Salem-News.com Military articles

Remembering the Vietnam War

It seems a lot of Americans, French, and Australians come back to the scene of their misadventures.

(SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.) - Watching the compelling documentary, The Vietnam War by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick, brought back memories of my time in Vietnam in 1967-1968. The Tet Offensive occurred during my service there; it was a defining event in the Vietnam War. Tet, by the way, is the Vietnamese New Year.

I was a U.S. Army Transportation captain stationed in Saigon, now Ho Chi Minh City.

Merkley Speaks Out Regarding Trump`s North Korean War Comments

"History is littered with millions of lives lost in wars that were blundered into by mistake."

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement after North Korea’s foreign minister said Monday that President Donald Trump has “declared war” on North Korea, citing Trump’s tweets from last weekend:

"As we know, North Korea is a malignant and destabilizing force within the region. These remarks from the North Korean foreign minister reinforce how critical it is that the U.S. be strategic and thoughtful in its approach..."

$350,000 Immediately Available to Help Homeless Veterans

"Our veterans have bravely served our country and we owe it to them to ensure that they have a safe and stable place to call home." -Margaret Salazar, Director OHCS

(SALEM, Ore.) - "In the last few years, we have made great progress in reducing the number of homeless veterans, but we still have a long way to go to meet our goal of ending veteran homelessness in our state," said Cameron Smith, director of the Oregon Department of Veterans' Affairs.

"This funding is essential as we continue to work to address the housing needs of all of Oregon's veterans and their families."

President Dwight D. Eisenhower Warns of Military-Industrial Complex in Farewell Speech

Known as the "last great conservative Republican", Eisenhower gives advice to future generations.

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - President Dwight D. Eisenhower, Jan 17, 1961

...In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist.

Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial and military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods and goals, so that security and liberty may prosper together.

142nd Fighter Wing Send Support Teams for Hurricane Harvey Relief

Oregon is joining the efforts to save lives in Texas

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - Members of the Oregon Air National Guard's 125th Special Tactics Squadron have been called to provide humanitarian support for Hurricane Harvey relief in Texas.

Approximately 15 Oregon Air National Guardsmen departed from Portland Air National Guard Base(PANG) at around 4:20 p.m. on a C-130 Hercules aircraft headed to Robert Gray Army Airfield in Texas.

Merkley Statement on Trump`s Address on Afghanistan

Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement in reaction to President Trump’s August 21 address on the future of the war in Afghanistan:

(SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA) - "The president’s pronouncement that he plans to avoid disclosing troop levels, military strategies and timelines — combined with his criticism of so called ‘micromanagement from Washington, D.C.’ — are clear indications of his intention to bolster military action in Afghanistan.

"But far too much of our blood and treasure has been spilled in Afghanistan, and it is long past time that we work toward strategies to wind down our operations...

Oregon National Guard Soldiers and Airmen Soon to Deploy to Fire near Crater Lake

Operation Plan Smokey stipulates how Oregon National Guard members are utilized to assist in firefighting efforts.

(SALEM, Ore.) - More than 100 Oregon National Guard members, activated by Oregon Governor Kate Brown to assist with ongoing firefighting efforts in southern Oregon, are scheduled to complete their refresher firefighting training at the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST), in Salem on Tuesday.

The group, comprised of Citizen-Airmen and Citizen-Soldiers from Oregon Air and Army National Guard units across the state are scheduled to deploy to the High Cascade Complex in southern Oregon on Wednesday, August 16, 2017.

The Schizophrenic Syrian War

The last six years of terror have resulted in 207,000 civilian deaths (24,000 children).

(SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.) - Both Russia and the U.S. want ISIS defeated but then we have U.S.-supported rebels fighting Syrian troops. Supposedly, Russia only attacks ISIS, not the U.S.-supported rebels.

Then throw into the mix, the growing tension between Russia and the U.S., i.e., the allegation that Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election, and the U.S. sanctions...

USS Liberty Attacked by Israel 50 Years Ago Today

The USS Liberty was a spy ship, keeping tabs on Israel's Arab neighbors and their Soviet advisers.

(SALEM, Ore.) - Fifty years ago today, on June 8, 1967, 34 American servicemen were killed and 174 were wounded when Israel attacked the USS Liberty navy ship in international waters.

It was the highest casualty rate ever inflicted on a U.S. naval vessel. Still, no investigation.

Documentary Follows America`s Efforts to Find MIA

A first hand understanding of the cost of war in human lives.

(SAN DIEGO, Calif.) - This film is the end result of his searching for a way to help in America’s search for those "still missing”.

Impressive considering America is the only country that continues to search for its fallen warriors around the world to return for an honorable burial at home.