US Military

Five U.S. soldiers were killed Monday in an attack in central Iraq , the U.S. military said in a statement. ... An Iraqi security source said that the five U.S. soldiers had been working as advisers on a base for Iraqi national police in eastern Baghdad when their quarters were targeted by rocket fire shortly before 7 a.m. local time. ...

Retired Marine Staff Sergeant Tim Chambers has stood at this post since 2002. "It's an extremely long time to hold a salute that long," says Air Force Master Sergeant Russ Ware of Columbia, MD. "Takes a lot determination and a lot of discipline. This guy does it every year." With a stiff spine and straight shoulders, this lone marine stands at attention as the Rolling Thunder rumbles by...for more than three hours. "They zoom by me and I'm getting an eyeball at them," says Chambers. "I'm trying to give every one of them that 'Welcome home' they didn't get." Chamber says it started as a spontaneous 'Thank you' nine years ago but has now become his moral obligation.

Nine NATO service members were killed Thursday in Afghanistan, including seven U.S. troops among eight who died when a powerful bomb exploded in a field where they were patrolling on foot, officials said. Two Afghan policemen also died and two others were wounded in the explosion in the mountainous Shorabak district of Kandahar province, 12 miles from the Pakistan border, said Gen. Abdul Raziq, chief of the Afghan border police in the province. "Two months ago, we cleared this area of terrorists, but still they are active there," Raziq said.

U.S. Navy SEALs, like the teams that killed Osama bin Laden, are grateful for nation's show of support but are growing angry with the continued focus on their operation, tactics, and tools, claiming it could jeopardize future raids and their safety.

The U.S. military has tried in the past to build a stealth helicopter, but has kept secret if it has indeed succeeded. The wreckage in Abbottabad appeared to have exotic coatings and distinct surfaces and edges reminiscent of stealth aircraft such as the B-2 bomber and the F-22 fighter, aviation experts say. Equally important, they pointed to an unusual dishpan-shaped cover over the tail rotor, perhaps designed to make the aircraft quieter. ... remnants of the aircraft suggested extensive use of nonmetallic composite parts, which reflect less radar energy. Likewise, he said the tail's remains suggested that it was designed to shroud or mask metal parts, which are much more visible to radar. ...

A drone missile strike killed a US Marine and a Navy medic last week by mistake, in what appeared to be the first instance US troops had been killed in a "friendly fire" incident involving an unmanned aircraft.

The mainstream media are reporting that there's a good chance military pay will be suspended after 8 April. In practical terms, this means there will be a 15 April paycheck containing pay through the 8th (half the normal semi-monthly amount), and nothing after that until the shutdown is over. Obviously, there are questions about why the Obama administration is emitting signals like this. They are politically stupid; no significant constituency thinks the US budget battle has to be fought across the monthly bills of our fighting men and women. The possibility that the military will be required to continue on duty without pay also highlights one of the important differences between the military and the rest of the federal government. The government can't require its civilian work force to operate without pay. Its only options, with the civilian work force, are furloughing employees and shutting down services. The civilian work force is protected by union agreements and labor laws in this regard. The troops are not.

Pam Perry had a good reason for joining hundreds of people lining the streets Wednesday as an Oklahoma National Guard unit departed for out-of-state training prior to deployment to Afghanistan. "The reason we can stand here is the freedom they are going over there to protect," she said. Another reason: Her son, Patrick Perry, although in a different unit, will also soon deploy to Afghanistan. The Oklahoma National Guard's 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team will send 3,400 troops to that war-torn country early this summer.

Seldom do I waste time with rebutting articles, and especially not from publications like Rolling Stone. Today, numerous people sent links to the latest Rolling Stone tripe. The story is titled "THE KILL TEAM, THE FULL STORY." It should be titled: "BULL$#!+, from Rolling Stone."

Petraeus on the meaning of true importance...

An Owasso soldier who was badly burned in Afghanistan last year returned home Tuesday to the welcoming arms of family members, after months of hospitalization. Walking with the aid of a cane and accompanied by his wife, Kristyn, Army Spc. 4 Ronald Zane McCulley was all smiles as he greeted his family, who eagerly awaited his arrival at Tulsa International Airport. As soon as the 21-year-old McCulley stepped through the arrival gate, his family - parents, siblings and grandparents - rushed him with open arms, followed by hugs. The joyous homecoming was a 180-degree turn from just months ago, when the family was engulfed by tears and anguish at McCulley's bedside at Brooke Army Medical Center at San Antonio. There were times when he held onto life by just a thread.

More U.S. military crews were exposed to radiation Tuesday as the Pentagon ramped up relief flights over a Japan reeling from an earthquake, tsunami and nuclear crisis. The Defense Department said the Navy started giving anti-radiation pills to some of those exposed, and Americans on two military bases south of Tokyo were advised to stay indoors as much as possible. With more aid for victims on the way, the U.S. Navy said it was redirecting three ships to work in the Sea of Japan on the country's west coast rather than risk the hazards of radiation and the debris field in the waters off the east coast.

While mothers and fathers are away, serving in the military, some children are finding comfort in pillowlike dolls decorated with their photos. Operation Hug-A-Hero has provided thousands of the dolls to families of soldiers.

Mr. Witzel was born at Wann, Oklahoma on May 18, 1924 the son of Laverne and Lena Witzel. He grew up and received his education in Bartlesville until entering the United States Navy at the age of 16 in 1941. He was a Pearl Harbor survivor who was a Gunner's Mate, shooting down two Japanese planes during the Pearl Harbor attack. He served continuously in the Navy until his Honorable Discharge on July 31, 1961. Mr. Witzel was married to Anna Lee Brunsteter on September 9, 1944 in Bartlesville. They made their home at various locations during Mr. Witzel's military career. Following his military discharge as a Chief Petty Officer, they came to Bartlesville to make their home in 1961 where he was Vice President of Home and Peoples Savings & Loan Association from 1961 until 1979.