Articles 3.16.2005

The North County Times, CA has an article on the funeral service for Spc. Wade Twyman, of the 1-9th, who was killed in Ramadi on 3.4.2005. Several hundred family members and friends attended the service, including many firefighters and police officers in full uniform. Spc Twyman had been a correctional officer and deputy sheriff before joining the Army, and his father and brother are both in public service. He had joined the Army in 2003, in part due to the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Spc Twyman was 27 years old.
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FOX 11 News, AZ, (with video report) and The Tucson, AZ, Citizen have articles on Army Spc. Nicholas Wilson, of the 44th Engineers, who was killed in Ramadi on 3.11.2005. Spc Wilson enlisted in 2003 and had spent 15 months in Korea before redeploying to Iraq. Funeral arrangements are still pending.
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The Chicago Tribune (reg req'd) has an article describing the Al Asad airbase, where "up to 1,200 Marines moved in and out through the base each day" during the changeover of command between the 1st MEF and 2nd MEF. Many of the Marines wait up to a week at the base before depature home.
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A Multi-National Force Iraq news release discusses the 2nd Marine Logistics Brigade (Forward) as they assume command from the 1st Force Service Support Group. The battalion is responsible for logistic support for the entire 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force.
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Other articles from the region:
- CNN.com: Iraq assembly meets amid blasts
- Associated Press: Iraq's Shiites look for a Sunni candidate ahead of parliament meeting
- Washington Post (reg req'd): Iraq's New National Assembly Meets for First Time
- Washington Post (reg req'd): 2 Years After Invasion, Poll Data Mixed
- USA Today: Most Iraqis say future looks brighter
- Associated Press: What's Next for Iraq's Government
- Reuters: Iraq Rebuilding Is Major Corruption Risk -- Report