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CJTF-7 Public AffairsBAGHDAD, IraqRelease # 040103f Operation cuts weapons flow in Baghdad BAGHDAD, Iraq – Just days after the capture of Saddam Hussein by Coalition Forces, Task Force 1st Armored Division continued driving forward to help liberate the Iraqi people from terrorist activity in their own backyard. More than 500 paratroopers from the 2nd Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division, which is attached to the Germany-based U.S. 1st Armored Division, halted traffic on Highway 8 in the Al Rashid District of southern Baghdad on Dec. 16, in hopes of discovering and preventing illegal activities on one of Baghdad's busiest highways. Although Hussein...

NEWS RELEASEHEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND7115 South Boundary BoulevardMacDill AFB, Fla. 33621-5101Phone: (813) 827-5894; FAX: (813) 827-2211; DSN 651-5894 December 30, 2003Release Number: 03-12-74 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TASK FORCE “ALL-AMERICAN” UNCOVERS WEAPONS AR RAMADI, Iraq – The 82nd Airborne Division and its subordinate units, also known as Task Force “All American,” continued missions yesterday to stop violence and provide security for residents of the Al Anbar province. During the last 24 hours, the 82nd Airborne Division and subordinate elements conducted 193 patrols, 33 of which were joint patrols with Iraqis, and carried out two offensive operations. These operations resulted...

CJTF-7 Public AffairsBAGHDAD, IraqRelease #031228i Soldiers adopt village with educational results MOSUL, Iraq – The children and schools of one northern Iraqi village have benefited by being adopted by soldiers of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). The soldiers of Crusader Battery, 1st Battalion, 377th Field Artillery Regiment, attached to the 101st, adopted the small Assyrian-Christian village of Karmless and began Operation Provide Classroom Comfort when they saw the deplorable conditions in the village’s schools. “Classrooms were in a state of disaster and by any American building code standard would have been condemned,” said Capt. Mark Sherkey, company commander. The condition...

NEWS RELEASEHEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND7115 South Boundary BoulevardMacDill AFB, Fla. 33621-5101Phone: (813) 827-5894; FAX: (813) 827-2211; DSN 651-5894   December 29, 2003Release Number: 03-12-73 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TASK FORCE “ALL-AMERICAN” SOLDIERS CAPTURE SUSPECTED IED MAKER, CONFISCATE WEAPONS AR RAMADI, Iraq – The 82nd Airborne Division and its subordinate units continued missions over the last day to bring peace and prosperity to the residents of the Al Anbar province. During the last 24 hours, the 82nd Airborne Division and subordinate elements conducted 192 patrols, 35 of which were joint patrols with Iraqis, and carried out three offensive operations. These...

Just two weeks ago, Utahn James Mayfield was conducting a focus group in Basra, Iraq, trying to determine how people there felt about the U.S. plan to end the occupation of their country next year as an Iraqi government takes control. James Mayfield has just returned home from Iraq, where he taught democracy classes run by the United States. Scott G. Winterton, Deseret Morning News However, the work being done by Mayfield — a University of Utah emeritus professor recruited by the United States to introduce south-central Iraq to democracy — was interrupted when news reached the Basra streets that...

NEWS RELEASEHEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND7115 South Boundary BoulevardMacDill AFB, Fla. 33621-5101Phone: (813) 827-5894; FAX: (813) 827-2211; DSN 651-5894 December 29, 2003Release Number: 03-12-72 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 101ST BATTLES SUSPECTED TERRORISTS IN NORTHERN IRAQ MOSUL, Iraq – Soldiers from the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) fought suspected members of the Ansar Al Islam terrorist group Dec. 28 in the city of Mosul during a cordon and knock operation.When the soldiers attempted to enter the home the suspects engaged them with small arms fire and one grenade. The unit returned fire, then entered and cleared the...

NEWS RELEASEHEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND7115 South Boundary BoulevardMacDill AFB, Fla. 33621-5101Phone: (813) 827-5894; FAX: (813) 827-2211; DSN 651-5894   December 29, 2003Release Number: 03-12-71 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FIVE-HUNDRED-AND-EIGHTY ROCKETS CONFISCATED TIKRIT, Iraq – An Iraqi citizen provided information to U.S. Air Force airmen concerning a large weapons cache that he said consisted of close to six hundred rockets. The Air Force in turn asked the U.S. Army for assistance. Air Force personnel and a patrol from 1st Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment went to the identified site in the evening of Dec. 27 to investigate. The intelligence acquired suggested...

NEWS RELEASEHEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND7115 South Boundary BoulevardMacDill AFB, Fla. 33621-5101Phone: (813) 827-5894; FAX: (813) 827-2211; DSN 651-5894   December 28, 2003Release Number: 03-12-70 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FIRST AMERICAN AIRCRAFT LANDS IN KERMAN, IRAN COMBINED AIR OPERATIONS CENTER, QATAR: Just after midnight local time, the first American aircraft landed in Kerman, Iran, with 20 pallets of humanitarian aid destined for the earthquake-stricken residents of Bam. Five pallets laden with such medical supplies as intravenous fluids, bandages, gauze, and surgical equipment, plus food and purified water comprised the first load of American relief support. American airmen and Iranian soldiers...

Dec 28, 7:30 AM ESTBaghdad Blast Kills U.S. Soldier, 2 KidsBy JIM KRANEAssociated Press Writer BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- A roadside bomb killed a U.S. soldier and two children in Baghdad on Sunday, a day after a coordinated guerrilla onslaught in the southern city of Karbala left 13 dead and almost 200 injured.The Baghdad blast also injured five U.S. soldiers and their Iraqi interpreter as well as eight members of the Iraqi civil defense corps, said U.S. Army Sgt. Patrick Compton of the Army's 1st Armored Division.All the U.S. casualties were from the Army's 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment, which were...

Thailand Vows to Keep Its Forces in Iraq

Dec 27, 2:47 PM ESTBounty Offered for 12 Iraq Fugitives By JIM KRANEAssociated Press Writer BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- Iraq's U.S.-led administration is putting bounties of $1 million each on the heads of 12 remaining fugitives from the coalition's list of the 55 most-wanted Iraqis, officials said Saturday.Administrators already are offering $10 million for information leading to the capture or death of the 13th remaining fugitive - Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri, a senior official in the former regime and a Saddam Hussein confidant who now is the most wanted man in the country.The 55 most-wanted Iraqis were emblazoned on a deck...

Bush Praises Service Members, People Who Help Others By Rudi WilliamsAmerican Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, Dec. 27, 2003 –Among other thoughts at Christmas, Americans think of the brave military men and women who are fighting terrorists in Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere "so we do not meet these killers on our own streets," President Bush said in his weekly radio address today. "We're grateful for the courage and commitment of our troops, and we're safer because of their skill and sacrifice," Bush said. "Separation from loved ones is always difficult, especially at this time of year. All our men and...

Numbers Down, But Insurgent Attacks Continue By Rudi WilliamsAmerican Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, Dec. 27, 2003 –Though the number of attacks by insurgents in Iraq continues the decline it has shown since mid-September, the coalition isn't ready to say the trend will continue. At a Baghdad press conference today, Army Brig. Gen. Mark T. Kimmitt, deputy director of operations for Combined Joint Task Force 7, pointed out that in mid-September, there were as many as 50 attacks on coalition forces per day. "In the last 24 hours, we've only had 14 attacks," he noted. "The number is ranging around...

WELCOME!! to the ninth in our series of prayer threads dedicated to supporting our troops, our allies, their families, our President, our leaders, and our nation. We are grateful for the opportunities to gather together, afforded us by the founder of the site, JimRob. Wont you join us in prayer for our magnificent troops? As always, both posters and lurkers are welcome! Each and every prayer is powerful and COUNTS!! PRAYER WARRIOR CALL TO ARMS REMINDER!! 10 MORE DAYS LEFT IN OUR CAMPAIGN TO PLACE A SPECIAL OFFERING ON THE ALTAR! On November 10, 2003, because of various special short-duration...

NEWS RELEASEHEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND7115 South Boundary BoulevardMacDill AFB, Fla. 33621-5101Phone: (813) 827-5894; FAX: (813) 827-2211; DSN 651-5894 December 27, 2003Release Number: 03-12-69 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE U.S. FORCES IN SOUTHWEST ASIA BEGIN RELIEF FLIGHTS TO IRAN ARABIAN GULF -- U.S. Forces have begun moving medical and humanitarian supplies to the people of the earthquake devastated city of Bam, Iran. A U.S. Air Force C-130 Hercules aircraft carrying pallets of medical and humanitarian supplies launched from an air base in the CENTCOM area of operations tonight to an airfield northwest of the earthquake site. Approximately 150,000 lbs of relief...

CJTF-7 Public AffairsBAGHDAD, IraqRelease #031227g  Roll-up of task force “All-American’s” activities AR RAMADI, Iraq – During the last 24 hours, Task Force “All-American” conducted 161 patrols, three of which were joint patrols with Iraqis, cleared two caches, conducted two cordon and searches, and dropped two joint attack direct munitions (JDAM) bombs near Khalidiyah. There were two enemy contacts today – one mortar attack near Husaybah and a direct fire engagement that occurred during a cordon and search northwest of Khalidiyah. Last night in 1st Brigade’s area, members of Task Force 1-16 conducted a cordon and search to kill or capture...

CJTF-7 Public AffairsBAGHDAD, IraqRelease #031227f   Task force “All-American” conducts airstrike to destroy enemy safe house  AR RAMADI, Iraq – Task Force “All-American’s” Operation Stocking Stuffer is complete.This morning, Air Force F-16 fighters from the 510th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron dropped two joint direct attack munitions (JDAM) bombs to destroy an abandoned two-story house known to be a launching pad for attacks against Coalition Forces.  The house had been utilized on six different occasions to attack Coalition Forces and is located three kilometers northwest of Khalidiyah.Soldiers from Task Force 1-34 cordoned off the area to provide safety and security for the...

Columnist Sends Tribute to Deploying Troops   By Michelle Malkin / Creators Syndicate Inc. Author Michelle Malkin penned this column as U.S. service members deployed to Southwest Asia earlier this year. Now, as the U.S. military prepares for its second major rotation, Malkin’s words continue to ring true. This column is reprinted by permission of Michelle Malkin and Creators Syndicate, Inc.   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dear American soldier,You don't know me, but I know who you are, and I will not forget.You are deploying from Fort Carson and Fort Hood and Fort Bliss and Fort Stewart. You hail from Middletown and...

2003: A Season of Valor, Sacrifice - and Many Heroes Dave Eberhart, NewsMax.comMonday, Dec. 22, 2003Profiling just a select few of the bravest of the brave in the War on Terrorism is a vexing project -- until these invariably modest warriors themselves show the way by crediting their remarkable exploits to teamwork and reminding us that all who serve on the frontlines of freedom are our country’s heroes. Those that get singled out for our nation’s highest military decorations, in large measure, wear that decoration for all who have gone into harm’s way. Ask them, they’ll tell you so. Remarkably,...

NEWS RELEASEHEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND7115 South Boundary BoulevardMacDill AFB, Fla. 33621-5101Phone: (813) 827-5894; FAX: (813) 827-2211; DSN 651-5894   December 27, 2003Release Number: 03-12-65 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CIVIL AFFAIRS SOLDIER EDITS “IRAQI JOURNAL OF MEDICINE” BAGHDAD, Iraq – During the last 10 years, physicians in Iraq have struggled for updated medical information, said Maj. John E. Padgett, the officer in charge of the public health team with the 490th Civil Affairs Battalion, an Army Reserve unit based in Abilene, Texas, who now edits the “Iraqi Journal of Medicine.” The 490th Civil Affairs Battalion supports Task Force 1st Armored...