Bomb-Sniffing Dog Returns After Being Lost in Afghanistan for 14 Months

Posted by Alex in Animal, Weapons & War on November 12, 2009 at 2:48 pm

You can’t keep a good bomb-sniffing dog down. Sabi, a sniffer dog that got lost when an Australian unit was ambushed in Afghanistan 14 months ago, has been found:

The black labrador bitch was with a joint Australian-Afghan patrol that was ambushed in Uruzgan province in September 2008.

Nine Australian soldiers, including Sabi’s trainer, were wounded in the exchange.

After the battle there was no sign of the dog, and months of searching failed to find her. Sabi was officially declared Missing In Action.

An Australian military spokesman said it would probably never be known exactly what had happened to Sabi in the 14 months she was missing, but the fact that she was in good condition indicated she had been cared for by someone.

Link

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223 Names Tattooed for Remembrance

Posted by Miss Cellania in Tattoo, Etc., Weapons & War on November 12, 2009 at 12:40 pm

Former British soldier Shaun Clark spent over four hours in a tattoo parlor yesterday, celebrating Remembrance Day by having the names of all 223 British soldiers who died in Afghanistan tattooed on his body.

He said: ‘I don’t mind suffering for a few days if I can let the lads know that people really care about what they’re doing out there, and raise some money for the guys coming home wounded as well.

‘The family thought I was mad to begin with, but they’ve come round to the idea now, and my wife is backing me all the way.’

The married father-of-two from Doncaster hopes his challenge will raise £500 for the charity Help for Heroes.

He plans on updating the sombre list every year on Remembrance Day if required.

Tattoo artist Kevin Kent donated his services free of charge. Link -via Digg

(image credit: Ross Parry Agency)

 
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Keeping a Promise

Posted by Miss Cellania in Odd News on September 16, 2009 at 9:47 am

It takes a true friend to wear a dress to a funeral -if you’re a man. Barry Delaney of Dundee, Scotland wore a lime green minidress to the funeral of a soldier killed in Afghanistan to fulfill a pact the two had made.

Private Kevin Elliott and his friend, Barry Delaney, had agreed that whoever survived the other should wear a dress to the dead man’s funeral. Mr Delaney duly fulfilled the pledge as a tribute to Private Elliott, who was killed aged 24 while on foot patrol in the southern province of Helmand on August 31.

Mr Delaney wept on his knees at the graveside in Dundee as shots were fired during the military funeral. His dress plans are believed to have been known about in advance by other mourners.

Elliot, who had fulfilled his hitch and could have left the army, decided instead to fight in Afghanistan at the last minute. Hundreds turned out for the funeral. Link -via Fark

 
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The Kopp-Etchells Effect: Eerie Halo of a Helicopter's Rotor Blades in a Dust Cloud

Posted by Alex in Pictures, Weapons & War on September 1, 2009 at 5:42 pm


Photo: Michael Yon

Reporter and former Green Beret Michael Yon took a series of intriguing photos of glowing rotor blades as a helicopter lands in a military base in Afghanistan. The eerie "halo" is caused by static electricity generated as the titanium/nickel blades move through a field of dust (which is kicked up from the ground as the heli lands).

The phenomenon, striking as it is, has no name – and Michael decided to name it the Kopp-Etchells Effect, as a tribute, after Corporal Benjamin Kopp and Corporal Joseph Etchells, who died in battle.

The full story at Michael’s blog: Link via TYWKIWDBI

 
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Army Soldier's Boxers Make Him Famous

Posted by Queuebot in Odd News, Pictures on May 17, 2009 at 8:12 am

Boxers or briefs?  That is the age old question most guys ponder. For one Fort Worth soldier currently based in Afghanistan, his preference was revealed in a widely circulated photo that has made him famous. 19-year-old Army Specialist Zachary Boyd was sleeping in his quarters in the eastern mountains of Afghanistan when his base was attacked by Taliban insurgents.  Boyd immediately rushed to a defensive position clad in his helmet, body armor, and pink ‘I Love NY’ boxers.  An Associated Press photographer happened to be embedded with the unit and snapped the picture.

Boyd was home on leave last March, but his return flight was delayed in New York City. A buddy’s sister took him on a whirlwind tour and that’s when he bought the pink shorts, his mother said.

He no doubt selected pink boxers as a joke to share with his fellow soldiers, Sheree Boyd said.

“They like to have a good time,” she explained about the soldiers, “to deal with the tension.”

There has been plenty of that; just read the news. His mother said he has been in at least 200 firefights.

“They have something going on just about every day, and some times all day long,” Sheree Boyd said. “As a mother, it really turns your stomach up.”

Link

(image credit: AP/David Guttenfelder)

From the Upcoming ueue, submitted by Geekazoid.

 
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Lonely Pig in Quarantine

Posted by Miss Cellania in Animal on May 6, 2009 at 8:25 am

Due to fear of swine flu, Afghanistan has quarantined its pig. Yes, the nation’s only pig, normally on display along with other exotic wildlife at the Kabul Zoo.

The pig is a curiosity in Muslim Afghanistan, where pork and pig products are illegal because they are considered irreligious, and has been in quarantine since Sunday after visitors expressed alarm it could spread the new flu strain.

“For now the pig is under quarantine, we built it a room because of swine influenza,” Aziz Gul Saqib, director of Kabul Zoo, told Reuters. “We’ve done this because people are worried about getting the flu.”

Link -via YesButNoButYes

 
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Would You Take a Vacation to Afghanistan?

Posted by Queuebot in Pictures, Travel & Places on March 20, 2009 at 7:11 pm

The Buddhas of Bamyan, the City of Screams, the Minarets of Ghazni, the Blue Mosque – these are just some of the incredible sites of Afghanistan.  Astonishing lakes, ancient destroyed cities and breathtaking landscapes may persuade you to think a little differently about this war torn but still spectacular country.  Perhaps in ten years we will talk about our visits to Afghanistan as casually as we do our vacations to Florida.

Although it is not considered safe for tourists at the moment, many look forward to being able to visit Afghanistan in the near future. Why? Take a look at some of the remarkable places you would be able to visit and decide for yourself. Would you take a vacation to Afghanistan?

Link – via webphemera

From the Upcoming ueue, submitted by taliesyn30.

 
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Peace Through Accordion

Posted by Miss Cellania in Music, Travel & Places on January 16, 2009 at 8:28 am

Gregory Warner took his accordion to Afghanistan hoping to make friends. The reception he received was not at all as he expected. He found himself compared to an Afghan pop star from 30 years ago! Link -Thanks, Jessica Frank!

 
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