Here's some nice news for a change -- something which adds to the comfort of our troops serving in Afghanistan. The new Pat Tillman USO Center has opened at Bagram Air Base :
BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan, April 5, 2005 – With snow-peaked mountains and roaring aircraft engines as a backdrop, several hundred members of the coalition in Afghanistan turned out April 3 for the grand opening of the Pat Tillman USO Center here.
The center is named for former Arizona Cardinals safety Pat Tillman, who put his career in the National Football League on hold to join the Army after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States and was later killed in battle in Afghanistan.
Bagram’s is the 123rd United Service Organizations center around the world and just the third in Southwest or Central Asia, according to John Hanson, USO senior vice president of marketing and communications.
“We are a partnership between the civilian community and the military,” Hanson told the crowd as they gathered around the center’s entrance to show support for Tillman and sought autographed footballs whizzing through the air from Warrick Dunn of the Atlanta Falcons and Larry Izzo of the New England Patriots. Complete story here : http://www.dod.mil/news/Apr2005/20050405_484.html
I especially like the support shown by the NFL players who took the time to travel to Afghanistan and take part in the center opening.
If you are not familiar with Pat Tillman's story, he "walked away from a multimillion-dollar contract with the National Football League's Arizona Cardinals to enlist in the U.S. Army and serve with the 75th Ranger Regiment. He was killed in a friendly-fire accident in Afghanistan April 22. " (From 'Pat Tillman USO Center Dedicated in Afghanistan')
The Armorer at Castle Argghhh! brings us a selection of items related to matters military today. Make sure to read his series of updates from our friend MSG Keith in Afghanistan, as well. For another collection of news links, check out the Dawn Patrol at Mudville Gazette. Reminder to the Castle Denizens ... JustThisGuy is celebrating a Birthday today!! Go wish him a Happy Birthday :-) | 
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