Harrison37 Iraq deployment support thread

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PatsChick87 (Marty)- Did you get the PM I sent you?

All- here are some more news updates on the Dragons:

Cpl Dorsey was named our Soldier of the Year for 2006, and now he's making an impression on journalists. Great kid who represents our brigade well.

http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0327/p01s04-woiq.html

And, how about this for quality Army doctors? This young Iraqi boy is VERY lucky to be alive! This particular story was written by PFC Nathan Smith- the Dragon Brigade's own beat reporter and newshound, and got picked up by AP, Army Times and several other big papers nationwide. A remarkable story and now, a 4-year-old has a future because he got prompt and skilled medical attention.

http://www.blackanthem.com/News/U_S_...life5219.shtml


And, SFC Timmons is my section sergeant and veteran. This is a good piece on the Doura Market, which on Dec. 23 was all but deserted thanks to Shia and Sunni death squads and gangs (with an average of 5 bodies found due to murders in the market area each day). 1 shop was open, now we're up to 135 open for business, with the last body being found in the area on Dec. 24.
http://www.blackanthem.com/News/U_S_...rket5257.shtml
 
Hey Kirk,
No, I didn't notice the pm, but found it just now. I'll check here more often.
Care package on its way, best to your beautiful wife and kids!!!
Marty
 
Thanks and right back at ya, my friend!

Again- thanks for your continued support and care boxes. I can't wait to see what you packed away for me!:thumb:
 
I thought our men and women serving overseas would find this of interest.

...and the winner of the "Traitorous Business of the year" award goes to...

ITT fined $100 million for illegal exports

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The leading manufacturer of night vision gear for the Defense Department has admitted sending classified materials overseas and will pay a $100 million penalty, according to federal prosecutors, who say the actions of ITT Corp. have jeopardized the security of U.S. soldiers.

ITT, based in Roanoke, Va., exported classified or sensitive technical data to China, Singapore and Britain without having obtained authorization from the United States, prosecutors said.

The conviction is the first involving a major defense contractor violating the Arms Export Control Act, prosecutors said.

Saying that American soldiers are "the principal victims of ITT's crimes," U.S. Attorney John Brownlee said he has structured the $100 million penalty so that half of the money is spent by ITT to develop a next-generation night vision system and "ensure that our soldiers have the best night vision equipment in the world."

ITT must invest the $50 million over five years to accelerate development of night vision technology, and the government will maintain rights to all technology that is developed under the agreement.

The arrangement will also allow the government to share any technology developed by ITT under the agreement with ITT's competitors, Brownlee said.

Prosecutors said the probe began Aug. 1, 2001, when Defense Department investigators discovered that ITT night vision employees sent a classified military document to Britain.

The company engaged in a "regular pattern of export violations and misrepresentation" to the U.S. government from 1980 to 2005, prosecutors said.

In some cases, information was transferred because the manufacture of laser gear could be done cheaper overseas.

ITT "went to significant lengths to set up an end run" around State Department licensing systems, prosecutors said, including enlisting a front company to export the systems.

The company also fought the government's investigation, Brownlee said, and attempted "to essentially run out the clock on the statute of limitations." He said the company's posture changed in 2005 with the hiring of a new CEO, Steven Loranger, who hired new outside corporate attorneys and instructed the company to cooperate with the investigation.

ITT Corp., whose competitors include Lockheed Martin (up $0.08 to $98.50, Charts) and United Technologies (down $0.34 to $66.07, Charts), has agreed to plead guilty to a count of violating the Arms Export Control Act by illegally sending classified and/or export-controlled information relating to night vision materials to foreign countries. It also will plead guilty to a count of knowingly or willfully omitting material facts from required reports with intent to obstruct a State Department investigation.

As part of the $100 million penalty, ITT will pay a $2 million criminal fine and a $50 million deferred prosecution penalty - to be invested in night vision technology - and will forfeit $28 million to the U.S. government as the proceeds of its illegal actions. ITT will also pay a $20 million penalty to the State Department.

Shares of ITT (down $0.28 to $60.91, Charts) edged lower during afternoon trading on the New York Stock Exchange.
 
Jesus...

You just don't hear all that much about things like this in the MSM (mainstream media).

I knew that the investigation was ongoing, but it is disheartening that corporate greed and whatever idealism that may have prompted a few traitors to sell us out like that happens on a scale like this one.
 
Hey Kirk....Howya doing!! I haven't checked in here since Box told me about your being here..I really was out of it for awhile..missed the goings on there..NEM's departure and?? Was a bit surprised about what happened. Still don't know
details..but..
Been in a non football mode for awhile..the last month getting up to speed...and.. HAD to stop in here to see how things were...
(And I will stop here more...as I just have to..)
I will read see more...a website..must see....
Best to you over there.. in the struggle...stay safe!!!
(A close friend's boyfriend will be headed there in a few months..
Reserves Infantry from NY....he's been a cop in Brooklyn for a year or so..been more or less putting it on hold..but knew he was going sometime...)
Will have to get your addy from Box or someone.....to get you a care pkg....
StanJ
 
MARTY!!!!

I got your box today.

Thank you SO MUCH!

People have been so good to me on this deployment- it is so humbling to see the kinds of folks who are really behind us.

One family donated hockey nets and gear so we can establish the FFHL (FOB Falcon Hockey League) and I've gotten a lot of care boxes.

But PatsChick87 and Stan were some of my original supporters when I was here the last time.

So- love ya guys, and thanks so much.

Here's another link (my broadcaster and print journalist hard at work, letting the good folks know what we're up to over here):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NE1P0ViYDZU&mode=user&search
 
Harrison37 on 03-31-2007 at 12:41 PM said:
MARTY!!!!

I got your box today.



YEA!!!!! So it's about a week! Not bad.

Well, a couple more weeks and we've got the draft and then a couple more weeks before camps begin, then a couple more weeks before preseason with a China bump included. Man I can't wait for regular season to begin!!!!
Hang in there buddy!
Marty
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Harrison37 on 03-31-2007 at 12:41 PM said:
MARTY!!!!

I got your box today.

Thank you SO MUCH!

People have been so good to me on this deployment- it is so humbling to see the kinds of folks who are really behind us.

One family donated hockey nets and gear so we can establish the FFHL (FOB Falcon Hockey League) and I've gotten a lot of care boxes.

But PatsChick87 and Stan were some of my original supporters when I was here the last time.

So- love ya guys, and thanks so much.

Here's another link (my broadcaster and print journalist hard at work, letting the good folks know what we're up to over here):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NE1P0ViYDZU&mode=user&search
Click to expand...

I JUST SAW THIS THREAD. JUST WANTED TO SAY YOU GOT PEOPLE BACK AT HOME SUPPORTING YOU. MY BOYFRIENDS BROTHER (ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS) WAS IN AFGHAN AND IRAQ A YEAR A PIECE AND MY BROTHER HAS BEEN TO IRAQ TWICE. SO MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY. KEEP YOUR HEAD UP.
 
Box_O_Rocks on 04-03-2007 at 02:48 AM said:
The China Bowl has been canceled and rescheduled for 2008.
Click to expand...

Hi There Box! I'd heard that the China game will be in 2009. They've got some world games playing in 2008!:)
 
The latest and greatest.

And, Box- I went out with 1-18 IN on a mission to deliver school supplies to children yesterday. It wasn't Shawnie's unit, but I'm still going to try and track him down.

http://www.blackanthem.com/News/U_S_Military_19/Photo_Mapping_out_a_bright_future5485.shtml

http://www.defendamerica.mil/articles/apr2007/a040407ms2.html

Fort Riley soldiers first part of Iraq surge
Team has constant presence with Iraqi people

By Anna Staatz
The Capital-Journal
Published Monday, April 02, 2007

They are at the tip of the spear in a new plan to quell violence in Baghdad, Iraq. Roughly 3,400 soldiers from Fort Riley comprise one of two brigade combat teams that were the first deployed as part of a planned troop surge in one of Iraq's most complex cities.

Speaking Friday from southern Baghdad, Maj. Kirk Luedeke, public affairs officer for the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, said U.S. troops and Iraqi Security Forces were at a key turning point.

"We're in a Normandy D-Day-like situation as it applies to modern times and the war on terror," Luedeke said. "This is a critical juncture in this entire operation."

http://www.cjonline.com/stories/0402...60254782.shtml
 

.

Speaking Friday from southern Baghdad, Maj. Kirk Luedeke, public affairs officer for the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, said U.S. troops and Iraqi Security Forces were at a key turning point.

"We're in a Normandy D-Day-like situation as it applies to modern times and the war on terror," Luedeke said. "This is a critical juncture in this entire operation."

http://www.cjonline.com/stories/0402...60254782.shtml [/B]
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:LOL: Hooo Rah!!!! Our major is famous!!!!! Good to see someone else quoting you Kirk!!!:p Keep it coming!!!
Marty
 
Just getting my quota in.

Actually- I told the reporter that after she used so much of our conversation (of which I thought a great deal more was going to be used as background not for attribution) that I was essentially done for the rest of the deployment and we'd be funneling troops in to talk to her from here on out.

But- I must admit that it is kinda cool to see that AP picked that up and that my D-day quote has grown legs and taken off. It's true though- this is the pivotal moment in time for this conflict.

Time to get to business.
 
Way to paint a picture Kirk! (Of course some guys will do anything to get themselves reassigned back to armor.)

My latest Shawn update had him base-side doing maintenance, I don't know if he was detailed to help repair the damaged Bradley or whether they had to take one out of mothballs to replace it. I'm a bit behind after two days in the VA hospital, but the nurses were still cute as all heck and getting smooched in pre-op for being a regular is better then a poke in the nose.

You may have read about Asante asking for a trade through Adam Schefter, now that he doesn't think the reported $6 mil/year average is worthy of his hire.

Wesley Britt has signed his ERFA contract and is back in the fold.

From your media-savvy perspective, a story you might enjoy: http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2824419
The NFL will allow more local television stations to cover games from the sidelines next season under a policy change prompted by complaints from broadcast media.
-----
Under a change in policy, the NFL now plans to allow up to 10 local TV cameras -- generally five from each teams' media market -- on the sidelines of games for its 2007-08 season. The change was approved last week by NFL teams at a conference in Phoenix and announced at a Missouri Senate hearing on legislation targeting the former policy.
-----
The NFL had described the camera restrictions as a way to make the sidelines safer and less crowded while also protecting the NFL's property rights to the game video.
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Stay safe!

Harrison37 on 04-05-2007 at 12:02 PM said:
Just getting my quota in.

Actually- I told the reporter that after she used so much of our conversation (of which I thought a great deal more was going to be used as background not for attribution) that I was essentially done for the rest of the deployment and we'd be funneling troops in to talk to her from here on out.

But- I must admit that it is kinda cool to see that AP picked that up and that my D-day quote has grown legs and taken off. It's true though- this is the pivotal moment in time for this conflict.

Time to get to business.
Click to expand...
 
Here's another story, and pretty accurate one of what the picture on the ground looks like over here. Of course, we don't have .240-caliber machineguns (he meant to say M240, which fires a 7.62mm round) and it wasn't a "sniper" who would have been manning it. Our snipers' weapon of choice is the Barrett .50 caliber sniper rifle.

Other than those small quibbles, however- this is probably the best story to date that reflects reality and the challenges that go along with accomplishing our mission over here.

http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/17033543.htm
 
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