military | FFXnow

Reston military contractor appeals order to pay $42M to former Abu Ghraib detainees

Published September 9, 2025 at 1:45PM

A courtroom sketch depicts former Abu Ghraib prison detainee Salah Al-Ejaili at the trial of CACI, a Reston-based military contractor accused of contributing to the abuse and torture of detainees in U.S. District Court in Alexandria on April 16, 2024. (image by Dana Verkouteren via AP)

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Appellate judges heard arguments Tuesday in an appeal brought by a U.S. military contractor ordered to pay $42 million for contributing to the torture of three former detainees at Iraq’s Abu Ghraib prison, with judges questioning the accuracy of some legal filings by the contractor.

The three-judge panel in the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments and questioned attorneys for nearly an hour in the appeal brought by Reston, Virginia-based CACI, which is challenging last year’s civil lawsuit that led to a finding against it. The judges did not immediately issue a ruling. It’s not clear when an opinion could come.

Around Town

New exhibit at Army Museum in Fort Belvoir highlights daily life of Revolutionary War soldiers

By Vernon Miles

Published June 10, 2025 at 8:30AM

Model of William Seymour at the National Museum of the United States Army)

At the center of a new exhibit in the National Museum of the United States Army at Fort Belvoir is a wax replica of Revolutionary War soldier William Seymour.

Around Seymour are soldiers charging into battle, including formerly enslaved man Cato Varnum who won a Badge of Military Merit for his actions at Yorktown. Just behind Seymour are Anna and John Lane, a couple who fought together at Germantown.

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JUST IN: Army identifies soldiers on Fort Belvoir helicopter in DCA crash

By Angela Woolsey

Published January 31, 2025 at 3:55PM | Updated January 31, 2025 at 5:21PM

An American Airlines flight passes over nearly two dozen crosses near Gravelly Point, a tribute to the 67 victims of the mid-air collision over the Potomac River (staff photo by James Jarvis)

Two of the three soldiers on the Army helicopter that collided with an American Airlines passenger jet over the Potomac River on Wednesday (Jan. 29) have been identified.

One of the bodies that has been recovered so far appears to be that of Staff Sgt. Ryan Austin O’Hara, a 28-year-old Lilburn, Georgia, native who had served in the Army as a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter pilot since 2017, the Department of the Army announced today (Friday).

News

Photos: Wreaths Across America gets escort from Springfield to Arlington National Cemetery

By Dave Facinoli

Published December 17, 2024 at 1:15PM

A police motorcade escorts Wreaths Across America trucks out of the Interstate Van Lines parking lot in Springfield (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)

A parking lot in Springfield played a major role this year in Wreaths Across America’s annual tribute to fallen military service members at Arlington National Cemetery.

The Interstate Van Lines building at 5801 Rolling Road in Springfield served as a major staging area for dozens of tractor-trailer trucks that transported wreaths to the cemetery, where Wreaths Across America laid tributes at every single gravesite last Saturday (Dec. 14).

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Rep. Connolly seeks public report on Trump campaign clash at Arlington National Ceremony

By Angela Woolsey

Published August 28, 2024 at 3:30PM | Updated August 29, 2024 at 11:05AM

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump participates in a wreath-laying ceremony the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery (via CSPAN)

One of Fairfax County’s congressional representatives wants a public accounting of reported clash between presidential candidate Donald Trump’s campaign and staff at Arlington National Cemetery.

This morning (Wednesday), Rep. Gerry Connolly called for the cemetery to “publicly release all that transpired” during the former president and current Republican presidential nominee’s visit on Monday (Aug. 26).

Around Town

Springfield community and local military reunite for annual Bridge Walk after multi-year hiatus

By James Jarvis

Published August 14, 2024 at 11:30AM

The 2016 Springfield Bridge Walk (via Fort Belvoir/Facebook)

After a several-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Springfield Bridge Walk is back on.

The annual event celebrating the connection between the Springfield community and the nearby major U.S. Army installation, Fort Belvoir, kicks off this Saturday (Aug. 17) at 10 a.m. at the corner of Bland Street and Amherst Avenue.

News

Vienna teens seek donations to make care packages for overseas troops

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 1, 2024 at 1:30PM

Donations for the Club Phoenix Teen Council's HeroBox drive are being collected at the Vienna Community Center (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Some teenage volunteers in Vienna have teamed up with a national nonprofit to show their support for American military service members.

The town’s Club Phoenix Teen Council launched a donation drive this week to collect clothes, non-perishable food and other items that will be assembled into care packages for military troops serving around the world.

News

McLean Air Force veteran honored as ‘living legend’ at 105 years old

By Angela Woolsey

Published August 22, 2023 at 10:30AM

Winnie Evans holds her Living Legend proclamation with representatives from the Military Women's Memorial (courtesy Chesterbrook Residences)

Chesterbrook Residences has a certified living legend residing in its halls.

Major Winifred Evans, a resident of the McLean assisted living community since 2018, was honored last Thursday (Aug. 17) with a “Living Legend” proclamation from the Military Women’s Memorial in Arlington.

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Executive order that integrated U.S. military inspires Fort Belvoir road’s new name

By Matt Blitz

Published July 26, 2023 at 9:30AM

New street sign for EO 9981 Road (photo courtesy of Paul Lara, Paul Lara USAG Fort Belvoir Public Affairs Office)

Fort Belvoir’s Lee Road is officially being renamed EO 9981 Road in a ceremony this morning (Wednesday).

The name change comes as a result of a 2022 recommendation made by the Congress-backed Naming Commission tasked with coming up with a plan to remove names, symbols, displays, and monuments that honor the Confederacy from all “Army assets.” That includes bases and roads.

Countywide

Local Army veteran awarded Medal of Honor at White House for saving lives in Vietnam War

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 3, 2023 at 2:15PM | Updated March 5, 2023 at 10:16PM

Paris Davis was awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism in a Vietnam War battle that unfolded 58 years ago (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

A Vietnam War veteran who now lives in Fairfax County was awarded the Medal of Honor at the White House today (Friday) — a recognition that supporters believe is nearly six decades overdue.

Retired Army Col. Paris Davis learned last month that he would receive the U.S. military’s highest honor for his actions in a battle against North Vietnamese forces on June 17-18, 1965, when he led an assault and saved multiple fellow soldiers despite being wounded.