Soldier killed, 5 injured in roadside bomb blast

"A Canadian soldier travelling in a convoy carrying the senior commander in Kandahar province was killed Friday when his vehicle struck an improvised explosive device.
Cpl. Nicholas Bulger, 30, was a member of 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, based in Edmonton."

..."Canadians expected an uptick in hostilities as the U.S. surge began, Frayer said. "For the most part the U.S. military has reported been meeting very little resistance... But this is keeping in line with the usual Taliban tactics of laying low during a push and then returning."Bulger is the third Canadian death in Afghanistan in less than a month. He leaves behind a wife named Rebeka and two daughters."

..."The Lakefield Herald also states that Bulger started basic military training in November of 2000 in Saint Jean, Quebec, underwent trades training for the infantry in Wainwright, Alberta, and then in 2001 became the rifleman and armoured vehicle driver for the First Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry in Edmonton. He took a break from the forces and returned in January 2008.The death of Bulger brings to 121 the total number of Canadian soldiers have died as part of the Afghan mission since it began in 2002. "

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ServiceFlags.com Seeks National Unity of Residential Military Flag Flying

"CARSON CITY, Nev., June 18 -- ServiceFlags.com announced today its support of a measure introduced in Congress that would allow service flags to be flown by home owners without restriction. To get the word out and to encourage support, ServiceFlags.com has launched a Web site: ServiceFlagPetition.com that explains how people may write to their representatives to support this new bill."
U.S. Representative, John Boccieri, recently introduced this bill that would ban neighborhood or homeowners' associations from restricting the flying of service flags.The proposed bill, H.R. 2546, was the result of one of Boccieri's constituents who was asked by her condominium association to remove her service flag which she was displaying in honor of her son who was killed; the association indicated that it was a breach of contract. Service flags are official Defense Department banners for families who have family members serving in the military during periods of hostility. The blue star on the flag represents a service member in active duty and signifies hope and pride. A gold star represents a service member killed in action, or who died in service, and stands for sacrifice for the cause of liberty. This bill is similar to the Freedom to Display the American Flag Act of 2005 which prohibits a condominium or homeowners' association from preventing residents from displaying the American flag on or around their homes. It extends these same privileges to the service flag.ServiceFlags.com is urging people to contact their representatives in the bill's support; they have already sent more than 30,000 e-mails to their current customers."Since we began making the service flag in 2001, I have heard from many families around the country about problems they've had with their homeowners' association rules," David M. Smith, president of ServiceFlags.com says. "So, the incident that prompted the bill is not an isolated one."
ServiceFlags.com Seeks National Unity of Residential Military Flag Flying - Opinion and Commentary News from Send2Press Newswire Jun 18, 2009:

The Way We Get By

The Way We Get By - Trailer from The Way We Get By on Vimeo.

Reservists help get wheelchairs to needy Iraqi children

Members of the 185th Air Mobility Wing begin loading four crates of children's wheelchairs onto a C-130 Hercules June 11, in Sioux City, Iowa. A C-130 aircrew from Air Force Reserve Command's 302nd Airlift Wing, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., transported the wheelchairs to Andrews AFB, Md., where a larger cargo plane transported the wheelchairs to Baghdad, Iraq. (U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. Brian McReynolds)

"by Senior Airman Stephen J. Collier
302nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs

6/18/2009 - PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. (AFNS) -- After a brief stop in America's Heartland, an Air Force Reserve C-130 Hercules aircrew from here took another step in a long journey for a special load of cargo headed for Iraq.

On June 11, reservists from the 302nd Airlift Wing flew to Sioux City, Iowa, where they received four pallets of children's wheelchairs. The 115 wheelchairs, donated by Hope Haven International Ministries of Rock Valley, Iowa, will be handed out to children in the Baghdad area by Soldiers of the 82nd Airborne Division from Fort Bragg, N.C."

Reservists help get wheelchairs to needy Iraqi children:

LOYALTY 2.0

"JSS LOYALTY, Iraq - Joint Security Station Loyalty, formerly known as Forward Operating Base Loyalty, has undergone some restructuring recently.

To make room for the Iraqi National Police, many of the support facilities had to be relocated. During this time of transition, finance Soldiers have been participating in R&R Leave. This has certainly put some strain on the operation. However, Loyalty Finance was still able to achieve record numbers despite being understaffed.

The post-exchange has occupied what used to be the old theater. This theater was hit by a mortar attack in early 2008. The move into the remodeled building took only two weeks. With the help of Soldiers and civilians, the transition was quite smooth. The Chaplain's office and the chapel have followed the PX to the old theater. The Loyalty Finance Office has also joined forces with the Postal Office and now occupies what used to be the postal supply room. The new office is more spacious than the old one and easier to clean. Thanks to the new office being either an old bathroom or a kitchen, no one is certain which, the floors and walls are all tile, and very easy to wipe down. A credit to the finance Soldiers is that the entire office was broken down, moved, and reassembled in one day. Business was closed during the move."

LOYALTY 2.0:

Combining Training, Increasing Muscle Memory

Combining Training, Increasing Muscle Memory: "FORT HOOD, Texas - Deploying Colorado Guardsmen continued building upon their foundation of Close Quarter Combat training at Fort Hood, Texas, May 21, 2009.

The Soldiers, who are assigned to 1st Platoon, Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 3rd Battalion, 157th Field Artillery, Colorado Army National Guard, 115th Fires Brigade, incorporated their medic platoon in the training to help simulate how to treat a casualty while also trying to clear a room or a house.

Using a basic floor plan outlined on the ground, known as a "glass house," the Soldiers, in small teams, practiced clearing rooms and hallways. At the discretion of the 1st platoon sergeant and the medic platoon sergeant, they would call out to the team a scenario such as, "Third man was hit. Lower leg injury."With that, the Soldiers determined a security plan and performed buddy aid."

Artillery, 115th Fires Brigade moves quickly into the "glass house" to
clear a room during Close Quarter Combat training May 21 at Fort Hood, Texas.
The "glass house" is a floor plan outlined on the ground where Soldiers practice
clearing rooms and hallways. The training provided here by the 120th Infantry
Brigade ensures the115th Fires Brigade redeploys safely after their year-long
deployment to Iraq and Kuwait. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Liesl Marelli)
(Released)

Soldiers leave Iraqi cities for sweltering tents

"CAMP CARVER, Iraq (AP) — The U.S. military is expanding some rural bases and building others to house thousands of troops displaced by a June deadline to withdraw from Iraq's major cities.
With continual power outages pushing temperatures well above 100 degrees, that can't come soon enough for some soldiers living in sweltering tents at Camp Carver in the small town of Madain, about 15 miles southeast of the capital.
'Can't wait,' said Spc. Oscar Garza, 20, of Port Lavaca, Texas, as he carted his bed frame to newly constructed plywood houses with air conditioners elsewhere on the U.S. base.

Kyser said his unit has moved several times, including most recently from
Baghdad to Madain, since the soldiers deployed with the 82nd Airborne from Fort
Bragg, N.C."

The Associated Press: Soldiers leave Iraqi cities for sweltering tents:

Military Appreciation Day, Coca Cola 600 NASCAR Race

"1,500 U.S. Soldiers, Airmen and National Guard troops stand in formation lining the track of the the Lowes Motor Speedway as they are honored for their service to the nation during the Coca Cola 600 NASCAR pre-race military appreciation show in Concord, N.C. on May 24, 2009. (U.S. Army photo by Trish Harris, USASOC News Service)"
090524-01 Army Special Operations Soldiers participate in Military Appreciation Day, CocaCola 600 NASCAR Race:

Pink Boxers

Army Specialist Zachary Boyd - Yahoo! News Photos: "Soldiers from the U.S. Army First Battalion, 26th Infantry take defensive positions at firebase Restrepo after receiving fire from Taliban positions in the Korengal Valley of Afghanistan's Kunar Province on Monday May 11, 2009. Spc. Zachery Boyd of Fort Worth, TX, far left was wearing 'I love NY' boxer shorts after rushing from his sleeping quarters to join his fellow platoon members. From far right is Spc. Cecil Montgomery of Many, LA and Jordan Custer of Spokan, WA, center.(AP Photo/David Guttenfelder)"

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Thursday praised an Army soldier in eastern Afghanistan who drew media attention this month after rushing to defend his post from attack while wearing pink boxer shorts and flip-flops.In fact, Gates said he wants to meet the soldier and shake his hand the next time he visits Afghanistan ."Any soldier who goes into battle against the Taliban in pink boxers and flip-flops has a special kind of courage," Gates said in remarks prepared for a speech in New York ."I can only wonder about the impact on the Taliban. Just imagine seeing that: a guy in pink boxers and flip-flops has you in his cross-hairs. What an incredible innovation in psychological warfare," he said.Army Specialist Zachary Boyd, 19, of Fort Worth, Texas , rushed from his sleeping quarters on May 11 to join fellow platoon members at a base in Afghanistan 's Kunar Province after the unit came under fire from Taliban positions.A news photographer was on hand to record the image of Boyd standing at a makeshift rampart in helmet, body armor, red T-shirt and boxers emblazoned with the message: "I love NY."When the image wound up on the front page of the New York Times, Boyd told his parents he might lose his job if President Barack Obama saw him out of uniform."I can assure you that Specialist Boyd's job is very safe indeed," Gates said in the speech.The U.S. defense chief was scheduled to deliver the speech at New York 's annual Salute to Freedom dinner in Manhattan .

Lakota proves worth as airborne platform

"A Fort Polk Soldier jumps from a Lakota LUH 72A helicopter during high altitude, low open airborne operations April 8 while another Soldier prepares to jump. The event marked the first time a Lakota was used in airborne operations on Fort Polk and just the third time Army wide"

Story...Lakota proves worth as airborne platform - Fort Polk, LA - Fort Polk Guardian: