National Guard Family

Army National Guard Chief Warrant Officer William White

November 2, 2008 at 04:15

by US Military News

• Hometown: Leeton, MO
• Awarded: Distinguished Flying Cross

The Story:

Ground forces in Iraq have the tough task of clearing, securing, and rebuilding – but U.S. airpower often provides the support necessary to achieve these goals.

Such was the case on Dec. 19, 2006, when Lt. Salo, Chief Stacy, Chief White, and Chief Moore – all pilots – performed life-saving measures for Marines and Iraqi soldiers who were establishing an observation post in Ramadi, Iraq. The ground forces were moving from building to building, searching for insurgents or other unfriendly forces. The pilots, all manning Apache helicopters, were searching for enemies from the air. As Coalition forces entered one of the buildings, the pilots heard over the radio that an IED exploded, leaving several Iraqi soldiers hurt and damaging much of the squad’s communication equipment.

The Marines and soldiers quickly secured the outer area and continued to clear the rest of the building. Forty minutes later, a second IED detonated. Instead of waiting around to see what other booby traps the enemy had in store for them, the team called in an evacuation team to get the injured to a safer location. As they were doing so, another IED went off, and insurgents began firing at Marines still inside the building.

With very little communications equipment available, the ground forces had no way to let their command know the volatile situation. But the pilots in the air still had communications abilities; they became the radio relay between the ground forces and the command post several miles away.

Fire was coming from all sides, but the pilots could not fire a shot considering the urban landscape. As Salo stated, “everyone and no one [was] a target.” Instead, they did what they could – drew fire away from the Coalition forces, making the enemies keep their eyes to the sky instead of the Marines and soldiers trying to evacuate the wounded and suppress the attack.

The Apaches stayed long enough for the evacuation team to get the injured loaded and headed toward safety. The pilots then flew back to camp to refuel, and inspected their aircraft. One of the helicopters had taken serious fire to the tail wheel, belly, and transmission; the other’s flight systems were severely damaged. They had sustained enough damage to stay back at camp and out of the fight, but all four were determined to get back. As Salo said, “We knew the mission was vital and we had to go back in.”

They headed back to the battle scene, and instantly began taking fire from the insurgents. The Marines were still unable to communicate, so the pilots again acted as the liaison between the forces on the ground and the command post. Meanwhile, they had to dodge shots and RPGs being leveled their way – still unable to fire back for fear of hitting innocent civilians.

Going back and forth twice more to refuel, the pilots each time made the decision to go back into the war zone, although their aircrafts were significantly damaged. The fight raged on for seven hours, and the pilots stayed to provide communications support and air cover. The Marines took extensive hits, and with casualties piling up, they realized they all needed to evacuate the area immediately.

With no direct communication with their command post, and no reinforcements in sight, the Marines realized they had to make a run for it on foot. With the Apaches flying overhead providing security and cover, the Coalition troops eventually made it safely back to base.

For their bravery and actions, all four pilots received the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism and extraordinary achievement on April 16, 2007.

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Deadline: OVERSEAS HOLIDAY MAIL 2008

November 2, 2008 at 02:11

by US Military News

The 2008 Christmas holiday mailing deadlines have been announced. If you want your cards, letters, and packages to arrive to a military member overseas, or deployed on a Navy ship by Christmas, be sure to mail them by the following dates:

For military mail addressed to APO/FPO AE zips 090-098 (except 093); AA zips 340; and AP zips 962-966:

* Express Mail: Dec. 18
* First-Class Mail (letters/cards and priority mail): Dec. 11
* Parcel Airlift Mail: Dec. 4
* Parcel Post: Nov. 13

For military mail addressed to APO/FPO AE ZIP 093:

* Express mail Military Service: N/A
* First-Class Letters/Cards/Priority Mail: Dec. 4
* Parcel Airlift Mail: Dec. 1
* Space Available Mail: Nov. 21
* Parcel Post: Nov. 13

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Louisiana National Guard Aids Stranded Livestock in Louisiana

September 22, 2008 at 10:10

by US Military News

HAMMOND, La. - National Guard Soldiers teamed up with the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry to airlift food and water to thousands of cattle isolated by the flood waters of Hurricane Ike.

Trapped in remote areas south of Vinton, La., in Calcasieu Parish, more than 3,000 cattle were at risk of starvation and kidney failure due to the lack of feed and the high percentage of salt in the surrounding flood waters.

Two National Guard CH-47 Chinook helicopters distributed more than 52,000 pounds of hay to the livestock and worked vigorously to provide fresh water, dropping more than 13,500 gallons to the different locations.

"It was pretty sad that the cattle were stranded out there with no food or water, but the ranchers had grid coordinates for us to drop the hay and water, [which] made it easier for us to conduct a successful mission quickly," said Army Spc. Michael Nolan of Metairie, La., who assisted with the mission.

"Without the help from the National Guard and the donated hay from the Louisiana Department of Agriculture, these cattle could not have survived," said a tearful Kent LeDoux, manager of Gray Ranch in Vinton, La. "They are isolated into small areas and need the fresh water and hay desperately." LeDoux said he was impressed by the speed of the National Guard's response, which he said was "much quicker than we expected."

Bill Bruce, another local rancher, of Gum Cove, La., went out by air-boat to check on his livestock, Sept. 14, 2008, the day after Hurricane Ike struck, and already had lost about 100 cattle. He was especially grateful that the Guard delivered fresh water to the livestock. "Water is even more critical than food at this point, because they have been ingesting a lot of salt water," he said.

"This is their life; they depend on their cattle," said Army Sgt. Joshua Davis, a volunteer with 1-244th Assault Helicopter Battalion who is home on leave from Iraq. "As Soldiers, it's our duty and an honor to help them."

Davis added that in addition to the good feeling he got from helping, he was able to enhance his skills. "This was a good experience for me," he said. "Not only was I able to make a difference, I also got a chance to familiarize myself with the Bambi buckets during a real-world mission." A Bambi bucket is a collapsible container that enables helicopters to lift and transport water or fire retardant.

With more than 52,000 pounds of hay and 13,500 gallons of water distributed to the cattle so desperately in need, the National Guard will continue to provide as much assistance as resources will allow to help the cattle ranchers affected by Ike, Louisiana National Guard officials said.

By Army Staff Sgt. Stephanie J. Cross
Posted on 09.22.2008 at 09:51AM
Special to American Forces Press Service

Source: DVIDS-Digital Video and Imagery Distribution System

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Watertown and Elmira National Guard Soldiers Receive Service Medals

September 19, 2008 at 10:46

by BlogMasters

KABUL, Afghanistan - New York Army National Guard Soldiers from Watertown and Elmira were recognized on Sept. 19, 2008, during award ceremonies held at Camp Phoenix, as they prepared to return home from deployment.

Sgt. Travis S. Smithers from Watertown, N.Y., was awarded the Purple Heart Medal for injuries sustained in combat operations in May 2008. Capt. John Shannon from Elmira, N.Y., was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for his service in command of an enlarged infantry company of security force Soldiers that was mobilized in 2007.

Both Soldiers are members of the Security Force Company built around the New York Army National Guard's A Company, 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry, headquartered in Geneseo, N.Y. Additional platoons came from the Hudson Valley, Capital District, the Adirondacks and the North County.

In September 2007, these 230 infantry soldiers from New York's 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team were mobilized ahead of the main deployment of NY Soldiers for Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. They have now completed their tour of duty and will be returning home in the very near future.

"You have done an awesome job since you arrived here so many months ago," said Col. Gary Yaple, deputy commander of CJTF-Phoenix and New York's 27th IBCT. "You were each hand selected for this assignment because of the work you did," he said. Nearly 40 percent of the unit has served in Iraq and many from the team performed home land security duty following the 9-11, 2001 terrorist attacks in New York City and at other locations across the state.

"And, now you are going home with every one you came here with. That is an accomplishment," said Col. Yaple. "Thank you for doing a terrific job."

CJTF-Phoenix is part of Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan with the mission to mentor and train the Afghan national army and police, and provide assistance to the government of Afghanistan and its people. The task force is comprised of nearly 9,500 service men and women from all U.S. branches, coalition partners and civilian professionals distributed at almost 260 Forward Operating Bases and Combat Outposts throughout Afghanistan.

Nearly 1,700 members of New York's 27th IBCT were mobilized for the mission, which is the largest number from a single state that has been deployed for CJTF-Phoenix thus far. The Soldiers came from communities across New York and also formed the largest single deployment from the New York National Guard in recent memory.

The remaining members of the task force are expected home in early 2009.

By Lt. Col. Paul Fanning
New York National Guard

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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