Wire: 1 Dead in Shooting at Luke Air Force Base

Off the Wire:

WASHINGTON, Feb. 23, 2010 -- Newswire services this morning reported that a shooting and fatal car crash on Luke Air Force Base in Litchfield, Ariz., have left one person dead and another injured.

FOX News said that a security forces officer reportedly tried to talk to two men inside a car, previously reported stolen and then driven through a gate at the base, according to Officer Karen Gerardo, the public information officer at the Glendale Police Department.

When the officer got out of his car to try to make contact with the two men, the car drove directly at him. The officer shot at the car, which then crashed, said Gerardo.

One of the occupants of the vehicle was killed. His cause of death has not been determined.

The other person in the car was injured and transported to a hospital.

Investigators do not suspect terrorism, said Gerardo.

(Report from newswire sources.)

Wire Update: 5 Five Muslim Soldiers Arrested at Fort Jackson in Poisoning Attempt

Off the Wire:

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19, 2010 -- Newswire services this morning updated reports that the U.S. Army is investigating allegations that soldiers were attempting to poison the food supply at Fort Jackson in South Carolina.

CBN News reported that five Muslim soldiers were arrested just before Christmas. It is unclear whether the men are still in custody. The five were part of the Arabic Translation program at the base.

A source with intimate knowledge of the investigation, which is ongoing, told CBN News investigators suspect the "Fort Jackson Five" may have been in contact with the group of five Washington, DC area Muslims that traveled to Pakistan to wage jihad against U.S. troops in December. That group was arrested by Pakistani authorities, also just before Christmas.

Coming as it does on the heels of November's Fort Hood jihadist massacre, this news has major implications.

This is a developing story.

(Report from newswire sources.)

Related: Wire: Army Investigates Attempt to Poison Soldiers at Fort Jackson

Source: CBN Exclusive: Five Muslim Soldiers Arrested at Fort Jackson in South Carolina

Wire: Army Investigates Attempt to Poison Soldiers at Fort Jackson

Off the Wire:

Sources: Suspects are Muslim and were part of U.S. military Arabic translation program

WASHINGTON, Feb. 18, 2010 -- Newswire services this evening reported that the U.S. Army is investigating allegations that soldiers were attempting to poison the food supply at Fort Jackson in South Carolina.

The ongoing probe began two months ago, Chris Grey, a spokesman for the Army’s Criminal Investigation Division, according to a report by Fox News.

The Army is taking the allegations “extremely seriously,” Grey said, but so far, "there is no credible information to support the allegations."

The suspects were part of an Arabic translation program called "09 Lima" and use Arabic as their first language, two sources told Fox News. Another military source said they were Muslim.

Grey would not confirm or deny the sources’ information.

(Report from newswire sources.)

National Guard Preps for East Coast Snowmageddon

In this file photo, Army Sgt. 1st Class Jason Mannarino of the Wisconsin National Guard hooks up a chain to pull snowplow from a snow bank, Dec. 9, 2009. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Vaughn R. Larson.)

On the Home Front:

ARLINGTON, Va., Feb. 5, 2010 -- Schools are closing, weekend activities are being cancelled and the federal government here will shut down four hours early today, but the National Guard is on duty in Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia in anticipation of a major winter storm.

About 660 Guardsmen have been activated for a storm that is expected to dump up to 28 inches of snow and bring high winds to the northern and western parts of Virginia and then continue north up the East Coast this weekend.

"This storm will bring severe weather to many parts of Virginia,” said Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell. “As the storm affects your area, please stay off the roads and contact local authorities if help is needed."

McDonnell declared a state of emergency Feb. 3, and the state’s Department of Military Affairs is staging more than 400 personnel from the Virginia Army and Air National Guard and Virginia Defense Force at key locations in the commonwealth.

If needed, the DMA will bring an additional 100 personnel on duty when the weather picture and state and local support requirements become clearer, according to a news release from the state.

“We are moving DMA personnel into position in order to be on standby for possible missions to assist state and local emergency response organizations with rescue and transportation operations,” said Army Col. Rob McMillin, a Virginia National Guard joint operations officer.

Personnel were expected to be in place yesterday and to be ready for duty this morning, Guard officials reported.

McMillin stressed that the Virginia National Guard receives its missions through the Virginia Department of Emergency Management to assist state and local emergency response organizations and is not able to respond to direct support requests from the public.

“During the winter storm in December 2009, we received calls directly from citizens, and we are not able to respond to those requests.” McMillin said. “We urge people who need assistance to make a request through their local dispatcher or 911 services, and that request will be forwarded to the DMA when appropriate.”

McMillin said the initial plan is to place Virginia National Guard personnel with Humvees on duty at locations throughout the commonwealth.

This is the third time since the middle of December the DMA has called up Guardsmen for weather-related duty. The DMA had nearly 250 soldiers, airmen and members on duty throughout southern Virginia on Jan. 29 and 700 on duty after a storm that began Dec. 18.

In Maryland, the National Guard has pre-positioned its forces and equipment to provide support to civil authorities. Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley is expected to declare a state emergency later today.

“The Maryland National Guard always stands ready to support the governor and the citizens of Maryland,” said Army Lt. Col. Charles Kohler, the state public affairs officer. “We provide essential, lifesaving services when local and state response capabilities are overwhelmed, including the capability to provide transportation, shelter, food, water and medical support.

He added that the National Guard has 34 armories across Maryland that also will be used to support this ongoing operation.

In the District of Columbia, Washington Mayor Andrew Fenty declared a snow emergency this morning. The National Guard will provide 12 Humvees and 60 soldiers to help in implementing the district’s Snow Emergency Management Plan.

In Delaware, Gov. Jack Markell is prepared to declare a state of emergency, his spokesman said. If needed, the Delaware National Guard will be mobilized.

In South Dakota, 16 Guardsmen are still on duty helping to re-establish road and utility infrastructure and conduct search-and-rescue operations as required by local authorities. The state experienced strong winter storms with high winds, snow, and freezing rain on Jan. 23, and more than 2,000 residents are currently without power throughout the state.

National Guard missions normally performed during snow operations include assisting local law enforcement with transportation and evacuation, distribution of supplies, road clearing and snow removal, search and rescue, security and law enforcement airspace coordination, aircraft support and patient evacuations, airspace coordination, and sheltering assistance.

(Report by Air Force Lt. Col. Ellen Krenke, National Guard Bureau with contributions by Army Maj. Cotton Puryear of the Virginia National Guard.)

Wire: Fed, State Dispute Halts US Military Airlifts from Haiti

Off the Wire:

WASHINGTON, Jan. 30, 2010 -- Newswire services this morning reported that the U.S. military has halted flights carrying Haitian earthquake victims to the United States, apparently in a dispute between federal and state governments over medical care costs.

The Associated Press reported that the evacuations were suspended Wednesday, according to Capt. Kevin Aandahl, spokesman for U.S. Transportation Command. The flights were halted a day after Florida Gov. Charlie Crist asked the federal government to help pay for care.

"There were some critical cases that were recommended stateside facility care or follow-up care," Aandahl said Saturday. "As I understand it, there were some states that were unwilling to approve transportation for that follow-up. We can't fly anyone without an accepting hospital on the other end."

The story was first reported by the New York Times.

AP said Aandahl declined to specify which states declined to accept those patients, and he referred further questions to a Pentagon press office, where an after-hours answering service could not accept incoming messages Saturday.

Florida officials said Saturday that they were not aware of any hospital in Florida refusing to take in the patients. However, in a letter Tuesday to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, the governor said "Florida's health care system is quickly reaching saturation, especially in the area of high level trauma care."

Crist asked Sebelius to activate the National Disaster Medical System, which is typically used in domestic disasters and pays for victims' care. His letter does not indicate how much victims' care was costing Florida, though he noted the state's health care system was already stretched by the winter tourism season and annual "snowbird" migration.

In a statement Saturday, Crist said Florida has not stopped helping earthquake victims, noting at least 60 Haitian orphans arrived Friday night at Miami International Airport.

The link below for details.

(Report from newswire sources.)

Source: US military airlifts of Haiti quake victims halted

National Guard Responds to Record Snowfall in Northeast

Virginia National Guard Soldiers from the Charlottesville-based Company C, 429th Brigade Support Battalion, 116th Brigade Combat Team load 100 blankets provided by the Dillwyn Correctional Center and transported them a shelter in Nelson County, Dec. 19, 2009. The Virginia National Guard has Soldiers on state active duty in order to assist state and local agencies in response to severe winter weather across the state. (National Guard photo by Maj. Cotton Puryear, Virginia National Guard.)

On the Home Front:

ARLINGTON, Va., Dec. 21, 2009 -- National Guardsmen in seven states were called to duty over the weekend after a record snowfall blanketed the Northeast.

More than 1,200 Guardsmen in Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Maryland, Delaware, the District of Columbia and North Carolina responded to requests for road clearance, evacuation and other related missions.

In Virginia, about 400 Guardsmen were initially mobilized, but Gov. Tim Kaine authorized another 600 Soldiers on Dec. 20. According to a press release from the state, more than 750 Soldiers and Airmen were expected to be on duty throughout the state by the afternoon of Dec. 20.

"The Virginia National Guard continues to assist state and local agencies across the commonwealth with rescuing stranded motorists, transporting critical supplies, assisting with sheltering operations and transporting patients and health care professionals," said Air Force Maj. Gen. Robert B. Newman, the adjutant general of Virginia.

Newman explained that the Virginia Guard receives missions through the state Department of Emergency Management based on requests from local emergency response organizations. Any citizens, who feel they need support from the Guard, should make their request through their local first responders, not directly to the Guard.

On Dec. 20, soldiers from the 116th Brigade Combat Team, based in Staunton, Va., helped state police wake stranded motorists along I-81 in an effort to get traffic moving, while Airmen from the 203rd Rapid Engineers Deployable Heavy Operations Repair Squadron Engineers, or RED HORSE, Civil Engineering Squadron, based in Virginia Beach, Va., were scheduled to transport cots to a shelter in Wise County. Other missions included aerial reconnaissance, transporting food, water, blankets and other supplies, transporting stranded motorists and health care professionals and sheltering operations.

In West Virginia, 235 Guardsmen operating nine wreckers and two graders were used to clear the West Virginia Turnpike on Dec. 19. "They had plows moving down the toll road as well as trucks that could move vehicles stuck in the middle of the road out of the way to get things moving," Air Force Lt. Col. Mike Cadle, the public affairs officer for the West Virginia Guard, told local news outlets.

On Dec. 20, the Guard continued "wellness checks" throughout the state. "We have Humvees out in many of those effected communities," Cadle said. "And those Humvees have food and water. We're traversing some of the more rural, hard to get to areas.

Cadle said the West Virginia Guard gets its missions from the state's Office of Emergency Services, and their job isn't done until the governor releases them.
"We'll continue pressing," he said. "We don't have a timeline. We're going to be working until the county directors and the state officials tell us that we're finished."
In Kentucky, 170 Guardsmen were deployed to remove fallen trees from roads and help with evacuations in the eastern areas of the commonwealth. Thirteen counties in southeastern Kentucky had declared a state of emergency as of Dec. 20.

Army Brig. Gen. John Heltzel, deputy commander of the Kentucky National Guard, told local news outlets that about 87,000 homes were without power as of noon on Dec. 20. The Public Service Commission listed power outages in 26 counties, primarily in Eastern Kentucky.

Heltzel said the main power lines are up, but wires feeding power into many residential areas are down. He expects power to be restored to half the affected area by Wednesday, with the rest done by Sunday.

"We hope to make everybody happy and beat that," he said.

In Maryland, more than 140 Guardsmen were on duty over the weekend, but that number dropped to 19 today. About 46 Humvees and five ambulances were used throughout the state. A state of emergency was declared in the state.

"The majority of the requests we received during the snowstorm were to support local and state law enforcement agencies," said Army Brig. Gen. James A. Adkins, the adjutant general of Maryland. "Use of our Humvees ensured that first responders were able to get where they needed to go to provide critical services to the citizens of Maryland."

In Delaware, 61 Guardsmen operating 15 Humvees, five light medium tactical vehicles and four wreckers were on duty throughout the state to respond to emergency transportation and rescue requests. A state of emergency was declared in New Castle and Kent counties.

"People are strongly advised to stay off the roads in Kent and New Castle counties," Gov. Jack Markell told local news outlets. "Our state agencies have been working together to prepare for and combat the effects of this storm. Remaining off the roads helps them in this effort and is important to public safety."

Dubbed Operation Arctic Endeavor II, Delaware Guard officials said they are prepared to provide special needs sheltering, transportation support using highly mobile multi-wheeled vehicles and LMTVs, road clearing support and any other support as required by the Delaware Emergency Management Agency.

The Delaware Guard has also prepared three task forces pre-positioned at four Emergency Operation Centers throughout the state, Guard officials said. Task Force New Castle has locations in Belvedere and Wilmington, Task Force Sussex is in Georgetown and Task Force Kent is in Smyrna. Each EOC is staffed with Humvees, an LMTV, a large tow truck and two Guardsmen per vehicle.

In the District of Columbia, 27 Guardsmen and 10 Humvees are standing by to provide transportation support. A state of emergency has been declared in the district.
In North Carolina, 24 Guardsmen were called in Saturday morning to help the North Carolina Highway Patrol dig out and remove abandoned cars from the highway.

(Report by Air Force Lt. Col. Ellen Krenke, National Guard Bureau.)

Pentagon: Volunteers Place 16,000 Wreaths at Arlington

News in Balance:

WASHINGTON, Dec. 12, 2009 -- The Arlington Wreath Project, an unofficial national tradition, prompted about 6,000 volunteers to wake up extra early this morning to help place 16,000 wreaths on graves at Arlington National Cemetery.

"It's really nice that America still remembers our troops," said Nikki Bunting, the widow of Army Capt. Brian Bunting, who died in Afghanistan in February 2009. She visited her husband's grave with their children, 2-year-old Connor and 5-week-old Cooper.

"It's a sad sight, but it's really beautiful. It reminds us that people care," she said.

Morrill Worcester, president of Maine-based Worcester Wreath Company, started the tradition in 1992, although the seeds for the idea had been planted 30 years earlier. The cemetery's hallowed ground first impressed Worcester in 1962, when the 12-year-old Bangor [Maine] Daily News paper boy had won a paper-sponsored contest and a trip to Washington.

"It struck me and I just never forgot it," Worcester recently said about the cemetery. "It was just such a big place and the stones are all nice and straight. I saw the Tomb of the Unknown [Soldier] and the changing of the guard."

Fast forward to 1992, when Worcester discovered his company had 5,000 surplus wreaths near the end of the season. He made arrangements to place the wreaths on graves at Arlington National Cemetery.

"The first 13 or 14 years of the Arlington Wreath Project I just did it because I wanted to do it and it was kind of a private thing," Worcester said. "We didn't want any publicity or anything else. We just did it."

For more than a decade, he sponsored the Arlington Wreath Project, with the mission to "Remember, Honor, and Teach," and managed to keep it small and relatively anonymous.

That is until 2005 when an Air Force photographer happened to capture an image of the annual honor. "Things just totally changed," Worcester said.

After the photo hit the Internet and made its way around the world, the tradition grew exponentially. This year 151,000 wreaths were placed in more than 400 cemeteries across the country by 60,000 volunteers as part of Wreaths Across America Day. Individuals and companies sponsored all but 25,000 of the 151,000 wreaths, Worcester said.

"I love seeing the participation," he said. "I'm very proud of the fact that I started it, but it's certainly not me anymore."

Worcester may love seeing the huge numbers of volunteers, but it presents interesting challenges for Wayne Hanson, who volunteers through the Maine State Society of Washington, D.C., to coordinate the Arlington Wreath Project. The Vietnam veteran also sits on the board of Wreaths Across America.

"We started off with just a handful of people helping Mr. Worcester put the wreaths down. It would take us the better part of a good day," Hanson said. "People would hear about it and want to help, so we would end up with 2[00] or 300 volunteers as the years progressed."

Though the mercury started out below 20 degrees and only climbed to the low 40s this year, it didn't deter those wanting to honor the nation's fallen heroes at the holidays.

"The community of surviving families and TAPS [Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors] are very grateful to Wreaths Across America, the USO, and other organizations for their support," said Ami Neiberger-Miller, public affairs officer for TAPS. Her brother, Army Spc. Christopher Neiberger, was killed in action in Iraq in August 2007. "Our families know that their loved ones are not forgotten.

"Many families who bury their loved ones at Arlington National Cemetery do not live nearby, and so it means a great deal to them to know that America cares and is honoring the resting place of their loved ones," she added.

Though Hanson asks for a moment of silence for those who died in recent conflicts and are buried in Section 60, wreaths are not typically placed on those graves. This year, however, the USO asked to sponsor 1,000 wreaths specifically for that section, which is set aside for U.S. military personnel killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. Nearly 300 volunteers, including 125 military family members, helped place the wreaths in less than an hour.

The organization's president noted that the gesture is meant to highlight the sacrifices made by all servicemembers, however.

"This effort is not about just Arlington National Cemetery," said Sloan Gibson, president of the USO. "The USO hopes to encourage Americans to recognize the service and sacrifice of veterans who are interred at veterans cemeteries across the country."

While the day concluded with 16,000 wreaths placed in under two hours, it actually began yesterday at the Pentagon, when Wreaths Across America expanded its mission again.

"We're doing something, which is in addition to what we've done in the past," Worcester said in an earlier interview. "We're placing a wreath for every victim of 9/11 for the first time.

"There's going to be a big decorated area at Battery Park in Lower Manhattan, and there's going to be a wreath-laying ceremony at the Pentagon and another one at the field in Pennsylvania," he added.

Those wreaths were being placed during ceremonies this weekend.

(Report by Samantha L. Quigley, American Forces Press Service.)

Related: Wreaths Across America Web Site

National Guard in 2 States Respond to Winter Storm

Army Sgt. 1st Class Jason Mannarino of the Wisconsin National Guard hooks up a chain to pull snowplow from a snow bank, Dec. 9, 2009. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Vaughn R. Larson.)

On the Home Front:

ARLINGTON, Va., Dec. 10, 2009 -- As the first major winter storm of the season continues to drop snow and ice throughout the Midwest, elements of the Iowa and Wisconsin National Guard are ready to assist state and local authorities in responding to emergency calls.

More than 40 Iowa Guard members have been on duty since Dec. 8 in preparation for the storm, said Army Maj. Michael Wunn, public affairs officer for the Iowa National Guard. Though the storm wasn’t expected to hit until the early morning hours, Guard members were called in early to be in place when the storm hit.

“It can take awhile to put people on duty,” Wunn said yesterday, “so rather than wait until the middle of the night to start calling people in, … we went ahead and called those people up and pre-staged them so that they were in position this morning … [to] assist when the calls came in.”

Most of those calls have been focused on assisting stranded motorists. “[The] primary mission is to work with state and local authorities to assist stranded motorists and help close primary roads to traffic if the need arises,” Wunn explained.

The Iowa Guard is ready for other contingencies as well. “In this situation, it’s all been focused on highways and motorists,” Wunn said. “In previous years, when we’ve had an ice storm, we’ve sent those teams out when there have been downed power lines and a need to go check on homes and that sort of thing.”

Planning for the storm response started several months ago.

“We started more than two months ago, reviewing our winter storm plan, and we pre-staged some vehicles and we put cots and blankets at various locations across the state that could be used in the event that we needed to assist communities with warming centers, which we haven’t had to do in this situation,” Wunn said, noting that being prepared is one of the reasons why the Iowa Guard has been able to assist local authorities easily.

“Preparedness is the key,” he said, “and getting units identified to provide that capability, and getting the vehicles staged, and having chains on the tires so that they’re ready to go.”

The Iowa Guard has sent a few teams out to help with stranded motorists, Wunn said, but the streets have been largely empty.

“People had quite a bit of notice about this storm and a lot of information was out there, and I think, for the most part, people have heeded the advice from the local authorities and have stayed off the roads,” he said.

Meanwhile, about 100 Wisconsin Guard members are on standby orders in case local authorities need assistance.

“Currently, the Wisconsin National Guard has not been called out to assist local authorities,” said Army Lt. Col. Jacqueline Guthrie, public affairs officer for the Wisconsin Guard. “But we stand ready should we be needed.”

If called upon, the Wisconsin Guard would perform similar missions as the Iowa Guard and assist with responding to stranded motorists, traffic control and health and welfare checks.

Guthrie added that the Wisconsin National Guard has resources available across the state to respond if civilian authorities request assistance.

Army Maj. David May, the Wisconsin National Guard's deputy director of operations for domestic support, said a number of tactical vehicles equipped for blizzard conditions – Humvees, 5-ton trucks and heavy expanded mobility tactical trucks, along with operators – are available to respond to this storm.

If called upon, Guard members might assist the state patrol in searching for stranded motorists along snow-clogged highways or deliver food and water to motorists and other displaced citizens at emergency collection sites.

National Guard armories and other facilities could be opened as collection sites if the need arises, May added.

In addition, the Wisconsin National Guard's two Army aviation units have flight crews available, once the weather improves, to conduct air searches along highways for traffic accidents or blockages, as well as stranded motorists.

May explained that because the Wisconsin Guard is monitoring the events as they unfold in the state emergency operations center, it can be proactive in its response. As various agencies identify needs, appropriate resources can also be identified within the EOC and directed as needed.

The storm was expected to continue for much of the day yesterday before passing on. With the rest of the week expected to remain cloudy and cold, but with no additional snowfall, Guard members will start to be released from duty.

“I think the winds are supposed to die down this afternoon,” Wunn said yesterday. “We’ll continue doing recovery operations and then start bringing those teams back to their home armories. I think everyone should be off active duty in the next day or so.”

(Report by Army Sgt. 1st Class Jon Soucy, National Guard Bureau.)

Video: Fort Hood Unit Deploys to Afghanistan

NOTE: News readers click here to watch the video.

News in Balance:

Embedded above is a b-roll video of the 467th Medical Detachment preparing to deploy to Afghanistan. The 467th was on Fort Hood during the recent Fort Hood massacre. Scenes include the soldiers walking in uniform around the base. (Courtesy Video, Fort Hood Public Affairs Office. Length: 00:02:58.)

See related article below:

WASHINGTON, Dec. 4, 2009 -- An Army Reserve unit that had soldiers both killed and wounded during the Nov. 5 shooting here deployed as scheduled to Afghanistan early this morning.

Maj. Laura Suttinger, commander of the 467th Medical Detachment, said the unit's soldiers are more dedicated than ever to the mission.

"I think they decided that same day (of the shooting) that they were more dedicated than ever in honor of the soldiers that we lost and have stood firm in that commitment," said unit commander Maj. Laura Suttinger. "They were all very dedicated, caring soldiers, and they will not be forgotten. We're carrying on in their honor."

Three soldiers from the Madison, Wisconsin-based unit were killed during the shooting: Maj. Libardo Caraveo, 52, of Woodbridge, Va., Capt. Russell Seager, 41, of Racine, Wisc., and Sgt. Amy Krueger, 29, of Kiel, Wisc.

Members of the unit will be better able to help soldiers overseas since surviving this tragedy themselves, 1st Sgt. James McLeod, of the unit, said. "Even though we lost our fallen comrades ... 'no one is going to stop us from completing our mission' is really what their goal is."

(Report from a U.S. Defense Department news release.)

More Defense Imagery on THE TENSION

Pentagon: Hasan Charged With 13 Specifications of Premeditated Murder

News in Balance:

WASHINGTON, Nov. 12, 2009 -- Army Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan has been charged with 13 specifications of premeditated murder in the Nov. 5 attack at Fort Hood, Texas.

Hasan has been charged under Article 118 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, meaning the case will be heard in the military system.

"These are initial charges, and additional charges may be preferred in the future, subject to the ongoing criminal investigation," said Chris Grey, spokesman for U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division, during a news conference at Fort Hood today.

"Our investigation remains open and ongoing," Grey said. "We are doing everything possible, and we are looking at every reason for this shooting. We are aggressively following every possible lead."

Preferring charges is the first step in the process. "A charge is merely an accusation," Grey said. "The accused is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty."

Hasan has hired a lawyer. Under Article 118, the minimum sentence if he's convicted is life with the possibility of parole. The maximum sentence is death.

Life at the sprawling installation is returning to normal, and the mission of the post continues, said Army Col. John Rossi, a Fort Hood spokesman. Twelve gunshot victims remain in local hospitals, with one in the intensive care unit. All are in stable condition, the colonel said.

Experts in psychological trauma continue to deploy to the base. More than 100 behavioral health specialists have deployed to help with assessments and assist across the command. Critical-incident stress management teams, unit ministry teams, health specialists and family life consultants are among those who have deployed to the central Texas post.

"Collectively, they have made more than 3,000 individual contacts so far," Rossi said. "All of the wounded have received the critical incident stress de-brief, and all those at the scene are receiving the same de-brief.

"Our goal is all that require, or desire, help get it," he continued. "We are guarding against any premature determination that all is OK."

Unit commanders and leaders are actively engaged in the recovery process, the colonel said.

"As part of our healing process, Fort Hood continues to responsibly and respectfully resume normal activities," Rossi said. "Our security posture remains vigilant, and our Fort Hood home is a great place to remain safe and secure. Units are returning from deployments as other units continue to train. The soldier readiness processing center is re-established and is operational at this time."

(Report by Jim Garamone, American Forces Press Service.)

A Day to Honor Veterans

Living History:

WASHINGTON, Nov. 11, 2009 -- World War I, known at the time as “The Great War,” officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, in the Palace of Versailles outside the town of Versailles, France. However, fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. For that reason, November 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars.”

In November 1919, President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day with the following words: "To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…"

The original concept for the celebration was for a day observed with parades and public meetings and a brief suspension of business beginning at 11 a.m.

The United States Congress officially recognized the end of World War I when it passed a concurrent resolution on June 4, 1926, with these words:

Whereas the 11th of November 1918, marked the cessation of the most destructive, sanguinary, and far reaching war in human annals and the resumption by the people of the United States of peaceful relations with other nations, which we hope may never again be severed, and

Whereas it is fitting that the recurring anniversary of this date should be commemorated with thanksgiving and prayer and exercises designed to perpetuate peace through good will and mutual understanding between nations; and

Whereas the legislatures of twenty-seven of our States have already declared November 11 to be a legal holiday: Therefore be it Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), that the President of the United States is requested to issue a proclamation calling upon the officials to display the flag of the United States on all Government buildings on November 11 and inviting the people of the United States to observe the day in schools and churches, or other suitable places, with appropriate ceremonies of friendly relations with all other peoples.

An Act (52 Stat. 351; 5 U. S. Code, Sec. 87a) approved May 13, 1938, made the 11th of November in each year a legal holiday - - a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as "Armistice Day." Armistice Day was primarily a day set aside to honor veterans of World War I, but in 1954, after World War II had required the greatest mobilization of soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen in the Nation’s history; after American forces had fought aggression in Korea, the 83rd Congress, at the urging of the veterans service organizations, amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word "Armistice" and inserting in its place the word "Veterans." With the approval of this legislation (Public Law 380) on June 1, 1954, November 11th became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.

Later that same year, on October 8th, President Dwight D. Eisenhower issued the first "Veterans Day Proclamation" which stated: "In order to insure proper and widespread observance of this anniversary, all veterans, all veterans' organizations, and the entire citizenry will wish to join hands in the common purpose. Toward this end, I am designating the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs as Chairman of a Veterans Day National Committee, which shall include such other persons as the Chairman may select, and which will coordinate at the national level necessary planning for the observance. I am also requesting the heads of all departments and agencies of the Executive branch of the Government to assist the National Committee in every way possible." (Click here for the full text of the proclamation.)

On that same day, the President sent a letter to the Honorable Harvey V. Higley, Administrator of Veterans' Affairs (VA), designating him as Chairman of the Veterans Day National Committee. (Click here for the text of President Eisenhower’s letter.)

In 1958, the White House advised VA's General Counsel that the 1954 designation of the VA Administrator as Chairman of the Veterans Day National Committee applied to all subsequent VA Administrators. Since March 1989 when VA was elevated to a cabinet level department, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs has served as the committee's chairman.

The Uniforms Holiday Bill (Public Law 90-363 (82 Stat. 250)) was signed on June 28, 1968, and was intended to insure three-day weekends for Federal employees by celebrating four national holidays on Mondays: Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Columbus Day. It was thought that these extended weekends would encourage travel, recreational and cultural activities and stimulate greater industrial and commercial production. Many states did not agree with this decision and continued to celebrate the holidays on their original dates.

The first Veterans Day under the new law was observed with much confusion on October 25, 1971. It was quite apparent that the commemoration of this day was a matter of historic and patriotic significance to a great number of our citizens, and so on September 20th, 1975, President Gerald R. Ford signed Public Law 94-97 (89 Stat. 479), which returned the annual observance of Veterans Day to its original date of November 11, beginning in 1978. This action supported the desires of the overwhelming majority of state legislatures, all major veterans service organizations and the American people.

Veterans Day continues to be observed on November 11, regardless of what day of the week on which it falls. The restoration of the observance of Veterans Day to November 11 not only preserves the historical significance of the date, but helps focus attention on the important purpose of Veterans Day: A celebration to honor America's veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.

(Report compiled from VA.gov resources.)

Related: Dept. of Veterans Affairs Veterans Day Page -- Photos, posters, resources.

Pentagon: Officials Plan Fort Hood Memorial Service

News in Balance:

WASHINGTON, Nov. 9, 2009 -- President Barack Obama will join Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, Joint Chiefs Chairman Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, Army Secretary John M. McHugh and Army Chief of Staff Gen. George W. Casey Jr. at Fort Hood, Texas, tomorrow for a ceremony to honor the victims of the Nov. 5 shooting rampage that left 13 dead and 38 wounded.

Many of those wounded in the attack have recovered enough to attend the ceremony, said Army Lt. Gen. Robert W. Cone, commander of 3rd Corps and Fort Hood.

“We still have 15 of our great soldiers hospitalized; eight are in intensive care, and seven are in wards,” Cone said during a news conference at Fort Hood today. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to them and their families during this difficult time.”

Cone said he is most concerned that the healing phase begins. “I think what’s absolutely critical is that we understand the nature of what has happened here,” he told reporters. “There are probably about 600 people who were somehow directly touched by this incident.”

Cone said authorities’ initial focus in these last three days has been working on getting those 600 people the right behavioral assessments and counseling.

Now, officials are dealing with the larger population at the sprawling post. “I had a very good session yesterday with … the civilian personnel and the soldiers who worked at the soldier readiness site, and had a good opportunity to address their concerns,” Cone said. “And … they began their processing through this critical-incident debrief process.”

Soldiers are among the best prepared to deal with the stress of this incident, the general noted, because they have had training and experience. “Many of us are used to being in theater, and something like this happens, and we come back right away. We get on with the mission. We do the memorial service, we send our comrades home, and then we move on with the mission,” he said.

But dealing with the civilians and families poses more of a challenge. They’ve always considered the base to be a safe place, Cone noted, and now officials must devise ways to help them. “We are right now in the process of executing a comprehensive program to address the needs of all of these populations,” he said.

Officials also must find ways to help soldiers who suffered post-traumatic stress from earlier combat-related incidents, Cone said. They, too, saw Fort Hood as a safe place. “We don't really know what the impact of something like this has on them,” the general acknowledged.

The Army has mobilized resources to help, with 27 military family life consultants, 18 combat stress control teams, 41 behavioral health specialists and 57 ministry support teams on the ground at Fort Hood.

“We have additional resources coming in as we need it,” Cone said. “As General Casey tells me, the entire resources of the United States Army are at the disposal of Fort Hood and its population to help deal with the impact of this event.”

People who wish to donate to aid the victims and the families have a number of options.

Checks can be mailed to:

Chaplain's Fund Office
Bldg 44, 761st Tank Battalion Ave.
Fort Hood, TX 76544-5000

Checks should be made payable to "CTOF" -- which stands for Chapel's Tithes and Offerings Fund -- with a note on the memo line stating "Nov. 5 Tragedy."

Contributions on behalf of Fort Hood soldiers also can be made to:

Fisher House
Bldg 36015, Fisher Lane
Fort Hood, TX 76544

Donations also can be made through the Red Cross:

Killeen Red Cross
208 W. Ave. A
Killeen, TX 76541
Visit http://www.waco.redcross.org.

Finally, donations can be made through the USO:

USO Fort Hood
Building 1871, 50th St.
Fort Hood, TX 76544
Visit http://www.uso.org.

In related news, the Army Criminal Investigation Command is seeking anyone who may have left the area of the shooting with gunshot damage to their vehicles or clothing, and anyone who may inadvertently have left the scene with material that could be used as evidence -- shell casings inside their boot, for example.

The evidence would aid CID and FBI investigators, officials said.

Officials said gunshot-damaged material needs to be inspected by the soldier's or civilian's supervisor or chain of command, and commanders or first sergeants must verify that the person providing the evidence was at the scene.

(Report by Jim Garamone, American Forces Press Service.)

Video: Army Photojournalist Talks to Military Reporter About Fort Hood Shootings

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News in Balance:

WASHINGTON, Nov. 6, 2009 -- Embedded above is a video of Sgt. Elliot Valdez talking to a military reporter about the mass shooting at Fort Hood Texas and his position as a photojournalist. Sgt. Valdez captured Fort Hood crime scene imagery published earlier on the blog. (Courtesy Video, III Corps. Length: 00:10:09.)

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Pentagon: Army Sends Support Teams to Aid Fort Hood Soldiers, Families

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WASHINGTON, Nov. 6, 2009 -- Resources to help those affected by the tragedy at Fort Hood, Texas, are flowing to the post, Army officials said today.

Army Maj. Nidal Malik Hassan killed 13 Fort Hood personnel and wounded another 30 during a shooting spree at the post’s Soldier-Family Readiness Center yesterday. Hassan was wounded and is in custody.

Army Secretary John M. McHugh and Army Chief of Staff Gen. George W. Casey Jr. are at the post conferring with officials to determine the best way forward, said Maj. Gen. Kevin Bergner, chief of Army public affairs.

Army Lt. Gen. Robert W. Cone, the commander of 3rd Corps and Fort Hood, has requested additional capabilities to help post personnel get through this tragedy. “We are already generating capabilities to deal with the consequences of the situation at Fort Hood,” Bergner told reporters this morning.

The service is sending 13 unit ministry teams to the post. Each team has chaplains and chaplain assistants who can support the spiritual needs of soldiers, families and civilians at Fort Hood, Bergner said.

The Army also is sending 35 family life consultants to the base. “These are folks who specifically are trained and equipped to deal with the stress that military families confront – from the children to the spouses,” the general explained.

The service also is sending 13 behavioral health specialists from to Fort Hood from Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio to help with grief counseling.

Four Operation Homecoming counselors, 20 more behavioral health specialists and 17 critical-incident stress-management personnel will deploy to Fort Hood soon, Bergner said, and five combat stress teams are moving to the post to augment teams already at the base.

Some of the additional teams will arrive today and tomorrow, and others will flow in later, the general said. “If more is needed, we will provide it,” he added.

(Report by Jim Garamone, American Forces Press Service.)

Video: Fort Hood Crime Scene B-Roll

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News in Balance:

WASHINGTON, Nov. 6, 2009 -- Embedded above is a b-roll video of the aftermath of a shooting rampage at Fort Hood, Texas. Scenes include police and SWAT team members walking alongside a building, police cars driving on a road, soldiers unloading equipment off a military vehicle, various views of police and EMS vehicles with lights flashing and soldiers walking near police tape with weapons out. (Produced by Ron Morse and SPC Eliot Valdez, Fort Hood Public Affairs Office. Length: 00:05:36.)

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Pentagon: Army Major Declared Sole Suspect in Fort Hood Shooting

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WASHINGTON, Nov. 5, 2009 -- U.S. Army Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan is believed to be the lone shooter of some 43 people on Fort Hood, Texas, and he survived being shot by a civilian police officer, the base commander said.

In a televised press briefing tonight, Army Lt Gen. Robert Cone corrected earlier reports that said Hasan and the police officer, who shot him several times, were killed. Rather, he said, both are recovering at a nearby hospital.

All but two of the victims are soldiers, Cone said.

Cone confirmed the identity of Hasan, reportedly a psychiatrist on the base who was scheduled soon to deploy, but would not say more about the suspect. Hasan has been in the company of a Criminal Investigative Division officer since the midday shooting, he said.

In answer to a reporter’s question, Cone said of the suspect, “I would say his death is not imminent.” Hasan is not yet talking to investigators.

Three other soldiers were initially detained for questioning, but later released. After interviewing more than 100 people at the scene, Cone said, investigators determined there was only one shooter.

While investigators haven’t ruled out terrorism in the case, Cone said, the evidence doesn’t suggest it.

The shooting began about 1:30 Central Time at Hood’s Soldier Family Readiness Center where Cone said soldiers from multiple units were crowded into the center for a scheduled weekly “make up time” for medical and dental appointments.

Casualties were high due to the enclosed location, but would have been much worse were it not for the training and quick reaction of the soldiers, Cone said, adding that he was on the scene quickly after the shooting began.

“Suffice it to say…the American soldier did a great job,” he said.

From the reports of eyewitnesses, he said, the soldiers – “many of them combat lifesavers” -- reacted instantaneously, ripping off parts of their own clothing to treat the wounded.

“I credit the first responders,” he said. “God bless these soldiers and Department of Army civilians. As horrible as this was, it could have been much worse.”

Some 600 people attending a college graduation of 138 soldiers in an adjacent building were unharmed because first responders secured the building, he said.

The suspect is believed to have used two handguns in the shooting, one a semiautomatic, Cone said. And in responding to a question, “As a matter of practice, we do not carry weapons on Fort Hood,” he said. “This is our home.”

However, Cone said, “We will increase our security presence here in the coming days.”

The FBI is working the investigation, along with military and other law enforcement, he said. The base was on lockdown until 7 p.m., a base spokesman said.

For now, Cone said, Fort Hood officials are focused on caring for the wounded, securing the base, notifying victims’ families and providing grief counseling. A family hotline is available to obtain information at 254-288-7570.

Cone, who received a call from President Barack Obama soon after the shooting, said he was grateful for an outpouring of support. “It is truly overwhelming the offers of support we have had from around the nation,” the general said. “Tomorrow at Fort Hood, we return to normalcy, schools will be open.”

The Central Texas base is the military’s largest, covering some 340 square miles and is home to 40,000 soldiers. And, according to its Web site, is known as “The Great Place” for its quality of life for soldiers and their families.

(Report by Lisa Daniel, American Forces Press Service.)

Video: Fort Hood Shooting B-Roll

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News in Balance:

WASHINGTON, Nov. 5, 2009 -- Embedded above is a b-roll video of the aftermath of a shooting rampage at Fort Hood, Texas. Scenes include police with weapons getting out of their van, law enforcement members ducking behind buildings, victims being loaded onto an ambulance, fire trucks and ambulances with sirens. (Produced by Ron Morse and SPC Eliot Valdez, Fort Hood Public Affairs Office. Length: 00:03:54.)

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Pentagon Discuses Fort Hood Shootings

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WASHINGTON, Nov. 5, 2009 -- President Barack Obama condemned the fatal shooting rampage today on Fort Hood, Texas, that left 12 soldiers dead and another 31 wounded, and promised full-scale support to get to the bottom of what happened and help the Fort Hood community recover from the tragedy.

More than one gunmen – two being held as suspects and another believed to be among those killed -- fired shots at about 1:30 p.m. Central Time at the post’s Soldier Readiness Processing Center and Howze Theater, Fort Hood officials confirmed.

The incident reportedly occurred as soldiers were conducting their final preparations for deployment.

“These are men and women who have made the selfless and courageous decision to risk, and at times, give their lives to protect the rest of us on a daily basis,” the president said.

“It's difficult enough when we lose these brave Americans in battles overseas,” he said. “It is horrifying that they should come under fire at an Army base on American soil.”

Obama said he is in close coordination with Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen in monitoring the situation.

Meanwhile, the White House is working with the Pentagon, FBI and Department of Homeland Security to ensure Fort Hood is secure.

Obama said his thoughts and prayers are with the wounded and families of the fallen, and the Fort Hood community.

“We will continue to support the community with the full resources of the federal government,” he said. “We will make sure that we get answers to every single question about this horrible incident.”

Obama said he has no greater honor than serving as commander and chief, but also recognizes the responsibility that entails in ensuring servicemembers are properly cared for and that their safety is assured while they are at home.

“So we are going to stay on this,” he said. “But I hope in the meantime that all of you recognize the scope of this tragedy, and keep everybody in their thoughts and prayers.”

Speaking to reporters at Fort Hood, Army Lt. Gen. Robert W. Cone, commander of 3rd Corps and Fort Hood, credited quick response by police forces with bringing down a gunman after he opened fire at the soldier readiness unit.

“There were several eyewitness accounts that there was more than one shooter,” he said, noting that two additional soldiers had been taken into custody.

“The soldiers and family members are absolutely devastated,” he said. “It’s a terrible tragedy,” he said, but offered assurances, “We will work through it.”

(Report by Donna Miles, American Forces Press Service.)

Pentagon: Commander Urges Focus on Protecting Satellites

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WASHINGTON, Nov. 5, 2009 -- The chief of U.S. Strategic Command wants better tools for protecting against threats from space debris -- an estimated 20,000 pieces of man-made material orbiting around the planet.

Air Force Gen. Kevin Chilton laid out what he described as his “wish list” yesterday, emphasizing the importance of being able to predict collisions between debris and valuable satellites.

Given the scarce number of personnel tasked with carrying out this mission, “we are decades behind where we should be, in my view,” Chilton said in a speech yesterday at Offutt Air Force Base in Omaha, Neb.

The collision in February of an American and Russian satellite changed an assumption underlying the use of space. Chilton called the collision between the Iridium and Kosmos satellites the “seminal event” of the year for Stratcom.

“The big space theory, like the big sky theory, kind of came to a close when that happened -- the thought that we wouldn't have to pay attention to the movement of every satellite up there because there's so much space up there and such a low probability that they'll run into each other,” he said.

Those working in the field likely never bought into the theory that a collision was unlikely, the general said, and the event drove home the reality to those responsible for budgeting.

“It's amazing what one collision will do to the resource spigot,” he said. “Once that happened, we started to see some resources start to flow in the right directions and some creative thinking going on to improve our ability to predict collisions between the 800 satellites that we care about up there that are active and the over 20,000 pieces of total debris.”

Chilton cautioned that the 20,000 estimate could likely be off “by an order of magnitude” of actual materials able to damage satellites and systems in orbit.

As in other military scenarios, maintaining situational awareness is no less important in space than it is on land, in the air or at sea.

“Space situational awareness is no different than the situational awareness that we demand in any other domain,” he said. “And we do not provide that in an adequate fashion to my component commander in charge of space operations for the United States of America.”

To maintain awareness, Chilton stressed the need for sensors, which he described as the start of the process.

“It starts with having sensors in the right place around the globe so you can surveil the domain,” he said.

He also underscored the need to replace the space fence and keep on track the space-based surveillance system. Chilton suggested more also could be done in the way the United States relates to its allies in space.

“I think there are also opportunities for us to reach out to friends and allies and leverage capabilities that others have in a teaming fashion to provide the increased surveillance assets, the increased observations, that decreases the uncertainty in the location of elements in space,” he said. “I think there's great opportunity for us to reach out and do that better as well.”

(Report by John J. Kruzel, American Forces Press Service.)

Pentagon Deploys H1N1 (Swine Flu) Vaccine to Central Command Area

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WASHINGTON, Nov. 4, 2009 -- U.S. Central Command has received half of the vaccine needed to inoculate its forces against the H1N1 virus, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said today.

The vaccines arrived in Qatar overnight and should be pushed out to troops serving in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait and other parts of the region within the next day, Morrell said. About 300,000 forces serve in the command’s area of responsibility.

Meanwhile, roughly 26,000 doses arrived in South Korea this week for servicemembers assigned there, Morrell said.

“So we're making some progress in terms of getting the H1N1 vaccine to our forces worldwide,” he said. “But because we are still operating with a limited quantity, we have to prioritize those who will get it. And according to our prioritization list, our military forces and those who support them are at the top of that list.”

The Defense Department does not yet have enough of the vaccine to treat all servicemembers, their families and other support personnel. The department received its initial allotments of the vaccine last week and began distributing them according to a prioritized list of recipients. Vaccines will be made available first to deployed troops, then to deployed health-care workers, including civilian employees and contractors.

“It is imperative that we keep our forces able to do their jobs so as to provide for the protection of our interests around the world,” Morrell said.

“They are already in very difficult circumstances. Every one of them is needed, and we can't afford to have an outbreak of the [H1N1] flu in Afghanistan, in Iraq, in any other location where our forces are deployed,” he said. “So we're doing everything within our power to make sure our guys downrange get this as soon as possible.”

The department also has received several hundred vaccines from the Health and Human Services Department for defense civilians. Because vaccines are coming in relatively small numbers, local commanders are responsible for determining how supplies are distributed.

Immunization for both seasonal flu and H1N1 is mandatory for all military personnel and is highly recommended for family members.

When the first cases of H1N1 were diagnosed in the United States in April, the department bought 2.7 million doses of the vaccine for mission-assurance purposes. HHS later provided 1 million doses to the department, raising the number to 3.7 million, officials said.

In addition to vaccines being received for operational personnel, Defense Department medical treatment facilities now are receiving vaccine for family members living in the United States. Pentagon officials also have an agreement with HHS to provide the vaccine for family members living outside the United States.

Vaccine for family members and the civilian work force will arrive at military medical treatment facilities incrementally, department officials said.

(Report by Fred W. Baker III, American Forces Press Service.)