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Index of Articles Note: Topics below are now bookmarked! |
Guard
Training Continues in Winter Months
On Capitol Hill, Military Warns of Being Under Strain
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Percent of Targeted Active-Duty Soldiers Transitioned to Guard in FY ’04
Hammond JV Coach Leaves for Guard
Training, Deployment to Iraq
More Arkansans Bound for Iraq
A Soldier Says Goodbye
Guard Unit Called Up for 2nd Time in 2
Years 194th Field Artillery Leaves for Iraq in January
Guard May Not Go Until Next Year; Battery
C May Be Deployed to Iraq After Holidays Instead of Dec. 27
Monument Lit for Guard Deployment
Billings Twins Going to Iraq
Holding Time Precious National Guard
Soldiers Prepare For Deployment In Farewell.
Indiana
National Guard Unit Returns from Bosnia
Local Guard
Unit to be Honored in Christmas Parade
Guard
Security Forces Leave Base
Woman Wants
Town to Get Up to Send Off Soldiers
State To Help Guard Families
Leader
Praises 30th’s Efforts
Soldiers
Outline Hopes for Iraq Tour; 256th Has High Expectations
HOMEFRONT: DEALING WITH DEPLOYMENT
Military Families Gather In Walbridge
HOMEFRONT: DEALING WITH AFTERMATH
No Way to Treat Our
Soldiers
Tributes
for Soldiers Carry on Their Memory
High-Achieving
Engineer Joined Guard After College
Military Personnel Get Day to Fish in Keys
New Safety Steps
Planned for N.J. Range
Air Force Engineers Help Soldiers Build Field Bases
Help Sought To Get Books To
Soldiers
National Guard, Roush Extend Agreement for ’05
Websites:
National Guard Family |
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TRICARE website for information on health |
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Civilian Employment Information (CEI) Program Registration for |
https://www.dmdc.osd.mil/appj/esgr/index.jsp (Note to those viewing this page in |
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Cumulative roster of all |
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Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC) |
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Militarystudent.org is a |
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Disabled Soldiers Initiative (DS3) This website provides information on the new DS3 |
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Have an article, |
READINESS
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Guard Training Continues in Winter Months
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The On Guard National Guard Bureau By Staff Sgt. Cheryl Hackley ARLINGTON, Va. – If there is one war the Guard will continue to “We don’t stop training just because it’s cold,” said Capt. John CSTs are important elements of the National Guard’s preparedness for The 55th CST will be take part in a joint training session with the Extreme temperatures like that can using equipment a challenge, but it “The cold weather really drains our equipment, but it just takes more Training year-round allows Guardsmen to recognize any equipment “The medical team has a new direction when it comes to the cold,” said “A lot of people don’t stop to think about the dangers of working in Illinois’ Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear or High-Yield “January in Illinois is really cold,” said Tate-Nadeau. But again, the Guard is ahead of the game. The Illinois Guard is Other weather barriers the CERFPs face are hoses freezing and ice By continually training, the Guard is prepared to overcome any issues, “Eventually, every Soldier goes through a 2-week Mountain Warfare This preparation can provide Soldiers with the additional knowledge Across the states and territories, the Guard is prepared to train and |
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On Capitol Hill, Military Warns of Being
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Los Angeles Times November 18, 2004 By Esther Schrader, Times Staff Writer WASHINGTON — Continued fighting in Iraq is straining U.S. forces In testimony to the House Armed Services Committee, the service chiefs “Make no mistake, today we are at war,” Gen. Michael W. In the last year, as the insurgency in Iraq has grown, “the For the Army, which has 110,000 soldiers serving in Iraq — five times The Army has sent more than 400,000 sets of body armor to its forces It has equipped soldiers serving in the war with 180,000 sets of top-of-the-line The Army is also rushing to provide its troops with 41,600 more “I’m talking about quite a large-scale deal,” he told the Republicans joined Democrats on the committee in expressing dismay Committee Chairman Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-El Cajon) said the war was He added that the unrelenting pace of military operations was With the Iraq war approaching the two-year mark, Hunter suggested that Though equipment costs have been significant, the service chiefs |
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58 Percent of Targeted Active-Duty
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European Stars and Stripes November 18, 2004 By Lisa Burgess, Stars and Stripes ARLINGTON, Va. — Just more than half of the 7,000 active-duty soldiers The Guard managed to recruit just 3,900, or 58 percent, of those Such soldiers are one of “three funnels that fill up the tub” for the The other two sources of recruits are people with no prior service who Soldiers who make an immediate transition to the Guard, with no break Schultz spoke Friday at the annual Military Reporters and Editors By comparison, “we’ve had years in the past when [as many as] 10,000 Retention, meanwhile, or the number of guardsmen who chose to stay, “We were surprised,” Jones said. “Retention exceeded what we thought.” The higher-than-expected retention helped the Guard finish the year To maintain its authorized end strength of 350,000, the Guard needed “We missed by 8,000” soldiers, Schultz said. And after holding conversations with active-duty soldiers deployed to “I don’t think there’s a thing in the world we can do” to change these “Money won’t drive everything right now,” Schultz said. “It’s not that these soldiers have a bad attitude,” resenting the Army “The deal” is the realization that joining the Army National Guard no The Army National Guard is adding another 1,000 recruiters before the Staying up to strength is vital for the Guard because the pace of the As of mid-November, more than 93,400 National Guardsmen were either And the third rotation of U.S. forces to Iraq, which is slated to “The question is how long can we keep this up?” Schultz said. |
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DEPLOYMENT
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Hammond JV Coach Leaves for Guard
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The Associated Press State & Local Wire November 16, 2004, Tuesday HAMMOND, Ind. – Jesette Perkins will be part of a different team for The junior varsity girl’s basketball coach at Hammond High School, The only thing she regrets is the timing, just at the start of the new “It’s difficult because I got to see them develop at practice, “They were asking me, ‘Why do you have to go?”‘ she said. Perkins, a former player at Hammond and a graduate of Indiana The 45-member unit is expected to leave for Iraq within a few weeks. “We’re going to miss her,” Hammond varsity coach Bob Delano The Wildcats gave Perkins a send-off overtime victory against East |
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More Arkansans Bound for Iraq |
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Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (Little Rock) November 17, 2004 By Andy Davis, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Jeremiah Ingham spent nine months working as a medic for the Arkansas So when a captain asked Ingham a few weeks ago if he wanted to join “I said, ‘Sign me up. Put me on the list,’” Ingham said. “He Ingham was one of about 80 Arkansas National Guardsmen who left More than 2,800 Arkansans are deployed with the brigade, primarily in Soldiers said goodbye to their families and briefly spoke with Many of those being deployed were fresh recruits who recently finished The medic company was deployed with units throughout Iraq from Serving in the military fulfills a lifelong dream for Ingham, a “Whenever I saw them work on him and save his life, I thought, He said he didn’t worry about the deployment or being away from his “I have a good relationship with the Lord, and he’s going to keep Pfc. James Williams, 19, of Stuttgart, fought back tears as he said During his childhood in Altus, Okla., Williams often watched airplanes His career hopes shifted after he learned his vision would prevent him “I’m proud of him,” said Williams’ mother, Keitha Morris. Unlike Williams, 2nd Lt. Joe Foley, 23, of Batesville, never expected Now, Foley, whose brother is serving in Baghdad, is preparing to lead Foley and the others are replacing vacancies within the 39th caused by The 39th includes most of the Arkansas-based units stationed in Iraq. Also, about 55 Arkansans are serving in Baghdad and Balad, Iraq, with About 20 members of Army Reserve’s 392nd Chemical Company in Little About 340 airmen from Little Rock Air Force Base in Jacksonville are Since the beginning of the U.S. invasion in March 2003, 22 Arkansans |
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A Soldier Says Goodbye |
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Times Argus Nov 18, 2004 RANDOLPH – If big girls don’t cry and wars aren’t won by 40-year-old Delia, a Barre schoolteacher who celebrated her 40th birthday this A tall, sturdily built woman with ever-smiling eyes that have been noticeably But Delia isn’t complaining. “It’s bittersweet,” she says, searching for just the right “Being in the military you know there’s always that possibility “I guess it’s bittersweet all the way around,” she says. According to Delia, that fact has been driven home time and again “This is the worst week because of the countdown,” says “Once we’re on that bus and that final goodbye is done it will Over the last few weeks, Delia has been counting down to leaving – Earlier this month she said goodbye to her fifth-grade class at Barre But Delia insists you can’t take the schoolteacher out of the soldier “Geographically, I’m going to see areas of the world that I would Delia, who chuckles at the notion she has redefined the term “That’s going to be the hardest part,” says Delia, who fully “I’ll be over there wondering how everyone’s doing over here and However, Delia insists she isn’t feeling sorry for herself, not after “I feel very lucky,” she says. “To put it into Delia says she feels doubly lucky knowing that her family won’t be “We’re very, very fortunate that our family unit will be Dominic Delia, a burly man with a booming voice, glasses and a goatee, “Maybe I’m the king of denial, but I’m in shock,” he says. “I’m nervous because I’ve never geared myself up to be the one Dominic Delia, 42, served for four years in the regular Army and 16 “I’m the dumb-ass,” he says. “I’m just going to be lost Dominic Delia says he is uneasy about how little information he has “The only thing I know is she’s got to leave on Friday, she’s According to Dominic Delia, recent reports that members of the Vermont “To me, not going to combat is getting stationed in Hawaii,” However, Dominic Delia says he is heartened that his wife is a member “If I had to go I’d go with the Vermont Guard rather than the As it is, Dominic Delia’s duty will be to maintain a functioning Laiho, who “left Vermont and never looked back” after she At the time, Delia believed she was would have to spend several months Laiho says her answer was never in doubt. “It was just a given,” she says. “In a perfect world that’s “I couldn’t not be here,” she adds. “I couldn’t have Although Delia’s initial mission was canceled, Laiho remained when her “My ovaries are shrinking by the minute,” jokes Laiho, 38, What Laiho does have is opinions and many of them are at odds with “Let’s just say they’re very military and I’m very not “What’s guarding our nation if we’re sending our National Guard On Friday, Delia will leave Vermont a Randolph resident, but when she According to Delia, the couple decided to start house-hunting before Dominic Delia, who works for campus security at Vermont Technical Then there’s the move, and a 400-square-foot addition to the new house “I’m loading myself up wicked with projects to keep me Delia, who helped plan the addition and won’t mind missing the move, “It will be like starting over,” she says, noting that she “I’ve reserved the right to rearrange the furniture,” she “They can just wait,” she says with a smile. Let the countdown begin. |
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Guard Unit Called Up for 2nd Time in 2
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TheIowaChannel.com November 17, 2004 DES MOINES, Iowa — An Iowa National Guard unit |
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Guard May Not Go Until Next Year; Battery
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The Register-Mail November 17, 2004 By Tammy Bould GALESBURG – The last group of Galesburg’s Battery C, 2nd Battalion, The C Battery had been split into three groups, with some Galesburg The Illinois Army National Guard Public Affairs Office would not The soldiers will be processed and receive additional training at Fort While on active duty, the 123rd Field Artillery unit will provide “Friends of C Battery” is still collecting personal items to Franey said various churches, schools and Seminary Estates are A “Support Our Troops” evening is planned, starting at 6 On Dec. 5, a community-wide prayer service for the troops is scheduled |
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Monument Lit for Guard Deployment |
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Bennington November 19, BENNINGTON — Gov. James Bennington “I’ve |
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Billings Twins Going to Iraq
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The Associated Press State & Local Wire November 19, 2004 BILLINGS, MO. – Identical twins Roy and Troy Simanton share a lot in They’re members of the Montana Army National Guard, and will be Roy, a sergeant, and Troy, a specialist, are scheduled to leave Monday Roy and Troy, 24, are in different companies and won’t be stationed Two cousins, Erik and Jon Simanton of Malta, also in the Army National Roy and Troy graduated from high school in Malta and then moved to “Right after that we joined the Guard to help pay for In the same platoon, they completed basic training and field artillery In early 2002, the two were activated. Troy served as a border guard They were called up in May, trained two weeks in June at Helena and Even though the twins will spend the next year fighting the same war “Pretty much they’re inseparable. They always have been and |
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Holding Time Precious National Guard |
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Fresno Bee November 21, 2004, By Dennis Army National He did that Smith was When the The timing Like others Some, like “It’s It will be “It E-mail has Haux said Smith said “Each During a “My son Combs heads In remarks The Sgt. Maj. London The crowd The reporter |
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REUNION
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Indiana National Guard Unit Returns from
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The Associated Press State & Local Wire November 16, 2004, Tuesday INDIANAPOLIS – About 160 Indiana National Guard The guard members marched into their Indianapolis armory early Tuesday The armory’s gymnasium was filled with people carrying signs, balloons Their plane had landed at Indianapolis International Airport just And how did that feel? “Good. Real good,” said 7-year-old Connor McLochlin, wearing “It feels great,” the father said, embracing his son and greeting On Oct. 31, the first part of the Indiana force returned home. The The Guard contingent was said to have been the first Indiana Guard |
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Local Guard Unit to be Honored in
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Independent Tribune Tuesday, November 16, 2004 By Michael Knox CONCORD – Troops from Concord’s 1454th Transportation Company of the North John Howard, Cabarrus Events Association parade director, said about Officials are also inviting soldiers to participate in the parade who Those interested in participating must be in uniform and meet at 1:30 “Once they get in there and receive the applause and recognition Parade officials will give out 10,000 American flags along the parade Staff Sgt. James Hamrick will serve as the grand marshal. According to Hamrick was selected as grand marshal by his fellow soldiers who Concord officials originally intended to hold a welcome home “They’ve been pulled away from their home and have served and did 1454th 1st Sgt. Eddie Kluttz said he and others in the company are “It’s great that the community would come together and honor Kluttz said though many members of the 1454th are with their families, Kluttz said family members of those who have redeployed would be on “We’re honored to have those family members along with us in the Howard agreed. “We feel it’s important because quite often we forget the During the deployment the families of the 1454th were without their The 1454th deployed to Kuwait and Iraq in February 2003. The company Kluttz said the company ran 991 supply missions in support of U.S. and |
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Guard Security Forces Leave Base |
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Air Force Link 18 November 2004 By Bill Cissell, Journal Staff Writer ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE – About 90 South Dakota Army National Twenty-two months ago, 122 members of the 665th Maintenance Co. of A ceremony Thursday at Ellsworth recognized the contributions of the Almost overnight, the mechanics, accustomed to repairing wheeled and According to 28th Security Forces Squadron commander Lt. Col. David “We have 50 to 60 airmen of our security-forces squadron deployed Koontz said a mixture of additional base personnel, civilians and Air Force and Guard officials alike had concerns about how the “At first, the Guard personnel weren’t supposed to be on duty by Brown said that after a few months, it was difficult to tell the It was very impressive to watch people change,” Brown said. When its active duty started in late January 2003, 122 members of the Gorman said he selected the maintenance unit for the mission because “We didn’t want to take part of a battalion (ranging in size from Although similar situations occurred across the nation, Gorman said Army National Guard Capt. Deb Bartunek commanded the Guard “Things went fantastic. These are extremely versatile She said that during the unit’s second year at the base, Guard “Some of our soldiers are actually sorry it’s over, and some Warrant Officer Kevin Pudwill of Black Hawk said the Guard personnel He said the transition was easier because all Guard personnel receive |
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Woman Wants Town to Get Up to Send Off
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The Associated Press State & Local Wire November 18, 2004 BENNINGTON, Vt. – A local woman is urging her neighbors to get up The soldiers are due to board a bus at 5 a.m. Friday for a ride to “They’re going out to do their duty and we should go out and wish Albert is urging people to get out of bed early at 4 a.m. to line the “That would be great if (people) could make up a sign showing Troops are expected to be escorted out of town by Bennington Police, About 600 members of the Vermont National Guard are being called to The men and women leaving Bennington are members of Charlie Company, The soldiers are going to perform security duties somewhere in the The soldiers leaving Friday will stop at Norwich |
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BENEFITS
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State
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Whittier Daily News November 19, 2004 By Charles F. Bostwick Friday, – State The “We In many “It’s The state The pay is But “The The law “Trying Runner’s “Once |
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GUARD IN IRAQ
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Leader Praises 30th’s Efforts |
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Fayetteville (NC) Observer November 18, 2004 TIKRIT, Iraq – The commander of the Army division overseeing the work The soldiers from the Guard’s 30th Brigade Combat Team – which Maj. Gen. John R.S. Batiste, commander of the Army’s 1st Infantry Division, “I remember when I got word that the 30th was going,” While Batiste said the unit should be home in January, he cautioned The 30th operates under the direction of the 1st Infantry Division. Historic missions He said the 30th and the 1st Infantry Division have been paired up on “The folks back in North Carolina and West Virginia and every A battalion from the 17th Field Artillery Regiment, an active-duty During a briefing Wednesday at the division headquarters, officials Soldiers from North Carolina will spend between 14 and 20 days in “They will be less than a month in Kuwait,” said Maj. Jim Measure of success McGregor said a measure of success for the North Carolina soldiers – McGregor said the National Guard soldiers have put their civilian “They bring a great perspective,” he said. “When the The next rotation of troops will put an even greater emphasis on The 1st Division and the 30th Brigade Combat Team are handing over They are working in a region that is still far from stable. The 1st Batiste said the success of the deployment can’t be measured merely by “It’s the attitude of the people,” he said. “It’s Batiste said he hopes to leave his area of operations in the hands of “It’s a dangerous place, and it probably always will be,” he |
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Soldiers Outline Hopes for Iraq Tour;
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The Advocate (Baton Rouge, Louisiana) November 18, 2004 By Acadiana Bureau BAGHDAD, Iraq An update from the brigade’s public affairs “I would like to learn about a culture that Hulin is a member of the 2nd Battalion, 156th “I expect a lot of cohesion within the units Spc. Douglas Franklin of the 1st Battalion, 141st “I want to save some money. I have a son Sgt. 1st Class Tony Wyatt of the 1088th Engineer “I volunteered to be here to do my duty and, Second Lt. Candice Biery of the 199th Support “I’m looking forward to growing as a leader, The 4,000-strong brigade arrived in Iraq earlier In addition to approximately 3,000 Louisiana The brigade trained this summer at Fort Hood, While in Iraq, the brigade is attached to Task This is the first combat mission for the brigade, |
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HOMEFRONT:
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Military
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The Blade 20 November
Carolyn “The Her husband, Ms. Wells Similar While Matt and “The Mary Bell, “Because Linda Power “We are |
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HOMEFRONT:
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No Way to Treat Our Soldiers |
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Denver Post November 18, 2004 By Peter G. Chronis More than any time since World War II, the U.S. Yet there’s troubling evidence that some Most activated Reserve and Guard members take a Sadly, Marine Lt. Col. Steve Duarte, about whose The 1994 Uniformed Services Employment and Since the Sept. 11 attacks, 442,415 reservists The current deployments have been much longer Another avenue is an ombudsman organization, If nothing works, Labor can send the case to the So far, three Colorado cases have been referred “I feel pretty strongly [about USERRA] and I Employers usually “take the issue quite Duarte, 51, told me that he’s sent out a bunch of Ultimately, a court may decide who’s right but, |
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TRIBUTE TO OUR FALLEN
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Tributes for Soldiers Carry on Their
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The Associated Press State & Local Wire November 16, 2004, Tuesday CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa Park benches, flagpoles and even a golf tournament At the Des Moines gravesite of Army Pvt. Kurt Frosheiser, a candle “I give (Kurt) an Army salute, and he deserves it,” said Every four days, Frosheiser replaces the candle that stands in a The Kurt Frosheiser Memorial Golf Tournament held in Altoona in July Students at Garfield Elementary School, in Cedar Rapids, dedicated a Kirchoff’s mom Nancy Kirchhoff, 57, taught at the school for about 25 “It was one of the most meaningful things for me,” Nancy A trio of park benches in Cedar Rapids honor Sgt. Paul Fisher, an Army “What we wanted to do was put memorials up in the community for Paul Fisher’s name also is engraved on a granite bench in Veterans In the spring, the Aaron Sissel Scholarship Committee will present a Army National Guard Sgt. Aaron Sissel of Tipton died at age 22 after |
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High-Achieving Engineer Joined Guard
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Chicago Tribune November 18, 2004 By Maria Kantzavelos, Special to the Tribune Erik. S. McCrae wasn’t one to boast about how he “He was very quiet and unassuming. For Erik, The son of a recently retired Army National Guard “My question to him was, `Why didn’t you McCrae, 25, of Portland, Ore., a 1st lieutenant, Before he left for Iraq, McCrae volunteered as a |
GENERAL
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Military
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Associated Press Online November 17, 2004 Wednesday ISLAMORADA, Fla. – About 60 American military personnel – most who The outing was the brainchild of two south Florida sportfishing “What better way to show these true Americans how much their The soldier-anglers seemed to relish the experience, despite choppy “He wasn’t wearing his camouflage, but he sure looked pretty Five highly prized sailfish were caught and released by the soldiers. |
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New Safety Steps Planned for N.J. Range |
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The Associated Press 18 November 2004 LITTLE Pilots On The Flights The The |
Air Force Engineers Help Soldiers Build
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455th Expeditionary Operations Group Public Affairs 18 November 2004 by Staff Sgt. Jennifer Lindsey BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan (AFPN) During their five-month deployment here, 11 Airman deployed from Missouri “When I see Soldiers and Marines returning from the field, it feels For their service supporting Operation Enduring Freedom, Army Maj. The Air Force engineers can wear the “combat patch” throughout their With or without the patch, improving the quality of life for deployed “These guys have never shirked from any job they’ve been given because Some of the Air National Guard engineers, such as Maj. Scott Nall and However, no matter how much the Airmen look forward to sharing time “Taking care of business overseas, rather than on American soil” is “Look in every direction around you. (These service members are) It is that sense of accomplishment that the Air Force engineers said “What we’re doing here in support of the global war on terrorism is |
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Help Sought To Get Books To Soldiers
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Fresno Bee November 21, 2004 By The Altaji, The problem A Valley Sgt. Justin Ray Messer, “There “These To help Bond Bond said After being “I Bond, who “There Bond decided “I was Instead, Soon, the The only “When I The reporter |
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DoD Announces America Supports You |
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The Department of In announcing “America Supports You,” “These activities of support Teenager Fleming’s website in the coming Representatives They join other organizations and associations supporting For https://www.defenselink.mil/releases/2004/nr20041119-1562.html |
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National Guard, Roush Extend Agreement
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From Team Release November 18, 2004 CONCORD, N.C. — The National Guard and Roush Racing have extended “We couldn’t be happier with the program at Roush Racing,” “The win at Michigan was a milestone for the National Guard, as I The National Guard began their involvement in NASCAR in 2002 and “I was extremely pleased when I learned that the National Guard Biffle shares Roush’s appreciation of the unique relationship between the “It means a little bit more when you know there are soldiers up The 2004 season got off to a good start for the National Guard team “We weren’t getting the finishes that showed what this team was “We’re going to try to get this National Guard Ford into victory |
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