ABCNews Nightline Trip to Afghanistan: Tip of the Spear (+video)

Soldiers based in a remote part of Afghanistan risk it all to build a road

Forward Operating Base Bostick: the 2-27 Infantry, a battalion known as the Wolfhounds




During the broadcast, ABCNews invited viewers to submit messages to the troops, whether it was to wish them a happy Thanksgiving, good luck or just simply say thanks. We received dozens of messages and thought we would share a few here. Thanks for watching!

Viewer messages to the Wolfhounds:

From Karen Popovich, Hammond, Indiana: I want to wish all of you a very Happy and safe Thanksgiving! My family and I would also like to thank you for all the sacrifices you make everyday! In our opinion…..you’re ALL heroes! God Bless You!!! Sincerely, Karen & Rich Popovich & Cindy Aube
From Kelly Merkle, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: I saw the story on Nightline tonight. All day today i’ve been thinking about how blessed I am to spend Thanksgiving with my family and freedoms. Thank you doesn’t even begin to express the gratitude I have for your sacrifices. My prayers are with you Wolfhounds. God Bless.
From Arlene Patrick, Woodbridge, New Jersey: First and foremost, I would like to thank you for your service! I hope you all were able to make the best of your Thanksgiving under the circumstances. As soldiers, you sacrifice so much, especially the time away from your family, friends, and loved ones. My heart is sadden that my son could not spend Thanksgiving with us. He is stationed at Ft. Bragg with the 82nd Airborne. He will be deployed soon to Afghanistan for his 1st tour of duty. As a mother, words cannot express the feelings that I have inside. Always realize how important it is to stay in touch with your family as much as you can. Stay safe! My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family! God Bless!
From Kent Gansel, Evergreen Park, Illinois: To the Wolfhounds, Greetings from Evergreen Park, Illinois: All of you are in our thoughts constantly. My son Eric is there with you. The Gansels, the Easterhouses, the Whitlocks, and the Svecs send their love and best wishes for a safe return. God bless all of our troops. Find your way home safely. We are all praying for you and your families at this time. Thank you for your dedication and your service to our country. We all realize that our freedom comes at a great cost. We realize that it dificult for you to be away from your loved ones for such a long time. Your efforts are not unnoticed or unappreciated. YOU are making a difference in the world. Above all, protect yourselves from harm no matter what. You are the real heros of our world. God Bless the United States of America and the men and women of our armed forces. Pave the road to Freedom for all the world to travel.
From Aidan O’Donnell, Lowell, Massachusetts: I just want to wish all of you a happy and safe thanksgiving. I appreciate all that you men and women are sacrificing for our freedom. You are all the epitome of a hero and deserve to be treated accordingly. I hope you make it home safe. Thank you so much for all you have done. Ryan can’t wait to see you bro. Keep your head low and stay safe bro. See you when you get home

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• Viewers Send in Messages of Thanks to U.S. Troops in Afghanistan (abcnews.go.com)

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ABCNews Nightline Trip to Afghanistan: Angels in Hell (+video)

U.S. Army medics respond to all emergency cases, sometimes amidst enemy gunfire.‬

the all-American Dustoff MedEvac Company:







Viewers Send in Messages of Thanks to U.S. Troops in Afghanistan
During the broadcast, ABCNews invited viewers to submit messages to the troops, whether it was to wish them a happy Thanksgiving, good luck or just simply say thanks. :


From Rick Snyder, Piqua, Ohio: Dustoff MedEvac Company, Thank you for your service in Afghanistan, I can’t imagin what it must be like to be so far away from home, family, and friends. Your dedication to take care of the wounded and injured while risking your own lives is an awesome task that is greatly appreciated. For my second cousin, Medic Erin Gibson, your the best! Several of my family members and I sat in front of the tv tonight to watch your MedVac group in action. It was great to see you and to see what you are up against every day. Congradulations on the special honor you received. Great job Erin. I will continue to keep you and your unit in my prayers. Thanks for protecting our Freedom that we all enjoy here at home. The Great United States of America. GOD Bless you all, in all that you do.
From Ken and Bonnie Ratzloff, Merced, California: Thank you all so much for risking your lives to save the lives of others. May God bring you all home safely. Thank you for your service, your dedication and the sacrafices you have made being away from your families during your deployments.
From Wayne Root, Concord, California: (Actually, I’m writing to you from Japan, but….) Yesterday was Thanksgiving in the States, and I want to use this time to say “Thanks” for you men and women over there, and for all your buddies, especially the ones that can’t be there with you. Thanks to all of you for your service. You’ve got about the toughest task I can think of. God Bless Wayne R Root (Old Vet, US Army, 1957-60)

Related articles

• Viewers Send in Messages of Thanks to U.S. Troops in Afghanistan (abcnews.go.com)

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USS Enterprise: 50 Years of Service

Image via Wikipedia

Today one of the most storied ships in U.S. Navy history broke another record.  The world’s first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, USS ENTERPRISE (CVN 65) became the first aircraft carrier in history to celebrate 50 years of active service.  The oldest warship still in active service, ENTERPRISE has participated in every major naval conflict from the Cuban Missile Crisis through six arduous tours in Vietnam, the Cold War, the Gulf Wars, and today’s effort to rid the world of terrorism and piracy.

The following post is written by CAPT William C. Hamilton, 22nd Commanding Officer of the USS Enterprise (CVN 65) in honor of the carrier’s 50th birthday, November 25, 2011.

Today one of the most storied ships in U.S. Navy history broke another record.  The world’s first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, USS ENTERPRISE (CVN 65) became the first aircraft carrier in history to celebrate 50 years of active service.  The oldest warship still in active service, ENTERPRISE has participated in every major naval conflict from the Cuban Missile Crisis through six arduous tours in Vietnam, the Cold War, the Gulf Wars, and today’s effort to rid the world of terrorism and piracy.

To serve as Commanding Officer of the Big E is nothing less than an honor and a dream fulfilled.  To carry the name ENTERPRISE is a great responsibility and one that I hold dear.  As a Student Naval Aviator in 1985, I was qualified to operate from carriers while flying from her deck.  As an F/A-18 Hornet squadron Department Head in 1995, I flew patrol and combat missions from her deck.  As Executive Officer in 2004, I learned to appreciate the heritage and legacy of the ship and the challenge of operating and maintaining her.  And now, as her Commanding Officer, I fully understand that ENTERPRISE is not a piece of steel, pointed at one end and blunt at the other.  Rather, ENTERPRISE is the pride, spirit, dedication, and hard work of the 200,000 Sailors that have served aboard and flown from her deck.
There is something special about being an ENTERPRISE Sailor.  We have a saying onboard… “There is tough, and there is Enterprise tough.”  The reputation is well known throughout the Fleet and well deserved.  Sailors studying at Nuclear Power School are often met with chuckles and false condolences when it is learned they will be serving on ENTERPRISE.  When they transfer following their tour aboard, the chuckles and false condolences become respect and congratulations.  ENTERPRISE Sailors have to work a little harder and a little longer than their peers on other ships.  They have to overcome and adapt to the challenges of maintaining a 50 year old piece of hardware for which there are precious few spare parts.  And at the end of the day, ENTERPRISE Sailors walk a little taller knowing they kept her “Ready on Arrival” for half a century.

Image via Wikipedia

Through three tours in ENTERPRISE, I have been fortunate to have a part in several milestones, but today is like no other and I expect the days ahead will be moving, to say the least.  In the days ahead, I look forward to welcoming home so many of our shipmates, hearing first-hand the many stories of those who served throughout Big-E history, and sharing the bond that each and every ENTERPRISE Sailor knows.

CAPT William “Boomer” Hamilton
Commanding Officer
USS Enterprise (CVN 65)

from Navy Live Blog

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Nov. 24., 2011. - ISAF Joint Command Evening Operational Update

2011-11-S-042
ISAF Joint Command - Afghanistan
For Immediate Release

KABUL, Afghanistan (Nov. 24, 2011) — A combined Afghan and coalition patrol detained two suspected insurgents and confiscated a weapons cache during a routine patrol in Khost district, Khost province, Thursday.
The two suspected insurgents were discovered with the cache which consisted of eight grenades, two bayonets and 1,000 rounds of small arms ammunition.
The cached was recovered by the combined force as evidence and the suspected insurgents were detained for further questioning.

In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout Afghanistan:

South

A combined Afghan and coalition patrol discovered a drug cache today in Maiwand district, Kandahar province. The drug cache consisted of 2,000 pounds (909 kilograms) of hashish. The Afghan portion of the security force destroyed the drugs at the scene.
In Tarin Kot district, Uruzgan province, a combined Afghan and coalition security force discovered a weapons cache today. The weapons cache consisted of two rocket-propelled grenade launchers and six RPG warheads with motors. The weapons were seized by the security force for safe destruction at a later date.

East

A weapons cache was handed over at a coalition base today by a local Afghan in Kahmard district, Bamyan province. The weapons cache consisted of 31 mines, 13 grenades, 12 grenade fuses and three mine fuses.  The weapons will be scheduled for destruction at a later date.

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British Fallen Heroes return to UK (+video)

Friday, 25 November, 2011.

The bodies of the four servicemen were flown to RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire.

• Lieutenant David Boyce
• Lance Corporal Richard Scanlon
• Lance Corporal Peter Eustace
• Private Thomas Lake

were killed by explosions in Helmand province. After a private ceremony for their families at a purpose-built repatriation centre on the air base at Brize the cortege left and gas been escorted at walking pace past the memorial garden in Carterton, where the Union Flag hangs at half-mast. All four families have paid tribute, saying they were immensely proud of what the soldiers had achieved, living life to the full, and committing themselves fully to their army careers, and dying doing something they loved and believed in.

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Triple bombings in south Iraq kill 19, injure 64

Nov 24, 2:28 PM EST

By NABIL AL-JURANI
Associated Press

from Stripes.com

BASRA, Iraq (AP) -- A string of bombings in a southern oil city killed 19 people Thursday evening and injured dozens more, a grim sign of the security challenges Iraq will face after American troops go home.

The U.S. military is drawing down its troops ahead of an end-of-December deadline to have all American forces out of the country. Incidents like Thursday's triple bombing in a city seen as key to Iraq's economic development show the dangerous prospects awaiting Iraqis next year.

Three bombs went off in a popular open-air market in Basra, police and health officials said.

The third bomb exploded a few minutes after Iraqi army and police forces arrived on the scene in response to the earlier blasts, officials said. The third blast caused all the fatalities and almost all of the injuries, the officials said.

Read more: http://ap.stripes.com/dynamic/stories/M/ML_IRAQ?SITE=DCSAS&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2011-11-24-14-28-41

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Dutch man suspected of attempting attacks on US soldiers in Afghanistan resists extradition

AMSTERDAM (AP) — A lawyer for a Dutch man wanted by the U.S. on suspicion of trying to kill American soldiers in Afghanistan and for allegedly aiding al-Qaida said Friday he has appealed to the Netherlands' Supreme Court to prevent his client's extradition.

The 24-year-old suspect, identified under Dutch privacy laws only as "Sabir K.," was indicted by a federal grand jury in New York on June 22. But his extradition case was held behind closed doors in the Netherlands and no information about it was released until his lawyer Andre Seebregts sought publicity.

He said Sabir K. is invoking his right to remain silent about his guilt or innocence.
 ...

TOBY STERLING Associated Press

7:46 a.m. EST, November 25, 2011

Read more:  http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/nationworld/sns-ap-eu-netherlands-terrorism-suspect,0,4574251.story

 

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Thanksgiving MRE

Thanksgiving at Iraq....

Airmen stationed at Sather Air Base in Iraq ate a Thanksgiving meal of MREs to show solidarity for the airmen at Ali Base who chose to have their Thanksgiving meal early, on the last day their dining facility served hot meals.

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U.S. intensifies its proxy fight against al-Shabab in Somalia

The Obama administration is intensifying its campaign against an al-Qaeda affiliate in Somalia by boosting the number of proxy forces in the war-torn country, expanding drone operations and strengthening military partnerships throughout the region.

In many ways, the American role in the long-running conflict in Somalia is shaping up as the opposite of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan: relatively inexpensive, with limited or hidden U.S. footprints.

While the White House has embraced the strategy as a model for dealing with failed states or places inherently hostile to an American presence, the indirect approach carries risks. Chief among them is a lack of control over the proxy forces from Uganda, Burundi and Somalia, as well as other regional partners that Washington has courted and financed in recent years.
All told, the United States has spent more than $500 million since 2007 to train and equip East African forces in an attempt to fight terrorism and bring a measure of stability to Somalia.
 ...

Story By Craig Whitlock, Friday, November 25, 12:56 AM

from The Washington Post

Read More: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/us-intensifies-its-proxy-fight-against-al-shabab-in-somalia/2011/11/21/gIQAVLyNtN_story.html

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U.S., Afghan forces share Thanksgiving dinner (+video)

One Army unit in the Southeastern Paktika Province of Afghanistan is - for the first time - sharing Thanksgiving dinner with the Afghan forces that fight alongside them on the battlefield. Mandy Clark reports.

Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7389529n#ixzz1eiAx2NW4

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