Time to Surrender

Time to Surrender:

"Photo by Senior Airman Steve Czyz

July 25, 2007

Insurgents surrender to Sgt. 1st Class Terry Hitchrick, in Ambekiyah, Iraq, July 22. He is from Troop B, 5th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division. "

A Soldier's Poem to Jack Layton

A Step in the Right Direction: A Soldier's Poem to Jack Layton: "A Soldier's Poem to Jack Layton

Ole Jack Layton ~ Thoughts From A Soldier
written by Josh Forbes, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Dear Jack Layton,

You sit there in your quiet home
No fear is in your heart,
You sleep soundly certain that
It won't be blown apart.

Your children they can go to school
And play out in the park,
They've never seen a bomb explode
Heard air raids in the dark.

They've never seen dead bodies
Piled up on the street,
Your wife, she won't be beaten
Treated like a piece of meat

You are free to form opinions
Read any news print you can see,
You enjoy your rights and privileges
In this country wide and free.

The reason you can live like that
Is because I fight your wars
I fight and push the enemy back
I keep them off our shores."

Read the entire poem:

Sgt. Moms (Poetry)

Sgt. Moms: "Here you will find poems and essays sent in to Sgt. Mom's Place. Many have been written by visitors of my site, some mean something to my visitors and they want to share them with others. I hope you will find something of interest or maybe send in one of your own! "

Support Our Troops organizations

"Servicemember support organizations


America Supports You
Defense Department program showcases America's support for its servicemembers."


Support our Troops:

This is a lengthy list from Stars and Stripes of the various organizations
you can contact if you want to do something to show your support.

Afghanistan

A little boy sits and holds the hand of U.S. Army Sgt. Resolve Savage, from Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 158th Infantry Regiment, Arizona National Guard, while he pulls security outside of a hospital during a medical capabilities program and humanitarian assistance supply hand out in the Nuristan province of Afghanistan June 28, 2007. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Isaac A. Graham) http://www.army.mil/

House for Sale St Marys Ontario

stmaryshouseforsale.com

Is Baghdad Safer Than Chicago?

"This past Sunday, Barack Obama gave a speech at the Vernon Park Church of God in Chicago in which he noted that the number of city schoolchildren killed in the last school year was higher than the number of soldiers from all of Illinois killed in Iraq over the same period."
More... Is Baghdad Safer Than Chicago? - TIME:

DoD Increases R&R Policy

"DoD Increases R&R Policy


The Department of Defense approved today a policy change to the U.S. Central Command Rest and Recuperation Leave Program, increasing the time provided to military service members for rest and recuperation in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

The policy change, signed by David S. C. Chu, undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, increases the R&R leave period from 15 to 18 chargeable days for those service members deploying to the OEF and OIF area of operations for 15 months.

The amended policy became effective July 13, 2007, applies to military personnel only and is not retroactive. Only service members who took leave on or after July 13, 2007, may take 18 days of leave. "

More... DefenseLink News Release: DoD Increases R&R Policy:

Knee Deep in the Hooah!

"Blessings on the hand of military mothers!

I know that there are some people who think that there is no blessing to be found in combat, war, and turmoil. I am of the mindset that there is something we are obligated to learn regardless of our circumstances. Suffering in this life is inevitable -- learning is optional. What can a mother learn, or remember in a new light, about her soldier when he is in the battlefield? That is a good place to start if you are looking for the blessings.

She will look through his baby pictures and compare his younger pictures to his most recent one. Then she will try and remember at exactly what point in his life did he become a soldier? I know the technical answer is after the successful completion of BCT, but I mean when did his mind, heart and soul begin to realize that duty is a good thing, and protecting people you care about is a life that is worth living and a life worth giving?

She learns in time that he is a grown man. He is much more grown than she was ever willing to admit in the past. He is competent, brave and has a work ethic that outshines many of his civilian counterparts. She remembers seeing him run cross country races in high school. She also remember his coach telling her time and time again that for his build (very stocky) he should not be able to run like he does. 'He has a heart for it!' Yes, indeed he does."

More... Knee Deep in the Hooah!:

Spc. Jeremy L. Stacey, 23, of Bismarck, Ark., died July 5, 2007 inBaghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered from an improvised explosive device.

Spc. Jeremy L. Stacey, 23, of Bismarck, Ark., died July 5, 2007 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered from an improvised explosive device.
Originally uploaded by verbatim2006

Soldier who died in Iraq planned to make home here

Clara Garcia News-Bulletin Staff Writer;

Los Chavez, NM

Cpl. Jeremy L. Stacey lived in Valencia County for only a few months before joining the Army, but his grieving mother says he was planning on making it his home once he left the military.

His dream of one day living near his mother, Betty Click of Los Chavez, was lost on Thursday, July 5, when he was killed in Baghdad, Iraq. Stacey, 23, died of wounds sustained from an improvised explosive device.

"It's been rough for all of us," said Click of her son's death. "It's been hard on me too. Every few minutes, I remember something about him, and I just can't believe he's gone."

Stacey joined the Army in September 2003, a few months after his family moved to Valencia County. He spent much of his youth in Amarillo, Texas, and later moved to Bismarck, Ark., where he graduated high school.

Click said her only son enlisted in the Army right after high school. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team and 1st Cavalry Division.

Stacey was an armor crewman and had been a decorated soldier. He received the National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal and the Army Service Ribbon. He was posthumously laterally appointed to the rank of corporal and was awarded the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.

Click said the last time she spoke to her son was in mid-June when he called her a few days before his sister Jessica was to be married.

"He just called to let me know that he was OK, but that things were getting a little rough," Click said. "I always worried about him."

More...

Defense Department Offers $1 Million Prize for Wearable Power Innovations

"Jul 05, 2007
BY Donna Miles
WASHINGTON
(Army News Service, July 5, 2007) -

A typical dismounted troop going out for a four-day mission carries as much as 40 pounds of batteries and rechargers in his pack. The Defense Department wants to reduce that load significantly, and it's dangling a $1 million carrot to entice people to help them do it.

The Defense Department launched its 'wearable power' prize competition today to come up with new innovations to lighten warfighters' loads."

More... Defense Department Offers $1 Million Prize for Wearable Power Innovations:

Online today

Six Canadians killed in Afghan attack

" Canadian forces confirm six Canadian soldiers killed in roadside bombing

NATO troops have been battling with Taliban militants in south of country

(CNN) -- The six soldiers killed in a roadside bombing Wednesday in southern Afghanistan are Canadians, Canadian forces have confirmed.

Brig. Gen. Tim Grant, head of Canadian forces in Afghanistan, announces the six deaths Wednesday.
An Afghan interpreter also was killed in the attack, which occurred in Kandahar province, where Canadian troops are based."

More... Six Canadians killed in Afghan attack - CNN.com:

Iraqi youth use concrete as canvas

Local Iraqi artists created murals on concrete security barriers on Sadoun Street near the Abu Nuwas Market in eastern Baghdad. Under Operation Fardh Al-Qanoon, also known as the Baghdad Security Plan, the Abu Nuwas Market is going to be re-opened for public use which will mean more customers for Sadoun Street, as well. More than 140 artists were employed for this project.
(U.S. Army photo by Maj. Sean Ryan, 2nd IBCT, 2nd Inf. Div. Public Affairs Officer)


"Sadoun Street receives facelift in Baghdad;
By Maj. Sean Ryan, 2nd BCT, 2nd Inf. Div. Public Affairs Officer
May 24, 2007 - 5:49:27 AM"

More ...Sadoun Street receives facelift in Baghdad; local Iraqi youth use concrete as canvas:

Troops nab caches, insurgents in three separate east Baghdad operations

By 2nd IBCT, 2nd Inf. Div. Public Affairs
Jun 29, 2007 - 10:00:50 AM

Blackanthem Military News, FORWARD OPERATING BASE LOYALTY, Iraq — Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers recovered three caches and seized five suspected insurgents in three separate incidents in eastern Baghdad June 26.

Solders with the 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team found two rocket-propelled grenades, three rocket-propelled grenade motors, one drum of ammunition and one spool of wire in New Baghdad thanks to tip from residents. Two suspects were also detained in the operation.

A second raid in New Baghdad netted 2-16th Infantry Soldiers one pistol, one air rifle and three more insurgent suspects.

A third operation, conducted by Soldiers with the 1st Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, uncovered a weapons cache in Baghdad’s Rusafa District. The troops there recovered a cache containing two AK-47 assault rifles, two machine guns, one armor vest and four grenades."

More... Troops nab caches, insurgents in three separate east Baghdad operations

Keeping the Streets Safe

Sgt. Daniel Torres, an Infantryman and native of Sacramento, Calif., and with the 1st Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, operating in Baghdad as part of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, patrols the shopping lanes at the Al Shorja market in the Rusafa District in eastern Baghdad June 25. The market was bustling despite the recent suicide truck bomb that detonated June 19 as worshippers were leaving the Khalani Mosque, close to the market, which demonstrates the strong will of the Iraqi people to overcome terrorist acts. (U.S. Army photo by Maj. Sean Ryan, 2nd IBCT, 2nd Inf. Div. Public Affairs Officer)

N.M. Soldiers dies in Germany

In this undated photo provided by the Byrd family, Army Pfc. Henry G. Byrd III is shown. Byrd, 20, a soldier from this Socorro County, N.M., community has died from a non-combat related illness while serving in Iraq, the U.S. Department of Defense announced Tuesday, June 26, 2007. Byrd was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga. (AP Photo/Byrd family)

N.M. soldier dies of apparent heatstroke - Military News, Army News, opinions, editorials, news from Iraq, photos, reports - Army Times: "N.M. soldier dies of apparent heatstroke

The Associated Press
Posted : Wednesday Jun 27, 2007 6:27:06 EDT

VEGUITA, N.M. — A New Mexico family is mourning the loss of a 20-year-old soldier who died from a non-combat-related illness while serving in Iraq.
The Department of Defense said Army Pfc. Henry G. Byrd III died Sunday in Landstuhl, Germany, after becoming ill last week. The Defense Department gave no details, but Byrd’s family said the soldier died after collapsing from apparent heatstroke.
Family members said they had been praying since last Wednesday, when they learned that the young soldier had been taken to a hospital in Germany. His parents traveled to Germany to be with him as a priest gave him last rites.
Byrd was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga."

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