Iraq

Richmond parade welcomes home war vets

david.putney — Sat, 19 May 2012 15:17:24 -0400

RICHMOND An Armed Forces Day welcome home parade in Richmond has honored returning Iraq War veterans.

Chesapeake man appeals after DMV revokes plates

Tom.Justice — Thu, 17 May 2012 15:06:11 -0400

CHESAPEAKE They were seven letters on the license plates: ICUHAJI. Phonetically, it could be read, "I see you, Haji." To the Department of Motor Vehicles, the message was considered offensive to Arab Americans and grounds for the tags' revocation.

U.S. rethinks $8 billion police training program in Iraq

Sun, 13 May 2012 02:00:00 -0400

By Tim Arango

BAGHDAD In the face of spiraling costs and Iraqi officials who say they never wanted it in the first place, the State Department has slashed - and might jettison entirely by the end of the year - a multibillion-dollar police training program that was to have been the centerpiece of a hugely expanded civilian mission here.

Va. appeals court revives Abu Ghraib lawsuits

lauren.king — Fri, 11 May 2012 17:45:34 -0400

By Larry O'Dell RICHMOND A divided federal appeals court on Friday revived two lawsuits by former Iraqi detainees who alleged that civilian interrogators and translators participated in their torture at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq, ruling that it's too early to consider dismissing the cases.

'We knew he had demons,' war veteran's mom says

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 23:08:43 -0400

Jonathan Bartlett, an Iraq war veteran and double amputee who was featured in numerous Virginian-Pilot stories as he recovered from his injuries, died Tuesday at his home in Chesapeake. He was 27. Family members said he killed himself.

Intrepid soldier ready to fight on

aimee.green — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 19:32:07 -0400

Editor's note: This story originally appeared in The Virginian-Pilot on Oct. 27, 2005. WASHINGTON They are proud, but that isn’t what they told Jon Bartlett on Wednesday as he left Walter Reed Army Medical Center after 13 months. No congratulations. No ”job well done.” No pats on the back for keeping his chin up when his spirits were down.

Infantryman captivates Norfolk students with tales

aimee.green — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 19:26:43 -0400

Editor's note: This story originally appeared in The Virginian-Pilot on Nov. 25, 2004. NORFOLK While volunteers worked at warp speed to make his parents’ house wheelchair-accessible, and an expert in a laboratory put the final touches on his new legs, Jon Bartlett spent Wednesday at one of his old haunts: Maury High School.

Soldier’s experience: Broken body, unbroken spirit

aimee.green — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 19:21:47 -0400

Editor's note: This story originally appeared in The Virginian-Pilot on Oct. 28, 2004. WASHINGTON Over the course of a few hours, a string of emotions rolls across Jonathan Bartlett’s face. Amazement. Anxiety. Pain. Anger, though, isn’t one of them. Neither is defeat.

Photos | Portsmouth-based Task Force honored

Michael.Connors — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 15:54:19 -0400

Ex-soldier returns to Virginia Beach for new start

corinne.reilly — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0400

VIRGINIA BEACH When the plane carrying Daryl Beamer home finally landed, the passengers around him scrambled to check messages and gather luggage. Beamer just waited. He had no cellphone and only a handful of belongings to his name. In the terminal at Norfolk International, he passed a soldier in uniform, and he thought, That should be me. That's how I wanted to come home.