Iraq: 101st Airborne At Work
December 31, 2007
U.S. Army Sgt. Robert Anderson (left) digs as Sgt. Justin Bohannon waits his turn as they search the home of a suspected insurgent in Owesat, Iraq, on Dec. 18, 2007. Soldiers of the 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, searched the home after a Concerned Local Citizen checkpoint was attacked by a suicide bomber and small arms fire. DoD photo by Tech. Sgt. Adrian Cadiz, U.S. Air Force. (Released)
Popularity: 21% [?]
IRAQ SURGE: More Progress In Various Areas Throughout Iraq
December 31, 2007
Coalition Troops in Iraq Capture Insurgent Leader
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Dec. 31, 2007 – Coalition forces in Iraq today captured a suspected insurgent leader during operations to disrupt criminal networks in the Husseiniyah area, military officials reported.
The detainee reportedly is a terrorist recruiter for Karbala province. He also allegedly facilitated terrorists’ training in constructing roadside bombs, as well as operational and computer security.
A large amount of U.S. currency was seized during the operation.
“Coalition and Iraqi security forces are disrupting and dismantling the networks that threaten the ability to provide safety and security for the Iraqi people,” said Navy Capt. Vic Beck, a Multinational Force Iraq spokesman.
Earlier, coalition forces killed six terrorists and detained 14 suspects during anti-al Qaeda operations in central and northern Iraq that began Dec. 29 and ended yesterday.
Coalition forces swept the Muqdadiyah area yesterday and targeted alleged associates of insurgents killed during Dec. 29 operations. Coalition forces killed two armed suspects who fired on them.
Coalition forces found two weapons caches, including 10 rifles, eight grenades, four military-style assault vests with 20 loaded magazines, 1,000 rounds of ammunition, and rocket propellant. One of the armed men was wearing a suicide vest. Seven suspected terrorists also were detained during the operation.
Farther north in Mosul yesterday, coalition forces detained six suspected al Qaeda terrorists.
North of Muqdadiyah on Dec. 29, coalition forces targeted associates of the al Qaeda network operating in the northeast Diyala River Valley. One armed terrorists was killed early during the operation.
Coalition forces then continued on and were engaged by enemy fire. The ground force returned fire, killing three more terrorists. While clearing the area, the ground force discovered numerous weapons, including several machine guns, military-style assault vests and magazines, improvised explosive devices, and a rocket-propelled-grenade launcher and rounds. In addition to the weapons, coalition forces safely destroyed a vehicle used for terrorist activity.
Also, coalition forces captured a wanted individual during a Dec. 29 raid west of Mahmudiyah. The detainee reportedly is a leader in the city’s al Qaeda cell who also established a training center for female suicide bombers in Yusufiyah.
“Iraqi and coalition forces are focused on clearing and holding areas where terrorists think they can hide,” said Army Maj. Winfield Danielson, a Multinational Force Iraq spokesman. “Together, we are disrupting terrorist operations and working to improve safety and security for Iraqi citizens.”
In other Dec. 29 Iraq operations, coalition forces killed three terrorists and detained 34 suspects during operations targeting al Qaeda in central and northern Iraq.
– North of Tikrit, coalition forces targeted an associate of the al Qaeda network in Kirkuk province. The targeted individual was reported to be a terrorist financial and supply specialist. When coalition forces arrived in the operations area they called for the suspects to come out of a building. The coalition force was then fired upon, and air support was called in. Three terrorists were killed during the engagement. As the ground force cleared the area, they found a suicide belt and vest and numerous weapons.
– In another operation north of Tikrit, coalition forces captured an individual believed to be a member of the al Qaeda network. The detainee also is allegedly associated with the al Qaeda cell in Samarra. Six other suspects also were detained during the operation.
– West of Tarmiyah, coalition forces captured a wanted individual believed to be a close associate of the al Qaeda in Iraq senior leader north of Baghdad. The network is responsible for the majority of car-bombing and improvised-explosive-device attacks in the area, as well as being involved in extortion, intimidation, weapons trafficking and facilitating foreign terrorists. The ground force detained 21 other suspected terrorists during the series of operations. Coalition forces also destroyed one building believed to be used as a safe house for terrorist operations.
– In Mosul, coalition forces detained five suspected terrorists during an operation targeting al Qaeda in Iraq. In the past few weeks, coalition forces have detained three wanted individuals and more than 26 suspected terrorists associated with the al Qaeda network in Mosul. “Terrorists have no safe haven in Iraq,” said Navy Cmdr. Ed Buclatin, a Multinational Force Iraq spokesman. “We will continue our operations to hunt down al Qaeda in Iraq’s leaders and operatives and to foil their attempts to destabilize the country.”
– In southern Iraq, coalition forces detained six suspected terrorists. In the Daghgharah area, coalition forces targeted a suspected terrorist leader and weapons trainer who allegedly specialized in rocket-propelled-grenade and mortar attacks against coalition forces. “Much progress has been made in the pursuit of criminal elements,” said Navy Cmdr. Scott Rye, a Multinational Force Iraq spokesman. “Yet, dangerous elements still exist. Iraqi and coalition forces remain committed to protecting the Iraqi people from these vicious criminals.”
In earlier operations:
– Iraqi soldiers discovered a large weapons cache in Mansour, a district in western Baghdad, Dec. 28. The Iraqi soldiers found two mortar tubes, 86 mortar rounds, five improvised rocket launchers, 10 rockets, two rocket-propelled-grenade launchers, seven RPG rounds, six hand grenades, and various bomb-making materials. “This was an independent operation by the Iraqi army soldiers from the 6th Iraqi Army Division,” said Army Lt. Col. Steve Stover, a Multinational Division Baghdad spokesman. “The recovery of these items is another indication the Iraqi security forces are increasing in capability. Taking these items away from the extremists is a good thing for the Iraqi people.”
– U.S. and Iraqi soldiers found three improvised explosive devices and a weapons cache during joint operations in Saydiyah on Dec. 27. During a house-to-house search, U.S. and Iraqi soldiers found an IED hidden behind a door, another IED between two houses, and a buried IED. Ten 120 mm mortars also were found in a courtyard. The captured munitions were safely detonated.
– Members of a concerned local citizen group seized a cache of munitions east of the city of Nijidat on Dec. 26. The cache contained: 23 rocket motors, two 82 mm mortars, four 81 mm illumination shells, a rocket-propelled grenade, a 115 mm high-explosive tank round, a 106 mm high-explosive anti-tank round and several other explosive items, including an artillery fuse. The local citizens group delivered the cache to Forward Operating Base Hammer, where Army Capt. Chas Cannon, commander of Battery A, 1st Battalion, 10th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, met with the group. “The (concerned local citizens) allow us to focus more on governance and economics,” Cannon said. “The fact we have help out there with security allows us to maintain our focus on essential services and the local Iraqi government.”
(Compiled from Multinational Force Iraq and Multinational Corps Iraq news releases.)
Popularity: 19% [?]
Independent Michael Bloomberg For President? How Does He Differ From Hillary, Barak or The Breck Boy?
December 31, 2007
The title speaks for itself.
The rumor in NY is that Mayor of NYC, Michael Bloomberg is seriously considering a run for the Presidency with the support of the Independence Party and a personal infusion of cash of up to $1 Billion! Bloomberg spent over $130 million of his own money in his last two successful mayoral elections.
Residents of NY know (the few that care) that when Bloomberg was elected mayor as a Republican after Rudy departed the post due to term limits, he was a true RINO, a democrat liberal. Some months ago (June 2007) the Mayor announced that he was leaving the Republican Party to become an independent. A local radio station here in NY today was espousing the merits of a Bloomberg candidacy with the support of the controversial Independence Party….members include; Dr. Lenora Fulani and Fred Newman (reportedly an avowed Marxist).
The next few days should be interesting. Standby folks.
Popularity: 21% [?]
War Remembrances: “What the hell was on 572’s right wing?”
December 30, 2007
Subject: What Was on 572’s Right Wing
What was on 572’s right wing?” The result of MacNamara’s ordnance shortage in ‘ Nam ……we “gave them everything we had….. EVERYTHING!” A true story from VA-25. Just as this AD was being shot off, we got a 1MC message from the bridge, “What the hell was on 572’s right wing?” For those too young to remember, during the Vietnam conflict, carriers were so woefully short of ordinance that missions were often launched with only a half load just to keep the sortie rate up so that the REMF’s in DC would not send out blistering messages about failure to support the war effort, etc.
Given that the loss rate approached, and sometime exceeded, one aircraft a day, all will understand that there was a degree of reticence to launch with less than a full load — if I must dance with the elephant at least let’s make it worth while. Nevertheless, the indomitable spirit of the carrier aviators, and their squadron-mates, prevailed in some rather perverse way.
I have every hope that today’s successors to the mantel left at the Cubi “O” Club bar persevere as well. Kick the tires, light the fires, bolt for the blue and brief on guard — last one up is lead. Back in ‘ Nam ‘, if you weren’t on USS MIDWAY in Oct 1965, I thought you’d get a kick out of one squadron’s ingenuity. Yes, this really happened. Once again history is stranger then fiction, and a lot funnier:
The USS Midway VA-25’s Toilet Bomb.
In October 1965, CDR Clarence J. Stoddard, Executive Officer of VA-25 “Fist of the Fleet”, flying an A-1H Skyraider, NE/572 “Paper Tiger II” from Carrier Air Wing Two aboard USS Midway carried a special bomb to the North Vietnamese in commemoration of the 6- millionth pound of ordnance dropped. This bomb was unique because of the type… it was a toilet!
The following is an account of this event, courtesy of Clint Johnson, Captain, USNR Ret. Captain Johnson was one of the two VA-25 A-1 Skyraider pilots credited with shooting down a MiG-17 on June 20, 1965. Clint Johnson was also a classmate and Company- mate of mine at the Naval Academy .
572 was flown by CDR C. W. “Bill” Stoddard. His wingman in 577 was LCDR Robin Bacon, who had a wing station mounted movie camera (the only one remaining in the fleet from WWII).
The flight was a Dixie Station strike (off South Vietnam ) going to the Delta. When they arrived in the target area and CDR Stoddard was reading the ordnance list to the FAC, he ended with “and one code name Sani-flush”.
The FAC couldn’t believe it and joined up to see it. It was dropped in a dive with LCDR Bacon flying tight wing position to film the drop. When it came off, it turned hole to the wind and almost struck his airplane.
It made a great ready room movie. The FAC said that it whistled all the way down. The toilet was a damaged toilet, which was going to be thrown overboard.
One of our plane captains rescued it and the ordnance crew made a rack, tailfins and nose fuse for it. The squadron flight deck checkers maintained a position to block the view of the Captain and Air Boss while the aircraft was taxiing onto the catapult. Just as it was being shot off we got a 1MC message from the bridge, “What the hell was on 572’s right wing?”
Thanks to RonD for sending this great story in!
Popularity: 27% [?]
Yarmuk, Iraq: Soldiers Celebrate Christmas
December 29, 2007
Dec. 25, 2007 - U.S. Army soldiers from Bravo Battery, 2nd Battalion, 32nd Field Artillery Regiment, attached to 2nd Brigade Combat Team, take part in a candlelight ceremony during a Christmas party at Joint Security Station Torch in Yarmuk, Iraq, on Dec. 25, 2007. DoD photo by Spc. Charles W. Gill, U.S. Army. (Released)
Popularity: 20% [?]
Iraq: Thumb Wrestling At It’s Best!
December 29, 2007
Dec. 22, 2007 - A U.S. Army Soldier thumb-wrestles with an Iraqi child in Sab al Bor, Iraq, Dec. 22, 2007. DoD photo by Tech. Sgt. William Greer, U.S. Air Force. (Released)
Popularity: 22% [?]
Afghanistan: US Army Assists Opening Girls School
December 29, 2007
Dec. 26, 2007 - U.S. Army Capt. Jordan J. Berry, the Kapisa province civil affairs team leader for the Bagram Provincial Reconstruction Team, and Koeja Ablebacker, governor of Kapisa province, cut a ceremonial ribbon during the opening ceremony of the Aftabachi Girl’s School in the Kapisa province of Afghanistan Dec. 26, 2007. DoD photo by Pfc. Daniel M. Rangel, U.S. Army. (Released)
Popularity: 20% [?]
Troops Kill 11 Insurgents, Detain 19 in Iraq Operations
December 28, 2007
WASHINGTON, Dec. 27, 2007 – Coalition troops killed 11 insurgents and captured 19 others during separate operations in Iraq today, military officials reported.
In Mosul, coalition troops captured a wanted individual believed to be responsible for a group of terrorists who conduct assassinations in the city, including attacks against Iraqi security forces. Intelligence indicates the wanted individual is responsible for reporting on the locations of coalition and Iraqi forces for use in planning attacks. He also allegedly is involved in extortion, execution and counterintelligence operations. Six other suspected terrorists also were detained.
Northeast of Samarra, coalition forces targeted an associate of an al Qaeda in Iraq leader involved in terrorist media and propaganda operations. The targeted individual also is believed to be tied to foreign terrorist and weapons facilitation networks operating in and outside of Iraq. Seven suspected terrorists were detained and a vehicle that was being used for terrorist activity was destroyed.
During other operations in Samarra and Baghdad, coalition forces detained five suspected terrorists while targeting associates involved in the facilitation of weapons, finances and foreign terrorists.
“We remain steadfast in our effort to dismantle al Qaeda’s terrorist networks,” said Navy Capt. Vic Beck, Multinational Force Iraq spokesman. “We will continue to hunt down al Qaeda. They will find no safe haven in Iraq.”
Meanwhile, coalition forces in Iraq today killed an estimated 11 terrorists during operations targeting “special groups” criminal networks in Kut. Coalition troops were targeting a special groups member reportedly responsible for attacks against coalition forces and supporters of coalition forces. The individual reportedly also was an associate of criminal element leaders involved in attacks on coalition forces.
When coalition forces approached the target area, they were engaged by terrorists with assault rifles and rocket-propelled grenades. Coalition forces returned fire and called for air support. The ground force assessed that about 11 terrorists were killed during the engagement.
Iraqi commandos, advised by U.S. Special Forces, detained a suspected terrorist weapons dealer during a Dec. 25 raid in Baghdad. The suspect is believed to deal in a variety of weapons systems, including mortars, rockets and medium and small arms. He also is thought to be a possible improvised explosive device cell leader. During the raid, the assault force recovered several weapons, including two assault rifles, four grenades, three combat knives, 11 AK-47 magazines, an RPG launcher sight and an IED initiation system.
Also on Dec. 25, U.S. soldiers in Baqouba shot and killed a person who later was identified as a concerned local citizen who wasn’t wearing the appropriate identifying clothing at the time.
The U.S. troops spotted a suspicious-looking individual wearing civilian clothes and carrying an AK-47. The individual was not wearing a reflective belt or reflective vest, which would have identified him as a concerned local citizen. The U.S. soldiers yelled at the individual to drop his weapon, but the individual responded by firing several shots at the soldiers, who then returned fire.
Immediately thereafter, a second individual arrived and attempted to pick up the fallen person’s weapon. In response to the perceived hostile act, the soldiers fired on him, as well. Both men died from gunshot wounds.
An immediate investigation conducted by Iraqi police and coalition forces found that one of the deceased was identified as a CLC member and was carrying a reflective vest and reflective belt in a small pouch. Neither individual was wearing a reflective device when coalition forces fired upon them.
“It has been made very clear to all of our CLCs that they must wear their reflective items at all times,” said Army Maj. Mike Garcia, a U.S. military spokesman. “Additionally, CLCs, by definition, are a stationary, defensive force. When they are encountered moving offensively without the proper reflective equipment on, that makes them a hostile threat to coalition and Iraqi security forces.”
Coalition forces immediately contacted Iraqi police and brought them to the scene. “I have had four suicide attacks in my (area of operations) in the last few weeks,” said U.S. Army spokesman Lt. Col. Ricardo Love. “One of my squad leaders made a decision based on the credible threat that one of these guys could be wearing a suicide device, and I support that.”
Later that day, the funeral procession for the two deceased individuals was attacked by a suicide-vest bomber. The attack killed four Iraqis and wounded 20 other people.
In other recent Iraq operations:
– Coalition forces killed 12 terrorists, detained 37 suspects and freed one hostage during Dec. 22-25 anti-al Qaeda operations conducted near Muqdadiyah. Coalition forces also discovered several sites where terrorists allegedly conducted attacks. One of the sites was assessed to be a firing point for improvised explosive device attacks. At that location, the ground force discovered a structure with various wires leading from a vantage point to a nearby road intersection. Coalition forces also located and destroyed eight weapons caches, which included machines guns, a sniper rifle, pistols, RPG rounds and propellant, ammunition, grenades, detonation cord and several bags of homemade explosives.
– Iraqi national police found two weapons caches Dec. 24, after receiving a tip on terrorist activity near the Al-Kartheemain Mosque in Baghdad’s east Rashid section. When the police and U.S. soldiers arrived, the suspected terrorists had fled into the mosque. The police searched the mosque and found two caches. The first cache included 107 mm rockets. The second cache consisted of mortar rounds, plastic explosives, TNT, grenades and other components needed to make IEDs.
– U.S. soldiers arrested two men and Iraqi police and security volunteers found an IED in a home during operations in Baghdad’s Rashid district Dec. 23. “Black Lions” of Company D, 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, while on a joint patrol with 2nd Battalion, 5th Brigade, 2nd Iraqi National Police Division, found a weapons cache inside a medical administration office in Bayaa. Two men in the building were arrested for being upon the cache of 57 AK-47 assault rifles, three machine guns and an RPG. The suspects were handed over to Iraqi security forces for further questioning. Earlier that day in Baghdad’s Doura neighborhood, a group of Iraqi security volunteers were moving a family into a home, when they found two mortar rounds taped together and wired for detonation. The volunteers turned over the bomb and an anti-tank weapon to U.S. soldiers for disposal.
(From Multinational Force Iraq and Multinational Corps Iraq news releases.)
Popularity: 19% [?]
UPDATE: Military Order Of The Purple Heart, “The media has stolen our valor…”
December 27, 2007
Sent to the following members of MOPH on behalf of the National Commander and the National Adjutant.
All Members with email addresses on file.
MILITARY ORDER OF THE PURPLE HEART
National Headquarters
5413-B Backlick Road, Springfield , VA 22151
703-642-5360 Fax: 703-642-1841
Springfield, VA.–”ABC unfairly branded the Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH) with an ‘F’ stamped across my photo on national television,” said Henry Cook, National Commander of the Military Order of the Purple Heart. “The American public was shocked that a non-profit veteran’s service organization would spend money on itself rather than wounded troops.”
“It was all a huge error!” Cook said. “The Military Order of the Purple Heart Service Foundation, not the veteran’s service organization known as the Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH), is the organization spending funds on things other than providing services to veterans. Things like a half million dollars to a museum that later employed the daughter of a Service Foundation board member, excessive executive salaries; a high priced, black tie retirement party for an executive that was re-hired at the same salary, a super bowl-type retirement ring costing thousands of dollars. All of this paid for with dollars donated for the combat wounded warrior, their widows and orphans.”
Cook related how the Foundation is responsible for raising funds through donations and gives MOPH an annual grant to use for operations and payroll. “But this year the amount of money needed to accomplish all our programs and projects has been drastically cut.”
Cook continued to outline some of the gross expenditures made by the Foundation on items he considered outlandish. “ABC’s Brian Ross is going to air the real story. Both myself and the National Adjutant, Joe Palagyi, were interviewed by ABC and asked to verify some of the questionable expenditures. We set the record straight!”
“The media has stolen our valor,” Joe Palagyi told ABC. Palagyi is responsible for managing the day to day operations and the annual budget for the MOPH. “They took away our honor and the pride that our 40,000 members hold so dear. They tarnished the Purple Heart. We couldn’t let that happen without responding.”
ABCs Brian Ross asked if the Service Foundation’s Executive Director Dick Esau would appear on camera to relate his side of the story. “I asked him, but he declined. In fact, he warned me not to talk to the media,” Cook stated.
“I want America to watch the ABC News story to be aired soon. Only then will the American public understand how MOPH strives to help the combat wounded and their families. We work hard to make life a little better for those who have shed their blood on the world’s battlefields.”
The MOPH consists of about 40,000 combat wounded veterans from all wars. As a service organization, they provide comfort and support and fill the void that is created when the VA or military help is stretched thin. Their members serve as volunteers, without pay in providing assistance to veterans and their families. Families are given travel expenses to visit loved ones in military hospitals. Backpacks filled with comfort items are given to wounded as they leave Iraq or Afghanistan military medical facilities. Weekly visits are made to patients in Walter Reed Army Hospital , Bethesda Naval Hospital and Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio . In each case, patients are asked to tell MOPH members what they need to make life a little better and MOPH members work hard around the nation to do just that.
Popularity: 22% [?]
War Remembrances: A B-17 War Story
December 27, 2007
A demonstration of humanity during the most terrible times.
There are a number of references to this tale on Google.
Charlie Brown was a B-17 Flying Fortress pilot with the 379th Bomber Group at Kimbolton , England His B-17 was called ‘Ye Old Pub’ and was in a terrible state, having been hit by flak and fighters. The compass was damaged and they were flying deeper over enemy territory instead of heading home to Kimbolton.
After flying over an enemy airfield, a German pilot named Franz Steigler was ordered to take off and shoot down the B-17. When he got near the B-17, he could not believe his eyes. In his words, he ‘had never seen a plane in such a bad state’. The tail and rear section was severely damaged, and the tail gunner wounded. The top gunner was all over the top of the fuselage. The nose was smashed and there were holes everywhere.
Despite having ammunition, Franz flew to the side of the B-17 and looked at Charlie Brown, the pilot. Brown was scared and struggling to control his damaged and blood-stained plane.
Aware that they had no idea where they were going, Franz waved at Charlie to turn 180 degrees. Franz escorted and guided the stricken plane to and slightly over the North Sea towards England He then saluted Charlie Brown and turned away, back to Europe.
When Franz landed he told the C/O that the plane had been shot down over the sea, and never told the truth to anybody. Charlie Brown and the remains of his crew told all at their briefing, but were ordered never to talk about it.
More than 40 years later, Charlie Brown wanted to find the Luftwaffe pilot who saved the crew. After years of research, Franz was found. He had never talked about the incident, not even at post-war reunions.
They met in the USA at a 379th Bomber Group reunion, together with 25 people who are alive now - all because Franz never fired his guns that day.
Research shows that Charlie Brown lived in Seattle and Franz Steigler had moved to Vancouver, BC after the war. When they finally met, they discovered they had lived less than 200 miles apart for the past 50 years.
Thank you KJM - great story!
Popularity: 27% [?]
