Salem-News.com Oregon Guard articles Page 6

Oregon Governor Responds to Anti-Deployment Vigil and Fast

Governor Ted Kulongoski tells Michele Darr from Operation Homebound that he will meet with her group Wednesday.

(SALEM, Ore.) - In a developing story, Oregon's Governor says he will meet with the woman who started the peace vigil and fast on Oregon's capitol steps called Camp Homebound.

Michele Darr says she was sitting at the state library today checking her email, when someone tapped on her shoulder. It was Paul Evans and Danny Santos from Governor Kulongoski's office.

Evans said, "The Governor is up the hall and he would like to have a few words with you." Darr said she was pleasantly surprised and followed the two aids into an office in the state library. Darr said the Governor was friendly and warm and asked her, "What are you bringing forward today?"

Oregon Air Guard`s First African-American General is Promoted (PHOTOS)

Maj. Gen. Dean is Oregon's first African-American two-star. He also was the first African-American Guardsmen in Oregon to attain the rank of colonel, and eventually, brigadier general.

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - A 13-year member of the Oregon Air National Guard was promoted to major general during a ceremony at the Pentagon's Hall of Heroes, Dec. 8th 2008, here.

Maj. Gen. Garry C. Dean, who has been working with the Air Force Inspector General's office at the Pentagon since February 2008, drew accolades from his colleagues and supervisors during the morning ceremony.

"He defines total force," said Lt. Gen. Ronald F. Sams, Inspector General of the Air Force. "Garry Dean is a highly-experienced commander who served in numerous positions throughout the Oregon Guard and the Air Force, all of which accents his leadership resume."

`Camp Homebound` Peace Activists Meet With Oregon Officials (VIDEO)

The group was told that if a million Oregonians got behind their effort, they might be able to stop the scheduled deployment to Iraq.

(SALEM, Ore.) - Members of a peace vigil called 'Camp Homebound', organized to prevent Oregon Guard forces from deploying to Iraq next year, spent time with Oregon state officials Friday in a highly anticipated meeting where the group was allowed to express its point of view.

Members of the 24-hour fast and vigil say the meeting leaves them with hope. Darr said she was moderately surprised that state officials allowed the meeting to take place, but she also says she has been confident that they would. She says she will continue this effort until they can effect a change.

Portland Air Guard Base‏ Range to Receive Environmental Assessment

A final Qualitative Assessment Report will be prepared and delivered to the Portland Air Guard, Air Force Center for Engineering and the Environment, as well as the Air National Guard Headquarters in early 2009.

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - Weston Solutions, Inc. will be conducting an environmental assessment of the Small Arms Range and Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Proficiency Unit at the Portland Air National Guard Base, located at the Portland International Airport in Multnomah County, Oregon.

Oregon Guard officials with the 142nd Fighter Wing say the assessment is part of a Department of Defense- wide initiative to determine the potential for munitions constituents to migrate off military installations towards human receptors.

DOD Directive 4715.11 requires all DOD components to assess the potential for munitions migration at every operational range (air-to-ground ranges, small arms ranges, grenade ranges, machine gun ranges, EOD units, etc.).

One Year Later

Oregonians remember and learn from all the good that was done last year and Oregon Emergency Management is encouraging people to prepare in case something like the Great Coastal Gale happens again.

(SALEM, Ore.) - It has been called "the Great Coastal Gale of 2007". Just two days in December of last year that many of us will remember for a long time.

Oregon Guard Adds Helicopter in Search for Missing Brothers‏

Two anglers have been missing since Sunday; one is only 8-years old.

(SALEM, Ore,) - The Oregon Guard reports that one OH-58 Kiowa helicopter piloted by Chief Warrant Officer Mike Cataldo was preparing to depart the Army Aviation Support Facility #1 in Salem, Oregon at 12:30 PM, en route to Independence where it will join in the search for the two missing fishermen.

The Army National Guard Kiowa and crew is responding to a request from the Polk County Sheriff's Office. The helicopter and crew were expected to be on scene no later than 1:00 PM today.

Kay Fristad with the Oregon Military Department says they will work closely with the Independence Police Department who is the Incident Command on the scene.

Oregon Guard Soldier Joins Capitol War Protest (VIDEO)

An Oregon Guard soldier joins the 24-hour vigil protesting a deployment to Iraq in 2009.

(SALEM, Ore.) - An Oregon woman protesting a national guard deployment to the Iraq War was arrested Friday night by Oregon state troopers. Political activist Michele Darr of Corvallis is no stranger to capitol demonstrations; she spent months outside the capitol in protest of the Iraq War in 2003.

Advocates taking part in the vigil and fast say Michele Darr's Civil Rights were violated when she was arrested, and Saturday the list of advocates on the capitol steps grew to include an Oregon soldier who is part of the scheduled deployment. News of the arrest prompted Richard Portelli, a soldier in the Oregon Guard, to join Darr's cause.

Attorneys say the state law that allow police to arrest Darr conflicts with federal laws that grant the public, rights to access public property.

Interview with Interpreter Based with Marines in Iraq (VIDEO)

A Jordanian interpreter who works with the Marines in Iraq's Anbar Province gives a candid interview about his experience.

(ANBAR PROVINCE, Iraq) - I met a gentleman named Jakope Al Salim in Iraq while spending time with the Marines at the Al Asad Air Base in the Anbar Province. These Marines normally work on airplanes, but in Iraq where there is a shortage of personnel, they have been pulling infantry and military police duty and operating the base entrances and exits.

Jakope has worked with Marines in a number of places including Al Asad and Fallujah. At this time he is working with Marines near the Iraq/Saudi Arabia border. He says Iraqi people are increasingly working with and placing trust in the Marines. Last summer when I was there, combat encounters were minimal and cooperation was increasing.

But things are changing. He says the election of Barack Obama has caused many Iraqi people to feel unsure about their future.

Vigil Urges Legislature to Steer Oregon Guard Away From Deployment

Group asks Oregon's Governor to cancel a massive deployment set for 2009.

(SALEM, Ore.) - A woman who camped on the Oregon Capitol steps for several weeks in protest of the war in Iraq in 2002, has returned to Salem to help convince lawmakers to remove Oregon Guard soldiers from a planned trip to Iraq next year. Michele Darr will spend long, cold days and nights in the Oregon rain trying to convince the powers to be that Oregon soldiers should instead be home with their families.

Darr left her home, family and 4 children in Corvallis to "deploy" for the steps of the Oregon State Capitol building in Salem, Oregon, where she and others are on a hunger strike and 24-7 vigil/encampment set to continue through the holidays, winter months and into next year's legislative session.

Darr is doing this because she believes she and other can make a difference, and "bolster the possibility of the success of a proposed resolution to keep Oregon's National Guard home in Oregon, and to bring attention and awareness of the imminent deployment of 3500 National Guard troops next year."

Oregon Guard Night Crew Mission in Iraq (VIDEO)

Oregon Guard soldiers assigned to an aviation support mission for the next year gain confidence in their roles.

(BALAD, Iraq) - Soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan have a seven day a week job with few exceptions. Members of an Oregon National Guard aviation support group stationed at Camp Anaconda at Balad, Iraq, are a shining example of those whose operation never rests.

In fact, the Oregon Guard 2/641 Aviation Support Group is in charge of the flight missions of two types of aircraft; the C-23 Sherpa transport plane and the "White Birds" which are the C-12 and Citation jet.

The Army's motto is "We Own the Night" and aviation is one specific area where operational tempo often increases after the sun falls. Flying slow, lumbering aircraft like the Sherpa can be dangerous during the day when enemy fire from the ground can inflict serious damage. At night, Iraq's temperatures are also reduced so the stress on the airplane is less.