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A Marine who trained the females mentioned that one “sister” compared herself to a James Bond girl and how she was training like a Bond girl; learning about weapons and providing security for a city, while making money. It’s not a situation as glamorous as in the movies but the reference gave both women common ground to joke about.

It wasn’t so long ago that the appearance of a United States Naval vessel off the coast of a Central or South American nation meant only one thing. The Marines were landing, either to prop up an existing government or to replace it. The history of United States interventions in the affairs of other nations in our hemisphere goes back to nearly the founding of our country. You cannnot blame the citizens of Latin American nations if they have a suspicious view of the United States and the United States Navy.

Army Spc. Monica Lin Brown saved the lives of fellow soldiers after a roadside bomb tore through a convoy of Humvees in the eastern Paktia province in April 2007, the military said.

After the explosion, which wounded five soldiers in her unit, Brown ran through insurgent gunfire and used her body to shield wounded comrades as mortars fell less than 100 yards away, the military said.

Every now and then you read a plaintive cry in one media outlet or another about the lack of heroes in the War on Terror. The sad truth is that when a man or woman is a hero both the military and the media fail to cover the story. Many heroes’ stories are found only in the Military Times or the Times version for their branch of service. I’ve covered just over 300 stories here at America’s North Shore Journal and each and every one cries out for more recognition.

Marine Captain Gamal F. Awad was doing pretty well for himself on September 10, 2001. He was married to a fellow officer, had two lovely daughters, and a prestigious job working for the Commandant of the Marine Crops in the Special Projects Directorate.

It all changed shortly after he went to work in his office at the Pentagon on September 11.

WoT Heroes

Two pilots with Combat Aviation Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division were awarded the Air Medal for valor for their actions during an engagement with an enemy anti-aircraft machine gun team.

On October 17, 2005, Sgt. 1st Class Alwyn C. Cashe, Al Cashe, was one of nine men in a Bradley Fighting Vehicle on patrol in Samarra, Iraq. The Bradley hit an IED and the contents of its fuel cell was splashed throughout the interior. Cashe’s clothing was soaked with it and the vehilce was on fire.

On June 2, 2008 the President of the United States will present the Medal of Honor to the family of Ross McGinnis. He will speak about courage and sacrifice. His fellow heroes in Valhalla and Fiddler’s Green know all about that.

It may be the the President of the United States will also talk about redemption. Ross McGinnis was once a troubled youth on a clear path to nowhere. Then, he chose to become a soldier in the United States Army. He chose to become a warrior.

This young man, this ordinary young man, found a place that gave him a path, people who became comrades and friends, and he found a time that for all eternity became his time.

God bless you, Ross McGinnis.

President Bush has announced that Spc. Ross McGinnis will posthumously be awarded the Medal of Honor in a White House ceremony June 2, two weeks shy of what would have been his 21st birthday.

Here is the latest data on medals awarded by the Army for actions in the War on Terror.

O’Connor was instrumental in keeping his team alive during an intense battle with more than 250 Taliban fighters in southern Afghanistan on June 22, 2006. While making a temporary stop during a patrol, his team and their attached Afghan National Army soldiers were attacked from all sides with small-arms fire, heavy machine guns, rocket-propelled grenades, recoilless rifles and mortars.

This is the first account about the American role in the revolt at Qala-i-Jangi prison in Afghanistan, November 2001. Mitchell has appeared on this site before, but never in this detail.

Military Women

Photo: U.S. Air Force Academy record-holder Dana Pounds placed second in the javelin throw

Photo: Capt. Lyndsey Goodman performs to the military and Alaskan crowd at the Alaska’s Operation Gratitude concert June 27 at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska. The concert was a part of Alaska’s 50 years of statehood celebration. Captain Goodman is with the 317th Airlift Squadron and was a contestant on American Idol.

Photo: Quartermaster Seaman Amy Hover, assigned to the multi-purpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5), takes bearings as the ship enters port in Boston.

After originally enlisting to become a combat medic in the Army Reserves nine years ago, 1st Lt. Khara Keegan, a native of Sioux City, Iowa, enrolled in the United States Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., where she graduated and received her commission in the Military Intelligence Corps.

“I like my current job a lot, but the medical profession is where my heart is,” said the 26-year-old security officer.

Company B provides voice and data services for Forward Operating Base Delta, as well as 12 other sites, Army Capt. Kelly McCay, Company B commander, said.

These soldiers stay busy establishing and running a technical control facility as well as 26 miles of fiber-optic cable through a series of manholes around the base. They work to ensure communications are available for all who need them, said McCay, a Central City, Ky., native.

Photo: Staff Sgt. Janine Duschka teaches infant CPR to Afghan medical providers during a CPR class June 18

Photo: Melody Colangeli holds a baby goat while visiting a family goat ranch with a team of Army veterinarians in the Huacho region of Peru

Local

The Rochester area has produced many, many talented people. I discovered yet another today while reading the local alt newspsper.

A native of America’s North Shore was killed by a suicide bomber while attending a meeting on June 26. Marine Captain Philip. J. Dykeman of Brockport and two other officers were killed when a suicide bomber attacked the tribal council meeting that they were attending. Nearly 20 others were also killed. Al Qaeda in Iraq has taken responsibility.

Playing on a thick, green pitch with a regulation soccer ball is something most kids take for granted. Those in Iraq don’t have that luxury.

A couple of local soccer enthusiasts are doing something to help. They’ve joined the Kick for Nick campaign. It supplies new and used soccer balls to Iraqi children.

The fire department’s HAZMAT entered the apartment at about noon Wednesday. Buzzing flies and a strong odor greeted them. Neighbors feared for the person’s welfare.

When crews went inside firefighters followed along outside with a video feed.

A five-year-old Iraqi girl is in Rochester, undergoing surgeries that could give her the gift of eyesight.

Noor Al-Ithawi was born blind. The girl lives near Bagdad, Iraq.

For some Irondequoit High School students, they are prom memories they would rather erase from their minds after a light fixture came crashing down during the junior prom Sunday night.

One of the little known stars of the sporting world is from the Rochester, New York area. Jenn Stuczynski is a top woman’s pole vaulter, and she just broke her own American record.