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Thursday, May 17, 2007

Son of a ..........

Senators, White House Reach Bipartisan Agreement on Immigration

Thursday, May 17, 2007

WASHINGTON — Key senators and the White House reached agreement Thursday on an immigration overhaul that would grant quick legal status to millions of illegal immigrants already in the U.S. and fortify the border.

The plan would create a temporary worker program to bring new arrivals to the U.S.A separate program would cover agricultural workers. New high-tech enforcement measures also would be instituted to verify that workers are here legally.

The compromise came after weeks of painstaking closed-door negotiations that brought the most liberal Democrats and the most conservative Republicans together with President Bush's Cabinet officers to produce a highly complex measure that carries heavy political consequences.

Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., said he expects Bush to endorse the agreement.

[...]



Read the Rest at Fox News



I swear, if this is quid pro quo for war funding, my head is going to explode.

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Blogwatch

The Thunder Run has a new feature - and a new contributor. TRCNAK - or Thunder Run Correspondent for Naval Affairs (Kuwait) - has already proven to be a fantastic addition to what's already a great blog.

Here are highlights from his first few posts:

The Thunder Run Enters Kuwait:
This place is covered with highly motivated Americans (military, civilian, and contractor). These people have this place running as smooth as glass. They support what is going on up north, and I have never seen more talented and "switched on" people. ... There is no playing games here. I saw no Mickey Mouse crap.American flags are proudly displayed in the patient treatment areas. There were paintings of angels enveloping soldiers and motivational stuff...

Working with Professionals:
...I'm scheduled to do inventory, and I find what I am looking for. I finish ahead of schedule and duck into the ISO shelter for a break. I can hear the Sea Bees outside in the harsh wind cutting with the circular saw. God bless the Sea Bees. They are from a Reserve Unit in the midwest, and they are motivated. They never stop moving....

Our Support is Working:
We need what you provide. On a larger scale, your readers need to do what they do best. Whether it is to support the troops with mail or donating computers, or whatever it is - IT IS WORKING!! That's right, regardless of what the television is saying, it is working! So don't stop!

Many years ago, an old gray sergeant once told me, "Damn it soldier, don't fix it if it ain't broken." Truer words were never spoken...


"Da Hug":
I think we’ve all had that sixth sense that something is missing. You may be walking in the woods and realize that there is something different. The birds have stopped chirping, or there is a lack of background noise. Well, I just realized that I’ve been here for several days now, and I have heard very few complaints...

Make sure to check all of them out, and while you're there, don't miss this one:

Defeatists Let Down Our Guardsmen
Our newest expert on all thing Military in the state of Maryland, Elizabeth Marsh Cupino: give me a break! Let me get this straight a “journalist” who has never once written about our National Guard or military is now an expert on national defense because she read a single little snippet of news...

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The world is short one Hero today:

Today, an old man was found dead in his favorite chair, having passed peacefully in his sleep. He was my father-in-law. His name was Gene Easley.

Grim at BlackFive tells you why his father-in-law is Someone You should Know...

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JUNEAU, Alaska (May 14, 2007)--Passengers from the Cruise Ship Empress of the North being offloaded onto the Coast Guard Cutter Liberty and civilian vessels after running aground at aproximately 2:00 a.m. here today. The Liberty took on 130 of the 248 passengers before offloading them onto the Alaska State Ferry Columbia, which will transport them back to the city of Juneau. (Official Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer Chris Caskey)

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'New Guy' in Iraq Adjusts to New Life

Scanning his sector, Pvt. Destry Mulloy, 1-12 Combined Arms Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, pulls guard on the roof of his compound in Khan Bani Sa’ad, Iraq, May 12. Mulloy was deployed to Iraq almost immediately after basic training and has had to quickly adjust to his new life. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Ben Fox, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs)


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SR# 051307-04
May 13, 2007

By Pfc. Ben Fox
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division

KHAN BANI SA’AD, Iraq (May 13, 2007) – Brotherhood – it is a major factor in keeping units together before they deploy so that Soldiers can learn to trust each other. It doesn’t always work out that way though.

Pvt. Destry Mulloy is a new Soldier who went to basic training and was then immediately deployed to Iraq.

He shipped out to basic combat training Sept. 28, 2006 and graduated January 26. After spending a short time with the rear detachment at Fort Hood, Texas, Mulloy deployed to Iraq March 2.

Now, Mulloy is trying to fit into a brotherhood that has spent the last eight months in Iraq together, but he tries to look at things with a positive light.

“I had the chance to actually be in the field,” said Mulloy. “When I get back I will have a (Combat Infantry Badge) and combat experience, which will be better for promotion points.”

His new brothers at the unit treat him like the “new guy” at times, he said, but for the most part they try to help him out.

“You get the natural little bit of jokes because you’re the new guy,” said Mulloy.

Not only is Mulloy the newest guy to the unit, he is also one of the youngest.

“I turned 18 right before I graduated basic training,” he said, as he talked about having to learn many things on his own.

“A lot of the stuff I didn’t know, I picked up as I go,” he said.

For the most part, though, Mulloy has had help from his leaders as well as his peers.

“Everybody here has experience and they kind of make sure you’re not doing something stupid,” he said.

Sgt. Patrick Miller, Mulloy’s NCO, said, “It’s probably pretty tough for him because he came over here and didn’t know any of us.”

Miller tries to help Mulloy out as much as possible, but also encourages him to learn from his peers.

“I’ve taught him as much as I can,” said Miller.

Mulloy said Miller treats him well and tries to help him out by disciplining him.

“He gets onto me every once in a while… but that’s my fault,” said Mulloy. “He keeps me squared away.”

Miller said he tries to be understanding though that Mulloy doesn’t understand everything that goes on yet, and that it will take some time before he does.

“I learned so much in those couple of months that I had before I went to Iraq,” said Miller. “He didn’t really get that time.”

Mulloy knew he was first heading over when he arrived at his duty station.

“They officially told me when I got to Hood,” said Mulloy, who previously anticipated the deployment before being officially notified.

“I knew I was going to Cav. and Cav. was already over here,” he said.

Mulloy said his initial reaction to his hasty deployment was disappointment, but he tries to look at the brighter side now.

“At the moment I thought it sucked, but now I don’t regret it,” said Mulloy. “I’ll have plenty of time to spend when I get back.

“If I were to stay in garrison, I would’ve actually known the guys a little better before I came over here,” he said.

“It hasn’t affected me so far, not knowing the guys when I got here,” Mulloy said. “Plus I’m over here getting on the job training.”

Mulloy’s parents’ initial reaction was shock, he said, but they understood that he had to go.

“It surprised them a little bit that I was coming over here so quickly, but they were already adjusted to the fact that I would be going sooner or later,” he said.

As for Mulloy, he has accepted his deployment with a sense of duty.

“I joined the Army, and I joined the infantry for a reason,” he said. “I knew Iraq was going on, so I knew pretty much that I was coming here.”


Pvt. Destry Mulloy, 1-12 Combined Arms Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, pulls guard on top of his compound in Khan Bani Sa’ad, Iraq, May 12. Mulloy was deployed in the middle of his unit’s deployment and has quickly adjusted to life with his platoon. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Ben Fox, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs)

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An Air Force E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System aircraft takes off for an intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance mission from a base in Southwest Asia. The Air Force and U.S. Navy participated in 25 ISR missions across the area of responsibility May 15. The JSTARS is modified with radar and computer subsystems that allow it to gather and display detailed battlefield information to ground forces. (U.S. Air Force photo)

Story:
May 15 airpower summary: ISR critical to mission success

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This Day in History - The USS Stark


Early in the day on May 17, 1987, an Iraqi jet had fired on a Cypriot tanker, crippling it.

Shortly after 8pm, an AWACS detected an inbound aircraft, and the USS Stark's radar operators tracked it from 200 miles away. Due to the common Iraqi warplane presence, the ship's captain was not significantly concerned. He did, however, order a radio message requesting identification - twice. There was no response, but as the targeting radar on the plane was not locking on the Stark, it was expected to veer off.

By 10:10, the plane suddenly turned towards home. Undetected, the French-built Iraqi Mirage had launched two Exocet air-to-surface missiles, which slammed into the Stark only seconds after they were spotted. From the 10' x 15' hole at the point of impact, fire spread up into the combat information center, crippling the ship's electrical systems. The destroyer USS Waddell picked up a distress signal, and responded.





The AWACS called for airborne Saudi planes to pursue the Iraqi plane, but ground controllers in Dharain stated they were unable to do so. The Iraqi plane escaped back into home airspace.

The Stark's crew battled fires all through the night. They succeeded, and the Stark was able to make it back to port. She was repaired, with only a memorial plaque to mark what had happened.

37 Sailors lost their lives. In the wake of the incident, Congress ordered analysis of what had gone wrong, and delayed shipment of aircraft to the Saudis because of what was seen as it's apathetic response to the call for pursuit of the Mirage.

The USS Stark was decommissioned in May, 1999.

More information can be found here:
Wikipedia - USS Stark
USS Waddell History
Shipmates Not Forgotten
Haze Gray & Underway - The USS Stark
Navybook.com
Nav Souce Online (source of the photos in this post)
USS Stark Page on Military.Com
USS Stark Page on Navysite
Tin Can Sailors - USS Stark Crew

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FARM SEARCH — U.S. Army Sgt. Samuel Johnston, from Sacramento, Calif., talks with a farmer in his field in Sha'ab, Baghdad, May 11, 2007. Johnston hoped the farmer might have knowledge of roadside bombs being planted in the area.

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In Today's News - Thursday, May 17, 2007

Quote of the Day
"...without a Respectable Navy, Alas America!"

-- Captain John Paul Jones,
in a letter to Robert Morris,
October, 1776

News of Note
Operation Iraqi Freedom
Face-to-Face for the Greater Good
U.S. Offering Reward for Info on Soldiers Missing in Iraq
Officials ID Dead, Missing Soldiers from Ambush - Story
Video: May 16 Briefing from Iraq
‘Surge’ Moves Forward, Search Efforts Continue - Story
Forces Detain Suspects in Search for Missing Troops
Prince Harry Not Going to Iraq - VIDEO
Prince Harry's army role faces rethink over Iraq
Troops exposed to sarin risk brain damage: report
Mortar barrage again hammers Green Zone

Operation Enduring Freedom
Taliban Claims Afghan Attacks That Killed 10
2 blasts kill 7 Afghan police officers

Homeland Security / War on Terror / Hamas-Hezbollah Happenings
U.S.-Run Arab TV Airs Anti-Israel Comments
Inert Mortar Round Found at LAX Checkpoint
Long wait soon over for Guantanamo inmate's dad
Gaza violence abates, Israel threatens action
2 killed in gunfight at Hamas funeral

Troops on Trial
2 officers punished for errors in Iraq

Supporting Our Heroes
Bill to Protect Custody for Deployed

Other Military News
Bonuses for VA Officials Reviewed
USNS Shasta Rescues Five After Fire Strikes Cargo Ship

Religion of Peace??
Convert or Die! - Pakistani Christians face Taliban deadline

Worldwide Wackos
Trains Make Historic Trips Between Koreas

Politics / Government
Who's Richer: Edwards or Giuliani?
House Dems Look to Cut Federal Funding for Abstinence Education
Millionaires crowd U.S. presidential field: paper
U.S. trade protectionist talk "irresponsible": China's Wu
Romney, Giuliani terrorism comments draw criticism
U.S. Justice Dept weighed firing 26 prosecutors: paper
Senators renew call for Gonzales' ouster
Bush hosts Blair in farewell White House summit - Video
Clinton won't commit on Iraq deadline (Talk about flip-flopping!!)
Talks to resume on bill to fund Iraq war

In the Courts / Crime and Punishment / Law and Order
Cocaine Suspected in Student's Death
2 Homes Searched in Maddie Case - PHOTOS

Media in the Media / Bloggers in the News / Watching the Web
Rather makes acting debut in ABC pilot
Google's search engine goes universal

Science / Medicine / Technology
Scientists Discover a Benefit to Having Herpes
Study offers hope of remedy for baldness
Diabetes drug costs could soar 70 pct by '09: report
Microsoft test of "Halo 3" gets off to bumpy start - Video
Rare dinosaur fossils breathe life into HK museum
Chromium in drinking water causes cancer: U.S. agency

Mother Nature
Timely Storm Douses N.J. Wildfire - PHOTOS
National Guard Units Respond to U.S. Wildfires
Whales lost, injured in California inland waterway
Toddler's body found in Denver river

News from My Neck of the Woods
Conn. to give exonerated man $5M

Oddities
Mary Jane's Assets Causing Stir in Spider-Man's World
Illinois 8-Year-Old Finds Bag of Marijuana in McDonald's Happy Meal
Report: Hong Kong Authorities Ponder Labeling Bible 'Indecent'
Mom drives son to rob jewelry store
Train passengers asked to get out and push

Fox News
NEWS IN PICTURES: The Day in Photos
Source: Report of Wolfowitz Is Negotiating Exit From World Bank Is 'Premature'
Britney Is Back … to Parading Her Panties
Kathy Hilton: Young People Can Learn From Paris
Bo Diddley Hospitalized After Stroke
Jerry Falwell Told Followers He Was at Peace With Death
Reality Check: The Final 3 Duke It Out on 'American Idol'

Reuters: Top News
France's Sarkozy names PM on first day in charge
More die in Philippine election as police cut toll
Algerian parliament poll opens amid bomb fears
LG.Philips sees stable price, turnaround
In Japan this week everything's coming up roses - Video
Photographer sues Lohan over injuries - Video
"American Idol" final pits personality vs youth
Stock futures indicate steady market open
Sony hits 5-year high, sees game unit loss shrink
Oil rises towards $69, U.S. gasoline worries linger
Takeover talk boosts global stocks, Japan weak
European shares open higher, focus on M&A, earnings
Pimco taps "Maestro" for a little help
Gen Xer, the cynic
Boeing in tentative deal with union in St. Louis
HP sales grow 13 pct, cost cuts bolster margins
Daimler to go it alone after Chrysler deal: WSJ
AirTran extends its tender offer for Midwest until June 8
Carlyle to bid for all of Valentino: source
Boston Scientific in Guidant settlement talks: WSJ

AP World News
Bank board considers Wolfowitz's future
'Idol' makes last cut before finale
Short-handed Suns lose Game 5 to Spurs
Memorial Day travel expected to rise
Nets fight off elimination, beat Cavs
Hilton's jail term cut to about 23 days
Miller saves Sabres' season with win
'24' on the clock for two more seasons
Braves' sale approved by baseball owners
N.Y. sues Dell over sales practices

Military.com
Play Trivia, Win an iPod
Op-ed: Respect Memorial Day
New Must-Have Benefits Guide
Advisors: Spouse Arguments
Blog: All-time Top Aviation Movies
Def Tech: Reconstruction Teams to the Rescue
Kit Up! Wants You!
Warfighters: Tell us about your gear.

CENTCOM: News Releases
SEARCH FOR MISSING SOLDIERS CONTINUES (5/16)
SOLDIERS CONDUCTING SEARCH OPERATIONS - B ROLL TROOPS LOOK FOR MISSING COMRADES SOUTH OF BAGHDAD
AIRPOWER SUMMARY FOR MAY 14
AIRPOWER SUMMARY FOR MAY 15
FOUR TERRORISTS KILLED, 30 SUSPECTS DETAINED IN OVERNIGHT RAIDS
IRAQI AIR FORCE PERFORMS DOUBLE PATIENT TRANSFER
RASHID CLEARING CONTINUES: COMBINED FORCE SEIZES CACHES, DETAINS INSURGENTS
AIRPOWER SUMMARY FOR MAY 13
SEARCH FOR MISSING SOLDIERS CONTINUES (5/15)
COALITION FORCES PURSUE INSURGENTS IN SANGIN DISTRICT

USJFCOM
Unmanned vehicle management system capability under evaluation - podcast
USJFCOM and Microsoft announce cooperative research and development agreement - podcast
More about CRADAS
U.S. Joint Forces Command modeling and simulation division wins award - podcast
Liveblogging: Department of Defense Modeling and Simulation Conference 2007

DefenseLink
U.S. Military in Busy, Challenging Time - Story
Lute to Coordinate Efforts in Iraq, Afghanistan - Story
Bush Names Lute to New Post

More Headline News
Oklahoma Guard Arrives for Humanitarian Mission
‘American Idol’ Contestant Returns to Navy
Sustained U.S. Presence Critical to Security
Evidence Links ‘High-Value’ Detainee to Al Qaeda

Military News
Army Must Be Prepared for ‘Persistent Conflict’
Military Displays Equipment, Technology to Public

War on Terror
Troops Detain Suspects - Story
Coalition Detains 30 Suspects
Residents Receive Medical Care
Weapons Caches Seized

America Supports You
Project Honors Wounded Troops
Chef Prepares Meal for Marines
Granting Troops’ Wishes
Nationals Honor Military Service

Transformation
Newest Fighters Arrive at Langley
Channel Focuses on Technology
Unmanned Aircraft Wing Debuts

Face of Defense
Sailor Shares Iraq Experiences - Story
Doc Receives Honor - Story
Engineer With ‘Can Do’ Spirit
Marine Unites With Soldier Son
Sons Follow Mother’s Footsteps

DefendAmerica
NEWS UPDATES
Coalition Detains 30 Suspects - Story

ON THE GROUND
Army Brigade Readys Helo for Medical Missions - Story
Troops Test Their Chemical Training in Iraq - Story
Injured Iraqis Recover With Aid from U.S. Military - Story
Iraqi Air Force Performs Double-Patient Transfer - Story

IN IRAQ
Baghdad Residents Get Free Medical Care
An Nasiriyah Prison Supports Iraqi Security
Romanian Soldiers Unite with Americans in Iraq
Unit Works to Secure Baghdad’s Haifa Street
Blood-Supply Unit Demonstrates Critical Skills
Deployment Provides Direction for Soldier
Devil Dogs Take a Bite Out of Anbar Insurgency

IN DJIBOUTI
Liaison Officer Builds Cohesive Relationship
Djiboutian Institute of Arts Embraces Americans

IN AFGHANISTAN
U.S. Airmen Mentor Afghan Depot Personnel
Anthrax Vaccine Becomes Mandatory for Some
‘Fire Base Delta’ is Home Sweet Home for Troops
Former Infantryman Finds Calling in Civil Affairs

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
'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: Terror Plots Disrupted
Waging and Winning the War on Terror
Terrorism Timeline
Terrorism Knowledge Base

Weather
Afghanistan
Bost/Laskar Ghurian Herat Kabul Qandahar

Germany
Ansbach Aschaffenburg Berlin Berlin-Tempelhof Berlin/Schonefeld Bremerhaven
Darmstadt Frankfurt Frankfurt/Main Freiburg/Breisgau Garmisch
Garmisch-Partenkirchen Geilenkirchen Gelnhausen Giessen Kitzingen
Hanau Am Main Heidelberg Mainz Mannheim Nurnberg Stuttgart Trier
Wiesbaden Wurzburg

Gitmo

Guam
Agana Agana Heights Agat Andersen AFB Asan Barrigada

Iraq
Al Azamiyah Al Basrah Al Hillah Al Karkh Al Kazimiyah Al Kut
An Nasiriyah Baghdad Baqubah Mosul Najaf Nineveh Tall Kayf

Japan
Kadena Air Base Okinawa Tokyo Yokohama

This Day in History
0218 - 7th recorded perihelion passage of Halley's Comet.
1536 - Anne Boleyn's 4 "lovers" are executed.
1672 - Frontenac becomes Governor of New France (Canada) .
1673 - Louis Joliet and Jacques Marquette begin exploration of Mississippi.
1733 - England passes the Molasses Act, putting high tariffs on rum and molasses imported to the colonies from non-British territories.
1756 - Britain declares war on France (7 Years' / French & Indian War)
1804 - Lewis & Clark begin exploring the Louisiana Purchase.
1862 - In West Virginia, the Battle of Princeton ends with a little over 125 casualities.
1863 - Battle of Big Black River Bridge, Mississippi
1864 - Union troops force a Confederate retreat at the Battle of Adairsville, GA.
1871 - General Sherman escapes Comanches in an ambulance.
1876 - The 7th U.S. Cavalry under Custer departs from Fort Lincoln.
1884 - Alaska becomes a U.S. territory
1916 - Daylight Savings Time (British Summer Time) is introduced for the first time.
1926 - Chiang Kai-shek is made supreme war lord, the German Government of Marx takes power.
1938 - Congress approves the Vinson Naval Act, funding a two-ocean Navy.
1940 - Nazis bomb Middelburg
1944 - Allied aircraft conduct a raid on Surabaja, Java, Chinese and U.S. forces take Myitkyina Airport, Burma, General Eisenhower sets D-Day for June 5th, the Allies land in Netherlands New-Guinea as part of Operation Straightline.
1945 - 2 U.S. P-47 Thunderbolts bomb Kiushu.
1946 - President Truman seizes control of U.S. railroads to head off a strike.
1948 - Israel liberates Acre, Nebi Yusha and Telel-Kadi, the U.S.S.R. officially recognizes Israel.
1949 - The British government recognizes the Republic of Ireland.
1954 - The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously reverses the 1896 "separate but equal" decision (Plessy vs. Ferguson).
1973 - The Senate Watergate Committee begins hearings.
1983 - Israel and Lebanon sign a peace treaty.
1987 - Iraqi missiles strike the USS Stark, killing 37 sailors.

Birthdays
1741 - John Penn, Declaration of Independence signer
1812 - Union Brigadier General Joseph Warren Revere
1836 - Joseph Norman Lockyer, discovered Helium
1886 - Alfonso XIII, King of Spain
1900 - Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini
1903 - Douglas Packard, British Lieutenant General
1911 - Knut Anders Haukfield, British Special Operations Executive (SOE) Operative
1912 - Archibald Cox, first Watergate special prosecutor
1923 - Michael Beetham, RAF Marshal
1924 - Thomas Baird, Vice-Admiral
1926 - David Young, Lieutenant-General
1932 - Rodric Braithwaite, British ambassador to USSR
1945 - D.A.S. Pennefather, Major General / Commandant (General Royal Marines), George Miller (Representative-CA)
1953 - Nicholas Bacon, premier baronet of England

Passings
1606 - Forges Dimitri, Czar of Russia, murdered
1727 - Catherine I, Empress of Russia
1945 - Jan van Geenen, resistance fighter
1996 - Willis Conover, broadcaster

Reported Missing in Action
1966
Deere, Donald T. , US Army SF (TX); Killed / BNR

1967
Dodge, Ronald Wayne, USN (CA); F8E shot down - remains returned July, 1981

Lewis, Charlie G., US Army (NC); M113 hit pressure-type mine - KIA/BNR

1968
Young, Charles L., US Army (NY); not located after assault boat was ambushed

1969
Stewart, Virgil G. USAF (LA); F4D shot down - KIA/BNR

1970
Westwood, Norman P., Jr., USNR (CT); F4B caught fire and crashed at sea

1971
Pearce, Dale A., US Army (OH); UH1H shot down (pilot, w/Soyland) - KIA/BNR

Soyland, David P. US Army (SD); UH1H shot down (aircraft commander, w/Pearce)

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