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"Our mission is to support the needs of our members of the armed forces of the United States of America deployed in harm's way."
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Left-click on the thumbnail photo to see an enlarged picture |
From the April 30, 2008 edition of the Marine Corps News: HABBANIYAH, Iraq - "The war has changed. No longer are Marines kicking in doors and battling insurgents with continuous gunfire. Instead, they are walking through the war-torn streets of Iraq, the same streets that just a few short years ago were the sights of horrendous warfare, where Marines are now continuously greeted by hoards of children, with their parents or guardians watching, smiling from a distance.
Now, with the future of their children at stake, the Iraqi people are taking their own 'stand' against al-Qaeda, giving the Marines tips on the locations of weapons, explosives caches or 'bad guys,' when they used to be scared to give such tips in fear of insurgents reprisal...." Click Here for the full article from Marine Corps News. |
From Cpt JSM: "I wanted to let you know that all of us are doing great and that we appreciate everything you have done to support us. From letters and emails to care packages and calling cards, just knowing that you care and pray for us it's more than enough to make us fell safer and better everyday. Some pics to let you see how are we doing. also next month we will have a new address. . . Hopefully we don't have to move anymore. All of our mail will be forwarded there. God bless you and keep praying for us. P.S. Please pass to everybody involved in these programs that we appreciate what they all do and if they could send me their email addresses it's better for me than to write."
"The strength of the pack is the wolf, and the strength of the wolf is the pack." - Rudyard Kipling |
| Chicago's Own: 2/24 Marines. 2/24 Marines is a Chicago area reserve unit which is on its second tour in Iraq. Their first deployment was to the area known as the "triangle of death" in Babil Province in 2004/2005. The unit is now deployed to Anbar Province in January, 2008 and they expect to be in country until Fall, 2008. These photos were featured in the February 23, 2008 edition of Marine Corps News. |
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7th Sustainment Brigade Photos:
These photos were taken by and of the 7th Sustainment Brigade during their deployment. Pictures include TOA (Transfer of Authority) ceremony, as well as a warrior re-enlistment ceremony.
One of the photos to the right shows CSM M. sitting on one of Saddam's ornate chairs in a former Baghdad palace. |
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Comments For a Birthday . . .
From top to bottom are the aircraft carriers, ABRAHAM LINCOLN, KITTYHAWK, and RONALD REAGAN. The assembled military force represented in these pictures is larger than the combined forces of the 5th through 10th largest countries in the world! They even had Air Force jets fly-over, including a B-2 Stealth Bomber in the fifth & seventh picture below. BTW: The only warships not seen in the photos are the 4 nuclear powered submarines standing guard - submerged.
Also, here is the Birthday message from our new Chief of Naval Operations, ADM Roughead. Have a wonderful & SAFE Navy day!
"AS WE CELEBRATE AND COMMEMORATE THE 232ND BIRTHDAY OF OUR NAVY, I THANK ALL WHO ARE SERVING TODAY, MILITARY AND CIVILIAN; TO OUR FAMILIES WHO STAND BY AND SUPPORT US; AND TO OUR FELLOW SEA SERVICE, THE U.S. MARINE CORPS. WE ARE A GREAT TEAM READY TODAY AND PREPARING FOR TOMORROW.
FROM OUR HUMBLE BEGINNING WITH SIX FRIGATES MORE THAN 200 YEARS, WE HAVE BECOME THE MOST DOMINANT AND INFLUENTIAL NAVAL FORCE EVER TO SAIL THE WORLD'S OCEANS. WE ENSURE FREEDOM OF THE SEAS, PROJECT POWER IN SUPPORT OF NATIONAL INTERESTS AND SUPPORT ALLIES AND PARTNERS AROUND THE WORLD. WE ARE AT ONCE POWERFUL, YET COMPASSIONATE WHEN REACHING OUT TO OTHERS IN NEED.
WHILE THE TOOLS OF OUR PROFESSION; SHIPS, AIRPLANES, AND SUBMARINES ARE IMPRESSIVE; THEY ARE OF LITTLE WORTH WITHOUT OUR PEOPLE WHO GIVE THEM VALUE. IT IS YOU, EVERY SAILOR, NAVY CIVILIAN, AND FAMILY MEMBER SERVING AROUND THE WORLD OR HERE AT HOME, WHO TRULY KEEPS OUR FLEET ON A STEADY COURSE TODAY,AND SETS THE COURSE FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. YOUR COMMITMENT TO SERVICE AND INDIVIDUAL READINESS MAKES US THE NAVY WE MUST BE. ON DUTY AND OFF, YOU ARE THE FACE OF OUR NAVY AND NATION.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SHIPMATES. I AM PROUD OF WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU DO. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND THAT OF YOUR FAMILIES."
ADMIRAL G. ROUGHEAD, CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS |
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| The Innocent Freed |
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| Medical Care |
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| Balloon Away! |
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| Taking the Lead |
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| A Child's Smile |
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| Life Flight |
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| A Toy For the Baby |
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| Paying Tribute |
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| Prepare For Everything |
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| Prepare to Blast |
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| Cousins in Combat |
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| Valentine's Day 2007 |
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| On top of the tank |
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| Tank |
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| Green Monster |
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| Ready |
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| Team Two |
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| National Geographic |
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| Sunset |
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| "Desert Storm" |
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| Christmas, 2006 |
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| Thanksgiving, 2006 |
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| Crossed Sabers |
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| Planning for patrol |
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| Iraqi Soldiers |
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| Ready |
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| Approaching sandstorm |
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| Approaching sandstorm |
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| SSG on mission. |
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| 2nd Platoon A Co. |
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| 2nd Oldest Christian Church in World (70 AD) |
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| One of Sadaam's Palaces in Tikrit |
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| "Me and my buddy eating with the Iraqi police" |
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| M1A1 Tank |
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| Some of the guys |
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| 1LT Gary Kaldahl(USMA '02), son of Steve & Ruthie getting Bronze Star |
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| Gary and fellow soldier awarded Bronze Star for service in Iraq |
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| A Mom and her shining stars - at USS Halsey commissioning |
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| 81mm Platoon, Weapons Co. 2/24 Marines proudly display their platoon flag |
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| 2nd BN 24th Marines Operation Iraqi Freedom II 2004 - 5 |
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| Packages From OSOT~IL |
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| Fredrick |
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In working to complete our mission we accept donations of the TOP TEN or "Wish List" items but if your schedule doesn't permit shopping and dropping off these items, it is easy to donate in another way: you can donate on an encrypted, secured page via credit card or PayPal by clicking on the donation button to the right. Or you can mail a check directly to OSOT~IL at 1807 S. Washington St. Suite 110, #359 Naperville, IL 60565. Remember: Your donation to Operation Support Our Troops ~ Illinois, Inc. is tax deductible! Please print out and save your receipt. Thank You For Your Generosity!!
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