You may have seen video of yesterday's Iraqi sandstorm on the news, but hold on to your hats -here are some pictures from Major Juan R.

Many of you are already familiar with the story of SGT Joey Bozik, a triple amputee and OIF Veteran. Over the past year and a half, SGT Bozik has endured many surgeries and a long rehabilitation process, that has yet to be completed. Next week, he will face yet another surgery. In the midst of the unimaginable, Joey has selflessly given of himself to help others as he's traveled around the country in his new role as National Spokesperson for Homes For Our Troops.

Joey also became a husband to one of the most beautiful women in the world, Jayme Bozik (formerly, Peters). Joey and Jayme were married at Walter Reed Army Medical Center on New Years Eve. Unlike most couples, they never had a honeymoon and have yet to move into their starter home. Instead, they have spent their life as a married couple on the campus of Walter Reed while Joey continues to recover.

Thanks to a very generous man, Greg Bennett, owner of the Konocti Harbor Resort and Spa, and the Sea Breeze Foundation, Joey and Jayme will soon have the honeymoon they never had. The Sea Breeze Foundation was established in honor of Brianne "Breezy" Beighle, a little girl with cancer who touched the lives of many, and whose legacy lives on. Click here to read her story and find out how the Sea Breeze Foundation was born.

Greg has already pampered other soldiers at his resort, and continues to give back to our veterans through his generosity. Konocti recently donated 300 shirts to Sew Much Comfort so that they can alter the shirts for our wounded heroes with special orthopedic needs. Through their "Dream Visit" program, soldiers like Joey Bozik and Dawn Halfaker will soon receive the pampering that they deserve at Konocti Harbor.

Accomodations, spa treatments, entertainment and meals will be provided by the resort, but transportation from Walter Reed to California is the responsiblity of someone else, who has asked Soldiers' Angels for help. As usual, this fine organization jumped headfirst into the effort and agreed to help.


To help Joey and Jayme get from Walter Reed to California, click on the Soldiers' Angel below (my donation went in today):



You can also send donations to:

Healing Heroes
c/o Soldiers Angels
1792 E. Washington Blvd
Pasadena, Ca 91104

TRANSFER OF AUTHORITY — A U.S. soldier (far right) assigned to the 3rd Brigade Combat Team Task Force Liberty holds the 42nd Infantry Division colors while the Iraqi colors are raised over the former Forward Operating Base Scunion, in Baqubah, Iraq, July 31, 2005. Improved security in the Diyala Province has allowed coalition forces to transition operational control of the base to Iraqi control. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Matthew Acosta

Seattle Post-Intelligencer: War on Iraq
Sandstorm halts work on Iraqi constitution
10 Baghdad police die in string of attacks
Abbas: Palestinians must ensure order
Iraq panel member seeks federalism delay
Abbas: Palestinian vote to be held in Jan.
U.N. nuke watchdog holds meeting on Iran
Troop reductions likely next year in Iraq
U.N. workers briefly abducted in Gaza town
Iran defies West, resumes nuclear work
Comrades remember U.S. soldier, just 19
Saudi King pardons activists, professor
Explosion in Istanbul apartment kills two
Saddam's family fires defense team
Timeline for beginning of Israeli pullout
Marines find car bomb factory in Iraq
Sharon's war bandage is offered on eBay

Reuters: Top News
IAEA board meets after Iran restarts nuclear work
Iraq leaders to resume talks on constitution
Abbas: Palestinians must allow orderly Gaza pullout
Ten Iraqi policemen killed in five Baghdad attacks
Two U.N. officials accused of kickbacks, bribes
Space shuttle leaves orbit, heading to California
Clinton: US cannot isolate itself to fight terror
Palestinians must allow orderly Gaza pullout -Abbas
Iranian media hail resumption of nuclear work
Bush says new energy bill vital to U.S. economy
Sen. Specter asks Roberts about judicial activism

CENTCOM: News Release
IED SAFE HAVEN DESTROYED

Department of Defense
Former Taliban Leader Rejects Tactics — Story

ON THE GROUND
Marines, Sailors Endure Afghan Heat Wave — Story
82nd Airborne Unit to Bolster Election Security — Story
Afghan Army Opens Soldier Healthcare Facility — Story
Coalition Transfers Authority to Iraqis in Diyala — Story
Najaf Electricity Projects Target Distribution — Story

IN IRAQ
Airmen Earn Combat Patch for Bravery, Determination
Security Forces Airmen Keep Contraband Off Kirkuk

IN AFGHANISTAN
Afghan Soldiers Train to Use Mobile Kitchens
Road Linking Afghan Cities Nears Completion Photos

IN UZBEKISTAN
Life Support Technicians Maintain Survival Gear

FACE OF DEFENSE
Dallas Marine Serves Second Tour in Iraq — Story

AMERICA SUPPORTS YOU
Americans Donate Sky Miles — Story

TOP NEWS
IN IRAQ
43 More Schools to be Renovated
Joint Ops Disrupt Terrorists
Forces Seize Terror Suspects
Joint Security Ops Fight Terrorism
Iraq Reconstruction
Maps
Iraq Daily Update
Multinational Force Iraq
Iraq Progress Fact Sheet (pdf)
Weekly Progress Report (pdf)
'Eye on Iraq' (pdf)

IN AFGHANISTAN
Forces Stymie Attacks
Afghanistan Daily Update
Maps
Afghan Reconstruction Group Recruiting

WAR ON TERRORISM
Waging and Winning the War on Terror
Terrorism Timeline
Terrorism Knowledge Base

MILITARY NEWS
Center Supports Recovering Troops
U.S., Russian Leaders Hold Talks
Coast Guard Marks 215 Years
National Guard, Reserve Update

Weather
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

Gitmo

Today in History
480 BC- Persia defeats Spartan king Leonidas at Thermopylae.
378 - At the Battle of Adrianople, the Visigoth Calvary defeats the Roman Army.
1638 - Jonas Bronck of Holland becomes the first European settler in the Bronx.
1673 - The Dutch recapture NY from English; it is regained by the English in 1674.
1778 - Captain Cook passes through the Bering Strait.
1786 - Mt. Blanc is first climbed.
1790 - Columbia becomes the first U.S.-flagged ship to circumnavigate the globe.
1803 - The first horses arrive in Hawaii.
1831 - The first US steam engine train runs from Albany to Schenectady, NY.
1842 - The US-Canadian border is defined by the Webster-Ashburton Treaty.
1848 - The Barnburners (anti-slavery) party merges with the Free Soil Party to nominate Martin Van Buren for President.
1854 - Henry David Thoreau publishes "Walden."
1862 - Confederate General Stonewall Jackson is victorious at Battle of Cedar Mountain, however, General Charles S. Winder is killed.
1902 - Edward VII of England is crowned King after death of his mother, Victoria.
1930 - Betty Boop debuts in Max Fleischer's animated cartoon "Dizzy Dishes."
1942 - The British arrest Indian nationalist Mohandas K. Gandhi.
1945 - The U.S. drops a second atomic bomb on Japan; "Fat Man" destroys part of Nagasaki.
1961 - James B. Parsons is the first Black appointed to a Federal District Court.
1969 - The Manson family commits the Tate-LaBianca murders.
1970 - A Peruvian Airlines jet carrying 45 American exchange students explodes.
1972 - Rockwell receives the NASA contract to construct the Space Shuttle.
1973 - The U.S.S.R. launches Mars-7.
1974 - Richard Nixon resigns the Presidency; VP Gerald Ford becomes the 38th President.
1976 - The U.S.S.R. launches Luna-24, the last Lunar flight from Earth to date.
1988 - Just 1 day after 8/8/88, NY's daily number is 888.
1990 - Twelve Arab leaders agree to send pan-Arab forces to protect Saudi Arabia.

Birthdays
1825 - Elisha Ferry (Gov-WA, 1872-80, 1889-93)
1883 - George Hoyt, NBA hall of fame referee (elected 1961)
1897 - Ralph Wyckoff, American pioneer in x-ray crystallography
1911 - William A. Fowler, American astrophysicist, Nobel Prize winner (1983)
1913 - Herman Talmadge (Sen-GA, Watergate Committee)
1921 - J. James Exon (Sen-NE)

Passings
1896 - Otto Lilenthal, killed during a glider test
1988 - Alan Napier (Alfred the Butler on tv's "Batman")

Reported Missing in Action
1967
Cherry, Allen Sheldon, USAF (MO); A1E shot down, remains ID'd July, 1999
Lengyel, Lauren Robert , USAF (MA); RF4C shot down, released by DRV March, 1973 - retired as a Lt. Colonel - alive as of 1998
Myers, Glenn L., USAF (PA); RF4C shot down, released by DRV March, 1973 - retired as a Lt. Colonel - alive and well as of 1998

1968
Wolfkeil, Wayne B., USAF (PA); A1H shot down
Winn, David W., USAF (MN); F105D shot down, released by DRV March, 1973 - retired as a Brigadier General - alive and well 1998

1969
Beck, Edward Eugene Jr., USMC (OH); disappeared aboard ship in Danang Harbor
Dotson, Jefferson S., USAF (VA) ; F100F shot down
Gourley, Laurent L., USAF (IA); F100F shot down
Janousek, Ronald J., USMC (IL); UH1E shot down, KIA, body not recovered
Kane, Bruce E., USMC (NY); UH1E shot down, KIA, body not recovered