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U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Emilio Diaz Jr., a 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment machine gunner with Weapons Company, Combined Anti-Armor Team 1, stands in front of a Humvee before embarking on a mission near Jalalabad, Afghanistan. Diaz, from Brownsville, Texas, received the Purple Heart for injuries he sustained while manning a .50-caliber machine gun in Iraq on 1/3's last combat deployment when his Humvee was hit by an improvised explosive device. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Joe Lindsay U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Emilio Diaz Jr. Marine Wounded in Iraq Returns to Combat in Afghanistan By Marine Sgt. Joe...

NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- The fast-attack submarine USS Norfolk (SSN 714) returned home to friends and family in Norfolk, Va., May 7 after a successful six-month deployment as part of the USS Nassau (LHA 4) Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG). Norfolk played a crucial role as the only submarine assigned to the ESG. Norfolk brought stealth, endurance, mobility, agility and persistence while executing multimission tasking in direct support of the global war on terrorism. “I’m blessed to have a crew filled with tremendously talented Sailors,” said Cmdr. Scott Adams, Norfolk’s commanding officer. “Their performance throughout the deployment was nothing short of...

NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- Elements of the USS Nassau (LHA 4) Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) including the dock landing ship USS Carter Hall (LSD 50), amphibious transport dock USS Austin (LPD 40) and the guided-missile cruiser USS Cape St. George (CG 71), carrying more than 2,700 Sailors, returned to Naval Station Norfolk and Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek May 4, following a six-month deployment is support of the global war on terrorism. Nassau ESG ships, which deployed Nov. 7, conducted maritime security operations in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR) and supported theater security cooperation in the U.S....

BREAKING NEWS: Mexican president refuses to sign drug decriminalization bill, returns it to Congress developing .. or not.

NAPLES, Italy (NNS) -- For the second time this year, USS Porter (DDG 78) transited through the Turkish Straits in April to engage with Black Sea navies. Planned engagements with Romania, Turkey, Georgia and Bulgaria will directly support the Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe (CNE) strategic priority of strengthening enduring partnerships in the region. “These are our new friends,” Commodore, Task Force (CTF) 67 Capt. Bob Lally said of the countries Porter will be interacting with. “The excitement is because they invited us and want to engage with the U.S. Navy. Building new partnerships and strengthening existing ones, especially in...

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (April 7, 2006) -- For Navy corpsmen serving with Marine units, treating casualities in combat and saving lives is what their job is all about. Most of them jump at the chance to deploy with the Marines and serve their country. Petty Officer 1st Class Ronnie L. Mashburn, who recently returned from his second tour in Iraq, is one of those corpsmen. The Iron Station, N.C., native was deployed with 2nd Marine Division in Ar Ramadi, Iraq from February 2005 to February 2006. For the first part of his deployment, he was the battalion...

NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- About 400 Mobilized Reservists of Naval Expeditionary Logistics Support Force (NAVELSF) Forward Group Papa returned to Norfolk March 29 from a nearly seven-month deployment after providing support for the Department of Defense’s customs inspection mission in Iraq and Kuwait in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Their mission was to ensure returning service members and equipment carried no unwanted plants, pests or diseases to American shores. NAVELSF Commander, Rear Adm. Hank Tomlin was on hand to welcome the Sailors home. “They’ve been incredibly successful in what would be considered a non-traditional Navy mission,” said Tomlin. “It’s a...

NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- Thousands of friends and family members gathered at Naval Station Norfolk for the return of USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), March 11, following a six-month deployment to the Persian Gulf in support of the global war on terrorism. The early morning arrival of Theodore Roosevelt didn’t deter the crowd. Family members waited in the early Saturday morning chill, anticipating the return of their loved ones. “It’s like Christmas all over again,” said Diane Drach, mother of Machinist's Mate Fireman Ashley Drach, who is stationed aboard Theodore Roosevelt. “We are so proud of her, especially being in...

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. (March 6, 2006) -- It was an emotionally charged evening when more than 150 Marines and sailors from Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 161, Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, touched down on the flight line here and were greeted by their friends and families. HMM-161 returned from a seven-month long deployment to the Al Anbar Province of Iraq. The squadron arrived at Al Asad, Iraq, Aug. 5 and immediately went to work putting their aircraft together. In three weeks all of their aircraft were ready for operations. HMM-161 started flying missions in...

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE (Feb. 28, 2006) -- The Marines, sailors, soldiers and airmen of the 2nd Marine Division returned home today after completing a successful year-long deployment in western Iraq’s Al Anbar province. The division conducted combined counter-insurgency operations alongside its Iraqi Security Force counterparts from March 2005 to February 2006 and transferred authority of the province to the Camp Pendleton, Calif.-based I Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward) before returning to Camp Lejeune, N.C. The 2nd Marine Division was the ground combat element for II MEF (FWD) and was supported by 2nd Marine Logistics Group (FWD) and 2nd Marine...

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- Sailors aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Pinckney (DDG 91) returned to San Diego Feb. 24, after a five-month deployment to the Western Pacific in support of the global war on terrorism (GWOT). Pinckney made port visits to Guam, Singapore, Australia, Fiji and Hawaii. While in Guam, Pinckney became the first guided-missile destroyer to refuel and replenish the Mark Five (MK V), a high-performance combatant craft used by Navy SEALs. Pinckney was also the first DDG to embark two HH-60H Seahawk helicopters with their detachment, 20 Marine Corps personnel of a Fleet Antiterrorism Security Team (FAST) detachment...

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- The amphibious transport dock USS Cleveland (LPD 7) returned to San Diego Feb. 20, after completing a seven-month deployment in support of the global war on terrorism. Cleveland, along with the rest of Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 1, conducted Maritime Security Operations, participated in Exercise Bright Star in Egypt, and served as an afloat staging base in the North Persian Gulf, training with the Iraqi Navy and protecting Iraqi oil terminals. “Cleveland was a major contributor in the coalition effort for anti-piracy operations,” said Lt. Cmdr. Mike Dickson, Cleveland's commanding officer. “During these operations, visit, board,...

WASHINGTON - Taxpayers who have fallen behind on their paperwork — way, way behind — have a $2 billion incentive to get caught up. The IRS owes more than $2 billion to more than 1.7 million people who never filed tax returns for 2002. Half could get checks worth more than $570. To collect the refunds, taxpayers must file a 2002 tax return before this year's April 17 filing deadline. The IRS urges taxpayers to check their records and seize the opportunity to claim their money. "We want people to get the refunds they're entitled to," IRS Commissioner Mark Everson...

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (Feb. 13, 2006) -- With a loud roar of cheers, numerous hugs and kisses, and much celebration, the Marines of 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment returned to Camp Lejeune on Feb. 11-13. Having completed every mission the battalion commander put in front of them, the Marines of 2/2 have a reason to celebrate. “I couldn’t have asked any more of the Marines and sailors of 2/2, they did an outstanding job with every mission they had to complete,” said Lt. Col. J. J. Minick, battalion commander. “It feels great to be back in the...

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued the 2006 optional standard mileage rates used to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business, charitable, medical or moving purposes. Beginning Jan. 1, 2006, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car (including vans, pickups or panel trucks) are: 44.5 cents per mile for business miles driven18 cents per mile driven for medical or moving purposes14 cents per mile driven in service of charitable organizations — other than activities related to Hurricane Katrina relief. The new rate for business miles compares to a rate of 40.5 cents per mile...

NAVAL STATION EVERETT, Wash. (NNS) -- The guided-missile frigate USS Ingraham (FFG 61) returned to its homeport of Everett, Wash., after a six-month deployment to the Western Pacific and U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations Jan. 16. Ingraham, commanded by Cmdr. Ricks Polk, departed Everett in July as part of Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 1. “Our ‘Warriors’ had a great deployment,” Polk said. “Whether it was training with our coalition partners on maritime security operations (MSO) during Exercise Bright Star, or being a force multiplier in the 5th Fleet area of operations, our ship demonstrated the agility that ESG 1...

PEARL HARBOR, HAWAII (NNS) -- The guided missile cruiser USS Chosin (the War Dragon) (CG 65) returned to its homeport of Pearl Harbor after a six-month deployment to the Western Pacific and 5th Fleet area of operations Jan. 9. Chosin, commanded by Capt. Doug Venlet, departed Hawaii in July as part of Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 1. "The Sailors of the 'Mighty War Dragon' performed every mission to Chosin standards - a fantastic effort in everything they did," said Venlet. During the deployment, Sailors from Chosin and helicopter Anti-Submarine Light Squadron 37, Detachment 4 supported maritime security operations (MSO). MSO...

DALLAS, Jan. 9, 2006 — Folks in Oklahoma are readjusting to an image not typically associated with the global war on terrorism, a 73-year old great-grandmother just back from Operation Iraqi Freedom. Lena Haddix, a native of Lawton, has spent the last six months in full battle armor helping troops find snacks, shampoo and other American products at the Army & Air Force Exchange Service Post Exchange/Base Exchange in Camp Liberty, Iraq. The personification of the Exchange’s motto of “We Go Where You Go,” Haddix recently returned from her second voluntary deployment to the Middle East as a store manager....

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Preliminary election returns Monday showed Iraqi voters divided along ethnic and religious lines with a commanding lead held by the religious Shiite coalition that dominates the current government. Meanwhile, an Iraqi lawyer said at least 24 top former officials in Saddam Hussein's regime were freed from jail without charges. They included biological and chemical weapons experts known as "Dr. Germ" and "Mrs. Anthrax." Violent demonstrations also broke out across Iraq and the oil minister threatened to resign after the government raised the prices of gasoline and cooking fuel by up to nine times. And a militant group...

GROVEPORT, Ohio (12/5/2005) — "This has been the longest year of my life. I finally get my life back...I finally get my baby back," said a tearful Nancy Marquez as she sat eagerly awaiting her Soldier’s entrance; her wait was just about over. Marquez’s son, Spc. Justin Marquez, as well as 29 other Soldiers from the Ohio Army National Guard’s 237th Personnel Services Battalion were celebrated as heroes during a welcome home ceremony Dec. 4 at Groveport Madison High School. Loud cheers and applause went up as the Soldiers filed in and took their place of honor at the front...