IRAQ WAR TODAY
Keep Your Helmet On!




Be A Part of a Tribute to Fallen Heroes - Help Build the Fallen Soldiers' Bike
Help support the families of our deployed Heroes - Visit Soldiers' Angels' Operation Outreach
Help Our Heroes Help Others - Click Here to visit SOS: KIDS
Nominate your Hero for IWT's "Hero of the Month" - click here for details!
Search Iraq War Today only

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Soldier keeps morale high through mail

Spc. Austin Gamache, from Tacoma, Wash., the mail clerk for the 610th Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, sorts mail in the 20-foot container he converted into the battalion mail room. Gamache said he takes pride in helping improve the morale of Soldiers. Official U.S. Army photo.


Wednesday, 27 June 2007
By Capt. Allen Hill
610th Brigade Support Battalion

BAGHDAD — He can be the most popular or the most despised person in the 610th Brigade Support Battalion, depending on what day it is and who you ask. Spc. Austin Gamache is the battalion’s mail handler and is responsible for the pick up and distribution of the battalion’s mail to all the companies.

With the exception of a day or two out of the week, the Tacoma, Wash., native can be seen driving his Humvee full of packages and letters into the battalion’s headquarters and over to his 20-foot metal container, which he converted into his mail room.

It is here that he sits in a hot, humid, enclosed area and sorts by name, and by company, hundreds of packages and letters coming in from family and friends back home.

Mail is an important part of military life to Soldiers deployed overseas, a link to loved ones that cannot be gained through e-mails and phone calls. It is through this mail that those hard-to-get items are received; pictures from home, small tokens of affection, baked goods, and even everyday necessities not always readily available through the Post Exchange.

Gamache understands the huge impact that mail has on the morale of the Soldier and his role in it.

“My job is great, and what I get to do affects so many (people) in the battalion,” he said. “I like knowing that I made someone’s day just by handing them a package or a letter. It is a very rewarding feeling knowing that I was capable of making their day.”

Labels: , , ,

MEDICAL ENGAGEMENT — U.S. Army soldiers from the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), participate in a cooperative medical engagement with the Iraqi citizens of Mahmudiyah, Iraq, June 12, 2007. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Dennis Henry

Labels: , , , , , ,

In Today's News - Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Quote of the Day
"We are quite confident that the Iranians, through their covert special operations forces, are providing weapons, [improvised explosives device] technology, and training to Shiia extremists groups in Iraq. They are using surrogates to conduct terrorist operations in Iraq, both against us and against the Iraqi people. It is decidedly unhelpful."
Gen. George W. Casey Jr., June 2006

News of Note
Operation Iraqi Freedom
Iraqi Sunnis: Shiite-Government Targeting Us

Homeland Security / War on Terror / Hamas-Hezbollah Happenings
Abbas Outlaws Palestinian Militant Groups (That'll stop 'em...)
Lebanese PM says Syria sending arms across border
Israeli forces kill 12 Palestinians in Gaza raid - Video
New CIA Papers Detail Assassination Plots
Marty blasts CIA jail silence, says truth will out

Other Military News
Ex-Marine, 72, Teaches Pickpocket a Lesson (OOO-RAH!!!)
2 Sites Found in Iwo Jima Search - PHOTOS
Team Closer to Finding Iwo Jima Marine
Army Seeks Body Armor for Deadlier Threat

Worldwide Wackos
Fiery Protest on Iran's Gas Stations - PHOTOS
Inspectors Get Access to N. Korean Reactor
"President for life" (Chavez)
Castro Says Bush Wants Him Dead

Homegrown Moonbats
Rosie O'Donnell Posts Photo, Video of 4-year-Old Daughter Dressed as Guerrilla Fighter With Bullet Bandolero

Politics / Government
Republican support for Iraq war slips
House Democrat: Reopen Statue of Liberty's Crown
Liz Edwards to Coulter: Lay Off
Gordon Brown to Take Over as British PM - Report: Blair Accepts Mideast Envoy Position
Bush hails "strong guy" Blair, rejects "poodle" talk
Brown takes over
Factbox: Britain's next prime minister
Blair close to clinching envoy post
Sarkozy, Brown seen clashing
Buffett helps raise $1 million for Clinton
Will Key Bush Ally Spur GOP Defections?
DeLay wins round in Texas court
Giuliani slams Bill Clinton on terrorism

Illegal Immigration / Border Control
Illegal immigrants targeted in debate

In the Courts / Crime and Punishment / Law and Order
Alibi Before Murder - VIDEO - PHOTOS - FOX FACTS
Chris Benoit: Professional Wrestler, Murderer
Nancy Benoit: A Career Woman in Wrestling
Did Steroids Play Role in Murder-Suicide?
Brainroom: Tragedies in the Ring
Pro Wrestler Chris Benoit, Accused of Killing Wife, Son, Committing Suicide, Told Friends Family Was Ill
Nancy Benoit: A Career Woman in Wrestling
Michigan Woman Claims Starburst Candies Are Dangerously Chewy in Lawsuit
Man Accused of Murdering Jessie Davis Called Another Woman the Night She Was Last Heard From
Mom Slay Suspect's Complex Life - PHOTOS
Pa. Janitor Accused of Keeping Runaway in House, Having Sex With Her Pleads Guilty
Kansas City Police Chief Wants Officer Fired After Viewing Arrest Handling
Attorney for Inmate Appealing Oral Sex Sentence Asks DA to Allow Bond, Investor Offers to Post $1 Million
Pennsylvania Police Investigate Strippers on Links at Pocono Golf Course
Inmate Executed Without Delivering Promised Joke
Jail, prison popluation jumps in 2006
Officer accused of choking skateboarder
Court rules against Episcopal breakaways

U.N. News
Poland says U.N. to rename Auschwitz death camp
U.N. concerned as violence escalates in Darfur
World must plan for urban milestone: U.N.

Media in the Media / Bloggers in the News / Watching the Web
Nancy Grace Pregnant With Twins After Secret Wedding
Murdoch won't up bid

Science / Medicine / Technology
Japan Vamps Up Astronauts' Cuisine
White U.S. children have highest rates of diabetes
Microsoft rolls out Web storage, new photo gallery
WSJ's Mossberg praises "breakthrough" iPhone - Video
Tooth clinches identification of Egyptian queen
Global mobile phone use to pass 3 billion
Lucy fossil approved for US tour

Mother Nature
More Evacuations Ordered in Lake Tahoe - NEW PHOTOS - VIDEO
California Tahoe blaze jumps defensive line - Video
More than foot of rain floods Texas
More strong wind could drive Tahoe fire
Bald eagle expected to be off U.S. endangered list
Snow paints City of Gold white

News from My Neck of the Woods
5 N.Y. high school grads die in crash

Oddities
Bigfoot or Big Myth in Michigan?
Florida man's headache mystery solved by a bullet
Politician okays marijuana in food
China seizes U.S. food, cracks down on safety at home

Other News of Note
U.S. says importer must recall Chinese tires
Pilot, 23, ends round-the-world jaunt

Fox News
Babe in the Woods Family: First Photo of Tiger's Cub

Reuters: Top News
EU, U.S. officials clinch air data deal: EU
World's rich enjoy jets, yachts, and art
Prince Charles saves house, furniture for public
Paris Hilton vows to prove jail has changed her
BET Awards honor Beyonce, Hudson
Shares flat after oil rise lifts energy shares
Bond prices rise, stocks recovery limit gains
Oil jumps as U.S. fuel inventories fall
Northwest Airlines shares fall after cancellations
Steadier dollar may burst commodity bubble: fund
Reuters Real Estate Summit
Toll: No U.S. housing rebound before April
Watch exclusive summit interviews
Fed rates: Steady as she goes
Home loan demand drops to 4-month low
May durable goods orders fall, stir growth fears
Bear Stearns taps managers to save hedge fund
Best Buy to expand; raises dividend, share buyback
Home loan demand drops to 4-month low
CommScope to acquire Andrew for $2.6 billion

AP World News
LeBron James to play for U.S. team
States urged on teacher qualifications

Military.com
Poll: More Time for War Plan?
Can You Win Gettysburg?
Advisors: VA's Funding Crisis
Daily Shock: Jet Man Flies
Military.com Career Fair Coming to San Antonio on June 28th

CENTCOM: News Releases
BASRAH RAILROAD STATION VITAL TO A GROWING REGION AND ECONOMY
GENERAL RULE ON REDEPLOYMENT -- FIRST IN, FIRST OUT
TOP COMMANDER IN IRAQ VISITS COMMANDO TROOPS
LOCAL CIVILIAN DIES OF WOUNDS, 2 WOUNDED DURING ENGAGEMENT
HIGH-LEVEL SENIOR AL-QAEDA LEADER KILLED DURING COALITION OPERATIONS
TWO TERRORISTS KILLED, TWO SUSPECTS DETAINED
ISF RESPOND TO VBIED TARGETING LOCAL CITIZENS, SHOPS IN MOSUL
MEDICAL ASSISTANCE PROVIDED TO 639 AFGHANS IN KHOWST CITY
SIX INSURGENTS DETAINED IN EAST BAGHDAD
NEW ARRIVAL: COALITION FORCES GET PREGNANT WOMAN TO HOSPITAL
COALITION AIR STRIKE DESTROYS BUILDING, KILLS INSURGENTS
OPERATION BULL RUN DISRUPTS INSURGENT OPERATIONS

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
Iraqi, Coalition forces aid local residents, build friendships
Engineers power up Iraqi Police
Saints cheerleaders visit FOB Hammer
High-level senior al-Qaeda leader killed during Coalition operations
Local civilian dies of wounds, 2 wounded during engagement
IA, CF apply ‘relentless’ pressure on insurgents, detain 25
Troops in Baqouba deliver food to locals
Taji’s “Neighborhood Watch” turns over another cache
Car bombs found; two Iraqis rescued

DefenseLink
Coalition Troops Put Pressure on Insurgents
Video: Bergner Briefing from Iraq
Renovated Railway Station Provides Critical Link
England Highlights Need for Less Structure
NATO Forces Winning Battle Against Taliban
Defense Department Promotes ‘Buzz’ on Bases

More Headline News
Army’s Medical Hotline Serves Soldiers, Families
Conference Focuses on Empowering NCOs
Operation Phantom Thunder Makes Progress

Military News
Comfort Opens Doors, Nearly 400 Treated
Humvee Rollover Training Saves Soldiers' Lives
Family Life Begins Post Deployment
Army Reserve Now Part of Operational Force

War on Terror
Soldiers Save Iraqi Civilians, Discover Insurgent Safe Houses
Iraqi Citizens Find Weapons
Coalition Forces Detain Suspects
Bombers Target Leaders in Baghdad

Transformation
A-10s Get Digital Makeover
Smooth Move into Peru
GunShot Location System Ready for Testing in Combat Setting

Face of Defense
Officer Seeks Challenges
Corporal Earns Medal
Soldier Heals, Rejoins Unit
Friendship Trumps Sniper Fire

America Supports You
Foundation Aids Graduates
Tiger Woods to Honor Soldiers
Teachers Learn How Children Can Support Servicemembers
Music Legend Praises Troops

DefendAmerica
ON THE GROUND
Workers Up-armor Humvees to Protect Troops - Story
Iraqi Railway Station Provides Critical Link - Story
Construction on New Buildings Nearing End - Story
Taji's 'Neighborhood Watch' Turns Over Cache - Story

IN IRAQ
Night Air Assault Mission Nets Insurgents
Marines Make Their Presence Known in Rutbah
Multi-National Soldiers Secure Vulnerable Site
Compassionate Soldiers Give Iraqi Child Hope
‘Arrowhead Ripper’ Continues Offensive

IN DJIBOUTI
Medical Task Force Educates to Save Lives
Task Force Donates Books to Local University
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
1847
- NYC and Boston are first linked by telegraph wires.
1862 - Day 3 of the 7 Days - Battle of Gaines' Mill.
1864 - Battle of Kennesaw Mountain
1929 - NYC sees the first demonstration of a color TV.
1934 - Federal Savings & Loan Association is created.
1942 - The FBI captures eight Nazi saboteurs from a sub off the coast of Long Island.
1944 - The Allies capture Cherbourg, France.
1950 - The UN Security Council calls on members to send troops to aid South Korea; President Truman orders the Air Force and Navy into Korea; the U.S. sends 35 military advisors to South Vietnam.
1954 - Near Moscow, the first atomic power station opens; CIA-sponsored rebels overthrow the government of Guatemala.
1962 - NASA civilian pilot Joseph Walker takes the X-15 to 6,606 kph, 37,700 m.
1963 - USAF Major Robert A. Rushworth reaches 86,900 m in the X-15.
1973 - John W. Dean testifies in front of the Watergate Committee.
1977 - A 5-4 Supreme Court decision allows lawyers to advertise.
1978 - Soyuz 30 carries two cosmonauts to the Salyut 6 space station; the first oceanographic satellite, the U.S. Seasat 1, is launched into polar orbit.
1982 - The fourth Space Shuttle Mission (Columbia 4) launches.
1983 - NASA launches the space vehicle S-205; the Soyuz T-9 carries two cosmonauts to the Salyut 7 space station.
1984 - The Supreme Court ends the NCAA monopoly on college football telecasts.
1986 - The U.S. informs New Zealand it will not defend it against attack; the World Court rules U.S. aid to Nicaraguan contras illegal.
1987 - Supreme Court Justice Powell retires

Birthdays
1462 - King Louis XII (the Just) of France
1550 - King Charles IX of France
1682 - King Charles XII of Sweden
1880 - Helen Keller blind-deaf author/lecturer
1900 - Otto E. Passman (Rep-LA,)
1927 - Bob Keeshan (aka Capt Kangaroo/Clarabelle the Clown)
1937 - Joseph P. Allen IV, Ph. D. /astronaut (STS-5, STS 51A)
1938 - Bruce E. Babbitt (Gov-AL)
1951 - Sidney M. Gutierrez, Major USAF/astronaut (STS 40)

Passings
1829
- James Smithson, whose will established the Smithsonian Institute

Reported Missing in Action
1965
Jackson, Carl E., USAF (LA); C123 shot down; KIA, body not recovered

Roth, Billie L., USAF (IL); C123 shot down; KIA, body not recovered

1966
Smith, Gene A., USN (UT); A4E shot down; remains returned March, 1989

1968
Giammerino, Vincent F., US Army (NY); disappeared while on patrol

1969
Jablonski, Michael J., US Army (IL); drowned in river while on patrol, body not recovered
1972
Baker, David E., USAF (NY); O2A shot down, released by PRG February, 1973, retired as a Brig. General - alive and well as of 1998 - *** Veteran of Desert Storm (F-15E)***

Cerak, John P., USAF (NJ); F4E shot down, released by DRV March, 1973 - alive and well as of 1998

Dingee, David B., USAF (CT); F4E shot down, released by DRV March, 1973, retired as a Colonel - alive and well as of 1998

Francis, Richard L., USAF (OK); F4E shot down, released by DRV March, 1973, retired as a Lt. Colonel - alive and well as of 1998

Hanton, Thomas J., USAF (CA); F4E shot down, released by DRV March, 1973 - alive and well as of 1998 - *** Veteran of Desert Storm (AWACS / EC-130H) ***

McDow, Richard H., USAF (AL); F4E shot down, released by DRV March, 1973, retired as a Lt. Colonel - alive and well as of 1998 ***Veteran of Desert Storm (A-10) ***

Sullivan, Farrell J., USAF (TX); F4E shot down, remains returned June, 1983

Labels: ,

nocashfortrash.org