Hero Stories for November 2008

WASHINGTON - At least one in four U.S. veterans of the 1991 Gulf War suffers from a multi-symptom illness caused by exposure to toxic chemicals during the conflict, a congressionally mandated report being released today found. For much of the past 17 years, government officials have maintained that these veterans -- more than 175,000 out of about 697,000 deployed -- are merely suffering the effects of wartime stress, even as more have come forward recently with severe ailments. "The extensive...

TAMPA -- One dove onto a live grenade in Iraq. He died, but his fellow SEALS lived. The other left the safety of a craggy Afghanistan mountainside in search of a radio signal to call for help, even though he knew there were dozens of Taliban fighters in the area. He was mortally wounded, but not before he made radio contact to make sure help was on the way. Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Monsoor and Lt. Michael Murphy probably never met, but they are forever together now. Their names are etc...

WASHINGTON - Stress on U.S. troops from repeated combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan is "extraordinary" and may be worsening even as fighting eases in Iraq, the military's top officer says. In an interview with The Associated Press on Tuesday, Adm. Mike Mullen expressed hope that the strain will be relieved gradually as the Marine Corps and Army expand the pool of available forces. The Marines, for example, created an additional battalion this fall and plan to add another by February, Mullen...

BAGHDAD - More than 5,000 Iraqis demonstrated in the Iraqi city of Hillah on Nov. 18 to support the security agreement between the United States and Iraq that would require U.S. troops to withdraw from the country. The deal sets the legal basis for the future presence of US troops in Iraq after a United Nations Security Council mandate expires at the end of the year. Under the agreement, the deadline for the complete withdrawal of US troops is Dec. 31, 2011. More than 140,000 U.S. troops are ...

Sgt. Lucas T White, U.S.  Army, Afghanistan & Iraqi Freedom Lucas served in Afghanistan & Iraq. His awards and decorations include:  the Bronze Star; Purple Heart; Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster; Army Achievement Medal; Good Conduct Medal 2nd Award; National Defense Service Medal; Iraq Campaign Medal; Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Ribbon; Overseas Service Ribbon; Combat Infantryman Badge; Expert Infantryman Badge We all lov...

I am one of many Marines that was with 1/8 after the bombing to rebuild the Battalion.  I tell this with GREAT honor to those before me...I met some of the survivors and heard their stories of survival first hand...They were everyday guys that were serving their country and were lucky to come home with their purple hearts, and body parts...As soon as I get back to work, I will get a bracelet to honor my fallen pals from 1/8. (Beirut)   Thank You, Christopher Sti

<

Flat Stan was busy socializing at the US Embassy in Baghdad this week... He attended his final Baghdad Cigar Aficionado Club meeting in November. Here are a few shots of Flat Stanley and me, enjoying the simple pleasures that come from smoking a fine cigar with great friends, and enjoying some Iraqi SNAPPLE Iced Tea..  :-) Enjoy!  16 more days until Flat Stanley and I leave IRAQ!!! Jon Burrow, LTJG, LDO, USN Force Protection Offi

My husband, Sgt. David Lee Leimbach was killed in Afghanistan on May 25, 2008, while serving with the Army National Guard. He believed so strongly in the rightness of their mission that he volunteered to extend his deployment for 6 months. His family misses him dearly, but could not be more proud of him for his willingness to answer God's call on and risk his life in service to us all. I appreciate the generosity of those who have donated funds to ensure that Gold Star family members get brac...

This is a great site and a wonderful thing your doing for the family. It’s wonderful to know that we still have great americans that do care for our fallen heros. My son Pvt Isaac T. Cortes, 26 yrs of age was KIA on November 27th 2007 in Amerli Iraq by an IED. Isaac was in the military for only 10 months,two months out of that in Iraq before he was taken from me. It will be a year soon and a day does not go by that I wish I can hear his voice, hold him in my arms and smell his scent one more ...