On the Army's 234th Birthday (from left to right) SMA Kenneth Preston, Secretary of the Army Pete Geren and CSA GEN George W. Casey Jr. lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery, with the assistance of SFC Alfred Lanier, the Sergeant of the Guard at the Tomb.

Our Members Celebrate!

I wish a Happy Birthday to all Soldiers, past and present.  I am on my 837th day in Iraq and wish all those that can lift a glass, can, bottle or mug to do so on behalf of the long and distinguished history of the organization.
- LTC Guy Edmonson (IN)

Salud! Here's to the United States Army's 234th Birthday! "Rock Force!"
- SFC Rodney Brewer (EN)

Hoo-ah! Army Proud - Proud to have Served!
- SGT Robert Briggs (IN)

I am long since retired and removed from being leaned forward in the foxhole or deployed anywhere, but add to the Best Wishes for the Army; and say God bless to all Soldiers past, present and future -- and especially to those currently in harm's way in Iraq and Afghanistan.
- SSG Mike Vance (MP)

Cheers to All -- and may all our Birthdays be bright...
- SFC Wendell Benner (IN)

Featured Updates

Association Pages
We have added comprehensive Profile Pages for every single Military Association in our database, and for each chapter! These pages show contact details, member roster, photos and more:


To reach the Association Profile for your Associations just click on the Association crest on your profile, or follow the link to your Association Membership details page, and then click a second time on the name of the Association.

You can also see an Index of all available Associations by following the link on this new Home Page banner:


For each Association you are a member of, you will now find a Forum board dedicated to that Association, where you can discuss topics of your choice with the other members.

You Tube Support
As well as uploading video files in their native formats, you can now link to military videos on You Tube. Just click the Add button on your Video Thumbnails bar and paste in the YouTube URL in the format given.

Documents
You can now upload other types of documents including Word, Powerpoint and Excel files etc to share with your Army Brothers. The documents section is bottom right on your profile, just above messages:

Proposed DoD Budget Balances Current, Future Requirements
Story by Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON - The fiscal 2010 defense budget request is a “reform budget” that builds on lessons learned on the battlefield to shape the military to confront other potential threats around the world, now and in the future, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates told Congress today.

Gates and Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the Senate Appropriations Committee’s defense subcommittee the proposed budget focuses on three basic priorities:

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates addresses the Senate Appropriations Committee in Washington, DC. Gates was joined by Navy ADM Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) Robert Hale in testimony regarding the 2010 National Defense Authorization Budget Request. - DoD photo by PO1 Chad J. McNeeley

-- Reaffirming support to the all-volunteer force, which Gates called “America’s greatest strategic asset”;

-- Rebalancing defense programs to fight and win the current and future engagements while providing a hedge against other contingencies; and

-- Overhauling procurement, acquisition and contracting systems to reform how and what the department buys.

“This budget is less about numbers than it is about how the military thinks about the nature of war and prepares for the future, about how we take care of our people and institutionalize support for the warfighter in the long term,” Gates said.

It’s also, he said, “about the role of the services and how we can buy weapons as jointly as we fight, [and] about reforming our requirements and acquisition processes.”

Gates told the committee he took what he heard from troops on the ground to heart in hammering out the request. He called the straightforward reports he got from these troops “the greatest single source for ideas” on what the department needs to do operationally, as well as institutionally.

“As I told a group of soldiers in Afghanistan, they have done their job. Now it is time for us in Washington to do ours,” he said. “In many respects, this budget builds on all the meetings I have had with troops and commanders, and everything that I have learned over the past two and a half years, all underpinning this budget’s three principal objectives.”

Mullen noted that more than one-third of the budget is devoted to what he called “the people account” that addresses the needs of “our top strategic priority.”

“The best way to guarantee our future security is to support our troops and their families,” he said. He lauded provisions of the request that support health care, housing, advanced education and other measures that will enhance recruiting and retention.

Meanwhile, Gates said the budget aims to ensure the sustainability of defense programs – eliminating waste and “requirements creep” while terminating some programs and bringing costs down in others. It also helps to posture the military for the wars it’s most likely to fight in the future, he added, while funding modernization programs to sustain advances for those potential future conflicts.

“Decisions to curtail or eliminate a program were based solely on its relevance and on its execution,” Mullen said. “The same can be said for those we decided to keep. If we are what we buy, I believe the force we are asking you to help us buy today is the right one, both for the world we are living in and the world we may find ourselves living in 20 to 30 years down the road.”

Mullen said the request provides the proper balance between conventional and unconventional capabilities.

“The work of defending this nation does not fit nicely into any one bucket. It spans the entire spectrum of conflict,” he told the committee. “We must be ready to deter and win all wars, big and small, near and far. With this budget submission, the nation is getting the military it needs for that challenge. It’s getting a strategy for the future.”

In the meantime, the admiral said, the budget applies lessons learned on the battlefield, and institutionally at the Pentagon, to win the current conflicts.

“The responsibility of this department first and foremost is to fight and win the nation’s wars, not just prepare for them,” he said. “We have to do better.”

Gates urged the committee to look at the budget as a whole rather than zeroing in on individual line items that don’t reflect the big-picture objectives they support. He cautioned the panel against padding the budget in the wrong areas.

“A dollar spent for capabilities excess to our real needs is a dollar taken from capability we do need – often to sustain our men and women in combat and bring them home safely,” he said.

McChrystal Assumes Command of ISAF
Story by Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON - General Stanley A. McChrystal assumed command of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan today, vowing that the coalition will prevail despite a struggle he conceded will be "long and hard."

"2009 will be a critical year for Afghanistan, and a critical year for our coalition," McChrystal said at a morning assumption-of-command ceremony at the ISAF headquarters in Kabul. "Although we face many challenges, with your steadfast commitment, professionalism and dedication and with the help and support of our Afghan friends and the international community, we will

GEN Stanley McChrystal (right) salutes during his assumption of a command ceremony in Kabul. At left is German Army GEN Egon Ramms, commander of NATO's Joint Force Command. - Photo by Ricardo Mazalan/AP

prevail."

McChrystal acknowledged the legacy and achievements of GEN David D. McKiernan, whom he replaces as commander of ISAF and US Forces Afghanistan. "His tireless efforts, clear thinking and calm direction have placed ISAF in a position to develop real momentum in the coming months," McChrystal said. "To a fellow Soldier and friend - my gratitude and thanks."

The incoming commander acknowledged the challenges ahead to achieve a peaceful, stable and free Afghanistan. "It will require the full commitment and talent of each of us, as well as the continued support and resolve of the International community," he told an assembly of representatives from Afghanistan, the United Nations, the NATO alliance and 14 non-NATO nations supporting the coalition. "But together we will prevail."

While this solidarity is the coalition's strength, "it is not without cost," he said, acknowledging the losses and sacrifices experienced by many during the past eight years.

"Their sacrifices and the contributions that you and your families are making today are critical to the future and stability of this country, the stability of this region and to the security of all of our nations," he said.

Central to the mission, he said, are the people of Afghanistan themselves.

"In reality, they are the mission," he said. "We must protect them from violence - whatever its nature. We must respect their religion and their traditions. Each of us, from rifleman to regional commander, from village to city, must execute our mission with the realization that displaying respect, cultural sensitivity, accountability and transparency are essential to our critical task of gaining the support and trust of the Afghan people.

"If we gain that trust, we cannot lose," he said. "If we lose that trust, we cannot win."

McChrystal emphasized the critical balance the mission demands. "While operating with care, we will not be timid," he said. "We must accept risks, endure hardships and find strength within ourselves to be worthy of the cause for which so many have fallen."

And as the conflict approaches its eight-year anniversary, McChrystal said, it's important to "recapture the excitement and inspiration that ignited this country upon the fall of the Taliban in 2001."

"We must rededicate ourselves to the Afghan people and help them build a government and a future for their country that they can be proud of," he said.

He acknowledged the task has no simple solution or silver bullet. "The situation is complicated, and success will not be quick - or easy," he said. "This effort will try our endurance, challenge habits and processes with which we are comfortable and force us to adapt how we operate."

Mistakes are inevitable as this effort continues, he conceded. "But we will focus and learn - and learn quickly," he said.

McChrystal cited additional NATO troops who will deploy this year to key regions of Afghanistan, providing the manpower required to conduct "population-centric counterinsurgency operations." These forces will partner closely with the increasingly capable Afghan security forces.

"Capitalizing on this strength and new authorities, we can work together to unhinge the nexus between narco-criminals, venal officials and insurgents - not disproportionately targeting the most vulnerable participants in this corrosive industry," McChrystal said. "And finally, an increased focus on the regional aspects of this conflict will pay dividends across the borders between Afghanistan and Pakistan."

Building on what's already been accomplished, McChrystal vowed, "we will do more."

"Together, we will foster reliable security and create the space and the discipline for responsive government, sustainable development initiatives and a new flourishing of Afghanistan's vibrant and varied culture," he said. "We are all partners in this endeavor, and I am honored to be part of this team."

Army TWS Intel File:
General Stanley A. McChrystal

GEN McChrystal entered the Army in 1976, graduating with a Bachelors Degree from the US Military Academy at West Point. He also holds Masters degrees in National Security and Strategic Studies from the US Naval War College, and in International Relations from the Salve Regina University. He is also a Senior Service College Fellow of Harvard University and a Military Fellow of the Council of Foreign Relations in New York.

During his early career, McChrystal served in Airborne, Special Forces, and Ranger units. After command and staff courses, he saw service in Operation Desert Shield/Storm in Operations Command and regimental appointments.

President Barack Obama meets with GEN McChrystal in the Oval Office at the White House, May 19. - White House photo by Pete Souza

He then served as assistant divisional commander (operations) of the 82nd Airborne Division, and the Chief of Staff of XVIII Airborne Corps, including duty in Afghanistan as the COS of Combined Joint Task Force-180 on Operation Enduring Freedom in 2002.

McChrystal was the vice director for operations on the Joint Staff in Washington DC, before assuming command of the Joint Special Operations Command in Fort Bragg, NC. He has just left his position as the director of the Joint Staff in Washington DC, to assume command at HQ ISAF.

ISAF was created in accordance with the Bonn Conference in December 2001, after the ousting of the Taliban regime. NATO took command of ISAF in August 2003 and is NATO's first mission outside the Euro-Atlantic area. ISAF operates under a United Nations mandate to support, and at the invitation of, the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, and works in close cooperation with the International Community, Non-Governmental Organizations and Operation Enduring Freedom.

Today, ISAF consists of about 65,000 troops from 42 countries, including non-NATO members.

New Discounts added this month to our new links section on the TWS Home page highlighting Free and Deeply Discounted services for Soldiers.

The providers listed below have agreed to offer their services for free or at deep discounts to members of Army TWS - please take a look at what they have to offer.

If you or someone you know provide a product or service that you are willing to offer for free or at a deep discount to fellow Soldiers on TWS, please us know so that we can add your link to the TWS home page and possibly feature it in a future newsletter.  Please email the link(s) to  [email protected]

These are Free listings and not paid advertisements.

Free Music Download for TWS Members!

Captain Continues Career 20 Years After Retirement
Story by Amber Robinson
Special to The BAYONET

FORWARD OPERATING BASE SHANK, Afghanistan - The average Army career, if a Soldier chooses to make a life of the service, is a little more than 20 years. But for one jovial 62-year old Army captain, 20 years hardly seemed like enough.

CPT Samuel Carlson, an intelligence officer with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Task Force Spartan, is on his second voluntary tour to Afghanistan. For a Soldier to volunteer to come to a combat zone twice is one thing; but to voluntarily deploy after being retired for more than 20 years is quite another.

Carlson came into the Army on May 9, 1967 as an infantryman and later transitioned to

2LT Samuel Carlson receives his commission in front of his unit's Sherman Tank memorial at Daley Barracks, Bad Kissingen, Germany. Carlson was 31 when he received his commission. - Courtesy photo

intelligence operations. He served in various conflicts until he officially retired on Oct. 1, 1987.

"I was an infantryman that could type," he said. "I was sent to work for the personnel sergeant major of my unit, but made the mistake of pronouncing his name wrong when I went to report for my new job."

The sergeant major, apparently very sensitive about the pronunciation of his name, sent Carlson away to work for the intelligence officer, where he began to foster an interest in intelligence. His small mistake led to a long career in the intelligence field.

In 1991, Carlson volunteered to return and serve in Operation Desert Storm. Although his mission to Kuwait was cancelled due to the short duration of the fight, he chose to stay on active status.

Carlson served with the Texas National Guard from 1992 to 1995, working as the executive officer of the 502nd Military Police Battalion out of Fort Worth, Texas. He commanded the unit after it reorganized until his second retirement. He volunteered to come into the service again after the attacks of 9/11.

"That [ticked] me off," Carlson said. "I took that personally. I had family that worked in the World Trade Center, so that made it personal."

Carlson served with the 308th Military Intelligence Battalion, 902nd Military Intelligence Group, on his first tour in Afghanistan from 2005 to 2006. He returned to the United States for a short period before serving with Task Force Spartan with the 10th Mountain Division in Afghanistan's Logar province this time around.

Carlson's love of the service is based on simple principles, he said, but it keeps him going.

"I missed Soldiers," Carlson said. "In the civilian world, it's hard to find the same camaraderie, teamwork and sense of brotherhood that you find in the Army."

Carlson's conventional military career spanned the globe. He served in El Salvador, Honduras, Germany, South Korea and a short stint in Vietnam.

Carlson's call to duty was passed down through a legacy of Soldiers, starting with his grandfather, a Norwegian immigrant who joined the American military in World War I. Too old to attain the position he desired, he lied and said he was younger, allowing him to receive his desired position.

"Grandad was not of military age when he came to America from Fredrikstad, Norway," Carlson said. "So to join, he indicated that he had been born in 1891, as opposed to his real birth date of 1889. He registered for the draft in 1917 and served in the Air Service, Signal Corps. He went to France for World War I in 1918, and was still on the front lines when the Armistice was signed on Nov. 11 [of that year]."

Carlson's father joined the Army in 1937, received his commission in 1942 and fought in Normandy in 1944 during the invasion of France.

"Dad was on the northern edge of the bulge during the Battle of the Bulge," Carlson said. "He was also involved in the crossing of the Rhine and Ruhr rivers, as well as the encirclement of the Ruhr industrial region."

CPT Samuel Carlson (left) and MAJ Ryan O'Connor, then assigned to Combined Joint Task Force 101, pose for this 2005 photo at Bagram Airfield during Carlson's first tour to Afghanistan. - Courtesy photo

Carlson's father left the Army as a first lieutenant in 1946, but, much like his son, missed the service and re-entered as a non-commissioned officer a few months after his initial departure. He was re-commissioned shortly thereafter, and took off to serve in the Korean War. He retired in 1963. Still harboring the desire to serve, his father now is a volunteer deputy sheriff in his community.

Not only have Carlson's ancestors served faithfully, but his son and now his grandson have answered the call of their country.

"My son will soon come to Afghanistan to be the first sergeant for the Laghman provincial reconstruction team," Carlson said. "He is finishing up training at Camp Atterbury [in Indiana]."

Carlson's son will be in Afghanistan at the end of June, to serve in the same war at the same time as his father. Carlson said he is proud to be a part of the struggle in Afghanistan, as he hopes his son will be as well.

"I can understand this war," Carlson said. "It makes sense to me. It's well thought out as opposed [to] the other conflicts I have been a part of."

Carlson said he hopes he will be able to see him while both are in Afghanistan. "It may be a little difficult, but I'd like to make it happen if I can," he said.

To cap the long line of Carlsons serving in the military, the captain's grandson, SGT David Carlson, is stationed in South Korea.

The Carlson tapestry of military service is tightly woven. Throughout the ages, the men of Carlson's family have served in the armed forces.

"My Norwegian grandfather came overseas and joined the American Army, but my Swedish grandfather and forefathers also served in the Swedish military, which is mandatory there," Carlson said. "It was never anything planned, but for as long as we can trace back, the men of our family have served."

Carolson has been referred to as the "OCITA," or, "Oldest Captain in the Army." He smiles warmly at the jokes.

"I may be old, but the Soldiers I work with help me to feel much younger than my age," he said.

Carlson plans to retire for the third and final time when Task Force Spartan completes its deployment at the end of the year. He said he hopes to settle down and take some time to catch up with his family and engage in some of his favorite pastimes, such as playing music in his rock band.

"It's been a long career, but I'd do it all again," he said.

Remembering D-Day
WWII Coast Guard Veteran Returns to Normandy

NORMANDY, France - Earlier this month, Coast Guard veteran Tommy Harbour returned to the site where he made three trips in Landing Craft PA33-4; delivering troops and equipment during the Normandy invasion on June 6, 1944.
Harbour was an enlisted Coast Guard coxswain mate, whose vehicle and personnel landing craft (LCVP), also known as a Higgins boat, transported Soldiers to Omaha and Utah Beaches during WWII.

Harbour began his military service when he was sworn into the Coast Guard on July 5, 1943, attending Coast Guard boot camp at Manhattan Beach Training Station in New York. He was trained by both Coast Guard and Marines to become a motor machinist, or "motor mac" -- now known as a boat engineer. He was assigned to the Coast Guard-manned attack transport USS Bayfield (APA-33), where he served as a motor mac for one of Bayfield’s LCVP landing craft, PA33-4.

Two months after the Normandy invasion, while preparing his landing craft for the invasion of Southern France, a German airplane dropped a bomb that hit LCVP PA33-4 while still cradled on the Bayfield. Harbour’s coxswain and boat crewman were seriously injured and his landing craft sustained significant damage. Harbour himself was not harmed during the attack and managed to make several landings at Saint Raphael in another Higgins boat and boat crew.

Shortly after his service in the European campaign, Harbour continued to serve aboard Bayfield and later shifted to the Pacific Theater to participate in the invasion of Iwo Jima. On the second and third days of the invasion, Harbour continued to make landings, hauling in supplies such as flame-thrower fuel, mortar shells and hand grenades to Marines clearing the island. He also took part in the invasion of Okinawa with a force that simulated landing operations in an effort to confuse the island’s Japanese defenders. The coxswain completed a total of four invasions from the Bayfield in a ten month period.

Following his active duty service in the Coast Guard, Mr. Harbour continued to serve his community as the mayor of Milton, WV for 17 years. He is a member of the Disabled American Veterans, active in the Huntington Veterans Center and continues to advocate for veterans benefits.

- What was your best duty station or assignment and why?
- What is the recipe for that good chow you know how to make out of an MRE?
- Where's the coldest beer in Korea?
- Do you have any tips about keeping healthy, or things to watch out for if you have a disease?

These are just a few of the topics that are covered by the many Forums on Army TWS. Our forums provide you, the members, a variety of places to discuss with other members the many topics we have in common. Those members still on active duty would probably like to know about good assignments when they make out their "dream sheets" or talk to their Retention NCOs.

Those who have worked as Retention NCOs or served on a selection board might want to provide a few tips for members in preparing to talk about their next assignment.

If you have a disease like diabetes, what tips can you give others about the disease and things to watch out for with diabetes? Encourage a fellow Soldier to keep on top of a health problem so he stays with us for a long time.

These are but a couple of topics that are available for you to offer advice, warn others about, discuss with other Soldiers...or just vent your frustrations.

So pull up a foot-locker and start shooting the breeze, the forums are for YOU!

SEA OF SOLDIER SALUTES - A sea of ACU-clad Soldiers salute during the 1st Armored Division's 2nd Brigade uncasing ceremony held on Baumholder's Minick Field, Germany earlier this month.
- Photo by SGT Brandon Moreno

KENTUCKY-BOUND - "Cobra King," a World War II-era M4 Sherman tank, is lifted onto a flatbed trailer from its former home at Rose Barracks in Vilseck, Germany, bound for the Patton Armor Museum at Fort Knox, KY. "Cobra King" was the first tank to reach besieged American troops defending Bastogne from the Germans’ counterattack during the Battle of the Bulge.

READY TO ROLL - PFC Matthew Starks prepares to roll-out as a Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle gunner in Baghdad, Iraq. Starks is assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division's Company G, 1st Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team in Baghdad.
- Photo by Jon Soles

HERE COMES THE BOOM - SSG Robert R. Cole (left) watches as SPC James J. Hauser primes a 40-pound cratering charge with a one-and-a-quarter pounds of C4 explosive during demolitions training at the Copper Mountain Quarry in South Dakota. Cole and Hauser are with the Headquarters Support Company, 153rd Engineer Battalion out of Huron, SD. The training was part of the yearly Golden Coyote training exercise held in the South Dakota's Black Hills.
- Photo by SSG Carlos Lazo

PRESENT MEETS PAST - Army SSG Carbonel shakes the hand of a European re-enactor who said his family was saved by American Soldiers on D-Day 65 years ago. To commemorate those sacrifices, re-enactors dress in authentic and highly-accurate 1940s-era Airborne replica uniforms for the annual D-Day anniversary festivities.
- Photo by MSgt. Cecilio Ricardo, USAF

A CARING PAIR - SFC Boe (left) and SFC Budge, a pair of Black Labrador Retriever combat stress relief dogs, wait with their handlers to be released from formation at Pope AFB, NC after returning from a 15-month deployment to Iraq. The therapy dog pair are assigned to the 528th Combat Stress Control, 44th Medical Command. Boe and Budge were donated and trained by America’s VetDogs and are the first canines to be used in a combat zone for therapeutic purposes.
- Photo by Eve Meinhardt

CLEAN AND READY - South Korean soldiers show how to decontaminate a weapon in a chemical environment during a joint training exercise with US Soldiers, at Camp Casey, Korea. The soldiers are assigned to the ROK Army's 4th Chemical Company, 1st Brigade Special Troops Battalion.
- Photo courtesy 8th US Army

A MIGHTY THROW - Army World Class Athlete Program wrestler, SPC Faruk Sahin (in red), throws Gator Wrestling Club's Mark Rial en route to victory in his best-of-three final series at the 2009 USA Wrestling World Team Trials in Council Bluffs, IA. Sahin, who wrestles in the Greco-Roman 145.5-pound division, will compete for Team USA in the upcoming World Championships in Herning, Denmark.
- Photo by Tim Hipps

Stop-in to our online TWS Army Store for all your Army-themed needs -- Shirts, Jackets, Hats, Jewelry, Footwear, Medals, Patches and much, much more!

Thank you for your support of the TWS Army Store. All Store proceeds go towards advertising the TWS website, bringing more Soldiers to the TWS Community.

GOING COMMANDO
Operation Iraqi Stephen: Colbert Announces Victory In Iraq
Story by SGT Lindsey Bradford
Multi-National Corps Iraq Public Affairs

CAMP VICTORY, BAGHDAD, Iraq - It is official -- Stephen Colbert came, saw and conquered Iraq, claiming victory on day three of his six-day adventure to the Middle East.

Did we also mention that he wore a custom-made ACU pattern Brooks Brothers suit just to blend-in with the troops?

Arriving in an Air Force C-17 from Kuwait, Colbert landed at the Baghdad International Airport, June 5, and began preparing for his shows at Camp Victory's Al Faw Palace, as part of his USO-sponsored Comedy Central tour, dubbed "Operation Iraqi Stephen: Going Commando."

"We wanted to call it 'Feelin HOT, HOT, HOT: Papa's got a brand new Baghdad', but it was too

Stephen Colbert braces himself as Army GEN Ray Odierno, commanding general of Multi-National Corps - Iraq (MNC-I), shaves his head after Odierno received a direct order via satellite from President Barack Obama for the host to lose his locks. The special broadcast, dedicated to US servicemembers around the globe, is the first TV show in USO history to be produced and aired from a combat zone. -USO photo by Steve Manuel

many words," he said.

Did we also mention that shoes were thrown at him after he stepped off the C-17 onto the tarmac?

In March, Colbert announced his visit the Persian Gulf, but was forced to remain tight-lipped about the event in true operational security style. Since then, he introduced a new segment on his hit night-time talk show, trying to guess which one of the seven Persian Gulf countries occupied by US forces he would visit.

Iraq was the winner.

In order to prepare for the trip, Colbert attended basic training at Fort Jackson, SC. The training lasted a total of eight hours, although he says he "might have dipped out an hour early."

Now a slightly-trained killer, armed with a smile and his "A" bag full of satirical humor, Colbert was ready to take his show live to Baghdad, where it would be recorded, edited and sent back via satellite to the US. It is something the United Service Organizations said was a first for any overseas tour they have managed.

Multi-National Force - Iraq Commanding General Ray Odierno asked Colbert to come and perform for the troops. However, Colbert says he came here for the buzz cut President Barack Obama ordered Odierno to give to him during the opening show at the palace, June 7.

"I also want to claim this as my military time if I decide to run for president in 2012," he said.

Colbert filmed four shows, which began airing in the United States the week of June 8. The reaction from the service members here has been amazing, he said.

"It's been fantastic," he said of his welcoming. "All these people are so nice out here; I don't understand why they want to fight with each other."

Colbert noted that he knows nothing about the country of Iraq, aside from the few days he has been at Camp Victory.

"It's hot, it's sandy, the sun is blazing. It seems like Texas, but with fewer guns," Colbert said of Iraq.

He added that if he were to describe the country to Americans, concrete and blast walls would sum the landscape, and he compared the air quality to that of an exhaust system.

"Who had the idea to build an entire country in the tailpipe of a car?" he asked a crowd of about 400 people during his first show.

Soldiers, Airmen, Sailors, and Marines packed the palace's rotunda every night of tapings, their thunderous cheers echoed off of three stories of marble walls. In addition to Odierno, guests included Iraq deputy prime minister Dr. Barham Saleh; LGEN Charles Jacoby, Jr., Multi-National Corps - Iraq commanding general; CSM Frank Grippe, MNC-I command sergeant major; SGT Robin Balcom and SPC Tareq Salha.

Balcom, a native of Houston, TX, is a military police officer with the 8th MP Brigade, 93rd MP Battalion's 463rd MP Company stationed at Fort Leonard Wood, MO. Balcom was nominated for the show by her commanders because of the multiple tours she has served in Iraq. Being on the show was an opportunity she was glad she didn't pass up because it only happens once in a life time, she said.

Colbert greets troops and civilians at Al Faw Palace at Camp Victory in Baghdad, as part of his "Operation Iraqi Stephen: Going Commando" tour. -Photo by Lee Craker

Salha, an interpreter with 3rd Battalion, 7th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division (Light), based in Schofield Barracks, HI, said he enjoyed meeting Colbert because he was such a genuine person.

"He is trying to express what we, as Soldiers, go through in a fun way [on his show], and he succeeded," Salha said. "It was an outstanding experience, and I really enjoyed being able to speak on behalf of myself."

President Obama, Vice-President Joe Biden, John McCain, Sarah Palin and Tom Hanks sent out special thanks to the troops in pre-recorded messages that aired during the show.

Senator McCain's comment to "always take the time to remember to clean your musket," grew boisterous laughs, and the gathered GIs shook their heads in amusement. McCain said he learned the importance of a clean weapon during Valley Forge.

SGT Jennifer Miller, an awards clerk with Company B, Special Troops Battalion, Task Force Courage, had not seen The Colbert Report before attending the June 7 show.

"His comedy covers all ranges. He is willing to pick on anyone," Miller, a Madison Heights, MI, native said. "He is very funny!"

Miller said Colbert's antics will definitely keep her watching from now on.

In addition to the night's performances, Colbert spent time meeting and greeting service members on Camp Stryker, another camp located within Baghdad's Victory Base Complex.

Roughly 200 people showed up for a chance at a picture, a laugh and a handshake with the comedian.

"It's a nice break in the day to come in here and meet him," said SSG Jason Moldan, an Army Reservist with the 401st Engineer Company out of Oklahoma City, OK. An avid fan, Moldan said it's been hard to catch Colbert's show since he's been deployed, but he still remains a steadfast member of the Colbert Nation.

"It's really great that celebrities can come over here and see us," said Moldan, a Minneapolis, MN, native.

When asked if this was a great USO tour or the greatest USO tour, Colbert didn't miss a beat when he answered "the greatest." Camp Victory agrees.

 

Stay Connected -- Keep Your E-mail Addresses Current!

There are two ways in which old friends and fellow Soldiers can contact you via the Army TWS website:

The first is via your "public" e-mail address, displayed in your Personal Details on your Profile Page; and the other is by leaving a message in your Message Center Inbox. The latter triggers an advisory e-mail, sent to your "private" e-mail address to inform you that you have received a message and who it's from.

Your "private" e-mail address, which is the one that TWS uses, is contained in your Account Details at the top of your Profile Page which you can modify at any time. TWS Members' "private" and "public" e-mail addresses are usually the same. So, please regularly log-in and update any changes to your e-mail addresses both in the Account Detail and Personal Detail sections of your Profile.

Sincerely,
The ATWS Administration Team
http://army.togetherweserved.com