30 Military Stories Many Didn’t Hear About, But Should Have

May 2008
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by Guest May 19th, 2008.

By Duane Lester (Originally published at All American Blogger)

Operation: Hearts and Minds is a Newsvine group I started to detail the positive news about our military that is often overlooked. Too many good news pieces are not reported on because of body counts or the “If it bleeds, it leads” attitude of the media. Quite a few of those stories end up here.

I also try to cover a story on the podcast about our military and show the progress they are making around the world. But there are so many (currently my “Military News” RSS feed has over 1000 stories in it!), it is difficult to cover them all. So, in an effort to do more, here are thirty stories that you might not have heard about, but should have:

Let us pray for our brothers and sisters
as they go forth with courage and determination
to face the forces of violence,
weapons of destruction
and hearts filled with hate.

Valley boy shares story, receives surprise military visit

Phoenix, AZ - Within the last year Josh Coppoth, 10, was diagnosed with a brain tumor and has undergone a series of treatments.

Recently, his school decided they would write to Navy SEALs fighting overseas in Iraq.

The letters were a school project, where the students shared some interesting facts with their military pen pals.

Josh decided to talk about his cancer struggle.

The letter reads in part, “I’ve had 3 surgeries, too many hospital visits to count, one surgery is to remove a tumor on the back of my brain.”

It goes on to say, “I’ve been through some tough stuff, but I’m still fighting strong. I hope you keep fighting strong…I wish I could meet you one day”.

Nicholas Wuaguespack was the Navy SEAL receiving Josh’s letter.

Nick says, “When I read this it really made me stop and think what I was doing out there and what I was doing it for.”

So Nick made it a mission that when he was done fighting overseas, he meet Josh.

On Wednesday, much to Josh’s surprise, Nick did just that.
CF kills 6 enemy personnel with air strikes

TIKRIT, Iraq – Coalition forces killed six enemy personnel and destroyed a cache near Khan Bani Sa’ad with air strikes, May 17.
Fifteen suspected terrorists detained in Coalition operations (Mosul)

BAGHDAD – Coalition forces captured three wanted terrorist suspects and detained a dozen additional men during operations targeting al-Qaeda in Iraq leadership and financiers Saturday and Sunday.
MND-C Soldiers discover caches (Baghdad)

BAGHDAD – Multi-National Division – Center Soldiers discovered two weapons caches in separate operations May 15 and 16.

Coalition forces discovered a cache of rockets May 15 south of a forward operating base.
MND-B Soldiers find mortar cache in Rashid

FORWARD OPERATING BASE FALCON, Iraq – Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers unearthed a significant cache of mortar rounds at approximately 8:30 p.m. May 16 while on patrol in the Rashid district of southern Baghdad.

Soldiers from the 1st Squadron, 33rd Cavalry Regiment, assigned to the 4th Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, attached to the1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, found 21 82 mm mortar rounds and 17 60 mm rounds while on patrol in the Furat community of Rashid.
Arkansas National Guard Soldier funds scholarship in honor of Vietnam Soldier

CAMP TAJI, Iraq - Ten years ago, Adams’ brother, Sgt. 1st Class Dennis Adams, a Marked Tree, Ark., native, and the operations noncommissioned officer for the 1038th Engineer Company, an Arkansas National Guard unit attached to the 165th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 1st Sustainment Brigade, in support of Multi-National Division-Baghdad, along with his brother Danny began holding tailgate parties before every Friday-night hometown football game.

Soon after, they decided to establish a $500 football scholarship in the name of their Family friend, Teddy G. Talley. The tailgate parties became the driving force for raising the funds to cover the scholarship.

While socializing, grilling, and cheering on the home team, the Adams brothers would talk about the scholarship and accept donations from anyone who showed an interest.
Citizen’s tip leads MND-B Soldiers to EFP-making factory in local bakery

BAGHDAD, Iraq - An Iraqi citizen’s tip led Multi-National Division - Baghdad Soldiers to a weapons cache in the New Baghdad district of eastern Baghdad May 16.
Basrah Residents to enjoy more clean water

BASRAH, Iraq - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in southern Iraq is investing $9.5 million to develop one of the most strategic water projects here in Al-Garma north of the Basrah province.

The project aims to increase the Qurmat Ali pumping units capacity from 4,000 to 16,000 cubic meters per hour to provide uninterrupted flow of water for the people of Basrah and develop the infrastructure to improve the quality of life for all the people, said Ferdinand Guese, the project engineer in the USACE Basrah Area Office.
Three wanted al-Qaeda suspects detained in Mosul

BAGHDAD - Iraqi and Coalition forces continued their joint efforts targeting al-Qaeda in Iraq elements in Mosul, detaining three wanted men during precision operations Saturday.
More Than 300 ‘Sons of Iraq’ Graduate Police Training in Kirkuk

KIRKUK — More than 300 former members of “Sons of Iraq” graduated to Iraqi policemen during a ceremony at Kirkuk Police Academy on May 15.

The students graduated after eight weeks of training here.
Frank Buckles, 107, old-school survivor

Stars and Stripes - “I realize now I was very young.”

Frank Buckles was 16 and lied about his age to the Army so he could enlist and go to Europe. It was 1917 and the country was facing the “war to end all wars.”

Now, at 107, he is America’s last living World War I veteran.
Military medical advancements benefit civilian health care

WASHINGTON (AFPN) — Psychological health issues and traumatic brain injuries are primary areas of study in military medicine, said a senior Department of Defense medical official here recently.
Elmendorf Airmen lend a hand

ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska (AFPN) — People need four things to survive: Food, water, clothing and shelter. Ten members of the First Term Airman Center here recently volunteered to help provide one of these basic needs for underprivileged families May 3 in Anchorage, Alaska.
‘Dirt Boyz’ pave way for aircraft, Airmen

BALAD AIR BASE, Iraq (AFPN) — Kettles filled with scalding tar, 300-degree asphalt, concrete chemicals that can burn skin are the tools of the trade for heavy equipment operators who labor here under a scorching Iraqi sun.

Airmen assigned to the 332nd Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron, known as “Dirt Boyz” know their duties are indeed dirty and dangerous, but understand aircraft operations depend on their ability to repair and expand the flightline.
Marne Dauntless to improve quality of life, eliminate extremists

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Multi-National Division - Center launched its latest major operation primarily devoted to capacity building May 15, seeking to improve the quality of life for Iraqi citizens of the Mada’in Qada, in southeast Baghdad Province.

Coming on the heels of Operation Marne Piledriver - which kicked off in April across the Mahmudiyah Qada, south of Baghdad - Marne Dauntless aims to facilitate sustainable stability and security in a new part of MND-C’s battle space.
Pilot of First Burma Relief Mission Describes Experience

WASHINGTON, D.C. - “Everyone … was so ecstatic or excited to have us there on the ground,” Capt. Trevor Hall said during a teleconference with online journalists and “bloggers.” “With very little broken English that we could make out, they were trying to say, ‘Please bring more; please bring more.’”
Soldiers play catch with Iraqi children

FORWARD OPERATING BASE ISKAN, Iraq - Coalition forces had some special gifts to hand out during their patrol May 10 in the Hay al-Askeri neighborhood of Jurf As Sahkr, approximately 55 kilometers south of Baghdad.

Soldiers of 1st Platoon, Company A, 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, collected several soccer balls, basketballs and footballs donated from Mission Sergeant Soper and distributed them out to Iraqi children.
MND-B Soldiers detain suspected IED emplacer, weapons trafficker

??????FORWARD OPERATING BASE FALCON, Iraq - Multi-National Division - Baghdad Soldiers detained a suspected criminal at approximately 2:30 a.m. May 15 in the Rashid district of southern Baghdad.
Afghan, Coalition Forces Detain Eight Taliban Suspects in Raid

WASHINGTON, May 16, 2008 – Afghan and coalition security forces detained eight suspected Taliban militants during a joint operation conducted in Paktia province yesterday, U.S. military officials said.
Coalition Troops in Iraq Kill Terrorist, Detain 19

WASHINGTON, May 16, 2008 – Coalition forces killed one terrorist and detained 19 suspects during a series of operations targeting al-Qaida in Iraq operatives in central and northern Iraq today, military officials said.
USCG Delaware Rescue
Airmen, Soldiers improve Afghan lives

NANGARHAR, Afghanistan (AFPN) — Airmen from around the world and Soldiers from Pennsylvania, Texas, North Carolina and Virginia arrived in Afghanistan in early March to improve the lives of the people of Nangarhar Province.

After two months on the ground, the team has gotten its bearings and is working to build strong relationships with its community.
Combined patrols disrupt criminal activity in Rashid

BAGHDAD – Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers, working with Iraqi Security Forces detained a suspected criminal. They also found an improvised explosive device, and seized a munitions cache in separate operations May 12-13 in the Rashid district of southern Baghdad.

At approximately 3 a.m. May 12, Soldiers from 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad, received a tip on the location of a cache from a local citizen.
Paratroopers Join Afghan Forces to Take Control of Bridge, Checkpoint

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan — Operation Mountain Highway II began in Afghanistan’s eastern Nuristan province in late April.

The operation started April 22 when Soldiers from International Security Assistance Force and the Afghan National Army made a simultaneously night air assault onto three mountains above Gowerdesh Bridge.
4-legged defenders sniff out trouble in Kirkuk

KIRKUK AIR BASE, Iraq (AFPN) — Prompted by only a few words of command by his handler, military working dog “Charlie” sprints ahead and rabidly thrusts to attack a simulated enemy during a recent training session here.

For Charlie, a German Shepherd deployed here, this attack is as large a priority as if it were a real insurgent attempting to harm coalition forces. Despite temperatures hovering near the century mark, Charlie makes no bones about pushing his paws to the limit for the seemingly small reward of some praise from his handler.
Bulldog Soldiers secure piece of Iraqi history

FORWARD OPERATING BASE FALCON, Iraq - Soldiers from the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division - Baghdad, safeguard a piece of Iraqi religious history while operating from a combat outpost adjacent to a Christian-based seminary in the Rashid district of southern Baghdad.

The Soldiers of Troop B, 7th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 1st BCT, ensure the preservation of the seminary, college and chapel that encompass the St. Peter Seminary of Chaldean Patriarchate in the predominantly Muslim community of Abu T’shir.
CG Rescues Four From Eight-Foot Seas

MIAMI - Four people were rescued by the crew of a Coast Guard cutter after their 38-foot sailboat began taking on water approximately 200-miles east of Charleston, S.C.
With Improved Security, Basra Comes Back to Life

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq, May 13, 2008 – The security environment in Basra, Iraq, has improved dramatically since 1st Iraqi Army Quick Reaction Force fought its way into the city April 1.

Criminal elements had taken over parts of the city from local Iraqi security forces and imposed their own rule on a city that once was a cultural and commercial beacon for all of Iraq.

“This city was being held hostage by a small group of criminal militias,” said Marine Corps Col. Robert F. Castellvi, military training team advisor for 1st Iraqi Army Quick Reaction Force.

Music and Western influence were prohibited; women faced death threats if they ventured outside their homes dressed in anything other than a full burkah; and intersections were used as mortar positions.
Ceremony Marks Completion of School Construction

CAMP STRIKER — Iraqi citizens celebrated the completion of construction at the Omah Moktar School for Girls in the Qadisiyah Apartment Complex in Mahmudiyah, about 20 kilometers south of Baghdad, May 8.

After nearly three months of construction, the Moktar School’s approximately 600 students can now enjoy new windows, gates and doors, as well as new auditorium furniture. Exterior improvements included raising the outer wall as an added security measure.
Pararescueman receives 2008 Pitsenbarger Award

RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFPN) — On Oct. 22, 2007, while serving a tour in Afghanistan, Sergeant Keaton employed his medical expertise and was directly responsible for saving the lives of five critically wounded Afghan noncombatants. At great personal risk, he courageously maneuvered under a barrage of gunfire to render lifesaving care to three children and two women who were critically wounded after being used as human shields by enemy combatants.

The award will be presented to Sergeant Keaton by AFSA at the Air Force Honors banquet, Aug. 27, in San Antonio.

If you are interested in military stories that detail positive elements of American military efforts, click here and get yourself an RSS feed to the group.

God bless our soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines.