NATO:US Service Member Killed

NATO'S Resolute Support Mission has announced in a press release that a US service member was killed in Afghanistan today,24 November 2018.
In accordance with Department of Defense policy,the service member's identity is being withheld for 24 hours following notification of family.
It is the tenth US death in the Afghan War this year,according to the Stars and Stripes newspaper.About 2400 Americans have died in the war since it began when President George W. Bush dispatched the CIA and US military to Afghanistan in 2001,in order to respond to al-Qaida's 9-11 attacks on the United States.

Marine Hero Honored

Corporal Jason Dunham,who posthumously received the Medal of Honor for his heroism in Iraq,was honored by the U.S. Navy on Saturday,when the USS Jason Dunham(DDG109) was christened by his mother,Deb Dunham,at Bath Iron Works in Maine.Several of his comrades from Kilo Company,3rd Battalion,7th Marines were also there,including two whose lives he saved by smothering a grenade,sacrificing himself in the process.Corporal Dunham died on 22 April,2004,eight days after a militant attacked him as the Marines were searching vehicles.
President George W. Bush had presented the Medal of Honor at the White House,and Corporal Dunham was also remembered when the National Museum of the Marine Corps was dedicated in Virginia.The USS Jason Dunham is an Arleigh Burke class destroyer with a complement of 314,and is powered by four GE gas turbines.

Marine Guards Welcome Leaders

On a cloudy,damp night in Washington,U.S. Marines in their dress blues helped the president welcome leaders to the Summit on Financial Markets and the World Economy.As the motorcades arrived at the White House Friday evening,one Marine opened the limousine doors.Two others stood in the brightly lit portico,opening the White House doors for President Bush and turning to salute as he greeted the leaders.They opened the doors again as the president and the leaders went into the White House,then returned to their places on a red carpet with gold borders,waiting for the next arrival.The president and his Marines got quite a workout at this ceremony,which took about an hour.It was a crisp event despite the dreary weather,and a major memory for all involved.

Intrepid Rededicated

The USS Intrepid(CV11) was rededicated on Tuesday,Veterans Day,following extensive repairs.The old aircraft carrier has been a floating museum in New York harbor since 1982.She saw service in both World War II and Vietnam.She was even pressed back into service on 9-11,when she was used as a landing pad for helicopters responding to the attack,President Bush noted at the rededication ceremony.Also among the thousands attending were General James T. Conway,Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps,wounded service members,veterans of the Intrepid,Navy,Marine and Coast Guard officers and enlisted,as well as Gold Star families who lost members in Operation Iraqi Freedom.Anchored alongside the Intrepid was the USS Bataan(LHD5),an amphibious assault ship homeported in Norfolk,Virginia.At next year's Veterans Day ceremony,the USS New York(LPD21),an amphibious transport dock,will be commissioned,said David Paterson,Governor of New York.

The Commandant's Voice

One of those supporting sending more U.S. Marines to Afghanistan is General James T. Conway,Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps.He said that 25,000 Marines in Anbar province,Iraq are probably in excess of the need.Attacks in Anbar are down markedly from two years ago.On the other hand,the general noted,the Taliban are growing bolder in their tactics in Afghanistan,and clearly doing their best to exploit security gaps where they exist.As well,al Qaida is shifting its focus to Pakistan and Afghanistan,having been largely defeated in Iraq.The economy of force,General Conway believes,is not necessarily working in Afghanistan.Without more Marines,militants may retake captured territory and subjugate the Afghan people.We need to maintain the momentum.Accordingly,Marines have been intensifying their mountain warfare training in the U.S. in preparation for deployment to Afghanistan.It is the Marine Corps view,the Commandant stated,that if there is a stiffer fight going someplace else in a more expeditionary environment,that's where we need to be.Indeed,President George W. Bush has ordered a battalion of Marines to Afghanistan before the year's end,to replace a battalion-or 3200 Marines-that is coming off its extended deployment in November.