Military

May 08, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of four Marines who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Lance Cpl. Casey L. Casanova, 22, of McComb, Mississippi.

Cpl. Miguel A. Guzman, 21, of Norwalk, California.

Lance Cpl. James F. Kimple, 21, of Carroll, Ohio

Sgt. Glen E. Martinez, 31, of Boulder, Colorado.

All four Marines died May 2 in Al Anbar province, Iraq, supporting combat operations.

They were assigned to the Combat Logistics Battalion 1, Combat Logistics Regiment 1, 1st Marine Logistics Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.

Source: DOD

May 08, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

They died May 7 in the Sabari District, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when their vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device.

Killed were:

Spc. Jeremy R. Gullett, 22, of Greenup, Kentucky, who was assigned to the 4th Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.

Staff Sgt. Kevin C. Roberts, 25, of Farmington, New Mexico, who was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.    » read more »

5/8/2008 -- Recently released Pentagon records show that more than 43,000 U.S. troops who are medically unfit for combat have been sent to Iraq or Afghanistan since 2003. Sending soldiers into combat when they are medically unfit is more than a sign of strain on our armed forces – it is a sign of genuine disrespect to our soldiers who risk their lives to protect us.

Hillary Clinton: Photo by Sara Schloss (CC)    » read more »

05/08/2008 -- California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today released the following statement regarding the deaths of Lance Cpl. Casey L. Casanova of McComb, MS; Cpl. Miguel A. Guzman of Norwalk, CA; Lance Cpl. James F. Kimple of Carroll, OH; and Sgt. Glen E. Martinez of Boulder, CO:

"The sacrifices made by these four extraordinary patriots will be remembered forever by the people of California. They served our country with honor, loyalty and an unwavering commitment to the cause of liberty for all. Maria and I extend our deepest condolences to the families and friends of these brave American heroes during this time of mourning."    » read more »

Iraq Veterans Urge Lawmakers to Vote Yes on GI Bill Funding

NEW YORK -On Thursday, May 8, the House of Representatives will vote on a World War II-style GI Bill for veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan. Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), the nation's first and largest nonpartisan organization for veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, strongly endorses this critical legislation.    » read more »

May 7, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Johnny Isakson (R-GA) today introduced a bipartisan bill to help prevent injured veterans from losing their homes while awaiting adjudication on their disability claims.

The Disabled Veterans Homeownership Preservation Act would help disabled veterans who are caught up in the extensive backlog of claims pending in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Wounded Iraq veterans: Photo by soldiersmediacenter (CC)    » read more »

May 7, 2008 -- PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota Governor Mike Rounds asks that all flags in the state be flown at half staff on Thursday, May 8, 2008, from 8 a.m. until sunset, in honor of Senior Airman Jonathan A.V. Yelner, 24, of Lafayette, California.

Airman Yelner was assigned to the 28th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota. He died April 29 near Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device.

A memorial ceremony will be held at 9 a.m. (MDT) on Thursday, May 8, 2008, at the Black Hills Chapel on Ellsworth Air Force Base. A memorial service was held on May 6 in California.

Source: South Dakota Governor

5/7/2008 -- (HELENA) – Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer has ordered that the National flag and State flag be flown at half-staff beginning on Friday morning, May 9th until sundown Saturday, May 10th to honor the memory of U.S. Army Captain Andrew R. Pearson, killed while serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom on April 30th, 2008.

Source: Montana Governor

5/6/2008 - CREECH AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. (AFPN) -- Lt. Gen. Norman Seip, the 12th Air Force (Air Forces Southern) commander, congratulated Airmen at Creech Air Force Base May 6 as the 432nd Wing marked its first year as the Air Force's only MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicle wing.

MQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicle

"The 432nd Wing has grown exponentially over the last year, in manpower, demand, flying hours, sorties, technology, reach, support for the warfighter and in battlefield capability," said General Seip. "From day one, the 432nd Wing Airmen have been 'all in' in the support of ongoing operations; particularly in operations Iraqi (Freedom) and Enduring Freedom."    » read more »

May 6, 2008 -- THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much, Phil. I appreciate -- appreciate you and your band members being here today. Thanks for entertaining us here on the South Lawn of the White House. We are so glad you have come. We're honoring six recipients of the President's Volunteer Service Awards. And as we do so, we celebrate the contributions and achievements of our military spouses all across the country.

George W. Bush: White House photo    » read more »

May 6, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - As Congress learns more about the mental health challenges facing veterans and the rate of suicides by veterans, U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI), Chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, is working with the Majority Leader and his other colleagues to bring S. 2162, the Veterans' Mental Health and Other Care Improvements Act of 2008, to the Senate floor.

"The sheer magnitude of mental health challenges facing veterans demonstrates the urgent need to improve VA's mental health system," said Akaka. "The Veterans' Mental Health and Other Care Improvements Act treats veterans' mental health care for what it is: a cost of war."    » read more »

May 6, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, DC — Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton issued the following statement on a recent report that substandard maintenance work performed by a government contractor in Iraq may have led to deaths of several of our troops stationed there and the severe injuries of many more:    » read more »

May 2, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Barack Obama today joined Senators Kit Bond and Barbara Boxer, and a bipartisan coalition of senators, to introduce the Honoring Our Nation's Obligations to Returning Warriors Act (HONOR Act). This legislation will improve treatment for our service members and veterans suffering with mental injuries, better prepare service members for the stress associated with combat, and increase care for military families.

Senator Barack Obama: Photo by Barack Obama campaign (CC)

Senators Ted Stevens, Pete Domenici, Lisa Murkowski, and Elizabeth Dole are also cosponsoring this legislation.    » read more »

May 05, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Pvt. Corey L. Hicks, 22, of Glendale, Arizona, died May 2 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device.

He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

   » read more »

May 04, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Spc. Jeffrey F. Nichols, 21, of Granite Shoals, Texas, died May 1 in Baghdad from wounds suffered when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device.

He was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 89th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Polk, La.

   » read more »