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As Arlington County detectives continued to investigate the shooting death of 24-year-old Paul Zeller outside the Pentagon Row shops last week, the former soldier's father said yesterday that his son would be buried this morning in his home state of Colorado. -snip- "It's been very hard for us," said Zeller, a retired Navy chaplain who teaches at a seminary in Westcliffe. "We don't have any answers. . . . The police haven't told us anything except to avoid speculating about what happened." Police said Zeller was fatally shot at close range outside the upscale shopping center just after midnight Friday....

An Arlington man who was shot to death outside the Pentagon Row shopping center early Friday was an Army veteran who participated in the 2003 invasion of Iraq, family members said yesterday. Spec. Paul Matthew Zeller, 24, joined the Army two weeks before the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. A mortarman with the 82nd Airborne Division, he was honorably discharged in September 2004. Zeller's family said he worked long hours at the College Park Honda dealership, commuting between Arlington County and Maryland on Metro. They said Zeller was walking home from the Pentagon City Station just after midnight when he was...

FORT BRAGG, N.C. (Army News Service, May 30, 2006) – Pike Field was a sea of maroon berets May 25 as more than 12,000 paratroopers of the 82nd Airborne Division underwent a Division Review on the fourth day of All-American Week. Maj. Gen. David M. Rodriguez hosted the ceremony, and Secretary of the Army Dr. Francis J. Harvey served as the reviewing officer. “Distinguished guests; past, present and future paratroopers; glider riders and pilots; family and friends of the All-American Division, thank you for attending today’s Division Review and helping us celebrate the division’s rich history,” Rodriguez said in opening...

FORT BRAGG, N.C. (Army News Service, Feb. 27, 2006) – Seven members of the 82nd Airborne Division have been charged with violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice for knowingly engaging in sex for money on a public Web site. The investigation into alleged improper activities has been completed and is isolated within two companies in one battalion, officials said. Courts-martial charges have been preferred against three Soldiers. They are Spc. Richard T. Ashley; Pfc. Wesley K. Mitten and Pvt. Kagen B. Mullen, all from 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment. The three were charged under UCMJ with pandering,...

ORLANDO (Army News Service, Feb. 18, 2006) – The “world’s happiest place” has been invaded by some of the Army’s best entertainers. The Soldiers of the 82nd Airborne Division “All-American” Chorus entertained hundreds of Mickey Mouse fans – young and old – at an outdoor performance pavilion in Downtown Disney Feb. 18. The concert was a part of Disney’s Magic Music Days program, which brings non-professional bands, choirs and orchestras to Disney World for the chance to participate in educational workshops with Disney musicians or perform for the thousands who visit the amusement parks daily. The program brings over one...

AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq, Dec. 29, 2005 – An 82nd Airborne Division unit has again proven the division's unofficial motto of "America's 911 Force" during its deployment to Iraq's Anbar province. It was a short, violent and ultimately fulfilling deployment for the paratroopers of Task Force 3-504, said its commander, Army Lt. Col. Larry Swift. The unit - built around the 3rd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, and under command of the 2nd Marine Division while in Iraq - was one of two battalions deployed in September from Fort Bragg, N.C. The unit worked with other coalition and Iraqi...

Sgt. Kornelia Rachwal, 12th Aviation Brigade, comforts a Pakistani earthquake victim being evacuated from Muzaffarabad aboard a CH-47 Chinhook. By Tech. Sgt. Mike Buytas, October 21, 2005Pakistanis watch as U.S. Soldiers unload earthquake relief supplies from their CH-47 Chinook helicopter, near Panjkot, Pakistan. By Tech. Sgt. Mike Buytas, October 31, 20051st Lt. Tory Marcon, from the 212th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital in Muzaffarabad, Pakistan, helps Riaz Sharif drink a special food for tetanus patients with muscle spasms. The Soldiers are providing medical care for earthquake victims. By Petty Officer 2nd Class Eric S. Powell, November 9, 2005.2nd Lt. Jeanette Johnson,...

From left to right, U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer Charles Folk, 1st Lt. Michael Hultquist, Chief Warrant Officer James Cornell and Chief Warrant Officer James Williamson, all aviators from 1st Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, received the Distinguished Flying Cross during a ceremony Nov. 8, 2005, at the 82nd Aviation Brigade Headquarters. The aviators were awarded the medal for valorous actions during Operation Iraqi Freedom. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Michael J. Carden Paratroopers Awarded Distinguished Flying Cross Hearing a mayday call from ambushed U.S. and Iraqi troops, the four soldiers went to their aid despite being...

NEW ORLEANS, Sept. 21, 2005 – The Army's 82nd Airborne Division took to the water soon after it deployed to New Orleans to provide disaster relief assistance in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, the unit's two-star general said here Sept. 20. Elements of the 82nd Airborne Division arrived in New Orleans Sept. 3. They handed off their duties in the city to National Guardsmen earlier this week and are preparing to redeploy home to Fort Bragg, N.C. About 80 percent of the Crescent City was flooded after levees broke Aug. 30. That became a challenge for the paratroopers when they...

A few months ago, these same guys were fighting in Iraq. Now they were roaring down the highway in a long green line in central South Carolina, in the lane next to me. As I mentioned, they looked tough. But most also looked as if they were barely old enough to shave. Some of them probably had tubes of Clearasil (or whatever teenagers use today to fight acne) stowed away in their field packs.

On August 23, 2005, the Secretary of Defense approved a request by the commander of Multi-National Forces-Iraq (MNF-I) to deploy two additional infantry battalions to Iraq. Two battalions from the 82nd Airborne Division will deploy to Iraq for an anticipated duration of approximately 120 days to support security efforts during the election period. Adjustments to troop levels in Iraq occurred prior to the transfer to Iraqi sovereignty in June 2004 and during the January Iraqi elections. These troops will join 180,000 Iraqi security forces and 138,000 coalition forces in helping set the security conditions for successful elections. Gen. Casey’s request...

Units assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division have provided security for elections in Afghanistan and Iraq, so this mission came as no surprise to the paratroopers. BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan, Aug. 8, 2005 — The first group of paratroopers from a battalion of the 82nd Airborne Division rapidly deployed to Afghanistan to bolster security in advance of the country’s upcoming provincial elections began arriving here July 16. Approximately 700 paratroopers from the 1st Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment were scheduled to arrive in Afghanistan in mid-July to join more than 1,500 paratroopers from the 82nd’s 1st Brigade Combat Team who have...

Fort Bragg, N.C. (Army News Service July 11, 2005) - More Paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division are headed to Afghanistan, the Division’s commander announced during a press conference July 8. Between 700 and 800 Paratroopers from 1st Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment will deploy within several weeks to Afghanistan to bolster security there in advance of the upcoming provincial elections in September, said Maj. Gen. William B. Caldwell IV. The Division already has about 1,500 Paratroopers from its 1st Brigade Combat Team deployed to the country, which has seen a spike in violence against coalition forces in recent months....

Lord, Keep our Troops forever in Your care Give them victory over the enemy... Grant them a safe and swift return... Bless those who mourn the lost. . FReepers from the Foxhole join in prayer for all those serving their country at this time. .................................................................. .................... ........................................... U.S. Military History, Current Events and Veterans Issues Where Duty, Honor and Countryare acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated. Our Mission: The FReeper Foxhole is dedicated to Veterans of our Nation's military forces and to others who are affected in their relationships with Veterans. In the FReeper Foxhole, Veterans or their family members should...

ST. PAUL - The son of a Minnesota state senator was killed in Iraq when his helicopter was shot down, officials said. It was the second tour in Iraq for Chief Warrant Officer Matt Lourey, 41, who flew helicopters with the Army's 82nd Airborne Division — though his mother, Sen. Becky Lourey, and other relatives opposed the war and had tried to talk him out of it. "He didn't want to die, but nonetheless he signed up for military service and he understood what that meant," said his brother, Tony Lourey.(snip) Chief Warrant Officer Matt Lourey, 41 (snip) When he...

Paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division will deploy to Iraq to provide security for the January elections, a source close to the Pentagon said Tuesday. The order is expected to involve ''at least a four-battalion-size force with all its 'slice' elements," including artillery and support. The unit will deploy before the holidays, the source said. Department of Defense officials consider it risky to wait to deploy additional forces after the holidays, and waiting could jeopardize election security, the source said. No departure date was given. ''Understand, the gloves are to come off," the source said. The 82nd was still waiting...

Soldiers safeguard historic Afghan vote By Terry Boyd, Stars and Stripes Friday, October 8, 2004 European edition, Thursday, October 7, 2004 FIREBASE ASADABAD, Afghanistan — The 82nd Airborne Division has not made it into the history books by coasting through easy missions. In the new anti-insurgency age, look for its rapidly deployable, light infantry units in the worst parts of bad neighborhoods anywhere from Fallujah to Asadabad. A battalion-sized force of 1,100 paratroopers, mostly from the 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment is in Afghanistan to provide security for the historic national elections Oct. 9. Between 18,000 and 20,000 U.S....

Just wondered if any other Freepers besides myself were going to France in six weeks to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Normandy invasion. This has been in the works for me for over a year, and as a general goal for the last twenty years. Ever since Ronald Reagan spoke at the American cemetery overlooking Omaha Beach in 1984, really. Part of the motivation is that this will undoubtedly be the last such gathering of American veterans who actually participated in the assault. As such, it will be the last occasion to honor this extraordinary group of Americans and...

82nd Airborne soldiers re-enlisting in high numbers Division has already met goals for retention for fiscal year '04 Monday, April 12, 2004 THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FORT BRAGG Though thousands of 82nd Airborne Division paratroopers deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan in the past two years, some of them taking hostile fire, the storied unit is exceeding its retention goals and re-enlisting soldiers in droves. Despite reports that the Army's increased operations in the war on terrorism is hurting retention, deployments have helped the division retain experienced soldiers, a spokesman said. "They came in to do something and they are actually doing...

<p>RAMADI, Iraq - A tip led the U.S. Army to capture the flinty guerrilla leader directing attacks in one of Iraq's most dangerous regions, a U.S. military commander told The Associated Press in an interview Thursday.</p> <p>Now, the tipster who turned in Khamis Sirhan al-Muhammad stands to reap a reward of up to $1 million.</p>