Spc. Ludivina Aguilar, from the 113th Quick Response Force, North Carolina Army National Guard, provides security at a store in Hammond, La., as part of Joint Task Force Katrina. Photo by Tech. Sgt. Brian Christiansen.

ArmyWifeToddlerMom has organized an autographed book auction to help support our troops - several authors have donated their work, and the proceeds will benefit Soldiers' Angels. Stop by and get the details!

Hat tip to BlackFive

Gulf of Mexico (Sept. 13, 2005) - Sailors assigned to the amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) aboard a Landing Craft Utility (LCU) participate in a stern gate marriage evolution as part of the volunteer efforts to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina. The Navy's involvement in the humanitarian assistance operations are being led by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in conjunction with the Department of Defense. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate Airman Pedro A. Rodriguez (RELEASED)

Head on over to the Soldiers' Angels Germany blog for an update on a Hero who is working to get wheelchairs to some Iraqis who desperately need them.

It's the story I posted about earlier, but there's more to it, and some great pictures, too.

SECURITY AT SEA— The guided missile cruiser USS Princeton, assigned to the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group, is currently participating in Maritime security operations in the Persian Gulf. These operations set the conditions for security and stability in the maritime environment as well as complement the counter-terrorism and security efforts of regional nations. U.S. Navy photo by Airman Ashley Gayton

News of Note
Hurricane Katrina
Three New Orleans suburbs to reopen Wednesday
Facility owners charged; La. deaths at 423

Operation Iraqi Freedom
U.S. Officer: Tall Afar Terrorists 'On the Run'
Economic Hopes Soar in Ninawa Province
U.S. raids militant stronghold in Iraq

Supreme Court
Roberts quizzed on abortion rights

Military News
Smuggling Mail Not Worth the Risk

Fox News
Bomb Suspect Headed to U.K.
U.S. Attacks Iraq Rebel Town
Video: Major Offensive
Iraqi President Thanks Bush
Rice Pressures Iran
Northwest May Go Bankrupt
Threats to Congo's Hippos

Reuters: Top News
Speed of Katrina body recovery criticized
Bush backs Iran's right to nuclear power
Katrina victims, past the shock, thinking of future
Workers sue Wal-Mart over sweatshop conditions
Russia warns U.S. against new nuclear doctrine
No timetable for US troop withdrawal: Talabani

JuneauEmpire.com: Associated Press
Bush takes responsibility for blunders
Ophelia regains hurricane strength
Bush packs in busy day of diplomacy
Japan's probe within 12 miles of asteroid

The Seattle Times
Mark Messier retires, ending 25-year NHL career
Nov. 29 special election planned in Spokane mayor recall
eBay to acquire Internet communications company Skype
Roberts hearings begin with sparring over what questions chief justice nominee must answer
Searchers find bodies of two men from float plane
Above the water, plans float for rebuilding city
Red Cross facing record challenge in disaster relief
Thousands find shelter all across the nation
Evacuation of New Orleans could alter politics of region

Chicago Sun-Times
Dems prod Roberts on abortion
Hunter said accused man fired first

Yahoo! News: War with Iraq
U.S. Commander: Iraq Fighters Use Torture
Syria dismisses Bush Iraq complaints
In Iraq's marshes, British learn complex tribal customs
U.S. planes strike near Syria border-medical source
Syria facing isolation over Iraq, Lebanon: Bush
Rumsfeld rebuffs Iraq troop withdrawal suggestion
Al-Qaeda group says chemical arms fired in Baghdad
Iraq's draft constitution undergoes 11th hour modifications
Trial of British troops accused of murdering Iraqi hears of other beating
Employer of Lebanon Iraq hostage heeds kidnappers' demands
Sunni Arabs seek UN guarantees on Iraq referendum
Katrina spills into Senate's Iraq war debate
Intel chief: Iraqis in insurgency more elusive

CENTCOM: News Release
OPERATION RESTORING RIGHTS CONTINUES IN TALL AFAR
OPERATIONS IN TALL AFAR NET 78 TERROR SUSPECTS
COALITION FORCES DETAIN KNOWN TERRORIST IN HADITHA
U.S. SOLDIERS, IRAQI POLICE DISCOVER VEHICLE-BORNE IED
CIVILIAN LEADS SOLDIERS TO MUNITIONS IN EASTERN DIYALA PROVINCE
TWO TERRORISTS KILLED EMPLACING IED
CENTRAL-SOUTH TROOPS SEIZE WEAPONS AND AMMUNITION

Department of Defense
U.S., Iraqi Presidents Commit to Mission — Story

ON THE GROUND
Soldiers Bring More Than Smiles to Orphanage — Story

IN AFGHANISTAN
Geek Squad Faces Future of Modern Battle
Paratroopers Beat Back Taliban Ambush

FACE OF DEFENSE
Corpsman Walks Beat with Marines — Story

TOP NEWS
SPECIAL REPORTS
Hurricane Katrina

IN IRAQ
Soldiers Kill Terrorist Sniper
Troops Seize Anti-Terror Initiative
Joint Effort Nabs Terrorists
Iraqi Army Conducts Operation
Iraq Reconstruction
Maps
Iraq Daily Update
Multinational Force Iraq
Weekly Progress Report (pdf)

IN AFGHANISTAN
Afghan Governors Confer
Meeting Focus: Food Crop Growth
Afghanistan Daily Update Maps
Afghan Reconstruction Group Recruiting

WAR ON TERRORISM
Al Qaeda Terrorist Captured
Memo Seals Support for Center
President Praises American Spirit
Waging and Winning the War on Terror
Terrorism Timeline
Terrorism Knowledge Base

MILITARY NEWS
Team Aids Storm-Affected Troops
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
1716 - In Boston Harbior, the first U.S. lighthouse is lit.
1807 - Aaron Burr is acquitted of a misdemeanor charge.
1812 - Napoleon and his forces occupy Moscow.
1814 - Francis Scott Key is inspired to write "The Star-Spangled Banner."
1847 - U.S. troops under General Scott enter Mexico City.
1872 - Britain pays the US $15 milliin for damages during the Civil War.
1886 - George K. Anderson of Memphis, Tennessee patents the typewriter ribbon.
1891 - The "Empire State Express" train goes from NYC to East Buffalo (436 miles,) in 7 hours, six minutes (a record).
1899 - In NY, Henry Bliss becomes the first automobile fatality.
1917 - The provisional government of Russia is established; a Republic is proclaimed.
1923 - Miguel Primo de Rivera becomes dictator of Spain.
1930 - Nazis gain 107 seats in the German election.
1938 - The Graf Zeppelin II, the world's largest airship, makes its maiden flight.
1940 - Congress passes the first peace-time conscription (draft) bill.
1948 - A groundbreaking ceremony for the U.N. world headquarters takes place.
1954 - Hurricane Edna (the second of that year) hits NYC, causing $50 million in damage.
1956 - In Washington, D.C., the first prefrontal lobotomy is performed.
1957 - A U.N. resolution condemns the U.S.S.R.'s invasion of Hungary.
1963 - Mary Ann Fischer of SD gives birth to the U.S.'s first surviving quintuplets (4 girls, 1 boy).
1964 - Walt Disney is awarded the Medal of Freedom at the White House.
1965 - "F-Troop" premiers on TV.
1968 - The USSR's Zond-5 is launched on the first circumlunar flight.
1972 - "The Waltons" premiers on TV.
1973 - Israel shoots down 13 Syrian MIG-21s.
1974 - Charles Kowal discovers Leda, Jupiter's 13th satellite.
1975 - Mother Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton is canonized - the first U.S.-born saint.
1983 - The U.S. House of Representatives votes in favor of a resolution condemning Russia for shooting down a Korean jetliner (416-0).
1991 - Carolyn Suzanne Sapp of HI is crowned Miss America 1992.

Birthdays
1849 - Ivan Pavlov Russia, physiologist/pioneer in psychology
1864 - Lord Cecil of Chelwood, helped form League of Nations, Nobel Prize winner (1937)
1886 - Jan Garrique Masaryk, statesman/minister to London (1918-35)
1887 - Karl Taylor Compton, physicist/atomic bomb scientist
1899 - Hal Wallis, movie producer (Maltese Falcon)
1907 - Cecil Brown, news correspondent (CBS)
1921 - Hughes Rudd, TV newscaster (CBS)

Passings
1759 - Louis Montcalm, French general (Plains of Abraham)
1836 - Aaron Burr, 3rd VP
1852 - Arthur Wellesley, General/Duke of Wellington
1901 - President William McKinley dies in Buffalo, of gunshot wounds inflicted by an assassin. (VP Theodore Roosevelt becomes President.
1911 - Piotr Stolypin, Russia's PM, assassinated by Mordka Bogrov
1982 - Bashir Gemayel, Lebanon's president-elect, killed by a bomb; Grace Kelly, Princess of Monaco, in a car crash

Reported Missing in Action
1965
Taylor, Neil Brooks, USN (ME); A4C shot down, KIA, body not recovered

1966
Stoddard, Clarence W., Jr., USN (TX); A1H shot down, KIA, body not recovered