DARLINGTON, S.C. (May 9, 2008) NASCAR driver Brad Keselowski, driver of the No. 88 Navy Cheverolet Monte Carlo, takes a moment for photographs with members of the crew of high-speed vessel (HSV) 2 Swift prior to the start of the Diamond Hill Plywood 200 at Darlington Raceway. Swift Sailors attended the race as part of the Fleet Honoree program sponsored by the Navy Personnel Command. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communications Specialist 1st Class Curtis K. Biasi

Labels: Fleet Honoree Program, HSV 2 Swift, NASCAR, photos, US Navy

SOLDIERS’ ANGELS FOUNDER WINS!
Patti Patton-Bader Named “America’s Favorite Mom”

PASADENA, CA May 11, 2008 –Soldiers’ Angels founder Patti Patton-Bader was named “America’s Favorite Mom” in a primetime television show Sunday night on NBC. Sponsored by Teleflora and hosted by Donny and Marie Osmond, the show highlighted fifteen outstanding mothers who had distinguished themselves in categories ranging from Working Moms to Military Moms and “Non-Mom” Moms.

Humbled by the honor, Patton-Bader is thrilled to be able to use it to continue the Soldiers’ Angels mission of “May No Soldier Go Unloved.” As the grand prize winner, she will receive $250,000, a set of household appliances, and other valuable items. Patton-Bader hopes to apply the winnings to her plans for a small ranch that will allow newly returned soldiers to relax with their families after deployments.

“I really am lucky to know so many heroes in my life,” said Patton-Bader, who herself has two sons in the Army, one currently deployed to Iraq. “Whether they are the troops who serve our country or the amazing mothers here on this America’s Favorite Mom program, I am honored to be in the presence of such inspirational people and also am humbled to know that America thinks the same of me.”

Patton-Bader is also excited about the opportunities this platform gives her to help people learn more about America’s military heroes and options for supporting them and their families. The attention she has received through the America’s Favorite Mom events has already drawn a number of new volunteers who want to use their talents and connections to help support the troops.

In a nationwide online poll last March, Patton-Bader was voted “America’s Most Inspirational Mom” after having been nominated by her eldest son for founding and leading Soldiers’ Angels. On May 5 she appeared on the Today show as one of three selected finalists in the “Favorite Military Mom” category. A nationwide online poll was again conducted, and the results were announced on May 11, with Patton-Bader being named winner in both the “Favorite Military Mom” and “America’s Favorite Mom” categories. More information is available at http://www.americasfavoritemom.com/.

Soldiers’ Angels is a grassroots 501(c)(3) non-profit comprised of around 200,000 volunteers in over twenty different teams and programs with unique and effective ways to support members of the U.S. military. Soldiers’ Angels operates internationally to provide letters, care packages, and comfort items to the deployed, and support for their families at home. They also provide assistance to the wounded, continuing support for veterans, remembrances and comfort for families of the fallen, and immediate response to unique difficulties. For more information, see http://www.soldiersangels.org/ or call (615) 676-0239.

America's Favorite Mom was presented by NBC Television and Teleflora, America's leading source of hand-arranged floral bouquets, plants, and gift baskets. For more information, see http://www.americasfavoritemom.com/.

Labels: America's Favorite Mom, Patti Patton-Bader, Soldiers' Angels

First C-130 crew provides humanitarian assistance to Burma
Burman servicemembers and civilian aid workers stage and count the water offloaded from a U.S. Air Force C-130 Hercules May 12 at the Yangon International Airport . The plane carrying water, food and medical supplies provided relief to Burma, which was struck by Cyclone Nargis May 2. (U.S. Marine Corps photo/Sgt. Andres Alcaraz)

Labels: Burma, C-130, Hercules, Humanitarian Aid, Myanmar Cyclone, photos

From Defenselink:

Air Force Staff Sgt. Kevin Nelson, 506th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron military working dog trainer, practices techniques with his dog Charlie during a recent training event. Air Force dog handlers at Kirkuk are assigned to either 506th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron or 732nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron. Both squadrons have separate kennels and missions. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Eric Schloeffel



By Air Force Senior Airman Eric Schloeffel
Special to American Forces Press Service

KIRKUK REGIONAL AIR BASE, Iraq, May 12, 2008 – Prompted by a few words of command by his handler, military working dog Charlie sprints ahead and attacks a simulated enemy during a training session here.

Air Force Staff Sgt. Kevin Nelson, 506th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron military working dog trainer, practices techniques with his dog Charlie during a recent training event. Air Force dog handlers at Kirkuk are assigned to either 506th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron or 732nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron. Both squadrons have separate kennels and missions. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Eric Schloeffel
(Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

For Charlie, a German shepherd deployed here, this attack is no less a priority than if it were a real insurgent attempting to harm coalition forces. Despite temperatures hovering near the century mark, Charlie makes no bones about pushing his paws to the limit for the seemingly small reward of some praise from his handler.

"The dog sees everything he does here as a game," said Air Force Tech. Sgt. Patrick Carroll, 732nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron military working dog handler. "Even when the dog does have a big find, the dog never sees it as work. Seeking a reward and praise from their handler is the primary reason the dogs do the work for us."

While these military working dogs may be unable to comprehend their important contribution to the global war on terrorism while playing "the game," their capabilities are vital to the safety of coalition forces both inside and outside the base perimeter.

Air Force dog handlers at Kirkuk are assigned to either 506th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron or 732nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron. Both squadrons have separate kennels and missions.

The 506th ESFS military working dog team conducts missions with the goal of protecting the more than 5,000 coalition forces personnel who reside at the base. While working inside base confines, 506th ESFS military working dogs conduct frequent patrols and assist security forces airmen at entry control points.

"Explosive detection is one of the main things we do with the dogs," said Air Force Staff Sgt. Kevin Nelson, 506th ESFS military working dog trainer. "The dogs are also trained to protect, deter, identify and apprehend any unauthorized personnel or contraband. Basically, the dogs prevent anything from getting on base that isn't supposed to be here."

The 732nd ESFS team typically works with the U.S. Army's 1st Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, during the brigade's missions outside the wire in the city of Kirkuk and surrounding areas.

Similar to the 506th ESFS, the 732nd ESFS military working dog team frequently is on the lookout for explosives during its missions. The team is composed of airmen filling "in-lieu of" taskings -- U.S. Army positions augmented by the Air Force.

"Everything we do in this capacity is outside the wire," said Carroll, who is deployed from Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii.

The 732nd ESFS team conducts a wide range of missions that include raids, cache searches and vehicle searches. The team's missions can last for more than 10 days outside the wire, Carroll said.

Carroll is not new to the military working dog career field, but he said he feels his current deployment is unlike anything he's ever seen.

"People can tell you what you're getting into, but after leaving that gate you realize it's different than anything you've ever seen," he said. "But I build on each and every mission, and it's been satisfying to help assist the Army mission with Air Force canines."

Carroll, who volunteered for the position, said soldiers have helped his transition into the Army's working environment.

"The Army has made me very comfortable incorporating the dogs into their mission," he said. "I've been working with canines for more than 12 years now, but nothing comes close to what I've seen here. Working outside the wire with the Army has been a very rewarding opportunity."

To accomplish such a wide variety of missions both on and off the base, dog handlers rely on the keen senses of their canines, Air Force Tech. Sgt. Andrew Esparza, 506th ESFS kennel master, said.

"A dog's scent is far more advanced than a human's," said Esparza, who is deployed from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz. "In comparison, humans can't distinguish the individual ingredients when we smell a pizza. [Dogs] can smell the cheese, pepperoni, oregano and all of the other ingredients individually."

Each handler typically has his or her own assigned dog during a deployment. These dogs often travel with their handler from the United States, and spend much of their deployment patrolling and sharpening their skills.

Since handlers spend so many of their hours with the dogs, the commonly known bond between "man and his best friend" often forms, said Nelson, who is deployed from Hill Air Force Base, Utah.

"You can't help being attached to the dogs; they depend on you," he said. "You are completely responsible for the dog's health and safety. But you also always have a partner that will lay down their life for you - these dogs aren't scared of guns, knives or anything else. They are extremely loyal.

"For us, a dog is similar to another person on the team," the sergeant added. "The dog is treated the same as if they are an airman, because the dog won't be any good at his job if we don't take great care of him."

Carroll's dog sleeps in his bedroom, thus making their relationship an around-the-clock endeavor, seven days a week.

"There is definitely a bond that forms when you live with a dog every day for six months," Carroll said. "My dog, Jack, makes the time away from my family not as bad."

While military working dogs will never receive retirement checks or re-enlistment bonuses for their abilities to sniff out weapons caches, these canines are a vital and valued capability in the deployed environment.

"These dogs are basically tools that we use to help save lives," Carroll said. "I know for a fact that my dogs have found weapon caches that would've otherwise been used against coalition forces. Whether it's protecting the base from within or going off base, these dogs play a major part in helping to keep us safe."

(Air Force Senior Airman Eric Schloeffel serves with 506th Air Expeditionary Group Public Affairs.)



Airman 1st Class Ryan Wasson, 506th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron military working dog handler, holds his dog Charlie back from Staff Sgt. Kevin Nelson, 506th ESFS military working dog trainer, during a recent training event here. Air Force dog handlers at Kirkuk are assigned to either 506th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron or 732nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron. Both squadrons have separate kennels and missions. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Eric Schloeffel



Related Sites:
Multinational Corps Iraq
Multinational Force Iraq

Labels: 506th ESFS, 732nd ESFS, Iraq, Kirkuk, military working dog, photos, USAF

FATHER'S TOUCH - Steven Mason pins gold bars on his son, U.S. Marine 2nd Lt. Matthew Mason, during the Norwich University graduation ceremony in Northfield, Vt., May 10, 2008. U.S. Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Marine Gen. James Cartwright administered the oath of office to more than 100 newly commissioned officers. Defense Dept. photo by U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Adam M. Stump Story - More Photos

Labels: Norwich University, USMC

News of Note
Operation Iraqi Freedom
Turkish Jets Strike Kurdish Rebels in Northern Iraq
U.S. Military Kills 3 Shiite Fighters in Sadr City Clash
Iraqi Police Take Greater Responsibility
Coalition Forces Provide Laptops, Software to Local Judges
Ceremony Marks Completion of School Construction

Operation Enduring Freedom
Taliban deliver silent death threats after midnight

Homeland Security / War on Terror / Hamas-Hezbollah Happenings
Heavy Fighting Breaks Out in Lebanon - VIDEO (So much for that 'truce' - more proof that giving in to terrorists doesn't work...)
Mountain clashes bring Lebanon death toll to 81
Darfur rebel leader vows more attacks on Khartoum - Video
Gunmen clash in Tripoli, instability grips Lebanon - Video
Egypt optimistic of Israel-Hamas truce
Palestinians lose faith in two-state solution
Rice: Israel, Palestinians need to show progress

Wounded Warriors
AP IMPACT: Number of disabled veterans rising

Other Military News
'Young Forrest Gump' Leaves Army, Returns to Hollywood
France may clear names of executed WWI mutineers
Army Corps says Condition of many levees a mystery

Worldwide Wackos
Documents indicate that Chavez helped Colombia rebels

Politics / Government
Obama Over Hill, Eyes Main Event
As Primary Nears, Clinton Presses On in West Virginia
McCain Faces Challenge of Attracting Young Voters
McCain pledges to combat climate change
Obama campaign chief sees fast win
Obama lightens up after a good week
Blog: Hillary the fighter versus uniter
Israelis don't believe Olmert: poll
Will Saudis sympathize with Bush's oil plea?
Hearings planned on energy market
Obama campaign chief sees his man winning soon Video
McCain pledges to combat climate change
Obama lightens up after a good week
White House leaves door open on housing rescue
McCain pledges to combat climate change
Video: Obama turns focus on McCain
President calls Jenna's wedding 'spectacular'
Serbia's pro-Western president declares victory in elections
Putin in control as Russia names cabinet

Illegal Immigration / Border Control
Arizona Authorities Rescue 53 Illegal Immigrants Held Hostage for Money

In the Courts / Crime and Punishment / Law and Order
Families of Autistic Children to Sue U.S. Over Vaccine Link
Report: Ohio Man Serves Jail Time for Daughter's Failure to Get GED
Abducted Woman Uses Cell Phone To Call for Help
Report: Girls Gang Blows Up Houses With Homemade Bomb Over Boy
U.S. court allows apartheid claims to proceed
Actor Farina arrested after gun found in luggage at LAX
Potential jurors are questioned in R. Kelly trial

Media in the Media / Bloggers in the News / Watching the Web
New magazine prefers print over Net
Cablevision and Tribune seal Newsday deal
Semantic Wikipedia search tool unveiled
Wrinkles key to buying cigarettes?
Global bloggers on China quake
XM Satellite loss widens
Clear Channel trial delayed till Tuesday
Microsoft launches Messenger video

Science / Medicine and Health / Technology
Medical Helicopter Crashes in Wisconsin, Killing 3
Families of Autistic Children to Sue U.S. Over Vaccine
FOXBusiness: RIM Unveils 3G BlackBerry Smartphone
Challenging search
Cisco expands TelePresence offering

Mother Nature
'I Could See Cars Floating' - Twister havoc leaves trail of death, destruction
PHOTOS - VIDEO
STORMTRACKER: Interactive Tornado Report Map
EPA testing air after twister in toxic Okla. town
Mid-Atlantic rain prompts evacuations, outages
Thousands Dead After Magnitude 7.8 Earthquake Rocks Central China
China Quake Topples 80 Percent of Buildings in One Hard-Hit County: Watch Live
China quake kills nearly 9,000, toll likely to soar - Video
Slideshow: Search for survivors
Timeline: China's major earthquakes
Video: Quake felt as far as Thailand
Neil Young gets new honor -- his own spider
U.S. examining satellite images of China quake area
Genetic sleuths unmask secrets of big tomatoes
Australian pokes shark in eye during attack
U.S. Authorities Call Off Search for Missing Calif. Couple
Scientists Probe Rash of Coyote Attacks on Children
Brush Fires Force Hundreds to Flee in Fla., Close I-95
AccuWeather: 12 named storms in '08 hurricane season
Japan scientists warn Arctic ice melting fast
GM crop foes march in Germany as U.N. summit starts
Kashmir census shows decline in rare deer population

Oddities
Georgia Athlete Dies During Florida Triathlon
Nearly Two Thousand Bare It All For Art's Sake In Austrian Soccer Stadium
"Self-important and irritating"
Royal jewels, rare watches to test auction market
Kung Fu finger calls it a day

Other News of Note
Polish Holocaust Hero, Irena Sendler, Dies at 98
China floats inviting Dalai Lama to Olympics: Tibet MP (Would anyone trust them?)

Fox News
Ashlee Simpson Calls Britney Spears 'Trashy'

Reuters
Full Coverage: Oil in the spotlight
Sprint's loss widens on lost subscribers
Developing countries eye nuclear power: report
Stocks point to higher open as oil pulls back
April retail sales barely budged: SpendingPulse
California man losing nine homes in mortgage mess
Pre-packaged bankruptcies
ILFC considering split-up from insurer AIG: report
Morgan Stanley raises billions for infrastructure
CORRECTED: MBIA posts huge loss on credit derivatives
Fed's Evans: current rates accommodative
Finmeccanica awaiting DRS bid reply: sources
Australia's Westpac Bank eyes St George takeover - Video
Sex and The City quartet back -- in the movie
"Iron Man" pounds rivals at box offices - Video
McCartney and Mills divorce official
Father of Malawian boy backs Madonna adoption bid
"90210" officially on the CW map
Nepal king makes animal sacrifices to power goddess
Gay rodeo undermines sexual stereotypes
Jazz hold off Lakers to tie series
Sergio Garcia sees off Paul Goydos in Sawgrass playoff
Venus to face Stosur in Rome return
Penguins top Flyers, take 2-0 series lead
Playing Americans in Madrid could backfire, Nadal warns

AP World News
Production of ABC's `Ugly Betty' moving to NYC
Tim Duncan scores 22 as Spurs beat Hornets 100-80
'Survivor: Fans vs. Favorites' winner crowned
Study: Retirement savers make costly 401(k) mistakes
Person close to talks: NBC installing Fallon on 'Late Night'
Crawford helps prevent Santana's 7th win as Rays beat Angels

News Blaze
Rice Production to Reach Record High in 2008, But Prices to Continue Climbing
Ironhorse Tracker radio newscast available
MND-B Soldiers Detain 15 Suspects, Seize Bomb-Making Materials
Soldiers' Angels and Patriot Guard
Iraq News
Read about Operations in Iraq
FOB Warhorse Memorial Photos
Videos

CENTCOM
Iraqi troops seize IEDs in east Mansour
200 graduate from Iskandariyah tech school
Transition team teaches Iraqi Army soldier skills

USJFCOM
SOCJFCOM completes in-residence JSOTF training course - podcast
USJFCOM helps define new conditions for individual augmentee training
Newsmaker Profile: Director of Joint Concept Development and Experimentation Rear Adm. Dan Davenport - podcast
Druid's Dance exercise yields major training milestone - podcast
USJFCOM signs agreement with Old Dominion University Research Foundation
Learn more about CRADAs - podcast
Navy flag officer nominated for deputy commander slot
USJFCOM names its joint junior officer for fourth quarter 2007 - podcast

Multi-National Force - Iraq
Salvadoran Forces Celebrate 184th Birthday
200 students graduate from Iskandariyah vo-tech (FOB Kalsu)
Basra comes back to life (Baghdad)
Coalition Soldiers find weapons cache (Maderiyah)
IP, CF detain 2 in Mussayib area off local tips
Iraqi Special Operations Forces detain terrorist in Mosul
MND-B Soldier attacked by IED (Baghdad)

DefenseLink
TOP NEWS
Process for Handling Remains Reviewed
Gates Sees Combat Systems Progress

MILITARY NEWS
Center Achieves ‘Little Miracles’ in Treating Soldiers With Combat Stress
Navy Commander Stresses Partnerships

IRAQ NEWS
Officials Work to Reduce Sadr City Violence
Forces Capture 20 Terrorism Suspects

AFGHANISTAN NEWS
Afghan Army, Police Make Progress, Gain Recruits

AMERICA SUPPORTS YOU
Vets Arrange Vacations for Purple Heart Recipients
Patriotic Quilts Get TV Cameo

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
1604 - The Spanish garrison of Aardenburg surrenders to Mauritius.
1780 - Charleston, SC falls to the British
1789 - The Society of St. Tammany is formed by Revolutionary War soldiers, later becoming an in famous NYC political group.
1792 - A toilet that flushes itself at regular intervals is patented.
1862 - Federal troops occupies Baton Rouge, LA.
1864 - Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse, Virginia.
1870 - Manitoba becomes a province of Canada.
1881 - Tunisia becomes a French protectorate.
1898 - Louisiana adopts a new constitution with a clause designed to eliminate black voters.
1915 - Croatians plunder Armenia; 250 are killed.
1925 - Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan become autonomous Soviet republics.
1928 - Mussolini ends woman's rights in Italy.
1933 - The Federal Emergency Relief Administration and Agricultural Adjustment Administration are formed.
1940 - Nazi conquest of France begins when the Germans cross the Meuse River.
1942 - 1,500 Jews are gassed in Auschwitz; A German U-boat sinks an American cargo ship at mouth of Mississippi River.
1943 - German troops in Tunisia surrender.
1944 - More than 900 8th Air Force bombers attack Zwikau, Bohlen, and Brüx.
1949 - The Berlin Airlift begins.
1951 - On Enewetak Atoll, the first H-Bomb test occurs.
1963 - A race riot erupts in Birmingham, AL.
1964 - Manlio Brosio is named secretary-general of NATO.
1965 - Israel and West Germany begin diplomatic relations.
1970 - Harry A. Blackmun is confirmed as a Supreme Court Justice; 6 blacks are killed (5 of them by police) during race riots in Augusta, GA.
1975 - The U.S. merchant vessel Mayaguez is seized by Cambodian forces.
1980 - Maxie Anderson and his son, Chris, complete the first non-stop crossing of the U.S. via hot-air balloon.
1982 - In Portugal, a Spanish priest with a bayonet is stopped before he can attack Pope John Paul II.
1986 - President Reagan appoints Dr. James C. Fletcher Administrator of NASA
1989 - Retired British pilot Jack Mann is kidnapped by Islamic extremists
1997 - 14 North Koreans defect to South Korea

Birthdays
1670 - August II ("The Strong One"), King of Poland - had over 350 children.
1806 - Amos Beebe Eaton, Union Brevet Major General
1812 - Louis Ludwig Blenker, Union Brigadier General
1889 - Otto Frank, father of Anne Frank
1910 - Dorothy Crowfoot-Hodgkin, British chemist / Nobel prize winner
1914 - Dan Daniel (Representative-VA); Howard K Smith, TV newsman
1922 - Barend Busnac, resistance fighter
1926 - Earl Hutto (Representative-FL); Mervyn M. Dymally (Representative-CA)
1928 - Manuel Lujan, Jr. (Representative-NM)
1936 - Tom Snyder, newscaster
1937 - Gerry E. Studds (Representative-MA)
1938 - Andrei Amalrik Russian dissident
1939 - Ronald Ziegler press secretary to Richard Nixon.
1942 - Dumitru Dediu Romania, cosmonaut (Soyuz 40 backup)

Passings
0912 - Leo VI Sophos, Byzantine Emperor (886-912), dies at 45
1003 - Sylvester II [Gerbert van Aurillac], 1st French Pope (999-1003)
1012 - Sergius IV [Pietro Crescentii], Italian Pope (1009-12)
1382 - Johanna I, Queen of Naples/Provence
1641 - Thomas Wentworth, English viceroy of Ireland, beheaded at 48
1649 - Isaac Doreslaer, English lawyer/diplomat, murdered
1788 - Louis E. van Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, Austrian duke, dies at 69
1814 - Robert Treat Paine, US judge (signed Declaration of Independence), dies at 83
1864 - Abner Monroe Perrin, Confederate Brigadier-General, dies in battle at 37; J. E. B. Stuart, Confederate General, dies at 31
1871 - John F. W. Herschel, British astronomer (Catalogue of Nebulae)
1925 - Alfred Milner, British Governor (Cape Colony)/minister, dies at 71
1932 - Lindbergh baby found dead
1935 - Josef Pilsudski, Polish dictator (1926-35)
1951 - Oscar DePriest (Representative-IL), dies at 80
1956 - Hendrik P. Marchant, Dutch minister of Education, dies at 87
1970 - Leonie "Nelly" Sachs, German/Swedish poet (Nobel 1966), dies at 78; Wladyslaw Anders, Polish general (WWI, WWII), dies at 78
1981 - Benjamin H. Sheares, President of Singapore
1989 - Joe Valdez Caballero, creator of hard taco shell, dies at 81
1994 - John Smith, British Labour Party chairman (1992-94), dies at 55
1996 - Hubert William Dean, air armaments specialist, dies at 84

Reported Missing in Action
1967
Ashlock, Carlos, USMC (PA); KIA in ground attack (w/Agosto-Santos)

Agosto-Santos, Jose, USMC (PR); wounded and captured after ground attack (w/Ashlock) - released (POW exchange) January, 1968

Grenzebach, Earl Wilfre, Jr., USAF (NY); F105D shot down, presumed KIA

Gaddis, Norman C., USAF (TN); F4C shot down (w/Jefferson), released by DRV March, 1973 - retired as a Brigadier General - alive and well as of 1998
** also F-84G Fighter Pilot in the Korean War, TDY 31st TFW **

Jefferson, James M., USAF (CA); F4C shot down (w/Gaddis) - remains ID'd June, 2000

Pitman, Peter P., USAF (GA); F105F disappeard on mission (w/Stewart)

Stewart, Robert A., USAF (DC); F105F disappeared on mission (w/Pitman)

1968
The following USAF personnel lost in the shootdown of a C130B at Ngok Tavak:
Bucher, Bernard L. (IL); pilot

Hepler, Frank M. (PA); flight engineer - released by PRG March, 1973

Long, George W. (KS); loadmaster

McElroy, John L. (NY); navigator

Moreland, Stephen C. (CA); co-pilot

Also lost on the C130B:
Orr,Warren R., Jr., US Army SF (IL); passenger

The following US Army personnel also lost at Ngok Tavak, and believed KIA:
Coen, Harry B. (WY)

Craven, Andrew J.(NC)

Long, Julius W., Jr., (WA)

Moore, Maurice H. (MD)

Ransbottom, Frederick J. (OK);

Simpson, Joseph L. (CO);

Skivington, William E., Jr. (NV)

Sands, Richard E. (IL)

Stuller, John C. (VA)

Widner, Danny L. (TX)

Williams, Roy C. (TX)

Widdison, Imlay S. (VT)

1970
Preiss, Robert F., Jr., US Army SF (NY); remains ID'd June, 1998

1972
Adair, Samuel Y., Jr., USAF (GA); F4E shot down (w/Cressey) - remains recovered November, 1974

Bogard, Lonnie P., USAF (LA); F4D shot down (w/Ostermeyer)

Cressey, Dennis C., USAF (WY); F4E shot down (w/Adair) - remains recovered November, 1974

Ostermeyer, William H., USAF (FL); F4D shot down (w/Bogard)

Labels: Headlines, History