By Jim Garamone American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, March 11, 2011 - America will pay its respects to its last World War I veteran March 15, as former Army Cpl. Frank Buckles is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
He will lie in honor at Arlington's Memorial Amphitheater Chapel from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 15 for the public to pay its last respects. The interment will be at 4 p.m., and the corporal will be buried near the site where General of the Armies John "Black Jack" Pershing, the commander of the American Expeditionary Force, is buried. The Pentagon Channel will carry the service. Buckles was born in Missouri in 1901. He enlisted in the Army in 1917, shortly after the United States declared war on Germany and its allies. He served as an ambulance driver on the Western Front. In 1941, Buckles was in the Philippines, working in Manila, when Japan invaded the island nation. The Japanese captured him and confined him at the Los Banos prison with 2,200 other American civilians. U.S. forces liberated the camp in 1945. President Barack Obama has ordered that U.S. flags be flown at half staff in Buckles' honor March 15. Two men in Great Britain are believed to be World War I's last living veterans. Both are 110 years old. | ||
| Related Sites: Photo Essay: World War I Exhibit Unveiled Related Articles: Last American WWI Veteran Dies World War I Vet Welcomes Celebrity of His Generation Pentagon Honors WWI Veteran, Unveils Exhibit | ||
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Sunday, March 13, 2011
Arlington Burial Planned for Last 'Doughboy'
Release Prisoner of Conscience--Amnesty International
Fri, Mar 11, 2011 at 11:16 PM
London : Amnesty International today called on Cuban authorities to release an activist on hunger strike who was detained for his human rights work three months ago and faces trial at the end of March.
Néstor Rodríguez Lobaina, the president and co-founder of the Cuban Youth Movement for Democracy, was arrested last December in relation to a meeting he organized at his home in August 2010 and for anti-government banners he displayed outside his home.
Néstor, his brother Rolando Rodríguez Lobaina and three other members of the Cuban Youth Movement for Democracy - Enyor Díaz Allen, Roberto González Pelegrín and Francisco Manzanet - have been charged with public order offenses relating to an attack on his home by a mob opposed to the meeting. The five men were arrested in August 2010 and released the following month. Only Rodriguez Lobaina was arrested again.
“Néstor Rodríguez Lobaina has spent more than three months in prison for expressing his opinions, defending democracy and promoting human rights in Cuba. Amnesty International considers him a prisoner of conscience jailed solely for exercising his right to freedom of expression and is calling on the Cuban authorities to release him immediately and unconditionally, or bear the responsibility of the impact of the hunger strike on Néstor’s physical integrity,” said Gerardo Ducos of Amnesty International. "Néstor imprisonment is yet another example of the suppression of the rights to freedom of expression and association in Cuba."
Held at Combinado de Guantánamo prison, Rodríguez Lobaina started his hunger strike on February 15. The next day he was transferred to an isolation cell and denied water for eight days. Rodríguez Lobaina’s health deteriorated during his hunger strike and on February 28 he was transferred to a health post in the prison. He was then transferred to Augustino Neto Provincial Hospital on March 1.
Rodríguez Lobaina was arrested again by state security agents in Guantanamo on December 9, 2010. He was pepper sprayed and pushed roughly into a police car in front of his 10-year-old daughter who was left alone in the street as her father was taken into custody. While in detention Néstor says he has suffered beatings and threats from other inmates.
Amnesty International is a Nobel Peace Prize-winning grassroots activist organization with more than 3 million supporters, activists and volunteers in more than 150 countries campaigning for human rights worldwide. The organization investigates and exposes abuses, educates and mobilizes the public, and works to protect people wherever justice, freedom, truth and dignity are denied. (Issued on--March 12, 2011)
Néstor Rodríguez Lobaina, the president and co-founder of the Cuban Youth Movement for Democracy, was arrested last December in relation to a meeting he organized at his home in August 2010 and for anti-government banners he displayed outside his home.
Néstor, his brother Rolando Rodríguez Lobaina and three other members of the Cuban Youth Movement for Democracy - Enyor Díaz Allen, Roberto González Pelegrín and Francisco Manzanet - have been charged with public order offenses relating to an attack on his home by a mob opposed to the meeting. The five men were arrested in August 2010 and released the following month. Only Rodriguez Lobaina was arrested again.
“Néstor Rodríguez Lobaina has spent more than three months in prison for expressing his opinions, defending democracy and promoting human rights in Cuba. Amnesty International considers him a prisoner of conscience jailed solely for exercising his right to freedom of expression and is calling on the Cuban authorities to release him immediately and unconditionally, or bear the responsibility of the impact of the hunger strike on Néstor’s physical integrity,” said Gerardo Ducos of Amnesty International. "Néstor imprisonment is yet another example of the suppression of the rights to freedom of expression and association in Cuba."
Held at Combinado de Guantánamo prison, Rodríguez Lobaina started his hunger strike on February 15. The next day he was transferred to an isolation cell and denied water for eight days. Rodríguez Lobaina’s health deteriorated during his hunger strike and on February 28 he was transferred to a health post in the prison. He was then transferred to Augustino Neto Provincial Hospital on March 1.
Rodríguez Lobaina was arrested again by state security agents in Guantanamo on December 9, 2010. He was pepper sprayed and pushed roughly into a police car in front of his 10-year-old daughter who was left alone in the street as her father was taken into custody. While in detention Néstor says he has suffered beatings and threats from other inmates.
Amnesty International is a Nobel Peace Prize-winning grassroots activist organization with more than 3 million supporters, activists and volunteers in more than 150 countries campaigning for human rights worldwide. The organization investigates and exposes abuses, educates and mobilizes the public, and works to protect people wherever justice, freedom, truth and dignity are denied. (Issued on--March 12, 2011)
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Saturday, March 12, 2011
Appeal for Rajkumar
Ludhiana :Rajkumar, Hospital Unit No- C 7166555, from Ludhiana is diagnosed to have chronic renal failure with end stage renal disease. He was working as a auto-driver but presently in view of his disease he is without a job.
He has a wife with 2 children, one is 10 years and the other is 11 years. He needs help for continuing his maintenance haemodialysis. He requires atleast Rs. 20 -25,000/- per month. In view of the fact that he is the sole bread winner with his family dependent on him .
We would appreciate if contribution could be done towards his treatment. He also is not a condition to support his family including his wife & children.
Good Samaritans desirous of helping him are requested to contact the Medical Superintendent, CMC Ludhiana. Cheques can be drawn in favour of Christian Medical College Ludhiana mentioning “Treatment for Rajkumar Unit No. C7166555” at the back of the Cheque. Shalu Arora//Rector Kathuria
Dr Rajinder Giani inaugurated a new block
Friday, March 11, 2011
In the memory of Bagdiji
A programme is being organised in the memory of Bagdiji, ex chairperson of M.P. PUCL on 13th March 2011 in Indore. Medha Patkar and Sudha Bharadwaj will be addressing the meeting on the issue of Democracy and Law.The programme will be held at Golden Jubilee Auditorium hall, SGSITS Engg. College Campus, Indore at 5.30 pm. An invitaion in hindi is also attached.Please click on image to view the invitation in bigger size. For more detail you may contact:
09893192740 (Vineet),
09827021000 (Pramod),
09424577474 (Ashok)
Female Osprey Pilot Completes Training
Face of Defense
By Stefan T. Bocchino 377th Air Base Wing
"I had two major influences for initially getting interested in flying," 1st Lt. Candice Killian said. "One was my grandfather. He flew civilian aircraft. I never got to see them, because I was too young, but I saw pictures of them at his house and he would tell me stories. The other was a friend who flew. His father was in the Air Force. When my friend went to the Air Force Academy, he encouraged me to learn to fly."
By Stefan T. Bocchino 377th Air Base Wing
KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M., March 10, 2011 - After nearly three years of flight training, an Air Force officer has become the first qualified female pilot of the CV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft.
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Killian said she went to her local airport to look into flying lessons. Within 18 months, she completed her private pilot's license and decided she wanted to join the Air Force to make a positive difference, serve her country and fulfill her desire to fly. She went to the Air Force Academy to start her training.
"I found out that I was going to fly for the Air Force my senior year at the academy," Killian said. "The undergraduate pilot training track is very broad at first, but you find out where you're going at the academy at what we call '100 days.' It's a dinner and a celebration where they tell you where you're going to go. It's your senior year, and you finally know where you're going."
From the academy, Killian went to initial pilot training at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas. The initial training, on the T-6A Texan II training aircraft, took about six months and included flight training and academics. After that, she went to Fort Rucker, Ala., to learn how to fly the UH-1 Huey helicopter.
"I knew I wanted to fly helicopters," Killian said. "I like the mission role that helicopters in the Air Force generally fly, the broad spectrum of things we can do. Upon completion of the course at Fort Rucker, you can get CV-22s, UH-1s or HH-60 [Pave Hawks]. The mission of the Osprey is very appealing."
After undergraduate pilot training, Killian was chosen to train as a pilot on the CV-22. The initial training took place in a joint program with the Marine Corps at Air Station New River, N.C. All Air Force CV-22 pilots complete the Marine course, where they are taught general aircraft systems and the basics about flying a tilt-rotor aircraft.
"Working with the Marines was a lot of fun and really fulfilling," she said. "To experience their culture and how they train was awesome. I had the opportunity to be instructed by them and see the different learning styles they used."
After training with the Marines, Killian came here to complete her CV-22-unique mission training with the 58th Special Operations Wing.
"I didn't find out I was the first female pilot until they chose me," she said. "I remember being told, 'You're the first.' It's an honor that they would choose me. It's nice to be a part of this elite organization."
Each pilot who graduates from CV-22 training receives a coin from the commander, with a number signifying where they fall in the training pipeline, said Air Force Lt. Col. Larry Riddick, 71st Special Operations Squadron commander. Killian's number is 97.
"She's done very well in the course," Riddick said. "It's been fantastic having her here, and I look forward to hearing about her career."
From here, Killian will move on to her next duty station at Hurlburt Field, Fla.
"I want to continue to do well," she said. "For all those who have influenced me along the way, I can't thank them enough. Without them, I probably would not be here. I want to thank everyone for their positive guidance."
Africom Bids Farewell to Ward, Welcomes Ham
By Karen Parrish American Forces Press Service SINDELFINGEN, Germany, March 9, 2011 - The Defense Department's newest combatant command bid farewell to its inaugural commander here today.
Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates officiated at the ceremony and spoke to the audience at the Sindelfingen city hall near Africom's headquarters in Stuttgart. "First and foremost, I'd like to thank the men and women serving at Africom who, under General Ward's leadership, successfully tackled the challenge of setting up a new combatant command," Gates said. "The first leader of any organization defines it more than any other. "In under three years, General Ward has forged a command that ably protects vital U.S. interests, promotes stability and builds key capabilities among our allies," Gates added. The secretary praised Ward's decades of service, which included 13 command and numerous staff assignments. "When we first announced the creation of Africom, with its regional focus and institutional inclusion of State and [U.S. Agency for International Development] personnel, there was -- to put it mildly -- a certain amount of skepticism," Gates said. As he said then and still believes, the secretary noted, "When crime, terrorism, natural disasters, economic turmoil, ethnic fissures and disease can be just as destabilizing as traditional military threats, we need to fuse old understandings of security with new concepts of how security, stability and development go hand in hand." Ward put those concepts into action as commander, Gates said, and Ham will be an able successor. AFRICOM stood up in October 2007 as the newest unified combatant command of the U.S. Department of Defense. As one of six that are regionally focused, it is devoted solely to Africa and conducts sustained security engagement through military-to-military programs and activities with African countries. During the ceremony, Gates presented Ward with the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, and the general's wife, Joyce, with the Distinguished Public Service Award. Marine Corps Gen. James E. Cartwright, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, also spoke at the ceremony, noting that Ward has served with distinction during his long career. "[He] has been a soldier for over 40 years, a statesman, a commander -- battle-hardened," Cartwright said. Ward and his spouse have done "a fantastic job" in Africom, he added. "It has been, and will be, their legacy," the vice chairman said. Ward spoke before officially handing the command over to Ham, and said partnership was the key to his approach as Africom commander. "We make a difference," he said. "And not because we teach someone how to shoot straight, or how to drop a bomb accurately, or how to drive a ship in the right direction, but because by partnering with our friends and teammates, they see the best of America." Ham spoke briefly at the ceremony's conclusion, pledging to continue the command's mission to help find "African solutions to African security challenges." Ward began his military career as an infantry officer in 1971. He has served in a variety of positions, including that of commander from company to division level. Ham most recently served as commander of U.S. Army Europe and as co-chair of the Defense Department's special "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" review board. | ||
| Biographies: Robert M. Gates Marine Corps Gen. James E. Cartwright Army Gen. Carter F. Ham Related Sites: Special Report: Travels With Gates U.S. Africa Command Gates Remarks Photo Essay Video Related Articles: Africom Helps Nations Build Secure Future General Outlines U.S. Mission, Challenges in Africa | ||
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