The U.S. Navy flight demonstration squadron, the Blue Angels, demonstrate choreographed flight skills during the annual Joint Service Open House.
(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Todd Frantom /Released) (DVIDS)
SP4 Leslie H. Sabo Jr. distinguished himself May 10, 1970, in Se San, Cambodia, while serving as a rifleman in Company B, 3d Battalion, 506th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division.
Members of B. Co. were ambushed by a large enemy force. While conducting a reconnaissance patrol, 22-year-old Sabo, charged an enemy position, killing several enemy soldiers. Immediately thereafter, he assaulted an enemy flanking force, successfully drawing their fire away from friendly soldiers and ultimately forcing the enemy to retreat.
When a grenade landed nearby a wounded comrade, Sabo picked up the grenade threw it away while shielding his buddy with his own body, thus absorbing the brunt of the blast and saving the man’s life.
Seriously wounded by the blast, Sabo, nonetheless, retained the initiative and single- handedly charged an enemy bunker that had inflicted severe damage on the platoon. He received several serious wounds from withering automatic weapons fire in the process. Despite being mortally injured, he crawled towards the enemy emplacement and, when in position, threw a grenade into the bunker. The resulting explosion silenced the enemy fire, but also ended Sabo’s life.
Learn more about Sabo’s story by going to www.army.mil
The last MRAP to cross the Iraq-Kuwait border comes home to be displayed at Fort Hood, Texas. This historic crossing of this vehicle brought an end to Operation New Dawn. The MRAP is finally back on American soil.
The Marine Corps body bearers have one of the most unique duties in the Corps. They belong to the group of 13 Marines who carry the caskets of fellow Marines through the streets of Arlington National Cemetery and surrounding National Capital region Cemeteries, (sometimes up to a mile,) as the last salute to the fallen members of the 234-year-old brotherhood.
Sgt. Maj. Bryan Battaglia, senior enlisted advisor to the Charmin of the Joint Chiefs, delivers a message on the eve of the 2012 Memorial Day holiday. “What does Memorial Day mean to you?”
A message from Leon Panetta, Secretary of Defense:
For many Americans, Memorial Day is a welcome break from work, a time for outdoor barbeques or a day at the beach. But today is above all an opportunity for Americans to come together and pay tribute to all those who have fought and died in defense of our freedom. It is a day to reflect on the service and sacrifice of these heroes, and to honor those American families for whom Memorial Day is another day of longing for their loved ones.
This Memorial Day, the American people pay particular tribute to the generation who stepped forward after the attacks of September 11th, and volunteered to put their lives on the line in far-off lands to protect our nation. Today, we remember the more than 6,400 Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen who have paid the ultimate price for us to live in safety over the last ten years of war. They and their families have paid a heavy price so that we could be more secure, but because of their sacrifice the torch of freedom burns bright.
Since taking this position, I have written hundreds of letters of condolence to the families of the fallen. It is the hardest part of my job. There are no words that can heal, no sentences that can lessen that loss. I keep the fallen and their families in my heart and in my prayers, and I tell those families that their loved one died to give their fellow Americans a better life. That is the price they paid for us. Let us never forget them and what they have done for this country.
As we emerge from a decade of war, we must renew our pledge on this Memorial Day to do all we can to ensure that the sacrifices of our service members and their families are honored, and that those who fell in battle are remembered. They fought for us. Our duty is to fight to make sure they are never forgotten. As Americans, that must be our charge and our sacred mission not just on Memorial Day, but every day.
An upperclass midshipman gives a briefing to first-year midshipmen, or plebes, participating in the annual Sea Trials at the U.S. Naval Academy. Sea Trials is modeled after the Marine Corps Crucible and the Navy’s Battle Stations recruit programs. It is a capstone event for the fourth class midshipmen and serves as a leadership challenge for the upper class midshipmen who lead each event during the exercise.
U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Chad Runge / Released (DVIDS)
EA-6B Prowler assigned to the Lancers of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 131 launches from the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72).
Lincoln is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility conducting maritime security operations, theater security cooperation efforts and support missions as part of Operation Enduring Freedom.
U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Mason D. Campbell (DVIDS)
U.S. Army Soldiers from Bravo Battery, FIRES Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, located at Rose Barracks, Vilseck, Germany, set up a M777A2 Howitzer during a direct fire exercise on May 11, 2012 at the Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany.
U.S. Army photo by Visual Information Specialist Gertrud Zach / released (DVIDS)
U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Phil Schiffman, a mortarman with the 81mm Mortar Platoon, Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, and 22-year-old Phoenix native, waves to two Afghan men on a motorcycle after searching them at a vehicle checkpoint here, Dec. 1, 2011.
In November 2011, the Marines and sailors of America’s Battalions began their final Afghanistan deployment to Helmand province’s Garmsir district. After six combat deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq since 2004, they’re finally coming home. During their seven months in Garmsir, they advised and developed Afghan forces preparing to take the lead in providing security for the district.
U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Reece Lodder (DVIDS)
