Associated Press September 16, 2006

BAGHDAD, Iraq - A U.S. Soldier was missing Friday, a day after a suicide truck bombing killed two Soldiers and wounded another 30 west of Baghdad, U.S. military officials said.

The Soldier "has been reported as Duty Status Whereabouts Unknown," the military said, without elaborating.

Neither U.S. military officials in Iraq nor in Washington would say whether they believed the Soldier had been abducted or whether he may have been killed in the attack, and his remains had not been recovered.

"I'm sorry to add that we now have a Soldier that we are counting as missing," Lt. Gen. Peter Chiarelli said in a video news conference from Baghdad with reporters at the Pentagon...

Read the Rest at Military.com


Please keep this Soldier, his family, friends, and comrades, in your thoughts and prayers.

Local villagers wait in line to be seen by medical personnel during a medical civic action program in Nawa, Afghanistan, hosted by Provisional Reconstruction Team Ghazni and the Cooperative Medical Assistance team from Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan, Sept. 5, 2006. U.S. Army photo by Cpl. Bertha A. Flores

An Afghan national policeman searches a young boy before he can enter the clinic area for treatment from military doctors during a medical civic action program in Nawa, Afghanistan, hosted by Provisional Reconstruction Team Ghazni and the Cooperative Medical Assistance team from Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan, Sept. 5, 2006. U.S. Army photo by Cpl. Bertha A. Flores

U.S. Army Spc. Nesbia Dominquez administers de-worming medicine into the mouth of a local child during a medical civic action program in Nawa, Afghanistan. The program was hosted by Provisional Reconstruction Team Ghazni and the Cooperative Medical Assistance team from Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan, Sept. 5, 2006. U.S. Army photo by Cpl. Bertha A. Flores

U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Reynaldo Espino looks through the trunks of medical supplies during a medical civic action program in Nawa, Afghanistan. The program was hosted by Provisional Reconstruction Team Ghazni and the Cooperative Medical Assistance team from Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan, Sept. 5, 2006. U.S. Army photo by Cpl. Bertha A. Flores

U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Robert Ramirez, assigned to the Provisional Reconstruction Team (PRT) Ghazni, examines a young man's face in Nawa, Afghanistan. The program was hosted by Provisional Reconstruction Team Ghazni and the Cooperative Medical Assistance team from Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan, Sept. 5, 2006. U.S. Army photo by Cpl. Bertha A. Flores

U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Reynaldo Espino looks at the leg of local an Afghan man during a medical civic action program in Nawa, Afghanistan. The program was hosted by Provisional Reconstruction Team Ghazni and the Cooperative Medical Assistance team from Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan, Sept. 5, 2006. U.S. Army photo by Cpl. Bertha A. Flores

U.S. Navy Cmdr. Sandra Hearn, a cooperative medical assistance medical provider, helps an Afghan baby boy use an inhaler after determining he has asthma during a medical civic action program in Nawa, Afghanistan, hosted by Provisional Reconstruction Team Ghazni and the Cooperative Medical Assistance team from Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan, Sept. 5, 2006. U.S. Army photo by Cpl. Bertha A. Flores

U.S. Army Spc. Timothy Guinta, with 1st Battalion, 102nd Infantry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division, scans his perimeter during a convoy returning to Forward Operating Base Warrior, Afghanistan, from a medical civic action project (MEDCAP) conducted in Nawa, Afghanistan, Sept. 5, 2006. The Cooperative Medical Assistance Team of Bagram and the Ghazni Provisional Reconstruction Team hosted the MEDCAP. U.S. Army photo by Cpl. Bertha A. Flores

U.S. Army soldiers from Provisional Reconstruction Team Ghazni assess a bridge to verify it is clear to cross during a convoy returning to Forward Operating Base Warrior from a medical civic action program in Nawa, Afghanistan, Sept. 5, 2006. U.S. Army photo by Cpl. Bertha A. Flores



For more photo essays, visit DefendAmerica.mil

This was me, 11 years ago today:

My husband is a wonderful guy who puts up with his opinionated wife, and yes, actually encourages that (though I'm relatively sure that he sometimes regrets it...). We share the same, often slightly tweaked, sense of humor, most of the same political views, and he wholeheartedly stands with me in supporting our heroes. He's the porter and advisor on my Soldiers' Angels "soldier shopping" trips. Never a complaint when he wants to head out for a weekend breakfast, but I have to get a blog post up...or when we have to head out to Panera in the middle of the night because some idiot in a FedEx truck tore the lines off our house and I need to blog, or when I'm spending a couple of hours doing that on our anniversary.

I am truly blessed.


Happy Anniversary, honey - I love you.

ROOFTOP SECURITY — U.S. Marine Cpl. Joshua W. Simonson, a 22-year-old squad leader, watches over Iraqi women and children above a rooftop east of Fallujah, Iraq, Sept. 5, 2006. Simonson and other Marines were looking for insurgents in the area. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Ray Lewis

News of Note
Operation Iraqi Freedom
Car Bomb Attack Kills Two Soldiers
Iraq PM's Plea
Iraq calls for calm after Pope's remarks
Bodies found as U.S. vows to secure Baghdad - Video
US Shifting Troops in Iraq

Operation Enduring Freedom
U.S., Afghan Troops Launch Broad Anti-Taliban Operation
Coalition soldier killed in Afghanistan
Four Taliban Militants Die in Afghanistan

Homeland Security / War on Terror
Bush Fights to Get 'Tools' to Interrogate Detainees

Troops on Trial
War Objector Faces new Charge

Other Military News
Former Coast Guard Commandant Dies

Worldwide Wackos
N.Korea says no nuclear talks under U.S. sanctions

Homegrown Moonbats
Anti-War Sermon Prompts IRS to Probe Calif. Church

Politics / Government
Bush to meet Abbas: Erekat (We should NOT be meeting with these people!!)

Mother Nature
Hurricane Lane Grows in Pacific, Takes Aim at Mexico
Helene Becomes Hurricane, Poses No Threat to Land

Oddities
Woman Slashes Mother's Throat, Kidnaps Baby
Police: Nurse Strangled Hit Man Hired to Kill Her
Sex Assault Charges Dropped in Wis. Necrophilia Case
Mayor's offer to film movie backfires
Madagascan leader's jet grounded by soldier's shots

Other News of Note
Searching for Sources
Investigators link contaminated spinach to processor
Fast Facts: Brands Recalled by Natural Selection foods
Pope Regretful Over Outrage
Protesters Attack 5 West Bank Churches

Fox News
N.M. Cops Probe Threat to Shoot People at Random
Abbott Recalls About 300,000 Bottles of Baby Formula

Reuters: Top News
Thousands in South Africa protest gay marriage bill
Mexican left must decide on post-election tactics
Astronauts see good start to station's next phase
Amid privacy backlash, Web publishers turn inward
Microsoft touts wireless connection as iPod killer
Russians run migrants from town in race violence
New Cajun music raises tempo on old French tunes
Blood protein may prevent malaria deaths: study
"Project Runway" final four show collections in NY
No laurels for "All the King's Men" at Toronto fest
Stocks may hit new highs if Fed stays put - Video
Stocks at 4-month highs, oil at 5-month lows - Video
Freescale shares climb - Video
Bull market gallop slows to a trot
DirecTV, EchoStar shares down on News Corp talks
Insurance an absolute surprise
Erik Dellith finds Embraer on the radar
Stocks may skip September slide
G7 tells China to unleash yuan
Paulson urges vigilance on terror finance
BP denies misleading Texas environmental regulator
Freescale in $17.6 billion sale pact
IMF vote reform set to be endorsed by members
Italy opposition slams Prodi in T.Italia row

AP World News
Ford cuts 10,000 jobs, closes 2 plants
Pathologist hired for Smith body autopsy
Martinez hit hard; Mets' clinch delayed
'Dog' unleashed: Chapman out on bail
Mets, Martinez can't clinch NL East
Iranian-born woman to be space tourist
Wife of accused in Phoenix case speaks
Gotti jurors hear closing arguments
2 teens suspected of Wis. school plot
Bush denies impropriety while at USC (Reggie Bush)
Study: Diabetes drug may be preventative
6-car pileup kills 4 on Texas highway
Man wanted in boy's slaying found dead
Astronauts allowed extra hour of sleep
Priests hear victims' tales of abuse

Military.com
Raul Castro, Hugo Chavez Star at Summit

CENTCOM: News Releases
ANA COMBAT CARE TEAM PROVIDES RELIEF FOR AFGHAN FORCES

EDUCATION IS WINNING THROUGH BUILDING SCHOOLS

AFGHAN NATIONAL ARMY CONDUCTS SECURITY TRAINING IN GERMANY

USJFCOM
Empire Challenge 06 focuses on joint, coalition warfighting operations - podcast
Liveblogging: Urban Resolve 2015 - Read Chris' liveblog
Deputy director for joint force training to take NATO post
USJFCOM Navy chief petty officer shines in ride to cure diabetes - podcast
USJFCOM employee recognized as high school volunteer of the year
Command surgeon, wife participate in week-long bicycle ride across Iowa

Department of Defense
NEWS UPDATES
For Top News Visit DefenseLink

ON THE GROUND
Iraq Reconstruction and Security Work in Tandem - Story
Iraqi Police, U.S. Soldiers Seize Weapons, Suspects - Story
25th Infantry Division Continues Transition Role - Story

IN IRAQ
Iraqi Police Department Recruits 67 Men-in-Blue
Iraqi Army Reaffirms Faith in Future of Iraq
Marines Make Midnight Run to Aid Iraqi Girl
A Moment for Historical Reflection in Mosul
Airmen Deploy to Monitor Airspace, Battlefield
Soldiers, Civilians Hold 9-11 Memorial Race
Troops in Iraq Honor Victims of Sept. 11 Attacks
Quality of Life Projects Continue to Find Success
Marines Work to Enhance

IN AFGHANISTAN
10th Mountain Division Soldiers Thwart Extremists
Legacy of Fallen Citadel Graduate Lives On
Coalition Forces Deliver Cement to Afghan Village
Reconstruction Team Donates Prayer Rugs

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
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
Officials Identify Army Casualty - 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
1630 - The Massachusetts village of Shawmut changes its name to Boston.
1662 - Flamsteed sees makes the first astronomical observation of a solar eclipse.
1782 - The Great Seal of the U.S. is used for the first time.
1795 - The British capture Capetown.
1862 - General Bragg's army surrounds 4000 federals at Munfordville, KY.
1908 - William C. Durant founds General Motors.
1915 - The U.S. takes control of Haitian customs and finances - it will last 10 years.
1919 - An act of Congress incorporates the American Legion.
1940 - Samuel T. Rayburn is elected Speaker of the House.
1945 - A barometric pressure of 856 mb (25.55") is recorded off Okinawa - a record low.
1947 - John Cobb sets a world auto speed record at 394.2 MPH.
1968 - Richard Nixon appears on "Laugh-in"
1971 - Six Klansmen are arrested in connection with the bombing of 10 school buses.
1974 - President Ford announces conditional amnesty for American Vietnam War deserters.
1977 - A 90-minute pilot of "Logan's Run" premiers on TV.
1982 - The massacre of 1000+ Palestinian refugees at Chatila & Sabra begins.
1983 - Arnold Schwarzenegger becomes a U.S. citizen.
1984 - "Miami Vice" premiers on TV.
1987 - NASA launches the S-209 space vehicle.
1990 - Iraq televises an 8-minute uncensored speech by George H.W. Bush.
1991 - The U.S. trial of Panamanian leader Manuel Noriega begins.
1995 - I got married! Happy Anniversary, honey!

Birthdays
1387 - King Henry V of England (1413-22)
1638 - King Louis XIV (the Sun King) of France (1643-1715)
1822 - Charles S. Crocker, President of Central & South Pacific Railroad
1823 - Francis Parkman, American historian/author (Oregon Trail)
1858 - A. Bonar Law, British PM (1922-23)
1875 - James Cash Penney, department store founder (J.C. Penney)
1877 - James J. Jeans, cosmologist/astrophysicist (Mysterious Universe)
1888 - Frans Sillanpaa, Finnish writer, Nobel Prize winner (Meek Heritage-1939)
1893 - Albert Szent-Gyoergyi Hungary, biochemist, Nobel Prize winner (1937)
1895 - Charles W. Bidwill Sr., NFL hall of famer (Chicago Cardinals)
1914 - Allen Funt, TV host & creator (Candid Camera)
1925 - B(lues) B(oy) King, blues singer, guitarist (The Thrill is Gone)
1956 - Kevin R. Kregel, pilot/astronaut
1962 - Kimberly McArthur, Playboy playmate (January, 1982)

Passings
1498 - Tomas de Torquemada, inquisitor responsible for burning 10,000 people to death
1672 - Anne Bradstreet, American poet
1946 - Sir James Jeans
1977 - Maria Callas, American-born prima donna

Reported Missing in Action
1965
Merritt, Raymond J., USAF (OR); F105 shot down (pilot), released by DRV February, 1973 - retired as a Colonel - alive and well as of 1998
*NOTE: Also flew 100 missions in the F-84 during the Korean War

Risner, Robinsin, USAF (OK); F105D shot down, released by DRV February, 1973 - retired as a Brigadier General - alive and well as of 1998
*NOTE: Also was a Korean War "Ace" flying 110 missions in the F-86

1966
Buchanan, Hubert E., USAF (IN); F4C shot down (systems operator, w/Robertson), released by DRV March, 1973 - alive as of 1998

Robertson, John L., USAF (WA); F4C shot down (pilot, w/Buchanan), reportedly DIC

1967
Bagley, Bobby R., USAF (GA); RF101 shot down, released by DRV March, 1973 - retired as a Colonel - deceased as of December, 1997

1969
Trampski, Donald J., US Army (IN); fell into river while crossing a bridge

1975
Biagini, Frederick J., Civilian; released, date unknown