Stars and Stripes Daily Headlines

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August 20, 2021

 

First wave of Afghanistan evacuees arrives at Ramstein Air Base  Hundreds of evacuees from Afghanistan, including many families with children, arrived at Ramstein Air Base from Qatar on Friday after a harrowing journey fleeing the Taliban’s takeover. READ MORE

VA secretary reiterates need for coronavirus vaccines as veteran cases, deaths rise Coronavirus cases among Department of Veterans Affairs patients have more than tripled in the past three weeks, and at least 638 veterans have died in the latest surge, according to VA data. READ MORE

‘Chaos continues’ at Kabul airport as Afghans say they remain wary of Taliban rule Thousands of Afghans waited in the Kabul heat outside the capital’s international airport Friday with hopes of crossing Taliban checkpoints and boarding an evacuation flight, despite enduring tear gas attacks and crackling warning shots the night before. READ MORE   Biden: US troops gathered Americans from crowds outside Kabul airport U.S. troops left Kabul’s international airport on Thursday to gather U.S. citizens trapped in the large, chaotic crowds just outside the airfield’s walls, President Joe Biden said Friday, vowing to provide “every resource necessary” to get Americans out of Afghanistan. READ MORE   Air Force revises number of Afghans rescued on 'record' flight after earlier omitting 183 children The total number whisked away Sunday aboard the Air Force C-17 Globemaster III was 823 passengers, “a record for this aircraft," Air Mobility Command said. READ MORE

Navy breaks ground on $111 million munitions wharf near Yokosuka Naval Base in Japan When complete, the new combat loading wharf at the Navy’s Urago Storage Area will enable the Navy to load its destroyers and cruisers with munitions faster and despite inclement weather. READ MORE   Navy Sigonella students to begin school year remotely following fire Students at Naval Air Station Sigonella will start the school year Monday with remote learning after a recent fire disrupted power to base schools. READ MORE   NATO’s ‘top priority’ is evacuating people from Kabul, alliance chief says  NATO’s top official on Friday urged the Taliban to allow thousands of foreigners and Afghans seeking to leave Kabul to get to the city’s international airport. READ MORE   Debut summer for Navy’s Triton drones flying from Japan The aircraft, on their first mission in Japan, support the 7th Fleet at Yokosuka Naval Base throughout its area of operations, which covers the vast Indo-Pacific region. READ MORE   Navy pilot program uses smart watches and rings to test whether ship drivers are well rested The new devices, called “wearables,” are part of a new push to develop a “digital real-time fatigue monitoring and management capability for the fleet” that can be used to optimize watch-bill scheduling and staffing decisions based on sailors’ fatigue risk. READ MORE   Korean War foundation waits on long-overdue names from DOD for remembrance wall The Korean War Veterans Memorial Foundation, which spearheads the effort, has raised the entire $20 million needed for the wall, which will be built within the existing Korean War Veterans Memorial on the National Mall. READ MORE

 

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