Dispatches From the Front, Thu 14 Dec. 2006

An F/A-18F Super Hornet Strike Fighter Squadron 103 is parked on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) as the ship operates in the Arabian Sea on Dec. 5, 2006. The Eisenhower is in the Arabian Sea in support of maritime security operations. DoD photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Jason Johnston, U.S. Navy.(Released)

HEROES IN THE WAR ON TERROR

Hero sacrifices himself saving fellow Soldiers
Multi-National Division – Baghdad PAO
FORWARD OPERATING BASE LOYALTY, Iraq -- Private First Class Ross A. McGinnis packed only 136 pounds into his 6-foot frame, but few have ever matched his inner strength. Read it.

Silver Star Approved for Soldier Who Sacrificed Himself for Crew
FORWARD OPERATING BASE LOYALTY, Iraq, Dec. 12, 2006 (AFPS) -- Army Pfc. Ross A. McGinnis packed only 136 pounds into his 6-foot frame, but few have ever matched his inner strength. Read it.

Pilot Earns Distinguished Flying Cross
WASHINGTON, Nov. 3, 2006 (CENTCOM) -- Back in March in Iraq, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Lori Hill, with the 2nd Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, was piloting her Kiowa Warrior when the lead chopper came under heavy fire. She drew the fire away, simultaneously providing suppressive fire for the troops engaged with the enemy on the ground.

Spc. Nathaniel A. Aguirre
(CENTCOM) -- Combat Medic, Spc. Nathaniel A. Aguirre, 21, of Carrollton, Texas died Oct. 22 in Baghdad of injuries suffered when his patrol came in contact with enemy forces. Aguirre was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

Oregon Army National Guard’s Sgt. Nathaniel “Brad” Lindsey
(CENTCOM) -- Sgt. Lindsey and his convoy were attacked when Taliban fighters set up a false checkpoint in Afghanistan on Sept. 9, 2006. The enemies hit the convoy with either a roadside bomb or a rocket-propelled grenade, and then opened up small-arms fire on the vehicles. Lindsey, a gunner who had recently switched from a desk job at a secure base in Kandahar to a job training Afghan soldiers, died in the attack.

NEWSBYTES

Federal Court Rules Against Guantanamo Detainee
WASHINGTON, Dec. 14, 2006 (AFPS) -- Upholding the legality of October’s Military Commissions Act, a federal court ruled here yesterday that detainees at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, do not have the right to challenge their detention in U.S. courts.

Stryker Brigade Ceremony Focuses on Accomplishments, Sacrifices
FAIRBANKS, Alaska, Dec. 13, 2006 (AFPS) -- Some 4,000 members of the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team gathered here yesterday to celebrate their accomplishments during 16 months in Iraq and mourn their losses as they uncased the unit’s colors during a stirring redeployment ceremony.

Language Familiarity, Cultural Awareness Critical to Iraq Fight
WASHINGTON, Dec. 13, 2006 (AFPS) -- Language training and awareness of Iraqi and Arab culture are absolutely necessary for servicemembers deploying to Iraq, the outgoing commander of Multinational Corps Iraq said in Baghdad yesterday

IP DISCOVER ROCKETS AIMED AT CF BASE
TIKRIT, Iraq (CENTCOM) -- Iraqi Police discovered three rockets emplaced by insurgents and aimed at Forward Operating Base Warrior Wednesday while on patrol in Kirkuk.

SIX SUSPECTED TERRORISTS DETAINED; WEAPONS CACHE FOUND
BAGHDAD, Iraq (CENTCOM) -- Coalition Forces detained six suspected terrorists and seized a weapons cache Wednesday morning near Tikrit while seeking a terrorist associated with the al-Qaida in Iraq network.

USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Arrives in Arabian Gulf
USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER, At sea (CUSNC) -- The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), flagship of the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group (IKE CSG), entered the Arabian Gulf Dec. 11, accompanied by the guided-missile cruiser USS Anzio (CG 68).

CENTAF releases airpower summary for Dec. 13
12/13/2006 - SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) -- U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for Dec. 13.

MULTIMEDIA

Video: Around the Air Force - Dec. 7
This edition features stories on the Canadian government handing out the Canadian Forces Unit Commendation award to service members, donated clothing for wounded service members, and a four star General visiting high school and college cadets. Hosted by Staff Sgt. Chris Decker.

Video: OIF Today 538
This edition features headlines on Iraqi Soldiers responding to an improvised explosive device explosion and key projects of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Iraq. Hosted by Staff Sgt. David Baez.

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