May I share something with you I think you'd like to know? It's something that happened to the Commandant of our Marine Corps, General Paul Kelley, while he was visiting our critically injured marines in an Air Force hospital. It says more than any of us could ever hope to say about the gallantry and heroism of these young men, young men who serve so willingly so that others might have a chance at peace and freedom in their own lives and in the life of their country.

I'll let General Kelley's words describe the incident. He spoke of a "young marine with more tubes going in and out of his body than I have ever seen in one body."

"He couldn't see very well. He reached up and grabbed my four stars, just to make sure I was who I said I was. He held my hand with a firm grip. He was making signals, and we realized he wanted to tell me something. We put a pad of paper in his hand -- and he wrote `Semper Fi.' '"

Well, if you've been a marine or if, like myself, you're an admirer of the marines, you know those words are a battlecry, a greeting, and a legend in the Marine Corps. They're marine shorthand for the motto of the Corps -- "Semper Fidelis'' -- "always faithful.''

General Kelley has a reputation for being a very sophisticated general and a very tough marine. But he cried when he saw those words, and who can blame him?

That marine and all those others like him, living and dead, have been faithful to their ideals. They've given willingly of themselves so that a nearly defenseless people in a region of great strategic importance to the free world will have a chance someday to live lives free of murder and mayhem and terrorism. I think that young marine and all of his comrades have given every one of us something to live up to.

They were not afraid to stand up for their country or, no matter how difficult and slow the journey might be, to give to others that last, best hope of a better future. We cannot and will not dishonor them now and the sacrifices they've made by failing to remain as faithful to the cause of freedom and the pursuit of peace as they have been.

I will not ask you to pray for the dead, because they're safe in God's loving arms and beyond need of our prayers. I would like to ask you all -- wherever you may be in this blessed land -- to pray for these wounded young men and to pray for the bereaved families of those who gave their lives for our freedom.
-- President Ronald Reagan, addressing the nation shortly after the Beirut bombing, October, 1983

News of Note
Operation Iraqi Freedom
U.S. Warns Iraq to Accept Security Deal
VIDEO: Bill Hemmer Reports on Security Pact in Iraq
Suicide strike on Iraq minister's convoy kills 11 - Video
US turns over control of 12th Iraqi province


Operation Enduring Freedom
Bomb kills three coalition soldiers in Afghanistan
9 dead in suspected US missile strike in Pakistan

Homeland Security / War on Terror / Hamas-Hezbollah Happenings
"White-powder" letters hit more banks and N.Y. Times


Welcome Home
Ratchet the Iraqi pup arrives in Minn., takes nap
Cities Plan Homecoming
Two units of the 82nd Airborne Division will be treated to a heroes’ welcome in November when Holmdel and Middletown, N.J., host a joint homecoming for their “adopted” troops. Story


Troops on Trial



Fallen Heroes



Wounded Warriors
Arts Festival Gives Wounded Therapeutic Outlet


Supporting Our Heroes



Other Military News
Georgia says Russia deploying troops in S.Ossetia
Air Force creates new pilot programs for drones



Religion of Peace??



Worldwide Wackos
Venezuela struggles to keep lights on

Homegrown Moonbats



Politics / Government
'Once in a Century Credit Tsunami'
Greenspan "shocked" at credit system breakdown - Video
The 'Crisis' Question
Factbox: Financial rescue plans
Bush's chance to stay relevant?
Blacks to swing vote?
Full Coverage: Race in America
Exit-pollsters seek disaster-free vote
Black Europeans hope for Obama
Muslims and the election
McCain hammers Obama on Florida bus tour - Video
New Footage of McCain's Vietnam Captivity Released
FOX FORUM: Obama's as Untouchable as a Hot Girl
WSJ: Can We Trust the Polls?
FOX News Poll: Obama Leads by 9
AP Poll: It's Tied!
McCain hammers Obama on Florida bus tour - Video
Obama lead on McCain grows to 12 points - Video
Obama takes campaign break to visit ill grandmother
Obama, McCain neck-and-neck for rural vote: poll
Exit-pollsters seek disaster-free Election Day
Palin's aides back charging state for kid's travel
House GOP leader asks Bush to cut off ACORN funds
Errors, mischief could lead to long election night
AP presidential poll: Race tightens in final weeks
McCain says Obama will 'say anything' to win
In red-state tour, Obama rebuts McCain on tax plan
Obama Presidency Would Bring New Dimension to Africa Policy
Be That a 'Righteous Wind' Or Blast of Hot Air at Obama's Back?
Just What We Need, Rudy the Robot
Examples of Why Your Vote Counts
New bill makes gun laws tougher in Pennsylvania

Illegal Immigration / Border Control



In the Courts / Crime and Punishment / Law and Order
Kids Found Living Among Rattlesnakes in Filthy New Mexico Home
Kidnapping Charge Dismissed Against Man Found Living in Car With Girl
Mom Gets 18 Months for Prostituting Daughter
Duke Lacrosse Rape Accuser Insists She Was Attacked
Austrian Horror Dad: I Was 'Born to Be a Rapist'
Hunt Is on for Missing Missouri Teens - VIDEO
Man Parades Streets With Severed Head
Porn Star on Trial for Alleged Sorority House Rape
Cop Shoves Finger in Gun to His Head to Save Friends
Cop Arresting Drunk Driver Hit by Second Drunk
Woman Wins Landmark Sexual Harassment Case in Egypt

Adventures in Political Correctness
The Fight to Kill God
Radio Station Fires DJ for Impersonating God


U.N. News



Media in the Media / Bloggers in the News / Watching the Web
David Duchovny sues Daily Mail over cheating story
Samsung Blu-ray players hooking up with Netflix
Comcast to roll out faster Internet speeds
Online divorcee jailed after killing virtual hubby


Science / Medicine and Health / Technology
British Rocket Car Could Reach 1,000 MPH - PHOTOS
Peeling Scotch Tape Emits X-Rays, Study Finds
Computer heart model recalls da Vinci's sketches - Video
China finds fossils of small feathered dinosaur
Genentech team grows mice prostate from stem cells
Computer heart model recalls da Vinci's sketches Video
Chinese surfers see red over Microsoft black-outs Video
Netflix, Samsung in streaming partnership
EU MPs concerned by airport full-body scanners
Onion News Network has international appeal
Transplanted cornea in use for record 123 years
A world of recycling
GE stepping up push for electric cars
New Jersey hopes to slash power use
Food allergies increasing in US kids, study says
Scientists try to stop hunger with retooled foods

Mother Nature
Venomous Snake Bites 2 Texas High School Students in Class
Giant Spider Snapped Eating Bird in Backyard
Fishing Boat Sinks Off Alaska; 5 Killed, 2 Missing
China seen onboard for climate pact goal
Two jailed for Ivory Coast toxic dumping
Lawmakers gain in EU climate power struggle
Wind development seen biggest challenge for power grid
"New Deal" approach needed for climate change: U.N.
Video: Green to the grave
India's only gorilla alone despite search for mate

News from My Neck of the Woods
Beetle invasion threatens New England trees



Oddities
Don't Have Sex, Win a $10,000 Wedding
Police arrest naked burglary suspect
Country looks into waste and finds waste
China breaks up male prostitution ring
Tina Fey glues ears down to look like Sarah Palin
Undertaker under influence harasses in hearse
Video: And Finally... Read My Plant
Blogs: Oddly Enough: The Odd Blog

Other News of Note



Fox News
Golf Great Ballesteros Has Brain Cancer - PHOTOS
Photos Capture Toddlers Playing on Edge of Roof - PHOTOS: Hair-Raising Shots of Tots on the Roof
Newlywed Watches Husband Drown on Honeymoon
Teen Accidentally Shoots Self While Talking on Phone
Beauty Queen Stripped: Miss Teen Loses Crown




Reuters
ANC rebels want to "save South Africa from warlords"
Pakistan parliament stresses talks to end militancy
Foreclosures up 21 percent from year ago
Financial crisis adds pressure to keep working
N.Y. regulator urges more support for homeowners
Global recession fears deepen
Spain's small businesses squeezed
A boost for oil M&A
Companies take careful approach
OPEC battles price dive
Any cut should not spread pain: OPEC
Bond's quest for truth
Slideshow: Scenes from Quantum
Factbox: James Bond is back
Factbox: Who was Ian Fleming?
Transport, energy help Wall Street climb back
GM suspends payments into 401K plans
Goldman Sachs to cut staff by 10 percent: source
Financial crisis adds pressure to keep working
UPS profit tops Street view, sees challenges ahead
OPEC battles price dive and faltering economy
Oil rises as OPEC weighs supply cut
Swelling stocks, falling demand
Any cut should not spread pain: president
A silver lining for young adults
Trillions of reasons to expect a long winter
In commodities, a complex reality
Deals hit by rocky markets
Dow Chemical profit drops, warns of recession
Foreclosures up 21 percent from year ago
SEC's Cox: strong, effective regulation needed
New York may look at Lehman exec payments: sources
Treasury says markets fragile, but improving
Credit crisis, cheaper crude to boost oil M&A
Cathay Pacific says no plans to buy British Airways
Lufthansa mulls Austrian Air buyout offer
Betrayed Bond embarks on bloody quest for truth
Anne Hathaway's ex-boyfriend faces sentencing
Beyonce would like to be known as "Sasha Fierce"
Director McTiernan gets another shot to avoid jail
Financial crisis adds pressure to keep working
Sex education to become compulsory in England
China bridles as dissident wins top EU rights prize
Just a Minute With:"High School Musical's" Vanessa Hudgens
Phillies beat Rays 3-2 in World Series opener
Cavaliers' James again tipped to win MVP honors
Blackhawks hand Oilers first defeat of season
Bryant knee injury not considered serious: LA Lakers
Roddick reaches Lyon quarter-finals, Gasquet out

Associated Press
US working on plan to help homeowners refinance
Stocks turn higher as investors hunt for bargains
William Shatner lashes out at George Takei
Myers vs. Shields in World Series game 2 tonight
Europe markets drop ahead of Wall Street open
Hough feeling 'fine' after hospitalization

NewsBlaze
BBC: Report on Possible Alien Invasion - Planet X/ Nibiru
With Move to Fort Carson Looming, Taking Care of Soldiers
Working Together for a Nation
Soldiers' Angels and Patriot Guard
Iraq News
Operations in Iraq
FOB Warhorse Memorial Photos
Videos

CENTCOM
Lt. Gen. Dempsey to Relinquish Central Command to Gen. David Petraeus
U.S., Iraq nearing troop status agreement
U.S. will continue to aid improving Iraqi security
Iraqi government invests in education
Soldiers celebrate Ramadan's end with Iraqi friends
Gates to NATO: Hinder Afghan drug trade

USJFCOM
Joint fires team supports joint training integration event - More about JFIIT
Free Salute to Veterans 2008 tickets - Click here to get your free tickets
USJFCOM working to prepare forces for deployment
Command moves C2Pedia to unclassified network - podcast

Multi-National Force - Iraq
Iraqi Police Media Relations Graduates Will Tell the IP Story
Security Prompts Northwestern Baghdad Reconstruction, Resettlement
GOI Funded Projects Inspected
U.S., Iraqi Leaders Work Together on Iraqi-Funded Project
Oqba Bin Nafea School reopens in Rusafa
MND-B Soldiers find weapons in Baghdad
Coalition forces apprehend Special Groups suspects
Forces capture two suspected terrorists, disrupt AQI bomb facilitation network (Baghdad)

DefenseLink
TOP NEWS
Gates Visits Fort Bragg to Meet With Soldiers, Spouses
Gates: Iraq Agreement Protects Troops
Mullen Continues Talks With Baltic Allies
Defense Leaders Note Pakistan’s Improved Anti-Terrorism Efforts
Gates Honors Career Civilian Employees

IRAQ NEWS
Soldiers View Iraqi-Funded Projects
Security Progress Prompts Resettlement - Video
Coalition Forces Capture Suspects, Weapons

AFGHANISTAN NEWS
Support Brings Growth to Kabul School
Coalition, Afghans Kill Taliban Commanders

AROUND THE SERVICES
Army Unit Growing to Combat Lethal Threat
Marine Honored for Warrior Ethos, Rifle Skills
Navy Recognizes Effective Energy Programs
Air Force Chief Makes Official Trip to Bagram

WARRIOR CARE
Gates: Steps Taken to Improve Wounded Care - Special

MILITARY NEWS
Linguists Play Key Role in Threat Reduction
Rules Limit Political Activities for Troops, Civilians
Air Force Makes Gains in Energy Efficiency
Officials Update National Guard, Reserve Activation List

NATIONAL GUARD
Guard Provides 'Security Blanket' for New Orleans

FACE OF DEFENSE
MP Spices Up Life for Marines at Remote Outpost

AMERICA SUPPORTS YOU
Game Show Honors Troops

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
1679 - James II of Scotland is the target of the Meal Tub Plot.
1775 - The Continental Congress approves a resolution barring Blacks from serving in the army.
1790 - Slaves revolt in Haiti; it is later suppressed.
1805 - The sailing ship Aeneus sinks off Newfoundland, killing 340
1864 - Battle of Westport, Missouri.
1910 - Blanche Scott becomes the first woman to solo on a public airplane flight.
1915 - 25,000 women march in NYC, demanding the right to vote.
1927 - The city of Netanya, Israel is founded.
1942 - Britain launches a major offensive at El Alamein, Egypt.
1944 - The Soviet army invades Hungary.
1946 - The U.N. General Assembly's second session convenes - the first in NYC.
1947 - The NAACP petition on racism, "An Appeal to the World," is presented to the U.N.
1954 - Britain, England, France and the U.S.S.R. agree to end the occupation of Germany.
1956 - The first video recording on magnetic tape is televised coast-to-coast;a revolt against Stalinist policies begins in Hungary (Hungarian Revolution).
1957 - The first test firing of the Vanguard satellite launch vehicle, TV-3, takes place.
1958 - The U.S.S.R. lends money to the U.A.R. to build the Aswan High Dam.
1962 - USAF Major Robert A. Rushworth takes the X-15 to 40,800 m.
1970 - Gary Gabelich sets an auto speed record of 622.4 mph (1,002 kph).
1973 - Nixon agrees to turn over White House tape recordings to Judge Sirica; The U.N.'s revised International Telecommunication Convention is adopted.
1977 - Panamanians vote 2:1 to approve the new Canal treaties.
1980 - Soviet Premier Alexei Kosygin resigns, due to illness.
1983 - A suicide terrorist truck bomb kills 241 U.S. servicemembers in Beirut.
1984 - NBC airs BBC footage of the Ethiopian famine.
1989 - The U.S.'s 62nd manned space mission (STS-34, Atlantis 5) returns from space.
1990 - Iraq announces the release of 330 French hostages.
1991 - Dr. Jack Kevorkian's suicide machine kills two women.

Birthdays
1752 - Nicolas Appert, inventor (food canning, bouillon tablet)
1868 - Rama V (Chulalongkorn), leader of Thailand (-1910)
1905 - Felix Bloch, U.S. physicist, Nobel Prize winner (1952)
1923 - Frank Sutton, actor (Sgt. Carter-Gomer Pyle USMC)
1925 - Johnny Carson, comedian (Tonight Show, Who Do You Trust)
1938 - John Heinz (Sen-PA)
1942 - Michael Crichton, novelist (Andromeda Strain, Congo, Looker)
1956 - Dwight Yoakum, country singer (If There Was a Way)
1959 - "Weird Al" Yankovic, parody singer (Eat It, UHF, Naked Gun)
1962 - Doug Flute, WFL/NFL QB (Generals, Bears, Patriots)
1963 - Katherine Hushaw, Playboy playmate (Oct, 1986)

Passings
1983 - Jessica Savitch, newscaster (NBC Weekend)

Reported Missing in Action
- None listed -

Labels: Headlines, History