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US Marines poured into a lawless town in Afghanistan’s southern Helmand province — the first time a sizeable American force has fought in the largely British sector of the country for several years. About 2,400 Marines, many veterans of the war in Iraq, were involved in the dawn assault on Garmser. Helicopters and armoured vehicles surrounded the town, known as a Taleban stronghold and big staging post for drug traffickers involved in the thriving opium trade in Helmand. “We haven’t seen anybody who isn’t carrying a gun,” said Major Tom Clinton, the commander of US forces at Forward Operating Base...

PHILADELPHIA, April 29, 2008 – The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff called on the citizens of Philadelphia last night to embrace those who have lost loved ones or who have been wounded in service to America. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen received the Gold Medal of the Union League of Philadelphia during a ceremony at the 1862 building, right down the street from City Hall. The league was established during the Civil War as an organization to help restore the Union, and it has pursued its mission to uphold the nation for the 135 years since. Mullen challenged...

To All,Lt. Col. Allen West is a candidate for the U.S. Congress,  22nd District of Florida.  I have been very impressed with what I have learned about Col. West and think he may have a real chance against his one-term opponent.  Here are some links and information to introduce you to this hero and to someone whom I believe will make an outstanding Congressman:  ALLEN WEST FOR CONGRESS-website (Note Col. West not only served in the military in Afghanistan and Iraq, but  was also a teacher!)  Meet Lt. Col. West through this VIDEO  There’s a case to be made against...

For thousands of troops who have seen the war in Iraq first hand, the mission is a personal one even after they take off the uniform. Concerns about where that war may be heading is putting some local veterans face to face with lawmakers, fighting a different side of Operation Iraqi freedom. For retired Navy Veteran Chris Chilson, time with family is a luxury he's still getting used to. Afternoons spent together were few and far between during his 20 years on board aircraft carriers, some of them spent in the searing heat of the Iraqi desert. Chilson says, "It...

Roughly one in every five U.S. troops who have survived the bombs and other dangers of Iraq and Afghanistan now suffers from major depression or post-traumatic stress, an independent study said Thursday. It estimated the toll at 300,000 or more. As many or more report possible brain injuries from explosions or other head wounds, said the study, the first major survey from outside the government. Only about half of those with mental health problems have sought treatment. Even fewer of those with head injuries have seen doctors. Army Surgeon General Eric Schoomaker said the report, from the Rand Corp., was...

'One in five US servicemen has brain injury' By Damien McElroy, Foreign Affairs Correspondent Last Updated: 3:26am BST 18/04/2008 The psychological toll of America's wars in Iraq and Afghanistan has touched one in five servicemen and its consequences will be long-lasting, a study suggested yesterday. The Rand Corporation, a leading research operation, said that 320,000 soldiers suffered brain injuries on the battlefield, while more than 300,000 suffered mental disorders on returning home. The report said that US veterans are incurring "invisible wounds" of war, most notably traumatic brain injury. A survey of 1,926 soldiers represented a statistically significant sample of...

A coalition of 16 Iraq War Veterans have united to support each other for a run at Capitol Hill. In a press conference at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. last week, timed to coincide with the arrival of Gen. David Petreus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker to Capitol Hill, six members of “Iraq Veterans for Congress,” IVC, outlined their frustration over the lack of representation in Congress of the new generation of veterans. (snip) Lt. Col. William Russell, an Airborne Ranger, husband, father and small business owner has a tougher fight on his hands in his congressional race than...

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - About 300,000 U.S. troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan suffer symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder or depression, but about half receive no care, an independent study said on Thursday. The study by the RAND Corp. also estimated that another 320,000 troops have sustained a possible traumatic brain injury during deployment. But researchers could not say how many of those cases were serious or required treatment. Billed as the first large-scale nongovernmental survey of its kind, the study found that stress disorder and depression afflict 18.5 percent of the more than 1.5 million U.S. forces who have deployed...

WASHINGTON, April 15, 2008 – Wounded veterans who once enjoyed sports and being outdoors have the opportunity once again, courtesy of a program in Alabama. “Lakeshore Foundation’s ‘Lima Foxtrot Programs for Injured Military’ help servicemen and women adapt sports and recreation activities so they may get back to living healthy, active, independent lives,” said Susan Katz, the foundation’s communications coordinator. “These programs are open to military personnel who have sustained severe service-related injuries in recent warfare in Iraq, Afghanistan and other locations in the world.” For more than 20 years, the Lakeshore Foundation has worked to enable people with...

On a gray Tuesday morning on Capitol Hill Sen. John McCain addressed several hundred members of Vets for Freedom -- the largest Iraq and Afghanistan veterans' organizations in the country. In DC's upper Senate Park, McCain and other pro-victory Senators and Congressmen rallied for success in Iraq. The event was timed to support the same day U.S. Commander in Iraq Gen. David Petraeus and U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker returned to Washington to present their latest progress reports. Washington was one of VFF's last stops in the three-week National Heroes Tour, on which members spoke to and encouraged crowds...

In 2006, the Democrats had some success with a slate of veterans who used their military credentials to argue against the war... "Iraq's going to be a tough issue for everybody, but we're going to be uniquely positioned to deal with it," says former Marine Cpl. Keiran Lalor, a Republican running in the Hudson Valley of New York. "The Democrats went around and found the exception to the rule: They found the Iraq vets against the war." The Republican vets have linked themselves to Sen. McCain's presidential bid and hope to ride to victory on his coattails. While most of...

One evening last July, Senator John McCain of Arizona arrived at the New Hampshire home of Erin Flanagan for sandwiches, chocolate-chip cookies and heartfelt talk about Iraq. They had met at a presidential debate, when she asked the candidates what they would do to bring home American soldiers — soldiers like her brother, who had been killed in action a few months earlier. Mr. McCain did not bring cameras or a retinue. Instead, he brought his youngest son, James McCain, 19, then a private first class in the Marine Corps about to leave for Iraq. Father and son sat down...

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Mr. McCain, now the presumptive Republican nominee, has staked his candidacy on the promise that American troops can bring stability to Iraq. What he almost never says is that one of them is his own son, who spent seven months patrolling Anbar Province and learned of his father’s New Hampshire victory in January while he was digging a stuck military vehicle out of the mud.

Cpl. Garrett Jones tested his new prosthesis yesterday in the halls of the San Diego Naval Medical Center. Jones was seriously wounded last year in an ambush in Iraq. SEAN M. HAFFEY / Union-Tribune Prosthetist Randy Whiteside assisted Cpl. Garrett Jones yesterday at the San Diego Naval Medical Center. Jones' left leg was amputated at mid-thigh The bomb exploded as Marine Lance Cpl. Robert Pofahl turned around to talk with Cpl. Garrett Jones during a foot patrol in Karmah, Iraq. Despite being thrown forward, Pofahl quickly pushed himself off the ground and rushed toward the site of the screams....

U.S. Marine Cpl. Mario Ramos-Villalta put on his freshly pressed uniform early Thursday as a citizen of El Salvador. By the end of the day, he would be a citizen of the United States of America. Ramos-Villalta told CNN: "It means a lot to me after so many years and two combat deployments." 3 of 3more photos » "I am an American," he said with a smile, moments after his paperwork cleared. "It means a lot to me after so many years and two combat deployments, I finally get it, being an American. We are happy about it."

U.S. Marine Cpl. Mario Ramos-Villalta put on his freshly pressed uniform early Thursday as a citizen of El Salvador. By the end of the day, he would be a citizen of the United States of America. I am an American," he said with a smile moments after his paperwork cleared. "It means a lot to me after so many years and two combat deployments, I finally get it, being an American. We are happy about it." "It's all thanks to CNN -- my news coming out, my story. That helped me out a lot," he said, referring to a story...

The Vets for Freedom Heroes Tour will be in Columbia SC THIS Thursday, April 3rd at 11:30 am. There will be a rally at the Statehouse Capitol Steps located at 1200 Gervais Street. (Intersection of Gervais and Main St) Please come down and show your support for our troops and their just mission!!

Outrage in Minnesota: Spurning Our Military HeroesPosted By Gary Larson On March 27, 2008 @ 4:20 am [1] The liberal left's antipathy for the American military was on full display at Forest Lake High School after it banned Vets for Freedom following complaints from anti-war activists.  When a high school canceled a Vets for Freedom's educational program in Minnesota, the act drew public outrage. Not lost was the fact, a plain one at that: Professional educators often turn somersaults for the Left, perhaps their natural allies, and spring attacks on our military in schools across the nation. Besmirching our nation's military...

The Vets for Freedom Heroes Tour was scheduled to stop at Forest Lake Area High School this morning, but school officials told them not to come. Principal Steve Massey said the event was supposed to be an educational opportunity for about 150 social studies students to hear the stories of veterans who served in various wars. But there were inklings in the community that Iraq war supporters or protesters might turn it into a political event instead, he said, and administrators canceled the visit Monday afternoon. Vets for Freedom is a veterans group that supports continued military involvement in Iraq....

Forest Lake High's principal said the decision was spurred by concerns that the presentation was more political than educational. A national tour featuring decorated veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan won't be stopping at Forest Lake Area High School today as planned, after school leaders abruptly canceled the visit. Steve Massey, the school principal, said the decision to cancel was prompted by concerns that the event was becoming political rather than educational and therefore was not suitable for a public school. He said the school had received several phone calls from parents and others, some of whom indicated...

The left has no heroes Posted By Uncle Jimbo Apparently the left doesn't have any heroes, they believe that anyone in or out of uniform who is not protesting or telling tales of atrocities reminiscent of Jenjis Khan, is simply a tool of the vast right-wing conspiracy. In the La La land inhabited by the liberals in Minneapolis the voices of our heroes cannot be heard unless countered by the progressive voices of the anti-war crowd, and even then they are not suitable for High School children. I mean God forbid they gain a positive view of our military or...

I went to the Vets for Freedom get together inside the American Legion in Forest Lake Minnesota today as the Principal changed his mind yesterday and told them they cannot come to the High School. The Vets for Freedom bus tour featuring decorated Veterans from the Iraq and Afghanistan war. Capt. Pete Hegseth founded the group Vets for Freedom. He is an Iraq War vet and also a Forest Lake High School graduate. He heard yesterday afternoon that the school did not want the bus to stop at the school, the talk too political for a public school. Pete did...

"We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately". - Benjamin Franklin "Whether Soldier, Sailor, Airman, or Marine, we all shared a common goal in Iraq: victory. As Republican candidates for Congress we share a vision for America's future, her security, and that of future generations. We are unified in our commitment to relieve the Democrats of their command of Congress. Voters want to restore leadership and honor back to Washington. Who better to accomplish that mission than our generation of warriors? All veterans whose service to the United States brought them first to Iraq and now...

LANCASTER, Pa. - Hillary Rodham Clinton told a group of young veterans Tuesday that one lesson of the Iraq War is not to commit troops "unless you are prepared to go all the way and are prepared to be successful." Questioned politely about her plans to begin withdrawing troops within 60 days after taking office, the former first lady also said U.S. forces already have fulfilled the mission they were assigned. She said the Iraqi government has failed to create a stable political system despite the U.S. effort. "Does that mean we stay for 10 years, 30 years, 50 years?...

WASHINGTON, March 18, 2008 – Help for servicemembers coping with the effects of wartime service is just a phone call or a mouse click away, thanks to a nationwide network of mental health professionals. “Give an Hour” is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that has created a national network of mental health professionals providing free counseling services to returning veterans and their loved ones, according to Barbara Romberg, the group’s founder and president. “The participating mental health professionals will offer a wide range of services including individual, marital and family therapy, substance abuse counseling, and treatment for post traumatic stress...

SCRANTON, Pa. - Democrat Barack Obama on Monday promised Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans help with their grievances - save one. "I know it drives you nuts. But I'm not going to lower the drinking age," the presidential candidate said. Army veteran Ernest Johnson, 23, of Connecticut, said one of the things that peeved him before he turned 21 was that he couldn't come home and drink a beer - even though he was old enough to serve in the armed services and die for his country. Obama told Johnson he sympathized, but that setting the legal drinking age at...

One can only imagine the media blitz that would take place in the event the Democrats ran a dozen Iraq veterans on anti-war platforms. IVC is much different in that it is an appeal to grassroots pro-victory voters who recognize what is at stake for America's security and for her future. I believe that our generation of veterans is uniquely qualified to recognize what's needed for victory and to remain steadfast in assuring that victory is won. IVC's is a voice that America needs to hear. Each of the candidates who are part of IVC served in Operation Iraqi Freedom....

SCRANTON, Pa. -- Democrat Barack Obama on Monday promised Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans help with their grievances - save one. "I know it drives you nuts. But I'm not going to lower the drinking age," the presidential candidate said. Army veteran Ernest Johnson, 23, of Connecticut, said one of the things that peeved him before he turned 21 was that he couldn't come home and drink a beer - even though he was old enough to serve in the armed services and die for his country. Obama told Johnson he sympathized, but that setting the legal drinking age at...

Twenty minutes into the invasion of Iraq, Marine Sgt. Nathaniel Donnelly huddled with his men in the windowless rear of an armored vehicle as it rumbled across the Iraq-Kuwait border. Former Marine Sgt. Nathaniel Donnelly (below and above, while serving in Iraq) is now a senior at SDSU, where he founded a campus veterans organization. He plans to return to the Corps, this time as an officer. The roar of artillery pounded in their ears. Anxious officers chattered over the radio.“We could hear everything, but we couldn't see anything. We had no control,� Donnelly said of the events of March...

We're on your side with information about Courtney Lockhart's military career. News Three has confirmed that Courtney Lockhart spent time as a soldier in Iraq. This afternoon News Three spoke with a U.S. Army spokesperson from the Pentagon, and we have a timeline for you of Courtney Lockhart's military career. Courtney Lockhart graduated from Smith's Station High School in the spring of 2003. A few months later, Lockhart began his basic training with the 7th Infantry Division at Fort Carson Colorado. He was deployed to Iraq and served there from August 2004 until July 2005. While in Iraq, Lockhart received...

This week in Silver Springs, Maryland about 100 members of the Iraq Veterans Against the War, discharged veterans opposed to the Global War on Terror, will spend three days publicly revealing their knowledge of American war crimes at an event dubbed “Winter Soldier II.” In addition to media attention they hope to generate, the veterans may find themselves getting attention from federal prosecutors armed with a relatively new law that can send them to the penitentiary, knowledgeable lawyers say. As the name suggests, Winter Soldier II is not the first time disaffected veterans have protested the war they fought in....

Alpha Company, a National Guard unit based in Northeast Philadelphia, drew its roster from across the region. Six members were killed during the nearly 11 months that Alpha spent in Iraq in 2004 and 2005. The 131 survivors are police officers and college students, construction workers and drug store clerks. More than two years after coming home, many are still struggling to get their lives back in order and to sort out the meaning of their sacrifice. Nearly half have been treated for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Yet many say they‘d go back to Iraq if asked. They‘d do it...

The mother of the man charged with killing Auburn University student Lauren Burk said her son was an Iraq war veteran who was changed after his service, and she offered an apology to the freshman's family. Burk, an 18-year-old from Marietta, was found shot on the side of an off-campus road Tuesday night outside Auburn, and her car was found burning in a campus parking lot. Williams told the television station that her son hasn't been the same after serving 16 months in Iraq. She says her son had been living with her in Smiths, Ala., since returning from the...

Speaking on behalf of the Democratic Party, an Iraq combat veteran said Saturday that apparent GOP nominee John McCain should not win the presidential election because he would continue the war in Iraq. Roger Martinez, who served as an Army ranger in Afghanistan and Iraq, noted in the Democrats' weekly radio address that President Bush endorsed McCain this week. Bush said McCain "won't flinch in the face of danger" and McCain strongly supports the U.S. efforts in Iraq. Electing a leader who would continue Bush's policies in Iraq would be a mistake, Martinez said. "Our country and our armed services...

Navy reservist Charles Summers, a candidate for the open seat in the 1st Congressional District, is in Maine on a 15-day leave during his 10-month tour of duty in Iraq. more stories like thisThe Scarborough Republican, who returned home Thursday, said he is spending time with family and friends and catching up with people he hasn't seen in a while. Summers said Navy regulations bar him from making any campaign appearances or even discussing the race until his stint of active duty ends in May. Summers, a lieutenant commander based in Baghdad, said he has been traveling around Iraq while...

By Ariel Leve / London Times Some of them will be okay. They will live with the secrets. They can dissociate from what happened in combat because it was part of the job. It was what they signed up for. They will keep the secrets out of duty – the silence is part of a code, and they honour that code above all else. But for others, the secrets they keep are like a poison, slowly releasing toxins of shame and remorse. Who can they tell anyway? They talk to each other – other veterans who have seen what they’ve...

In November 2006, Jason Wayne Washburn was a member of the 3/1 Marines Weapons Company in Haditha. Today he is a member of Iraq Veterans Against the War. Washburn wasn't in Haditha the morning of November 19th, and didn’t see what happened. But is coming to Washington to testify about it anyway. He will be part of Winter Soldier II on March 13-16. As Washburn says on his IVAW profile page, “it was a squad in my unit that went on a rampage after they were hit with an I.E.D. and ended up killing around 26 civilians.” How does Washburn...

Get the tissues out. A hero comes home from Iraq to surprise his family.

An Iraq war veteran in Spokane, Washington, wins a $1 million lottery

he dozen young Republicans from across the country helping each other campaign under the banner of Iraq Veterans for Congress, cross-promoting each other and directing donors to a shared Web site. It's a response to the anti-war veterans whose campaigns drew attention in 2006, when Patrick Murphy of Philadelphia was the only Iraq vet to win election while openly supporting the war. The platform of Iraq Vets for Congress grew out of the attitudes of the previous election: They believe in victory in Iraq, staying on the offense in the war on terror and taking care of all veterans, said...

To The Honorable Members of the Senate Armed Services Committee During the Democratic Debate between Senators Clinton and Obama televised on the evening of February 21st, Senator Obama spoke of information passed on to him by an officer in the United States Army about our forces in Afghanistan suffering from a shortage of equipment and weapons. The very next day, a member and former Chairman of the Armed Services Committee, Senator Warner, sent a letter to Senator Obama, asking for information about these charges. Senator Warner wrote: "...I, and I believe other members of SASC, have a responsibility to establish...

Lalor is...working to coordinate the efforts of Republican veterans of the Iraq war running campaigns in New York, Indiana, Florida, North Carolina, California, Ohio, and several other states. They include Eric Egland, who's a strong candidate in California's 4th Congressional district. Take a look at the list, and see if one of these American heroes may be running in your district. With the passing of the Greatest Generation, the number of military veterans in Congress has been falling. The 2008 election may mark a turning point in that trend, and none too soon given the at times appalling lack of...

If you aren't watching ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition right now, turn it on. For those outside EST, it might not be on right now. When it does come on, watch it.It is about a single father of 4 kids who lost his leg in Iraq. He's a Marine. Be careful of blurry televisions throughout!

Daniel Gilyeat is a decorated U.S. marine and a loving father to his children, having served not one but two tours in Iraq. During the second tour he volunteered for, he was out on a mission when a bomb hit his truck. He suffered major injuries and lost his left leg above the knee. In addition, his marriage ended and he suddenly became a single father. As with many soldiers, deployment had put a huge stress on his marriage. But despite these setbacks and personal battles, 25 days after losing his leg, Daniel was up and walking with a prosthetic...

Free Tickets to Super Bowl XLII Given to Injured War VetsSaturday, February 02, 2008 The University of Phoenix scored a touchdown with Iraq war veterans, giving eight coveted tickets to Sunday's Super Bowl XLII to a group of wounded service members, MyFOXPhoenix.com reports. "Being part of it — it’ll be nice," veteran Brent Bretz told MyFOXPhoenix.com. Bretz has undergone 57 surgeries, and his recovery from his war wounds is still not complete. He returned from Iraq in 2005, as did Robert Bartlett, another ticket recipient, who said he was "pretty surprised" by the gift. "It’s the chance of a lifetime,"...

WASHINGTON – Sgt. Klay South with help from this mother Janet launched Veterans of Valor on October 4, 2007. South was wounded November 2004 and spent a long recovery process to reconstruct his face and jaw after being shot in the face with an AK-47. Veterans of Valor visited Bethesda Naval Hospital and Walter Reed Army Medical Center January 17 to give backpacks and words of encouragement to wounded service members. BETHESDA, Md. – Cpl. Jimmy Kinsey receives his backpack from Sgt. Klay South, founder of Veterans of Valor. Veterans of Valor visited Bethesda Naval Hospital and Walter Reed...

Twelve Fort Bragg soldiers have been accused of killing 13 people in the six-plus years since Sept. 11, 2001, according to Observer records. In the six years before the terrorist attacks, 16 Fort Bragg soldiers were accused of killing 18 people. Those numbers came from a search of the Observer’s archives and may not be conclusive. Law enforcement agencies do not track killings by whether the accused was a soldier. The Observer examined its own records after a New York Times story published Jan. 13 indicated that homicides involving active-duty service members and new veterans rose 89 percent during the...

January 19, 2008, 1:00 a.m. UnphenomenalTimesFake but ... fake. By Mark Steyn Have you been in an airport recently, and maybe seen a gaggle of America’s heroes returning from Iraq? And you’ve probably thought, “Ah, what a marvelous sight. Remind me to straighten up the old ‘Support Our Troops’ fridge magnet, which seems to have slipped down below the reminder to reschedule my acupuncturist. Maybe I should go over and thank them for their service.� No, no, no, under no account approach them. Instead, try to avoid making eye contact and back away slowly toward the sign for the...

LEEDS, Mass. (AP) - Peter Mohan traces the path from the Iraqi battlefield to this lifeless conference room, where he sits in a kilt and a Camp Kill Yourself T-shirt and calmly describes how he became a sad cliche: a homeless veteran. There was a happy homecoming, but then an accident—car crash, broken collarbone. And then a move east, close to his wife's new job but away from his best friends. And then self-destruction: He would gun his motorcycle to 100 mph and try to stand on the seat. He would wait for his wife to leave in the morning,...