Fort Bliss

FORT BLISS, Texas — The FBI is investigating why a retired Army sergeant walked into a Fort Bliss convenience store and shot two employees, one fatally, before he was gunned down by responding officers, the agency said yesterday. Authorities did not know whether gunman Steven Kropf, 63, of El Paso, had any relationship with either victim, the FBI said yesterday in a statement, which described the shooting Monday at the West Texas Army post as an isolated incident. Bettina Maria Goins, 44, of El Paso was pronounced dead at a military hospital where she was rushed immediately after...

A couple of New Hampshire Army National Guard units are mobilizing within the next 10 months in support of combat operations in Afghanistan. The guard's 237th Military Police Company and Detachment 2, Company F, 1st Battalion, 169th Aviation Regiment is made up of 170 soldiers. The unit expects to deploy up to a year. Based in Concord, the aviation detachment, a medical evacuation unit, is expected to report to Fort Hood, Texas, in October. The military police company will report to Fort Bliss, Texas, in February 2012.

A couple of New Hampshire Army National Guard units are mobilizing within the next 10 months in support of combat operations in Afghanistan. The guard's 237th Military Police Company and Detachment 2, Company F, 1st Battalion, 169th Aviation Regiment is made up of 170 soldiers. The unit expects to deploy up to a year. Based in Concord, the aviation detachment, a medical evacuation unit, is expected to report to Fort Hood, Texas, in October. The military police company will report to Fort Bliss, Texas, in February 2012.

News about members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard in our communities Deployed ►Airman 1st Class James R. Anderson , son of Matthew Anderson of Rockland , and a 2007 of Rockland High School, to Japan in support of Operation Tomodachi, a humanitarian relief effort for those affected by the March earthquake and the resulting tsunami that devastated the region. ►Army Private 1st Class Timothy J. Strong , son of Kevin Strong of Taunton and Susan Andreade of Rhode Island, to Afghanistan.

PHOENIX -- Almost two years to the day after their company was ambushed, former POW Jessica Lynch yesterday honored fallen comrade Army Specialist Lori Piestewa, the first American servicewoman killed in the Iraq War. The women were best friends who served together in the 507th Maintenance Company from Fort Bliss, Texas. They were also roommates at Fort Bliss and tentmates in Iraq. "Many of you may know our story, but what you may not know is what a great friend Lori was, what a great mother she is to these kids, what a great daughter she is, and what a great devoted soldier...

WASHINGTON -- The Army said yesterday that it was hiring case managers and boosting oversight at military facilities, an announcement made after a new internal review concluded poor outpatient care extended beyond Walter Reed Army Medical Center. General Richard Cody, the Army's vice chief of staff, said officials were finalizing a report on problems after a team of Army inspectors visited 11 bases in seven states last month to study outpatient treatment, building conditions, and the information provided to patients.

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — The Pentagon should pay more for transportation improvements around military bases that are getting tens of thousands of new workers under a national realignment plan, a report commissioned by Congress recommended yesterday. The report by the National Research Council’s Transportation Research Board looked at six large bases: Fort Meade and the National Naval Medical Center in Maryland, Fort Belvoir in Virginia, Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington, Florida’s Eglin Air Force Base, and Fort Bliss, Texas.

News about members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard in our communities Deployed ►Airman 1st Class James R. Anderson , son of Matthew Anderson of Rockland , and a 2007 of Rockland High School, to Japan in support of Operation Tomodachi, a humanitarian relief effort for those affected by the March earthquake and the resulting tsunami that devastated the region. ►Army Private 1st Class Timothy J. Strong , son of Kevin Strong of Taunton and Susan Andreade of Rhode Island, to Afghanistan.

FORT BLISS, Texas - As soldiers stream home from Iraq and Afghanistan, the biggest charity in the US military has been stockpiling tens of millions of dollars meant to help put returning fighters back on their feet, an Associated Press investigation shows. Between 2003 and 2007 - as many military families dealt with long war deployments and increased numbers of home foreclosures - Army Emergency Relief grew into a $345 million behemoth. During those years, the charity added $117 million to its reserves while spending just $64 million on direct aid, according to an AP analysis of its tax...

In even the uniquely unvarnished, autobiographical world of "Louie," an hour-long episode that tenderly draws together Middle East war zones and ducklings is a particular accomplishment. Thursday night's "Louie," the FX series written, directed by and starring comedian Louis C.K., was a marvel for any number of reasons. It was the first hour-long "Louie"; the first to credit Louis C.K.'s 6-year-old daughter, Mary Louise, for a story idea; and with a budget of $500,000 (nearly twice the show's relatively threadbare budget)

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — The Pentagon should pay more for transportation improvements around military bases that are getting tens of thousands of new workers under a national realignment plan, a report commissioned by Congress recommended yesterday. The report by the National Research Council’s Transportation Research Board looked at six large bases: Fort Meade and the National Naval Medical Center in Maryland, Fort Belvoir in Virginia, Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington, Florida’s Eglin Air Force Base, and Fort Bliss, Texas.

FORT BLISS, Texas — The FBI is investigating why a retired Army sergeant walked into a Fort Bliss convenience store and shot two employees, one fatally, before he was gunned down by responding officers, the agency said yesterday. Authorities did not know whether gunman Steven Kropf, 63, of El Paso, had any relationship with either victim, the FBI said yesterday in a statement, which described the shooting Monday at the West Texas Army post as an isolated incident. Bettina Maria Goins, 44, of El Paso was pronounced dead at a military hospital where she was rushed...

FORT BLISS, Texas - As soldiers stream home from Iraq and Afghanistan, the biggest charity in the US military has been stockpiling tens of millions of dollars meant to help put returning fighters back on their feet, an Associated Press investigation shows. Between 2003 and 2007 - as many military families dealt with long war deployments and increased numbers of home foreclosures - Army Emergency Relief grew into a $345 million behemoth. During those years, the charity added $117 million to its reserves while spending just $64 million on direct aid, according to an AP...

WASHINGTON -- The Army said yesterday that it was hiring case managers and boosting oversight at military facilities, an announcement made after a new internal review concluded poor outpatient care extended beyond Walter Reed Army Medical Center. General Richard Cody, the Army's vice chief of staff, said officials were finalizing a report on problems after a team of Army inspectors visited 11 bases in seven states last month to study outpatient treatment, building conditions, and the information provided to patients.

PHOENIX -- Almost two years to the day after their company was ambushed, former POW Jessica Lynch yesterday honored fallen comrade Army Specialist Lori Piestewa, the first American servicewoman killed in the Iraq War. The women were best friends who served together in the 507th Maintenance Company from Fort Bliss, Texas. They were also roommates at Fort Bliss and tentmates in Iraq. "Many of you may know our story, but what you may not know is what a great friend Lori was, what a great mother she is to these kids, what a great daughter she is, and what...

SUNLAND PARK, N.M. - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff toured a portion of the US-Mexico border yesterday but said there are no plans to send troops there as some politicians are seeking. Admiral Michael Mullen took a brief tour of the border in and around El Paso, but said his first trip to the area should not be taken as a sign of any intentions to send the military to the border as a bloody drug cartel war plagues Mexico. "I'm here to learn more about it [the border]