Results tagged “afghanistan”

       

With his handling of the War in Afghanistan coming under scrutiny, President Obama made a surprise trip this morning to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware to meet the caskets of the 18 soldiers killed in action over the last week; October 2009 has been the deadliest month for U.S. troops thus far in the eight-year war; as of Tuesday, the death toll was 55. Upon arrival, around 3 a.m., Obama met with the families of the soldiers in the base's chapel and then observed the transfer of caskets. Reporters and photographers were given permission to view the transfer of the casket of Sgt. Dale Griffin (of Terre Haute, Indiana) by Griffin's family. Obama returned to the White House shortly before 5 a.m.

Craigslist buyers uncovered a scam by people pretending to be Illinois National Guardsmen who need to sell big ticket items like cars and boats in a hurry before they're deployed overseas. After receiving several calls, the Illinois National Guard verified that the names of the sellers on Craigslist were bogus according to Chicago Breaking News. Guard spokesman Michael Chrisman said the verbiage is almost the same in every ad, only the type of vehicle for sale is different.

The Tribune's James Janega was embedded with the Illinois National Guard in Afghanistan and just recently returned home to Chicago. Today's he's filed this outstanding story and you can catch up on more of James' stuff (accompanied Tribune photographer Jason Wambsgans) here at the Afghan War Blog.

• Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of two Illinois National Guardsmen who were killed in Afghanistan by a roadside bomb this weekend.
• The saga of Daniel Fore continues in Oak Park; Fore is a homeless man attempting to get his name on the ballot for village trustee.
• More bad job news, this time from the Tribune (again).

Our condolences to the family of Bartlett's Sgt. Kevin Grieco, 35, who was one of two soldiers killed by a suicide bomb Monday in in Baghlan, Afghanistan. Sgt. Grieco was part of the 2nd Battalion, 122nd Field Artillery, Illinois Army National Guard, Sycamore. It was that unit's third death this fall. Kevin is survived by his wife and two young children.

Joshua Harris, 21, of Oak Park and Jason Vazquez, 24, of Chicago, members of the Illinois National Guard, were killed earlier this week in Afghanistan by a roadside bomb. Both were posthumously promoted. Said Maj. Gen. William Enyart, "This is, by far, one of the most difficult and saddest times for the Illinois National Guard. This loss is felt by us all, both overseas and here at home." Harris and Vazquez joined Carol Stream's Pfc. Leonard Gulczynski (Iraq) as Illinois' war casualties this week. Harris and Vazquez were both part of Battery B, 2nd Battalion, 122nd Field Artillery, providing security for police mentor teams in Afghanistan. Illinois Senator (and Democratic Presidential Candidate) Barack Obama paid tribute to the soldiers, saying, "These brave young men served their nation proudly and honorably in Afghanistan and Iraq." Our condolences to the families of these brave soldiers.