U.S. Air Force Maj. Mark Campbell, right, greets the commanding pilot of an MI-17 helicopter flight crew assigned to the Afghan National Army Air Corps prior to "Operation Shukran" at Kabul International Airport, in Afghanistan, July 26, 2007. Campbell is assigned to the Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan out of Camp Eggers, Kabul, Afghanistan. U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Jim Varhegyi


Helicopter maintainers from the Afghan National Army Air Corps check over the maintenance records for an MI-17 helicopter prior to a mission at Kabul International Airport, in Afghanistan, July 26, 2007. U.S. Air Force members acted as mentors to the Afghan National Army Air Corps soldiers and are assigned to the Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan headquartered at Camp Eggers, Kabul, Afghanistan. U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Jim Varhegyi


Helicopter crew members assigned to the Afghan National Army Air Corps mount a door gun on their MI-17 helicopter prior to "Operation Shukran" at Kabul International Airport, in Afghanistan, July 26, 2007. U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Jim Varhegyi


U.S. Air Force Capt. Ronald Stencel, left, talks about maintenance issues with Lt. Col. Abdul Shafi, of the Afghan National Army Air Corps, at Kabul International Airport, in Afghanistan, July 26, 2007. Shafi is the Afghan National Army Air Corps senior aircraft maintenance engineer operations group commander. U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Jim Varhegyi


An MI-17 helicopter flight engineer assigned to the Afghan National Army Air Corps gives a status report to his commanding pilot during a mission flown from Kabul International Airport, during "Operation Shukran" in Afghanistan, July 26, 2007. U.S. Air Force members acted as mentors to the Afghan National Army Air Corps soldiers and are assigned to the Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan headquartered at Camp Eggers, Kabul, Afghanistan. U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Jim Varhegyi


An MI-17 helicopter door gunner assigned to the Afghan National Army Air Corps keeps a watchful eye during a mission flown from Kabul International Airport, in Afghanistan, July 26, 2007. U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Jim Varhegyi


U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Frank Padilla congratulates members of an MI-17 helicopter flight crew assigned to the Afghan National Army Air Corps at Kabul International Airport, in Afghanistan, July 26, 2007. The Afghan National Army Air Corps MI-17 flight crew successfully completed a mission during "Operation Shukran," where for the first time an Afghan National Army Air Corps flight crew successfully in-filled and ex-filled Afghan National Army Air Corps commandos during the joint Afghan National Army Air Corps International Security Assistance Force operation. Padilla is the Combined Air Power Transition Force commanding general, which is part of the Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan headquartered at Camp Eggers, Kabul, in Afghanistan. U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Jim Varhegyi




More photo essays at DefendAmerica

Labels: Afghan National Army, Afghanistan, aircraft, Camp Eggers, Compbined Security Transition Command - Afghanistan, helicopter, MI-17, photo essays, USAF

News of Note
Minnesota Bridge Collapse
'Endless Wait of Getting Answers' - Families of missing in bridge collapse frustrated
Mystery Car Recovered - Vehicle's passengers remain missing - PHOTO ESSAY
Bush Tours Site of Bridge Collapse - VIDEO
VIDEO: Divers Brave Dangerous Waters of the Mississippi
uREPORT: Photos Submitted by FOX News Viewers
Bridge search ends for day with no luck

Operation Iraqi Freedom
U.S. Says It Killed Mastermind of Golden Dome Bombing
Early-Morning Mortar Attack Kills 13 in Baghdad
4 Terror Suspects Killed, 33 Nabbed in Iraq Raids
U.S. forces kill mosque bomber in Iraq
Iraq summit to focus on powersharing
Iraqi power grid nearing collapse
Iran, U.S. to meet in Baghdad Monday
Army engineers near 4,000 completed Iraqi projects

Operation Enduring Freedom
Report: Senior Taliban Leader Killed in Afghanistan
Afghanistan poppy cultivation skyrockets
Troops Volunteer to Deliver Supplies to Afghans

Homeland Security / War on Terror / Hamas-Hezbollah Happenings
'Suspicious Item' Closes South Carolina Highway
Congress OKs Foreign Eavesdropping Bill
2 Palestinians Killed, 6 Wounded in Israeli Air Strike
Olmert and Abbas to discuss Palestinian state

Troops on Trial
Soldier gets 110 years in rape-slay case

Supporting Our Heroes
Operation Gratitude mails 250,000th package, Soldier receives keys to new car

Other Military News
House Approves $460B Pentagon Budget

Politics / Government
NYC Councilman Charged With Raping Woman in Office
Obama hits back over "lack of experience" tag - Video
Democratic candidates see the light: the Internet
Polish PM plays down U.S. visa issue
U.S. House shifts $16 bln toward renewable energy
House OKs new oil company taxes

In the Courts / Crime and Punishment / Law and Order
Evidence Links Bakery Suspects to Editor Slay - PHOTOS
Cops Return to Madeleine Suspect's Home
Ex-bandmate sues Marilyn Manson

U.N. News
Rebel commanders arrive for Darfur talks - Video

Media in the Media / Bloggers in the News / Watching the Web
Liberal Bloggers Boo Hillary Clinton at DailyKos Convention
Democrats court liberal bloggers
MSNBC, radio could split over Imus slot

Science / Medicine / Technology
Phoenix Mars Lander Blasts Off
Energy search goes underground
Dairies dump milk on radiation threat
Researcher: Flaw exposes hack threat

Mother Nature
Birds Put Cats on Wire
Millions Await Relief From Deadly Monsoon - PHOTOS
South Asian floods kill 250 people - Video
Montana gov: Fire is in 'hands of God'
Helicopters drop food to 2 million

Oddities
Interesting news about the office workaholics
And He Has $11G in Overdue Fees...

Other News of Note
Bonds Hammers Into History

Fox News
RECALL LIST: Made-in-China Fisher Price Toys With Lead
U.K. Links Foot and Mouth Outbreak to Gov't Lab - PHOTOS

Reuters: Top News
New Hampshire town welcomes Sarkozy
Beckham rules himself out of Toronto match
Eagles putting finishing touches on new album
Oil tumbles below $76 on U.S. economic data
Berkshire profit rises 33 pct
Novastar Financial shares fall
Barclays' ABN offer period set
Senate report faults SEC on hedge fund probe
Court will wait to rule on CBOT rights
Bear Stearns preparing to oust president: WSJ
Freddie CEO wary of more subprime loans: NYT

AP World News
Katrina evacuees trapped in trailers
A-Rod hits 500th HR as Yanks beat Royals
Murphy pressed to help raise daughter
On-demand airline to use very light jets
Ochoa leads by 6 at Women's British Open

Military.com
Poll: Do You Feel Safer Now?
DT: The Real D-Boys?
Daily Shock: Jihad, the Musical
Know How to Travel Space 'A'?
Advisors: Bad Newz for Michael Vick
Military.com Career Fair Coming to Washington DC on August 6th

CENTCOM: News Releases
STATEMENT FROM MULTI-NATIONAL FORCE-IRAQ CONDEMNING BAGHDAD CAR-BOMB ATTACKS
BLACK JACK SOLDIERS RESPOND TO CAR BOMB
IRAQI SECURITY FORCES, U.S. SPECIAL FORCES DETAIN FOUR ROGUE JAM SUSPECTS
AL-QAEDA EMIR OF MOSUL SHOT, KILLED BY ISF
HIGH VALUE INDIVIDUAL DETAINED IN AL ANBAR PROVINCE
TWO ALLEGED AL-QAEDA EMIRS, 20 OTHER SUSPECTS CAPTURED; FOUR TERRORISTS KILLED
IRAQI SECURITY FORCES START OPERATIONS IN SAMARRA TO CLEAR CITY OF AL-QAEDA
COALITION FORCES ATTACK TWO HELMAND PROVINCE AREA TALIBAN LEADERS

USJFCOM
Commander announces retirementGovernor of Virginia visits 2007 industry symposium
Liveblogging: Industry Symposium 2007 -- Day 2
Liveblogging: Industry Symposium 2007 -- Day 1
Visitors get up close and personal with Command and Control Data Pilot initiative - podcast

Multi-National Force-Iraq
Soldiers learn methods to save trapped troops
Operation New Blue puts Iraqi police recruits to the test
Iraqi Security Forces, U.S. Special Forces Detain Three, Disrupt Samarra al-Qaeda Cell
Rashid clearing continues: multiple caches uncovered by MND-B Soldiers
Iraqi Security Forces complete security sweep in Samarra
MND-B Apache crews destroy rockets
Iraqi Army, U.S. Special Operations Forces, detain suspected insurgents near Taji
Iraqi Army, U.S. Special Forces Detain Suspected Insurgents in Karabilah


DefenseLink
Pentagon Official Describes AFRICOM’s Mission
Defense, VA Work to Integrate Health Records
GAO Report Recognizes Program Improvements
Progress Continues in Iraq’s Anbar Province
CENTCOM Leader Says Surge Making Progress
Baghdad Zoo Trip Tells CENTCOM Enlisted Leader Volumes
Morin: Afghan National Army on Right Track
Airmen Cite Supporting Troops as No. 1 Priority
Walter Reed Building Named for Combat Medic - Video

More Headline News
Bush Vows Veto if Bill Fails to Close Intel Gaps
Middle East Trip Aimed to Sow Relationships
Gates Optimistic on Iraqi Security Front
Mixon: Baqubah Transitions to 'Hold' Status
Kuwaiti Officer Recalls 1990 Invasion, Thanks U.S.

Military News
Army Boosts Bonuses to Bolster Growth
Video: Coast Guard Lends Aid After Bridge Collapse
Future NCOs Welcome Top Sergeant Major
Six Ambassadors Visit USNS Comfort, Tour Facilities

Why We Serve
U.S. Marine Shares His Story - Special

War on Terror
Coalition Raids Detain 17 Suspected Terrorists in Iraq
Iraqi Court Sentences Snipers
Coalition Forces Capture Two

Transformation
Aerial Porters Help Demonstrate New Transportation Concepts
New Camera Minimizes Danger

Face of Defense
First Sergeant Gets Bronze Star
WWI Nurse Earns Silver Star
Troop Helps Keep the Peace

America Supports You
Officials Laud Volunteers
Dog Tags Connect Families
Movie Snacks En Route

DefendAmerica
ON THE GROUND
Iraqi Tribes Unite to Eliminate Terrorists - Story
Seabees Lay Foundation for CH-53 Hangar - Story

IN IRAQ
Therapists Teach Iraqi Soldiers Physical Fitness
Female Soldiers Fight Every Day, Earn Respect
Army Paratrooper Awarded Silver Star in Iraq
Drill Identifies Strengths, Reveals Weakness

IN DJIBOUTI
Seabees Drilling Wells, Building Schools in Africa
Task Force Members Survive in Djibouti Desert

IN AFGHANISTAN
Airmen Mentor Afghan Air Corps Soldiers
CENTAF Band Performs for Servicemembers

DefendAmerica Week in Review
Monday - Tuesday - Wednesday - Thursday - Friday

BLOGGERS' ROUNDTABLE with U.S. Army Col. John Charlton
Progress Continues on Many Fronts - Story
Bloggers' Roundtable Web Site

NEWS UPDATES
Coalition Raids Detain 17 - Story

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
1264 - Anti-Jewish riots break out in Arnstadt, Germany.
1861 - The U.S. Army abolishes flogging.
1861 - The U.S. levies its first Income Tax (3% on income over $800)
1864 - During the Battle of Mobile Bay, AL, Admiral David Farragut gives the order, "Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!"
1884 - The cornerstone for Statue of Liberty is laid.
1914 - In Cleveland, the first traffic light is installed; The U.S. and Nicaragua sign a treaty granting canal rights to U.S.
1923 - Henry Sullivan becomes the first American to swim the English Channel.
1924 - The "Little Orphan Annie" comic strip debuts.
1936 - In Berlin, Jesse Owens wins his third Olympic medal.
1937 - The U.S. Ranger beats England's Endeavour II in the 17th America's Cup.
1945 - The Atom Bomb is dropped on Hiroshima (Aug 6th in Japan).
1953 - In Operation "Big Switch" Korean War prisoners are exchanged at Panmunjom.
1960 - Upper Volta gains independence from France.
1962 - Nelson Mandela is arrested for incitement and illegally leaving South Africa.
1963 - The U.S., Britain, and the U.S.S.R. sign a nuclear test ban treaty.
1964 - The U.S. begins bombing North Vietnam.
1966 - Martin Luther King Jr is pelted with stones during a Chicago march.
1969 - Mariner 7 flies past Mars.
1973 - The U.S.S.R. launches Mars 6.
1981 - President Regan fires 11,500 air traffic controllers, two days into their strike.
1985 - Larry Tudor sets a flexible-wing glider altitude record (214,250').
1988 - Mario Biaggi (Rep-NY) resigns his seat after his conviction for racketeering

Holidays
Iran - Constitution Day

Birthdays
1749 - Thomas Lynch, signer of the Declaration of Independence
1860 - Joseph Carey Merrick, the "Elephant Man"
1908 - Harold Holt, PM of Australia (1966-67), supporter of U.S. efforts in Vietnam
1923 - Richard Kleindienst, attorney general (1972)
1930 - Neil Armstrong, X-15 pilot, first Moonwalker (Gemini 8, Apollo 11)
1941 - Leonid D. Kizim, cosmonaut (Soyuz T-3, T-10, T-15)

Passings
1959 - Edgar Guest, newspaperman
1961 - Sir Sidney Holland, PM of New Zealand (1949-57)
1962 - Marilyn Monroe, movie star, found dead of apparent self-inflicted drug overdose

Reported Missing in Action
1964
Alvarez, Everett, USN (CA); A4C shot down, released by DRV February, 1973 - alive and well as of 1998 - first USN aviator POW in Vietnam

Sather, Richard C., USN (CA); A1H shot down, remains returned August, 1985 - first USN aviator KIA in Vietnam

Labels: Headlines, History