Election 2008 Videos



Capt. Tim Reynolds: "a Little PEACE of Home"

October 5, 2008 at 03:22

by BlogMasters


Capt. Tim Reynolds, a native of Beaumont, Texas, who serves as a chaplain with 4th Battalion, 42nd Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad, sits in his chair at the Soldiers’ Blessing Store, Oct. 2, 2008, where he has facilitated and consolidated donations from many people and organizations for Soldiers living at Forward Operating Base Prosperity in Baghdad. The facility is stocked full of donated items – and provides the erstwhile visitors with “a little PEACE of home.”

Date Taken:
October 2nd, 2008
Location: FORWARD OPERATING BASE PROSPERITY, Iraq
Photographer: Sgt. Whitney Houston

Multi-National Division Baghdad

Read Full Story Here:  Capt. Tim Reynolds: "a Little PEACE of Home"

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Soldiers Blessing Store: "a little PEACE of home."

October 5, 2008 at 03:08

by US Military News

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CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq – Few people understand the hardships that U.S. Soldiers endure in a combat zone, away from everything familiar in a foreign land, far away from the support systems of family, home and friends.

In an attempt to counteract the effects of being deployed, many devout patriots have stood up and have been the means of providing Soldiers a taste of home through donations to the Soldiers’ Blessing Store, located on Forward Operating Base Prosperity in Baghdad

Capt. Tim Reynolds, a native of Beaumont, Texas, who serves as chaplain with 4th Battalion, 42nd Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad, has collected donations from charitable individuals and organizations across the United States and consolidated them in the store in an attempt to bless the lives of Soldiers.

“It’s hard for me to quantify, but we’ve received donations from 20 to 30 states,” Reynolds said. “It’s a great way to show Soldiers that people back home care for them, and it’s also a great reminder for them that there are a lot of people that support them back home.”

The idea behind the Soldiers Blessing Store was to provide Soldiers who aren’t close to a post exchange with a perpetual care package, giving them home-baked goods, reading materials and essentials such as hygiene products.

“A lot of Soldiers don’t receive care packages on a regular basis, and in this case, it’s a continual care package from the people back home,” said Capt. Jonathan Hilton, a native of Colorado Springs, Colo., who serves with the 3rd Battalion, 29th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division.

“In addition to that,” he continued, “there are a lot of Soldiers who are at joint security stations or forward operating bases where there isn’t a PX, so when they come here they can come in and get stuff like hygiene products and morale things like books and homemade brownies.”

Not only does this boost Soldiers’ morale, it also helps them a little economically as well.

“It’s just a great thing to be able to do something like this. It’s a practical thing to save Soldiers some money,” Reynolds said.

This huge operation requires a lot of coordination, explained Reynolds. Members of his family and many others have worked tirelessly to get the goods, which have an estimated value of more than $40,000, to the store so far.

“There are a lot of individual groups – and my wife,” he said, in talking about those who have so lovingly given their time to make the program such a success.

“My Aunt Merna in Bay City, Texas, has a lot of connections that she works through to get this stuff over here,” Reynolds said. “It’s like we’re doing [those who give] a service by taking their donations. To me that speaks volumes. And believe you me, they get very excited having the opportunity to do this for the Soldiers.”

Putting his efforts aside, Reynolds modestly explained that the people back home who have given their time are the true champions of the operation.

“I’m not the hero,” Reynolds said. “The heroes are the folks back home. All I do is facilitate and provide an avenue for the folks back home to do their part in supporting our Soldiers. Without their help and support, it couldn’t happen.”

Outside the store hangs a sign that greets the Soldiers with the words: “Soldiers’ Blessing Store.” The second line of the sign reads: “a little PEACE of home.”

Each time a Soldier enters, the program’s goal is met through there mere entrance to the facility, which offers a little bit of love and peace from home.

By Sgt. Whitney Houston
Posted on 10.05.2008 at 12:07PM
Multi-National Division – Baghdad

Source: DVIDS-Digital Video and Imagery Distribution System

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398th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion: Takes Control

October 3, 2008 at 01:39

by BlogMasters

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CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq – The 398th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, an Army Reserve unit based out of Rockfeld, Md., officially took control of operations from the 553rd Combat Sustainment Support Battalion during a transfer of authority ceremony, Sept. 21, 2008.

The 398th CSSB now has command and control of Victory Base Complex bulk fuel farm, central receiving and shipping point yard, liberty ammunition supply point and shower laundry and clothing repair teams in Multi-National Divisions – Baghdad and Center.

In order to prepare for their new mission, the 398th CSSB underwent months of pre-mobilization and mobilization training. Upon arriving to Iraq, the Soldiers of the 398th CSSB trained closely with their counterparts in the 553rd CSSB to fully understand how to perform their duties.

“The 398th [CSSB] is fully ready to support the mission,” said Lt. Col. William Arther, an Eldersburg, Md. Native, and the 398th CSSB commander.

“[Our goal] is to get the mission done and try to make a positive impact to the mission,” added Arther. “The main purpose here is the warfighters and the decision makers.”

Although the 553rd CSSB has cased its colors and left its former responsibilities in capable hands, the unit’s mission is far from complete. The battalion is not quite heading home, but to a different location on the camp.

The 553rd CSSB, a Fort Hood, Texas, unit, is scheduled to transition with the 168th Brigade Support Battalion and take on a new mission. The unit will be responsible for a multi-class Supply Support Activity and conduct direct support maintenance.

The unit will also have to direct the transport of supplies to about 80,000 warfighters throughout MND-B and MND-C.

“We were aware before our deployment that our mission was going to change. That wasn’t an issue for the battalion headquarters since we’d already trained on both mission sets at the National Training Center in November 2007,” said Lt. Col. Gregory Koller, the commander of the 553rd CSSB.

“We look forward to our next mission and will continue to provide great support to our customers,” added Koller, a Mobile, Ala. native.

By Spc. Andrea Merritt
Posted on 10.03.2008 at 08:55AM
1st Sustainment Brigade

Source: DVIDS-Digital Video and Imagery Distribution System

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Pfc. Serena Norman- Enjoys Being "One of the Guys"

October 2, 2008 at 10:08

by BlogMasters

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FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELTA, Iraq – Pfc. Serena Norman took ribbing from her father and three older brothers, all combat arms Army veterans, when she decided to follow their footsteps into the military. Her family expected her to be the one to go straight to college in pursuit of a medical degree.

Instead, she’s found a happy medium providing medical coverage for more than 60 of her brothers-in-arms at Joint Security Station Five.

Norman, of Company C, 589th Brigade Support Battalion, 41st Fires Brigade, supports Battery A, 2nd Bn., 20th Field Artillery Regiment, 41st Fires Bde. and the Iraqi policemen who rotate through the JSS.

“We’re one big happy family,” said Norman of the crew.

Norman proved herself to the “Renegades” on early patrols.

“She never complained, and always helped out when we needed – you couldn’t ask for a better medic,” said Bolline, Ill., native 2nd Lt. Anthony Mathis, platoon leader, Btry. A.

In August, when the Renegades and IPs took over JSS-5 after the Georgians were called back home, Norman joined them and set up shop. She teaches combat lifesaver classes to the American Soldiers and IPs, holds sick call, provides medical support on patrols and assists with details.

Norman said the camaraderie she finds between the Renegades and IPs always motivates her. She gets a kick out of knowing the guys all have different backgrounds and music preferences, but come together while deployed.

“They’ll do anything for each other. It’s exactly what I thought the Army would be,” she said

The Los Alamos, N.M., native is torn between the adrenaline rush she feels when treating medical trauma and not wanting to see any of “her guys” injured. Norman instead finds fulfillment through knowing the Iraqis are learning valuable skills from the Americans, such as holding patrol briefs and taking CLS bags on patrols.

“I felt so good after teaching the Iraqis CLS,” she said. “I smiled for about a week afterward.”

She’s also inspired by the initiative the Renegades take to setting up their living space. When she first arrived they were setting up their air conditioners; she, in turn, built a locking cabinet for the aid station.

“If we don’t do it, who is going to?” Norman asked.

Norman said she still plans to become a doctor, most likely a trauma surgeon, after completing her military service.

By Spc. Allison Churchill
Posted on 10.02.2008 at 03:05AM
41st Fires Brigade Public Affairs Office

Source: DVIDS-Digital Video and Imagery Distribution System

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Home Repair Scam Appears to Target Military Families

September 17, 2008 at 05:43

by BlogMasters

WASHINGTON - The letter that appeared in a Soldier's mailbox promised an offer almost too good to be true: a home improvement loan approved by Congress and backed up by a government agency.

Officials at the Federal Citizen Information Center fear it's a scam targeting military members that uses the center's credibility to lure victims in.

An eagle-eyed Soldier notified the Federal Citizen Information Center after receiving the ad from the "Home Information Center" linked to post office boxes in Dallas and in Owasso, Okla. The letter included a reference to FCIC's Web site in an apparent attempt to show a federal endorsement.

"The thing that immediately sends up a red flag is the fact that [the advertisement] says these loans are approved by the U.S. Congress," said Mary Levy, director of consumer education and outreach in the FCIC's Office of Citizen Services. "Congress would absolutely never approve any particular home improvement loan."


Source: DVIDS-Digital Video and Imagery Distribution System

Read Full Story Here: Home Repair Scam Appears to Target Military Families

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Army: News From the Field

September 17, 2008 at 04:20

by BlogMasters

Army


149th Fighter Wing/Public Affairs
Division West PAO
USARCENT Kuwait
1st Sustainment Command (Theater) Public Affairs
20th Public Affairs Detachment
311th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary)
37th Infantry Brigade Combat Team
4th Sustainment Brigade
USARCENT Public Affairs
MNF-I
126th Public Affairs Operations Center
45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team
Iraqi Media Engagement Team
MNC-I
12th Combat Aviation Brigade
13th Public Affairs Detachment
34th Combat Aviation Brigade
Headquarters 18th Airborne Corps Public Affairs
MND-North
11th Public Affairs Detachment
14th Public Affairs Detachment
1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (AA) Public Affairs
1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division Public Affairs
3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment Public Affairs Office
728th Military Police Battalion
Headquarters 1st Armored Division Public Affairs Office
MND-Center
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division Public Affairs
354th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (AA) Public Affairs
4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs
4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs
Headquarters, 10th Mountain Division Public Affairs
MND-B
128th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
18th Military Police Brigade
1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division Public Affairs
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (AA) Public Affairs
2nd Stryker Brigade 25th Infantry Division
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division Public Affairs
46th Engineer Combat Battalion (Heavy)
4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division Public Affairs
926th Engineer Brigade
Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division Public Affairs
Headquarters, 4th Infantry Division Public Affairs
Expeditionary Sustainment Command
16th Sustainment Brigade
1st Sustainment Brigade
215th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
371st Sustainment Brigade
3rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary)
76th Infantry Brigade Combat Team
7th Sustainment Brigade
CSTC-A
Afghan Regional Security Integration Command � North
Combined Security Transition Command - Afghanistan
CJTF-101
101st Combat Avation Brigade Public Affairs
101st Sustainment Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (AA) Public Affairs
102nd Public Affairs Deachment
382nd Public Affairs Deachment
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division
4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division
Headquarters, 101st Airborne Division (AA) Public Affairs
Un-Assigned Units
1/34 Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs
100th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
104th Public Affairs Detachment
106th Public Affairs Detachment
107th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
10th Public Affairs Operations Center
111th Engineer Brigade Public Affairs Office
111th Public Affairs Detachment
112th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
113th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
114th Public Affairs Detachment
115th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
116th Public Affairs Detachment
118th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
123rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
124th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
129th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
131st Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
138th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
13th Sustainment Command
13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary)
143rd Transportation Command
145th Mobile Pubilc Affairs Detachment
15th Sustainment Brigade
16th Engineering Brigade Public Affairs
173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs
181st Engineer Brigade Public Affairs Office
188th Infantry Brigade
191st Infantry Brigade
1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs
1st Battalion, 121st Infantry Regiment
1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs
1st Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division Public Affairs
1st Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs
1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division Public Affairs
203rd Public Affairs Detachment
204th Public Affairs Detachment
206th Broadcast Operations Detachment
207th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
209th Broadcast Operations Detachment
210th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
211th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
214th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
222nd Broadcast Operations Detachment
22nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
241st Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
256 Brigade Combat Team LA Army National Guard
25th Combat Aviation Brigade Public Affairs
27th Public Affairs Detachment
28th Public Affairs Detachment
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division Public Affairs
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division Public Affairs
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division Public Affairs
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division Public Affairs
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division Public Affairs
3-116th Infantry Public Affairs
300th Military Police Brigade Public Affairs Office
300th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
302nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
305th Press Camp Headquarters
310th Expeditionary Sustainment Command
314th Public Affairs Operations Center
316th Expeditionary Sustainment Command
319th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
326th Mobile Public Affairs Detatchment
332nd Medical Brigade
33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team
343rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
345th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
34th Infantry Division
350th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
356th Broadcast Operations Detachment
359th Signal Brigade
361st Public Affairs Operations Center
362nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
363rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
366th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
372nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
377th Theater Support Command
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division Public Affairs
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division Public Affairs
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division Public Affairs
3rd Combat Support Command Public Affairs
3rd Medical Command
40th Public Affairs Detachment
416th Engineering Command
49th Public Affairs Detachment
4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division
4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division Public Affairs
4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division Public Affairs
4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division Public Affairs
4th Cavalry Brigade First Army Division East
4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division
502nd Military Intelligence Brigade
505th Engineer Battalion, N.C. National Guard
506th Regimental Combat Team Public Affairs
50th Public Affairs Detachment
55th Combat Camera
56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 28th Infantry Division
58th Brigade Combat Team Maryland Army National Guard
5th Armored Brigade
5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
615th Aviation Support Battalion
640th Sustainment Brigade Public Affairs Office
69th Public Affairs Detachment
70th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
7th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
82nd Sustainment Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division Public Affairs
841st Transportation Battalion
875th Engineer Battalion, AR National Guard
8th Theater Sustainment Command
90th Regional Readiness Command PAO
982nd Combat Camera Company Airborne
Arizona National Guard Public Affairs
Army Project Coordination Office
Army Public Affairs Center
Army Reserve Medical Command
Assistant Secretary of the Army Public Affairs
California National Guard Visual Information
Camp Atterbury Public Affairs
Chief of Staff of the Army
Combat Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (AA) Public Affairs
Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Infantry Division
Combat Aviation Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs
DC National Guard
Fires Brigade, 4th Infantry Division Public Affairs
First U.S. Army Public Affairs
Fort Benning Public Affairs Office
Fort Bliss Public Affairs Office
Fort Bragg Public Affairs Office
Fort Campbell Public Affairs Office
Fort Carson Public Affairs Office
Fort Dix Public Affairs Office
Fort Drum Public Affairs Office
Fort Hood Public Affairs Office
Fort Irwin Public Affairs Office
Fort Leavenworth Public Affairs Office
Fort Lewis Public Affairs Office
Fort Polk Public Affairs Office
Fort Riley Public Affairs Office
Fort Stewart Public Affairs Office
Headquarters, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs
Headquarters, 1st Corps Public Affairs
Headquarters, 1st Infantry Division Public Affairs
Headquarters, 25th Infantry Division Public Affairs
Headquarters, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs
Headquarters, 42nd Infantry Division
Headquarters, 5th Signal Command
Headquarters, 82nd Airborne Division Public Affairs
Headquarters, Headquarters Company 94th Engineers Battalion
Joint Force Headquarters-Florida, Chief Information Officer/J6/Visual Information
Joint Force Headquarters-Illinois National Guard
Multi-National Division-Central
National Guard Bureau
Nevada National Guard Domestic Operations Public Affairs Office
New York National Guard
North Dakota National Guard Public Affairs
Office of the Chief of Public Affairs Midwest
Office of the Chief of Staff Public Affairs
Ohio National Guard Public Affairs
Soldiers Radio and Television
South Carolina National Guard
South Dakota National Guard Public Affairs
U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne)
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Afghanistan Engineer District
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Gulf Region Central
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Gulf Region Division Headquarters
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Gulf Region North
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Gulf Region South
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District
U.S. Army New York City Recruiting Battalion
U.S. Army North Public Affaris
U.S. Army Reserve Command
U.S. Army South
U.S. Army War College Public Affairs
U.S. Forces Command
U.S. Mission to NATO
Virginia National Guard Public Affairs Office
Crawford Communications
DVIDS Hub

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