Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–August 26, 2014. REAR ADM. JOHN KIRBY: Good afternoon, everybody. Shortly you’re going to see a statement that we’re going to issue about Secretary Hagel has — will be issuing on the progress made in international efforts to support Kurdish forces in northern Iraq. As you may recall, and[Read More…]

WASHINGTON, D.C.—(ENEWSPF)—August 25, 2014. U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to allow Illinois veterans to use their Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to pay for tuition, books and housing at the same time they are using state benefits for tuition.  The State of[Read More…]

Ceremony Held at Du Quoin State Fair Du Quoin IL –(ENEWSPF)—August 25, 2014. In the mid-1960’s many were seeking to avoid military service, or to find non-combat roles for their time in uniform.  For Michael L. Hoelscher, service was something he learned from his father, a WWII Marine.  Shortly after[Read More…]

Washington, DC—(ENEWSPF)—August 24, 2014.  The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Sgt. Christopher W. Mulalley, 26, of Eureka, Calif., died Aug. 22, in Gardez, Afghanistan, as the result of a non-combat related incident. The incident is under investigation. He was[Read More…]

Washington, DC—(ENEWSPF)—August 22, 2014. REAR ADMIRAL JOHN KIRBY: Everybody, sorry I’m late. I know I’m terribly late today. I do want to just say something right at the outset and then we’ll get to your questions. We are very concerned by the movement of a Russian convoy across Ukraine’s border.[Read More…]

Washington, DC—(ENEWSPF)—August 21, 2014. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE CHUCK HAGEL: Good afternoon, everybody. As the U.S. Central Command continues to provide regular updates about our military support to Iraq and Kurdish forces, this afternoon, I want to say a few words about what this assistance has accomplished over the last two[Read More…]

Washington, DC—(ENEWSPF)—August 21, 2014. The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Sgt. 1st Class Matthew I. Leggett, 39, of Ruskin, Florida, died Aug. 20, in Kabul, Afghanistan, of injuries received when he was engaged by the enemy. He was assigned[Read More…]

Washington, DC—(ENEWSPF)—August 20, 2014. Pentagon Press Secretary Rear Adm. Kirby provided the following statement: The United States attempted a rescue operation recently to free a number of American hostages held in Syria by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). This operation involved air and ground components and[Read More…]

Washington, DC—(ENEWSPF)—August 19, 2014. REAR ADMIRAL JOHN KIRBY: Afternoon, everybody. I do not have anything to open with today, so we’ll just go to questions. Barb? Q: Can you talk about why the secretary is now asking for more information about the Pentagon program to transfer military equipment to local[Read More…]

Washington, DC—(ENEWSPF)—August 18, 2014. Over the past 72 hours, at the request of the Iraqi government, the U.S. military used fighters, bombers, attack, and unmanned aircraft to conduct 35 strikes that eliminated ISIL positions in and around the Mosul Dam complex. In all, we destroyed over 90 targets including a[Read More…]