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"Suddenly, we hear a bang. It sounded like a firecracker went off," said Jasper Schuringa, a film director who was traveling to the US to visit friends. "When [it] went off, everybody panicked ... Then someone screamed, ‘Fire! Fire!’" Schuringa, sitting in seat 20J, in the right-most section of the Airbus 330, looked to his left. "I saw smoke rising from a seat ... I didn’t hesitate. I just jumped," he said. Schuringa dove over four passengers to reach Abdul Mutallab’s seat. The suspect had a blanket on his lap. "It was smoking and there were flames coming from beneath...

Expanded role puts Petraeus in charge of winning Afghan war By Carl Prine and Salena Zito TRIBUNE-REVIEW Sunday, October 26, 2008 Fresh from the Baghdad battlefield, Gen. David Howell Petraeus is a blur amidst blurs in the bowels of the Pentagon, his staffers preparing new strategies and reassessing old ones for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. There's urgency to the bustle, because on Oct. 31 the former commander of Multinational Forces in Iraq takes over U.S. Central Command and inherits the counterinsurgency in Afghanistan, too. Whether that Halloween promotion eventually earns him a trick or a treat depends on...

7/12/2007 - LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. (AFPN) -- A Luke Air Force Base Airman died July 9 after succumbing to wounds sustained as a result of small-arms fire while deployed with the 755th Air Expeditionary Group in support of Operation Enduring Freedom outside of Camp Stone, a forward operating base near Herat, Afghanistan. Master Sgt. Randy J. Gillespie, 44, of Coaldale, Colo., was supporting the Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix, a collection of Army National Guard units that are training the new Afghan national army. He was wounded during a small-arms encounter outside of Camp Stone, approximately 300 miles...

WASHINGTON, July 12, 2007 – The winner of NBC’s second season of “The Apprentice” reality show, Kelly Perdew, is looking to hire an apprentice. Perdew is the president of ProElite.com, an online community for mixed martial arts fighters, fans and organizations. The former Army officer is partnering with the non-profit group “Hire A Hero” to find the right person. "Kelly Perdew is a quality employer, entrepreneur, and a patriot, who is truly helping to make a positive difference in the lives of those who have served," said Dan Caulfield, Hire A Hero’s executive director. “He is setting the example...

WASHINGTON, June 29, 2007 – The Defense Department recognized a troop-support group and two of its key players at the Pentagon yesterday for their outstanding support of the nation’s servicemembers. John Gonsalves, left, founder of Homes for Our Troops, receives the Office of the Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Public Service from Gen. Robert Magnus, assistant commandant of the Marine Corps, on June 28, 2007. Held in the Pentagon, the ceremony recognized Gonsalves’ service to servicemembers injured in the global war on terrorism. Photo by Samantha L. Quigley  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. John Gonsalves, founder of...

SIERRA VISTA — As an Arizona ash grows at the Southern Arizona Veterans Memorial Cemetery, it eventually will provide shade for people as they sit on a concrete bench. The tree, bench and memorial plaque were dedicated Monday to honor the memory of Army Cpl. Casey Lee Mellen, who was killed-in-action on Sept. 25, while serving in Iraq. Not far from the tree and bench is the final resting place of the 21-year-old Huachuca City soldier. It was noted the tree can grow as high as 40 feet, and its canopy will provide shade for those who may want to...

NEW ORLEANS, La. (May 17, 2005) -- A district Marine was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for his role in the recent rescue of a choking toddler. Staff Sgt. Brian C. Stirrat was spending a quiet weekend afternoon in his townhouse when he was startled by frantic screams from his neighbor, Letecia Santos. "She said my son is choking, my son is choking, please help me," explained the 26-year-old canvassing recruiter assigned to Recruiting Station Oklahoma City, Recruiting Sub-station Wichita, Kan. Stirrat quickly leapt over the barrier between the two apartments and assessed the situation. He discovered...

Dear Readers, As some of you know I do a Newsletter up here in New England. Well as of issue #25 we've been dedicating covers to heroes that I've had the honor of meeting, Men and Woman of our armed services fighting the war on terror. Each cover has been dedicated to them, to salute their sacrifices made for our freedom. I would hope you take a second to look at their pictures and read their info, so that you may put a face with those risking their lives for you and me. For God and Country. J.King. Issue 27...

Dear Readers, As some of you know I do a Newsletter up here in New England. Well as of issue #25 we've been dedicating covers to heroes that I've had the honor of meeting, Men and Woman of our armed services fighting the war on terror. Each cover has been dedicated to them, to salute their sacrifices made for our freedom. I would hope you take a second to look at their pictures and read their info, so that you may put a face with those risking their lives for you and me. For God and Country. J.King. Issue 26...

Dear Readers, As most of you know I do a Newsletter up here in New England. Well as of issue #25 we've been dedicating covers to heroes that I've had the honor of meeting, Men and Woman of our armed services. Each cover has been dedicated to them, to salute their sacrifices made for our freedom. I would hope you take a second to look at their pictures and read their info, so that you may put a face with those risking their lives for you and me. For God and Country. J.King. Our first cover was dedicated to one...

Pat Tillman, like many other Americans in the military, sacrificed a better life in America for a chance to serve and make a difference in others' lives. He felt his place was with the U.S. Army Rangers. Unlike many others, Tillman had fame and fortune. He played football in college at Arizona State University. And Arizona fans continued to know him on the football field when he played in the National Football League with the Arizona Cardinals. But nearly two years ago, Tillman turned down a three-year, $3.6 million contract to become an Army Ranger and play a part in...

Bataan survivor Danny Cooksley poses in a room at the Bisbee Mining and Historical Museum. (Michael Maresh-Herald/Review) BISBEE - Bisbee resident Richard Cooksley knows all about the Bataan Death March because he lived and survived it. Cooksley and thousands of others were subjected to the infamous march in the early months of 1942 during World War II. He and the rest of his Army squadron were forced to endure the walk after Gen. Edward King surrendered the Bataan and all the men there to the Japanese. Cooksley said he was forced to march from the Bataan Peninsula to Camp...

A photograph of Cpl. Edward Beal, who posthumously received the Distinguished Service Cross for his heroic action in the Korean War. Beal was killed in action on Jan. 1, 1951. (Ed Honda-Herald/Review) FORT HUACHUCA - A half century in the making, closure finally came to the family of Army Cpl. Edward Beal. Beal's sister, Frances English, was presented the nation's second highest medal for combat bravery - the Army Distinguished Service Cross - on Tuesday afternoon for his service during the Korean War. "I said I wasn't going to cry, but I am," she told U.S. Rep. Jim Kolbe,...

-----Original Message----- From: OCAR Public Service Announcement Sent: Friday, February 27, 2004 12:22 To: Subject: Report from Dover Importance: High Subject: Report from Dover Sir: Per the CG's request, here's that report about the work at Dover. Recommend the SGS send it out across the land. There are no reporters on the tarmac at Dover Air Force Base. The public is not allowed to witness the military tradition of "receiving the remains". Instead, there are soldiers, roused at dark hours to stand in the confines of what seems like a secret as the dead are brought home. I am one...

Farewell to a soldier, a friend; Merila's service to his nation, others celebrated on MondaySusan Merila weeps Monday afternoon while retired Chaplin (Col.) Juan Loya gives his memorial message during a service for her son, Sgt. Michael M. Merila, at the Main Post Chapel on Fort Huachuca. (Mark Levy-Herald/Review)FORT HUACHUCA - A cold rain fell Monday, making the Main Post Chapel darker as more than 150 people waited for the arrival of the body of Sgt. Michael Matthew Merila. While music played, the sound of soldiers could be heard marching in the chapel's foyer, as members of the Fort Huachuca...