Free Republic

HADITHA DAM, Iraq (Oct. 18, 2005) -- The use of dogs as guardians of military camps to protect against surprise attacks dates back to ancient Egypt. Today, dogs are not only guarding bases but also patrolling with Marines of 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment in Iraq. Sergeant James J. Wasmer, a Chatham, Mass., native, and his search dog, Euro, are one K-9 team busy doing weapons caches sweeps and entry control point searches to keep citizens of Iraq and Marines safe. Recently the team conducted a sweep with the battalion’s Company L to look for weapons caches and other explosives...

Humanitarian Assistance Site Established In FallujahFALLUJAH, Iraq -- The cleanup efforts by approximately 75 internally displaced men helped beautify the Jolan Park here recently, while 20 members of the Iraqi 1st Public Order Battalion readied a new headquarters nearby, and elements of the I Marine Expeditionary Force delivered truckloads of humanitarian aide to the park. Jolan Park, once a busy marketplace and amusement park surrounded by multi-family homes, may be one of the first neighborhoods to be reopened to its residents. Residents will be able to pick up food and water, and gain area reconstruction information at a Humanitarian Aide...

MARINE QUOTES Gunnery Sgt. Mark Woodward was surprised Thursday to hear that a cease-fire had been in place since Monday. "Oh, that's what that was called?" Senior US officers here say their opponents amount to a "hard core" of a couple hundred foreign and more Iraqi fighters, "fairly significantly depleted" by recent fighting. General Conway told journalists at this base seven miles east of the city. "I'm confident that if we have to fight, it won't last long." Conway says, though insurgents are still able deliver a large punch. "It will be costly [to enter the city], but the marines...