U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Johathan R. Segovia, personnel security detail, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, a ground combat element attached to Multinational Force – West, relaxes with Iraqi children in Sha-ban, Iraq, July 9, 2008.
Monthly Archives: July 2008
UNDERWATER RE-ENLISTMENT
U.S. Army Maj. Shean Phelps re-enlists U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Kevin Arnold in an underwater ceremony on the main deck of the newly sunken aircraft carrier USS Oriskany, which is located at the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico about 23 miles south of Pensacola, Fla., July 6, 2008.
This was the first re-enlistment to be held aboard the sunken aircraft carrier.
Arnold is a personnel specialist attached to Naval Air Station Pensacola.
Korengal Valley
U.S. Army Capt. Dan Kearny briefs U.S. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, on the situation at Korengal Valley, Afghanistan, July 11, 2008.
Defense Dept. photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley
Tony Snow
Former White House Press Secretary Tony Snow waves goodbye Sept. 14, 2007, as he departs the White House on his final day at the office.
The 53-year-old spokesman died early Saturday, July 12, 2008, of cancer.
Said the President in a statement, “The Snow family has lost a beloved husband and father. And America has lost a devoted public servant and a man of character.”
Mullen Visits Afghanistan
U.S. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, poses for a group photo with award recipients from the 503rd Infantry Regiment, Korengal Outpost, Afghanistan, July 11, 2008.
Mullen is on a six-day tour of the region to visit troops.
He is also hosting a USO contingent including NFL All-Pros Drew Brees, quarterback of the New Orleans Saints, and Osi Umenyiora, defensive end for the New York Giants, as well as the Dallas Cowboy cheerleaders and former Marshall University football coach Jack Lengyel.
Defense Dept. photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley
Code Red in Northern California and Smoke Moving East
California continues to experience poor air quality due to the intense fires. In the image, you can see the smoke over California and the background haze that is settling over the southwestern US as the smoke moves east.
Image from the U.S. Air Quality Smog Blog (<- Click for larger image.)
See more here.
Sunken Ship
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Joshua West lowers himself to the sunken former Soviet submarine Juliett 484 to conduct salvage operations, Providence, R.I., July 7, 2008.
U.S. Navy and Army divers along with federal, state and local authorities are working to raise the sunken former Soviet submarine at Collier Point Park.
Mobile Diving & Salvage Unit 2, U.S. Army Dive Company and a NAVSEA Support Unit prepare to salvage the former Soviet submarine.
Juliett 484 sank at her mooring point in about 30 feet of water during a Nor’easter that struck Providence in April 2007.
U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Christopher Perez.
UK spying chief emerges from coma
UK spying chief emerges from coma
British spying chief Alex Allan, the chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee, has regained consciousness having been in a coma for 10 days.
A Cabinet Office spokesman said there were “positive signs of recovery” in Mr Allan, 57, who has been in intensive care since collapsing at home.
He is expected to remain in hospital for the immediate future while he “regains his strength”.
The spokesman said: “His family are delighted with his progress.”
Mr Allan collapsed at his home on 30 June.
Government sources say there is no sign of foul play.
Mr Allan’s committee collates information from MI5, MI6 and GCHQ and briefs the prime minister, ministers and officials on intelligence assessments on issues such as security, defence and foreign affairs.
The deputy chairman takes over in the absence of the chairman but Cabinet Office policy is not to publicly name the person.
Read more here.
JLOTS 2008
CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (July 8, 2008)
A view of Red Beach during ship-to-shore operations supporting Joint Logistics Over-The-Shore (JLOTS) 2008.
JLOTS 2008 will establish command and control of Army and Navy units, construct a life support area, conduct force protection operations, execute an in-stream offload of shipping from a sea echelon area, employ an offshore petroleum discharge system, retrograde and safely redeploy allocated forces.
U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Brian P. Caracci (Released)
Read more here.
Memorial Sun Set
The sun sets behind the USS Arizona Memorial as seen from the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk, July 4, 2008.
Kitty Hawk is making a port call to the United States for the first time in nearly 10 years.
The ship will participate in Rim of the Pacific 2008 exercise with other units from the U.S., Australia, Chile, Canada, Japan, the Netherlands, Peru, South Korea, Singapore and the United Kingdom.
Cookie Drop
NORTH ARABIAN SEA (July 9, 2008)
Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) Airman Cristian Orkiz distributes free Girl Scout Cookies sent by Junior Troop 818 of Woodinville, Wash., as part of Operation Cookie Drop/Gift of Caring aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72).
Lincoln is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility to support maritime security operations.
U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Johndion Magsipoc (Released)
Moving Faces
Ted Levitt, owner of Chick and Ruth’s Delly in Annapolis, Md., advertises his Faces of Valor USA project outside his downtown restaurant.
Levitt had the faces of heroes airbrushed on a restored 1931 Buick he plans to show to raise funds for scholarships and financial assistance for those wounded or killed while serving.
Defense Dept. photo by Donna Miles
Read more here.
Sheik Talk
An Iraqi man shows an injury he sustained in a fight against insurgents to U.S. Marine Lt. Col. Stuart Harness, right, during a visit with an Iraqi National Sheik, left, to discuss the current situation of his tribe in the Jazeerah Desert, Iraq July 3, 2008.
Harness is the task force commander, 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Multinational Force – West, Ground Combat Element.
Iraqi police officers graduation
Newly sworn in Iraqi police officers perform in a graduation ceremony culminating in a human pyramid on Camp Ashraft in the Diyala Province, Iraq, June 25, 2008.
U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Paul Seeber
More here.
