3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team
Task Force Band of Brothers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 31, 2006

PR# 073106-40

MUQDADIYA, Iraq (July 30, 2006) – A joint operation with 3rd Brigade, 5th Iraqi Army Division and Alpha Troop, 1st Squadron, 32nd Cavalry Regiment attached to 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Task Force Band of Brothers, recovered a cache, freed one hostage and detained 16 suspected anti-Iraqi forces, Sunday.

The cache of IED making materials was located inside a mud structure in the center of a palm grove. Along with the IED making materials were several AIF propaganda CDs, as well as a new laptop computer and camera.

Near the site a local national being held hostage was also found blindfolded with his hands bound behind his back. His capturers had fled the area when the Iraqi Army and coalition forces arrived there. He was taken to Forward Operating Base Falock where he was reunited with his family members and spoke with the Iraqi media. He expressed his thanks to the IA saying he was just one day from being “judged” by his capturers.

In total, 16 suspected AIF were detained and taken to FOB Falock for questioning. Other coalition forces were called in to destroy the cache.

Virginia Beach, Va. (July 29, 2006) – Members from Commander, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic Honor Guard, carry the casket of retired Master Chief Boatswain’s Mate (Master Diver) Carl M. Brashear into the base Chapel aboard Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, Va., July 29. In May 1966, Brashear had the lower part of his left leg medically removed after suffering an accident at sea. After almost two years of rehabilitation, Master Chief Brashear became the first amputee to be certified as a U.S. Navy diver. Later in 1970 Master Chief Brashear was the first African American to become a U.S. Navy Master Diver. Brashear died from heart and respiratory failure at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, Va., July 25, at the age of 75. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice John Suits

Graphic by Doc

AUTOGRAPH – Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff U.S. Marine Gen. Peter Pace signs a message on a munition, after seeing a howitzer demo from the 4th Brigade, 25th Field Artillery Regiment unit in Camp Salerno, Afghanistan, July 28, 2006. Defense Dept. photo by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. D. Myles Cullen

As soldiers we are willing to put our lives on the line . More often we do this for one primary reason. Is it for:

Our Country ?
No , Many people don't even know who we are until we die in battle.

Our government?
No. Politicians do not even know what our faces look like or what our names are.

Our Family?
No. I can think of no one in my family who wants me to die.

For Money?
Well the military does not pay us that well and money will not do us any good if we are dead.

We do it for our fellow soldiers. Those who stand to our left and right , beside us working long hours, helping as we did earth to build up our areas . Those who are there to help us fill and move sandbags. Those who help us up if we fall, give us a pat on the back and words of encouragement when we need it most. Even for the soldiers we have never met when we see them in a time of need. We know that if we are in harms way that together we are there for each other when it counts. we would run through a hail of bullets, climb into a burning building or vehicle to pull
each other to safety. Soldiers, even when injured often do this without hesitation or regard for thier own safety. We are not bound by blood but give blood to those who need it. We have many reasons why we are soldiers. We love our Country, believe in our Government and want our families and those who support us to have the many freedoms we give up to ensure they keep theirs. We never forget our fallen Soldiers nor do we leave them behind.

I am proud to be
a Soldier and honored
to be called one.

Sfc. Brian McCoy, US Army

POST-MISSION FIRE — U.S. Army Staff Sgt. David Edens, left, and Chief Warrant Officer Tom Scott sit by a fire after flying two medical evacuation missions near Tall Afar, Iraq, July 25, 2006. Both Soldiers are assigned to the 542nd Medical Company (Air Ambulance), 1st Forward Support Medical Team. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jacob N. Bailey

News of Note
Israel at War
Airstrike Campaign on Hold (unless fired upon - they hit targets this morning, in support of troops on the ground)
Israel Agrees to Temporarily Suspend Airstrikes
Olmert: Israel in No Hurry to Agree to Cease-Fire in Lebanon
Video: Protestors Swarm U.N. Post in Beirut
Photo Essay: Qana Attacks
Shelling continues over Bint Jbeil
Photos: Lebanon Fighting
Lebanese villagers flee - Video
Protesters storm UN compound in Gaza City
Lebanon's displaced defiant in adversity - Video
US urges restraint, long-term solution after Qana
Iraqi cleric demands cease-fire in Lebanon
Iraq's vice president criticizes Israel
Israeli air force continue Lebanon strikes
Rice to seek Mideast cease-fire through UN
U.N. council: 'Shock' over Lebanon deaths

Operation Iraqi Freedom
Gunmen in Military Uniforms Kidnap 25 in Baghdad
One Dead After Gunmen Fire on Street Sweepers in Baghdad
Four Marines Die in Iraq

Operation Enduring Freedom
NATO Troops Assume Command in Afghanistan
NATO to Launch First Ground Ops in Afghanistan - Dozens of Militants Killed

Homeland Security / War on Terror
Seattle suspect troubled, friend says (Gee...ya think?)

Other Military News
Kids help with magazine for military youth

Worldwide Wackos
Iran to Abandon Incentives Deal if U.N. Acts on Nukes
Ahmadinejad Honors Chavez
UN Council set to demand Iran suspend nuclear work - Video

Mother Nature
Wildfires Rage in Nebraska
Plains, Midwest anticipate heat wave
UK, Calif. to strike global warming deal

Oddities
Maryland Man Charged With Setting Ex-Wife on Fire

Fox News
Sri Lanka: No Plans to Withdraw From Cease-Fire
Mexican Candidate Leads March Demanding Recount
Nickelodeon to Kids: Less TV

Reuters: Top News
EU says trade deal may be salvaged
Serbia will always consider Kosovo its own: PM
Senior Sri Lanka rebel says war back on - Video
Australia PM to seek 5th term
Doctors urge HPV vaccine for men and women
"Despicable" words could taint Gibson
EU says trade deal may be salvaged
Irish bog bodies help unlock secrets of Iron Age
Microsoft submitted documents in bid to avoid fine
AOL to test-launch video search service
ER visits for stroke increase around birthdays
'Pirates' passes $300 million overseas
Lohan at work after public scolding from producer
Photos: Elections In Congo
ABN AMRO posts strong Q2 profits
Wall Street seen softer ahead of earnings
Stocks to track jobs, data and profits Video
Microchip stocks rally as investors sense bottom
Clothier Volcom shares fall after downgrade
Christopher & Banks raising payout 50 percent
Retreat in transport stocks bodes well
The Reuters Select wrap-up
Wal-Mart first China union could mean more to come
Northrop navigation unit up for sale: report
HSBC profit beats forecast
SanDisk to buy Msystems for $1.55 bln
GM and UAW support pensions bill
Xstrata says has not finalized rights issue size

AP World News
Congo polling stations opened for 2nd day
Recycling medical devices raises concerns
Verizon Wireless to end music download fee
Bobby Abreu and Cory Lidle head to Bronx
Lindsay Lohan's mom scolds exec for letter
Developers nix or delay condo projects
Shootings tarnishing New Orleans' image (Oh, I don't know - its image as a high-crime city seems intact...)
Businesses urge offshore gas, oil drilling
Beltran hits 2 HRs as Mets sweep Braves
'Miami Vice' takes $25.2M, sinks 'Pirates'
Market hopes Fed's rate hikes are over
Obituaries in the news
Ky. mine widow wants to be safety advocate
Curfew takes effect for juveniles in D.C.
Camera brings Alaska bears to the world
SCLC trumpets global nonviolence program

Military.com
Infantry Wins Simulated Iraq Fight
Shellshocked Soldiers Emerge From Battle

CENTCOM: News Releases
CCCI CONVICTS 24 INSURGENTS, ONE SENTENCED TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT

IRAQI NATIONAL POLICE CAPTURE GANG MEMBERS SUSPECTED OF KIDNAPPINGS

Department of Defense
NEWS UPDATES
Forces Repel Taliban Ambush - Story
Soldiers Kill Suspected Terrorist - Story
For Top News Visit DefenseLink

ON THE GROUND
Chairman Thanks Troops in Afghanistan - Story
Afghans Making Much Progress, Pace Says - Story
Airmen Work to Ensure Planes Meet Mission - Story
Iraqis Receive Excavation Equipment - Story

IN IRAQ
Battalion Helps Iraqis Take the Lead
Soldiers Join Noncommissioned Officer Corps
British Regiment Gets Hometown Treat

IN AFGHANISTAN
New Command Oversees Military Doctrine
Airmen Control Skies Over Dangerous Areas
Stops in 'Hot' Zone Require Quick Off-loads

BACKGROUND
IRAQ
Renewal In Iraq
Iraq: Security, Stability
Fact Sheet: Progress and Work Ahead
Report: Strategy for Victory in Iraq
Iraq Daily Update
This Week in Iraq (PDF)
Multinational Force Iraq
State Dept. Weekly Iraq Report (PDF)
'Boots on the Ground' Audio Archive
Weekly Reconstruction Report (PDF)
Iraq Reconstruction
Maps

AFGHANISTAN
Afghanistan Update
Maps

WAR ON TERRORISM
Fact Sheet: Budget Request
Fact Sheet: War on Terror
Fact Sheet: Terror Plots Disrupted
Waging and Winning the War on Terror
Terrorism Timeline
Terrorism Knowledge Base

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

Gitmo

Today in History
1498 - Christopher Columbus discovers Trinidad.
1777 - Marquis de Lafayette, is made a Major-General of the Continental Army -- at age 19.
1790 - Samuel Hopkins is granted the first U.S. patent -- for a potash process.
1809 - The first practical U.S. railroad track opens in Philadelphia; it is a wooden track designed for horse-drawn cars.
1813 - The British invade Plattsburgh, NY.
1912 - The U.S. government prohibits movies and photos of prize fights.
1922 - In MN, 18-year-old Ralph Samuelson glides off on the world's first water skis.
1925 - England passes the Unemployment Insurance Act.
1942 - In Minsk, the German SS gases 1,000 Jews.
1948 - President Truman dedicates Idlewild Field - it will become JFK airport in NY.
1949 - Lightning strikes a baseball field in FL, killing the shortstop and the third baseman.
1953 - The Department of Health, Education and Welfare is created.
1960 - Elijah Muhammad, leader of Nation of Islam, calls for a Black state.
1962 - The Federation of Malaysia is formed.
1964 - Al Parker glides 644 miles without any motor; the U.S. Ranger-7 takes its 4,316th picture before crashing on the Moon.
1969 - Mariner 6 flies past Mars; the National Guard is mobilized to deal with race riots in Baton Rouge, LA.
1970 - Chet Huntley retires from NBC, ending the "Huntley-Brinkley Report."
1978 - A gunman shoots his way into the Iraqi Embassy in Paris.
1980 - The U.S.S.R.'s Soyuz-37 crew returns to Earth aboard the Soyuz-36.
1981 - Arnette Hubbard becomes the first female president of the National Bar Association.
1984 - The U.S. men's gymnastics team wins the team gold medal at the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, CA.

Birthdays
1803 - John Ericsson US, invented screw propeller, built USS Monitor
1841 - George Melville polar explorer, naval engineer
1904 - Arthur Daley sportswriter (NY Times-Pulitzer 1956)
1919 - Curt Gowdy Green River Wyo, sportscaster (ABC)
1919 - Primo Levi Italy, chemist/writer (Survival in Aushchwitz)
1921 - Whitney M Young Jr civil rights leader, head of Urban League
1943 - William Bennett US Secretary of Education (1985-88)/drug czar
1957 - Victoria E Cooke Hollywood Ca, playmate (Aug, 1980)
1962 - Kym Malin Dallas Tx, playmate (May, 1982)

Passings
1556 - St Ignatius of Loyola
1811 - Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, Mexican hero priest, executed by Spanish
1875 - Andrew Johnson, 17th U.S. President
1953 - Robert Taft (Sen-OH)
1981 - Gen Omar Torrijos leader of Panama, dies in plane crash

Reported Missing in Action
1966
Burroughs, William D., USAF (MD); RF101 shot down, released by DRV March, 1973 - deceased March, 1999.

1967
Allen, Thomas R., USAF (OK); F4C shot down (pilot), remains returned November, 1997

Packard, Ronald L., USAF (CO); F4C shot down (weapons / systems operator), remains returned November, 1997

Zuhoski, Charles P., USN (NY); F8C shot down, released by DRV March, 1973 - alive as of 1998

1969
Burns, Michael P., US Army SF (TX); believed KIA, body not recovered

Neal, Dennis P., US Army SF (FL); believed KIA, body not recovered