U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer Rexford Sackett, left, and Petty Officer 3rd Class William Quadrino, both assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 85, prepare to assemble a 420-gallon capacity bucket in San Diego, Calif., Oct. 23, 2007. HSC-85 has teamed up with the San Diego California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection to help put out the wildfires blazing across Southern California. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Chris Fahey


U.S. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Zach Sykora, attached to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 85, performs a pre-flight inspection on a MH-60S Seahawk helicopter before take off from Coronado, Calif., Oct. 23, 2007. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Dustin Kelling


U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer Rexford Sackett, left, and Petty Officer 3rd Class William Quadrino, both assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 85, prepare to assemble a 420-gallon capacity bucket in San Diego, Calif., Oct. 23, 2007. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Chris Fahey


U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer Rexford Sackett, assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 85, kicks open a 420-gallon capacity bucket in San Diego, Calif., Oct. 23, 2007. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Chris Fahey


An MH-60S Seahawk helicopter assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 85, lifts a full 420-gallon extinguishing trough from a local reservoir near the raging wildfires in San Diego, Calif., Oct. 23, 2007. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Chris Fahey


An MH-60S Seahawk helicopter assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 85, dumps water from a full 420-gallon extinguishing trough onto of one of the many areas affected by wildfires in San Diego, Calif., Oct. 23, 2007. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Chris Fahey



More photo essays at DefenseLink

Labels: aircraft, helicopter, Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 85, MH-60S, photo essays, photos, Seahawk, US Navy

ARMY EQUIPMENT FIGHTS FIRES
U.S. Army equipment is unloaded from an Air Force C-17 Globemaster III aircraft at March Air Force Base, Calif., Oct. 24, 2007. The equipment is part of a federal support package used to assist federal, state and local agencies responding to the California wildfires. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Troy Latham

Labels: aircraft, C-17, California wildfires, Globemaster, US Army, USAF

News of Note
Operation Iraqi Freedom
U.S.: More Proof Iran Supports Iraqi Insurgents - Iranian-made rocket, gear seized after attack More Soldiers, new firearms, better procedures, strengthen Iraqi Army
U.S. Forces to Hand Control of Karbala Over to Iraqis
State Department to Order Diplomats to Serve in Iraq
Turkey threatens incursion after Iraq talks fail - Video

Operation Enduring Freedom
U.S.: 80 Taliban Killed in Southern Afghanistan

Homeland Security / War on Terror / Hamas-Hezbollah Happenings
Chertoff rips phony homeland press event

Troops on Trial
Army: Toss Out Convictions for Black GIs in WWII Case

Supporting Our Heroes
Injured GI's brother becomes caregiver

Other Military News
Military Announces Successful Missile-Defense Test

Homegrown Moonbats
Protesters call for end to Iraq war

Politics / Government
Hillary Clinton Accuser Claims New Evidence of Fraud in Documentary
FOX News Poll: Half of Voters Eye Abortion Stance
Obama Criticizes Clinton on Social Security
Giuliani hits Democrats on Iran - Video
From Nixon to Bush, he's met them all
Obama accuses Clinton of sidestepping
Giuliani resembles Bush on terror war
Argentine first lady seeks presidency

Illegal Immigration / Border Control
Feds strike ID deal over NY licenses

In the Courts / Crime and Punishment / Law and Order
Two Americans Found Dead in Luxury Hong Kong Hotel
Car Keys, Wallet Belonging to Missing Illinois Teen Found Near River
Court frees U.S. teen jailed 10 years for oral sex
UK Busts Royal Blackmail Plot
Grand Jury Pulls Back Curtain On Copperfield Rape Allegations
La. mayor: state may take over DA office

Adventures in Political Correctness
Overstock.com Founder Refuses to Apologize for Comments About Minority Dropouts
Houston School Officer Fired Over 'Ghetto Handbook'

U.N. News
Sudanese Agree to Darfur Cease-Fire

Science / Medicine and Health / Technology
Staph Shuts Down School District
NASA Ordered to Reopen 'X-Files'
New Space Station Segment Open - PHOTOS
Astronauts prepare for second spacewalk
Scientist: Human Race May Split in Two in Far Future
Astronauts revel in space station's new room - Video
Canadian beef likely cause of US e.coli cases: USDA
Many U.S. TB patients also HIV infected: report
Arthur Kornberg, 1959 Nobel DNA winner, dies at 89
Malaria vaccine plant takes a gamble
Online game smiles seen vanquishing the blues
Softbank to spend $350 mln on data center: Nikkei
With ashes for a home, Californian vows to rebuild

Mother Nature
Pets Remain Priority for California Wildfire Evacuees - PHOTOS
WILDFIRE PHOTOS - HOUSLEY BLOG
Experts Warn Indonesia's 'Child of Krakatoa' Volcano Near Eruption
Cooler weather aids California firefighters - Video
Inmates play major role in fire fight
Fingerpointing over grounded helicopters
California wildfires at a glance
Tropical depression forms south of Haiti

News from My Neck of the Woods
Boston Man Exonerated for Wounding Police Officer is Shot to Death

Oddities
Amateur Hockey Player Killed After Puck Strikes Chest
Second-Grader Commits Suicide in New Jersey
Teenager in go-kart leaves police standing
Gene switch altered sex orientation of worms

Other News of Note
No Explanation for Death of Boy Found in School Bathroom
Two Americans Found Dead in Luxury Hong Kong Hotel
Beer Prices to Rise Due to Hops Shortage
Breeders' Cup ends on tragic note
Orlando-to-Dallas flight diverted

Fox News
PHOTOS: Russian Base Jumper Leaps 1,204 Feet
Pop Tarts: Exclusive: Victoria Beckham Tries to Barter Near-Nude Snaps

Reuters: Top News
Pavarotti's widow speaks out to end row over will
Sri Lanka says 11 rebels die in fighting
Australia faces economic turbulence from U.S. meltdown: PM
Koreans stranded since 1945 finally find home
Bhutto prays at father's grave - Video
At least three die in Colombia bombing before vote
Rockies look to Coors Field effect for inspiration
The world's fattest baby, Siberia and beetroot soup
'Saw IV' dices box office rivals
Spears, Federline child custody remains in doubt
Stocks hope for a Halloween rate cut - Video
Oil hits record above $92 on weak dollar, Nigeria - Video
Bruised dollar hits record lows on rate cut fears
Yahoo stocks surge ahead of Alibaba IPO pricing
Time Warner shares rise on CEO exit speculation
Algo trading comes under pressure
Luxury goods still a playground
Chrysler workers approve contentious labor pact
Southwest Airlines gets boost from record oil
Consumer products earns seen up but oil worries
U.S. and Chinese carriers launch regional airline
Merrill board weighs O'Neal replacements: sources
Credit crunch may spook Fed into going big again

AP World News
Minorities less likely to trick-or-treat
Vatican beatifies 498 martyrs
Da Vinci's 'Last Supper' goes online
Dice-K leads Red Sox to 3-0 Series lead
5 dead in fiery Chicago crash
Antioch board delays vote on future

CENTCOM: News Releases
COALITION FORCES DISRUPT TERRORIST NETWORKS, SIX SUSPECTS DETAINED
SEVERAL INSURGENTS KILLED IN FAILED TALIBAN AMBUSH IN HELMAND PROVINCE
TAMIMI, JIBOURI TRIBES UPHOLD RECONCILIATION IN DIYALA
AFGHAN NATIONAL SECURITY, COALITION FORCES KILL DOZENS OF TALIBAN FIGHTERS IN HELMAND PROVINCE
COALITION FORCES DISRUPT FOREIGN TERRORIST NETWORKS; ONE KILLED, NINE DETAINED

USJFCOM
Command focusing on improving joint fires at the brigade combat team and below - JFIIT
Command leadership completes Transformation Advisory Group meeting
Command moves forward with Joint Urban Fires Prototype - podcast

Multi-National Force-Iraq
Coalition forces capture extremist splinter group leader
Irish Guards training Iraqi Army
Iraqis, Coalition Forces work together to solve New Baghdad water issues
1st Armored Division begins mission in Iraq
Coalition forces disrupt terrorist networks, six suspects detained
1-15 Infantry detains 6 suspected insurgents (Baghdad)
Suicide bomber detonates upon discovery by CLCs (Muqdadiya)
Coalition forces disrupt foreign terrorist networks; 15 suspects detained
Shbara and Shamiyah get clean water
MND-N unit attacked (Salah ad Din)
Coalition forces capture extremist splinter group leader (Fawwaliyah)
Concerned Local Citizens help round up suspected extremists (Hawr Rajab and Arab Jabour)

DefenseLink
TOP NEWS
Gates Accepts Award, Extols Virtues of Public Service
Photo Essay: Gates Receives Award
Chairman Says U.S. Faces Many 'Tough Questions’ - Video
Special Report: Chairman's Top Priorities
Mullen: Country Must Take ‘Long View,’ Forge Security Partnerships
Troops' Resilience Has Limits

WILDFIRES
Defense Official Calls Military, Civilians' Wildfires Response ‘Awe-Inspiring’
Defense Personnel Hit Wildfires Hard
Airmen Conduct Aerial Assault on Fires
Air Force Wildfire Coverage
Sailors Help Victims in Need

IRAQ
Iraqi Government Must Act Now to Solidify Accomplishments, General Says - Video
Transcript: Maj. Gen. Benjamin R. Mixon
Forces Work to Solve Water Issues

ON THE GROUND IN IRAQ
Ramadi Unity Parade Represents Progress
Citizen Tip Leads to Massive Explosives Cache

AFGHANISTAN
Forces Capture Three Militants
Medical Staff Provides Care for Afghans

INSIDE AFGHANISTAN
Supply Airmen Help Take Fight to Enemy

MILITARY NEWS
Naval Academy Grads Salute Fallen Classmates' Memory With Marine Corps Marathon Run

WHY WE SERVE
Nurse Rejoins Air Force

FACE OF DEFENSE
Pilot Chooses Army

AMERICA SUPPORTS YOU
Wounded Warriors Tackle Adventure

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

National Hurricane Center

Today in History
1492 - Christopher Columbus discovers Cuba.
1636 - Harvard University is established.
1776 - Battle of White Plains; Washington retreats to NJ.
1790 - New York gives up its claims to Vermont for $30,000.
1793 - Eli Whitney applies for a patent on the cotton gin.
1886 - The Statue of Liberty is dedicated by President Grover Cleveland; the celebration includes the first ticker tape parade in NYC.
1891 - An earthquake strikes Mino-Owari, Japan, killing 7,300.
1904 - St. Louis police try out a new investigation technique - fingerprints.
1918 - Czechoslovakia gains independence as Austria-Hungary breaks up.
1919 - Congress passes the Volstead Act, beginning prohibition over Wilson's veto.
1922 - For the first time, a football game is broadcast coast-to-coast radio broadcast of a football game; Benito Mussolini takes control of Italy's government
1929 - Miami, FL, is the site of the first childbirth in an aircraft.
1936 - FDR rededicates the Statue of Liberty on its 50th anniversary.
1940 - Greece successfully resists Italy's attack.
1946 - German rocket engineers begin work in the U.S.S.R.
1948 - The Flag of Israel is adopted.
1958 - Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli is elected Pope, taking the name John XXIII.
1962 - Khrushchev orders the withdrawal of missiles from Cuba, ending the Cuban Missile Crisis.
1965 - Pope Paul VI proclaims Jews not collectively guilty for Jesus' crucifixion.
1970 - The U.S. and U.S.S.R. sign an agreement to discuss joint space efforts.
1971 - England becomes the sixth nation to have a satellite in orbit (Prospero).
1981 - Edward M. McIntrye becomes the first Black mayor of Augusta, Georgia.
1982 - NASA launches RCA-E.

Birthdays
1017 - Henry III, Holy Roman emperor (1046-56)
1810 - Brigadier General Adley H. Gladden (killed at Shiloh)
1842 - Anna Elizabeth Dickinson, orator ("Joan of Arc of the Civil War")
1846 - Auguste Escoffier, king of chefs and chef of kings
1914 - Dr. Jonas Salk, medical researcher, developer of the polio vaccine
1936 - Charlie Daniels, country music star (Devil Went Down to Georgia) / supporter of the troops
1940 - Gennadi M. Strekalov, cosmonaut (Soyuz T-3, T-8, T-11)
1949 - Bruce Jenner, decathalete (Olympic-gold-1976)
1955 - Bill Gates, billionaire CEO (Microsoft)
1959 - Walther Bauersfeld 1919 inventor (first modern projection planetarium)
1963 - Veronica Gamba, Playboy playmate (November, 1983)

Passings
0900 - Alfred the Great, English monarch
1957 - Anthony J. Morabito, co-owner of San Francisco 49ers, while watching a game

Reported Missing in Action
1967
Kirk, Thomas H., USAF (VA); F105D shot down, released by DRV March, 1973 - retired as a Colonel - alive and well 1998

1968
Connor, Charles R., USMC (UT); TA4F disappeared over water while on Tactical Airborne Control mission (pilot, w/Ricker)

Ricker, William E., USNR (OR); TA4F disappeared over water while on Tactical Airborne Control mission (co-pilot, w/Connor)

Stonebraker, Kenneth A., USAF (IN); RF4C disappeared during photo-reconnaissance mission (navigator, w/ Stroven)

Stroven, William H., USAF (MI); RF4C disappeared during photo-reconnaissance mission

1972
Hall, James W., USN (CA); A7C shot down, remains returned March, 2000

Labels: Headlines, History