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Friday, September 22, 2006


Yokosuka, Japan (Sept. 22, 2006) - U.S. Navy Sailors recite the Oath of Citizenship during a naturalization ceremony held onboard Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan. Over 90 Sailors, representing over 20 countries, became U.S. citizens. The oath highlighted the importance of U.S. citizenship during the naturalization and swearing-in ceremony of military personnel. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Chantel M. Clayton

Talking With Heroes - September 24th

Check out some of the guests in October!!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Talking With Heroes Talk Show
www.talkingwithheroes.com

Colorado Springs, Colorado, Sept 22, 2006, Talking with Heroes Talk Show announces the guest list for the next four weeks prior to taking the Talking with Heroes Talk Show to Iraq. Talking with Heroes continues on its mission to give our military personnel a global platform to share their mostly untold stories and to thank, honor and support our men and
women serving our country.

The September 24, 2006 Guests:

George Bernloehr is the Director of Operations of militaryresumes.com a project founded by Bradley-Morris. George is a former Naval Aviation Maintenance Duty Officer who dedicated 20 years to the US Navy. George's interview took place from the Sept. 21, 2006 Military2Civilian Job Fair at the Redbank Club, Naval Weapons Station Charleston, SC. MilitaryResumes.com was created to offer an online recruiting solution for candidates that are currently transitioning out of the Military as well as military veterans with varying amounts of business experience.

Lieutenant Commander James R. Rund United States Navy Reserve enlisted in the Navy in 1974. He has served over the past years in many capacities and in many places. His most recent duty assignment began in September 2004 when LCDR Rund accepted orders as Executive Officer of Navy Security Force Gaeta, Italy out of Shreveport, LA. LCDR was selected in September 2005 as Commanding Officer of Navy Security Force NSA Mid-South in Memphis TN and is currently still serving in that capacity. LCDR
Rund was interviewed at the Military2Civilian Job Fair in his capacity as Campus President of ECPI College of Technology Charleston, South Carolina Campus.

1LT Molly Huggins is an Army pilot, flying Kiowas for the TN Army National Guard. After receiving her degree, she completed Officer Candidate School through the National Guard in 2003 and flight school at FT Rucker in August of 2005. She is married to CPT Peter Huggins, a Blackhawk pilot for the 57th Medical Company (AA) currently stationed in Balad, Iraq and returning very soon. As a medical platoon leader in the 1st Armored Cavalry Division, he was responsible for the safe, rapid deployment of medics on the battlefield. He has spent the last 11 months serving with the 57th in Balad, Iraq in support of Iraqi Freedom.

SSG (P) Richard C. Simmons recently returned from his second tour in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. A combat flight medic, SSG (P) Simmons served with the 57th Medical Company (AA) aka “The Original Dustoff” April 2003 – June 2004 and deployed again Oct 2005 – Sep 2006. Richard met his wife Ginger while living in Fort Myers, Florida and married her in May of 1996. Ginger does extensive volunteer work, including acting
as the Family Readiness Group Leader and Treasurer for the 57th Medical Company (AA). SSG Simmons and CPT Pete Huggins are the co-creators of the ORIGINAL JAVA which is a soldier morale, welfare, and recreation espresso and cigar bar located at LSA Anaconda, Balad.

The October 1, 2006 Talk Show Guests are:

W. H. McDonald Jr. is the Founder and President of “Military Writer’s Society of America” www.militarywriters.com. The society has well over 1,000. Bill is a Vietnam Veteran and he is an author of several non-fiction and poetry books including his autobiography “A Spiritual Warrior’s Journey.” He has been featured in recent two documentary films (Award winning film “In The Shadow of The Blade” – shown on The Military History Channel and a PBS TV special called “The Art of Healing” about
PTSD and the arts.). He is now working on his own film that documents his 2002 return back to Vietnam with three other veterans. (“A Spiritual Warrior’s Journey – Back to Nam” – proposed release date for DVD October - November 2006). Bill McDonald will talk about the Military Writers Society of America "Salute to the Military" conference in San Diego Oct. 13-15, 2006.

Sergeant Michael Volkin is the Author of “The Ultimate Basic Training Guidebook". He served in Operation Enduring/Iraqi Freedom as a Chemical Operations Specialist and received an Army Commendation Medal for his efforts and for the fitness programs he designed to help his fellow soldiers. As Volkin quickly discovered, he was utterly unprepared for the new world of the military, “a completely different environment full of
unknown exercises and acronyms, where you can’t eat or talk without permission.” Volkin’s new book is a comprehensive, practical, and easy-to-follow survival guide written specifically for every new or prospective recruit about to enter any branch of the armed forces.

Andrew Carroll is a Best Selling Editor and Founder of the Legacy Project. Andy 36 is the editor of several nationally bestselling and critically acclaimed books, including Behind the Lines and War Letters, which also inspired a PBS documentary of the same name. The Legacy Project is an all-volunteer initiative that honors veterans and active-duty troops
by seeking out and preserving their wartime letters and e-mails. To date, the Legacy Project has received an estimated 75,000 never before seen correspondence from every military conflict in U.S. history. Carroll is considered one of the nation’s foremost experts on wartime correspondence, and he has been profiled on NBC's Nightly News, FOX News, the Today Show, Oprah, and Nightline (which devoted a full broadcast to the Legacy Project). Carroll was featured as a “Person of the Week” on ABC’s World News Tonight.

CW2 Jared Jones coming from a military family felt that one of the best ways he could promote and protect our nation and its values was to join the National Guard. He currently serves as an AH-64A Apache helicopter attack pilot in the 1/211th AVN, Utah Army National Guard, following in the footsteps of his father who is also an Apache pilot.CW2 Jones recently spent a year in Afghanistan, serving in Operation Enduring Freedom V. He states that many people don't realize that everyday civilians and soldiers are making a difference without weapons. They are building hospitals, orphanages, roads, and schools. They are giving out food, water, much needed clothing, and school supplies. They are providing free education and health care.

While in Afghanistan he filmed from the ground and air, traveling to many villages, interacting with and helping the Afghan people, and capturing wonderful things you never hear about in local or national news. Using the 75+ hours of footage he captured while in Afghanistan, he is directing a documentary about Afghanistan, which will benefit the
non-profit organization Operation Enduring Hope: Afghanistan. www/infinity-film.com

The October 8, 2006 Guests are:

Patti Bader is the Founder of SoldiersAngels.org. She is mother of Sgt. Brandon Varn, who served a year's deployment to Iraq. Soldiers' Angels is a volunteer run, 501 © (3) non-profit organization, incorporated in the state of Nevada. Soldiers' Angels started in June of 2003. The Soldiers' Angels mission is to provide aide and comfort to any of the armed forces and their families.

Wilhelmine (Willie) Aufmkolk is with the Soldier's Angels Foundation and is the INTERNATIONAL GOODWILL AMBASSADOR for Soldiers' Angels in Europe. She will be calling into the talk show from Germany. She says "Soldiers' Angels currently support thousands of Armed Forces Members stationed wherever we raise our Country's Flag and the number is growing daily. We also work tirelessly here in Europe to support and welcome our heroes who are returning to their overseas duty stations, often away on
long deployments fighting global terrorism. We are the transitional team that would like to show them the same appreciation as their counterparts receive when they arrive on home soil, till they finally make it “Home” to friends and family."

MSgt Craig A. Colton is a Career Assistance Advisor for Dyess Air Force Base in Abilene, Texas. MSgt Craig A. Colton is currently an active duty member of the Air Force and is assigned to Dyess AFB as B-1 Bomber specialist section chief. He has spent most of career as an avionics technician on B-1 and B-2 Bombers. He has served as a military instructor and a recruiter and enjoys being part of the best Air Force in the world. MSgt Colton is a volunteer liaison for the national Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes. www.saluteheroes.org. They assist the wounded veterans returning from the War on Terror that struggle every day to overcome life-changing sacrifices such as the loss of a limb, significant burns, and the reality of being in a wheelchair. Salute America's Heroes
help the people who have given so much on our behalf overcome these obstacles and resume a productive and fulfilling life through programs targeted to their specific needs.

First Sergeant Daryl J. Eddings, Sr. entered basic training at Fort Benning, Georgia, November 1979. 1SG Eddings served in Operations JOINT ENDEAVOR and IRAQI FREEDOM II. As an Operation Sergeant Provo Marshall assigned in the city of Kabala, Iraq, he was responsible for maintaining law and order for the entire city population 46,000. This is including overseeing both military and Iraqi police and the local prison; it was here that he received his injuries fighting the enemy in hand-to-hand combat.

He served 9 years active duty in the United States Army and 18 years in the National Guard for a total of 27 years. While in the National Guard 1SG Daryl Eddings also served his country with the Federal Marshals Service for 15 years, as an Aircraft Commander for the Convict Air program he was responsible for 14 deputy marshals and the transporting of
145 prisoners aboard a Boeing 727. Many of which were high profile convicts requiring the most stringent of environment awareness and attention to detail.

October 15, 2006 Guests are:

Debbie Gregory
is the President of MilitaryConnection.Com. Debbie Gregory is an experienced executive recruiter who spent six years working as a print advertiser for Defense Department-contracted base newspapers. Debbie Gregory said she aimed the site at today's military family. "All the databases are free for their use. ... We're not really selling anything." The site contains several useful features to support the military's unique needs. Links to hospitals, schools, news, state tax boards, yellow pages, a military pay calculator and a "virtual mall," which she hopes will help military families make smoother transitions between duty stations. The Oct 15th Talk Show will include a representative from a
company, talking about their program to hire military personnel after they leave the military.
The October 22, 2006 Talk Show: Talking with Heroes will launch the first of a series of talk shows with interviews conducted by HOST Bob Calvert from Iraq itself with our men and women serving in Iraq. Details will be posted in the October 22nd Talk Show Page soon.

All previous Talking with Heroes talk shows can be listened to in our past show archives 24 hours a day/7 days a week, from anywhere in the world where there is access to the internet and can now be downloaded onto iPODs.

For More Information:
Bob Calvert, Talk Show Host
www.talkingwithheroes.com
Email: bob@youngheroes-DOT-us
Phone: 719-310-7814

OPERATION MATADOR - An Iraqi man opens his front door to speak with U.S. Marine 1st Lt. Christopher L. Doggett and Sgt. Flavio D. Mendes, both with 1st Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 5, during Operation Matador, Sept. 13, 2006. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Brian Reimers

General Explains Decision to Refrain From Targeting Taliban Funeral

By John D. Banusiewicz
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Sept. 21, 2006 – Much has been made in recent days of an aerial photograph taken in Afghanistan that reportedly shows hundreds of Taliban fighters attending a funeral and the decision to refrain from wiping out the gathering militarily.

At a Pentagon news conference today, the commander of coalition forces in Afghanistan said the rules of engagement provide all the flexibility needed to take the fight to the enemy and to protect coalition forces, but the decision in this case was not as simple as it might appear to be.

Army Lt. Gen. Karl Eikenberry said the intelligence available to the coalition commander on the ground did, indeed, support the belief that the gathering was for the funeral of a mid-level Taliban operative. “It was also reasonable to believe that, as he looked down at that photograph or looked down at the video, that a number of the people that were standing there at that funeral were Taliban fighters,” the general added.

But it’s what the picture didn’t show that ultimately led to the decision not to strike, Eikenberry said. Just outside the frame, he said, was an Afghan village.

“And it also was reasonable for the commander to conclude from that village that there were probably innocents -- maybe sympathetic to Taliban, but innocents, noncombatants -- that had moved to participate in that funeral,” the general said. And the photo couldn’t rule out the possible presence of women and children, he added.

“So that commander made a decision, based upon our values as a people, based upon our values as a nation, that he would not strike,” Eikenberry said.

The general noted that the enemy has no such values.

“I would point out to everybody that (the coalition commander’s decision not to strike the funeral gathering) stands in very sharp contrast to an enemy that will kill religious leaders wantonly, that will kill teachers in order to intimidate parents to keep their children out of school houses, that will -- as they proved themselves last week -- throw a suicide-bomber at a patriotic governor of Afghanistan who came from his home in Australia to serve his nation. That's what distinguishes us from the enemy,” he said.

“And with regard to our commanders' decisions, our commanders make decisions like this in the field every day, and I have complete confidence in my commanders that they always make the decision for the right -- for the right reasons and in the right way,” he added.


Biographies:
Lt. Gen. Karl Eikenberry, USA

Related Articles:
Challenge in Afghanistan Not Military in Nature, General Says

Related Sites:
Video of News Conference
Combined Forces Command Afghanistan

SECURITY IN MOSUL — U.S. Army Spc. Arturo Barajas provides security for Iraqi army soldiers as they finish a cordon and search operation in southern Mosul, Iraq, Sept. 17, 2006. Barajas is with the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash. Defense Dept. photo by U.S. Army Spc. Christa Martin

In Today's News - Friday, September 22, 2006

Quote of the Day
"The patriot volunteer, fighting for country and his rights,
makes the most reliable soldier on earth."
-- Thomas J. Jackson

News of NoteOperation Iraqi Freedom
Iraq: Insurgents Using Kidnap Victims as Bombers
U.S. General's Key to Victory in Iraq
Gunmen Attack Sunnis in Baghdad; 3 Dead

Operation Enduring Freedom
Afghan President Cites Progress

Homeland Security / War on Terror
Deal Reached on Detainee Treatment Bill
Pentagon dismisses September 11 intelligence claims
For Detainees: Less Access to U.S. Courts?
How Military Service Affects Officials' Views on Torture
Pakistan leader says U.S. made threats (Now, if I'd talked to them, maybe this would have been said, but somehow, I think this is a bit unlikely)
Census Bureau loses hundreds of laptops (This is not good)
Commerce Dept. Has Lost 1,100 Laptops Since 2001 (This isn't good, either)

Other Military News
Army Meets 2006 Recruiting Goal
Security Tightened at U.S. Central Command
Air Force Takes Down MySpace Profile
Strained, Army Looks to Guard for More Relief

Mid-East Ceasefire / Israel at War
Hamas Rejects Plan to Recognize Israel
Olmert says could free prisoners soon

Worldwide Wackos
Iran's President: 'We Do Not Need a Bomb'
Iran is our biggest concern, Israelis say in poll
Iran leader uses U.N. to improve image
Venezuela's Chavez Repeats 'Devil' Insult
Two House Democrats Defend Bush Against Chavez

Homegrown Moonbats
Richard Branson: $3B to Fight Global Warming
Church to fight IRS demand for documents (This is the way things work when you're a non-profit. Deal with it.)

Religion of Peace??
Pope to Meet Islamic Ambassadors on Monday
Pontiff seeks to quell uproar over speech
Pakistani clerics demand pope's removal

Politics / Government
House GOP Agrees to Relax Ban on Importing Drugs
Rice plans to visit Middle East
Schwarzenegger, Bloomberg team on climate change
Detainees deal may quell GOP infighting
Bush aims to calm fray between 2 allies

More U.N. News
FOX VIEWER POLL: Should the U.S. Stop Funding the U.N.? (YES - right now)
U.N. rights monitors accuse Sudan of bombing Darfur

Media in the Media
SF reporters to appeal jail order

Oddities
And the grad students most likely to cheat are...

Other News of Note
'Smoking Gun' E. Coli Spinach Found
Red Cross suspends activities over Ethiopia kidnap

Fox News
Mo. Woman Pleads Not Guilty to Kidnapping Baby
CDC: Americans Should Be Tested Routinely for HIV
Wal-Mart to Offer Discounted Generic Rx Drugs
Key Evidence Missing in Karr Child Porn Case
Shuttle Atlantis Returns Safely to Earth
Six Held in 1979 Michigan Sex Slaying
Starbucks Raises Costs on Coffee Drinks, Beans
Indonesia Executes Three Christian Militants
Dragging Death Victim Identified
John Mark Karr Rejects Plea Deal in Child Porn Case
Stocks to Watch: HP and Boston Scientific

Reuters: Top News
Thai coup leaders close to naming prime minister - Video
Indonesian executions spark violent protest
Budapest calm ahead of far-right rally
World Heritage sites may soon be off tourism map
Mobile phone industry aims to reduce pollution
Cell phone concerto may be music to your ears
Bumps on the road for U.S. ethanol vehicles
Israel opens ancient site near Jerusalem shrine
Madonna defends being "crucified" on stage
China takes on local version of "The Apprentice"
U.S. stocks seen extending fall on growth worries - Video
Growth fears spook stocks, currencies, bonds up
Gold surges 1.8 pct on weaker dollar, firmer oil
Oil recovers further toward $62 after 6-week dive - Video
Dollar smarts after data suggests rates to stay put - Video
Paper trail -- what to keep, what to toss
If there's no rate hike in October, history says Fed is done
Little progress in GM-Renault-Nissan talks: reports
HP CEO to testify to House panel on leak scandal
U.S., China at odds over timing not substance: Paulson
Wal-Mart Stores offers $4 generic drugs in Florida
Sharp visits LG.Philips as Philips seeks buyer: report
Procter & Gamble halts SK-II skincare sales in China

AP World News
Sony cuts price of PlayStation 3 to $410
'La Bamba' star charged in domestic spat
Woods all wet at Ryder Cup opening
Jail reviews security after 6 men escape
Billionaires only occupy Forbes 400 list
Don Ho recovering from pacemaker surgery
Average home has more TVs than people
'Nip/Tuck' episode gets racy with Rosie
Orioles rally from 3 down to beat Tigers
AP: Steinbrenner says health is fine
Dow closes down 80, Nasdaq closes off 15
Alzheimer's protein injected into mice
Houston police officer fatally shot
Evangelical voters more jaded in 2006

Military.com
Injury Insurance Surprise
Army to Test Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle
Shuttle's Success Eases NASA's Burden

CENTCOM: News Releases
JOINT STATEMENT BY AMBASSADOR ZALMAY KHALILZAD AND GEN. GEORGE W. CASEY JR. ON THE TRANSFER OF DHI QAR PROVINCE

USJFCOM
Urban Resolve 2015 leaders meet with the media - podcast
Empire Challenge 06 focuses on joint, coalition warfighting operations - podcast Liveblogging: Urban Resolve 2015- Read Chris' liveblog

Department of Defense
NEWS UPDATES
For Top News Visit DefenseLink

ON THE GROUND
Iraqi Government Assumes Control in Dhi Qar - Story
Medical Training Facility Dedicated to Fallen Medic - Story
British Forces Distribute Rice, Flour, Oil - Story
Medical Personnel Treat Nearly 500 Residents - Story

IN IRAQ
U.S. Soldiers, Iraqis Hold Recruitment Drive
Trade Show Highlights Progress in Irbil
Leaders Highlight Successes of Baghdad Operation
Micro-Finance Organization Helps Local Pharmacy

IN AFGHANISTAN
10th Mountain Division Soldiers Thwart Extremists
Legacy of Fallen Citadel Graduate Lives On

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

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

National Hurricane Center

Today in History
1692
- The last person is hanged for witchcraft in the U.S.
1789 - Congress establishes the Office of Postmaster General of the U.S.
1817 - John Quincy Adams becomes Secretary of State.
1862 - President Lincoln announces the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, in which he says he will free slaves in all states on January 1, 1863.
1868 - Race riots occur in New Orleans, LA.
1903 - Italo Marchiony is granted a patent for the ice cream cone.
1913 - A coal mine explosion kills more than 250 at Dawson, NM.
1944 - Boulogne is reoccupied by the Allies.
1949 - The U.S.S.R. detonates its first atomic bomb.
1950 - Omar N. Bradley is promoted to the rank of five-star general.
1960 - Mali gains independence from France.
1964 - "The Man from U.N.C.L.E." premiers on NBC-TV.
1968 - Zond-5 completes its flight.
1970 - President Nixon requests 1,000 new FBI agents for college campuses.
1973 - Henry Kissingeris sworn in as America's first Jewish Secretary of State.
1975 - Sara Jane Moore tries to assassinate President Ford in San Francisco.
1978 - Israeli PM Menachem Begin returns home after the Camp David summit.
1980 - Iraqi troops seize part of Iran in a border dispute, beginning the Iraq-Iran war.
1983 - NASA launches Galaxy-B.
1990 - Saudi Arabia expells Jordanian and Yemeni envoys.
1991 - California University makes the Dead Sea Scrolls public.

Birthdays
1290
- Bilbo Baggins (Shire Reconning)
1694 - Lord Chesterfield, letter writer; introduced Gregorian calendar
1791 - Michael Faraday, discoverer of the principle of the electric motor
1822 – Confederate Brigadier General Eppa Hunton
1878 - Shigeru Yoshida, Japanese PM (1946-54)
1922 - Chen Ning Yang, physicist/disproved parity, Nobel Prize winner (1957)
1939 - Junko Tabei, first woman to climb Mount Everest; Mike Sullivan (Gov-WY)
1969 - Melissa Lynn Costello, Miss WV-America (1991)

Passings
1520
- Selim I, captured Baghdad
1989 - Irving Berlin, composer, (age 101)

Reported Missing in Action
1966

Knochel, Charles A., USN (IN); A1H shot down (pilot), KIA, body not recovered

1968
Kuhlmann, Charles F., USAF (CT); A1H shot down (pilot), remains identified September, 1995
Wright, Buddy, US Army; escaped October, 1968

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