US Army: Specialist Terry J. Hurne

Specialist Terry J. Hurne, thirty-four of Merced, California, died on June 9.

He was killed in Logar province, Afghanistan.

Hurne was assigned to the 710th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division out of Fort Drum, New York.

His decorations include: two Army Commendation Medals, two Army Achievement Medals, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, two Afghanistan Campaign Medals, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Driver and Mechanic Badge.

Among his completed courses were: Combatives Level 1 School, Transportation School, Combat Lifesavers Course.

5 Dead, Including 2 Police Officers, After Las Vegas Shooting

Five people are dead and two wounded after a shooting in Las Vegas, Sunday morning.

It began at a Cici's Pizza, when a man and a woman enter the store and shot two police who were having lunch.

One of the officers managed to return fire, before succumbing to his wounds.

The two shooters then ran across the street and entered a Walmart.

There, according to witnesses, they shouted about the "revolution" and "war" and told people to get out.

When police arrived they found a woman shopped dead and then a shootout began with the suspects.

As more heavily armed police arrived, the woman suspect turned her gun on the male, killed him, and then killed herself.

At this time no motive is known, for the attack.

3 Prisoners Escape Quebec Prison Via Helicopter

For the second time in just over a year, a prison break took place in Quebec, with use of a helicopter.

Saturday night, three men escaped from a prison in Quebec City, by climbing into a helicopter, which landed in the courtyard.

The helicopter then flew a few miles and landed, where it was later found by police.

At this time it is unclear if the helicopter was part of the escape or hijacked.

All three prisoners, as well as the pilot, are missing.

The military has joined police in the search for the prisoners.

13 Killed in Attack on Kirachi Airport

Gunmen stormed Pakistan's Jinnah International Airport, in Kirachi, on Sunday night.

The battle with them lasted on into Monday morning.

Officials say that ten gunmen were involved in the attack, and that their bodies were all accounted for.

Two of them managed to blow themselves up, before they were killed, while the others were killed first.

Another three people were killed, with officials stating that no passengers were harmed.

The gunmen were attempting to make their way to aircraft, and damage them, but were kept from doing so, by security forces.

US Army: Private First Class Matthew H. Walker

Private First Class Matthew H. Walker, twenty of Hillsboro, Missouri, died on June 5.

He was killed during combat in Paktika province, Afghanistan.

Walker was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division out of Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

His decorations include: Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with one Bronze Service Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, Air Assault Badge.

Police Capture Cop Killer in Moncton

A massive man hunt ended in Moncton, New Brunswick.

Shortly after midnight, on the morning of Friday, police found the shooter they were looking for.

Police were able to arrest Justin Bourque, without further incident, not far from where he the shootings took place.

His capture ended a nearly thirty hour lock down of that section of the city.

It all began on Wednesday, when the twenty-seven year old went on a shooting spree that left three police officers dead and two wounded.

There is still no known motive, for the attacks.

US Army: Captain Jason B. Jones

Captain Jason B. Jones, twenty-nine of Orwigsburg, Pennsylvania, died on June 2.

He was killed during combat in Jalalabad, Afghanistan.

It was his second deployment.

Jones was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Among his completed courses were: US Army Basic Airborne Course, US Army Combatives Course, Basic Infantry Officer Course, Ranger School, Jumpmaster School, Captains' Career Course, Special Forces Qualification Course; Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape Course; Special Forces Operations Detachment Officer Qualification Course.

His decorations include: Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with one Campaign Star, Iraq Campaign Medal with two Campaign Stars, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Parachutist Badge, Ranger Tab, Expert Infantry Badge, Combat Infantryman Badge, Special Forces Tab.

Colorado Police Looking for 3 Suspects After Teen Shot and Killed at Aurora Taco Bell

Aurora police are looking for three suspects after a nineteen year old male was shot and killed.

The shooting happened shortly after midnight, in the parking lot of a Taco Bell/Pizza Hut at Hampden and Tower.

According to police, the teen was arguing with three men, when a fight broke out, and shots were fired.

The three men are all described as being white, in their late teens to early twenties, and wearing dark Tshirts.

A two thousand dollar reward has been announced for information that leads to an arrest, in the case.

Anyone with information should call the Aurora Police Department at 303-739-6710.

USMC Jet Crashes in California

A United States Marine Corp AV-8B Harrier crashed in Imperial, California, Wednesday afternoon.

It had been flying out of Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona.

Eight homes were damaged, with three of them considered destroyed, when the plane crashed, but there is no word of civilian injuries.

The pilot safely ejected, but was taken to the hospital as a precaution.

2 RCMP Officers Wounded and 3 Killed in New Brunswick, Shooter Still on The Loose

Five Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers have been shot in Moncton, New Brunswick.

Three of them were killed, while the other two are in the hospital.

Their shooter, who has been identified as twenty-four year old Justin Bourque, is still on the loose.

Police have much of the city on lockdown as they continue their search for him.

Residents have been warned to stay indoors, since the shooting began.

Bourque was last seen dressed in camouflage and carrying two high powered rifles, a crossbow, and a knife.

At this point, no motive is known for the shootings.

Rebels Seize Border Crossing in Eastern Ukraine

Rebel forces in eastern Ukraine seized border crossings, on Saturday.

They also were successful in seizing several military bases around Luhansk.

Government forces were able to take back part of Krasny Liman, and are attempting further gains.

The government claims that hundreds of separatist fighters have been killed, in fighting, while the separatists state that they have lost a mere dozen.

Civilian casualties are growing, as the fighting continues.

It is unclear at this time when the fighting will end, or if it will continue until a full on civil war takes over the country.

King Juan Carlos Abdicates

Juan Carlos signing his abdication

In a surprise announcement King Juan Carlos abdicated the Spanish throne, Monday morning.

The seventy-six year old king cited his health problems as the reason for the move.

His son, Crown Prince Felipe, forty-five, had been taking over more duties, as his father's health declined.

Felipe's coronation as king has yet to be scheduled, but will likely occur within the week.

Many Spaniards took the opportunity to call for the end to the almost entirely ceremonial monarchy.

US Army: Private First Class Jacob H. Wykstra

Private First Class Jacob H. Wykstra, twenty-one of Thornton, Colorado, died on May 28.

He was killed in an aircraft accident, in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan.

It was his first deployment.

Wykstra was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division out of Fort Carson, Colorado.

Remembering: Memorial Day

It began as a tradition during the Civil War, with the first unofficial events taking place on both sides of the war. The memorial days gained military recognition shortly after national military cemeteries began being created. After the war, and Abraham Lincoln's death, official occasions of the holiday began.
On May 1, 1865, black residents of Charleston, South Carolina, held a memorial to remember Union prisoners of war who had died at a prison camp there. That memorial was spread across the country by the newspapers, who called it "Decoration Day".

In the southern states "Confederate Memorial Day" began as a remembrance of Confederate war dead, in 1866. Most places chose April 26 as the day for the holiday, as it marked the day CS General Johnston surrendered to US General Sherman. Other areas chose to recognize various other auspicious dates, such as the death of CS General Jackson. Many of the southern states continue to recognize the day as a day to remember those who died for the South's cause, during the Civil War.

Then in 1868, a decree was issued, by the veterans' organization for Union Civil War veterans, The Grand Army of The Republic, for the holiday to be recognized nationally and annually. They copied much of their ceremonies from that of the southern states, and chose May 30 as the date for the holiday, mostly because no major battle had occurred on that date, and as flowers were readily available by then. Over the next few years it spread and by 1890 was recognized as an official state holiday in all of the northern states.

By 1882, Memorial Day was beginning to be used in northern states, instead of Decoration Day. However, it did not become common until after WWII. Then in 1967, Federal law officially declared it to known solely as Memorial Day. It was in 1968 that a law was passed to move Memorial Day, and other federal holidays, to only be held on Mondays, so as to allow for a three day weekend. In 1971, the law went into effect and Memorial Day was set to the last Monday of each May. Some feel that the move trivializes the meaning of the holiday.

Poroshenko Wins Ukraine's Elections

Petro Poroshenko won Ukraine's presidential elections, on Sunday.

He took more than fifty-four percent of the vote, while his nearest competitor took only thirteen.

Elections in much of the eastern part of the country had little or no turn out, due to threats of  violence from separatists.

Poroshenko, a billionaire who made much of his money as a candy maker, has pledged that he will not ever recognize Crimea's being part of Russia.

Russia seized Crimea, in March, and pushed through a referendum of secession from Ukraine, which most of the world considers illegal.

Ukraine Warns Off Encroaching Russian Helicopters

Ukrainian forces fired warning shots, on Saturday afternoon, at Russian helicopters.

Two MI-35 helicopters encroached upon Ukraine territory, north of Crimea.

A Ukrainian anti-aircraft battery fired to warn them off.

The Russian helicopters then turned back into Crimea, without damage or injury.

Al Shabaab Attack Leaves 10 Dead at Somalia's Parliament

Al Shabaab launched an attack on Somalia's parliament building, on Saturday.

The three hour attack left at least ten dead and eleven more wounded.

Officials said that multiple terrorist fighters were killed, but their dead were not included amongst the official numbers.

The attack began with a car being driven into the building and then exploded.

Other fighters then opened fire on security forces, civilians, government workers, and parliamentarians.

Security forces were eventually able to clear the area of the terrorists, some of whom had blown themselves up.

The attack highlighted the government's inability to defend itself, let alone the country from Al Shabaab.

Attack Near Donetsk Leaves 13 Soldiers Dead in Ukraine

Thirteen Ukrainian soldiers were killed when their checkpoint was attacked by separatists, outside of Donetsk.

Another thirty-three soldiers were injured in the attack.

Several military vehicles were pictured burnt out, at the site of the attack.

There was no word on separatist casualties.

Witnesses said that the separatists used an armored bank truck, which the soldiers waved through the checkpoint.

As they drove through, the separatists opened fire on the troops, at point blank range, leading to a very one sided battle.

Thailand's Army Announces Coup

On Thursday, Thailand's military announced that they were taking over the country's government.

They cited failed talks to stabilize things, after six months of anti government protests, as the reasoning for their coup.

Attempts to form protests against the coup were quickly dispersed by armed soldiers, who in some cases fired into the air to make their points clear.

Troops were also quick to disperse areas that had been occupied by the protesters, for the last six months.

The army had declared martial law, on Tuesday, but had still pushed for the different political parties to come to an agreement.

Their refusal to do so led to the military's move.

Terrorist Attack in China Kills 31

Thirty-one people were killed in a terrorist attack in Urumqi, Xinjiang, China.

Thursday's attack struck at a market and wounded another ninety people.

Two cars were rammed into crowds at the market, while explosives were thrown out of the vehicles.

One of the cars exploded, killing the terrorists, before police could act.

The Xianjiang region has seen increased terrorism as tensions between Muslim Uighurs and Han Chinese grows.