WHITEHOUSE NEWS9

Obama Leads Americans in Observing Memorial Day

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY, Va., May 30, 2011 - The lessons of Memorial Day can be summed up in a few words, President Barack Obama said here today: "Brotherhood. Sacrifice. Love of country."

The president spoke at the Memorial Amphitheatre by the Tomb of the Unknowns. It is a white marble paean to the sacrifices of generations of American service members.

In introducing the president, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said that for too many Americans, Memorial Day is just a respite from work. "But we must never forget that it is, foremost, an occasion to reflect, remember and to honor the brave men and women who have fought and died for us," he said.

It also is a day to remember the sacrifices of military family members, "who in recent years have borne the brunt of repeated deployments, long partings and the fear of receiving the knock on the door with the worst of all possible news," Gates said.

The secretary urged all Americans to remember that service members "deserve our recognition, our respect and our conscious gratitude. Every soldier, sailor, airman, Marine and Coast Guardsman wearing the uniform today enlisted or reenlisted knowing they would serve in time of war."

The secretary will leave office at the end of June. "I know this will be my final opportunity to stand and speak in this hallowed place and pay tribute to the fallen," he said. "It is up to us to be worthy of their sacrifice – in the decisions we make, the priorities we set, the support we provide to troops, veterans, and their families. For the rest of my life, I will keep these brave patriots and their loved ones in my heart and in my prayers."

Obama spoke of the privilege it is to commemorate Memorial Day with thousands who have come to pay their respects, including service members and Gold Star families.

"To those of you who mourn the loss of a loved one today, my heart goes out to you," he said. "This day is about you, and the fallen heroes that you loved. And it's a day that has meaning for all Americans, including me. It's one of my highest honors, it is my most solemn responsibility as president, to serve as commander-in-chief of one of the finest fighting forces the world has ever known."

The responsibility carries a special weight, Obama said, adding that he sometimes receives letters in response to his condolence letters. "I received one such letter from an Army veteran named Paul Tarbox after I visited Arlington a couple of years ago," he said. "Paul saw a photograph of me walking through Section 60, where the heroes who fell in Iraq and Afghanistan lay, by a headstone marking the final resting place of Staff Sergeant Joe Phaneuf.

"Joe, he told me, was a friend of his, one of the best men he'd ever known, the kind of guy who could have the entire barracks in laughter, who was always there to lend a hand, from being a volunteer coach to helping build a playground. It was a moving letter, and Paul closed it with a few words about the hallowed cemetery where we are gathered here today.

"He wrote, 'The venerable warriors that slumber there knew full well the risks that are associated with military service, and felt pride in defending our democracy. The true lesson of Arlington is that each headstone is that of a patriot. Each headstone shares a story.'"

Each of them adds honor to what it means to be a soldier, sailor, airman, Marine, and Coast Guardsman, Obama said. "Each is a link in an unbroken chain that stretches back to the earliest days of our republic – and on this day, we memorialize them all."

The nation remembers the earliest patriots who died giving America independence and those who died saving the Union, the president said. "We memorialize those who gave their lives on the battlefields of our times -- from Normandy to Manila, Inchon to Khe Sanh, Baghdad to Helmand, and in jungles, deserts, and city streets around the world.

"What bonds this chain together across the generations, this chain of honor and sacrifice, is not only a common cause – our country's cause – but also a spirit captured in a Book of Isaiah, a familiar verse, mailed to me by the Gold Star parents of Second Lieutenant Mike McGahan. 'When I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?' And I said, 'Here I am. Send me.'"

The nation and every American owes a debt to these men and women that cannot be repaid. "But we can honor their sacrifice, and we must," he said. "We must honor it in our own lives by holding their memories close to our hearts, and heeding the example they set. And we must honor it as a nation by keeping our sacred trust with all who wear America's uniform, and the families who love them; by never giving up the search for those who've gone missing under our country's flag or are held as prisoners of war; by serving our patriots as well as they serve us -- from the moment they enter the military, to the moment they leave it, to the moment they are laid to rest."

The president spoke about two Naval Academy roommates who grew as close as brothers – Travis Manion and Brendan Looney. After graduation, Manion, a Marine, went to Iraq and Looney, a Navy SEAL, went to Korea.

"On April 29, 2007, while fighting to rescue his fellow Marines from danger, Travis was killed by a sniper," Obama said. "Brendan did what he had to do – he kept going. He poured himself into his SEAL training, and dedicated it to the friend that he missed. He married the woman he loved. And, his tour in Korea behind him, he deployed to Afghanistan. On September 21st of last year, Brendan gave his own life, along with eight others, in a helicopter crash.

"Heartbroken, yet filled with pride, the Manions and the Looneys knew only one way to honor their sons' friendship – they moved Travis from his cemetery in Pennsylvania and buried them side by side here at Arlington."
 

Obama Announces Troop Reductions, Way Forward in Afghanistan

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, June 22, 2011 - Thanks to the tremendous progress U.S., coalition and Afghan troops have made, the United States will draw down the number of troops in Afghanistan by 10,000 this year and 33,000 by the end of summer 2012, President Barack Obama said here tonight.

 

Thanks to the tremendous progress U.S., coalition and Afghan troops have made, the United States will draw down the number of troops in Afghanistan by 10,000 this year and 33,000 by the end of summer 2012, President Barack Obama said June 22, 2012. DOD screen grab (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

"The tide of war is receding," the president said during an address to the nation from the White House. "Fewer of our sons and daughters are serving in harm's way."

In a statement released by the Pentagon following the presiden'ts announcement, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said the president's decision capitalizes on the security successes.

"Over the past 18 months our troops have made tremendous progress degrading the capability of the Taliban while enhancing the Afghan security forces," Gates said. "It is critical that we continue to aggressively prosecute that strategy. I support the President's decision because it provides our commanders with enough resources, time and, perhaps most importantly, flexibility to bring the surge to a successful conclusion."

 

When completed in September 2012, the drawdown will remove the last of the plus-up of forces in Afghanistan that Obama ordered in December 2009 during a speech at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y.

In that same speech, the president announced the new Afghan strategy, which  was to focus on al-Qaida, reverse the Taliban's momentum and to train Afghan security forces. He also announced that the drawdown would begin in July 2011.

Obama said his announcement tonight is proof that the strategy is working. "Thanks to our men and women in uniform, our civilian personnel, and our many coalition partners, we are meeting our goals," he said. When the first stage of the drawdown is complete in September 2012, the surge will be over.

U.S. troops will continue to drawdown as Afghan security forces take the lead for protecting their own country. As this continues, the U.S. mission will switch from combat to support.

"By 2014, this process of transition will be complete, and the Afghan people will be responsible for their own security," Obama said.

The United States ended its combat role in Iraq last year and there are now about 45,000 U.S. troops in Iraq providing training and support to Iraqi security forces. The reduction of 33,000 troops by the end of summer 2012 will mean about 65,000 Americans in Afghanistan.

"Even as there will be dark days ahead in Afghanistan, the light of a secure peace can be seen in the distance," Obama said. "These long wars will come to a responsible end."

Obama said the past 10 years have been difficult for America. "We have learned anew the profound cost of war -- a cost that has been paid by the nearly 4,500 Americans who have given their lives in Iraq, and the over 1,500 who have done so in Afghanistan – men and women who will not live to enjoy the freedom that they defended," he said. "Thousands more have been wounded. Some have lost limbs on the field of battle, and others still battle the demons that have followed them home."

The president pledged that America will honor the sacrifices of so many and keep the sacred trust to provide the families of the fallen, those wounded and the veterans of the conflict "the care, and benefits, and opportunity that you deserve."

In a background briefing before the speech, senior administration officials said the president's decision had the full support of the national security team. Army Gen. David Petraeus, the commander of NATO's International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan, presented the president with a range of options and the risks associated with each.

"I think there's a broad understanding among the national security team that there's an imperative to both consolidate the gains that have been made and continue our efforts to train Afghan security forces and partner with them in going after the Taliban, while also being very serious about the process of transition and the drawdown of our forces," the official said.

The drawdown begins from a position of strength, Obama said. Al-Qaida and its Taliban allies are under tremendous pressure. Navy SEALs killed Osama bin Laden in Pakistan and more than half of al-Qaida's leadership has been killed or captured.

"In Afghanistan, we've inflicted serious losses on the Taliban and taken a number of its strongholds," the president said. "Along with our surge, our allies also increased their commitments, which helped stabilize more of the country. Afghan security forces have grown by over 100,000 troops, and in some provinces and municipalities we have already begun to transition responsibility for security to the Afghan people."

Everything is not rosy, the president said, and the United States remains committed to preserving the gains made and expanding on them. "We do know that peace cannot come to a land that has known so much war without a political settlement," he said. "So as we strengthen the Afghan government and security forces, America will join initiatives that reconcile the Afghan people, including the Taliban." Any reconciliation will be done with Afghans in the lead.

"The goal that we seek is achievable, and can be expressed simply: no safe-haven from which al-Qaida or its affiliates can launch attacks against our homeland, or our allies," the president said.

"We will not try to make Afghanistan a perfect place. We will not police its streets or patrol its mountains indefinitely. That is the responsibility of the Afghan government, which must step up its ability to protect its people; and move from an economy shaped by war to one that can sustain a lasting peace," Obama said. "What we can do, and will do, is build a partnership with the Afghan people that endures – one that ensures that we will be able to continue targeting terrorists and supporting a sovereign Afghan government."

The president also addressed the terrorist threat that resides in Pakistan. "No country is more endangered by the presence of violent extremists, which is why we will continue to press Pakistan to expand its participation in securing a more peaceful future for this war-torn region," he said.

The United States will continue to work with Pakistani leaders to go after terrorists. "We will insist that it keep its commitments," he said. "For there should be no doubt that so long as I am president, the United States will never tolerate a safe-haven for those who aim to kill us: they cannot elude us, nor escape the justice they deserve."

The president stressed that America's strength overseas is anchored by prosperity and opportunity at home. "Over the last decade, we have spent a trillion dollars on war, at a time of rising debt and hard economic times," he said. "Now, we must invest in America's greatest resource – our people. We must unleash innovation that creates new jobs and industry, while living within our means."

He said the nation needs to rebuild its infrastructure and find new and clean sources of energy. "Most of all, after a decade of passionate debate, we must recapture the common purpose that we shared at the beginning of this time of war," he said. "For our nation draws strength from our differences, and when our union is strong no hill is too steep and no horizon is beyond our reach.

"America, it is time to focus on nation building here at home," he said.

Obama Visits Fort Drum, Thanks 10th Mountain Troops

By Steve Ghiringhelli, Fort Drum Public Affairs Office
American Forces Press Service

FORT DRUM, N.Y. , June 23, 2011 - The day after announcing a drawdown of troops from Afghanistan, President Barack Obama visited Fort Drum to thank members of an Army division that was among the first to deploy units following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

 

President Barack Obama shakes hands and thanks soldiers for their dedicated service to the nation after speaking inside the 10th Combat Aviation Brigade's dining facilities at Fort Drum, N.Y., June 23, 2011. The soldiers, assigned to the 10th Mountain Division's 1st Brigade Combat Team, were among the first to serve in Afghanistan following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

"I don't want to give a long speech, because I want to spend most of my time just shaking hands and thanking all of you," Obama told a small gathering of 10th Mountain Division soldiersJune 23, 2011, during his first official visit to Fort Drum.

 

The soldiers of 1st Brigade Combat Team, which returned earlier this year from its deployment to northern Afghanistan, sat in complete silence as they awaited the commander in chief's arrival at the 10th Combat Aviation Brigade dining facility. It was soldiers from the brigade's 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, who provided a quick reaction force in Afghanistan immediately following 9/11, ultimately helping to overthrow the Taliban-run regime that harbored al-Qaida terrorists.

Once the president was announced, he was introduced to the 150 soldiers by the brigade's commander, Col. Willard "Bill" Burleson.

"Sir, it's a great privilege to share these great soldiers here with you today," Burleson said. "They represent about 4,000 of the first elements of (last year's surge) in Afghanistan."

The president thanked Burleson for his hard work and leadership and then spoke about his decision last year to deploy an additional 30,000 troops into Afghanistan, calling it one of the toughest decisions he has made as president.

"The only reason I was able to make that decision was because I knew that we had the finest fighting force in the world, and that if I gave a command to our troops, they would be able to accomplish that mission," the president said. "The 10th Mountain Division ... (were) the first folks to go in after that order was given.

"And that's not surprising," he added, "because you guys were also some of the first folks to go in right after 9/11."

During his televised address to the nation Wednesday night, Obama announced that 10,000 troops will redeploy to the U.S. this year and that a total of 33,000 -- roughly the number of troops sent to Afghanistan last year -- will return by next summer. As Afghan security forces move into the lead, the president said, American troops will continue steadily coming home until 2014, when the U.S. mission completes its transition from combat to support.

He also stated that it was time for America to rethink some of its national security policies, cautioning that the U.S. is in need of some "nation building" of its own.

"Already, this decade of war has caused many to question the nature of America's engagement around the world," he said during his primetime speech. "Some would have America retreat from our responsibility as an anchor of global security and embrace an isolation that ignores the very real threats that we face. Others would have America over-extended, confronting every evil that can be found abroad.

"We must chart a more centered course," the president noted.

Currently, the 10th Mountain Division's headquarters leads coalition forces in Regional Command - South in Kandahar, Afghanistan. In addition, three of the division's six brigades are deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom -- 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Brigade Combat Team and 10th Combat Aviation Brigade.

It brings the total number of 10th Mountain Division soldiers serving in Afghanistan to more than 10,000.

Meanwhile, the 10th Sustainment Brigade is readying to deploy to Afghanistan this fall.

Obama said his respect for the 10th Mountain Division's storied past goes back to his days at the U.S. Senate.

"I've always run into you guys -- and for some reason, it's always in some rough spots," he said. "You guys have always been there in the toughest fights. The fact that you are continuing, even as we speak, and that many of your comrades are there right now under some very tough circumstances, (demonstrates) your dedication and your patriotism."

In order to sustain their accomplishments so far in the war-torn country, the president assured soldiers that his plan to decrease the number of troops in Afghanistan would not be done "precipitously."

"Because of what you have done, areas like Kandahar are more secure than they have been in years," Obama said. "Because of you, we are now taking the fight to the Taliban, instead of the Taliban bringing the fight to us. Because of you, there are signs that the Taliban may be interested in figuring out political settlements.

"It's also because of you that we have a platform to be able to go after bin Laden and al-Qaida, and we have decimated their ranks," he said.

Obama said even with his planned drawdown, tough work lies ahead.

"The American people understand the sacrifices you are making; they understand the sacrifices that your Families are making," he said. "But there's still some fighting to be done. And frankly, the 10th Mountain Division is still going to be represented there until we have fully transferred to the Afghan military and security forces.

"You guys are the tip of the spear," Obama continued. "You guys are the ones that keep us safe each and every day. For all of the sacrifices you have made, I want to say thank you. For all of the sacrifices your Families have made, I want to say thank you.

"I have no greater job -- nothing gives me more honor -- than serving as your commander in chief. To all of you who are potentially going to be (deployed again), just know that your commander in chief has your back."

Before boarding Air Force One at Wheeler-Sack Army Airfield, Obama met privately inside the Rapid Deployment Facility with family members of fallen soldiers.

Dr. Biden Thanks Sailors for Service, Sacrifice

By Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr.
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, June 24, 2011 - Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, today visited with military members serving aboard the USS Ramage that's anchored off the southern coast of Greece.

Biden is in Greece to lead the U.S. delegation at the Special Olympics in Athens.

"I am looking forward to watching the games and cheering the incredible athletes," she said in her prepared remarks. "But I never miss a chance to visit with members of the military and their families, so I was thrilled when Secretary [of the Navy Ray] Mabus invited me to spend time with you here on the USS Ramage."

Biden used the opportunity to reassure the sailors that their loved ones are thinking about them and anticipating their return.

"I am inspired by all of you. And I am inspired by your families," she said. "Whether they are your wives or girlfriends, your moms and dads, your children or your grandparents -- they all think about you every day. And they await your safe return home."

The USS Ramage, commanded by Navy Cmdr. Erik J. Eslich, deployed last month from Naval Station Norfolk, Va. The destroyer, and its 250 crew members, operates in the Sixth Fleet area of responsibility, where it provides deterrence and humanitarian and disaster response as necessary, promotes peace and security, and preserves freedom of the seas.

Biden, whose son had deployed to Iraq with the Delaware National Guard, also let the group know they have advocates working tirelessly to ensure the American public doesn't forget them or their families.

"I know that you cannot focus on your job here unless you know your families back home are taken care of," she said.

Biden said she and first lady Michelle Obama are "working hard to make sure the country understands what you do. And we are encouraging individuals, groups and businesses to join forces with us to support you and your families.

"The first lady and I are spreading the word to all Americans that everyone can play a part in making our military families feel appreciated and supported," Biden added.

As Biden finished her remarks, she thanked the military members for their service to the nation.

"On behalf of the president, the first lady, my husband Joe and myself, I want to thank you for your service and your sacrifice. The work that each and every one of you does is critical to our national security," she said.

"You and your families make us proud -- and I am honored to have the chance to visit with you today."
 

First Lady Salutes Troops, Families in Vermont

By Cheryl Pellerin
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, July 1, 2011 - National Guard and reserve members and their families deserve the thanks and support of a grateful nation, first lady Michelle Obama said in Vermont yesterday.

As part of her campaign to support military families, Obama spoke to military and other guests at the Vermont Army National Guard's Aviation Support Facility in South Burlington.

"After meeting so many troops and veterans, after meeting so many spouses and children and parents, I can say with complete authority that you all are absolutely incredible," Obama told the audience.

Reservists and Guard members, Obama said, rescue people from floods and hurricanes, clear roads during blizzards and serve in Iraq and Afghanistan alongside their active-duty counterparts.

Last year, she said, the Vermont National Guard experienced its largest deployment since World War II.

"Mary Small from Colchester knows a thing or two about all of this," she said. "She is this year's Northeast Military Family Member of the Year. Her husband, Phil, is an air ambulance pilot currently deployed in Iraq."

While her husband is gone, Mary runs her household, takes care of their 10-year-old daughter, co-leads a family readiness group, runs fundraisers for Guard families, leads a Girl Scout troop and serves as treasurer of the PTA at her daughter's school, Obama said.

"Military families like Mary's represent the best of America," the first lady said. "And you all juggle everything with such dignity and grace that most Americans never realize what you're going through."

In April, Obama and Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, launched an initiative called Joining Forces. The initiative, the first lady said, asks communities and businesses to help military families.

"Our motto is very simple," Obama said. "Everyone can do something."

At the direction of President Barack Obama, every federal agency is helping in the effort to meet nearly 50 goals, the first lady said, to include "everything from improving access to mental health care and child care to helping spouses and veterans find jobs."

Companies and nonprofits also can help, Obama said, noting that when military spouses move to new duty stations, "companies like Sears and Kmart and Sam's Club are working to ensure that those spouses have a job waiting for them when they get to their new station."

Siemens has set aside a percentage of open positions for veterans, she added, and 16,000 veterans and spouses will start small businesses thanks to the SCORE Foundation and partners such as Wal-Mart, Cisco, Hewlett-Packard and Microsoft.

A nonprofit organization called Reach Out and Read is distributing 400,000 books to military children, and the PTA and the Military Child Education Coalition are helping schools better understand military children's needs.

"At the Clarendon Elementary School right here in Vermont, students made their own care packages," Obama said. The students recorded a song for troops in harm's way, she said, and filled hand-colored boxes with notes and red, white and blue candy.

Such stories, Obama said, "show us that you do not have to be the first lady of the United States or a [chief executive officer] or a general to get involved in this effort, because no one can do everything, but everyone can do something."

The first lady reiterated her pledge to support the nation's military families, noting she wants them "to know that we have you in our hearts, we have you in our prayers, and we have your back."
 

President Praises Troops During July 4 Event at White House

By Cheryl Pellerin
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, July 4, 2011 - Military service members attending the White House Independence Day celebration represent the latest in a long line of heroes who have served the United States with honor and sacrificed much to protect the freedoms all Americans enjoy, President Barack Obama said here today.

 

President Barack Obama, accompanied by First Lady Michelle, speaks to troops and family members at an Independence Day event at the White House, July 4, 2011. DOD screen grab (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

"I cannot think of anybody I would rather celebrate with than all of you," the president said, "the men and women of our military and our extraordinary military families."

Obama and his wife and children hosted a traditional Fourth of July celebration for members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard. About 1,200 service members and their families attended the White House event, which included a barbeque, a USO show featuring Train and Amos Lee and a viewing of the national capital fireworks.

"After all that you do for our country every day, we wanted to give you a chance to get out of uniform, relax a little bit and have some fun," Obama told the troops. "But of course it's also a time for us to reflect on the meaning of America."

The small band of patriots who signed the Declaration of Independence might be surprised to see their legacy, Obama said, including a nation that's led revolutions in commerce, sent people to the moon, lifted up the poor, cured the sick, fought for democracy and served as a beacon of hope around the world.

"All this could only happen because of our founders' central faith that through democracy and individual rights ordinary people have it within their means to forge a nation that's more just and more equal and more free," Obama said.

Every service member is heir to that legacy, the president added, introducing five heroes, one from each service.

While on patrol in Iraq, Army Sgt. 1st Class Justin Gang's convoy was struck by a roadside bomb and fell under enemy fire, Obama said.

"Even after being wounded by shrapnel himself, he helped secure the scene and evacuate his wounded comrades to safety and today we honor his extraordinary courage," he added.

Nigeria-born Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Obi Nwagwu, a hospital corpsman, became an American citizen and volunteered to serve in the U.S. military.

"As an orthopedic technician, he helps our wounded warriors regain their strength and resume their lives back home," Obama said. "Today we honor his incredible dedication."

Whether it's partnering with the Iraqi army or making sure our troops have shelter in some of the toughest places on the planet, Obama said, Air Force Master Sgt. Heather Adkins "knows how to get things done and today we honor her tireless devotion."

Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Robert "Keith" Kesterson rushed through enemy fire to free a fellow Marine trapped inside a burning vehicle, the president said.

"After untangling the Marine's equipment, he extinguished the flames and pulled him to safety, and today we honor his unyielding loyalty," Obama added.

Less than 24 hours after the devastating 2010 earthquake in Haiti, the president said, Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Marlene Riklon was on the scene helping direct aid and save lives in the midst of chaos.

Today, Obama said, "we honor her incredible dedication."

These patriots and their fellow service members, the president said, are the reason why America and its armed forces "remain the greatest force for peace and security that the world has ever known."

Together, he added, "you're standing with all of those throughout the world who are reaching for the same freedoms and the same liberties that we celebrate today." 

 

White House Reverses Policy on Suicide Condolence Letters

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, July 6, 2011 - President Barack Obama and Defense Department officials will send condolence letters to the families of service members who commit suicide in a war zone.

The change is in keeping with administration efforts to remove the stigma of mental health treatment, an administration official said on background.

The president last year ordered a review of the long-held policy of not sending condolence letters to the next of kin of those who commit suicide in war zones. White House officials yesterday announced the policy change allowing for condolence letters to be sent. The president made his decision after consulting with the defense secretary and members of the military chain of command.

"As commander in chief, I am deeply grateful for the service of all our men and women in uniform, and grieve for the loss of those who suffer from the wounds of war - seen and unseen," Obama said in a statement released this morning. "Since taking office, I've been committed to removing the stigma associated with the unseen wounds of war, which is why I've worked to expand our mental health budgets, and ensure that all our men and women in uniform receive the care they need."

Defense leaders will follow the president's lead. "The administration will now send condolence letters to families of service members who commit suicide while deployed to Operation New Dawn, Operation Enduring Freedom and other combat operations," Pentagon spokesman Marine Col. Dave Lapan said.

"This issue is emotional, painful, and complicated, but these Americans served our nation bravely," Obama said in his statement. "They didn't die because they were weak. And the fact that they didn't get the help they needed must change."

U.S. service members have borne an incredible burden of war, Obama said. "We need to do everything in our power to honor their service, and to help them stay strong for themselves, for their families and for our nation," he said.

Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has long favored sending condolence letters to the next of kin of those who committed suicide, a Joint Staff official said on background.

Other military leaders also spoke in favor of the decision, including Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Peter Chiarelli. In a blog posting on the White House site, the general said the greatest regret of his military career was not recognizing the sacrifice of a soldier in Iraq.

Chiarelli commanded the 1st Cavalry Division in Iraq from 2004 to 2005. "I lost 169 soldiers during that year-long deployment," he wrote in the blog. "However, the monument we erected at Fort Hood, Texas, in memoriam lists 168 names. I approved the request of others not to include the name of the one soldier who committed suicide. I deeply regret my decision."

Service members are tired and stretched, Chiarelli said. "The persistent high operational tempo of this war, the terrible things some have seen or experienced in combat, have undoubtedly taken a toll on them," he said. "Many are struggling with the 'invisible wounds' of this war, including traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress, depression and anxiety. Any attempt to characterize these individuals as somehow weaker than others is simply misguided."

Even with leaders' emphasis on getting mental health help, a stigma persists, Chiarelli said. "We remain committed to raising awareness, helping individuals increase their resiliency while ensuring they have access to the right support services and resources," he said. "That said, if we hope to truly have an impact, we must continue to do everything we can to eliminate the stigma."

The president's decision acknowledges that the service rendered by these individuals, as well as the service and sacrifices made by their family, deserve the same recognition given to those men and women who die as a result of enemy action, Chiarelli said.

"Since the start of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan nearly a decade ago, over 6,000 men and women have paid the ultimate price for freedom," he said. "Every day we have honored those fallen in combat. Now, in accordance with our commander in chief, we will honor all those who have fallen in service to our great nation."

President Calls for Balanced Defense Spending Cuts

By Terri Moon Cronk
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, July 7, 2011 - Though he is committed to cutting the Defense Department budget as part of the overall reduction in the federal deficit, U.S.security and strategic needs must drive the effort, President Barack Obama said yesterday in his first Twitter town hall meeting.

Obama said he conducted the meeting to find out what the public thinks about how to reduce the federal deficit, what costs should be cut and which investments should be kept.

Responding to suggestions for cuts in the defense budget, the president said that is not an easy task.

"We can't simply lop off 25 percent off the defense budget overnight," he said. "We have to think about all the obligations we have to our troops who are in the field, and making sure they're properly equipped and safe." The need to replace outdated military equipment is another budget consideration, the president added.

"We've ended the war in Iraq, our combat mission there, and all our troops are slated to be out by the end of this year," Obama said. And as Afghan forces take more responsibility for their country's security, he added, U.S. forces will draw down there as well. But drawing down forces and beginning a new phase in Afghanistan must be done "fairly gradually," he said.

Obama said that while decisions to cut defense spending will be tough, a reduction requires a balanced approach, as with any government program, to shrink the overall federal budget.

"Those who say that we can't cut military at all haven't spent a lot of time looking at military budgets," he added.

However, the president said, the reductions must take place with the nation's security in mind.

"One of the things that we have to do is make sure that we do it in a thoughtful way that's guided by our security and our strategic needs," he said. "And I think we can accomplish that."

Obama Awards Medal of Honor to Army Ranger

By Lisa Daniel
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, July 12, 2011 - President Barack Obama today awarded the country's highest military honor to Sgt. 1st Class Leroy A. Petry, an Army Ranger who was shot in both legs and had his hand blown off while saving his fellow soldiers during a firefight in Afghanistan.

 

Army Sgt. 1st Class Leroy A. Petry received the Medal of Honor at a July 12, 2011, White House ceremony for conspicuous gallantry in combat. U.S. Army photo (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

Petry became only the second living veteran of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq to receive the award, which Obama presented during a White House ceremony attended by Petry, his wife and four children, and more than a hundred of his family members, mostly from his native New Mexico.

 

Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Marine Corps Gen. James E. Cartwright, Army Secretary John M. McHugh and Army Chief of Staff Gen. Martin E. Dempsey also attended the ceremony, as did the members of the legendary Delta Company, 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, with which Petry served.

Calling Petry, 31, "a true hero," Obama recounted how the soldier was on his seventh combat deployment in Afghanistan on May 26, 2008, when he took part in a high-risk daytime operation to capture an insurgent leader in a compound in Paktia province, near the Pakistan border.

As helicopters delivered Petry and the other Rangers into the area, they were met with heavy automatic weapons fire. Petry and Sgt. Lucas Robinson were wounded as they moved to secure a back courtyard. The two found cover behind a chicken coop and were joined by Sgt. Daniel Higgins, a team leader, who was assessing their wounds when an enemy grenade injured Robinson and Higgins.

Two more Rangers, Staff Sgt. James Roberts and Spc. Christopher Gathercole, came to help just as another grenade was lobbed at the unit.

"Every human impulse would tell a person to turn away," Obama said. "Every soldier is trained to seek cover. That's what Sergeant Petry could have done." Instead, he said, Petry did something extraordinary: he picked up the grenade to throw it back.

"What compels a person to risk everything so that others might live?" the president asked. He said the "roots of Leroy's valor are all around us" in the presence of his parents, four brothers, and other family members. Obama said Petry answered the question while meeting with him before the ceremony, saying that his fellow soldiers are his brothers, and he protected them just as he would his family.

"With that selfless act, Leroy saved two of his Ranger brothers, and they are with us today," he said.

Petry, shot in both legs by assault-rifle fire, picked up the grenade to throw it back at the enemy, and it detonated, amputating his right hand. Still, Obama said, Petry "remained calm, put on his own tourniquet, and continued to lead, even telling medics how to treat his wounds."

Today, Petry has a small plaque attached to his prosthetic arm with names of the 75th Regiment's fallen, including Gathercole, who was killed in the operation for which Petry was honored. Obama paid tribute to Gathercole's family at today's ceremony.

"Leroy Petry shows us that true heroes still exist, and they are closer than you think," the president said. "There are heroes all around us. They are the millions in uniform who have served for the past 10 years." They are the force behind the force, the president added, citing Ashley Petry, who kept their family "Army strong" while her husband was deployed.

Petry, who enlisted in 1999 and also served two deployments in Iraq, could have retired with honors. Instead, Obama said, he chose to re-enlist indefinitely, and recently completed his eighth deployment in Afghanistan, despite continuing to struggle with his wounds.

"His service speaks to the very essence of America: no matter how hard the journey, no matter how steep the climb, we don't give up," the president said.
 

White House Launches SAVE Award Competition

By Cheryl Pellerin
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, July 14, 2011 - The White House's third annual SAVE Award competition launched today as part of the Obama administration's ongoing effort to modernize government.

Through the Saving Americans Value and Efficiency award program, federal employees have submitted more than 56,000 cost-cutting ideas over the past two years to the Office of Management and Budget for review.

Beth McGrath, the Defense Department's deputy chief management officer, encouraged the department's military and civilian work force to take advantage of the opportunity to submit their ideas.

"We are relying on our military members and civilian employees around the world to rise to the president's challenge again this year and submit innovative ideas for how we can operate the department more efficiently and effectively," she said. "This is an excellent opportunity to be heard at the highest levels."

The goal this year is to give every federal employee a chance to submit suggestions through the SAVE Award website about how their agency can save money and perform better, officials said.

The winner will be invited to the White House to present his or her idea to President Barack Obama, officials added, and dozens of other ideas will be included in the president's next budget submission.

Federal agencies will solicit submissions until July 29, and finalists will be chosen in September.