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Monday, August 07, 2006

Must-See Blog of the Day - SA Germany

I can't say enough about all that SA Germany does for our wounded Heroes. In particular, I owe MaryAnn big-time for the day out she gave one of my adoptees who was there for surgery. One email, and MaryAnn was right on the case, making sure he had a chance to get off base and have a wonderful time. Just one of the many ways that MaryAnn and the Germany contingent of Soldiers' Angels go above and beyond to let our Heroes know we support them.

And over at the SA Germany blog, there a couple of posts you won't want to miss:

It's Called "Decompressing"
Take about 40 troops awaiting medical evaluation in Germany, a bunch of steaks, hamburgers, and ribs, lots of side dishes, and 3 shopping carts full of ice for the liquid refreshments.

Mix well and you've got the perfect cure for a boring Sunday afternoon in medical hold. Carried out purely for medicinal purposes, of course.

That's my story and I'm stickin' to it.

View the story here


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The Oasis
'Cause I've got friends in low places
Where the whiskey drowns
And the beer chases my blues away
And I'll be okay
I'm not big on social graces
Think I'll slip on down to the oasis
Oh, I've got friends in low places.
- Garth Brooks

Pics of the dive near the barracks where we hang out.

Click Here
Pacific Ocean (Aug.. 6, 2006) - Sailors aboard USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) salute their hometown football team the San Diego Chargers. Bonhomme Richard is conducting a Tiger Cruise on return from Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2006 exercises. Eight nations are participating in RIMPAC, the world's largest biennial maritime exercise. Conducted in the waters off Hawaii, RIMPAC brings together military forces from Australia, Canada, Chile, Peru, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Jeffery Gabriel Jr.

Related Story:
USS Bonhomme Richard Returns Home from RIMPAC
by Tech. Sgt. Jeremy T. Lock
August 7, 2006Spc. Andrew Sutton, from the 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, takes the lead on a patrol in Mosul, Iraq. Photo courtesy of U.S. Army

Good News from CENTCOM

MEDCAP Brings Healthcare and Medication to Thousands in need in Coastal Kenya
By U.S. Air Force Capt. Martin Gerst, CJTF-HOA Public Affairs
MANDA BAY, Kenya - A team of doctors, medical and civil affairs professionals, from the Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa recently completed a two-week medical civic action program here that visited four villages and treated more than 3,300 patients.
The team worked with local medical officials and non-governmental agencies, providing over $44,000 worth of medications and treatments to the residents of Mpeketoni, Faza, Bargoni, Mokowe and their surrounding communities. All medication was purchased locally and surplus medications were distributed among the clinics that participated.
Read more…

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New hospital to treat detainees, Soldiers
MNF-I Article CAMP CROPPER, Iraq — A medical task force responsible for providing health care to both detainees and Soldiers opened a new hospital near Baghdad International Airport July 30. Fresh from New Orleans, where the unit provided Hurricane Katrina disaster relief in October 2005, the 21st Combat Support Hospital from Fort Hood, Texas arrived in Iraq in May. The medics first set up shop at Abu Ghraib then moved medical equipment, supplies and patient records to the new Camp Cropper Theater Internment Facility here earlier this month.
Read more…

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Coalition Forces Visit Orphanage to Lift Spirits
Story by Spc. L.C. Campbell138th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
MOSUL, Iraq – Soldiers from 3rd Platoon, Company C, 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team visited an orphanage in Mosul, Iraq July 10, bringing gifts for the children.

During a regular patrol through the city, 3rd Plt. stopped at a local orphanage to drop off soccer balls and other gifts that were donated. Some of the donations came from Forward Operating Base Marez and other donations were made by individuals back in the states.

“Our interpreter found out about the orphanage, and started asking people about where it was,” said 2nd Lt. Steven Stock, platoon leader, 3rd Plt, Co C, 2nd Bn., 1st Inf. Rgt., 172nd SBCT. “When we found the orphanage there was approximately 43 kids of all age groups.”
Read more…

CORDON AND SEARCH — U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Eric Hays, from Charlie Company, 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, goes over the identification of a house resident as his family looks on from the living room during a joint cordon and search operation with Iraqi emergency services personnel in Kirkuk, Iraq, Aug. 3, 2006. U.S. Navy photo by Seaman David Quillen

In Today's News - Monday, August 7, 2006

Quote of the Day
"We don't want our kids to fight.
But sometimes they have to fight
and when they do, we have to support them."

-- General Tommy Franks

News of Note
Israel at War
Israeli Troops Raid Hezbollah Zone
Washington Pushes for Cease-Fire
Video: Hezbollah Launchers Destroyed
Video: Haifa Mayor Describes Devastation
Video: Lebanon Reacts to U.N. Resolution
Photo Essay: Israeli-Lebanese Conflict Rages
Israeli strikes kill 17 Lebanese - Video
US, Iraqi forces battle militia in east Baghdad
Israel plans to target Hizbollah rocket stocks - Video
Lebanon's objections delay UN Council Mideast vote - Video
Special Report: Middle East Crisis (Reuters)
Deadliest day of the war for Israel
Israeli planes strike deep into Lebanon
40 killed in strike on Lebanese village
White House pushing for Mideast resolution

Operation Iraqi Freedom
3 Killed in U.S.-Iraqi Raid of Baghdad Shiite Stronghold
Half of U.S. still believes Iraq had WMD (Hmmm....maybe 'cause we FOUND SOME???)
Rice: Iraq isn't sliding into civil war

Homeland Security / War on Terror
9/11 conspiracy theories persist, thrive

Troops on Trial
Military court told soldiers took turns to rape
Medic recounts finding Iraqi girl's body

Immigration / Border Control
Immigrant trapped in train before rescue

Worldwide Wackos
Castro Back 'in a Few Weeks'
Castro said to be recuperating
North Korea Claims to Have Captured U.S. Submersible
Iran still plans reply to atomic incentives deal

Homegrown Moonbats
Sheehan resumes protest near Bush ranch

Politics / Government
Embattled U.S. Rep. Bob Ney Won't Seek Re-Election
Governors wrestle with Medicaid changes
Lieberman confronts anti-war criticism

Media in the Media
Reuters drops Lebanese photographer over doctored image

Mother Nature
Indonesian Volcano Ready to Blow; 50,000 Evacuated
Heat Wave Sizzles South
More than 800 killed or missing from N.Korea floods - Video

Oddities
Bedbug infestations on rise across U.S.

Other News of Note
EU: Employers Can Legally Refuse to Hire Smokers
Alaskan Oil Field Closed Due to Rupture, Spill in Pipeline
Klimt painting looted by Nazis to be sold

Fox News
N.J. Teen Accidentally Kills Mom During Driving Lesson
Stocks to Watch: Winn-Dixie

Reuters: Top News
Somalia's "bloated" cabinet dissolved: president - Video
Abduction tales haunt Sri Lanka conflict victims
Nepal's Maoists say peace talks close to collapse
Embattled Thai PM kicks off election campaign
New Orleans prays for musicians on Armstrong 'birthday'
US sanctions threaten Russian ties: analysts
More than 800 killed or missing from N.Korea floods
Thailand kicks off campaign to halt bird flu
Parents: beware of shopping carts, escalators
Radioisotope treatment can trigger airport alarms
Madonna "crucified" in Rome, Vatican protests
Lollapalooza in Chicago packs in a big crowd

AP World News
Utah doctors to separate conjoined twins
Stock futures down on oil concerns
Google to distribute MTV clips with ads
'Ricky Bobby' speeds past weekend rivals
Tiger wins Buick for 50th PGA victory
Phoenix suspects took turns, police say
Hospitals now offer high-speed Internet
Hackers meet to exploit computer flaws
Obituaries in the news
Peace camp's sense of hope unshaken
Nuclear-powered ship to get $1M rehab

Military.com
Governors Object to Bush's Guard Plan
Income-Replacement Program Launched

CENTCOM: News Releases
REPLACEMENT FOR 10TH MOUNTAIN DIVISION NAMED

MEDICAL TEAMS EDUCATE AND TREAT PANJAB AND WARAS VILLAGERS

Department of Defense
NEWS UPDATES
NATO Reaffirms Commitment - Story
Coalition Forces Conduct Raids
For Top News Visit DefenseLink

ON THE GROUND
Education and Youth Center Opens in Tarmiya - Story
Iraqi Soldiers Conduct Cordon and Search - Story
Alaska Stryker Brigade Transfers Authority - Story

IN IRAQ
Aviation Brigade Called for Duty in Iraq - Photos
Iraqi Police Focus on Security in Doura
Iraqis, Marines Work to Improve Security
New Hospital to Treat Detainees, Soldiers

IN AFGHANISTAN
Munitions, Weapons Airmen Secure Bombs
Air Force Specialists Keep Planes in Flight

IN DJIBOUTI
Djiboutian Military Police Visit Camp
Exercise Focuses on Crisis Response
U.S., French Marines Train in Desert

IN KENYA
Volunteers Help Task Force with Health Visit

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

CASUALTIES
Three Soldiers Die in Anbar Province - Story

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 - Columbus arrives in the Caribbean.
1782 - George Washington creates the Order of the Purple Heart.
1789 - The U.S. War Department is established.
1882 - The Hatfields of south WV and the McCoys of east KY feud; 100 are killed or wounded.
1888 - Theophilus Van Kannel patents the revolving door.
1934 - A U.S. Court of Appeals upholds a lower court ruling striking down the government attempt to bank "Ulysses", a controversial James Joyce novel.
1941 - In Romania, 551 Jews are shot in the Kishnev ghetto.
1942 - Guadalcanal, in the Solomon Islands, sees the first WWII American offensive in the Pacific.
1947 - The balsa raft Kon Tiki crashes into a Polynesian reef.
1951 - The Douglas D-558-II Skyrocket reaches a speed of 1,992 kph.
1954 - Charles Mahoney becomes the first African-American to serve as a full U.N. delegate.
1959 - Explorer 6 transmits the first TV photo of Earth from space.
1960 - The Ivory Coast (Côte d'Ivoire) gains independence from France.
1961 - In Vostok-2, Cosmonaut Gherman Titov circles the Earth for a full day.
1964 - The U.S. Congress approves the Gulf of Tonkin resolution, allowing the President to "take 'all necessary steps' to protect the forces of the United States and its allies."
1971 - Apollo 15 returns to Earth.
1974 - Philippe Petit walks on a tightrope strung between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center.
1976 - The U.S. Viking 2 goes into Martian orbit after an 11-month flight from Earth.
1978 - Thousands of mourners pay their respects to Pope Paul VI.
1990 - Saudi Arabia allows U.S. troops on their soil, as Operation Desert Shield begins.
1991 - A court grants Manuel Noriega access to secret U.S. documents.

Birthdays
317 - Constantius II, Roman emperor (337-61)
1742 - Nathanael Greene, General, American Revolutionary War
1779 - Carl Ritter, co-founder of modern geography
1876 - Mata Hari, dancer/courtesan/spy (WW I)
1904 - Ralph J. Bunche, U.N. founder / diplomat / Nobel Prize winner (1950)
1927 - Edwin W. Edwards (Gov-LA)
1956 - Kent V. Rominger, U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr/astronaut

Passings
1957
- Oliver Hardy comedian of Laurel and Hardy
1991 - Shotzie, Cincinnati Reds mascot (dog), dies at 9

Reported Missing in Action
1965
Gray, Harold Edwin, Jr., USN (NY); A1H shot down

1966
Brazelton, Michael L., USAF (CA); released by DRV March, 1973 - retired as a Colonel - alive and well as of 1998

Fryer, Charles Wigger, USN (OK); A1H shot down, KIA, body not recovered

Gideon, Willard S., USAF (MD); F105D shot down, released by DRV March, 1973 - retired as a Colonel - alive as of 1998

Moran, Richard Allan, USN (AR); A4B shot down, KIA, body not recovered

Pyle, Thomas S., USAF (DE); F105F shot down, released by DRV March, 1973 - retired as a Lt. Colonel - alive and well as of 1998

Sandvick, Robert J., USAF (MT); F105F shot down, released by DRV March, 1973 - retired as a Colonel - alive as of 1998

Wendell, John H., USAF (TX); F105D shot down, released by DRV March, 1973 - retired as a Lt. Colonel - alive as of 1998

1967
Chambers, Carl D., USAF (CA); F4C shot down, released by DRV March, 1973 - alive and well as of 1998

Wilson, Glenn H., USAF (WV); F4C shot down, released by DRV March, 1973 - deceased January, 1988

1971
Berg, Bruce A., US Army (WA); KIA, body not recovered

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