Last U.S. combat forces crossed the border into Kuwait

The last U.S. combat forces cross the border into Kuwait, bringing Operation Iraqi Freedom to a close after nearly 7½ years. NBC News’ chief foreign correspondent, Richard Engel, reports live from the border.

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Goodbye, Iraq: Last US Combat Brigade Exits
August 19, 2010
Associated Press

KHABARI CROSSING, Kuwait -- A line of heavily armored American military vehicles, their headlights twinkling in the pre-dawn desert, lumbered past the barbed wire and metal gates marking the border between Iraq and Kuwait early Thursday and rolled into history.

For the troops of the 4th Stryker Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, it was a moment of relief fraught with symbolism but lightened by the whoops and cheers of Soldiers one step closer to going home. Seven years and five months after the U.S.-led invasion, the last American combat brigade was leaving Iraq, well ahead of President Obama's Aug. 31 deadline for ending U.S. combat operations there.

EDITOR'S NOTE: The 4th Stryker Brigade, 2nd ID, was officially designated the last combat brigade to leave Iraq under Obama's plan to end combat operations in Iraq by Aug. 31. Associated Press writer Rebecca Santana joined the troops on their final journey out of the country.

Last US Combat Brigade Exits

Floridians welcomed to Texas by freezing temperatures

Florida Army National Guard Soldiers from the 2-124th Inf. Regt., arrive at Fort Hood Jan. 6. The 2-124th is part of the 53rd Inf. BCT from Florida that will train at North Fort Hood for the next two months. Chaplain candidate John Olagbemi (foreground) and Sgt. Maj. Ralph Hernandez, from the Hood Mobilization Brigade, welcome the Soldiers as they arrive at Robert Gray Army Airfield. Gloria Harris, Hood Mobilization Brigade

Floridians welcomed to Texas by freezing temperatures, mobilization brigade
By Gloria Harris, Hood Mobilization Brigade
January 14, 2010 News
Approximately 2,600 Florida Army National Guard Soldiers are at Fort Hood training for their upcoming deployment to Iraq and Kuwait.

The 53rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team arrived in waves as Texas temperatures plummeted last week. The first group, about 600 Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 124th Infantry Regiment from South Florida, stepped off airplanes Tuesday at Robert Gray Army Airfield. They were immediately followed by the 2nd Battalion, 124th Inf. Regt. from Central Florida; the 1st Battalion, 153rd Cavalry Regiment from the Florida Panhandle; the 2nd Battalion, 116th Field Artillery Regiment from Lakeland, Florida; and the 53rd Brigade Support Battalion, 53rd Special Troops Battalion and Headquarters and Headquarters Company.
read more here
http://www.forthoodsentinel.com/story.php?id=2879

Plant City FL mourning a proud soldier

Mourning a proud soldier

By DAVE NICHOLSON

dnicholson@tampatrib.com

Published: January 13, 2010

PLANT CITY - The nation's war on terror once again has hit home.

Army Spc. David A. Croft Jr. became the eighth local serviceman to die in combat in Iraq or Afghanistan since 2004. A ninth Plant City area soldier was listed as a noncombat death in Kuwait.

Croft was killed Jan. 5, three days before his 23rd birthday. His death came a little more than two months after Army Spc. Eric N. Lembke of Plant City was killed in Afghanistan.

Croft, a Durant High School graduate on his second tour in Iraq, was scheduled to leave the war zone on Monday, Jan. 18.

He is survived by his mother, Vickie, three sisters and a brother.

His fiancee, Susie Clark of Brandon, said he was a brave, proud solider who liked serving his country. She said he seemed to blossom after joining the Army in 2005.
read more here
http://plantcity2.tbo.com/content/2010/jan/13/pc-mourning-a-proud-soldier/

Fort Benning Soldiers Death In Iraq

UPDATED
Fort Benning soldier dies in Kuwait
Spc. Walter dies of natural causes
By Lily Gordon - lgordon@ledger-enquirer.com

The Department of Defense announced Tuesday Fort Benning Spc. Richard A. Walters Jr. died in Kuwait.

Walters, 41, died in Ali Al Salem of natural causes, according to Lt. Col. Robert Mon of Fort Benning.

The Cleveland native was assigned to the 14th Combat Support Hospital, a unit consisting of approximately 300 soldiers that deployed to the Middle East in early July. The unit is to complete a yearlong rotation in Iraq.

Walters joined the 14th Combat Support Hospital in May 2009, said Fort Benning spokeswoman Elsie Jackson. He had a history of prior service, possibly in the Navy, she said.

Walters’ record shows he enlisted in the Army in September 2006 and that he served seven years of active duty in the military.

Walters was a licensed practicing nurse who spent time at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington before he was assigned to Fort Benning, Jackson said.

Walters’ awards include the Navy Fleet Marine Force Ribbon, the National Defense Service Medal, the Southwest Asia Service Medal with Bronze Star, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon and the Kuwait Liberation Medal.
read more here
http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/news/story/804204.html

DoD Identifies Army Casualty


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

Spc. Richard A. Walters Jr., 41, of Cleveland, Ohio, died Aug. 10 in Ali Al Salem, Kuwait, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident. He was assigned to the 14th Combat Support Hospital, Fort Benning, Ga.

The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation.

http://icasualties.org/Iraq/index.aspx

DOD reports female soliders death in Kuwait

DoD Identifies Army Casualty


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

PFC Cwislyn K. Walter, 19, of Honolulu died Feb. 19 in Kuwait City, Kuwait, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident. She was assigned to the 29th Special Troops Battalion, 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team of the Hawaii National Guard.

The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation.

http://icasualties.org/Iraq/index.aspx

Kentucky Marine dies at Kuwait base

Kentucky Marine dies at Kuwait base
January 07, 2009 03:02 EST


CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (AP) -- Military officials say a Marine lance corporal from eastern Kentucky has died while serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The Department of Defense said Tuesday that 29-year-old Lance Cpl. Chadwick A. Gilliam of Mayking, Ky., in Letcher County, died Jan. 3 at a U.S. military base in Kuwait. Gilliam was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 6th Marines, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Lejeune, N.C.

A statement from the department said the official cause of death is pending the results of the autopsy.

PTSD:Retired Army Sergeant Learns To Cope With Help From 4 Legged Friend

More Than A Man's Best Friend
A Retired Army Sergeant Learns To Cope With PTSD With Help From A Four-Legged Friend

AFAYETTE, Colo., Oct. 6, 2008

(CBS) After terrifying tours of duty in Kuwait, Iraq and Somalia, a retired Army Sergeant is recovering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder with the help of a four-legged therapist, reports CBS News correspondent Richard Schlesinger.

For two solid weeks, retired Sgt. Jim Mason and Yankee have been in intensive training.

Yankee is already a fully qualified service dog. It's Mason who is in training. He's learning to use Yankee to cope with what doctors have diagnosed as severe PTSD.

"I know I can say 'hello' to anyone with that dog and they'll smile and say 'hello' back," says Mason.

And that alone is a huge step for Mason, who still feels trapped in the real life nightmares he lived in both Gulf wars and in Somalia - especially Somalia - where his unit was ambushed while trying to provide humanitarian aid.

"I had to kill some people," Mason says as he chokes up.

Fifteen years later, he still can barely talk about it.
go here for more
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/10/06/eveningnews/main4505094.shtml

DOD announced non-combat death in Kuwait

Soldier from Columbia dies in non-combat incident in Kuwait
The Associated Press

COLUMBIA, S.C. --The Department of Defense says that a soldier from South Carolina has died in a non-combat related incident at the main U.S. military base in Kuwait.

The Department of Defense on Saturday identified the soldier as

Army Master Sgt. Danny E. Maybin of Columbia. Officials say the 47-year-old died Thursday at Camp Arifjan, a major gateway for U.S. soldiers moving into and out of neighboring Iraq.

Maybin was assigned to Fort McPherson in Georgia, the headquarters for the U.S. Army Forces Command.

Officials say the incident is under investigation.
http://www.thestate.com/statewire/story/484938.html

Another non-combat death

Latest Coalition Fatalities
04/30/08 DoD Identifies Army Casualty
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Pfc. William T. Dix, 32, of Culver City, Calif., died April 27 at Camp Buehring, Kuwait, of injuries suffered in a non-combat related incident...


04/30/08 MNF: MND-N Soldiers attacked in Ninewah Province
A Multi-National Division - North Soldier was killed as a result of an explosion occurring near the Soldier's patrol in Ninewah Province, April 30.



04/30/08 MNF: MND-B soldiers attacked by IED (Baghdad)
Two Multi-National Division - Baghdad soldiers were killed when their patrol was struck by an improvised explosive device in southern Baghdad at approximately 4:15 p.m. April 30.

04/30/08 MNF: MND-B soldier attacked by IED
A Multi-National Division – Baghdad soldier was killed from wounds sustained by an improvised explosive device during a dismounted patrol in northern Baghdad at approximately 1 a.m. April 30.

04/29/08 DoD Identifies Army Casualty
Spc. David P. McCormick, 26, of Fresno, Texas, died April 28 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his forward operating base came under rocket attack. He was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 75th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team...

04/29/08 MNF: MND-B Soldier attacked by small arms fire (Baghdad)
A Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldier was killed from wounds sustained when he was attacked with small-arms fire by insurgents at approximately 8:50 p.m. April 29 in northwestern Baghdad.

04/29/08 MNF: MND-B Soldier attacked by IED (Baghdad)
A Multi-National Division - Baghdad Soldier was killed after the vehicle he was riding in was struck by an improvised explosive device at approximately 10:15 p.m. in northwestern Baghdad April 29.
Killed in Iraq
4,063
http://icasualties.org/oif/