SSgt. John T. Self, 29, of Pontotoc, Miss., was killed May 14 in Iraq, the Pentagon said yesterday. Three other airmen, whose names have not been released, were wounded by the improvised explosive device that killed Self in southern Baghdad. Self was a security forces specialist who had deployed from Little Rock AFB, Ark., on a year-long tour to help train Iraqi police forces, according to a base release.
The House of Representatives voted Nov. 12 to end the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, setting the stage for tens of thousands of defense civilians to return to work and guaranteeing troops will be paid in a few days’ time.


