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It's Staff Sgt. Edgar Covarrubias' second Fourth of July in Iraq. No family barbecue, no fireworks, but Covarrubias says he'll call his mom, wife and kids to share the day anyway. Across Iraq, America's Independence Day was a normal work day for most U.S. troops.

The Pentagon has extended the tour of 2,200 marines in afghanistan, after insisting for months the unit would come home on time. The 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, which is doing combat operations in the volatile south, will stay an extra 30 days and come home in early November rather than October.

Dr. Thomas VanVeen knows a thing or two about endurance. The Stayton physician has run 27 marathons in his life, including the Boston Marathon four times.

A multi-pronged militant assault on a small, remote U.S. base killed nine American Soldiers and wounded 15 in the deadliest attack on U.S. forces in afghanistan in three years. Those troops were on their way to rescue a four-man team of Navy SEALs caught in a militant ambush.

National Guard troops and overseas crews are being called in to assist exhausted firefighters. Gov. Schwarzenegger ordered 2,000 more National Guard troops to join the 400 already on duty. Australia, canada, Greece, Mexico and New Zealand are also sending firefighters and equipment.