines and their families, but there are limits to the amount of funding available to accommodate the families of injured Marines. The Marine Corps can only provide financial assistance to two family members for a limited period of time. I witnessed firsthand the financial impact that these injuries had on the young families flying in to be reunited with their loved ones. For many, it seemed that getting to San Diego was the easy part. However once the families got here, the high costs associated with staying in “America’s Finest City” for more than even a few days, was causing a huge financial burden on our Marines and their families. It was clear that some organization needed to help ease the burden on these families. This is where the San Diego Bulldog Detachment of the MCL stepped in. We are doing our best to arrange for reasonably priced hotel rooms, obtaining rental cars at reasonable rates, and we are even providing gift certificates to local restaurants for these families.

I discovered that the Armed Forces YMCA as well as the Navy League is providing some assistance to the neediest families, but the application process is painstakingly slow. In the last several weeks it was brought to my attention that other organizations were attempting to help the families, but the application process was lengthy. What I also learned was that it was next to impossible to obtain immediate financial assistance for a family who flew into San Diego on a late Friday evening flight or at any time during the weekend. We realized that there was a need to provide immediate financial aid to those families who arrived with nothing more than a suitcase and several nearly “maxed-out” credit cards. Accordingly, the San Diego Bulldog Detachment of the Marine Corps League (MCL) developed this fund solely to ease the financial burden of the families while temporarily in San Diego. Several former and current officers of the San Diego Bulldog Detachment, as well as the Marine Corps Liaison’s Office at the Naval Medical Center San Diego will administer the fund. We are providing a quick, simple solution to these families until some of the more traditional methods and grants can be applied for through the Armed Forces YMCA or similar organizations.

Additionally, we have been advised that the Marines are attempting to fly all ambulatory Marines home for the holidays. Fortunately, the Rotary Club of San Diego is assisting in paying for their airfare. For those non-ambulatory Marines, the Marine Liaison’s office is attempting to fly at least one family member here to San Diego to visit over the holidays. If funding is available, we will assist in paying for the costs associated with the family member staying in San Diego for the holidays.

The Marine Corps League is seeking financial contributions to assist in this fund. Please be advised that these young families are not staying at the downtown Hyatt and they certainly are not eating at George’s at the Cove or Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse. We are assisting in paying for rooms at the local Best Western and Ramada Inn, to name only a few. We are distributing gift certificates for vehicles at Enterprise and Avis. We are also providing gift certificates to McDonald’s and Rubio’s. The needs are many and your assistance is desperately sought.

The MCL was founded by Major General Commandant, John A. Lejeune, in 1923 and chartered by an Act of Congress on August 4, 1937. Its membership of nearly 56,000 consists of honorably discharged, active duty, and Reserve Marines with 90 days of service or more, as well as retired Marines. It includes officer, enlisted, male and female members.

The MCL is classified as a veterans/military service organization and was formed for the purposes of promoting the interests of the U. S. Marine Corps, to provide camaraderie and assistance to Marines, as well as to their widows and orphans, and to preserve the traditions of the U. S. Marine Corps. It is a not for profit organization within the provisions of Internal Revenue Service Code 50l (c) (4), with a special group exemption letter which allows for contributions to the Marine Corps League, its Auxiliary and subsidiary units, to be tax deductible by the donor. League members participate in the Veterans Administration Voluntary Service Program, which is an assistance program for hospitalized veterans. We also participate in a national Service Program, which provides assistance to veterans in a wide area of matters relating to their military service. The League also awards scholarships; sponsors a National Youth Physical Fitness Program; provides membership incentives; participates in patriotic functions; and provides representation to the U. S. Congress in legislative matters affecting the U. S. Marine Corps, national security and veteran’s benefits. Most notably the Marine Corps League participates in Toys for Tots and other community based programs

If you can provide assistance, please make your check payable to: “MCL-Operation Injured Marine Fund”. Please forward your check to: Marine Corps League, San Diego Bulldog Detachment #835, Post Office Box 900546, San Diego, CA 92120. We will promptly send a receipt acknowledging your contribution as well as providing a receipt for IRS purposes. No money from the fund will be used for Marine Corps League purposes. When the Marine Corps League decides that the fund should be terminated, the final check will be made payable to the Toys for Tots program. The MCL-Operation Injured Marine Fund has no paid positions and relies on volunteers, donors and gratuitous services.

Unfortunately, it appears that we will be receiving Marines at the Naval Medical Center San Diego for the foreseeable future. These young Marines need your support. Please give what you can. A simple $50.00 contribution can pay for a hotel room for one night! Currently there are approximately 40 Marines in the hospital. That is a lot of hotel rooms.

For additional information, please contact Richard A. Williams at sdrich7777@aol.com Information concerning the Marine Corps League can be found at: www.mcleague.com We will have a website specifically for this fund shortly.

U.S. to Consolidate Iraq Bases

Story - from Military.com

Gotta Love Toby Keith...


BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines take a respite from deployed life to enjoy a concert put on by country music star Toby Keith on May 17. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Brian Davidson)

At Work in the US Air Force


BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Capt. Gabrielle Childs (left) and Staff Sgt. Becky Patterson sort sand flies and mosquitoes that will be tested for insect-borne diseases that threaten U.S. forces deployed to Iraq. They are assigned to the 447th Expeditionary Medical Squadron's public health flight. Captain Childs is deployed from Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., and Sergeant Patterson is deployed from Maxwell AFB, Ala.



BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan -- (From front) Senior Airman Gary McCormick, Tech. Sgt. Xavier Sanford, Senior Airman Robert Welch and Staff Sgt. Stephen Manley present the colors during a change of command ceremony here May 15



OVER VIRGINIA -- Lt. Col. James Hecker (foreground) delivers the first operational F/A-22 Raptor to its permanent home at Langley Air Force Base, Va., on May 12. This is the first of 26 Raptors to be delivered to the 27th Fighter Squadron. The Raptor program is managed by the F/A-22 System Program Office at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. Colonel Hecker is the squadron's commander.



LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. -- The Air Force Reserve "Above and Beyond Jet Car," powered by a 10,000 horsepower Westinghouse J-34 jet engine from a T-2C Buckeye aircraft, lights its afterburner in front of F-16C Fighting Falcons at the 2005 Air Power over Hampton Roads Air Show here May 14. (U.S. Navy photo by Pett Officer 2nd Class Daniel J. McLain)

In Today's News - Tuesday, May 24, 2005

Quote of the Day
The cat in gloves catches no mice.
-- Benjamin Franklin



News of Note:
Senate briefly recesses after plane scare
Syria Ending Cooperation With U.S., Envoy Says
Army honors Canadian soldiers killed by American jets in Afghanistan
Iraqi Unit Expands Responsibility In Baghdad

Troops on Trial
Guardsman Says Iraqi Shooting Self-Defense
Trial begins for soldier charged in Iraqi's death
Judge allows testimony in soldier's trial in unarmed Iraqi's death

War on Terror
IRA 'heavily linked' to criminality
Man accused of trying to sell bomb to terrorists

Fallen Heroes
Euclid soldier killed in Iraq
Five U.S. soldiers killed in northern Iraq

Open Mouth, Insert Foot
Alabama congressman says Bill Maher's remarks "border on treason"

JuneauEmpire.com: Associated Press
Afghan president optimistic on drug war
Palestinians plunge into stocks
Senators Avoid fight over filibusters
Car bombings across Iraq kill dozens


Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq
Iraqi constitution committee to get leader
Five car bombings kill dozens across Iraq
Emir undergoes successful operation
At least 20 killed in bombings near Mosul


Ananova: War In Iraq
Urgent alert as toxin kills Marine


The US News: Iraq News
Car bomb strikes popular Baghdad restaurant
Iraq's handling of oil sales criticized
Iraq calls on neighbors to help stop terrorists crossing frontier
Iraq will not Allow PKK Terrorism, Says Iraqi PM
UAE paper warns against Iraq civil war
Iraqi Shiite cleric tires to mediate


Various Sources
Four car bombings kill dozens across Iraq
At least 20 killed in bombings near Mosul
Shiite likely to lead constitution panel
285 arrested in U.S.-Iraqi operation
Iraqi security official killed in Baghdad
Karzai, Bush sign US troop agreement
Palestinians announce election delay


Fox News
Baghdad Bomb Kills Six
Alleged Bomb Builder Busted
Super Laser Being Built
Iran OKs Reform Hopefuls
Gaza Security Deal Jammed
Sharon Calls for Coordination
China, Japan Spar Over Shrine
Tony the Tiger's Voice Dies
Senators Compromise on Filibusters, Judges


Department of Defense
Bush, Karzai Formalize Partnership — Story Remarks Photos
Operation Goal: Crack Down on Terrorists — Story

ON THE GROUND
Pallet, Net Recovery Effort Proves Successful — Story
Iraqi Army Ready to Take Reins in Sadr City — Story

IN IRAQ
Multinational Forces Search Hor al Bash
Soldiers Help Improve Baghdad Neighborhood
Seabees, Marines Start Runway Project
Operation Quick Sweep Targets Terrorists

IN AFGHANISTAN
Arctic Warriors Help Build Road, Pull Security

IN THE HORN OF AFRICA
Civil Affairs Teams Assist Kenyan Community Project
Troops Build Range for Djiboutian Police, U.S. Troops

IN GEORGIA
U.S. Marines Help Equip Georgian Soldiers

AMERICA SUPPORTS YOU
Indy Speedway Supports Troops — Story
Operation Links Troops, Families

TOP NEWS
SPECIAL REPORTS
Base Realignment and Closure 2005

IN IRAQ
Four Soldiers Killed in Iraq
Officials Condemn Photo Release
Crew Safe in Helo Landing
Iraq Daily Update
Multinational Force Iraq
Iraq Reconstruction
Maps
Weekly Progress Report (pdf)

IN AFGHANISTAN
U.S. Warplanes Kill Insurgents
Former Chief Talks Afghanistan
Afghanistan Daily Update
Maps

WAR ON TERRORISM
Bush Topics: Freedom, Terrorism
WMD Support Team Holds Exercise
Device Detects Biological Weapons
Terrorism Timeline
Terrorism Knowledge Base

MILITARY NEWS
Guard Soldiers Train to Deploy
Rumsfeld, Myers Praise Troops
Congressional Reps Visit Troops
National Guard, Reserve Update

Weather
from The Weather Channel

Iraq
Al Azamiyah Al Basrah Al Hillah Al Karkh Al Kazimiyah Al Kut An Nasiriyah Baghdad Baqubah Mosul Najaf Nineveh Tall Kayf

Afghanistan
Bost/Laskar Ghurian Herat Kabul Qandahar


Today in History
1626 - Peter Minuit buys Manhattan for trinkets worth approximately $24.
1689 - English Parliament guarantees freedom of religion for Protestants.
1818 - General Andrew Jackson captures Pensacola, FL.
1830 - "Mary Had A Little Lamb" is written; The first passenger rail service in begins in the U.S.
1846 - General Zachary Taylor captures Monterrey in Mexican War.
1854 - Anthony Burns, slave, is arrested in Boston by U.S. Deputy Marshals; the first Black college (Lincoln University, PA) forms.
1856 - In Kansas, the Pottawatomie Massacre occurs.
1861 - Federal troops occupy Alexandria, VA; Major General Benjamin Butler declares slaves to be "contraband of war."
1883 - The Brooklyn Bridge opens.
1900 - Britain annexes the Orange Free State.
1916 - U.S. pilot William Thaw shoots down a German Fokker.
1921 - Northern Ireland's first parliament is elected.
1922 - Russia and Italy sign a trade agreement.
1931 - Ironically, B&O Railroad installs the first air-conditioned train.
1936 - Dutch bishops forbid membership of the Nazi party.
1940 - The Dutch army demobilizes; German tanks reach Atrecht, France; Hitler affirms General von Rundsted's "Stopbevel."
1941 - The Bismarck sinks the British battle cruiser HMS Hood, 1,416 are killed; 3 survive.
1943 - Admiral Dönitz stops a U-boat in in the Atlantic Ocean; U-441 shoots a Sunderland seaplane down over the Gulf of Biskaje.
1951 - Racial segregation in Washington, DC restaurants is ruled to be illegal.
1954 - The first rocket attains an altitude of 150 miles.
1957 - Anti-American riots breakout in Taipei, Taiwan.
1958 - UP and International News Service merge, becoming United Press International.
1959 - The first house with a built-in bomb shelter is exhibited in PA.
1961 - 27 Freedom Riders are arrested in Jackson, MS; Explorer-12 failes to reach Earth orbit.
1965 - The Supreme Court declares that a federal law allowing the post office to intercept communist propaganda is unconstitutional.
1975 - Soyuz 18B carries 2 cosmonauts to space station Salyut 4.
1976 - The Concorde flies to Washington; the first commercial SST flight to North America. 1980 - Iran rejects a call by the World Court to release U.S. hostages.
1981 - Hostage situation ends at Central Bank in Barcelona, Spain.
1983 - Supreme Court rules the government can deny tax breaks to schools that racially discriminated against students.
1989 - French war criminal Paul Touvier is arrested in a monastery in Nice.
1993 - Eritrea achieves independence from Ethiopia after 30 years of civil war.
1993 - A Kurd rebellion kills 33 soldiers and 5 citizens in Turkey.

Birthdays
15 - Julius Caesar Germanicus, Roman commandant
1650 - John Churchill, first duke of Marlborough / English general strategist
1738 - King George III of Great-Britain
1743 - Jean-Paul Marat, French revolutionist
1753 - Oliver Cromwell, African-American Revolutionary war hero, served with Washington
1811 - Confederate Brigadier General Charles Clark
1816 - Emanuel Leutze, painter - Washington Crossing the Delaware; Union Brevet Major General Robert Seaman Granger
1819 - Victoria Alexandrine, Queen of Great Britain
1854 - Louis Mountbatten, WWI Admiral
1904 - Kenneth Buckley, British Rear-Admiral
1909 - Wilbur Mills (Representative-AR)
1918 - Coleman A. Young, civil rights leader, Mayor of Detroit
1933 - Tony Mullett, Director-General, National Criminal Intelligence Service
1943 - Gary Burghoff, actor (Radar-MASH)
1951 - Ronald A. Parise, Ph.D. /astronaut (STS 35, STS 67)

Passings
1153 - David I, King of Scotland
1543 - Nicolas Copernicus, astronomer
1861 - Elmer Ellsworth, US warrior (Chicago Zouaves), shot
1879 - William Lloyd Garrison, abolitionist
1941 - Lancelot Holland, British Vice-Admiral, in battle
1959 - John Foster Dulles, U.S. Secretary of State
1981 - Jaime Roldós Aguilera President of Ecuador, in a plane crash
1986 - Stephen D. Thorne Lieutenant, Commander USN/astronaut, in a plane crash
1993 - Milton O. Thompson astronaut (Dynasoar, X-15)

Reported Missing in Action
1968
Rucker, Emmett, Jr., USAF (TX)
Shanks, James Lee, USAF (NY)

1969
Manske, Charles J., USAF (TX)
Montez, Anastacio, US Army SF (TX)

1972
Beeler, Carroll R., USN (TX) Released by DRV March, 1973 - alive and well in 1998
Henn, John R., Jr., US Army (MA)

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