Stenhouse wins NASCAR's NRA American Warrior 300 in Atlanta

Atlanta, Georgia - The Atlanta Motor Speedway set the stage yesterday for the NRA American Warrior 300 NASCAR Nationwide Series. 200 laps of NASCAR thrills and spills over this Labor Day weekend that included it's own share of controversial yellow flags and finishes.

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The USS Gambier Bay was technically an escort carrier, but shipyard personnel referred to her as a Bonus Ship – Bonus, because the shipyard exceeded their production quota when the Gambier Bay came off the production line in 1943. Almost a year to the day after her launch, she was sunk by Japanese forces at the Battle of Samar.

Back home, families of the sailors aboard heard of their heroic efforts, how they helped run off the Japanese Center Force (23, ships including four battleships and eleven destroyers) and how the USS Gambier Bay sank to the bottom of the Pacific.

"My oldest sister, she picked up the paper that morning and there was the Gambier Bay Sunk," explained Seaman First Class Norm St. Germain. "She kept hiding the papers from my mother so she wouldn't see it. But eventually they had to tell her."

Hear the full story, from Norm's view, on the sinking of the USS Gambier Bay from NRA Life of Duty.

"The flying that we do here is the most challenging by far. In the firefighting environment, it's hot which means the airplane doesn't perform as well and we're super heavy because of the retardant we need to carry ... it requires a lot of specialized training to do what we do."

Those are the words of one National Guard pilot called in to help fight the wild fires in Colorado. His story, and others like him, are being told this month on NRA Life of Duty as Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North and Chuck Holton provide an inside look at the devastating Colorado wildfires and the brave individuals working to protect the state and its citizens from their destruction.

See the trailer and more on the Colorado National Guard protecting the homeland at NRALifeofDuty.tv.

Seventy-two years ago today, August 16, 1940, the Army Parachute Test Platoon conducted its first jump. Their success validated the innovative concept of inserting United States ground combat forces behind a battle line via parachute.

A little over two years later the first US Airborne operation occurred when 531 members of the 2nd Battalion 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment participated in Operation Touch in North Africa.

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Exclusively for those who serve

Are you active-Duty Military, Law Enforcement or a first responders? If so, then you need to take a look at NRA's Life of Duty. What is it about? Here's what they say on their website:

"NRA Life of Duty serves and supports individuals who go to work protecting and defending the safety of the American people. It's a platform for those who protect and serve. This network was made for you – the ones we count on to fight for our freedoms every day. We hope this network becomes a great source of information and a powerful voice for the heroes who live a life of duty, each and every day."

As an added bonus, and as a way of thanking you for your service, the NRA would like to make memberships available to you at NO COST. But that's not all. There's also no-cost accident insurance, gear discounts, the NRA American Warrior magazine and more...all for free for one-year.

So head on over to the NRA Life of Duty Network ... it's well worth the clicks.

Sometimes it means a little, sometimes it means a lot, and sometimes it means nothing at all. When it comes to the Military, being "Just the Girlfriend" can mean next to nothing. And that's just the notion that NRA's Life of Duty decided to explore.

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Unless you're out there on the streets, you have no idea what our law enforcement officers are up against. To deal with today's criminals, they have to be on top of the latest pharmaceuticals, technology and fighting techniques. That's where the subject of this week's NRA Life of Duty highlight comes into play.

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NRA's Life of Duty takes a look at California Game Wardens.

California State Department of Fish & Game Wardens are tasked with tracking poachers. Their primary concern focuses on wildlife preservation and conservation and emphasize the importance of hunter education. Now their mission has changed. For today, these Wardens are fighting for our national security and quality of life.

As one Warden said, "We still do the regular Fish and Game work, but then we get into the Drug Trafficking organization cartel gunman who isn't going to stop and talk … that's the direction Fish and Game has gone, to do those hard heavy jobs."

See more on NRA Life of Duty ... Presented by Brownells.

NRA Life of Duty's takes a look at the actions of a then nineteen year old Ed Eaton. Volunteering for active duty, a somewhat rare occurrence during Vietnam, Eaton ultimately achieved the designation of Scout Sniper. Those skills came into play one night as two groups of Viet Cong swarmed the downed helicopter that carried Eaton, his Captain and his team.

To hear the full story, visit the NRA Life of Duty website now.