WASHINGTON, Oct. 26, 2007 – Thousands of servicemembers have been aggressively and selflessly fighting deadly wildfires this week, a top defense department leader said today.”It is awe-inspiring to see the kind of response that is now being executed by civilian first responders, National Guardsmen and other military personnel in Southern California,” Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense Paul McHale told online journalists and “bloggers” during a conference call from the Pentagon.

“Many of these individuals are putting themselves in harm’s way for the protection of the rest of us,” he said, “and when you see that kind of selfless sense of purpose, it is inspiring.”

McHale praised National Guard Bureau chief Army Lt. Gen. H Steven Blum for immediately deploying four military aircraft from North Carolina and Wyoming to California on a training mission in case they would be needed in the firefighting effort, rather than waiting for the state’s governor to officially request federal help.

“He was extraordinarily proactive in his judgment, noteworthy in his common sense, and as a result, today while we speak, we have those four aircraft plus two more out of the Air Force Reserve actively flying tanker missions in the San Diego area,” McHale said. “General Blum’s sense of purpose and commitment is shared by every other man or woman in military uniform.”

Military personnel and assets are helping out in the most serious outbreak of wildfires in California in years.

California National Guard and California-based active duty personnel are providing some of the muscle needed to contain the fires, which have driven more than 300,000 people from their homes in 12 counties.

Officials at the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho, are working with representatives from U.S. Northern Command to coordinate requests for Defense Department personnel and assets. Northern Command also has personnel working in Southern California directly with local authorities.

(Photo Insert)A firefighter battles a wildfire in hills below Running Springs, Calif., Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2007, as the Santa Ana wind drives wildfire charges towards the mountain town, in the San Bernardino mountains.(AP Photo/Kevprk Djansezian)

With 11 fires burning out of control from Los Angeles to the Mexican border, some Defense installations are themselves in danger from the wildfires. Camp Pendleton, the San Diego Marine Recruit Depot and Miramar Marine Corps Air Station are among the installations asking only essential personnel to come in.

A total of 17,031 California National Guardsmen are available for employment if the situation calls for it, said officials at U.S. Northern Command. Some 33 active duty, 79 Defense civilian personnel and 1,500 California National Guardsmen are actively engaged or directly supporting firefighting response, security and relief operations. (continue reading…)

WASHINGTON, Oct. 22, 2007 – President Bush today posthumously presented the Medal of Honor earned by Lt. Michael P. Murphy, a Navy SEAL who sacrificed his life in an attempt to save fellow SEALs during a fierce battle with Taliban fighters in Afghanistan.

The Medal of Honor, accepted by Murphy’s parents, Maureen and Dan Murphy, during a White House ceremony, is the highest military decoration. Murphy’s is the first Medal of Honor awarded for service in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.

“Today we add Lieutenant Michael Murphy’s name to the list of recipients who have made the ultimate sacrifice,” Bush said. “By presenting Michael Murphy’s family with the Medal of Honor that he earned, a grateful nation remembers the courage of this proud Navy SEAL.”

On June 28, 2005, as Murphy led a four-man SEAL team in search of key terrorist commander, the unit came under attack by some 50 Taliban fighters. The lieutenant is credited with risking his own life to save the lives of his teammates, according to a summary of action published by the Navy.

Despite intense combat around him, Murphy — already wounded in the firefight — moved into the open where he could gain a better transmission signal and request backup from headquarters. At one point, Murphy was shot in the back, causing him to drop the transmitter. The lieutenant picked it back up, completed the call and continued firing at the enemy as they closed in.

By the time the two-hour gunfight had concluded, Murphy and two others SEALs had been killed. An estimated 35 Taliban died in the fighting. (continue reading…)