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!


Saturday, April 08, 2006

Two killed in suicide attack on NATO compound in Afghanistan - AFP

HERAT, Afghanistan (AFP) - A suicide attacker detonated a car bomb outside a compound for NATO-led troops in western Afghanistan, killing two Afghans in the latest in a string of such blasts, officials said.


Semper Fi


Iraqis Bury Dead After Mosque Bombing - AP

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Friends and relatives of Iraqis killed in an attack on a Shiite Muslim mosque buried their dead Saturday, carrying coffins through the streets of several Baghdad neighborhoods.


Semper Fi


Rebels kill 10 in Iraq, 11 bodies found - AFP

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AFP) - At least 10 people have been killed across Iraq, including six Shiite pilgrims blown up by a suicide car bomber on a road leading to Shiite shrines south of Baghdad, police said.


Semper Fi


Iraqi Soldier Allegedly Kills U.S. Marine - AP

BAGHDAD, Iraq - An Iraqi soldier allegedly shot and killed a U.S. Marine at a base near the Syrian border, the U.S. said Friday. Another American Marine then wounded the Iraqi soldier.

The shootings occurred Thursday near Qaim, 200 miles west of Baghdad, the U.S. statement said.

"An Iraqi army soldier allegedly shot and killed the U.S. Marine on a coalition base" near Qaim, the statement said. "The Iraqi soldier was shot by another U.S. Marine."


Semper Fi


Marines Attempt to Stabilize Syrian Border - AP

QAIM, Iraq - U.S. Marines along the volatile Syrian border have largely abandoned big bases to fan out over a dozen smaller outposts within cities — part of a resurrected Vietnam-era strategy to live among civilians and mentor local soldiers.

Hundreds of Marines now live in 13 "battle positions" in five riverside cities, near where the Euphrates River enters Iraq from Syria. The new positioning allows them to launch more patrols — especially foot patrols — but also increases their exposure to attacks because they travel in smaller numbers.

The strategy, implemented after a large-scale U.S. and Iraqi offensive in the area last November, is in part a reaction against a common U.S. military tactic in Iraq of relying on patrols that depart from sprawling bases on the edges of cities.

"You've got to be in the towns, live among the people, eat with them ... until the people start telling you where the bad people are," said Lt. Col. Julian D. Alford. "If you live on the (bases) outside the city and come in for patrols, you're not going to win this."

But the new strategy also illustrates how the situation in Iraq varies dramatically from region to region. As opposed to most areas of Iraq where U.S. troops are starting to hand over bases to Iraqi troops, this majority Sunni far western portion of Anbar province lags behind — with sufficient numbers of U.S. and Iraqi troops having just arrived.


The generals in charge in Iraq, are Vietnam vets. They were platoon and company commanders. The only way they know how to fight an insugency is using Vietnam era tactics. It didn't work then and it's not going to work know.

Semper Fi


Ohio Marine dies in Iraq, family says - Columbus Dispatch

Saturday, April 08, 2006

MILFORD, Ohio (AP) — A 20-year-old Marine who embraced technology and challenges in life has been killed in Iraq.

Details of Bryan Taylor’s death weren’t immediately available yesterday. A woman at the family’s home, about 25 miles east of Cincinnati, confirmed his death but only identified herself as an aunt.


Semper Fi


TASK FORCE BAND OF BROTHERS SOLDIER KILLED - CENTCOM

KIRKUK, Iraq – One Soldier from the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team was killed April 6 when his combat patrol struck an IED near Bayji.

The deceased Soldier’s name is being withheld pending notification of the next of kin.


Semper Fi


MND-B SERVICE MEMBER DIES - CENTCOM

BAGHDAD, Iraq – A Multi-National Division – Baghdad service member died at 12:45 p.m. April 7, from wounds sustained while on patrol in western Baghdad following an attack by small-arms fire.

The servicemember’s name and personal information is being withheld pending notification of next-of-kin.


Semper Fi


MARINE KILLED NEAR AL QAIM - CENTCOM

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq – An Iraqi Army Soldier allegedly shot and killed a U.S. Marine on a Coalition base near al Qaim April 6.

The Iraqi Soldier was also wounded in the incident. He was evacuated to Balad and was listed in very serious condition.

The incident is under investigation.

The name of the deceased Marine is being withheld pending notification of next of kin and release by the Department of Defense.


Semper Fi


Spc. Daniel L. Sesker

4/7/06 - DoD Identifies Army Casualty

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

Spc. Daniel L. Sesker, 22, of Ogden, Iowa, died in Bayji, Iraq on April 6, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his HMMWV during combat operations. Sesker was assigned to the Army National Guard's Troop C, 1st Squadron, 113th Cavalry in LeMars, Iowa.


Semper Fi


Spc. Dustin J. Harris

4/7/06 - DoD Identifies Army Casualty

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

Spc. Dustin J. Harris, 21, of Bangor, Maine, died in Bayji, Iraq on April 6, when an improvised device detonated while he was conducting dismounted patrol operations. Harris was assigned to the 172nd Brigade Support Battalion, 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, Fort Wainwright, Alaska.


Semper Fi


Pfc. Chase A. Edwards

4/7/06 - DoD Identifies Marine Casualty

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

Pfc. Chase A. Edwards, 19, of Lake Charles, La., died April 6 while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C


Semper Fi


Friday, April 07, 2006

Lance Cpl. Eric A. Palmisano
Petty Officer 3rd Class Marcques J. Nettles

4/6/06 - DoD Identifies Marine and Sailor Casualties

The Department of Defense announced today the identity of a Marine and a sailor supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom, who have been listed as Duty Status - Whereabouts Unknown (DUSTWUN) after the seven-ton truck in which they were riding rolled over in a flash flood near Al Asad, Iraq on April 2. The incident was not a result of enemy action.

Lance Cpl. Eric A. Palmisano, 27, of Milwaukee, Wis., is assigned to the 1st Transportation Support Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.

Petty Officer 3rd Class Marcques J. Nettles, 22, of Beaverton, Ore., is assigned to Force Service Regiment 1 Fleet Marine Forces Pacific.

All available resources are being used to search for the Marine and sailor.


Semper Fi


Thursday, April 06, 2006

Bad News (can't really report the) Good News (because of all the violence) in Iraq

I wasn't going to post this story becuase of the headline. The media is too polarized?

US media too polarized on Iraq news: panel - Reuters

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. media coverage of Iraq is too polarized between "good news" and "bad news" and all sides are missing out on a complete picture, participants in a panel discussion organized by Reuters said on Wednesday.


But keep reading.

Ghaith Abdul-Ahad, an Iraqi photojournalist, said it was wrong to say journalists were ignoring good news.

"It's a civil war, people are getting killed every single day, every hour ... everywhere in Iraq," he said. "It's a civil war and we're still shying away from the word civil war."

Zaki Chehab, political editor of London-based Arab newspaper Al Hayat, said security had deteriorated so much in the past year that it was no longer possible for Arab or Iraqi journalists to travel safely outside Baghdad.

Reuters Baghdad Bureau Chief Alastair Macdonald said the agency's about 70 Iraqi staff in some 18 cities around the country were finding it increasingly difficult to work because of sectarian tensions, to the extent that journalists had been forced to leave towns after receiving death threats.

"We have a lot of people very worried about exposing themselves as journalists," Macdonald said, adding that writing about reconstruction was difficult when security was so bad.


Journalists are not combat troops. So how does Bushco expect them to report the good news? Throw rice at the insurgency? Also, the Iraqis know its a civil war. The only that doesn't is Bushco.

Abdul-Ahad said a Pentagon program that paid Iraqi news organizations to publish positive stories had made life even more difficult for Iraqi journalists.

"How do you expect decent Iraqi journalists to go into the streets and write a positive story? Everyone would be pointing at them saying you've been paid by the Americans," he said


Must be another one Condis mistakes, because Rummy thinks that this is okay (pay for good news). This has made reporting even harder for Iraqi jounalists.

Semper Fi


Afghan killed in blast outside US base - Reuters

KABUL (Reuters) - A mortar bomb exploded in a market outside the main U.S. military base in Afghanistan on Thursday, killing an Afghan civilian and wounding three others, local officials said.


Semper Fi


At least 13 dead in Iraq car bombing - Reuters

NAJAF, Iraq (Reuters) - A car bomb exploded in the Shi'ite Muslim city of Najaf on Thursday, killing at least 13 people as Iraqi leaders remained deadlocked over forming a new government they hope can avert sectarian civil war.


Semper Fi


Rest in Peace

Did you count them? From April 3 to April 5, as posted on the DoD website, a total of 19 service members died in Iraq. See the below posts to find the names.

Semper Fi


Spc. Ty J. Johnson

4/5/06 - DoD Identifies Army Casualty

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

Spc. Ty J. Johnson, 28, of Elk Grove, Calif., died in Kirkuk, Iraq, on April 4, when an improvised device detonated near his HMMWV during combat operations. Johnson was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.


Semper Fi


Staff Sgt. Darrell P. Clay
Sgt. Israel Devora Garcia

4/5/06 - DoD Identifies Army Casualties

The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers, who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Killed were:

Staff Sgt. Darrell P. Clay, 34, of Fayetteville, N.C.

Sgt. Israel Devora Garcia, 23, of Clint, Texas

They died in Baghdad, Iraq, on April 1, when an improvised explosive device detonated while they were conducting a dismounted patrol. Both soldiers were assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 6th Infantry, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Baumholder, Germany.


Semper Fi


Capt. Timothy J. Moshier
Chief Warrant Officer Michael L. Hartwick

4/5/06 - DoD Identifies Army Casualties

The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers, who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Killed were:

Capt. Timothy J. Moshier, 25, of Albany, N.Y.

Chief Warrant Officer Michael L. Hartwick, 37, of Orrick, Mo.

They died in Baghdad Iraq on April 1, when their Apache helicopter crashed while conducting a combat air patrol. Both soldiers were assigned to the Army's 4th Battalion, 4th Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.


Semper Fi


Cpl. Andres Aguilar Jr.
Cpl. David A. Bass
Lance Cpl. Patrick J. Gallagher
Lance Cpl. Felipe D. Sandoval-Flores
Cpl. Brian
Staff Sgt. Abraham G. Twitchell



4/5/06 - DoD Identifies Marine Casualties

The Department of Defense announced today the death of six Marines, who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Cpl. Andres Aguilar Jr., 21, of Victoria, Texas

Cpl. David A. Bass, 20, of Nashville, Tenn.

Lance Cpl. Patrick J. Gallagher, 27, of Jacksonville, Fla.

Lance Cpl. Felipe D. Sandoval-Flores, 20, of Los Angeles, Calif.

Cpl. Brian R. St. Germain, 22, of Warwick, R.I.

Staff Sgt. Abraham G. Twitchell, 28, of Yelm, Wash.

All Marines died April 2, when the seven-ton truck they were riding in rolled over in a flash flood near Al Asad, Iraq.

Aguilar was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.

Bass, Gallagher, Sandoval-Flores and St. Germain were all assigned to elements of the 1st Marine Logistics Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.

Twitchell was assigned to the Combat Service Support Group-1, 1st Marine Logistics Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, Calif.


Semper Fi


Lance Cpl. Jacob W. Beisel
Lance Cpl. Kun Y. Kim
Staff Sgt. Eric A. McIntosh
Cpl. Scott J. Procopio

4/5/06 - DoD Identifies Marine Casualties

The Department of Defense announced today the death of four Marines, who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Lance Cpl. Jacob W. Beisel, 21, of Lackawaxen, Pa.

Lance Cpl. Kun Y. Kim, 20, of Atlanta, Ga.

Staff Sgt. Eric A. McIntosh, 29, of Trafford, Pa.

Cpl. Scott J. Procopio, 20, of Saugus, Mass.

Beisel died March 31 from wounds received while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar Province, Iraq. Kim, McIntosh and Procopio died April 2 while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar Province, Iraq. All Marines were assigned to 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.


Semper Fi


Hospitalman Geovani Padilla Aleman

4/4/06 - DoD Identifies Navy Casualty

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

Hospitalman Geovani Padilla Aleman, 20, of South Gate, Calif., died Apr. 2 as a result of enemy action in Al Anbar Province, Iraq. He was permanently assigned to Bethesda Naval Hospital, USNS Comfort Detachment and operationally assigned to Third Battalion, Eighth Marine Regiment, 2/28 Brigade Combat Team.


Semper Fi


Pfc. Jeremy W. Ehle

4/3/06 - DoD Identifies Army Casualty

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

Pfc. Jeremy W. Ehle, 19, of Richmond, Va., died on April 2 in Hit, Iraq from wounds sustained when his dismounted patrol came under enemy small arms fire during combat operations. Ehle was assigned to the Army's 1st Battalion, 36th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division in Friedberg, Germany.


Semper Fi


Pfc. Joseph J. Duenas

4/3/06 - DoD Identifies Army Casualty

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

Pfc. Joseph J. Duenas, 23, of Mesa, Ariz., died in Kirkuk Province, Iraq on March 30 from non-combat related injuries while returning from combat operations. Duenas was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101 Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.


Semper Fi


Staff Sgt. Robert Hernandez

4/3/06 - DoD Identifies Army Casualty

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

Staff Sgt. Robert Hernandez, 47, of Silver Spring, Md., died in Al Taquaddum, Iraq on March 28, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his HMMWV during combat operations. Hernandez was assigned to the Army Reserve’s 3rd Battalion, 318th Regiment, 1st Brigade, 80th Division (Institutional Training), Fort Meade, Md.


Semper Fi


Monday, April 03, 2006

Eight Marines, One Sailor Killed in Iraq Incidents

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, April 3, 2006 - Eight Marines and a sailor died in two separate incidents in Iraq yesterday. Three servicemembers also are missing after a vehicle accident in floodwaters, military officials reported today.

A U.S. Marine Corps 7-ton truck rolled over in a flash flood near Asad, resulting in five Marines dead, one injured, and two Marines and one sailor missing. The vehicle was on a combat logistics convoy in Anbar province with eight Marines and one Navy corpsman on board.

The deaths were not a result of enemy action, U.S. military officials said.

"Our thoughts are with the families, and we are using all the resources available to find our missing Marines and sailor," Marine spokesman Lt. Col. Bryan Salas said.

Two of the missing servicemembers are assigned to 1st Marine Logistics Group, and the third is assigned to Regimental Combat Team 7. The injured Marine was returned to duty.

In a separate incident, three Marines and a sailor, assigned to 2/28 Brigade Combat Team, serving with Multinational Force West, died from enemy action in Anbar province. No further details were available.

The names of the dead and missing are being withheld pending notification of next of kin.


Semper Fi


C-5 Cargo Jet Crashes; No Word Yet on 17 People on Board

All Aboard Survive C-5 Crash; Only Minor Injuries Reported

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, April 3, 2006 - An Air Force C-5 Galaxy cargo jet with 17 people on board crashed at 6:30 a.m. EDT today near Dover Air Force Base, Del.

Base officials said no report was available yet on the 17 people's condition. Firefighters, medics and security forces are on the scene.

Television news reports of the crash show the aircraft's tail a distance from the main wreckage, where the fuselage and nose are adjacent but separated.

The last previous C-5 crash was on Aug. 28, 1990, during Operation Desert Shield, when a C-5A crashed after takeoff from Ramstein Air Base, Germany, killing 13 of the 17 on board.


Update 8:24 April 4th. My computer crashec yesterday, so I didn't get this up date to C-5 story.

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, April 3, 2006 - All 17 people aboard survived the crash of an Air Force C-5 Galaxy transport jet at Dover Air Force Base, Del., Air Force officials reported.

No official information was available on the condition of the survivors, who are members of Air Force Mobility Command's 436th Airlift Wing and the Air Force Reserve's 512th Airlift Wing. Both units are based at Dover.

The jet crashed short of the runway at 6:30 a.m. while attempting to return to the base shortly after takeoff, reportedly because of mechanical problems. The huge aircraft broke into three pieces -- the tail, fuselage and cockpit section.

A board of Air Force officers will investigate the crash. The last previous C-5 crash was on Aug. 28, 1990, during Operation Desert Shield, when a C-5A crashed after takeoff from Ramstein Air Base, Germany, killing 13 of the 17 people on board.


Semper Fi


Apache Crew's Bodies Recovered; Officials Report on Operations

merican Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, April 2, 2006 - Military officials in Iraq today confirmed the death of two helicopter pilots from Multinational Division Baghdad whose AH-64D Apache Longbow helicopter crashed southwest of Baghdad yesterday, and provided details on recent operations.

The Apache crew's remains were recovered following aircraft recovery operations at the crash site, officials said.

The crew was conducting a combat air patrol when the helicopter went down "due to possible hostile fire" west of Yousifiyah, officials reported. The names of the soldiers are being withheld pending notification of next of kin.


Semper Fi


Three Soldiers, One Marine Killed in Iraq

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, April 2, 2006 - Three soldiers and a Marine died in Iraq during the past three days, Defense Department officials have announced.

A roadside bomb killed two Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers at about 9 p.m. yesterday in central Baghdad while the soldiers were conducting a dismounted patrol.

A Marine assigned to 2/28 Brigade Combat Team died from wounds suffered from enemy action while operating in Anbar Province March 31.

A Task Force Band of Brothers soldier from the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, died from non-battle-related injuries suffered while taking part in an operation in the Kirkuk province March 30.


Semper Fi