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Tuesday, June 26, 2007




Chief Pfingston loses fight with cancer
SAN ANTONIO (AFPN) -- Former Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Gary R. Pfingston died of cancer June 23 in San Antonio. "Today the Air Force mourns the loss of a great enlisted leader," said Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Rodney J. McKinley. "Gary's life was a shining example of service to our nation and we will miss him greatly."More

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Arrowhead Ripper: Troops Find Execution House, Illegal Prison in Baqubah

American Forces Press Service

BAQUBAH, Iraq, June 25, 2007 – Iraqi security forces and Task Force Lightning soldiers discovered an execution house and an illegal prison in the Baqubah neighborhood of Khatoon yesterday during the sixth day of Operation Arrowhead Ripper.

The two buildings were in the same area as a torture chamber and illegal courthouse linked to al Qaeda, which were found on the fourth and fifth day of the operation, officials said.

Soldiers from 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, discovered the execution house using information from local citizens, who said it had been used by al Qaeda. Soldiers searching the house found five bodies buried in the yard behind the building and bloody clothes in several rooms inside it.

Located nearby, a house had been converted into an illegal prison, with several numbered rooms and bars covering the building's windows. Several blindfolds were found inside.

Elsewhere in Baqubah, soldiers from 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, identified a house that was filled with explosives and had been booby-trapped. The soldiers cleared the area and destroyed the house through the use of attack aircraft and indirect fire.

"The fact that we continue to find these booby-trapped houses filled with explosives and torture chambers only reaffirms that al Qaeda has no regard for the safety and welfare of the people of Baqubah. They only want to see death and destruction," said Army Col. Gary Patton, chief of staff for Task Force Lightning.

Iraqi and coalition forces also discovered 10 weapons caches throughout Baqubah yesterday. These included four anti-tank mines, three rocket-propelled grenade launchers, 18 rocket-propelled grenades with boosters, 13 AK-47 assault rifles, nine hand grenades, two flak vests, thousands of rounds of ammunition and a box of al Qaeda propaganda.

Since the beginning of Operation Arrowhead Ripper, at least 58 al Qaeda operatives have been killed, 60 have been detained, 23 weapons caches have been discovered, 52 improvised explosive devices have been destroyed, and 17 booby-trapped structures have been destroyed.

(From a Multinational Corps Iraq news release.)


Related Sites:
Multinational Corps Iraq

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LADYVILLE, Belize (June 22, 2007) - Capt. Bob Kapcio, Comfort mission commander, holds a young boy from Belize City, Belize. Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 28 airlifted the boy and several other patients to the Military Sealift Command (MSC) hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) for medical treatment. Comfort is on a four-month humanitarian deployment to Latin America and the Caribbean providing medical treatment to approximately 85,000 patients in a dozen countries. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kelly E. Barnes

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Family Begins Life Together in Earnest After Deployment

Army Capt. Scott Horrigan, a company commander with the 10th Mountain Division’s 87th Infantry Regiment, is reunited with his wife, Katie, and son, Mitchell, upon returning from a deployment to Afghanistan. Courtesy photo


By Megan Han
Special to American Forces Press Service

FORT DRUM, N.Y., June 25, 2007 – Imagine being married for almost 18 months, but spending only one of those months together. That is exactly what Scott and Katie Horrigan experienced when Scott -- an Army captain who commands the 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment’s Alpha Company -- deployed with the 10th Mountain Division in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Scott and Katie wed on New Year’s Eve 2005, one month before Scott was due to deploy to Afghanistan. He returned with his battalion on May 31, 2007, exactly 17 months after he and Katie got married.

Even without the impending deployment, the first month of the Horrigans’ marriage was a lot to handle. They learned Katie had become pregnant on their honeymoon, and they quickly bought a home in Watertown, N.Y. With Katie in Denver completing her nursing degree, Scott sent Katie real estate listings online.

Katie went on to face several other challenges during Scott’s deployment. She gave birth to their son, Mitchell, on Oct. 4, 2006, as Scott listened in on speakerphone from halfway around the world in Afghanistan. She welcomed Scott home for two weeks of leave in November and then learned two months later that Scott’s deployment would be extended by 120 days.

Army families anxiously await their soldier’s return from a deployment, but Scott and Katie were especially excited for their reunion — they’d finally have the opportunity to be together as newlyweds and as a family for the first time.

Homecomings are a time for preparation and excitement, and Katie did all she could to have things just right for Scott’s return.

“I ate really healthy, I did a lot of work on the house to be sure things were done before Scott got here, and I tried to help Mitchell begin sleeping through the night,” she said. Katie also was working against the clock to have their kitchen renovation complete so she could have fresh, homemade cookies waiting for Scott.

“My friends from home joked that I would have a plate of Oreos on the counter, but I made sure I found a way to bake cookies for Scott. I thought that would be a great way to say, ‘Welcome home to our new house.’” she said.

After Katie and Scott learned that the deployment would be extended, preparation quickly turned into anticipation of being back together.

“I was extremely scared and nervous for the originally scheduled homecoming in January,” Katie said. “Scott and I experienced so many changes, and I worried about being able to adjust together. But after the news of the extension, the homecoming became more about him being home safe and less about how our lives would be. … I just wanted him home.”

The separation wasn’t easy for Scott. “The toughest part was not being at Mitchell’s birth; I know that is something I will never be able to make up,” he said. “Katie was always quick to take a picture or a video, and although a poor substitute for the real thing, it allowed me to experience special moments. … but I was ready to be there experiencing them with her.”

It’s not easy to go from one environment to another; Scott reunited with his new family in a new house, and he did so after returning from a forward operating base that he commanded along a dangerous border region between Afghanistan and Pakistan. But the adjustment has been pleasant.

“Just being with Katie and Mitchell has allowed me to decompress and be relieved of the stress of the deployment,” he said. “It’s been great.”

Despite the delay, Katie is finding her new life rewarding. “I am so happy to have Scott home safe again,” she said. “The best part about having him home is being able to enjoy the changes that have occurred in our life. … It has been very rewarding to finally share the experiences of being newlyweds, new parents and new homeowners together.”

The couple is facing a few challenges now that Scott is back, but Katie expressed her optimism with a laugh and a big smile.

“Well, considering we are both stubborn Germans with Irish tempers, I'm pretty sure there will always be challenges for us,” she said. “But we always work through everything.”

Scott acknowledged it has been difficult jumping into both the role of husband and father.

“My last experience here was as a single man with an apartment and really no other responsibilities than work,” he said. “While I was gone, Katie managed to build a family, of which I was the final piece in the puzzle. The father role has been the most difficult. I had never been around babies before, but now I find myself alone with Mitchell trying to figure out solutions for problems. … But along with Katie, I’m surviving.”

Katie shared that all the new thrilling things in their life also can cause some stress for her. She said she realizes there will be an adjustment period.

“It’s great having Scott home; however, I wouldn't say that things are less stressful,” she said. “Yes, I no longer have to worry about him being at war, and that is a stress that I am very glad to be rid of. But, now, we have the stresses of being newly married and never living together, being new parents together, and being new homeowners all at once.

“My biggest challenge has been letting Scott do things the way he wants to do them,” she continued. “I have gotten very used to doing things my way after being alone for 16 months, and it is hard for me to realize that it’s OK to do things other ways.”

Throughout the homecoming experience, Scott and Katie have realized the importance of working with each other to overcome challenges they face during the transition.

“Katie developed a routine that I am not used to, … and it takes a lot of patience from both of us, a lot of understanding and just talking to each other,” Scott said. “We both had our own way, and now it’s time for us to develop our way of doing things.”

Scott said he and Katie “know how to take things in stride, and when it becomes difficult, I just remind myself to be more patient.”

(Megan Han is the wife of Army Capt. Pierre Han of the 10th Mountain Division's 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment.)


Related Sites:
10th Mountain Division


POWER UP — U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Trevor Gayle, a construction supervisor with 20th Engineering Battalion, 1169th Engineering Group, 1st Cavalry Division, prepares a wire during a basic electrical knowledge class for Iraqi policemen inside the East Baghdad police headquarters off Haifa Street in the Karkh District of Baghdad, June 21, 2007. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Leith Edgar

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In Today's News - Tuesday, June 26, 2007

Quote of the Day
"I always considered statesmen
to be more expendable than soldiers."

-- Harry Truman


News of Note
Operation Iraqi Freedom
Dispatches From Iraq: Drilling for Justice (Michael Yon's latest)
Six tribal leaders among 50 killed in Iraq - Video
Suicide bomber kills 13 at Baghdad hotel
GOP senator says Iraq plan not working
Bomber Kills Sheiks Allied With U.S.

Operation Enduring Freedom
Afghan Helmand province becoming main drug supplier
Journalists Accuse U.S. of Prisoner Abuse

Homeland Security / War on Terror / Hamas-Hezbollah Happenings
Israel freeing prisoners as goodwill to Abbas - Video
Whitman on hot seat over 9/11 aftermath

Other Military News
NATO backs U.S. missile plan on eve of Russia talks
Pentagon to Army, Air Force: work together on UAVs

Worldwide Wackos
Health care in Cuba more complicated than on SiCKO
Iran invites IAEA team to help ease nuclear fears
Cuban dissidents start push to change constitution
North Korea says has funds, awaits U.N. team - Video

Homegrown Moonbats
Rosie says she won't replace Bob Barker

Politics / Government
Zoellick confirmed as new World Bank president
Military experience rare among '08 candidates
Court allows issue ads near elections
McCain dismisses drop in polls
First Lady begins Africa tour on AIDS

Illegal Immigration / Border Control
Kennedy walks fine line on immigration

In the Courts / Crime and Punishment / Law and Order
Cops Probe Possible Murder of Chris Benoit, Wife, Son - VIDEO - PHOTOS
Cutts Held on $5M Bond
Ferrell bond set at $500G in Jessie Davis case - PHOTOS - VIDEO
VIDEO: Second Jessie Suspect's Old Friend
VIDEO: Bobby Cutts' Former Supervisor Speaks Out
VIDEO: Second Suspect 'Not an Ideal Neighbor
Cop's Final Moments on Tape
Tough Love On Display
Aussie Anti-Speeding Ad Hits Below the Belt
Scrushy, Siegelman Await Sentencing
Set to Die, Man Plans Joke as Final Words
Man Dies While Testifying in His Murder Trial
New Australian Anti-Speeding Campaign Hits Below the Belt
Former Denver Official Facing Theft Charges Kills Self
Teen Girl Banned From School for Chastity Ring Heads to Court
Parents of Teen 'Surgeon' Arrested in India
Court Snuffs Out 'Bong Hits 4 Jesus' - VIDEO
$54M Pants Lawsuit Gets Pressed - VIDEO
Utah Inmate Allegedly Kills Cop - PHOTOS
$1M Bond Offered for Ga. Teen Sex Inmate
Arizona Teen Missing, Foul Play Suspected
Plumber Charged in Missing Woman's Death
Attorney general wins "sitting duck award"
Tom Sizemore gets 16-month sentence
Court bars suit against faith-based plan
Cops: Inmate kills officer at hospital

U.N. News
Darfur meeting ends without concrete action - Video

Media in the Media / Bloggers in the News / Watching the Web
New domains in works at Internet meeting

Science / Medicine / Technology
Ancient penguins waddled, swam in warm locales
NASA seeks to share excess room on space station

Mother Nature
Toddler Injured After Being Mauled By Fox
Tahoe Fire Burns 220 Homes - VIDEO - PICS
Crews taming blaze at Lake Tahoe - Video
Albino mountain goat spotted in Italy
Lake Tahoe wildfire forces evacuations

News from My Neck of the Woods
NY can't offer adequate subway service for years: official

Oddities
Man set for execution wants to die laughing
Fake priest arrested baptizing baby
Peru celebrates tasty guinea pigs

Other News of Note
Americans set record for charity in 2006

Fox News
Is 'Tommy Girl' Political Video Spoof Next?

Reuters: Top News
Some waiting on iPhone improvements before buying
Valentino shows topless women
Dinner plate helps diabetics shed pounds: study
New director brings darker approach to Potter film
Playboy's Hefner approves movie about his life
Subprime mortgage worries drive stocks lower
Blackstone shares fall nearly 8 percent on 2nd day
Ventana shares jump 52 pct after Roche offer
General Growth rises on S&P inclusion
Tiffany shares jump on takeover speculation
Subprime, rates to delay home rebound
BofA sees interest in no-fee mortgages
Analysts scarce, costly in India
Existing home sales down slightly in May - Video
News Corp, Dow Jones near editorial pact: sources
AMA to seek probe of retail health clinics
Goldman-issued subprime bonds lead downgrades: Citi
War of words in full swing on CME-CBOT merger
Bear may have to bail out second fund: analyst

AP World News
World awaits Paris Hilton's return
Rangers end Bonderman's unbeaten streak
4 hits shy 3,000, Biggio sits out game
'Throwback' Federer wins at Wimbledon
Stocks lose ground ahead of Fed meeting
Bears cut Johnson on latest legal mishap
1 dead, 66 hurt in Kentucky bus crash
Christina Aguilera is reading scripts

Military.com
Poll: Time to Stop Embeds?
Mistakes Made with Kidnapped Brits
SEAL Talks Sleep
Help With Deployment Preps
Daily Shock: 9/11 Re-created
Discount: SaveMyAss.com Saves!
Military.com Career Fair Coming to San Antonio on June 28th

CENTCOM: News Releases
RAID IN ADHAMIYAH NETS SUSPECT IN IED ATTACK
IED EMPLACERS DETAINED DURING OPERATION PEREGRINE II
43 SUSPECTED TERRORISTS DETAINED
IRAQI ARMY, COALITION FORCES RECEIVE TIPS TO VBIED FACTORY, CACHE
BRIDGE BYPASS COMPLETED, TRAFFIC FOLLOWS
FOUR SECRET CELL TERRORISTS KILLED BY COALITION FORCES I SADR CITY
RAID IN ADHAMIYAH NETS SUSPECT IN IED ATTACK
U.S. SOLDIERS STOP ROADSIDE BOMBERS, KILL THREE
1-15TH INF. DETAINS FOUR, DESTROYS ENEMY TRUCKS, BARGES
IRAQI ARMY SOLDIERS RESCUE LOCAL SHEIK
AL-QAEDA EMIR OF WEST MOSUL KILLED DURING COALITION OPERATIONS
INSURGENTS SUSPECTED OF KILLING COALITION FORCES CAPTURED
SUICIDE BOMBER KILLS 9, WOUNDS 11
OPERATION CRAZYHORSE THUNDER DETAINS 7 SUSPECTS
IRAQI ARMY DETAINS TWO AL-QAEDA CELL LEADERS NEAR BAGHDAD
ISF. CF CONTINUE HUMANITARIAN AID TO CITIZENS IN BAQOUBA
BAYJI JOINT SECURITY STATION ATTACKED
ISF, CF DISCOVER EXECUTION HOUSE, ILLEGAL PRISON IN BAQOUBA
TARGETED RAIDS NET FIVE SUSPECTS NORTH OF BAGHDAD

USJFCOM
USJFCOM Advanced Concept Development Demonstration named finalist for award - podcast
Exercise puts critical technology on trial
Command helps test new gun shot location system - podcast
Wood addresses joint warfare transformation at Transformation Warfare conference - podcast

Multi-National Force-Iraq
Marines make presence known, win hearts and minds
Troop drawdown depends on ISF improvement
Combined security forces help Iraqis during Operation Arrowhead Ripper
Conference first step toward inter-faith reconciliation in Iraq
Bayji Joint security station attacked
ISF, CF continue humanitarian aid to citizens in Baqouba
Iraqi Army detains two al-Qaeda cell leaders near Baghdad
Operation Crazyhorse Thunder detains 7 suspects
MND-B patrol struck by improvised explosive device
Suicide bomber kills 9, wounds 11

DefenseLink
Operation Phantom Thunder Makes Progress
Officials Detail Recent Phantom Thunder Operations
Iraqis in Northern Iraq Pulling Weight
Operation Arrowhead Ripper Helps Iraqi Citizens
Humvee Rollover Training Saves Lives
Iraqi Forces Need More Time, Training Chief Says

More Headline News
Vice Chairman Meets with Troops at Bagram
Religious Conference Opens Door For Progress
Troop Drawdown Depends on Iraqi Security Force

Military News
Army Reserve Now Part of Operational Force
Chiefs Push Reserve Incentives, Integration
Guardsmen Respond to New York Floods, Alaska Fires

War on Terror
Forces Kill 11 Insurgents, Detain 25 Suspects in Iraq
Casualties Identified in Iraq
Coalition Kills Enemy Fighters
Troops Rescue Hostages

America Supports You
Charlie Daniels Honored
Foundation Thanks Veterans
Christmas in July Party Set
N.C. Group Paints Patriotism

Transformation
GunShot Location System Ready For Testing in Combat Setting
Gait Lab Helps Amputees
Officials Discuss Alternative Fuel
Air Guard Retires Last F-16A

Face of Defense
Soldier Heals, Rejoins Unit
Friendship Trumps Sniper Fire
Woman Cadet Prepares for Iraq
Marine Leaves Music for Corps

DefendAmerica
NEWS UPDATES
Two Soldiers Killed in Iraq

ON THE GROUND
Task Force Donates Books to Local University - Story
Multi-National Soldiers Secure Vulnerable Site - Story
Compassionate Soldiers Give Iraqi Child Hope - Story

IN IRAQ
‘Arrowhead Ripper’ Continues Offensive
Shadow Warriors Focus on Faceless Enemy
Iraqi, Coalition Forces Continue Forward
Volunteers Donate Supplies to Iraqi Children
Aviation Battalion Reaches 20,000 Flight Hours
Iraqis Join Ranks of Lutifiyah's Police Force
Sheiks Meet in Baghdad, Discuss Progress

IN DJIBOUTI
Music Strengthens Ties Between Djibouti, U.S.
Well Drillers Increase African Water Supply

IN AFGHANISTAN
Reconstruction Team Launches Dam Project
Army Battle Company Makes Presence Known
Panjshir Opens Teachers’ Training College

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
War on Terror Reconstruction Report
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

Today in History
1483 - Richard III seizes the English throne.
1862 - Union troops repel Confederates at the Battle of Beaver Dam Creek.
1917 - The First American Expeditionary Force arrives in France.
1924 - U.S. troops withdraw from the Dominican Republic, after 8 years of occupation.
1940 - The U.S.S.R. ends use of its experimental calendar, and readopts the Gregorian one a day later.
1941 - Finland enters WW II, against Russia.
1945 - Fifty nations sign the UN Charter.
1948 - The U.S. denounces the Soviet blockade of Berlin.
1958 - Vanguard SLV-2 is launched for an Earth orbit; it fails.
1960 - Somalia gains independence from Britain.
1963 - President John F. Kennedy visits West Berlin, making his "Ich bin ein Berliner" speech.
1968 - The U.S. returns Iwo Jima and the Bonin Islands to Japan.
1978 - Brittany separatists bomb France's Palace of Versailles.
1982 - The U.S. vetos a UN Security Council resolution for a limited withdrawal of Israeli and P.L.O. forces from Beirut.
1984 - The first flight of the Space Shuttle Discovery (41-D) isscrubbed at T -4 seconds.

Birthdays
1742 - Arthur Middleton, signer of the Declaration of Independence
1901 - Stuart Symington (Sen-Mo)
1925 - Pavel Belyayev, cosmonaut (Voskhod 2)
1934 - John V. Tunney (Rep/Sen-Calif)
1939 - Charles Robb (Sen-Va)/Lynda Bird Johnson's husband
1964 - Zeng Jinlian Hunan China, tallest woman known (8'1")

Reported Missing in Action
1968
Cornelius, Johnnie C., USAF (AZ); O2A shot down, KIA, body not recovered

Woods, Robert Francis, USAF (UT); O2A shot down, KIA, body not recovered

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