Sunday, March 17, 2013

Iran Launches Domestic Built Destroyer in The Caspian Sea

Jamaran
Iran announced the launch of it's second completely domestic built destroyer, on Sunday.

Jamaran 2 launched into the Caspian Sea, for trials.

It is the first time that Iran has ever put a ship into the Caspian.

Weighing 1,420 tons, the ship is equipped with advanced artillery and torpedo systems, a helicopter landing pad, and is capable of carrying surface to air missiles.

Expectations are for the ship to conduct six months of trials, before being fully inducted into the Iranian navy.

In 2009, Iran launched Jamaran, their first domestically built ship.

US Army: Staff Sergeant Marc A. Scialdo

US Army Staff Sergeant Marc A. Scialdo, thirty-one of Naples, Florida, died on March 11.

He and four others were aboard a helicopter when it crashed in Kandahar, Afghanistan.

It was his second deployment.

Scialdo was assigned to the 603rd Aviation Support Battalion, 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, out of Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia.

His awards include the Air Medal and Army Commendation with Valor.

US Army: Staff Sergeant Steven P. Blass

US Army Staff Sergeant Steven P. Blass, twenty-seven of Estherville, Iowa, died on March 11.

He and four others were aboard a helicopter when it crashed in Kandahar, Afghanistan.

It was his second deployment.

Blass was assigned to the 4th Battalion, 3rd Aviation Regiment, 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, out of Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia.

His awards include the Air Medal.

US Army: Specialist Zachary L. Shannon

US Army Specialist Zachary L. Shannon, twenty-one of Dunedin, Florida, died on March 11.

He and four others were aboard a helicopter when it crashed in Kandahar, Afghanistan.

It was his first deployment.

Shannon was assigned to the 4th Battalion, 3rd Aviation Regiment, 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, out of Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia. 

US Army: Chief Warrant Officer Bryan J. Henderson

US Army Chief Warrant Officer Bryan J. Henderson, twenty-seven of Franklin, Louisiana, died on March 11.

He and four others were aboard a helicopter when it crashed in Kandahar, Afghanistan.

It was his second deployment.

Henderson was assigned to the 4th Battalion, 3rd Aviation Regiment, 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, out of Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia.

His award include the Air Medal.

US Army: Captain Sara M. Knutson

US Army Captain Sara M. Knutson, twenty-seven of Eldersburg, Maryland, died on March 11.

She and four others were aboard a helicopter when it crashed in Kandahar, Afghanistan.

It was her first deployment to Afghanistan, having arrived just last month.

The Captain had graduated from West Point, in 2007, with a law degree.

Knutson was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, out of Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia.

Saturday, March 16, 2013

Galena Fire 45% Contained

The Galena fire, which started near Fort Collins, Colorado, on Friday, has burned over one thousand acres.

Officials say that it is now forty-five percent contained.

Expectations are for all evacuations to be lifted at 20:00 MDT, but home owners should stay on alert.

Firefighters are concerned that winds, which died down on Saturday, will come back over night, and help the fire grow.

Authorities do believe that the fire was man made.

An investigation is trying to determine if it was purposeful or accidental.

US Navy: Chief Petty Officer Christian M. Pike

US Navy Chief Petty Officer Christian M. Pike, thirty-one of Peoria, Arizona, died on Wednesday, from wounds sustained.

He was wounded on March 10, in Maiwand District, Afghanistan, and had been receiving treatment in Landstuhl, Germany.

Pike was assigned to a Naval Special Warfare Unit based out of the west coast, since July 25, 2011.

US Army: Specialist David T. Proctor

US Army Specialist David T. Proctor, twenty-six of Greensboro, North Carolina, died on Wednesday, from wounds sustained.

He was wounded on March 3, in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan, and had been receiving treatment at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland.

It was his first deployment to Afghanistan, after joining the Army in August of 2011.

Proctor was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 1st Armor Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, out of Fort Stewart, Georgia.


Friday, March 15, 2013

Galena Fire Burns 800 Acres Near Fort Collins

A wildfire which started Friday morning, has grown to eight hundred acres, near Fort Collins, Colorado.

Located to the west of Horsetooth Reservoir, the Galena Fire has been pushed by winds.

Firefighters were able to save two houses and the Lory State Park visitor center.

Currently, no structures are threatened, but evacuations are in place.

Homes near the Reservoir and on that side of the park are currently under mandatory evacuation.

Officials are hoping that they'll gain control of the fire, on Saturday, and be able to allow people back to their homes.