American Morning
Police in South Dakota out lesbian Air Force staff sergeant
(CNN) – She kept a secret for nine years. Jene Newsome didn't tell anyone in the Air Force she was a lesbian. Then, just as momentum was building to repeal the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, Newsome was outed by a third party.
Her local police department in South Dakota outed her after they saw an Iowa marriage certificate in her home. Now discharged from the Air Force, Newsome and the American Civil Liberties Union have filed a complaint against the Rapid City Police Department, saying the officers violated her privacy.
Meanwhile, the police department maintains they were following routine procedure. Jene Newsome joined us on Wednesday's American Morning via Skype to share her story.
Family remembers soldier killed in Haiti earthquake
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/03/10/lawrence.bourland.family.art.jpg caption="Air Force Lt. Col. Ken Bourland (far left) was in Haiti on a 48-hour mission when the devastating earthquake struck."]
By CNN Pentagon Producer Laurie Ure
WASHINGTON (CNN) - Air Force Lt. Col. Ken Bourland hugged his wife Peggy goodbye and headed out for his quick two-day job mission.
The date was January 12. The destination: Haiti.
Neither knew it would be the last time they'd see one another.
Upon his arrival in Port-au-Prince, Ken Bourland sent Peggy an e-mail saying he had settled into his hotel room.
Ten minutes later, Peggy and the couple's three sons began watching television back in their suburban Fort Lauderdale, Florida, home. That's when the news broke: Haiti had been struck by a major earthquake.
Peggy describes the panic that set in.
"I sent him another e-mail, you know, 'Please tell me you're OK," she recounted to CNN. "And at that point, I didn't get anything back."
The ensuing minutes and hours turned to days of waiting.
"It was painful not knowing," Peggy said. "But not knowing, you still had hope. You still had hope that he could possibly be under there just surviving, just doing everything he could to survive."
Eventually, Peggy began to fear the worst.
U.S. stepping up drone strikes in Pakistan
(CNN) – Defense Secretary Robert Gates is in Afghanistan, visiting with U.S. ground troops who are trying to drive the Taliban out of Kandahar.
Weeding out militants across the border in Pakistan, however, is much more complicated. The U.S. is now stepping up attacks on suspected terrorists there by launching hell-fire missiles from unmanned drones.
CNN national security analyst Peter Bergen and a colleague from the New America Foundation have created an online interactive map of U.S. drone strikes in the region. He joined us on Tuesday's American Morning for an analysis using CNN's "magic wall."
Read more: Gates in Afghanistan on unannounced visit
Iraq vet overcomes PTSD to run for office
(CNN) – After coming home from war, it can be hard for soldiers to adjust to normal life again, especially when dealing with post traumatic stress disorder.
That was the case for Army Captain Shannon Meehan. He's moved on from Army life, but still says he wants to serve his country. He talked exclusively with our Barbara Starr for this AM original report.
How the Pentagon helps movie makers
(CNN) – The military is a major theme in the race for Oscar gold this year. Often the producers of war movies turn to the Pentagon to help spice up their special effects.
But as our Barbara Starr found out, the relationship between the military and Hollywood goes way back.
Pentagon may lift ban of women in combat
(CNN) – Women could soon be on the front-lines in Afghanistan and Iraq. The top Army brass is considering lifting a ban on having women in a combat role. Our Barbara Starr has the report from the Pentagon.
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