Special LIVE "Talking with Heroes" shows this weekend

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Residents of Abilene, Texas Welcome Home Air Force MSGT Craig Colton Recently Returned from Iraq

Colorado Springs, Colorado, May 7, 2008 - Bob Calvert, Host of the internationally listened to Talking with Heroes Talk Show Program announces a special LIVE on the Internet program May 10, 2008 from 10:00 – 11:00 AM (CST) with residents, friends and organizations from Abilene, Texas.

MSgt Colton was deployed to Taji, Iraq as an air advisor/instructor. Training the new Iraqi Air Force, he also served as the unit's First Sergeant. When back in America he is assigned to Dyess AFB. He has spent most of his career as an avionics technician on B-1 and B-2 Bombers. He has served as a military instructor and a recruiter and enjoys being part of the best Air Force in the world.

On his off duty time MSGT Colton works hard to assist the wounded veterans returning from the War on Terror that struggle every day to overcome life-changing sacrifices such as the loss of a limb, significant burns, and the reality of being in a wheelchair. He believes we should all help the people who have given so much on our behalf overcome these obstacles and resume a productive and fulfilling life through programs targeted to their specific needs.

Listen live to the May 10th program (then click on "Listen Live". You can also log on to the chat room!)

Guest information on the May 10th program.

MSGT Colton will also Co-Host a special Two Hour LIVE Internet Broadcast Sunday evening May 11, 2008 from 7:00pm – 9:00pm (CST).

More Information at Talking with Heroes.

Bob Calvert, Host
EMail Bob

Marines fight Taliban in Helmand province

An AP journalist embedded with troops in Afghanistan recently filmed U.S. Marines firing at positions where Taliban militants were believed to be in the Hemland Province.

On April 30 the Marines of the 24th MEU, teamed up the UK's 16 Air Assault Brigade, began to push south of Garmsir. In a complex set of maneuvers, they conducted their passage through British lines and across the Helmand River where, but for a few border security police, neither ISAF nor the Afghan Security Forces have a presence.

Other British units provided planning, intelligence, engineering, and artillary support.

"This is what alliances are all about, professionals coming together to achieve the right effect," said Colonel Pete Petrozio, Commanding Officer of 24 MEU.

Via The Long War Journal.

101st Kiowas fly Combat Support for 173rd ABCT

Package of Kiowa Warrior helicopter pilot flying with Task Force Outfront in support of 173rd ABCT in Afghanistan.

Kiowa Warrior helicopter pilots are taking the fight to the enemy in Afghanistan. The 101st Aviation Brigade's "Task Force Outfront" aviators have flown over 6000 hours since arriving in January, and Outfront averages over eight missions a day. SSG Pat Malone introduces us to one pilot who's dedicated his life to supporting Soldiers on the ground.

Task Force Outfront provides reconnaissance, lift, and close-combat attack support to Task Force Bayonet's area of operations.

Interviewee: Chief Warrant Officer 3 Eric Leach, Kiowa Helicopter Pilot

Thoughts from inside the barrier

An Iraqi employee of The New York Times returns to Baghdad after spending over a year in Syria.

[At the checkpoint near my mother's home] I turned my head to the left and I saw the biggest cement wall I have ever seen, which encircles my neighborhood.
...
[One of the two Iraqi soldiers] inspected my car with an explosive detector device. The other was just looking at us and it seemed that he recognized my mother’s face because he said: “Hi, auntie.”

Now I felt really safe because those people were working properly, not like the security forces in my neighborhood before...

As people say in my neighborhood: “The Americans are now Ansar al Sunna.” Protectors of the Sunni.

Read the whole thing.

h/t The Blog at the Weekly Standard.

Putting the squeeze on the Mahdi Army in Sadr City

Soldiers detach concrete barriers from a crane in the southern portion of the Sadr City district of Baghdad May 3. The Soldiers from Company A, 64th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National-Division - Baghdad, are transporting the barriers while Soldiers from other units emplace them. Story and photo: Spc. Joseph Rivera Rebolledo.

U.S. Army soldiers from 1-27IN, 25th Infantry Division guard construction of a concrete wall running through the Shiite enclave of Sadr City, Baghdad, on Sunday, May 4, 2008. The 12-foot concrete barrier is being built along a main street dividing southern Sadr city from north, where Mahdi army fighters are concentrated. AP Photo/Petr David Josek.

The Long War Journal reports the Mahdi Army is taking a hit in Baghdad:

Clashes between the Mahdi Army and US and Iraqi forces continued in Baghdad over the weekend as efforts to complete the security barriers separating the southern portion of Sadr City from the Mahdi Army-controlled north. The US military has moved another battalion of Strykers into the Sadr City.

US and Iraqi forces have killed 18 Mahdi Army fighters in Sadr City and New Baghdad since the afternoon of May 3. Nine Mahdi Army fighters were killed in Sadr City and northern and eastern Baghdad during the nighttime and early morning hours of May 4-5 after attacking US forces, planting roadside bombs, or preparing to launch mortars and rockets.

US soldiers killed four more Mahdi Army fighters in the eastern district of New Baghdad after coming under attack on May 4. And US troops killed five more Mahdi Army fighters in Sadr City as they attempted to stop the barrier from being built late May 3 and early May 4. No US soldiers were reported killed in any of the incidents.

Sadr City has long been the stronghold of the Mahdi Army and they're fighting hard to keep it, as illustrated by these two other articles at The Long War Journal...

Sadr City barrier 'a magnet' for Mahdi Army attacks
US troops kill 28 Mahdi fighters in Sadr City

... as well as these statistics.

US and Iraqi forces have inflicted heavy casualties on the Mahdi Army in Sadr City and surrounding neighborhoods since the fighting broke out in Baghdad on March 25. According to US and Iraqi reports compiled by The Long War Journal, 502 Mahdi Army fighters have been killed in and around Sadr City.

Meanwhile, Muqtada al Sadr is believed to be in Iran.

Sisters of Fallujah: New roles for women in Iraq

Several new Iraqi women are honored during a graduation ceremony as the new Sisters of Fallujah on April 23. The sisters participated in classroom lectures on law enforcement, ethics and first aid, fired weapons on a firing range and learned how to properly search people coming through entry control points.

The sisters are important in breaking the gender barrier in Iraqi culture, which has now acknowledged the need for women to work alongside Iraqi Police in a law enforcement role.

Iraqi women participate in lectures and training on April 19 to become Sisters of Fallujah, a young organization that is breaking a city's gender barrier by allowing women to work alongside their male Iraqi Police counterparts at entry control points throughout the city.

International Police Advisers and Marines from Combat Logistics Battalion, Regimental Combat Team-1, trained the new sisters in their role of searching females and children to prevent illegal weapons and explosive materials from being smuggled into the city. U.S. Marine Corps photo: Cpl. Chris Lyttle.

Legion Co, 1-503rd PIR builds new Observation Post in Kunar province

Package of Task Force Saber Soldiers establishing an observation post to overwatch a key route through Kunar province. Watching the route and its checkpoint are critical to both regulating traffic and monitoring insurgent activity along the Afghanistan/Pakistan border.

Unit Involved: Legion Co., 1-503rd PIR, 173rd ABCT

Interviewed are SSG Kyle Seitz and 1LT Seth Parker.


Click here for more 173rd ABCT Afghanistan posts.

America's Favorite Mom Contest - Action Item May 5th

Patti Patton-Bader, founder of Soldiers’ Angels is one of the fifteen semi-finalists in NBC’s “America’s Favorite Mom” contest. There are five categories, and she is nominated with two other moms in the "military moms" category.

The winner receives a $250,000 cash prize, and Patti will be using all of the prize money for Soldiers' Angels projects.

Patti will be featured the morning of Monday May 5th on NBC’s Today Show, and all day Monday (but ONLY Monday) folks will have the opportunity to vote at America's Favorite Mom in her category.

You can only vote Monday May 5th from 9 AM to 9 PM Eastern time but you can vote up to 10 times (on the 5th) for each valid email address you have.

Patti was nominated for this award by her son, SSG Brandon Varn who adds: "Please help us by voting for my mom Monday and maybe passing on this on to a few of your friends. It's for a good cause and only takes a moment."

The Soldiers’ Angels Sewing Team Announces BLANKETS OF BELIEF

Making sure America's deployed servicemen and women know...

We Believe in You!


Our goal is to send 180,000 HOMEMADE BLANKETS made with “love and belief in you” to our service members spending another holiday season in the war zones.

Will you please make just ONE?

“Blankets of Belief” information and guidelines. At the link there's also a printable flyer to hand out or post at your local fabric store.

Questions/comments? Please email Blankets of Belief

THANK YOU on behalf of the troops we serve and the Soldiers’ Angels Organization!

1-91 Cav Soldier awarded Bronze Star for Valor

Army Brig. Gen. Mark Milley, CJTF-101 deputy commanding general of operations, presented a coin for excellence to Sgt. Ryan P. Inabnet, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, 1-91 Cavalry Squadron, after awarding him the Bronze Star for valor, April 24, at Fire Base Naray, Kunar province.

Inabnet was recognized for saving more than a dozen Soldier’s lives while acting with a Quick Reaction Team re-enforcing International Security Assistance Forces battling insurgents. He provided first aid to several wounded Soldiers and transported numerous casualties to a medevac point. U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Christina Sinders.

Full article.



Click here for more 173rd ABCT Afghanistan posts.