Gung Ho!

Main Entry: gung ho Pronunciation: 'g&[ng]-'hOFunction: adjective Etymology: Gung ho!, motto (interpreted as meaning "work together") adopted by certain U.S. marines, from Chinese (Beijing) gOnghé, short for ZhOngguó GOngyè Hézuò Shè Chinese Industrial Cooperative Society: extremely or overly zealous or enthusiastic

Gung Ho!
Additional Pages

Gung Ho!
And The Cost of War!


Cost of the War.Com
(JavaScript Error)

Gung Ho!
And The Cost of War In Lives!


Thursday, December 15, 2005

Almost killed, a new view of the war

I'm not going to post this entire story please go read it.

Knowles left the service in October 2004. He suffers from occasional shoulder pain but otherwise has a normal life. He's now a train conductor for Norfolk Southern.

He has since come to oppose the war.

"After seeing friends die and almost dying myself, I think American soldiers are, I wouldn't say dying for nothing, but it's needless and I think we need to bring everybody home."


Semper Fi


US soldier killed in Afghan clash, prisoners freed (Reuters)

KABUL (Reuters) - An American soldier was killed in a firefight with suspected Taliban guerrillas in Afghanistan on Thursday, the U.S. military said.

The clash occurred in the restive southern province of Kandahar as Afghan and U.S. troops were conducting a joint combat patrol, the U.S. military said in a statement.

One militant was killed, while one U.S. soldier and an Afghan soldier were wounded.


Semper Fi


CENTCOM-MARINE KILLED IN IED ATTACK

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq – A Marine assigned to the 2nd Marine Logistics Group, II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward), was killed in action from an improvised explosive device attack while conducting combat operations against the enemy in the vicinity of ar Ramadi, Dec. 14.


Semper Fi


Staff Sgt. Curtis A. Mitchell

12/14/2005 - DoD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Staff Sgt. Curtis A. Mitchell, 28, of Evansville, Ind., died in Baghdad, Iraq, on Dec. 12, when an improvised expolosive device detonated near his M1A1 Abrams tank during combat operations. Mitchell was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 7th Cavalry, 2nd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.


Semper Fi


Seaman 2nd Class Dee Hall

12/14/2005 - Navy Seaman MIA from World War II is Identified

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from World War II, have been identified and returned to his family for burial tomorrow with full military honors.

Seaman 2nd Class Dee Hall, of Syra, Okla. He is to be buried at the Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio.

Hall was one of seven crewmen aboard a U.S. Navy PBY-5 Catalina that took off from Kodiak Island, Alaska on June 14, 1942, to attack Japanese targets in Kiska Harbor, Alaska.

The crew encountered inclement weather and heavy Japanese anti-aircraft fire near the target. Their plane crashed on the Japanese-held Kiska Island, Alaska with all seven crewmen on board.

In August 1943, the United States retook Kiska Island from the Japanese. Wreckage of the PBY-5 was found on the side of Kiska volcano. The remains of the crew were buried in a common grave marked “Seven U.S.N. Airmen” with a wooden marker. Following the war, attempts to locate the common grave were unsuccessful and the remains of all seven were declared to be non-recoverable.

In 2002, a wildlife biologist notified DPMO that he had found the wreckage of a World War II aircraft on the slope of Kiska volcano. Using that information, the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) excavated the crash site in August 2003 and found debris from the PBY-5 as well as crew-related items. The JPAC team also located the wooden marker as well as the remains buried nearby. Subsequent JPAC laboratory analysis led to the individual identification of all seven crewmembers.

Of the 88,000 unaccounted-for Americans from all conflicts, 78,000 are from World War II.


Semper Fi


Wednesday, December 14, 2005

Trade gap widens unexpectedly, hits record

Wider and wider, as long as Bushco is in power.

he U.S. trade deficit widened unexpectedly in October to a record $68.9 billion despite a drop in the cost of imported oil, as the deficits with China, Canada, the European Union, Mexico and OPEC all hit records, government data showed on Wednesday.

Economists had expected the trade gap to shrink in October to $63.0 billion, and its surprising growth suggests fourth-quarter economic growth will likely be even weaker than first thought.

"The trade deficit certainly came in worse than expected," said Bob Lynch, currency analyst at HSBC in New York. "It was largely energy influenced but I don't think that should detract from the overall deterioration of the external balance. The dollar was already on the defensive this week and this data only reinforces that bias."

The dollar extended losses against the euro and yen, while U.S. Treasury debt prices remained higher after the report.

The Commerce Department said the deficit widened 4.4 percent from September after growing 11.9 percent the previous month.


Semper Fi


From the Brad Blog

EXCLUSIVE: SECURITIES FRAUD LITIGATION FILED AGAINST DIEBOLD, INC!



Semper Fi


Sgt. Clarence L. Floyd, Jr

12/12/2005 - DoD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Sgt. Clarence L. Floyd, Jr., 28, of Newark, N.J., died in Taji, Iraq, on Dec. 10, when his unit was attacked by enemy forces using small arms fire during combat operations. Floyd was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Ky.


Semper Fi


Sgt. Spencer C. Akers

12/12/2005 - DoD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Sgt. Spencer C. Akers, 35, of Traverse City, Mich., died at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, on Dec. 8, of injuries sustained in Habbaniyah, Iraq, on Nov. 21, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his HMMWV during combat operations. Akers was assigned to the Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 125th Infantry Regiment, Saginaw, Mich.


Semper Fi


Sgt. 1st Class James S. Moudy

12/12/2005 - DoD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Sgt. 1st Class James S. Moudy, 37, of Newark, Del., died in Baghdad, Iraq, on Dec. 11, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his HMMWV during combat operations. Moudy was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 71st Cavalry, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y.


Semper Fi


Sgt. Julia V. Atkins

12/12/2005 - DoD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Sgt. Julia V. Atkins, 22, of Bossier City, La., died in Baghdad, Iraq, on Dec. 10, when an improvised explosive device detonated near her HMMWV during patrol operations. Atkins was assigned to the 64th Military Police Company, 720th Military Police Battalion, 89th Military Police Brigade, Fort Hood, Texas.


Semper Fi


Sgt. Adrian N. Orosco

12/12/2005 - DoD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Sgt. Adrian N. Orosco, 26, of Corcoran, Calif., died in Baghdad, Iraq, on Dec. 9, when a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device detonated near his dismounted position during combat operations. Orosco was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Irwin, Calif.


Semper Fi


Staff Sgt. Travis L. Nelson
Sgt. Kenith Casica

12/13/2005 - DoD Identifies Army Casualties

The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. They died in Baghdad, Iraq, on Dec. 10, as a result of enemy small arms fire. Both soldiers were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Ky.

Killed were:

Staff Sgt. Travis L. Nelson, 41, of Anniston, Ala.

Sgt. Kenith Casica, 32, of Virginia Beach, Va.


Semper Fi


Staff Sgt. Keith A. Bennett

12/13/2005 - DoD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Staff Sgt. Keith A. Bennett, 32, of Holtwood, Pa., died in Ar Ramadi, Iraq on Dec. 11, as the result of a suicide, vehicle-borne improvised explosive device. Bennett was assigned to the Army National Guard's 28th Military Police Company, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, Johnstown, Pa.


Semper Fi


Spc. Lex S. Nelson

12/13/2005 - DoD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Spc. Lex S. Nelson, 21, of Salt Lake City, Utah, died in Tikrit, Iraq on Dec. 12, when he fell from a guard tower. Nelson was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 41st Field Artillery, 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.

The incident is under investigation.


Semper Fi


Spc. Jared W. Kubasak

12/13/2005 - DoD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Spc. Jared W. Kubasak, 25, of Rocky Mount, Va., died in Baghdad, Iraq on Dec. 12, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his M2A2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle during patrol operations. Kubasak was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Carson, Colo.


Semper Fi


Staff Sgt. Milton Rivera-Vargas

12/12/2005 - DoD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Staff Sgt. Milton Rivera-Vargas, 55, of Boqueron, Puerto Rico, died in Kalsu, Iraq, on Dec. 8, from a non-combat related cause while on guard duty. Rivera-Vargas was assigned to the Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 296th Infantry Regiment, Sabana Grande, Puerto Rico.


Semper Fi


Cpl. Joseph P. Bier

12/09/2005 - DoD Identifies Marine Corps Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Cpl. Joseph P. Bier, 22, of Centralia, Wash., died Dec. 7 from an improvised explosive device while conducting combat operations against enemy forces in Ar Ramadi, Iraq. He was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, Calif. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, Bier’s unit was attached to 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward).


Semper Fi


Sgt. Michael C. Taylor

12/09/2005 - DoD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Sgt. Michael C. Taylor, 23, of Hockley, Texas, died in Balad, Iraq, on Dec. 7, when an improvised expolsive device detonated near his Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck while his unit was conducting combat operations. Taylor was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 13th Field Artillery, 214th Field Artillery Brigade, III Corps Artillery, Fort Sill, Okla.


Semper Fi


1st Lt. Kevin J. Smith

12/09/2005 - DoD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

1st Lt. Kevin J. Smith, 28, of Brandon, Fla., died in Baghdad, Iraq, on Dec. 8, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his HMMWV. Smith was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 76th Field Artillery, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.


Semper Fi