Hope you enjoyed Father’s Day 2009 and got to spend some time with the fathers in your life, whether they are or were in the military or not. There’s a lot of military dads out there and a lot of dads in the military – slight difference there, but an important one. Both play a special role in the military force in the United States of America. And it’s nice to honor both every day and once a year in a big way.

The military sometimes has a special way of celebrating holidays while in a combat situation or posted overseas. In a video below, there’s some B-Roll of Father’s Day 2009 being celebrated in Afghanistan in the midst of winning the overall war over there – slowly but surely hunting the enemy down and rooting them out to take care of them in whatever way needed – peacefully (preferably) or by force if needed. And to be honest, they need some force in Afghanistan, in my not so humble opinion.

In Afghanistan, two International Security Assistance Force service members were killed and six other personnel were wounded in an indirect fire attack on Bagram Air Field this morning.

“On behalf of ISAF, I share our grief and extend our support to the loved ones of these service members,” said Brig. Gen. Richard Blanchette, ISAF spokesperson. “As we continue this vital mission in support of the Afghan people, we will remember this sacrifice with honour and the utmost respect.”

The wounded were transported to a medical facility on Bagram Air Field for immediate medical treatment, where they are receiving expert medical care. It is unknown at this time if any Afghan civilians living near the air field were harmed as a result of this attack.

It is ISAF policy not to release the nationality of any casualty prior to the relevant national authority doing so.

Be safe out there. Sgt Stryker out…

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Oregon Senators Visit Fort Stewart

Oregon State Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley arrive on a Black Hawk helicopter, June 5, Fort Stewart, Ga., with Oregon State Adjunct General Raymond Rees. Photo by Spc. Cory Grogan

School Opens in Naray

Afghan children who will attend a new school in Naray village line up to sing for Kunar’s provincial governor, Fazullah Wahidi, in Nari District, Kunar province, Afghanistan, June 16. “Education will make us all better. It does not take away from culture. It does not harm anyone. It only allows them to find better jobs and become better people,” Wahidi said during the ribbon cutting ceremony. The new school will accommodate more than 300 students. Photo by Lt.j.g. James Dietle

Northern Edge 2009

Members of a West Coast-based Navy SEAL team participate in infiltration and exfiltration training during a Northern Edge 2009 training exercise. An Army aviation unit transported the SEALS in CH-47D Chinook helicopters, performing two-wheel landings atop mountainous terrain in the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex. Courtesy Photo

Airmen Keep a Clean Flight Deck

Airman Jeremy Fortaleza, left, an aviation machinist mate, and Airman John Sexton, an aviation support equipment technician, pressure wash the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN73). George Washington is underway supporting security and stability in the western Pacific Ocean during its first summer deployment since becoming the U.S. Navy’s only forward deployed aircraft carrier. Photo by Seaman Adam K. Thomas

This entry was posted on Monday, June 22nd, 2009 at 9:58 am and is filed under General Blog, Videos. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.