seruriermarshal
05-13-2004, 01:02 AM
U.S. Soldier Killed in Iraq Bomb Blast
16 minutes ago
BAGHDAD, Iraq - A bomb exploded beside a U.S. military convoy in Baghdad, killing one U.S. soldier and injuring another, the U.S. military said Thursday.
AP Photo
Slideshow: U.S. Military
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Special Coverage
The name of the soldier who died in the attack Wednesday was withheld pending notification of his family.
A total of 774 U.S. service members have died in Iraq (news - web sites) since the beginning of military operations last year. Of those, 564 died as a result of hostile action and 210 died of non-hostile causes.
Sad message
REGIMENTAL PRAYER
Almighty, merciful, and loving Father,
you are the one who hears all our prayers and grants our petitions.
We ask you to remember, as we do,
the tremendous sacrifice made by those who went before us.
They have given their lives so that we might live and breathe freely.
We ask you to receive them into your hands.
Father, give us the strength and wisdom to learn from their example,
to uphold freedom and life at home and around the world.
Keep us vigilant as we guard the frontiers of freedom.
Give our leaders the wisdom and the strength to lead well.
Grant all of us courage and confidence.
Be, for all of us, troopers, a wise counsel in keeping peace
and a strong shield for us against our enemies.
Oh heavenly Father, give us the determination
that the peace and freedom won at such a high price be lasting!
Father, hold all of the troopers in the palm of your almighty hand
and protect them in the shadow of your wings.
Amen.
seruriermarshal
05-13-2004, 01:13 AM
Soldiers Kill RPG Gunners
BAGHDAD, Iraq - Task Force Baghdad Soldiers killed six anti-Coalition insurgents in the early morning of May 12 during separate engagements spanning an hour's time in east Baghdad.
All six insurgents attacked Coalition patrols with rocket-propelled grenade launchers. There were no reports of Coalition injuries or damage to Coalition equipment or vehicles.
In all, Coalition patrols came under attack seven times during the morning. The seventh attack offered no opportunity for Coalition forces to make a positive identification of the enemy, so the patrol did not return fire.
Marines, Military Agencies Contribute to Improvement Projects Around Iraq
FALLUJAH, Iraq - U.S. Marines and Coalition personnel are participating in numerous developmental projects in Iraqi cities in the Al Anbar Province. One of the projects involves the contracting of crews to clean up a main route through the center of Fallujah.
Marines also began several large projects for Nassir Wa Al Salaam City. They include a communications center initiative worth $36,000, renovations to Al Faris School valued at $35,000, a women's clinic project worth $25,000, repairs to Jabhat Al Shaabe Primary School worth $8,000 and an excavation and backfill project valued at $7,000.
Marines also delivered 20 all-purpose tool kits to the governor of Al Anbar Province. The tool kits are intended for Iraqi police and fire authorities for use in their public safety vehicles.
Another developmental project is credited to a Coalition Civil Affairs team that provided an initial payment of $20,000 for renovations to the Jehad School near Ar Ramadi.
Task Force Danger Soldiers Detain Iraqi Army Soldier
TIKRIT, Iraq - Task Force Danger Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 113th Field Artillery, detained an Iraqi Army soldier after finding sketches of a Coalition base in his possession during a shakedown inspection around 2 p.m. May 11. The Iraqi soldier was taken to a Coalition detention facility for questioning.
1ST Armored Division Clears Mosque of Militia
KARBALA, Iraq - Soldiers from Task Force 1st Armored Division cleared a building complex used by Muqtada's Militia during a cordon and search operation that began last night and continued into this morning.
The operation began at about 11 p.m. Tuesday when elements of Task Force 1-37, 1st Armored Division moved into positions around the 12-building Mukhayam Mosque and shrine complex.
Karbala, a Shiite holy city south of Baghdad, has been the site of several clashes between militiamen loyal to radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, and U.S. and other coalition troops over the past few days. The Mukhayam Mosque is located about 500 yards from the Imam Hussein and Imam Abbas shrines, two of Iraq's most revered religious sites located at the city's center. Extreme caution was taken to ensure the holy shrines were not damaged in any way during the fighting.
Muqtada's Militia used the mosque complex to plan attacks against members of the coalition, stage forces and to store weapons and ammunition. Ammunition caches found inside several of the buildings were rigged for demolition.
The coalition task force also included Polish and Bulgarian units, a company from the 402nd Iraqi Civil Defense Corps and Iraqi Police Service officers.
As Soldiers prepared to enter the complex, they received mortar, small arms and rocket-propelled grenade fire from the mosque and from rooftops of surrounding buildings.
During the exchange, a cache of weapons and ammunition in one of the buildings ignited.
At about 2:50 a.m. Soldiers rescued two bound-and-gagged Iraqi police officers from another building. Ammunition found with the policemen, also rigged for demolition, was disarmed.
Militiamen holed up inside the shrine fought the advancing Coalition forces with small arms, rocket-propelled grenades and hand grenades.
Iraqi Civil Defense Corps soldiers and Iraqi police officers made the assault into the mosque while other coalition forces established a cordon around the building. Inside, they found 15 artillery rounds, 15 mortar rounds and small arms ammunition.
About 20 enemy militiamen were killed during the assault. Seven U.S. Soldiers were wounded.
Today, Soldiers have been destroying the weapons and ammunition found during the operation.
Task Force Soldiers and Iraqi security forces remain in the area to secure the site and prevent looting.
According to published reports, signs of mainstream Shiite resentment of al-Sadr have been rising. Tuesday, about 1,000 people marched through Najaf streets demanding that he and his followers leave the city, as moderate Shiite leaders have urged. Tensions rose as the march passed al-Sadr's office. His fighters fired into the air, but there was no clash.
3rd BCT Pays Cash Compensation
BAGHDAD, Iraq -- The 1st Cavalry Division's 3rd Brigade Combat Team paid its first cash compensation to Iraqi citizens for damages caused by Coalition forces as guaranteed by the Foreign Claims Act.
The FCA minimizes the financial impact of the U.S. military's presence by paying for property damages or losses, injuries, or deaths for which the U.S. military is culpable, said Capt. Ryan Suerth, the 3rd BCT Command Judge Advocate, who is responsible for overseeing claims paid by the 3rd BCT.
Seventy-six claims had been filed with the 3rd BCT as of May 3.
"If one of our Soldiers is negligent, and intentionally does something [negligent] to somebody, then that's [a claim] we're going to pay," Suerth said.
However, the FCA does not allow compensation for damages, injuries, or losses of life that occur as a result of Coalition combat operations.
"The big distinction is that something that happens in a combat situation, generally that's not something that we're going to pay," Suerth said. "But, we'll find a way to compensate those people out of a show of remorse. If I can find a way to pay somebody, I'm going to do it so long as it's authorized.
"The point is, we try to help people out in every situation," he added, "We paid around $11,000 today and each week we'll probably pay more and more."
Any citizen living in the Al-Karadah or Al-Karkh districts can go to the Iraqi Assistance Center in the Baghdad Convention Center any day of the week to file a claim. Those living outside of these areas should inquire at their local General Information Center, Suerth said.
An Iraqi claims pocket card is being developed to give Iraqi citizens details at the site of an incident, and will also direct claimants where they can file a claim. Such claims cards will be carried in military vehicles, according to Suerth.
The card will allow soldiers to remove themselves from a hostile area as quickly as possible while ensuring that any damage caused by their operation is paid for. It streamlines the process of getting cash in the hands of those who need to repair damaged property or pay a medical bill.
"The soldier isn't going to be held liable; it's just something so we can substantiate that the Iraqis are making a legitimate claim," he said.
seruriermarshal
05-13-2004, 03:14 AM
One Soldier Dies, One Wounded IED Strike
BAGHDAD, Iraq - One Task Force Baghdad Soldier was killed and another was wounded when an improvised-explosive device struck a convoy Wednesday in Baghdad. The name of the Soldier killed is being withheld pending next-of-kin notification.
seruriermarshal
05-13-2004, 08:42 AM
Another sad message
Marine Dies of Wounds May 12
CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq -- A Marine assigned to I Marine Expeditionary Force died May 12 from wounds received earlier that day in the Al Anbar Province while conducting security and stability operations.
I MEF force protection measures preclude the release of any information that could aid enemy personnel in assessing the effectiveness or lack thereof with regard to their tactics, techniques and procedures. The release of more details about the incident could place our personnel at greater risk.
REGIMENTAL PRAYER
Almighty, merciful, and loving Father,
you are the one who hears all our prayers and grants our petitions.
We ask you to remember, as we do,
the tremendous sacrifice made by those who went before us.
They have given their lives so that we might live and breathe freely.
We ask you to receive them into your hands.
Father, give us the strength and wisdom to learn from their example,
to uphold freedom and life at home and around the world.
Keep us vigilant as we guard the frontiers of freedom.
Give our leaders the wisdom and the strength to lead well.
Grant all of us courage and confidence.
Be, for all of us, troopers, a wise counsel in keeping peace
and a strong shield for us against our enemies.
Oh heavenly Father, give us the determination
that the peace and freedom won at such a high price be lasting!
Father, hold all of the troopers in the palm of your almighty hand
and protect them in the shadow of your wings.
Amen.
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