Hero Stories for August 2009

Gunnery Sgt. Adam F. Benjamin, 34, of Garfield Heights, Ohio, died August 18, 2009, while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Gunnery Sgt. Benjamin was assigned to 8th Engineer Support Battalion, Combat Logistics Regiment 2, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. </d

Staff Sgt. Clayton P. Bowen, 29, of San Antonio, Texas, died August 18, 2009, in Paktika Province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. Staff Sgt. Bowen was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Airborne Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Fort Richardson, Alaska. </d

Terrorists who attacked the United States on Sept. 11, 2001, are plotting to do so again, so defeating them is "fundamental to the defense of our people," President Barack Obama told veterans at the annual Veterans of Foreign Wars convention in Phoeni

The top U.S. commander in Iraq has proposed a tripartite arrangement between American, Iraqi and Kurdish forces to shore up security in disputed areas of northern Ir

According to Air Force Staff Sgt. Lee Adams, an Ear, Nose and Throat technician at Bagram Airfield, more than 50 percent of the patients seen in the ENT walk-in clinics are there for hearing related issu

The U.S. Army tradition of recognizing newly promoted noncommissioned officers to the NCO corps is through an NCO induction ceremony, a time-honored tradition for the U.S. Army, which has been shared with the new Iraqi Ar

Spc. Matthew D. Hastings, 23, of Claremore, Oklahoma, died August 17, 2009, in Baghdad, Iraq, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident. Spc. Hastings was assigned to the 582nd Medical Logistics Company, 1st Medical Brigade, 13th Sustainment Command, Fort Hood, Texas. </d

Lance Cpl. Leopold F. Damas, 26, of Floral Park, New York, died August 17, 2009, while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Lance Cpl. Damas was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. </d

Combat engineers assigned to Task Force Saber performed their final route clearance mission in southern Maysan province before packing up and heading to the new territory of Basra Province, July

Sgt. 1st Class William B. Woods, Jr., 31, of Chesapeake, Virginia, died August 16, 2009, at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Landstuhl, Germany, of wounds suffered when he was shot August 14 while on patrol in Ghanzi, Afghanistan. Sgt. 1st Class Woods was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 20th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Glen Arm, Maryland. </d