Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen mobilized in southern Florida last month and prepared to rescue the astronauts aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis if they needed to bail out during an emergency. Instead, the Atlantis launched successfully into orbit July 8 and landed July 21.
The landing marked not only the end of the NASA's shuttle program, but also the end of the military’s rescue mission that accompanied each flight. Two Air Force HC-130s, at least four Air Force HH-60Gs, a Marine KC-130 and a Coast Guard HU-25 were mobilized for each launch in case an accident forced the shuttle to make an emergency landing.
“There was a whole armada available,” said Lt. Col. Scott Stenger of the 106th Rescue Wing. “The exact thing we went down there for luckily didn’t happen.”
It was the 109th time Stenger’s unit supported the Shuttle rescue mission. Stenger, the standards and evaluations officer at the 106th, participated in almost 20 Shuttle launches and was the air boss for King 2, the HC-130 idling on the runway during the final mission.
The modern rescue mission stemmed from the explosion of the Challenger in 1986. NASA officials developed a plan for the astronauts to bail out if an emergency landing didn't seem possible. The rescue forces would locate the astronauts – possibly in the middle of an ocean – and rescue them.
For each flight, a HC-130 carrying a jump team and three Zodiac boats was in the air and prepared to start the rescue mission in case the Shuttle needed to abort its takeoff and make an emergency landing. Another HC-130 with the same equipment sat on a runway at Patrick Air Force Base, Fla., and would take off when the Shuttle began the emergency-landing process.
Four HH-60G Pave Hawks also stood by to transport astronauts to rescue, and a Marine KC-130 was prepared to refuel the aircraft in midflight.
The 106th Rescue Wing typically performs personnel recovery operations across the world, but the Shuttle mission became a major source of pride for the unit. Military and civilian personnel prepped F.S. Gabreski Airport in Westhampton Beach, N.Y., to be used as an emergency landing site. A sign on the gate near the wing’s headquarters at Gabreski Airport displays a running tally of the number of Shuttle launches the unit has supported. The wing had a barbecue after the last shuttle mission to celebrate the mission.
“It’s a big deal,” Stenger said. “People take it very, very seriously. People are very proud of it, no doubt.”
But with the retirement of the final Shuttle, that mission will go dark – though Stenger believes it’ll just be a few more years until the wing is called on to support another flight.
“NASA is looking at a few different possibilities of continuing manned spaceflights in one way or another,” he said, “and I think there’s a good possibility the Air Force will be included in that follow-on mission. If so, we’ll be ready.”
As many as 32 soldiers killed themselves in July, the Army reported Friday, a figure that, if confirmed, would be the highest total since the Army began releasing the figures in 2009. The Army suffered 31 suicides in June 2010.
Among active-duty troops, three of 22 cases have been confirmed as suicides. Of 10 potential suicide cases among reserve troops, all remain under investigation, the Army said.
“Every suicide represents a tragic loss to our Army and the nation,” Gen. Peter W. Chiarelli, vice chief of staff of the Army, said in a written statement. “While the high number of potential suicides in July is discouraging, we are confident our efforts aimed at increasing individuals’ resiliency, while reducing incidence of at-risk and high-risk behavior across the force, are having a positive impact.
“We absolutely recognize there is much work to be done and remain committed to ensuring our people are cared for and have ready access to the best possible programs and services.”
July’s figure was a significant jump from the 14 reported suicides in June.
Since the start of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, more than 1,100 soldiers have taken their own lives, with the numbers escalating each year for the last six years. Last year alone, 301 soldiers committed suicide — a new record.
JOINT BASE LEWIS MCCHORD, Wash. - A soldier's widow says his fellow Army Rangers wouldn't do anything to help him before he took his own life - after eight deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.
The Army found Staff Sgt. Jared Hagemann's body at a training area of Joint Base Lewis McChord a few weeks ago.
A spokesman for the base tells KOMO News that the nature of the death is still undetermined. But Staff Sgt. Hagemann's widow says her husband took his own life - and it didn't need to happen.
"It was just horrible. And he would just cry," says Ashley Hagemann.
Ashley says her husband Jared tried to come to grips with what he'd seen and done on his eight deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"And there's no way that any God would forgive him - that he was going to hell," says Ashley. "He couldn't live with that any more."
Ashley says her Army Ranger husband wanted out of the military.
"He just wanted to know what it felt like to be normal again," she says.
Staff Sgt. Hagemann had orders to return to Afghanistan this month for a ninth tour of duty.
Instead, on June 28, Ashley says her husband took a gun and shot himself in the head on base. She claims the Rangers never took his pleas for help seriously.
"There's no way that they should not have been able to pick up on it," Ashley says. "When he's telling them, he's reaching out ...."
And on Friday she found out she's not alone in wanting to speak out.
Mary Corkhill Kirkland lost her son Derrick to suicide more than a year ago.
She says doctors at Madigan Army Hospital considered him a low risk for suicide despite three earlier attempts. They sent him back to his unit - where he hanged himself.
Mary says she thinks the Army basically killed her son.
"My son did not want to die. He wanted help. He was crying out for help," she says.
Now Mary Kirkland is reaching out to Ashley Hagemann in her grief.
"You're in good hands, you're not alone here," Mary tells her.
"It's so nice to meet somebody else who understands," says Ashley. "Thank you so much."
Quote by Mondobubba:
Of course it is, The Dude Abides.
Quote by Scoopster:Quote by Mondobubba:
Of course it is, The Dude Abides.
Can't disagree with this at all, but that last paragraph that snipes at The Ladykillers threw me - that was actually a decent flick, and just as creepy & funny as some of the Coens' other works.
No, I'm not the guy in the comments either.
Quote by wickedpam:
Well, the car has racked up its 3rd squirrel kill. I'm very upset by this, its like the poor little thing ran straight for my tires and not the other way like most squirrels
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by wickedpam:
Well, the car has racked up its 3rd squirrel kill. I'm very upset by this, its like the poor little thing ran straight for my tires and not the other way like most squirrels
Two words for you: Natural Selection. Mother Nature is a cold bitch. It still sucks you hit the poor little sucker
Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by wickedpam:
Well, the car has racked up its 3rd squirrel kill. I'm very upset by this, its like the poor little thing ran straight for my tires and not the other way like most squirrels
Two words for you: Natural Selection. Mother Nature is a cold bitch. It still sucks you hit the poor little sucker
Not sure that its "natural" for a car to take out a squirrel, horse yes Hyundai not so much, but I get where your coming from. THanks :)
I'm begining to think my car is turning into Christine for the furry folk
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by wickedpam:
Well, the car has racked up its 3rd squirrel kill. I'm very upset by this, its like the poor little thing ran straight for my tires and not the other way like most squirrels
Two words for you: Natural Selection. Mother Nature is a cold bitch. It still sucks you hit the poor little sucker
Not sure that its "natural" for a car to take out a squirrel, horse yes Hyundai not so much, but I get where your coming from. THanks :)
I'm begining to think my car is turning into Christine for the furry folk
Your car has nothing to do with it. It is just the agent of selection.
Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by wickedpam:
Well, the car has racked up its 3rd squirrel kill. I'm very upset by this, its like the poor little thing ran straight for my tires and not the other way like most squirrels
Two words for you: Natural Selection. Mother Nature is a cold bitch. It still sucks you hit the poor little sucker
Not sure that its "natural" for a car to take out a squirrel, horse yes Hyundai not so much, but I get where your coming from. THanks :)
I'm begining to think my car is turning into Christine for the furry folk
Your car has nothing to do with it. It is just the agent of selection.
not sure that made me feel good about the blood thirsty nature of my car
Quote by wickedpam:
Trust me, my car "knows" things.
Quote by Raine:
good morning!
for Mala -- gimme a few minutes, Imma gonna find something that will make you smile.
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Raine:
good morning!
for Mala -- gimme a few minutes, Imma gonna find something that will make you smile.
Raine, a squirrel water skiing would be in bad taste, just sayin...
Quote by Raine:
Here you go Mala! (make sure you have head phones on......)
Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Raine:
Here you go Mala! (make sure you have head phones on......)
uhoh - I don't have heardphones at work will speakers be okay?
Quote by Raine:Yeah, it not dirty....Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Raine:
Here you go Mala! (make sure you have head phones on......)
uhoh - I don't have heardphones at work will speakers be okay?
Just twisted....
Quote by Scoopster:
How about Army Ranger Kitten?
Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Raine:Yeah, it not dirty....Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Raine:
Here you go Mala! (make sure you have head phones on......)
uhoh - I don't have heardphones at work will speakers be okay?
Just twisted....
Oh, oh that's just wrong!
I love you guys, ya'll are awesome Natural selection, ranger kitties, Dr. Demento style songs!
Quote by Raine:
ZOMG...
Paul Ryan might be considering a Run for POTUS.
Quote by Mondobubba:
It is coming out of the Weekly Standard so...could be true, could be a steaming fresh cow pie.
Quote by Raine:
This is a fair tax caller.
Quote by Raine:
ZOMG...
Paul Ryan might be considering a Run for POTUS.
Quote by Scoopster:
No shame.
Quote by wickedpam:
hhmmm, new guy treating me a little too much like a secretary.....
Quote by Raine:Quote by wickedpam:
hhmmm, new guy treating me a little too much like a secretary.....
Oh dear.
Quote by Raine:Well I think this is definitely a trial ballon.Quote by Mondobubba:
It is coming out of the Weekly Standard so...could be true, could be a steaming fresh cow pie.
they are all crazy.
Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Raine:Quote by wickedpam:
hhmmm, new guy treating me a little too much like a secretary.....
Oh dear.
been working my way out of the "assistant/secretary" position for 15+ years now and lately people want to introduce me as the administrative assisitant - I am far more then that at this point
Quote by Raine:is that spreadsheet you made password protected?Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Raine:Quote by wickedpam:
hhmmm, new guy treating me a little too much like a secretary.....
Oh dear.
been working my way out of the "assistant/secretary" position for 15+ years now and lately people want to introduce me as the administrative assisitant - I am far more then that at this point
Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Raine:Quote by wickedpam:
hhmmm, new guy treating me a little too much like a secretary.....
Oh dear.
been working my way out of the "assistant/secretary" position for 15+ years now and lately people want to introduce me as the administrative assisitant - I am far more then that at this point
Quote by Mondobubba:
Oh can I be a buzz kill? Has anybody been following the oil spill in the North Sea?
Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Mondobubba:
Oh can I be a buzz kill? Has anybody been following the oil spill in the North Sea?
first I'm hearing about it
Quote by Scoopster:Quote by Raine:
ZOMG...
Paul Ryan might be considering a Run for POTUS.
Probably because he know he's in deep shit next year in his own district, part of which will be voting to keep a Dem State Senator today.
Quote by livingonli:Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Mondobubba:
Oh can I be a buzz kill? Has anybody been following the oil spill in the North Sea?
first I'm hearing about it
I heard Shell just admitted they caused it. Let's see if they go all BP.
Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Raine:is that spreadsheet you made password protected?Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Raine:Quote by wickedpam:
hhmmm, new guy treating me a little too much like a secretary.....
Oh dear.
been working my way out of the "assistant/secretary" position for 15+ years now and lately people want to introduce me as the administrative assisitant - I am far more then that at this point
?
Do you mean the wine reviewer?
Quote by livingonli:
Thom is going all off on Rick Perry and his treason remark saying that Rick Perry would do the same thing (printing money) if he were to become President.
Quote by livingonli:
Thom is going all off on Rick Perry and his treason remark saying that Rick Perry would do the same thing (printing money) if he were to become President.
Quote by Raine:yes.Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Raine:is that spreadsheet you made password protected?Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Raine:Quote by wickedpam:
hhmmm, new guy treating me a little too much like a secretary.....
Oh dear.
been working my way out of the "assistant/secretary" position for 15+ years now and lately people want to introduce me as the administrative assisitant - I am far more then that at this point
?
Do you mean the wine reviewer?
Quote by livingonli:
I wonder how many people are missing the old boss already over there at Mala's job.
Quote by wickedpam:
but then again - me and change have a troubling relationship
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by wickedpam:
but then again - me and change have a troubling relationship
Fearing change is prefectly normal. We are here for you, Mala
Quote by wickedpam:
Thom's guest is unhinged - I've never heard someone scream and yell and call the host of a show ignorant and dumb and that Warren Buffet is stupid
Quote by wickedpam:Quote by livingonli:
I wonder how many people are missing the old boss already over there at Mala's job.
It more that she was here for 28 years, its the familar and family. the new guy is just that - new and I think I'm probably the only person who is feeling unsettled
Here's how political reporters see it: Paul is the only prominent candidate articulating a strong libertarian position. Though he is fairly well known, his support appears to top out at less than 20 percent. Ultimately, Republicans will likely coalesce around one of the other candidates, whose largely-similar positions represent more mainstream Republicanism. Paul's relatively strong standing in early polls, this argument goes, will fade as the field narrows around one or two more mainstream candidates.
That's almost certainly true. But here's the problem: Most reporters also don't expect Bachmann to win the nomination, either. Bachmann cannot compete with Romney or Perry in terms of fundraising, and she is widely seen as too far to the right to get nominated by a party where most voters' primary concern is finding someone who can beat President Obama. Yet while Paul was shut out of the Sunday news shows after his near-straw poll victory, Bachmann was invited into almost all of them - and is now being treated by the media as one of the three frontrunners for the nomination.
Why? For starters, Bachmann has a better - though still slim - chance to take the nomination. But also, she's simply a better story - controversial, telegenic, and relatively new to the national scene. Paul, meanwhile, is on his third presidential run, and he's saying the same things he's been saying for decades - which is admirable, but not ideal in a media landscape where freshness is what gets attention.
Quote by Raine:
Has Michael Moorejumped the sharkkilled Charlie Harper?
Quote by livingonli:Quote by wickedpam:
Thom's guest is unhinged - I've never heard someone scream and yell and call the host of a show ignorant and dumb and that Warren Buffet is stupid
Another Rightie struggling to justify why rich people should pay less in taxes than you and me.
Quote by Scoopster:
Telegenic?!
Quote by Raine:I doubt you are the only one. Just hang in there.Quote by wickedpam:Quote by livingonli:
I wonder how many people are missing the old boss already over there at Mala's job.
It more that she was here for 28 years, its the familar and family. the new guy is just that - new and I think I'm probably the only person who is feeling unsettled
The next time he goes downstairs -- you could ask him if he would mind bringing up a few pens....
Quote by Raine:
OK, Holy crap... CBS news admits they ignore Ron PAul because Michelle bachmann is more fun to report on. Read the whole thing and tell me if you are seeing what I think I am seeing.I am shocked to read someone in the media actually admit it.Here's how political reporters see it: Paul is the only prominent candidate articulating a strong libertarian position. Though he is fairly well known, his support appears to top out at less than 20 percent. Ultimately, Republicans will likely coalesce around one of the other candidates, whose largely-similar positions represent more mainstream Republicanism. Paul's relatively strong standing in early polls, this argument goes, will fade as the field narrows around one or two more mainstream candidates.
That's almost certainly true. But here's the problem: Most reporters also don't expect Bachmann to win the nomination, either. Bachmann cannot compete with Romney or Perry in terms of fundraising, and she is widely seen as too far to the right to get nominated by a party where most voters' primary concern is finding someone who can beat President Obama. Yet while Paul was shut out of the Sunday news shows after his near-straw poll victory, Bachmann was invited into almost all of them - and is now being treated by the media as one of the three frontrunners for the nomination.
Why? For starters, Bachmann has a better - though still slim - chance to take the nomination. But also, she's simply a better story - controversial, telegenic, and relatively new to the national scene. Paul, meanwhile, is on his third presidential run, and he's saying the same things he's been saying for decades - which is admirable, but not ideal in a media landscape where freshness is what gets attention.
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Raine:
OK, Holy crap... CBS news admits they ignore Ron PAul because Michelle bachmann is more fun to report on. Read the whole thing and tell me if you are seeing what I think I am seeing.I am shocked to read someone in the media actually admit it.Here's how political reporters see it: Paul is the only prominent candidate articulating a strong libertarian position. Though he is fairly well known, his support appears to top out at less than 20 percent. Ultimately, Republicans will likely coalesce around one of the other candidates, whose largely-similar positions represent more mainstream Republicanism. Paul's relatively strong standing in early polls, this argument goes, will fade as the field narrows around one or two more mainstream candidates.
That's almost certainly true. But here's the problem: Most reporters also don't expect Bachmann to win the nomination, either. Bachmann cannot compete with Romney or Perry in terms of fundraising, and she is widely seen as too far to the right to get nominated by a party where most voters' primary concern is finding someone who can beat President Obama. Yet while Paul was shut out of the Sunday news shows after his near-straw poll victory, Bachmann was invited into almost all of them - and is now being treated by the media as one of the three frontrunners for the nomination.
Why? For starters, Bachmann has a better - though still slim - chance to take the nomination. But also, she's simply a better story - controversial, telegenic, and relatively new to the national scene. Paul, meanwhile, is on his third presidential run, and he's saying the same things he's been saying for decades - which is admirable, but not ideal in a media landscape where freshness is what gets attention.
Here's a differing opinion.
Quote by Raine:
OK, Holy crap... CBS news admits they ignore Ron PAul because Michelle bachmann is more fun to report on. Read the whole thing and tell me if you are seeing what I think I am seeing.I am shocked to read someone in the media actually admit it.Here's how political reporters see it: Paul is the only prominent candidate articulating a strong libertarian position. Though he is fairly well known, his support appears to top out at less than 20 percent. Ultimately, Republicans will likely coalesce around one of the other candidates, whose largely-similar positions represent more mainstream Republicanism. Paul's relatively strong standing in early polls, this argument goes, will fade as the field narrows around one or two more mainstream candidates.
That's almost certainly true. But here's the problem: Most reporters also don't expect Bachmann to win the nomination, either. Bachmann cannot compete with Romney or Perry in terms of fundraising, and she is widely seen as too far to the right to get nominated by a party where most voters' primary concern is finding someone who can beat President Obama. Yet while Paul was shut out of the Sunday news shows after his near-straw poll victory, Bachmann was invited into almost all of them - and is now being treated by the media as one of the three frontrunners for the nomination.
Why? For starters, Bachmann has a better - though still slim - chance to take the nomination. But also, she's simply a better story - controversial, telegenic, and relatively new to the national scene. Paul, meanwhile, is on his third presidential run, and he's saying the same things he's been saying for decades - which is admirable, but not ideal in a media landscape where freshness is what gets attention.