Articles 5.8.2005

The Los Angeles Times (reg req'd) has an article on Staff Sgt. Juan De Dios Garcia-Arana, of the 5-5 ADA, who was killed when his Bradley Fighting vehicle came under small-arms attack in Khalidiyah on 4.30.2005. SSG Garcia-Arana moved to the U.S. from Mexico with his family in 1993, and enlisted in the Army straight out of high school in 1998. He was married and the father of a son who will have his first birthday this month. SSG Garcia-Arana has a brother also serving in Iraq. Funeral services are planned for early next week, and he will be buried in Guadalajara, Mexico. SSG Garcia-Arana was 27 years old.
=========
The Stars & Stripes has an article on additional Family Readiness Groups being established for Korea-based units. The first FRG was set up for the 2nd BCT as they deployed to Iraq. The new FRGs are designed to provide assistance for families stationed in Korea, and not necessarily being deployed again.
=========
Other news from the region:
- Knight Ridder News: U.S. military assembles better picture of prey in hunt for al-Zarqawi
- Associated Press: Iraq Finally Fills Six Cabinet Vacancies
- NY Times (reg req'd): For Some in Iraq's Sunni Minority, a Growing Sense of Alienation