Service & Sacrifice: ‘Dangerously Close’
A snapshot of the burdens being shouldered by brave U.S. troops and military families around the world.
U.S. Army soldiers board a CH-47 Chinook helicopter after a live-fire exercise at Al Asad Air Base in Iraq on July 7, 2023.
Middle East
A U.S. military helicopter crashed during a training mission in northern Iraq on Thursday, according to Reuters.
Thankfully, there were no coalition deaths or injuries when the helicopter went down in Iraq’s Makhmour region, which is about 40 miles from the city of Erbil.
The “mishap” comes on the heels of a June training accident in neighboring Syria that injured nearly two dozen American troops. We continue to pray for their full recovery.
— Operation Inherent Resolve (@CJTFOIR) July 27, 2023
In Syria, the Associated Press reports that yet another Russian fighter jet harassed an unmanned U.S. military aircraft conducting a mission against ISIS. This time, the Russian fighter jet “flew dangerously close” and subsequently fired flares at the MQ-9 Reaper drone, causing damage.
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The U.S. military immediately blasted Russia over the incident.
“We call upon the Russian forces in Syria to put an immediate end to this reckless, unprovoked, and unprofessional behavior,” said U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Alex Grynkewich, as quoted by the AP.
This week’s provocation is the latest in a series of incidents involving Russian fighter jets harassing American aircraft in Syria, where about 2,500 U.S. military personnel are deployed.
Europe
A U.S. military veteran who was released by Russia in a prisoner exchange deal made by the Biden administration last year has reportedly been wounded while fighting in Ukraine.
CBS News reports that U.S. Marine Corps veteran Trevor Reed “suffered a laceration to an extremity” while fighting against Russia for Ukraine and is expected to make a full recovery at a hospital in Germany. The Biden administration was quick to announce that Reed “was not engaged in any activities on behalf of the U.S. government.”
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Regardless of the circumstances, we pray for this wounded veteran’s swift and complete recovery.
Camp Lejeune
Three U.S. Marines who were found dead in a vehicle last weekend died of carbon monoxide poisoning, according to local authorities near Camp Lejeune in North Carolina.
The Marine Corps has identified the fallen as Lance Cpl. Merax Dockery, 23, of Pottawatomie, Oklahoma, Lance Cpl. Ivan Garcia, 23, of Naples, Florida, and Cpl. Tanner J. Kaltenberg, 19, of Madison, Wisconsin.
The three Camp Lejeune Marines who were found dead in a car 20 miles from the base died from breathing the invisible, odorless gas. https://t.co/b5j8m2JySx
— Task & Purpose (@TaskandPurpose) July 26, 2023
“Our focus is providing the necessary resources and support to those impacted by their tragic loss as they navigate this extremely difficult time,” U.S. Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Michael McWilliams said in a press release.
Please pray for all three of these grieving military families as they endure unimaginable losses.
Coming Home
The fast-attack submarine USS Hampton returned to San Diego in early July after a seven-month overseas deployment.
Military families welcome U.S. Navy sailors serving aboard the USS Hampton from a seven-month deployment as the fast-attack submarine returns to Naval Base Point Loma in California, on July 5, 2023.
Welcome home, heroes! Thank you for your service to our country.
Tom Sileo is a contributing senior editor of The Stream. He is the author of the recently released Be Bold and co-author of Three Wise Men, Brothers Forever, 8 Seconds of Courage and Fire in My Eyes. Follow Tom on Twitter @TSileo and The Stream at @Streamdotorg.
