Editor's Note: One of the authors is a former servicemember.
October 26, 2007 (San Dimas, CA) Police-Writers.com is a website that lists nearly 800 state and local police officers who have written books. The website added three authors who have written police history, military fiction and on crime prevention.
Kevin J. Mullen served for more than twenty-six years with the San Francisco Police Department and retired at the rank of deputy chief. He has written extensively in magazines and newspapers on criminal justice issues. He is the author of Let Justice Be Done: Crime and Politics in Early San Francisco, Dangerous Strangers: Minority Newcomers and Criminal Violence in the Urban West, 1850-2000 and The Toughest Gang in Town: Police Stories From Old San Francisco.
According to the book description of Dangerous Strangers: Minority Newcomers and Criminal Violence in the Urban West, 1850-2000, “Have newcomers to American cities been responsible for a disproportionate amount of violent crime? Dangerous Strangers takes up this question by examining the incidence of criminal violence among several waves of immigrant/ethnic groups in San Francisco over 150 years. By looking at a variety of groups--Irish, German, Italian, and Chinese immigrants, primarily--and their different experiences at varying times in the city's history, this study addresses the issue of how much violence can be attributed to new groups' treatment by the host society and how much can be traced to traits found in their community of origin.”
Chief Steven J. Newton is a 25-year law enforcement veteran and a former Marine/Navy veteran. He served with the 3rd Battalion, 24th Marines, 4th Marine Division. With the Navy, he was with NAVACTS-UK-318 and was called back to active duty for the first Desert Storm. Steven J. Newton began his law enforcement career in 1977 when he joined the Springfield Police Department (Missouri). In 1995, he became the chief of police of the Clever Police Department (Missouri).
Now retired and afflicted with Parkinson’s Disease, he continues to write article for various law enforcement, military and veteran publications. He is also the author of the Old Sergeant and the Old Sergeant and Friends. Steve Newton continues to serve on the Advisory Board of the National Association of Chiefs of Police and serves as Director of the Law Enforcement Equipment Program. He is the Founder of the Silver Star Families of America and he is a supporter of the Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance.
According to the book Description, “The short stories of The Old Sergeant compile many different aspects of the human character, including inspiration, tragedy, honor and humor. He is fictional, but his life, and the lives of the men he commands, become very real to the reader as the stories come together as one. One life lived and some lives lost. Through the war in Iraq and reflections on past wars won, now a distant memory, the Old Sarge is someone who most everyone can relate to. There is a real-time sense in all of the stories told, to be embraced into the reader’s mind and heart.”
William Langlois is a retired San Francisco Police Department police officer and the co-author of Surviving the Age of Fear/Life-Saving Lessons for Senior Citizens from San Francisco's Heroic Decoy Cop Who Was Mugged 256 Times. According to Booklist, “Langlois had a record of successful performance as a decoy in past stings when he was recruited to play the role of The Old Man on a short-term undercover RAT (robbery abatement) team formed in 1987 (and reestablished in 1988) to cut the rate of violent robberies of the elderly in and around their homes in San Francisco's Tenderloin district.”
Police-Writers.com now hosts 783 police officers (representing 352 police departments) and their 1670 law enforcement books in six categories, there are also listings of United States federal law enforcement employees turned authors, international police officers who have written books and civilian police personnel who have written books.
Friday, October 26, 2007
U.S. Must Take 'Long View,' Forge Security Partnerships, Mullen Says
By John J. Kruzel
American Forces Press Service
Oct. 26, 2007 - Navy Adm. Michael G. Mullen's top priority as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is to widen the scope of U.S. military strategy to look beyond the borders of Iraq and Afghanistan and strengthen security partnerships, the admiral told an audience here last night. "We are in a generational war, and we need to take a long view and think strategically about how we manage our risks globally," Mullen said at the Center for a New American Security in his first public address since assuming office as chairman Oct. 1.
The chairman said military leaders responsible for strategic thinking and planning should look "through a long lens."
"I am concerned that we focus too much on the here and now," he said. "The conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan weigh heavily on the minds of the American people as they do on mine, but we must not be myopic in our view.
"There is more to the Middle East than those two countries," he added.
Achieving a stable and prosperous Middle East requires more than just a military effort, Mullen said. He noted that participation from non-military elements is vital to gaining the widest breadth of ideas and the broadest range of possible outcomes and alternative futures.
"Security is necessary, but it is not sufficient," he said. "We must integrate our capabilities with all instruments of national power, and that starts with a better and stronger interagency and the relationships therein."
Mullen said current security challenges present the United States with an opportunity "to go beyond the interagency" and forge ties with international partners, nongovernmental and intergovernmental organizations, and private sector entities.
Regional instability in the Middle East or elsewhere has an impact worldwide, Mullen said, which is why the chairman's top priority is to develop a comprehensive global military strategy. "It is tied to a larger global view and one that is sustainable over time," he said.
In the current conflict against radical jihadists, and in the long war in general, Mullen said he encourages "debate and persistent intellectual rigor" as military planners formulate sound strategy for the 21st century.
"We are part of a new world order, and as the recently departed Adm. William J. Crowe once said, 'It is long on new, and it is short on order,'" the chairman said. Crowe, who served as chairman in the late 1980s and early 1990s, died this month.
"This new era demands we ask hard questions, seek new answers, engage in new debates, explore new military strategic thinking, develop alternative options, come up with new solutions to longstanding problems, and dream up innovative ideas to address these challenges."
To address emerging challenges to the interdependent global system, the United States must cast a wider net, Mullen said, increasing cooperation with international partners.
"That system has many stakeholders, and we need to work with them as we think about things like global order, stability, and economic prosperity," he said. "But we will be hard pressed to help a global community safeguard that global system, and by extension our own well being, without the people and the tools to do the job."
American Forces Press Service
Oct. 26, 2007 - Navy Adm. Michael G. Mullen's top priority as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is to widen the scope of U.S. military strategy to look beyond the borders of Iraq and Afghanistan and strengthen security partnerships, the admiral told an audience here last night. "We are in a generational war, and we need to take a long view and think strategically about how we manage our risks globally," Mullen said at the Center for a New American Security in his first public address since assuming office as chairman Oct. 1.
The chairman said military leaders responsible for strategic thinking and planning should look "through a long lens."
"I am concerned that we focus too much on the here and now," he said. "The conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan weigh heavily on the minds of the American people as they do on mine, but we must not be myopic in our view.
"There is more to the Middle East than those two countries," he added.
Achieving a stable and prosperous Middle East requires more than just a military effort, Mullen said. He noted that participation from non-military elements is vital to gaining the widest breadth of ideas and the broadest range of possible outcomes and alternative futures.
"Security is necessary, but it is not sufficient," he said. "We must integrate our capabilities with all instruments of national power, and that starts with a better and stronger interagency and the relationships therein."
Mullen said current security challenges present the United States with an opportunity "to go beyond the interagency" and forge ties with international partners, nongovernmental and intergovernmental organizations, and private sector entities.
Regional instability in the Middle East or elsewhere has an impact worldwide, Mullen said, which is why the chairman's top priority is to develop a comprehensive global military strategy. "It is tied to a larger global view and one that is sustainable over time," he said.
In the current conflict against radical jihadists, and in the long war in general, Mullen said he encourages "debate and persistent intellectual rigor" as military planners formulate sound strategy for the 21st century.
"We are part of a new world order, and as the recently departed Adm. William J. Crowe once said, 'It is long on new, and it is short on order,'" the chairman said. Crowe, who served as chairman in the late 1980s and early 1990s, died this month.
"This new era demands we ask hard questions, seek new answers, engage in new debates, explore new military strategic thinking, develop alternative options, come up with new solutions to longstanding problems, and dream up innovative ideas to address these challenges."
To address emerging challenges to the interdependent global system, the United States must cast a wider net, Mullen said, increasing cooperation with international partners.
"That system has many stakeholders, and we need to work with them as we think about things like global order, stability, and economic prosperity," he said. "But we will be hard pressed to help a global community safeguard that global system, and by extension our own well being, without the people and the tools to do the job."
Navy Crew MIA From Vietnam War is Identified
The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of five U.S. servicemen, missing in action from the Vietnam War, have been accounted-for and will be returned to their families for burial with full military honors.
They are Lt. j.g. Norman L. Roggow, of Aurelia, Iowa; Lt. j.g. Donald F. Wolfe, of Hardin, Mont.; Lt. j.g. Andrew G. Zissu, of Bronx, N.Y.; Chief Petty Officer Roland R. Pineau, of Berkley, Mich.; and Petty Officer 3rd Class Raul A. Guerra, of Los Angeles, Calif.; all U.S. Navy. Pineau was buried on Oct. 8 in Arlington National Cemetery near Washington, D.C. The dates and locations of the funerals for the other servicemen are being set by their families.
On Oct. 8, 1967, Zissu and Roggow were the pilots of an E-1B Tracer en route from Chu Lai Air Base, Vietnam, back to the aircraft carrier USS Oriskany. Also on board were Wolfe, Pineau and Guerra. Radar contact with the aircraft was lost approximately 10 miles northwest of Da Nang, Vietnam. Adverse weather hampered immediate search efforts, but three days later, a search helicopter spotted the wreckage of the aircraft on the face of a steep mountain in Da Nang Province. The location, terrain and hostile forces in the area precluded a ground recovery.
In 1993 and 1994, human remains were repatriated to the United States by the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (S.R.V.) with information that linked the remains to unassociated losses in the same geographical area as this incident. Between 1993 and 2004, U.S/S.R.V. teams, all led by the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC), investigated the incident more than 15 times in Da Nang city and Thua Thien-Hue Province.
Between 2004 and 2005, the joint teams surveyed and excavated the crash site where they recovered human remains and crew-related items. During the excavation in 2005, the on-site team learned that human remains may have been removed previously from the site. S.R.V. officials concluded that two Vietnamese citizens found and collected remains at the crash site, and possibly buried them near their residence in Hoi Mit village in Thua Thein-Hue Province. In 2006, another joint U.S./S.R.V. team excavated the suspected burial site in Hoi Mit village, but found no additional remains. In 2007, more remains associated with this incident were repatriated to the United States by S.R.V. officials.
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 the remains.
For additional information on the Defense Department's mission to account for missing Americans, visit the DPMO web site at http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/ or call (703) 699-1169.
They are Lt. j.g. Norman L. Roggow, of Aurelia, Iowa; Lt. j.g. Donald F. Wolfe, of Hardin, Mont.; Lt. j.g. Andrew G. Zissu, of Bronx, N.Y.; Chief Petty Officer Roland R. Pineau, of Berkley, Mich.; and Petty Officer 3rd Class Raul A. Guerra, of Los Angeles, Calif.; all U.S. Navy. Pineau was buried on Oct. 8 in Arlington National Cemetery near Washington, D.C. The dates and locations of the funerals for the other servicemen are being set by their families.
On Oct. 8, 1967, Zissu and Roggow were the pilots of an E-1B Tracer en route from Chu Lai Air Base, Vietnam, back to the aircraft carrier USS Oriskany. Also on board were Wolfe, Pineau and Guerra. Radar contact with the aircraft was lost approximately 10 miles northwest of Da Nang, Vietnam. Adverse weather hampered immediate search efforts, but three days later, a search helicopter spotted the wreckage of the aircraft on the face of a steep mountain in Da Nang Province. The location, terrain and hostile forces in the area precluded a ground recovery.
In 1993 and 1994, human remains were repatriated to the United States by the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (S.R.V.) with information that linked the remains to unassociated losses in the same geographical area as this incident. Between 1993 and 2004, U.S/S.R.V. teams, all led by the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC), investigated the incident more than 15 times in Da Nang city and Thua Thien-Hue Province.
Between 2004 and 2005, the joint teams surveyed and excavated the crash site where they recovered human remains and crew-related items. During the excavation in 2005, the on-site team learned that human remains may have been removed previously from the site. S.R.V. officials concluded that two Vietnamese citizens found and collected remains at the crash site, and possibly buried them near their residence in Hoi Mit village in Thua Thein-Hue Province. In 2006, another joint U.S./S.R.V. team excavated the suspected burial site in Hoi Mit village, but found no additional remains. In 2007, more remains associated with this incident were repatriated to the United States by S.R.V. officials.
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 the remains.
For additional information on the Defense Department's mission to account for missing Americans, visit the DPMO web site at http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/ or call (703) 699-1169.
Patriotism Prompts Nurse to Rejoin the Air Force
By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service
Oct. 26, 2007 - A sense of duty and patriotism caused a specialist in women's health care to rejoin the Air Force at age 42. Maj. Marcia A. Potter, now 46, enlisted in the Air Force in 1980 after graduating from high school in Clayton, Ohio. After serving a four-year hitch, Potter left the military to pursue her education. She would earn a master's degree in nursing and become a family nurse practitioner.
Today, the married mother of three is back in the Air Force, wearing an officer's gold oak leaf insignia with an Iraq duty tour under her belt.
About a year after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Potter was living in Indiana when she heard the military was looking for doctors, nurses and other experienced health care providers.
"I thought: 'That's where I need to be,'" Potter recalled.
After discussing matters with her family, Potter rejoined the Air Force in 2003, receiving a commission for her professional medical expertise.
Potter is among a group of 10 servicemembers who served in Iraq, Afghanistan or the Horn of Africa who have been selected to tell the military's story to the American people at community and business events, veterans organizations and other gatherings as part of the Defense Department's "Why We Serve" public outreach program.
Why We Serve began last fall and was originally the idea of then-Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Marine Gen. Peter Pace. Representatives from all the service branches participate in the program, which is conducted in quarterly segments. Potter and the other nine servicemembers in her group constitute the fifth iteration since the program began.
In January 2007, Potter deployed to Iraq, where she worked out of Balad Air Base until her return to the states this May.
"I was the sole family nurse practitioner in Iraq providing women's health services," Potter said, noting she also treated male servicemembers and Iraqi citizens.
Servicemembers can become dehydrated in arid climates like Iraq if they don't increase their fluid intake, Potter pointed out. Electrolyte-rich beverages are good to drink in desert areas, she said, while the intake of dehydrating drinks such as sodas and coffee should be limited or avoided.
"I think the services are attuned to providing for the overall health needs of their troops," Potter said.
While at Balad, the major volunteered her off-duty time to treat local Iraqis injured in terrorist attacks.
"I got to know a lot of the patients," Potter said, noting the Iraqis soon became open and engaging with her despite differences in language and culture.
"There's not a whole lot of difference between people in terms of what they desire for themselves and their family," Potter pointed out.
The Why We Serve program "is a fantastic program" that enables servicemembers to tell their stories directly to the public, Potter said.
"I want the American people not to walk in my combat boots, but to follow in the footsteps of the people whose lives touched mine" in Iraq, she explained.
American Forces Press Service
Oct. 26, 2007 - A sense of duty and patriotism caused a specialist in women's health care to rejoin the Air Force at age 42. Maj. Marcia A. Potter, now 46, enlisted in the Air Force in 1980 after graduating from high school in Clayton, Ohio. After serving a four-year hitch, Potter left the military to pursue her education. She would earn a master's degree in nursing and become a family nurse practitioner.
Today, the married mother of three is back in the Air Force, wearing an officer's gold oak leaf insignia with an Iraq duty tour under her belt.
About a year after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Potter was living in Indiana when she heard the military was looking for doctors, nurses and other experienced health care providers.
"I thought: 'That's where I need to be,'" Potter recalled.
After discussing matters with her family, Potter rejoined the Air Force in 2003, receiving a commission for her professional medical expertise.
Potter is among a group of 10 servicemembers who served in Iraq, Afghanistan or the Horn of Africa who have been selected to tell the military's story to the American people at community and business events, veterans organizations and other gatherings as part of the Defense Department's "Why We Serve" public outreach program.
Why We Serve began last fall and was originally the idea of then-Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Marine Gen. Peter Pace. Representatives from all the service branches participate in the program, which is conducted in quarterly segments. Potter and the other nine servicemembers in her group constitute the fifth iteration since the program began.
In January 2007, Potter deployed to Iraq, where she worked out of Balad Air Base until her return to the states this May.
"I was the sole family nurse practitioner in Iraq providing women's health services," Potter said, noting she also treated male servicemembers and Iraqi citizens.
Servicemembers can become dehydrated in arid climates like Iraq if they don't increase their fluid intake, Potter pointed out. Electrolyte-rich beverages are good to drink in desert areas, she said, while the intake of dehydrating drinks such as sodas and coffee should be limited or avoided.
"I think the services are attuned to providing for the overall health needs of their troops," Potter said.
While at Balad, the major volunteered her off-duty time to treat local Iraqis injured in terrorist attacks.
"I got to know a lot of the patients," Potter said, noting the Iraqis soon became open and engaging with her despite differences in language and culture.
"There's not a whole lot of difference between people in terms of what they desire for themselves and their family," Potter pointed out.
The Why We Serve program "is a fantastic program" that enables servicemembers to tell their stories directly to the public, Potter said.
"I want the American people not to walk in my combat boots, but to follow in the footsteps of the people whose lives touched mine" in Iraq, she explained.
Defense Official Calls Wildfire Response 'Awe-Inspiring'
By David Mays
Special to American Forces Press Service
Oct. 26, 2007 - Thousands of servicemembers have been aggressively and selflessly fighting deadly wildfires this week, a top defense department leader said today. "It is awe-inspiring to see the kind of response that is now being executed by civilian first responders, National Guardsmen and other military personnel in Southern California," Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense Paul McHale told online journalists and "bloggers" during a conference call from the Pentagon.
"Many of these individuals are putting themselves in harm's way for the protection of the rest of us," he said, "and when you see that kind of selfless sense of purpose, it is inspiring."
McHale praised National Guard Bureau chief Army Lt. Gen. H Steven Blum for immediately deploying four military aircraft from North Carolina and Wyoming to California on a training mission in case they would be needed in the firefighting effort, rather than waiting for the state's governor to officially request federal help.
"He was extraordinarily proactive in his judgment, noteworthy in his common sense, and as a result, today while we speak, we have those four aircraft plus two more out of the Air Force Reserve actively flying tanker missions in the San Diego area," McHale said. "General Blum's sense of purpose and commitment is shared by every other man or woman in military uniform."
In fact, the Defense Department was so aggressive in responding to the dozens of wildfires that scorched nearly 500,000 acres this week that military pilots and crews were in place and set to fly a full day before they were finally allowed to do so, McHale explained.
"There is indeed a requirement for a 'spotter' to be aboard a military helicopter before that helicopter engages in firefighting activity," he said. "It does appear to be the case that our helicopters, some of our helicopters, were ready to go approximately 24 hours before the spotters became available."
Some 2,500 National Guard soldiers were deployed to help fight the fires, McHale said, as were 350 active duty and civilian Defense Department employees. An additional 17,000 National Guard troops were on standby for activation to the fire lines should they be needed, he said.
"The military response to the wildfires in California was not inhibited in any way, to any degree, by deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan," McHale said. "The capabilities that we needed in Southern California were fully available from our domestic inventory of resources, and those capabilities were made available as fast as was humanly possible."
Before troops ever were deployed in support of operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, McHale pointed out, the scenario of a devastating Southern California fire actually was considered and accounted for.
"There was absolutely no degradation of firefighting response because of the overseas deployments," he said. "In fact, we had considerable capability held in reserve."
In its domestic inventory, McHale explained, the Defense Department has eight C-130 tankers specially fitted to carry and dump tons of orange, fire-retardant chemicals onto blazes. At any given time, two of those aircraft are undergoing scheduled maintenance, he said, leaving six of the massive four-engine turboprops available for firefighting.
"All six rapidly deployed to Southern California," McHale said. "All six at this moment are executing missions in support of firefighting."
To better respond to future natural disasters, McHale said, a "task force for emergency response" should be established in every state consisting of reserve-component military personnel who are employed full-time as government workers.
"So you take Guardsmen who have been trained as planners, Guardsmen who put their uniforms on during the weekend and who drill as members of the reserve component, but who during the week carry over those planning skills ... to achieve integrated planning at the state level," McHale said.
Such combined civilian-military task forces would be a great way to integrate local, state and federal agencies so that each is on the same page when it comes to planning for and responding to disasters such as the California wildfires, McHale said.
(David Mays works in New Media at American Forces Information Service.)
Special to American Forces Press Service
Oct. 26, 2007 - Thousands of servicemembers have been aggressively and selflessly fighting deadly wildfires this week, a top defense department leader said today. "It is awe-inspiring to see the kind of response that is now being executed by civilian first responders, National Guardsmen and other military personnel in Southern California," Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense Paul McHale told online journalists and "bloggers" during a conference call from the Pentagon.
"Many of these individuals are putting themselves in harm's way for the protection of the rest of us," he said, "and when you see that kind of selfless sense of purpose, it is inspiring."
McHale praised National Guard Bureau chief Army Lt. Gen. H Steven Blum for immediately deploying four military aircraft from North Carolina and Wyoming to California on a training mission in case they would be needed in the firefighting effort, rather than waiting for the state's governor to officially request federal help.
"He was extraordinarily proactive in his judgment, noteworthy in his common sense, and as a result, today while we speak, we have those four aircraft plus two more out of the Air Force Reserve actively flying tanker missions in the San Diego area," McHale said. "General Blum's sense of purpose and commitment is shared by every other man or woman in military uniform."
In fact, the Defense Department was so aggressive in responding to the dozens of wildfires that scorched nearly 500,000 acres this week that military pilots and crews were in place and set to fly a full day before they were finally allowed to do so, McHale explained.
"There is indeed a requirement for a 'spotter' to be aboard a military helicopter before that helicopter engages in firefighting activity," he said. "It does appear to be the case that our helicopters, some of our helicopters, were ready to go approximately 24 hours before the spotters became available."
Some 2,500 National Guard soldiers were deployed to help fight the fires, McHale said, as were 350 active duty and civilian Defense Department employees. An additional 17,000 National Guard troops were on standby for activation to the fire lines should they be needed, he said.
"The military response to the wildfires in California was not inhibited in any way, to any degree, by deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan," McHale said. "The capabilities that we needed in Southern California were fully available from our domestic inventory of resources, and those capabilities were made available as fast as was humanly possible."
Before troops ever were deployed in support of operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, McHale pointed out, the scenario of a devastating Southern California fire actually was considered and accounted for.
"There was absolutely no degradation of firefighting response because of the overseas deployments," he said. "In fact, we had considerable capability held in reserve."
In its domestic inventory, McHale explained, the Defense Department has eight C-130 tankers specially fitted to carry and dump tons of orange, fire-retardant chemicals onto blazes. At any given time, two of those aircraft are undergoing scheduled maintenance, he said, leaving six of the massive four-engine turboprops available for firefighting.
"All six rapidly deployed to Southern California," McHale said. "All six at this moment are executing missions in support of firefighting."
To better respond to future natural disasters, McHale said, a "task force for emergency response" should be established in every state consisting of reserve-component military personnel who are employed full-time as government workers.
"So you take Guardsmen who have been trained as planners, Guardsmen who put their uniforms on during the weekend and who drill as members of the reserve component, but who during the week carry over those planning skills ... to achieve integrated planning at the state level," McHale said.
Such combined civilian-military task forces would be a great way to integrate local, state and federal agencies so that each is on the same page when it comes to planning for and responding to disasters such as the California wildfires, McHale said.
(David Mays works in New Media at American Forces Information Service.)
Naval Academy Grads Salute Fallen Classmates at Marine Marathon
By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service
Oct. 26, 2007 - Nearly 100 U.S. Naval Academy graduates from the class of 1995 are dedicating their participation in the Oct. 28 Marine Corps Marathon to the memory of six fallen comrades. About 10 percent of the 900-member graduating class will participate in the 32nd running of the 26-mile marathon and the separate 10-kilometer (6.2 mile) run, said Jeff Webb, a former Navy special warfare operations officer who helped to organize the event.
"A group of us came together looking for a way to honor these six classmates that we've lost," Webb explained at a special reception honoring the departed classmates held here yesterday.
The Marine Corps Marathon "was a good fit, because we have a lot of connections to the marathon with our class," said Webb, who now is a banker in Philadelphia. This year's marathon, he noted, will be the fourth one he has participated in.
Class of '95 comrades saluted in the "Run to Honor" died between 1998 and 2007, Webb said, adding that they constitute the highest operations-related loss of any Naval Academy class since the Vietnam War. The fallen are:
-- Marine Maj. Douglas A. Zembiec, 35, who was killed in action on May 11, 2007, while fighting insurgents in Baghdad. He is renowned as the "Lion of Fallujah" for his actions during combat operations against terrorists during the Battle of Fallujah in 2004.
-- Marine Maj. Megan M. McClung, 34, who died in Anbar province, Iraq, on Dec. 6, 2006. She was posted in Iraq as a public affairs officer working with embedded reporters. McClung died when the vehicle she was riding in was hit by a roadside bomb. McClung is the most-senior Marine woman to be killed in Iraq to date. About a month before her death, McClung organized and participated in an Iraq-based version of the annual Marine Corps Marathon.
-- Navy Lt. Cmdr. Erik S. Kristensen, 33, a special warfare operations officer, who was killed in action in Afghanistan on June 28, 2005. Kristensen was on a mission to rescue other SEALs when the MH-47 Chinook helicopter he was riding in was shot down by insurgents in Kunar province. He was among the 16 Navy and Army members aboard who died.
-- Navy Lt. Richard S. Pugh, 31, an F-14 Tomcat fighter pilot, who died in the line of duty on Aug. 10, 2001, when his aircraft crashed into the Bay of Bengal during a night-training mission from the carrier USS Constellation.
-- Navy Lt. Bruce J. Donald, 27, an F/A-18 Hornet fighter pilot, who died in the line of duty on Sept. 29, 2000, when his aircraft crashed into the Persian Gulf shortly after takeoff from the carrier USS Abraham Lincoln.
-- Lt. j.g. Brendan J. Duffy, 27, who was killed in the line of duty on Nov. 8, 1998, during a night-landing training mission on board the USS Enterprise. The carrier was en route to the Middle East to participate in Operation Desert Fox. Between Dec. 16 and 19, 1998, U.S. aircraft-dropped bombs and ship-launched missiles struck targets in Iraq in a military effort to deter then-dictator Saddam Hussein.
"I would say I knew Major Zembiec the best" when he attended the Naval Academy, Webb recalled. "We just wanted to find a more celebratory atmosphere to celebrate their lives, their leadership and their legacy."
Other servicemembers, families and friends will bring the total number of "Run to Honor" participants to about 175 people, entered in the marathon or the 10-kilometer event, Webb said.
Financial services company United Services Automobile Association, known as USAA, sponsored the reception for the Run to Honor participants, said John Hancock, the firm's military communications manager. USAA is a supporter of the Defense Department's "America Supports You" public-outreach program that connects citizens, businesses and other organizations with ways to support servicemembers and their families.
Hosting the Run to Honor reception is way to recognize the sacrifices made by America's servicemen and women, Hancock explained. "People need to remain aware of what our servicemembers are going through," he said.
Webb said his departed classmates would be cheered by the determination evidenced by military members engaged in the global war on terrorism. Today's good military recruiting and retention numbers, he pointed out, constitute "a testament to the commitment and the sense of duty that our servicemembers have."
Dr. Mike McClung and his wife, Dr. Re McClung, and retired Navy Rear Adm. Edward Kristensen and his wife, Suzanne Kristensen, were among the guests who attended yesterday's Run to Honor reception. McClung recalled that his daughter, Megan, "was really involved in being a Marine," adding that "she died doing the job she wanted to do."
"She made a great sacrifice, and we lost a wonderful child," he continued. "We're very honored by what the class of '95 is doing for her."
Suzanne Kristensen said she "couldn't be more pleased or thrilled" about how Erik's classmates are honoring his sacrifice and memory.
"Erik left us with wonderful friends," she emphasized.
Navy Reserve Lt. Cmdr. Giovanna Kostrubala, another member of the class of '95, said she was a personal friend of Erik Kristensen and Megan McClung during their days at the academy.
"Megan's mom has her laugh and mannerisms," Kostrubala observed at the reception. "That's one of my favorite things about what's going on this weekend, because I get to meet the parents of all of the children."
Col. David Lapan, the Marine Corps' deputy director of public affairs, saluted Webb and the others for their devotion to the memory of their fallen classmates.
"It's great any time that people come together and stop and pay tribute to those who have given their lives in service to the country," Lapan said.
Echoing Lapan's sentiments, Mike McClung noted that it is important for Americans to recognize and appreciate the sacrifices made by the men and women in the armed forces.
"They're out protecting us, and we need to support them," he emphasized.
American Forces Press Service
Oct. 26, 2007 - Nearly 100 U.S. Naval Academy graduates from the class of 1995 are dedicating their participation in the Oct. 28 Marine Corps Marathon to the memory of six fallen comrades. About 10 percent of the 900-member graduating class will participate in the 32nd running of the 26-mile marathon and the separate 10-kilometer (6.2 mile) run, said Jeff Webb, a former Navy special warfare operations officer who helped to organize the event.
"A group of us came together looking for a way to honor these six classmates that we've lost," Webb explained at a special reception honoring the departed classmates held here yesterday.
The Marine Corps Marathon "was a good fit, because we have a lot of connections to the marathon with our class," said Webb, who now is a banker in Philadelphia. This year's marathon, he noted, will be the fourth one he has participated in.
Class of '95 comrades saluted in the "Run to Honor" died between 1998 and 2007, Webb said, adding that they constitute the highest operations-related loss of any Naval Academy class since the Vietnam War. The fallen are:
-- Marine Maj. Douglas A. Zembiec, 35, who was killed in action on May 11, 2007, while fighting insurgents in Baghdad. He is renowned as the "Lion of Fallujah" for his actions during combat operations against terrorists during the Battle of Fallujah in 2004.
-- Marine Maj. Megan M. McClung, 34, who died in Anbar province, Iraq, on Dec. 6, 2006. She was posted in Iraq as a public affairs officer working with embedded reporters. McClung died when the vehicle she was riding in was hit by a roadside bomb. McClung is the most-senior Marine woman to be killed in Iraq to date. About a month before her death, McClung organized and participated in an Iraq-based version of the annual Marine Corps Marathon.
-- Navy Lt. Cmdr. Erik S. Kristensen, 33, a special warfare operations officer, who was killed in action in Afghanistan on June 28, 2005. Kristensen was on a mission to rescue other SEALs when the MH-47 Chinook helicopter he was riding in was shot down by insurgents in Kunar province. He was among the 16 Navy and Army members aboard who died.
-- Navy Lt. Richard S. Pugh, 31, an F-14 Tomcat fighter pilot, who died in the line of duty on Aug. 10, 2001, when his aircraft crashed into the Bay of Bengal during a night-training mission from the carrier USS Constellation.
-- Navy Lt. Bruce J. Donald, 27, an F/A-18 Hornet fighter pilot, who died in the line of duty on Sept. 29, 2000, when his aircraft crashed into the Persian Gulf shortly after takeoff from the carrier USS Abraham Lincoln.
-- Lt. j.g. Brendan J. Duffy, 27, who was killed in the line of duty on Nov. 8, 1998, during a night-landing training mission on board the USS Enterprise. The carrier was en route to the Middle East to participate in Operation Desert Fox. Between Dec. 16 and 19, 1998, U.S. aircraft-dropped bombs and ship-launched missiles struck targets in Iraq in a military effort to deter then-dictator Saddam Hussein.
"I would say I knew Major Zembiec the best" when he attended the Naval Academy, Webb recalled. "We just wanted to find a more celebratory atmosphere to celebrate their lives, their leadership and their legacy."
Other servicemembers, families and friends will bring the total number of "Run to Honor" participants to about 175 people, entered in the marathon or the 10-kilometer event, Webb said.
Financial services company United Services Automobile Association, known as USAA, sponsored the reception for the Run to Honor participants, said John Hancock, the firm's military communications manager. USAA is a supporter of the Defense Department's "America Supports You" public-outreach program that connects citizens, businesses and other organizations with ways to support servicemembers and their families.
Hosting the Run to Honor reception is way to recognize the sacrifices made by America's servicemen and women, Hancock explained. "People need to remain aware of what our servicemembers are going through," he said.
Webb said his departed classmates would be cheered by the determination evidenced by military members engaged in the global war on terrorism. Today's good military recruiting and retention numbers, he pointed out, constitute "a testament to the commitment and the sense of duty that our servicemembers have."
Dr. Mike McClung and his wife, Dr. Re McClung, and retired Navy Rear Adm. Edward Kristensen and his wife, Suzanne Kristensen, were among the guests who attended yesterday's Run to Honor reception. McClung recalled that his daughter, Megan, "was really involved in being a Marine," adding that "she died doing the job she wanted to do."
"She made a great sacrifice, and we lost a wonderful child," he continued. "We're very honored by what the class of '95 is doing for her."
Suzanne Kristensen said she "couldn't be more pleased or thrilled" about how Erik's classmates are honoring his sacrifice and memory.
"Erik left us with wonderful friends," she emphasized.
Navy Reserve Lt. Cmdr. Giovanna Kostrubala, another member of the class of '95, said she was a personal friend of Erik Kristensen and Megan McClung during their days at the academy.
"Megan's mom has her laugh and mannerisms," Kostrubala observed at the reception. "That's one of my favorite things about what's going on this weekend, because I get to meet the parents of all of the children."
Col. David Lapan, the Marine Corps' deputy director of public affairs, saluted Webb and the others for their devotion to the memory of their fallen classmates.
"It's great any time that people come together and stop and pay tribute to those who have given their lives in service to the country," Lapan said.
Echoing Lapan's sentiments, Mike McClung noted that it is important for Americans to recognize and appreciate the sacrifices made by the men and women in the armed forces.
"They're out protecting us, and we need to support them," he emphasized.
Gates Accepts Award, Extols Virtues of Public Service
By John J. Kruzel
American Forces Press Service
Oct. 26, 2007 - Americans who fill the ranks of public service -- the nation's military members, elected officials, teachers and nurses -- are driven by the romantic and optimistic ideal that they can improve the world, the Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said today. "I believe if you scratch deeply enough, you will find that those who serve -- no matter how outwardly tough or egotistical or jaded -- are, in their heart of hearts, romantics and idealists and optimists," Gates told the youthful audience packed into Reed Arena at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas.
Gates was on hand at the university -- where he served as president before he was named to head the Pentagon in November 2006 -- to accept an award for excellence in public service named after and presented by former President George H.W. Bush.
"We actually believe we can make a difference -- that we can make the lives of others better, that we can make a positive difference in the life of the greatest country in the history of the world: in President Lincoln's words, 'The last, best, hope of Earth,'" Gates said.
Through the centuries, some have considered public service an "onerous burden," the secretary said, invoking familiar laments about the thanklessness and meager compensation that often can accompany such careers. But for men and women in uniform, public service entails risking more than making oneself vulnerable to political ad hominem or receiving low wages, he said.
"Tonight, nearly 200,000 American men and women in uniform serve in harm's way in Iraq and Afghanistan. Every single one is a volunteer," he said. "Each has chosen to be there in the belief that they are protecting America and brining a better life to millions long oppressed."
The secretary said 3,385 servicemembers have died in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, and 30,044 have been wounded, according to statistics available yesterday. "And yet, they serve," he said.
"Whatever range of motives causes our young men and women to volunteer for our armed forces, they all hear the call of the trumpet, the call of duty to our country," he said. "And because in doing their duty they risk all, they are the most noble of all."
And it's not only servicemembers who contribute; America should not forget "the families of our men and women in uniform, who remain behind and keep the home functioning by getting the children to school and to Little League, who must shoulder unbearable burdens when a husband or wife is killed or badly wounded," he said.
"And think about the children of those in uniform who must deal with the loss of a parent, or far more commonly, must often move away from friends and familiar schools, who must deal with the absence of a deployed mom or dad not just on special occasions, but every day," he added.
Gates noted that military members make up just a portion of the millions of American public servants, including police officers and firemen, teachers, nurses, elected and appointed officials and countless others.
"All too often, the pay and working conditions are challenging," he said. "All operate in the public spotlight and often find public criticism to be the reward for their labors. Many could live better pursuing other careers.
"And yet," he repeated, "they serve."
Before taking on the job as the nation's 22nd defense secretary, Gates said, he had had vowed to his wife, Becky, "I never want to return to Washington, D.C." He had been a career intelligence officer, and served as CIA director under President George H.W. Bush. But he answered the call once again.
"The world turned upside down again for me almost exactly a year ago, when duty -- and another President Bush -- called me to a different kind of public service," he said. "Just over 40 years after I took my oath and joined the CIA, I was on my way back to Washington, D.C., and government service."
Gates urged the university audience to consider the virtues of a career devoted to serving their country.
"Public servants are people willing to make sacrifices in the present for the future good," he said. "People who believe, to paraphrase Walter Lippmann, 'That we must plant trees we may never get to sit under.'"
Today's young people must heed the nation's call to public service if America is to remain a force for good in the world and exercise "global leadership consistent with our better angels," the secretary said.
"It is precisely during these times that America needs its best and brightest, from all walks of life, to step forward and commit to public service," Gates said, posing a final challenge to the audience. "Will the wise and honest among you come help the American people?"
American Forces Press Service
Oct. 26, 2007 - Americans who fill the ranks of public service -- the nation's military members, elected officials, teachers and nurses -- are driven by the romantic and optimistic ideal that they can improve the world, the Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said today. "I believe if you scratch deeply enough, you will find that those who serve -- no matter how outwardly tough or egotistical or jaded -- are, in their heart of hearts, romantics and idealists and optimists," Gates told the youthful audience packed into Reed Arena at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas.
Gates was on hand at the university -- where he served as president before he was named to head the Pentagon in November 2006 -- to accept an award for excellence in public service named after and presented by former President George H.W. Bush.
"We actually believe we can make a difference -- that we can make the lives of others better, that we can make a positive difference in the life of the greatest country in the history of the world: in President Lincoln's words, 'The last, best, hope of Earth,'" Gates said.
Through the centuries, some have considered public service an "onerous burden," the secretary said, invoking familiar laments about the thanklessness and meager compensation that often can accompany such careers. But for men and women in uniform, public service entails risking more than making oneself vulnerable to political ad hominem or receiving low wages, he said.
"Tonight, nearly 200,000 American men and women in uniform serve in harm's way in Iraq and Afghanistan. Every single one is a volunteer," he said. "Each has chosen to be there in the belief that they are protecting America and brining a better life to millions long oppressed."
The secretary said 3,385 servicemembers have died in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, and 30,044 have been wounded, according to statistics available yesterday. "And yet, they serve," he said.
"Whatever range of motives causes our young men and women to volunteer for our armed forces, they all hear the call of the trumpet, the call of duty to our country," he said. "And because in doing their duty they risk all, they are the most noble of all."
And it's not only servicemembers who contribute; America should not forget "the families of our men and women in uniform, who remain behind and keep the home functioning by getting the children to school and to Little League, who must shoulder unbearable burdens when a husband or wife is killed or badly wounded," he said.
"And think about the children of those in uniform who must deal with the loss of a parent, or far more commonly, must often move away from friends and familiar schools, who must deal with the absence of a deployed mom or dad not just on special occasions, but every day," he added.
Gates noted that military members make up just a portion of the millions of American public servants, including police officers and firemen, teachers, nurses, elected and appointed officials and countless others.
"All too often, the pay and working conditions are challenging," he said. "All operate in the public spotlight and often find public criticism to be the reward for their labors. Many could live better pursuing other careers.
"And yet," he repeated, "they serve."
Before taking on the job as the nation's 22nd defense secretary, Gates said, he had had vowed to his wife, Becky, "I never want to return to Washington, D.C." He had been a career intelligence officer, and served as CIA director under President George H.W. Bush. But he answered the call once again.
"The world turned upside down again for me almost exactly a year ago, when duty -- and another President Bush -- called me to a different kind of public service," he said. "Just over 40 years after I took my oath and joined the CIA, I was on my way back to Washington, D.C., and government service."
Gates urged the university audience to consider the virtues of a career devoted to serving their country.
"Public servants are people willing to make sacrifices in the present for the future good," he said. "People who believe, to paraphrase Walter Lippmann, 'That we must plant trees we may never get to sit under.'"
Today's young people must heed the nation's call to public service if America is to remain a force for good in the world and exercise "global leadership consistent with our better angels," the secretary said.
"It is precisely during these times that America needs its best and brightest, from all walks of life, to step forward and commit to public service," Gates said, posing a final challenge to the audience. "Will the wise and honest among you come help the American people?"
Airman Helps Afghans Get Well
By Staff Sgt. Joshua Jasper, USAF
Special to American Forces Press Service
Oct. 25, 2007 - Children line the streets during the short ride to the village. Adults with noticeable disabilities and young children who may have never had professional medical assistance look curiously at the visitors, probably wondering why they have come. Despite this lack of professional medical care, one of those visitors has been making a positive difference for local villagers. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Joy Flumerfelt, a squadron medical element/independent medical technician, deployed here from the 336th Fighter Squadron, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., is currently working with the 336th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron.
Although, her main concern is the care of deployed servicemembers, she also provides medical support to local communities. Since arriving here a little more than a month ago, she has treated nearly 100 villagers.
"We (independent medical technicians) function as providers, so we can practice medicine to a greater degree than medics can," Flumerfelt said.
Thanks to this capability, Flumerfelt has the opportunity to regularly provide medical assistance to local communities. "Since I started, the villagers seem to be a lot more receptive to medical care and supportive of Americans in general," she said.
The conditions she treats have ranged from a simple rash to broken bones and tumors, as on a recent trip to a nearby village.
"I examined an old man who had a massive tumor across his brow," Flumerfelt said. "The tumor was open and had taken his sight on one side. It was hard to imagine how painful it must have been for this man, who had been plagued with this illness for three years. I have been talking with the plastic surgeon on base to see if we can get him the medical assistance that he needs."
Flumerfelt said the villagers are very appreciative of what she does for them. So much so that she hasn't seen one villager yet who has not thanked her for the assistance she has provided.
"I am amazed at how simple a life that these people live. It makes me realize how easy it can be to take the medical care that we receive back home for granted," Flumerfelt said. "I am happy to give these people the assistance that they need, and I look forward to helping many more before I go home."
(Air Force Staff Sgt. Joshua Jasper is assigned to 455th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs.)
Special to American Forces Press Service
Oct. 25, 2007 - Children line the streets during the short ride to the village. Adults with noticeable disabilities and young children who may have never had professional medical assistance look curiously at the visitors, probably wondering why they have come. Despite this lack of professional medical care, one of those visitors has been making a positive difference for local villagers. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Joy Flumerfelt, a squadron medical element/independent medical technician, deployed here from the 336th Fighter Squadron, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., is currently working with the 336th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron.
Although, her main concern is the care of deployed servicemembers, she also provides medical support to local communities. Since arriving here a little more than a month ago, she has treated nearly 100 villagers.
"We (independent medical technicians) function as providers, so we can practice medicine to a greater degree than medics can," Flumerfelt said.
Thanks to this capability, Flumerfelt has the opportunity to regularly provide medical assistance to local communities. "Since I started, the villagers seem to be a lot more receptive to medical care and supportive of Americans in general," she said.
The conditions she treats have ranged from a simple rash to broken bones and tumors, as on a recent trip to a nearby village.
"I examined an old man who had a massive tumor across his brow," Flumerfelt said. "The tumor was open and had taken his sight on one side. It was hard to imagine how painful it must have been for this man, who had been plagued with this illness for three years. I have been talking with the plastic surgeon on base to see if we can get him the medical assistance that he needs."
Flumerfelt said the villagers are very appreciative of what she does for them. So much so that she hasn't seen one villager yet who has not thanked her for the assistance she has provided.
"I am amazed at how simple a life that these people live. It makes me realize how easy it can be to take the medical care that we receive back home for granted," Flumerfelt said. "I am happy to give these people the assistance that they need, and I look forward to helping many more before I go home."
(Air Force Staff Sgt. Joshua Jasper is assigned to 455th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs.)
First Lady Thanks Troops for Sacrifices
By Sgt. Sara Wood, USA
American Forces Press Service
Oct. 25, 2007 - First lady Laura Bush visited troops in Kuwait today to thank them for their service, calling them a force for good in the Middle East. "At the heart of your mission to protect America's freedom is securing the freedom of others," Bush told the troops. "Because of our men and women in uniform, 50 million people who once lived in tyranny can now choose the future direction of their countries and their own lives."
Bush noted that the U.S. troops, from the Army's Task Force 1146 and the Air Force's 386th Air Expeditionary Group, provide top-notch missile defense, combat rescue and support, medical evacuation, air surveillance, and supply services to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. Each year, more than 700,000 military personnel move there on their way to and from Iraq and Afghanistan, she said, and the soldiers and airmen move them efficiently and professionally.
U.S. troops in the Middle East are building a foundation of friendship between America and countries in the region, Bush said. Because of the sacrifices troops made in the early 1990s, Kuwait now is a prosperous nation making important strides toward democracy, she said. During a meeting yesterday with Kuwaiti political leaders, Bush said, an official told her, "We will never, ever forget" America's liberation of Kuwait. "It's engraved in our hearts and in our history books."
Bush's trip to the Middle East is to promote the U.S.-Middle East Partnership for Breast Cancer Awareness Research. She said troops in the Middle East are helping make things like this possible and helping people of the region improve their lives.
"With your courage and compassion, you show that the United States military is one of the greatest forces for good in the world," Bush told the troops.
Bush recounted several stories of compassion and bravery by U.S. troops in the Middle East, such as two officers who helped save the lives of two Kuwaiti civilians in a car accident, troops who coordinated medical care for an Iraqi boy with a serious condition, and an Army Reserve staff sergeant who stopped a suicide bomber in Afghanistan.
"Across the Middle East and around the world, many stories of compassion and self-sacrifice we hear," the first lady said. "When Americans hear these stories, we think of them as extraordinary acts of heroism. To the men and women in our armed forces, they're just all in a day's work."
Bush reminded the troops that Americans understand and appreciate the sacrifices they make. She said that she and President Bush get letters from people who say they're proud of the troops and believe in them.
"If you want the real measure of how Americans feel about you and your mission, listen for the love and pride in phone calls from your families," she said. "Read the encouragement in e-mails from your friends. Read the stories in the news, the ones about the Main Street parades organized to honor hometown heroes."
American Forces Press Service
Oct. 25, 2007 - First lady Laura Bush visited troops in Kuwait today to thank them for their service, calling them a force for good in the Middle East. "At the heart of your mission to protect America's freedom is securing the freedom of others," Bush told the troops. "Because of our men and women in uniform, 50 million people who once lived in tyranny can now choose the future direction of their countries and their own lives."
Bush noted that the U.S. troops, from the Army's Task Force 1146 and the Air Force's 386th Air Expeditionary Group, provide top-notch missile defense, combat rescue and support, medical evacuation, air surveillance, and supply services to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. Each year, more than 700,000 military personnel move there on their way to and from Iraq and Afghanistan, she said, and the soldiers and airmen move them efficiently and professionally.
U.S. troops in the Middle East are building a foundation of friendship between America and countries in the region, Bush said. Because of the sacrifices troops made in the early 1990s, Kuwait now is a prosperous nation making important strides toward democracy, she said. During a meeting yesterday with Kuwaiti political leaders, Bush said, an official told her, "We will never, ever forget" America's liberation of Kuwait. "It's engraved in our hearts and in our history books."
Bush's trip to the Middle East is to promote the U.S.-Middle East Partnership for Breast Cancer Awareness Research. She said troops in the Middle East are helping make things like this possible and helping people of the region improve their lives.
"With your courage and compassion, you show that the United States military is one of the greatest forces for good in the world," Bush told the troops.
Bush recounted several stories of compassion and bravery by U.S. troops in the Middle East, such as two officers who helped save the lives of two Kuwaiti civilians in a car accident, troops who coordinated medical care for an Iraqi boy with a serious condition, and an Army Reserve staff sergeant who stopped a suicide bomber in Afghanistan.
"Across the Middle East and around the world, many stories of compassion and self-sacrifice we hear," the first lady said. "When Americans hear these stories, we think of them as extraordinary acts of heroism. To the men and women in our armed forces, they're just all in a day's work."
Bush reminded the troops that Americans understand and appreciate the sacrifices they make. She said that she and President Bush get letters from people who say they're proud of the troops and believe in them.
"If you want the real measure of how Americans feel about you and your mission, listen for the love and pride in phone calls from your families," she said. "Read the encouragement in e-mails from your friends. Read the stories in the news, the ones about the Main Street parades organized to honor hometown heroes."
Relationship With Russia Dominates NATO Session's Closing Day
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
Oct. 25, 2007 - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates wrapped up his second day here focusing on NATO's relationship with Russia, as well as Russian objections to some alliance activities. Gates and other members of the NATO-Russia Council met with Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov to talk about their common interests and attempt to iron out their differences.
The session took place amid mounting Russian criticism on issues ranging from a proposed missile shield in Eastern Europe to negotiations over Kosovo's future and NATO expansion plans.
The NATO-Russia Council, established in 2002, serves as a forum for all 26 NATO allies and Russia to work together as equal partners to advance NATO-Russia relations. It met during the second and last day of a NATO informal ministerial conference at this North Sea resort town.
Gates downplayed any disagreements with Russia earlier this week in Prague, telling Radio Free Europe that the United States considers Russia a strategic ally it shares many common interests with and wants to work with.
"I think our approach should be to consider Russia a strategic partner until and unless it proves otherwise," Gates said during the Oct. 23 interview. "There has been a lot of rhetoric, but in terms of specific actions so far, the Russians have not taken any irreversible decisions. And they have, in some areas, continued to play a constructive role."
For example, today's NATO-Russia Council meeting here followed a two-day session Russia hosted earlier this week on the council's counter narcotics training project for Afghanistan and Central Asia. Robert Simmons, NATO's deputy assistant secretary-general for security cooperation and partnership, praised the project as "one of the most significant successes of NATO-Russia cooperation."
Today's NRC meeting preceded Gates' bilateral meeting with Polish National Defense Minister Aleksander Szczyglo, which a U.S. defense official characterized as "a good conversation." The session focused on the NATO mission in Afghanistan and on a proposed missile defense system that would include 10 interceptor missiles in Poland.
The inteceptors would be part of a proposed missile defense system designed to protect Europe and the United States from a ballistic missile attack by rogue countries in the Middle East. It also would include a radar in the Czech Republic.
President Bush said earlier this week in Washington that the need for the system "is real, and I believe it's urgent."
Russia considers the system a threat to its security, but Gates said during an Oct. 23 news conference in Prague that he believes his and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's recent visit to Moscow put options on the table he hopes will lessen Russia's resistance.
Gates and Szczyglo talked about changes within the Polish government following Oct. 21 elections that moved the opposition party into power and their potential impact on the two countries' defense cooperation.
The secretary told reporters the day after the elections that he's confident the shift won't erode U.S.-Polish cooperation in Iraq and Afghanistan or missile defense plans.
Today's NATO-Russian Council session came as NATO was discussing another Russian sticking point: the alliance's support for U.N. Special Envoy Martti Ahtisaari's plan that will lead to Kosovo's independence from Serbia. Russia wants Serbian and Kosovar leaders to agree to any plan on Kosovo's status.
A senior defense official traveling with Gates said yesterday's talks underscored the importance of the 16,000-member Kosovo Force, or KFOR, peacekeeping mission. The ministers agreed that "as we head toward final status decisions, KFOR becomes more important than ever, and we all need to meet our commitments in KFOR," the official said.
She noted that Gates has made clear he intends to keep U.S. forces there until next summer. "Other KFOR countries made similar commitments," she said. "I think virtually everybody who spoke on Kosovo talked about the importance of the KFOR being strong and ready now, and nobody said they have a problem maintaining their force."
Earlier this week, in Kyiv, Ukraine, Gates urged Southeastern Defense Ministerial members to continue their part in the KFOR stabilization mission "regardless of what happens after Dec. 10," the deadline for negotiations regarding Kosovo's future status.
NATO defense ministers here also discussed plans expand the 26-member alliance to include Croatia, Albania and Macedonia. Gates met with the NATO aspirants in Ukraine earlier this week to discuss their progress toward satisfying NATO membership requirements.
Gates also met with French Defense Minister Herve Morin today, with talks focusing on France's contributions in Afghanistan, as well as the Kosovo mission, missile defense and the NATO-European relationship, a defense official said.
The two leaders had "very candid and constructive" talks, the official said, noting that the U.S. and French counterparts have "a very good rapport and excellent working relationship."
The secretary declined to confirm media reports that France could for the first time send military trainers into southern Afghanistan. Such a move, which would extend France's contribution beyond the 1,000 troops serving with the NATO International Security Assistance Force in Kabul and Kandahar, would represent a major strategic shift for France, a U.S. official told journalists.
American Forces Press Service
Oct. 25, 2007 - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates wrapped up his second day here focusing on NATO's relationship with Russia, as well as Russian objections to some alliance activities. Gates and other members of the NATO-Russia Council met with Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov to talk about their common interests and attempt to iron out their differences.
The session took place amid mounting Russian criticism on issues ranging from a proposed missile shield in Eastern Europe to negotiations over Kosovo's future and NATO expansion plans.
The NATO-Russia Council, established in 2002, serves as a forum for all 26 NATO allies and Russia to work together as equal partners to advance NATO-Russia relations. It met during the second and last day of a NATO informal ministerial conference at this North Sea resort town.
Gates downplayed any disagreements with Russia earlier this week in Prague, telling Radio Free Europe that the United States considers Russia a strategic ally it shares many common interests with and wants to work with.
"I think our approach should be to consider Russia a strategic partner until and unless it proves otherwise," Gates said during the Oct. 23 interview. "There has been a lot of rhetoric, but in terms of specific actions so far, the Russians have not taken any irreversible decisions. And they have, in some areas, continued to play a constructive role."
For example, today's NATO-Russia Council meeting here followed a two-day session Russia hosted earlier this week on the council's counter narcotics training project for Afghanistan and Central Asia. Robert Simmons, NATO's deputy assistant secretary-general for security cooperation and partnership, praised the project as "one of the most significant successes of NATO-Russia cooperation."
Today's NRC meeting preceded Gates' bilateral meeting with Polish National Defense Minister Aleksander Szczyglo, which a U.S. defense official characterized as "a good conversation." The session focused on the NATO mission in Afghanistan and on a proposed missile defense system that would include 10 interceptor missiles in Poland.
The inteceptors would be part of a proposed missile defense system designed to protect Europe and the United States from a ballistic missile attack by rogue countries in the Middle East. It also would include a radar in the Czech Republic.
President Bush said earlier this week in Washington that the need for the system "is real, and I believe it's urgent."
Russia considers the system a threat to its security, but Gates said during an Oct. 23 news conference in Prague that he believes his and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's recent visit to Moscow put options on the table he hopes will lessen Russia's resistance.
Gates and Szczyglo talked about changes within the Polish government following Oct. 21 elections that moved the opposition party into power and their potential impact on the two countries' defense cooperation.
The secretary told reporters the day after the elections that he's confident the shift won't erode U.S.-Polish cooperation in Iraq and Afghanistan or missile defense plans.
Today's NATO-Russian Council session came as NATO was discussing another Russian sticking point: the alliance's support for U.N. Special Envoy Martti Ahtisaari's plan that will lead to Kosovo's independence from Serbia. Russia wants Serbian and Kosovar leaders to agree to any plan on Kosovo's status.
A senior defense official traveling with Gates said yesterday's talks underscored the importance of the 16,000-member Kosovo Force, or KFOR, peacekeeping mission. The ministers agreed that "as we head toward final status decisions, KFOR becomes more important than ever, and we all need to meet our commitments in KFOR," the official said.
She noted that Gates has made clear he intends to keep U.S. forces there until next summer. "Other KFOR countries made similar commitments," she said. "I think virtually everybody who spoke on Kosovo talked about the importance of the KFOR being strong and ready now, and nobody said they have a problem maintaining their force."
Earlier this week, in Kyiv, Ukraine, Gates urged Southeastern Defense Ministerial members to continue their part in the KFOR stabilization mission "regardless of what happens after Dec. 10," the deadline for negotiations regarding Kosovo's future status.
NATO defense ministers here also discussed plans expand the 26-member alliance to include Croatia, Albania and Macedonia. Gates met with the NATO aspirants in Ukraine earlier this week to discuss their progress toward satisfying NATO membership requirements.
Gates also met with French Defense Minister Herve Morin today, with talks focusing on France's contributions in Afghanistan, as well as the Kosovo mission, missile defense and the NATO-European relationship, a defense official said.
The two leaders had "very candid and constructive" talks, the official said, noting that the U.S. and French counterparts have "a very good rapport and excellent working relationship."
The secretary declined to confirm media reports that France could for the first time send military trainers into southern Afghanistan. Such a move, which would extend France's contribution beyond the 1,000 troops serving with the NATO International Security Assistance Force in Kabul and Kandahar, would represent a major strategic shift for France, a U.S. official told journalists.
Chairman Reaches Out to Ground-Force Troops
By Fred W. Baker III
American Forces Press Service
Oct. 25, 2007 - When Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Navy Adm. Michael G. Mullen asked a room full of soldiers at Fort Riley, Kan., how many had been deployed more than four times, a scattering of hands shot up. When he asked for a show of hands by those who had deployed two or three times, almost all the soldiers raised their hands.
When Mullen asked who hadn't yet deployed, only a few hands were left in the air.
It was a theme that permeated the chairman's two-day visit to three stateside Army posts. In his remarks, the chairman repeatedly acknowledged that the Army has borne the brunt of the deploying ground force in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Evidence of soldiers' service in Iraq and Afghanistan greeted Mullen at every stop. During his visit to Fort Riley, Mullen put his finger into a bullet hole in a Kevlar helmet that now serves as a souvenir for a wounded warrior he met with. Mullen's wife, Deborah, fed a snack to the smiling toddler comfortable in the soldier's lap.
When the chairman re-enlisted nine troops there, seven wore unit patches on their right sleeves, denoting service in a combat environment. In a room of nearly 20 Command and General Staff College students at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., all but one wore a combat patch, and an auditorium of nearly 1,000 students there was a veritable sea of combat patches. At Fort Sill, Okla., every young officer who stood to ask a question of the chairman wore a combat patch.
Mullen said he wanted to get a gauge of how stressed the force is. For his efforts, the chairman received straightforward feedback from troops who expressed concerns about dwindling "dwell time" at their home stations between deployments, a lack of conventional training in their core warfighting skills, discipline problems created by the Army allowing more soldiers in with waivers for education requirements and previous criminal acts, and poor conditions of equipment that has been stored in motor pools while troops were away for months fighting a counterinsurgency mission.
"I got very much what I was looking for. It was what I expected," Mullen told reporters traveling with him in an interview at the end of this trip. "I am an out-and-about leader. I can't do this from the Pentagon. I've got to get out and meet people, look them in the eye, create opportunities to get that kind of feedback."
While the whirlwind trip took the chairman through briefs on Army programs and training, Mullen spent the majority of time talking with troops and displaying caring candor. His wife met with servicemembers' families to do the same.
When Mullen's staff would tell him he had time for only one more question at the town hall meetings with troops, the admiral would take two or three more. At Fort Riley, Mullen ushered out all unit leaders and media to have a lengthy, private conversation with recovering wounded soldiers. At lunch, he sat behind closed doors surrounded by troops.
In the two days, the chairman fielded "extraordinary concerns," but his confidence in the capability in force was still intact, he said.
"It's just concern about the stress of deployments. They are accomplishing the mission at an exceptionally high level. They are tired, (but) their morale is good," Mullen said.
The admiral pointed to the service's strong retention numbers as an indicator of the stability of the force, but he also conceded that a prolonged war at the current tempo would eventually take its toll.
"I'm not concerned it's falling apart, but I'm mindful that there are limits, and we've got to pay attention to these kinds of things," Mullen said. "And the goal would be to get policies in place before we reach those limits. Because my experience is if we see ... a significant departure in terms of our young officers and our mid-grade noncommissioned officers, then we're a couple years behind the problem.
"Most the indicators we have are lagging, so if we see it out in front of us, it's going to take a long time to recover," he said.
Mullen said the all-volunteer force has never been this tasked. He pointed to the quality of the servicemembers, but acknowledged that quality troops and their families inevitably will tire from the strain.
"It's sustainable across mission accomplishment, quality, retention, family support, and it is sustaining itself in that regard. But it is not sustainable long term," Mullen said.
Mullen said he was most concerned by complaints from young officers who said that Army branch managers were not taking into consideration family needs when making assignments.
Two young officers at Fort Sill said they were told by branch managers that family considerations were not a priority when making assignments. They both expressed to the chairman that they were likely to end their service. At lunch with troops at Riley, the complaint was echoed.
"I had a young officer tell me that she was not handled well at all by the branch manager ... and that family issues were not a priority," Mullen said afterward.
He said the officer's husband was also in the Army, currently deployed and they had two children.
Another told him: "'I love what I'm doing, but it's really, really hard on my family. And I don't sense a lot of interest in the branch management world,'" Mullen said.
The admiral said those comments "crushed" him.
"From a leadership standpoint, I cannot abide by that, and won't," he said. "And I assure you, I will address that with the leadership with the Army."
Mullen previously managed an assignments branch for the Navy and said he understands the pressure to fill slots, a task made even more difficult by the war and frequent deployments. "But I believe that with the right guidance and leadership that it doesn't have to be that way," he said.
The chairman said the needs of soldiers, families and the military can be met with the right policies and leader emphasis, and added that it is critical now to put the focus on the servicemember.
"I really do believe we're at a time when we've got to put our people at the center of this assignment cycle and meet those needs, and we can do it, ... which is a different approach than (putting) the Army needs (first), and everything else falls in after that," he said. "I really believe that we can meet both. But it's got to be prioritized that way, and it's got to come from the leadership, and it has to be enforced."
American Forces Press Service
Oct. 25, 2007 - When Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Navy Adm. Michael G. Mullen asked a room full of soldiers at Fort Riley, Kan., how many had been deployed more than four times, a scattering of hands shot up. When he asked for a show of hands by those who had deployed two or three times, almost all the soldiers raised their hands.
When Mullen asked who hadn't yet deployed, only a few hands were left in the air.
It was a theme that permeated the chairman's two-day visit to three stateside Army posts. In his remarks, the chairman repeatedly acknowledged that the Army has borne the brunt of the deploying ground force in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Evidence of soldiers' service in Iraq and Afghanistan greeted Mullen at every stop. During his visit to Fort Riley, Mullen put his finger into a bullet hole in a Kevlar helmet that now serves as a souvenir for a wounded warrior he met with. Mullen's wife, Deborah, fed a snack to the smiling toddler comfortable in the soldier's lap.
When the chairman re-enlisted nine troops there, seven wore unit patches on their right sleeves, denoting service in a combat environment. In a room of nearly 20 Command and General Staff College students at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., all but one wore a combat patch, and an auditorium of nearly 1,000 students there was a veritable sea of combat patches. At Fort Sill, Okla., every young officer who stood to ask a question of the chairman wore a combat patch.
Mullen said he wanted to get a gauge of how stressed the force is. For his efforts, the chairman received straightforward feedback from troops who expressed concerns about dwindling "dwell time" at their home stations between deployments, a lack of conventional training in their core warfighting skills, discipline problems created by the Army allowing more soldiers in with waivers for education requirements and previous criminal acts, and poor conditions of equipment that has been stored in motor pools while troops were away for months fighting a counterinsurgency mission.
"I got very much what I was looking for. It was what I expected," Mullen told reporters traveling with him in an interview at the end of this trip. "I am an out-and-about leader. I can't do this from the Pentagon. I've got to get out and meet people, look them in the eye, create opportunities to get that kind of feedback."
While the whirlwind trip took the chairman through briefs on Army programs and training, Mullen spent the majority of time talking with troops and displaying caring candor. His wife met with servicemembers' families to do the same.
When Mullen's staff would tell him he had time for only one more question at the town hall meetings with troops, the admiral would take two or three more. At Fort Riley, Mullen ushered out all unit leaders and media to have a lengthy, private conversation with recovering wounded soldiers. At lunch, he sat behind closed doors surrounded by troops.
In the two days, the chairman fielded "extraordinary concerns," but his confidence in the capability in force was still intact, he said.
"It's just concern about the stress of deployments. They are accomplishing the mission at an exceptionally high level. They are tired, (but) their morale is good," Mullen said.
The admiral pointed to the service's strong retention numbers as an indicator of the stability of the force, but he also conceded that a prolonged war at the current tempo would eventually take its toll.
"I'm not concerned it's falling apart, but I'm mindful that there are limits, and we've got to pay attention to these kinds of things," Mullen said. "And the goal would be to get policies in place before we reach those limits. Because my experience is if we see ... a significant departure in terms of our young officers and our mid-grade noncommissioned officers, then we're a couple years behind the problem.
"Most the indicators we have are lagging, so if we see it out in front of us, it's going to take a long time to recover," he said.
Mullen said the all-volunteer force has never been this tasked. He pointed to the quality of the servicemembers, but acknowledged that quality troops and their families inevitably will tire from the strain.
"It's sustainable across mission accomplishment, quality, retention, family support, and it is sustaining itself in that regard. But it is not sustainable long term," Mullen said.
Mullen said he was most concerned by complaints from young officers who said that Army branch managers were not taking into consideration family needs when making assignments.
Two young officers at Fort Sill said they were told by branch managers that family considerations were not a priority when making assignments. They both expressed to the chairman that they were likely to end their service. At lunch with troops at Riley, the complaint was echoed.
"I had a young officer tell me that she was not handled well at all by the branch manager ... and that family issues were not a priority," Mullen said afterward.
He said the officer's husband was also in the Army, currently deployed and they had two children.
Another told him: "'I love what I'm doing, but it's really, really hard on my family. And I don't sense a lot of interest in the branch management world,'" Mullen said.
The admiral said those comments "crushed" him.
"From a leadership standpoint, I cannot abide by that, and won't," he said. "And I assure you, I will address that with the leadership with the Army."
Mullen previously managed an assignments branch for the Navy and said he understands the pressure to fill slots, a task made even more difficult by the war and frequent deployments. "But I believe that with the right guidance and leadership that it doesn't have to be that way," he said.
The chairman said the needs of soldiers, families and the military can be met with the right policies and leader emphasis, and added that it is critical now to put the focus on the servicemember.
"I really do believe we're at a time when we've got to put our people at the center of this assignment cycle and meet those needs, and we can do it, ... which is a different approach than (putting) the Army needs (first), and everything else falls in after that," he said. "I really believe that we can meet both. But it's got to be prioritized that way, and it's got to come from the leadership, and it has to be enforced."
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