Special Tactics Officer Saves Life

HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. -- In the midst of smoke and blood, the special tactics officer's training kicked in, and he set to work.This time he was not operating in the deserts of Afghanistan. He was administering lifesaving care in Fayetteville, N.C.Maj. Francis Damon Friedman, the director of operations at the 21st Special Tactics Squadron, Pope Field, N.C., was on his way to work Jan. 29 when he saw a pick-up truck veer off the road, hit an electrical pole at about 65 mph, and launch into a tree-lined ditch.

FORT SHAFTER, Hawaii -- Maj. Gen. Richard Burr salutes with his palm facing out, like he's shielding his eyes from the sun. He wears a wide-brimmed felt "slouch hat" with a brown and green camouflage uniform.


The two-star general in the Australian Defence Force stands out amid the American soldiers donning berets and green and beige fatigues at the U.S. Army's headquarters for the Pacific. But he's responsible for directing their training and exercises as U.S. Army Pacific's deputy commander for operations. The Army is also making Burr their liaison to New Zealand, his homeland Australia and countries in Southeast Asia.

Fathers and Sons Deploying Together

This week in Kabul, Afghanistan a father and son are going through their time in service together.  Army Col. George Conwill and his son Stephen are members of the 136th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade out of Round Rock, Texas.

Combined they have had a total of five separate deployments since 2005, but this is the first time that they have deployed together.