Update:
Smoke fills the sky as wildfires burn in and around Naval Weapons Station Fallbrook in San Diego County, Calif. California-based U.S. Navy and Marine Corps helicopters were tasked to assist with firefighting efforts at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton and surrounding areas after numerous wildfires affected San Diego County. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Orrin Farmer)
An MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 3 takes off to assist in aerial firefighting in Camp Pendleton, Calif. HSC-3 is assisting California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection by providing aircrews flying specially-equipped MH-60S helicopters to conduct aerial water drops against wildfires in San Diego County. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Joan E. Jennings)
Original Post:
Wherever disasters strike, natural or otherwise, our troops are there, helping.
In the lead photo, one of six flight crews from the “Merlins” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 3 provide firefighting support to California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection in response to wildfires throughout San Diego County May 15.
In Washington, a very unusual event took place this week:
Chinese Army Gen. Fang Fenghui, chief of the general staff, reviews the troops during a full-honor arrival ceremony at the Pentagon, May 15, 2014. This is the first full-honor ceremony U.S. Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has hosted since 2012.
Also in Washington, a very patriotic and uplifting military event was the award of the Medal of Honor to Former Army Sgt. Kyle J. White:
Former Army Sgt. Kyle J. White, the most recent Medal of Honor recipient, addresses the audience at the ceremony to induct him into the Hall of Heroes at the Pentagon, May 14, 2014. White told stories of each of his fallen brothers, who were assigned to Company C, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, from the day of the battle in Afghanistan’s Nuristan province, Nov. 9, 2007, and as he knew them before.
Appearing before a U.S. Senate panel today, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki assured a full and open disclosure process and action in response to allegations about misconduct involving patient care at VA facilities, according to the American Forces Press Service:
Fielding aggressive questions from members of the Senate’s Committee on Veterans Affairs, Shinseki maintained the VA’s commitment to provide veterans with high-quality care, timely service and safe facilities.
Responding to allegations of appointment scheduling manipulation in Phoenix, Shinseki reiterated his commitment to taking all necessary actions to identify and fix the issues and strengthen veterans’ trust through a timely and thorough VA Inspector General review.
“If any allegations are true, they’re completely unacceptable to me, to veterans, and … the vast majority of dedicated VA employees who come to work every day to do their best by those veterans,” Shinseki said. “If any [allegations] are substantiated by the Inspector General, we will act.”
Read more here.
In the meantime, Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus demanded an independent investigation of at least 40 alleged deaths at Veterans Affairs hospitals around the country.
“There are reports that at least 40 veterans have died waiting for care,” Priebus said Thursday according to the Hill. “It’s time for an independent investigation.”
His comments came a day after President Obama appointed a White House official to look into the matter.
On the crisis in Ukraine:
A platoon of approximately 30 airborne field artillery paratroopers from Bravo Battery, 4th Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment, wait to depart from Aviano Air Base, Italy, May 12, 2014, on a C-17 Globemaster III. The platoon deployed to Poland in support of U.S. Army Europe’s Land Forces Assurance exercises. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Deana Heitzman)
In the Black Sea, the guided-missile frigate USS Taylor (FFG 50) and the Turkish frigate TCG Turgutries conduct a tactical maneuvering exercise. Taylor is deployed in a multi-mission role in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility to contribute to regional maritime security and to support NATO operations and deployments throughout the region. U.S. Navy photo by Lt. j.g. David Hancock.
In the rumors department, pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine are spreading the notion that “elite American fighters are prowling the back roads and slag heaps of their region…”
According to the Stars and Stripes, “the rumors are being repeated in Germany’s capital — and resonating. That alone may count as a victory for Russian propagandists, even if there are no American mercenaries. The White House says there are not.”
Read more here.
In the meantime, our troops in Afghanistan continue to “gather intelligence…”
U.S. Marines Corps Sgt. Warren Sparks, left, gets help from an interpreter to gather intelligence from an Afghan elder during a mission in Tagvreshk village in Afghanistan’s Helmand province, May 1, 2014. Sparks, a squad leader, is assigned to Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment. The Marines conducted the mission to disrupt suspected Taliban forces in the area.
…to slug it out and, sadly, to die:
On May 12, the Department of Defense announced the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
Chief Warrant Officer Deric M. Rasmussen, 33, of Oceanside, California, died May 11, in Mazar E Sharif, Afghanistan, as the result of a non-combat incident.
He was assigned to the Company C, 1st Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, Fort Hood, Texas.
All photos DOD
