Free Republic

ESCONDIDO ---�“ Ryan Kahlor, an injured Iraq War veteran, said he knew some volunteers were coming to help paint his Escondido home Saturday morning, but he had envisioned a "couple of guys with spray guns." When nearly 50 people descended on the U.S. Army sergeant's house, he was overwhelmed.

Remains of Seven U.S. Troops Killed in Afghanistan Returned Home By Air Force Tech. Sgt. Benjamin J. Matwey Special to American Forces Press Service DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del., July 8, 2009 - The remains of seven American troops killed July 6 during combat operations in Afghanistan returned to their nation during a dignified transfer this afternoon at Dover Air Force Base, Del. Today's dignified returns were of the following seven servicemembers: U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Tony M. Randolph, of Henryetta, Okla., assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit Eight, Sigonella, Italy. U.S. Army Capt. Mark A. Garner,...

Our Fallen Airman and Fallen Soldier Return HomeLFCA MA 09-13 - July 8, 2009OTTAWA – Our fallen airman, Master Corporal Pat Audet from 430 Escadron tactique d’hélicoptères, based at Canadians Forces Base Valcartier and our fallen soldier, Corporal Martin Joannette from the 3e Bataillon, Royal 22e Régiment based at Canadian Forces Base Valcartier, near Quebec City, return home to Canada tomorrow. Where: 8 Wing, Canadian Forces Base Trenton, Ontario. When: Thursday, July 9, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. What: At the request of the families, media will be permitted on the tarmac. Present to pay their respects will be the Minister...

> Now that he's home in Fort Worth he said his boxers will be displayed in the 1st Infantry Division museum at Fort Riley, Kansas. >

At the link if the procession carrying the body of SFC John Beale from Falcon Field, Peachtree City GA to the Cannon-Cleveland Funeral Home in McDonough, GA on June 11, 2009. The procession crossed three counties but the turnout was amazing all the way as we saluted our hero who gave his life in defense of freedom. God bless SFC Beale and be with his family. This is a longer video so you will need more tissue.

WASHINGTON (Army News Service, June 29, 2009) -- Wounded Soldiers sent home from overseas are greeted by their own before they are even off the plane at Andrews Air Force Base, Md. The Army’s wounded are welcomed back to the country by a team of three Soldiers from the U.S. Army Military District of Washington: the Medical Evacuation to CONUS Hospitals team. Col. James Conaway, Master Sgt. Jon Taylor and Master Sgt. Juan Reyna act as advocates and liaisons for wounded Soldiers transitioning back to the United States. “We help to coordinate, communicate and just take care of all the...

Cpl. Robert Schoening was 18 when he was killed near Hill 222 south of the Kuryong River and east of the "Camel's Head" in what is now North Korea. A member of Company C, 65th Combat Engineer Battalion, 25th Infantry Division, Schoening and his comrades were among the northernmost U.S. troops as 180,000 Chinese launched a surprise attack in late November of 1950.

TRENTON, N.J. - June 12, 2009 - -- Little Jewel Moore thought her daddy lived inside the computer. That's because since she was 3 months old, he did. Now the 15-month-old toddler is trying to get used to the dad who lives inside her home, Lt. Col. James Moore. And Moore, one of the 2,900 New Jersey National Guard soldiers back from Iraq after a one-year deployment, is trying to get used to the little person his baby has become and the toll his absence has had on his Jewel's older sister, Jasmine, who was 3 years old when her...

(CNN) -- The bodies of five U.S. servicemen fatally shot by a comrade at a stress clinic in Iraq were returned to the United States late Wednesday. Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, met the bodies -- contained in flag-draped cases -- when they arrived at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. Family members of three of those killed permitted photographers to document the return of their loved ones. They were Army Maj. Matthew P. Houseal, 54, of Amarillo, Texas; Army Sgt. Christian E. Bueno-Galdos, 25, of Paterson, New Jersey; and Army Private First Class Michael...

On Tuesday, May 12, we will be escorting Spec. Ryan C. King from the funeral home in Dallas, Georgia to the National Cemetery in Canton, Georgia. Spec. King was killed in action in Afghanistan on May 1. If any FReepers would like to join us for this mission, you are more than welcome. You need not be a PGR member to ride with us, and you need not ride a motorcycle. Staging information for this mission is as follows: TUESDAY May 12 Staging at Ingles Supermarket (270 Merchants Sq. Dallas, GA 30132) at 0900. Kickstands up at 0945 We will...

NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) returned to its homeport of Norfolk, Va., April 18 after a successful seven-month deployment supporting Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and maritime security and coalition operations in the U.S. 5th Fleet Area of Responsibility (AOR). TR and embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 8 flew 3,105 sorties in support of OEF, with more than 61,000 pounds of ordnance dropped on target in support of coalition forces. "The dedication of the ship's crew and naval aviators enabled TR to successfully complete its mission supporting Sailors, soldiers, airmen and Marines on the ground in Afghanistan,"...

WASHINGTON, April 20, 2009 – The Veterans Affairs Department has launched its new “Returning Veterans” Web site at http:// www.oefoif.va.gov to welcome home veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts with a social, veteran-centric Web site that focuses on their needs and questions, VA officials announced today. “VA is entering the world of Web 2.0, because that’s where this generation of veterans is already communicating,” said Dr. Gerald M. Cross, VA’s principal deputy undersecretary for health. “We’re opening our doors to them virtually to let them know what they can expect when they step through our doors in reality.”...

FORT HUACHUCA — Although a Thursday ceremony was short and simple, it was full of symbolism. Members of the 40th Expeditionary Signal Battalion stood on Thunderbird Field. As a brisk, cool wind blew through the formation, Team 40th’s battalion commander Lt. Col. Linda Jantzen reminded the soldiers that their 15-month deployment was over. She praised them for their accomplishments while in Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar and Afghanistan. The first symbolic act was having the rear detachment’s guidon furled and cased and marched off the field. The rear detachment’s mission was completed. Then Jantzen and battalion Command Sgt. Maj. John Womble marched...

Our local Hero and Marine, LCpl. Joshua Staples returned home safely from his 1st deployment! He looks great and we can’t thank him enough for serving our country and making us so proud. Joshua’s Mom, PatrioticMarineMom planned a surprise Welcome Home Party for him and invited a few more family and friends than Joshua expected. He was definitely surprised! We had a great time at The Stables of Westminster, which we decorated with a few signs, flags and centerpieces. The time flew by, but what a night to remember! Our favorite Hero and Marine, home at last, at least for...

Five minutes before he was due home, more than 100 supporters rushed to split into two long lines. On one side, people held signs, each with one letter that spelled out "Welcome Home Julian Kilcullen." On the other side: American flags, signs with the Marine Corps symbol, signs hand-lettered "We support our Troops." "We are here to show our support and tell him how grateful we are," said Ileana Sanjuan, who stood at the Air Tran arrival gate at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport with her three children and husband to welcome Marine Lt. Julian Kilcullen, who was returning home after...

VIDEO: In his first big appearance locally since moving to Dallas from the White House, Bush received a standing ovation and overwhelming cheers from a crowd of about 40,000 after the public address announcer said, “We welcome home the 43rd president.” http://www.butasforme.com/2009/04/06/former-president-bush-throws-opening-day-strike-at-texas-ranger

Tashiana Johnson, 8, holds a sign for her father,Gerard Johnson of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 7 ________________________________________ GULFPORT — A plane carrying 310 Seabees was greeted by jubilant family members Saturday afternoon when about half a contingent of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 7 returned from serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. A unit spokesman said no casualties occurred among the Gulfport-based Seabees during their battle-zone tour. They were part of 600 Seabees from NMCB 7 deployed to the Middle East. The remainder are expected to return home in mid-March. --------- Snip The Seabees had originally deployed to Iraq, but later...

FORT HUACHUCA — Nearly 600 soldiers of the 40th Expeditionary Signal Brigade will be returning next week after completing a 15-month deployment to the Middle East and other areas. Most of the battalion, which is part of the 11th Signal Brigade, left the fort in early December to provide communications network support in Iraq. Soldiers of the battalion also served in Kuwait, Qatar and Afghanistan, providing communication support for America’s war on terrorism. It is expected the soldiers will return in two groups over a period of two days, said Eric Hortin, a spokesman for the Network Enterprise Technology Command/9th...

There are currently 142,000 troops in Iraq, but some Hoosier troops are back on American soil. Stout Field was packed with hundreds of families Tuesday for a homecoming celebration honoring 170 soldiers. But these soldiers are also missing two of their own: Sgt. Gary Henry and Spec. Jonathan Menke. Henry, who was from Indianapolis, and Menke, of Madison, died in Baghdad last August after debris from an improvised explosive device detonation on an overpass fell onto their vehicle. The Castor family knows their son Gary is a hero. "He was quite an individual, touched lives that we'll never know," said...

advertisementRoughly 600 soldiers from Southern Arizona will be returning home next week after 15 months at war, the Army announced this morning. Members of the 40th Signal Battalion stationed at Fort Huachuca headed to the Middle East in December 2007, in a move that at the time was considered the largest single deployment of troops from the post in several years. Army officials haven’t specified when the soldiers will arrive next week, saying only that they'll return over a two-day period. The battalion is part of the 11th Signal Brigade, which specializes in building and operating internet and telecommunications systems...