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Jets from the 20th Fighter Wing provided a key role in taking a down corrupt regime during Operation Unified Protector. Their actions in OUP led to the capture of Moammar Gadhafi, the Libyan dictator for 42 years, by the Libyan revolutionaries on Oct. 20, 2011. The 20th FW first sent support at the beginning of April to support NATO forces in protecting the Libyan civilians from the dictatorship. "Around the middle of March, when things were starting to heat up in Libya, we were starting to pay attention," said Col. Charlie Moore, 20th FW commander. "It became apparent that we...

Military personnel costs for retirees versus active-duty service members are among the “most politically sensitive” competing interests within the fiscal 2013 Defense Department budget process, according to a new analysis from the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments. Andrew Krepinevich, CSBA’s president, called personnel costs in the future years’ defense plan “the 600-pound gorilla,” and CSBA senior fellow Todd Harrison urged leaders to address the uncomfortable topic now. http://www.govexec.com/defense/2012/02/budget-debate-pits-military-retiree-interests-against-those-active-duty-analysts-warn/41141/

Hi my name is Collin Bell. I am currently a Sophomore at Andover High School and I recently made a video about climate change for my World Geography class. Tell me what you think: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WG7fpta8zI

WINDOW ROCK — Another Navajo Code Talker has died. Sgt. Jimmie Begay, of Sawmill, died Wednesday afternoon, the Navajo Nation says. He was 86. --------------------- Services are pending.

TAKES 10 SECONDS ... DO IT AND PASS IT ON Own a Gun? Please Keep This Moving Guess they were not happy with the poll results the first time so USA today is running another one... Vote now Attorney General, Eric Holder, has already said this is one of his major issues. He does not believe the 2nd Amendment gives individuals the right to bear arms. This takes literally 2 clicks to complete. Please vote on this gun issue question with USA Today. It will only take a few seconds of your time. Then pass the link on to all...

For freedom’s way the patriots bled, The crosses mark our honored dead. More clearly than mere words e’er may That field lays out their final say: No greater love, they gave it all, In answer to man’s highest call. But don’t forget that most returned. To them we owe esteem they earned. And last of all, remember this: Our LORD betrayed by one mere kiss. For from within true danger lies, Though carefully as friend disguised. So fight my friend, from where you stand, For freedom rides on every man. E pluribus unum

ST. LOUIS (AP) - Large crowds are gathering in downtown St. Louis to honor Iraq War veterans Saturday during the nation's first big welcome home parade since the last troops left the country in December. Veterans dressed in camouflage lined up alongside military vehicles at the start of the parade, while organizers handed out small American flags to people along the route, many holding signs reading "Welcome Home" and "Thanks to our service men and women."

There is nothing quite like the smell of burning human feces in the morning. If this first sentence offends you, I make no apologies. It may offend you because you have never been in combat, or if you were in a combat zone you were far enough in the rear to enjoy modern conveniences. It reminds me of a Harley-Davidson T-shirt which many riders have worn so proudly, including yours truly. Of course, the shirt is emblazoned with an artist's cool rendition of a raucous H-D, but the words thereon say it all. "If I have to explain, you wouldn't...

From the 1906 Book "The Latest Views of Washington", L.H. Nelson Company, Portland, Maine. Except where noted, all materials are from the collection of Michael Robert Patterson. Updated 22 January 2006

This was the Year of the Middle Class -- as in, its falling incomes, loss of job security and anger. The global economic forces fueling the decline, such as foreign competition and computers, have been well reported. But what about cultural factors? Is the middle class going down partly because it stopped acting middle class? For those who remember the American middle's golden era of 40 years ago -- or see it reconstructed on TV dramas -- the cultural losses are pretty shocking. The middle managers in "Mad Men" returned to orderly homes with tidy children, even as their personal...

This animation of a mother American Bald eagle feeding her young eaglets in a high nest that is firmly perched in a tree top, inspiring event! The song of this video is the first and last verse of, Amazing Grace! The singer is female and unknown!

Command Sgt. Maj. Jeffery T. Stitzel, regimental sergeant major for the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard), was the Army’s first NCO of the year in 2002 while serving as a sergeant first class. Since that inaugural competition – now known as The Best Warrior Competition and held at Fort Lee, Va. – Stitzel has seen the status of the noncommissioned officer evolve into having a more crucial role in the Army. "We’re asking noncommissioned officers to do things now at the staff level that we entrusted career course-graduate captains to do," Stitzel said. Adding, "You’ve got noncommissioned...

From my friend in the Military: F-35B...WOW! THIS IS THE MARINE CORPS VERSION OF THE F-35, AND THEY CAN'T WAIT TO GET DELIVERY. THE 'A' MODEL GOES TO THE AIR FORCE, AND THE 'C' MODEL IS THE NAVY VERSION. I'VE GOT A HUNCH THEY WILL BE FLYING THESE BIRDS INTO THE LATE 2030's. NO ONE IS TALKING ABOUT FOLLOW-ON AIRCRAFT. Short video of an amazing plane from Lockheed Martin. http://www.aircraftowner.com/videos/view/f-35b---taking-stovl-to-a-new-level_1126

ANAHEIM – He was beaten. Marched before a firing squad. Starved at Buchenwald. Only a small twist of fate saved him – four days before the Nazis planned to execute him. They have survived Buchenwald. But the world isn't ready to hear it. After the war, they are told to not speak about it. The official U.S. stance was that no American POWs went to Buchenwald. "We were still negotiating certain things with the Germans," says Dorsey, of Temecula. "The government didn't want to upset people by saying U.S. servicemen were held in concentration camps."

In a ceremony honoring American unknown Soldiers Oct. 26, Bruno Bourg-Broc made the following observation: “At the end of World War II, the French poet Paul Edwards said — regarding the millions of deported people who perished in Nazi concentration camps – that if the echo of their voice is extinguished, we will perish. “Similarly,” Bourg-Broc said, “we can say if the echo of the voices of these Soldiers who gave their lives is never heard again we too will perish.” Bourg-Broc is the deputy to the French national Chamber of Deputies and mayor to the city of Chalons, France....

First lady Michelle Obama announced commitments from companies Thursday to hire 100,000 veterans and military spouses by 2014, a dramatic step in her Joining Forces initiative. She said the show of support demonstrates to military families that “America has your back.” The first Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden launched Joining Forces, a national initiative that mobilizes all sectors of society to give service members and their families the opportunities and support they have earned. In her keynote address to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Business Steps Up: Hiring our Heroes event, Michelle Obama announced that the International Franchise...

This appeared in Sarah Palin's "America by Heart." I think it is especially appropriate today. It is the veteran, not the preacher, who has given us freedom of religion. It is the veteran, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press. It is the veteran, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech. It is the veteran, not the campus organizer, who has given us freedom to assemble. It is the veteran, not the lawyer, who has given us the right to a fair trial. .It is the veteran, not he politician, who has given...

A special Veterans Day tribute featuring Due Souths' song "The Good Guys" (written by a FReeper!!!) with a special message from Debbie Lee, whose son, Marc Alan Lee was the first Navy Seal killed in Iraq. Help make this video go viral, and in turn help Debbies'charity "Americas' Mighty Warriors" raise funds. You can hear more of Due South at "goodguysusa.com'

I am looking to buy a home in the State of Illinois and wanted to know if anyone has had any experience with the on-line VA Loan programs that are available? Any in particular? Pros and cons of going this route?

A new group called Occupy Marines is calling on non-active duty Marines to support the "Occupy" protest movement. The group was formed online to support the Occupy Wall Street protests after videos circulated online of a Marine confronting New York City police, questioning their tactics used against Occupy Wall Street demonstrators.... (VIDEO AT LINK) In a video that has received nearly 2.5 million views, Marine Sgt. Shamar Thomas of Roosevelt, N.Y. an Iraq War veteran, spoke out to police in New York's Times Square, charging that they were over-reacting to Occupy marchers - and shaming their uniform....

Traditionally, fighting slows in the middle of Afghan winters as opposing sides dig in to establish gains already made or make plans to retake losses. This winter, coalition troops are working to solidify positions in former Taliban strongholds in southern Afghanistan, holding ground and working with locals. Meanwhile the Taliban continues its campaign of sporadic attacks, and steps up efforts to create a sort of shadow government in parts of eastern Afghanistan. Though conflicts were light last month, 32 coalition troops still lost their lives

A brand-new music video from the group "Due South" pays tribute to our Military, both past and present, as well as first responders.

A brand-new music video from the group "Due South" pays tribute to our Military, both past and present, as well as first responders.

snip... By far the most contentious proposal circulating in Washington is from a Pentagon advisory panel, the Defense Business Board. It would make the military pension system, a defined benefit plan, more like a 401(k) plan under which the Pentagon would make contributions to a service member’s individual account; contributions by the troops themselves would be optional. Mr. Panetta has said that if adopted, the plan would not apply to current military personnel.

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (AP) - A Marine who fought in the Battle of Okinawa urged Americans on Friday to honor those who served in World War II now, while veterans from that conflict are still alive. E. Bruce Heilman, speaking at a ceremony marking the 66th year since the end of the war, noted fewer than 2 million of the 16 million men and women who served in the war are alive. They are dying at a rate of 30,000 per month, he said.

City Council candidate David Oh issued a formal apology Thursday for what he described as carelessness in describing his five-year stint in the Army National Guard - an issue that led some veterans to complain he was embellishing his military record. Although Oh was assigned to a National Guard Special Forces unit, he said he should have been more careful as a candidate in his use of the terms Special Forces and Green Beret, both used to describe elite units whose combat soldiers typically have endured months of rigorous training. "I apologize to the public for any confusion or misimpression...

I thought I would give a heads up to fellow vets who served in Thailand from 1967..forward After years of fighting, the VA finally relinquished and admitted that AO was used on bases throughout Thailand. IF YOU HAVEN'T FILE YOUR CLAIMS...get on it..the new deadline is THIS AUGUST 30th,2011. Check the VA site for details....file that claim that has been denied to you NOW!!

BLUFFDALE, Utah – It's been four years since Randall Hester last heard from his older brother, Ron, a Navy veteran his family called a lone wolf. He had no idea Ron had died in January 2009 until relatives saw the man's name in a newspaper along with 15 other veterans whose bodies were unclaimed. On Monday, Hester prepared for a final goodbye, gripping an urn containing his brother's ashes and heading off to the Manti-La Sal National Forest. "It will be our last elk hunt," the 50-year-old Hester said with a great laugh, a bit like old times. He planned...

Where do our military headstones come from? A great story. I often wondered where and how our military headstones were made .... Click on the link below turn up sound very interesting.

Memorial of the US Naval Disaster of the aircraft carrier, USS Forrestal - CVA-59, July 29, 1967 in North Vietnam, Golf of Tonkin. Song of this Memorial video is, Pray For Me, sung by the Blind Boys of Alabama.

An innovative, relatively young program provides active-duty soldiers and military veterans a jump start into civilian existence while bringing life to agriculture. One-sixth of the U.S. population is enlisted in the military, and 45 percent of that number is from rural farm communities, according to the Carsey Institute at the University of New Hampshire in Durham. Farms need more hands, and veterans need work after service. So Michael O’Gorman founded the nonprofit Farmer-Veteran Coalition, based in Davis, California, to plow the hindrances and help reintegrate service men and women on a national scale. O’Gorman, a seasoned organic farmer, watched the...

WASHINGTON, June 30, 2011 – Bronze campaign stars are now authorized for service members who have served in Iraq since Sept. 1, 2010, or in Afghanistan since Dec. 1, 2009, Defense Department officials announced today. The new campaign stars, worn on the Iraq and Afghanistan campaign medals, recognize service during Operation New Dawn in Iraq and the Consolidation III campaign phase in Afghanistan. Operation New Dawn began Sept. 1, 2010, marking the official end of Operation Iraqi Freedom and U.S. combat operations in Iraq and a new focus on advising, assisting and training Iraqi security forces. The Consolidation III campaign...

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo., June 21, 2011 – An Air Force Space Command chief master sergeant used the occasion of her retirement ceremony here to take care of one last troop -- her father, who was presented with the Bronze Star Medal he earned four decades ago. Army Col. Timothy Coffin, deputy commander of Space and Missile Defense Command and Army Strategic Command, pins the Bronze Star on retired Army Sgt. 1st Class Daniel Porter as his daughter, Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Nancy Geisler, looks on during her retirement ceremony June 13, 2011, at Peterson Air Force Base,...

Need a little help with voting

SIERRA VISTA — A Marine Corps League event Sept. 18 will benefit active, retired and former Marines and their families in the area with social functions, morale and welfare. The Marine Corps League Poker Run will kick off with a rally at 9 a.m. at Cochise County Choppers on Highway 92 in Bisbee. Register from 10 a.m. to noon, with the last rider out at 1 p.m. and in by 4 p.m. Cost is $10 per rider, $5 per passenger. A parts swap meet and 50/50 raffle also are planned. For more information, call 234-6402. The Marine Corps League can...

ARLINGTON, Va., June 9, 2011 – As one of the last remaining active-duty National Guard members with service experience in Vietnam, Army Master Sgt. Leland Lesher said the most rewarding thing about his career is the view from the top while at the Army Guard headquarters. Army Master Sgt. Leland Lesher, Army National Guard force protection branch noncommissioned officer in charge and an Illinois National Guard member, swears the oath of extension and enlistment at the Army National Guard Readiness Center in Arlington, Va., June 7, 2011. Lesher is one of the last active-duty Guard members who has service time...

Thank you D-Day veterans. You service will always be remembered, as well as that of the fallen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIo3ZfA9da0&feature=player_embedded

I’ll attempt to keep my commentary to a minimum, since I don’t think I can add much to the images I’ll be posting today. The image above is of the Field of Flags, a memorial to the 266 New Yorkers who been killed in action during operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, and associated theaters of the War on Terror. The fact that I couldn’t get the entire field into view illustrates the extent of the sacrifice made by men and women of our Armed Forces, but also the contribution New York as a state has made to their missions overseas....

www.catholicnewsagency.com Marine Corps foundation honors heroic Vietnam War priest By Marianne Medlin Marine Cpl. James Capodanno, stands next to the window dedicated to his brother. Credit: Marine Corps Heritage Foundation Triangle, Va., May 20, 2011 / 02:35 am (CNA).- Servant of God Fr. Vincent Capodanno, a chaplain who was killed in action while protecting U.S. soldiers during the Vietnam War, was honored with a permanent tribute at the National Museum of the Marine Corps.“The Marines who served with Chaplain Capodanno remember him as the Chaplain who went wherever his Marines needed his comfort and guidance, no matter the personal...

‘‘Last Monday morning, the nation woke to the news of the death of the mastermind of the 9�11 attacks and the nation’s most wanted criminal, who met the same fate that he imposed on more than 3,000 citizens,” said Maj. Gen. Karl R. Horst, commanding general, Joint Force Headquarters-National Capital Region and Military District of Washington, during a May 9 ceremony at Fort McNair, commemorating the actions of MDW personnel who responded to the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. ‘‘Last Sunday’s actions are a striking example of American commitment; that same commitment that brings us here today, to dedicate a...

SAN DIEGO (CBS 8) - A local Navy wife is desperate to find her missing husband, who has post traumatic stress disorder and hasn't been seen in days. "My whole world is collapsing because this is the guy I was going to spend the rest of my life with," says Amanda Hamilton. She and Nicholas married four and a half years ago and have two sons together. As a couple they've faced deployments, but the most recent deployment on the USS Ronald Reagan to provide humanitarian relief to Tsunami victims in Japan proved to be a tipping point, according to...

Today is Silver Star Service Banner Day and the start of Military appreciation Month.

I'm writing this post to ask for some help from fellow veterans and anyone who loves our Flag. I recently went into a local car dealership to buy a new vehicle. While doing the deal I was asked if i wanted to buy a used factory cover for my truck. When I went into the storage room, my heart sunk. Over in the corner covered with dust (thick as dry wall dust), was LARGE flags that were previously flown laying in the dirt. I immediately went to the CEO and told them I wanted the flag, and I took them...

Darling of the peace movement and anti-War traitor, Adam Kokesh has joined in with the left wing RUSSIA TODAY!

Stetson hat to be new Army standard headgear In a tip-of-the-brim nod to its American frontier history, the Army is likely to change hats again - returning to the days of the wild west and adopting a dark blue Stetson as the official head cover... Read More

I posted this earlier on the Blog page but thought Vets and active duty military personnel and just other Americans would find this of interest. Mr. Barnett needs a lot of communications to shake his smug universe. The Lew Rockwell site is disliked ,correctly, for a number of reasons here. However, I have found that many of the posters such as Tom Wood are gentlemen and will discuss substantive disagreements in a civil and even friendly fashion. But there are those whose combination of abuseness and vulgarity particularly towards the armed forces merit slamming. One such is Mr Gary Barnett,...

When there exists a situation where the specific directives of the UCMJ, and an elected CINCs orders are in direct conflict, which directive order is primary?

Sent to me by my Readiness NCO SEE BELOW FOR INFORMATION ON A VETERANS AFFAIRS SCAM. REPEAT - THIS IS AN ADVISORY ON A SCAM THAT IS CIRCULATING. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Advisory from National Guard Bureau (NGB) An organization called Veterans Affairs Services (VAS) is providing benefit and general information on VA and gathering personal information on veterans. This organization is not affiliated with VA in any way.

A local legend many called a hero for his World War II efforts died at the age of 91 yesterday. World War II veteran and Silver Star recipient Leonard G. 'Bud' Lomell died of natural causes in Toms River March 1. “He was a great friend of all of us and a hero of D-Day, a person of great character,’’ said Freeholder Director Joseph H. Vicari. “Bud was a very kind man, we miss him,’’ said Freeholder Gerry P. Little, recalling how Lomell served in the Second Ranger Battalion, charged with silencing German shore batteries during the D-Day invasion. He...