SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) -- Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations May 1, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.

In Afghanistan, a Royal Air Force GR-9 Harrier fired rockets and dropped general-purpose 540-pound bombs onto enemy combatants and enemy combatant firing positions in Qalat. An on-scene joint terminal attack controller declared the mission a success.

Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs conducted shows of force in order to deter enemy activities in Bagram, Bermel, Bari Kowt, Nangalam and Lwara. The missions were reported as successful by a JTAC.

An Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle performed a show of force in order to deter enemy activities against coalition forces in the vicinity of Bara Kowt. The JTAC confirmed the mission as a success.

ISRAEL (NNS) -- Secretary of the Navy, the Honorable Dr. Donald C. Winter, arrived on March 23 for a three-day visit in Israel as a guest of the Israel Ministry of Defense and the Israel Navy Commander in Chief, Vice Admiral Eli Marum. This visit is a continuation of the strong ties and extensive collaboration between the Israel and U.S. Naval Forces.

This is Winter's first visit in Israel as the Secretary of the Navy. His first visit to the country was in 1998 when he arrived with a delegation of U.S. Military Industry Seniors.

During his stay, he met with the Minister of Defense, Mr. Ehud Barak, Chief of the General Staff, Lieutenant General Gabi Ashkenazi, General Manager of the Israeli Ministry of Defense, Mr. Pinchas Buchris, and senior officers in the Israel Defense forces.

HADITHA, Iraq  -- Coalition forces and Iraqi Army continue to conduct boat operations on Lake Qadisiyah, Iraq, as the Iraqi soldiers expand their area of operations and master new skills.

3rd Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 5, and the Navy Riverine Squadron 2, Detachment 3, are continually training the Iraqi Forces and transferring control of additional battlespace, even battlespaces on water.

“We’re conducting Riverine operations in order to prevent the insurgents from using the lakes, rivers and inland waterways for their operations,” said Maj. Kevin Jarrard, 35, commanding officer of Company L, 3rd Bn., 23rd Marine Regiment, who is from Gainesville, Ga. “What we hope to do in the (preceding days) is patrol the shores of the local area.”

WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) held a dedication ceremony today to officially open VA’s 125th national cemetery, the South Florida VA National Cemetery in Lake Worth.

“We are delighted to celebrate this special day with Florida’s veterans,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James B. Peake. “By building this national shrine in South Florida, we will provide a final resting place and lasting tribute to the men and women who have faithfully served our nation.”

The ceremony, which included remarks by Peake, was attended by Rep. Ron Klein and VA Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs William F. Tuerk. The dedication plaque was unveiled and military honors were performed by a joint service firing detail, ending with the playing of Taps.

The 313-acre site is in Palm Beach County along Route 441 between Lantana Road and Boynton Beach Boulevard. Nearly 400,000 veterans and their families live within the service area of the national cemetery.

PEARL HARBOR (NNS) -- Pearl Harbor-based ships USS Russell (DDG 59), USS Paul Hamilton (DDG 60), USS Chafee (DDG 90), USS Hopper (DDG 70) and USS Lake Erie (CG 70) were announced as the winners of the Battle Effectiveness (Battle "E") award, Feb. 28, by Commander, Naval Surface Forces.

The Battle "E" is awarded annually to ships and crews that present the maximum condition of departmental readiness in their group, and their capability to perform their wartime tasks.

"Everything is built on sustained superior performance, from making sure the laundry is running to the engineering plant running effectively," said Lake Erie Command Master Chief (SW/AW) Herbert Ellis, Lake. "Our crew must come here focused on a daily basis, treat each other with dignity and respect and be ready to execute when called upon."

For Cmdr. Jeff Weston, Russell's commanding officer, the Battle "E" award does not go to the ship itself, but the crew.

WASHINGTON (Army News Service, March 4, 2008) – Calling him a “mentor, teacher and legend,” President George W. Bush awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously March 3 to Master Sgt. Woodrow “Woody” Wilson Keeble.

Keeble is the first full-blooded Sioux Indian to be awarded the Medal of Honor and the 121st member of the National Guard to be awarded the nation’s highest military award for valor, according to National Guard Educational Foundation records.

It was President Bush’s ninth Medal of Honor ceremony – but he said this one was different.

“It’s taken nearly 60 years for … Keeble to be awarded the medal he earned on the battlefield in Korea,” Bush said in the East Room of the White House.

Russell Hawkins, Keeble’s stepson, accepted the medal. His stepfather had enlisted in the North Dakota National Guard in 1942.