billbright
Member
Posted Thu 19 July 2007 01:05 PM
I know there are non-believers headed for treacherous theaters. I just want you to know you aren't alone, and to wish you the best for a successful mission and safe return.

Warmly,
Bill


Everyone will respect this thread and will not post a prayer,
FleetLiberal

Thank you for your service! be well be safe check six for each other.

Tawodi

Thank you, FL.

All, come home safe.
Luck

Most excellent!

Fair winds!

Thank you Bill.

Everyone come home safe. If all goes well I will see you in the Vill soon.

For all those already in harms way and those about to embark on that mission, stay safe and come home sound of mind and body. Watch out for each other.

Stay Alert...Stay Alive!!
Air Assault

Our thoughts and emotions leap out to the family and friends of the following heroes who paid the ultimate price this week:

Pfc. Juan S. Restrepo, 20, of Pembroke Pines, Fla., died July 22 in Korengal Valley, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms fire. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment (Airborne), 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, Vicenza, Italy.

Sgt. Courtney D. Finch, 27, of Leavenworth, Kan., died July 24 in Qayyarah, Iraq, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident. He was assigned to the 714th Maintenance Company, Kansas Army National Guard, Topeka, Kan. The incident is under investigation.

Staff Sgt. Joshua P. Mattero, 29, of San Diego, died July 24 in Baqubah, Iraq, of wounds suffered from an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 749th Ordnance Company, 63rd Explosive Ordnance Battalion, Andrews Air Force Base, Md.

Warmly,
Bill

* HAND SALUTE! *

quote:

Originally posted by KJ1110:
* HAND SALUTE! *

I second that.

quote:

Originally posted by spcfcs:
For all those already in harms way and those about to embark on that mission, stay safe and come home sound of mind and body. Watch out for each other.

Stay Alert...Stay Alive!!
Air Assault

Well said...My thoughts as well!

The Department of Defense announced today the death of three soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. They died July 26 in Saqlawiyah, Iraq of wounds sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near their vehicle. They were assigned to the 5th Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.

Killed were:
Sgt. William R. Howdeshell, 37, of Norfolk, Va.,
Spc. Charles E Bilbrey, Jr., 21, of Owego, New York, and
Spc. Jaime Rodriguez, Jr., 19, of Oxnard, Calif.

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Our heartfelt sympathy and grief go out to the family and friends of Pvt. Michael A. Baloga, 21, of Everett, Wash., who died July 26 in Muqdadiyah, Iraq, of wounds suffered from an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 6th Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

They died July 27 near Kamu, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when their unit came in contact with enemy forces using small arms fire during combat operations. They were assigned to 1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, Vicenza, Italy.

Killed were:

Maj. Thomas G. Bostick Jr., 37, of Llano, Texas, and

Staff Sgt. William R. Fritsche, 23, of Martinsville, Ind.

We salute these heroes.

quote:

Originally posted by spcfcs:
For all those already in harms way and those about to embark on that mission, stay safe and come home sound of mind and body. Watch out for each other.

Stay Alert...Stay Alive!!
Air Assault

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Cpl. Sean A. Stokes, 24, of Auburn, Calif., died July 30 from wounds suffered while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.

Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Sean.

The Department of Defense announced today that the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, New York Army National Guard, will deploy in support of Operation Enduring Freedom to train the Afghan National Security Forces. Initial personnel will begin to deploy in late 2007, with the majority of the approximately 1,700 service members deploying in mid 2008.

This rotation reflects the continued U.S. commitment to Afghanistan and development of the Afghan National Security Forces. Afghan forces continue to develop capability and assume responsibility for security. Force levels in Afghanistan continue to be conditions-based, and are determined based on the recommendations of military commanders in Afghanistan and in consultation with the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.

Good luck on your mission. Come home safely.

Spc. Camy Florexil, 20, of Philadelphia, died July 24 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle during combat operations July 23 in Baghdad. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan.

1st Lt. Benjamin J. Hall, 24, of Virginia, died July 31 in Asadabad, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit during combat operations in Chowkay Valley, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment (Airborne), 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, Vicenza, Italy.

Straighten your gig line and render your best salute.

From Bambifour
You’ve got a message from Catherine A ByrneI send my message this way because of computer problems. I can read threads, but unable to reply to posts. I respect and admire you for the new thread for the atheiests. If we could only respect oneanother in grief then maybe some day in other areas as well. If appropriate, please send wishes in my name. With Bill, my thoughts and emotions go out to all our brave warriors. You seem to be a good man. Thank you. Please forgive my inability to edit as well. I try being extra careful, but go to fast sometimes. Cathie/Bambifour

Do not reply to this email
To contact Catherine A Byrne, you must go though Catherine A Byrne’s profile page:
http://www.military.com/HomePage/UnitPageMemberProfile/...480,10855565,00.html

quote:

Originally posted by spcfcs:

quote:

Originally posted by spcfcs:
For all those already in harms way and those about to embark on that mission, stay safe and come home sound of mind and body. Watch out for each other.

Stay Alert...Stay Alive!!
Air Assault

Bill it's a good thing your doing here, well done.

Please honor these heroes:

Sgt. Stephen R. Maddies, 41, of Elizabethton, Tenn., died July 31 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered from enemy small arms fire. He was assigned to the 473rd Counter Rocket, Artillery and Mortar Platoon, Tennessee Army National Guard, Columbia, Tenn.

Cpl. Jason M. Kessler, 29, of Mount Vernon, Wash., died July 30 in northern Iraq of wounds suffered from a rocket-propelled grenade. He was assigned to C Company, 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Lewis, Wash.

Three soldiers supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom died July 31 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near their vehicle. They were assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team), Fort Lewis, Wash.

Killed were:

Spc. Zachariah J. Gonzalez, 23, of Indiana.

Pfc. Charles T. Heinlein Jr., 23, of Hemlock, Mich.

Pfc. Alfred H. Jairala, 29, of Hialeah, Fla.

Sgt. Taurean T. Harris, 22, of Liberty, Miss., died Aug. 2 in Kala Gush, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained from an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 202nd Military Intelligence Battalion, 513th Military Intelligence Brigade, Fort Gordon, Ga.

Three Soldiers died Aug. 2 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near their vehicle. They were assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.

Killed were:

Staff Sgt. Fernando Santos, 29, of San Antonio, Texas,

Spc. Cristian Rojas-Gallego, 24, of Loganville, Ga., and

Spc. Eric D. Salinas, 25, of Houston, Texas.

Master Sgt. Julian Ingles Rios, 52, of Anasco, Puerto Rico, died Aug. 2 in Baghdad when his HMMWV was struck by a rocket-propelled grenade. He was assigned to the 130th Engineer Battalion, of the Puerto Rico National Guard, at Aguadilla, Puerto Rico.

Spc. Braden J. Long, 19, of Sherman, Texas, died Aug. 4 in Baghdad, of injuries sustained when his hmmwv came under grenade attack. He was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan.

And, please render a salute for the family and friends of these MIAs:

Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced that the remains of two U.S. servicemen, missing in action from the Vietnam War, have been identified and will be returned to their families for burial with full military honors.

They are Lt. Col. James H. Ayres, of Pampa, Texas, and Lt. Col. Charles W. Stratton, of Dallas, Texas, both U.S.Air Force. Ayres will be buried Aug. 10 in Pampa, and Stratton’s burial date is being set by his family.

On Jan. 3, 1971, these men crewed an F-4E Phantom II aircraft departing Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base on a nighttime strike mission of enemy targets in Savannakhet Province, Laos. Shortly after Ayres initiated a target run, the crew of other aircraft in the flight observed a large explosion. No one witnessed an ejection or heard beeper signals, and communication was lost with the aircraft. Hostile activity in the area prevented search and rescue attempts.

In 2001, a joint U.S./Lao People’s Democratic Republic (L.P.D.R.) team, led by the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC), traveled to Savannakhet Province and interviewed Laotian citizens about their knowledge of aircraft crash sites. One of the men led the team to what was believed to be the Ayres and Stratton crash site.

Later that year, another U.S./L.P.D.R team began excavating the site. The team recovered human remains and aircrew-related items. Between 2002 and 2005, joint teams visited the site six more times to complete the excavation, recovering more human remains and crew-related items.

Among other forensic identification tools and circumstantial evidence, scientists from JPAC and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory also used mitochondrial DNA in the identification of the remains.

No amount of tears can recover these fine individuals. Again, honor is required for our military heroes:

Tech. Sgt. Joey D. Link, 29, of Portland, Tenn., died of natural causes at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany, Aug. 5. He was assigned to the 39th Airlift Squadron, Dyess Air Force Base, Texas.


Lance Cpl. Cristian Vasquez, 20, of Coalinga, Calif., died Aug. 2 from wounds suffered while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned to1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.

Three soldiers died on 4 Aug, in Hawr Rajab, Iraq, when the vehicle they were in struck an improvised explosive device during combat operations. They were assigned to the 1st Squadron, 40th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, Fort Richardson, Alaska.

Killed were:

Sgt. Dustin S. Wakeman, 25, of Fort Worth, Texas.

Cpl. Jason K. Lafleur, 28, of Ignacio, Colo.

Pfc. Jaron D. Holliday, 21, of Tulsa, Okla.

Pfc. Matthew M. Murchison, 21, of Independence, Mo., died August 4 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when the vehicle he was in struck an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 127th Military Police Company, 720th Military Police Battalion, 89th Military Police Brigade, Hanau, Germany.

Spc. Charles E. Leonard Jr., 29, of Monroe, La., died August 5 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when the vehicle he was in was struck by a rocket propelled grenade. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

Two died July 31 in Tunis, Iraq, of wounds suffered from enemy indirect fire. They were assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 377th Parachute Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, Fort Richardson, Alaska.

Killed were:

Sgt. Bradley W. Marshall, 37, of Little Rock, Ark.

Spc. Daniel F. Reyes, 24, of San Diego.

Sgt. 1st Class Travis S. Bachman, 30, of Garden City, Kan., died Aug. 1 in Mosul, Iraq, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle during combat operations in Al Basrah, Iraq. He was assigned to the 714th Security Force, Kansas Army National Guard, Topeka, Kan.

Spc. Christopher T. Neiberger, 22, of Gainesville, Fla., died Aug. 6 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered from an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Schweinfurt, Germany.

Sgt. Jon E. Bonnell Jr., 22, of Fort Dodge, Iowa, died Aug. 7 from wounds suffered while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned to1st Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.

Two soldiers died Aug. 5 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered from enemy indirect fire. They were assigned to the 59th Military Police Company, 759th Military Police Battalion, 89th Military Police Brigade, and Fort Carson, Colo.

Killed were:

Spc. Justin R. Blackwell, 27, of Paris, Tenn.

Pvt. Jeremy S. Bohannon, 18, of Bon Aqua, Tenn.


We are priveledged to recognize the following heroes of the Viet Nam conflict:

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that group remains of five U.S. servicemen, missing in action from the Vietnam War, will be returned to their families soon for burial with full military honors.

They are Chief Warrant Officer Dennis C. Hamilton, of Barnes City, Iowa; Chief Warrant Officer Sheldon D. Schultz, of Altoona, Pa.; Sgt. 1st Class Ernest F. Briggs Jr., of San Antonio, Texas; Sgt. 1st Class John T. Gallagher, of Hamden, Conn.; and Sgt. 1st Class James D. Williamson, of Olympia, Wash.; all U.S. Army. The group remains of this crew will be buried on Aug. 14 at Arlington National Cemetery near Washington, D.C. Gallagher's remains were individually identified, and his burial date is being set by his family.

Representatives from the Army met with the next-of-kin of these men to explain the recovery and identification process, and to coordinate interment with military honors on behalf of the Secretary of the Army.

On Jan. 5, 1968, these men crewed a UH-1D helicopter that was inserting a patrol into Savannakhet Province, Laos. As the aircraft approached the landing zone, it was struck by enemy ground fire, causing it to nose over and crash. There were no survivors. All attempts to reach the site over the next several days were repulsed by enemy fire.

Between 1995 and 2006, numerous U.S./Lao People’s Democratic Republic /Socialist Republic of Vietnam teams, all led by the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC), conducted more than five investigations, including interviews with Vietnamese citizens who said they witnessed the crash. Between 2002 and 2006, JPAC led three excavations of the site, recovering remains and other material evidence including identification tags for Schultz, Hamilton and Briggs.

Among other forensic identification tools and circumstantial evidence, scientists from JPAC also used dental comparisons in the identification of the remains.

Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from the Korean War, have been identified and returned to his family for burial with full military honors.

He is Sgt. Frank Bunchuk, U.S. Army, of Medina, N.Y. He will be buried Thursday in Arlington National Cemetery near Washington, D.C.

Representatives from the Army met with Bunchuk’s next-of-kin to explain the recovery and identification process, and to coordinate interment with military honors on behalf of the Secretary of the Army.

In November 1950, Bunchuk was assigned to Company L, 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division then occupying a defensive position southwest of Unsan, North Korea near a bend in the Kuryong River known as the Camel’s Head. On Nov. 1, parts of two Chinese Communist Divisions struck the 1st Cavalry Division’s lines, collapsing the perimeter and forcing a withdrawal. In the process, the 3rd Battalion was surrounded and effectively ceased to exist as a fighting unit. Bunchuk was one of the more than 350 servicemen unaccounted-for from the battle at Unsan.

In 2002, a joint U.S.-Democratic People’s Republic of North Korea team, led by the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC), excavated a burial site south of Unsan near the nose of the Camel’s Head formed by the joining of the Nammyon and Kuryong rivers. The team recovered human remains.

Among other forensic identification tools and circumstantial evidence, scientists from JPAC and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory also used mitochondrial DNA and dental comparisons in the identification of Bunchuk’s remains.

Four soldiers died Aug. 6 in Baqubah, Iraq, of wounds suffered from an improvised explosive device. They were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team), Fort Lewis, Wash.

Killed were:

Staff Sgt. Jacob M. Thompson, 26, of North Mankato, Minn.

Sgt. Nicholas A. Gummersall, 23, of Chubbuck, Idaho.

Cpl. Juan M. Alcantara, 22, of New York.

Spc. Kareem R. Khan, 20, of Manahawkin, N.J.

Spc. Donald M. Young, 19, of Helena, Mont., died Aug. 8 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle during combat operations Aug. 7 in Baghdad. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

We all salute these soldiers and hope their families and friends may find peace.

My heart goes out to these families.

My husband's cousin just got hit by an IED too, a few days ago. He's on his way home. Luckily, his worst injuries will heal.

quote:

Originally posted by someone_else:
My heart goes out to these families.

My husband's cousin just got hit by an IED too, a few days ago. He's on his way home. Luckily, his worst injuries will heal.

Send him our best. Anything we can do?

Cpl. Reynold Armand, 21, of Rochester, N.Y., died Aug. 7 in Balad, Iraq. He was assigned to 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

The death is currently under investigation.

Another of our sons is gone from us. Salute.

Staff Sgt. Joan J. Duran, 24, of Roxbury, Mass., died August 10 in Iraq of injuries suffered from a non-combat related incident. He was assigned to the 5th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C. The incident is under investigation.

Pfc. Jordan E. Goode, 21, of Kalamazoo, Mich., died Aug. 11 in Zormont, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered from an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 4th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.

Pvt. Alan J. Austin, 21, of Houston, died Aug. 12 near Forward Operating Base Sharana, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered from a non-combat related accident. He was assigned to the 782nd Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C. The incident is under investigation.

Pfc. William L. Edwards, 23, of Houston, died Aug. 11 in Arab Jabour, Iraq, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with small arms fire. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.

Three soldiers died Aug. 12 in Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near their vehicle.

Killed were:

Sgt. 1st Class Jeffrey D. Kettle, 31, of Madill, Okla. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, N.C.

Staff Sgt. Jesse G. Clowers Jr., 27, of Herndon, Va. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, N.C.

Sgt. Charles B. Kitowski III, 31, of Farmers Branch, Texas. He was assigned to the 345th Psychological Operations Company, 2nd Psychological Operations Group, U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne), Fort Bragg, N.C.

We again mourn and render our best salute for our brave youth.

Bill,

This is a very honorable thing you're doing. I sometimes see these young men as they come into Landstuhl, and I can tell you, my heart breaks every time.

I salute our brothers (and sisters) in arms. Stay Strong!