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Military

Sen. Begich visits troops in Afghanistan

Sen. Mark Begich meets with U.S. Marines at Patrol Base Boldak in Afghanistan's Helmand Province January 14, 2012. Also pictured is Rep. Bill Huizenga of Michigan.

Alaska Sen. Mark Begich visits U.S. military operations in Afghanistan in mid-January. His trip included stops in Kabul, Camp Bastion in the Hemland Province of Afghanistan and Kandahar. Sen. Begich visited with deployed Alaska-based military personnel from Fort Wainwright’s 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division.

Coast Guard icebreaker escorts tanker through Bering Sea ice

The Russian-flagged tanker Renda steams toward Nome, Alaska, through a path in the Bering Sea ice broken up by the Coast Guard Cutter Healy Jan. 6, 2012.

A Russian tanker carrying fuel for an iced-in Nome that without a delivery could run out of crucial supplies before winter's end encountered ice early Friday in the eastern Bering Sea and was escorted by the Coast Guard Cutter Healy Friday, Jan. 6, 2012. Read more

2012 Alaska Military Images: Alaska National Guard

Staff Sgt. Jeremy Hanson of the Alaska Army National Guard works on his race sled in preparation for a test run for the 2012 Iron Dog snowmobile race January 6, 2012 at the Alaska National Guard maintenance building on Camp Denali, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. This is the first year Hanson will be riding for the Alaska National Guard in the Iron Dog.

Military photographers share scenes of Alaska National Guard life.

PHOTO GALLERY

Raptor crash

Capt. Jeff Haney died in an F-22 Raptor crash located approximately 100 miles north of Anchorage, Alaska, November 16, 2010.

PHOTO GALLERY

Investigation into Danny Chen's Afghanistan death

In a Thursday, Oct. 13, 2011 file photo, a portrait of Pvt. Danny Chen is displayed on a vehicle during his funeral procession in New York. Chen was killed on Oct. 3 in a noncombat-related death in Kandahar province in Afghanistan. The U.S. Army says eight American soldiers have been charged in connection with the Oct. 3 death of Chen. In a statement, the military said the eight soldiers from Chen's company faced charges ranging from dereliction of duty, assault, negligent homicide and involuntary manslaughter. Chen was found in a guard tower in Kandahar province with what the Army described at the time as an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Fort Wainwright, Alaska.

Pvt. Danny Chen of the 3rd Battalion, died in Afghanistan in early October. The U.S. Army says eight American soldiers have been charged in connection with the Oct. 3 death of Chen.

PHOTO GALLERY

Leaving Iraq

The US flag, Iraq flag, and the US Forces Iraq colors are seen before they are carried in during ceremonies marking the end of US military mission in Baghdad, Iraq, Thursday, Dec. 15, 2011. After nearly nine years, 4,500 American dead, 32,000 wounded and more than $800 billion, U.S. officials formally shut down the war in Iraq a conflict that U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said was worth the price in blood and money, as it set Iraq on a path to democracy.

After nearly nine years, 4,500 American dead and 100,000 Iraqi dead, U.S. officials formally shut down the war in Iraq - a conflict that Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said was worth the American sacrifice because it set Iraq on a path to democracy.

PHOTO GALLERY

Santa Visits Villages

Santa Claus steps off an Air Station Kodiak MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter in Ouzinkie Monday Dec. 5, 2011 to deliver gifts. The air station flies Santa and his elves to seven remote villages on Kodiak Island to support the annual Santa to the Villages outreach program.

Santa visits Alaska villages during the 2011 holiday season assisted by the Alaska National Guard and the U.S. Coast Guard.

PHOTO GALLERY

Nation remembers attack on Pearl Harbor

Pearl Harbor survivor Nolan Albarado reacts as a member of the Andrews Sisters styled group 'The Victory Belles' gives him a kiss on his cheek at a ceremony observing the 70th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans, Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2011.

In cities across the country, memorials were held today to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. The event marked the United States' official entry into World War II and was memorialized as a "day that will live in infamy" by then president Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

Story: Pearl Harbor survivors return to ships after death

Photos: Portraits of Pearl Harbor survivors

PHOTO GALLERY

70th anniversary

In this image provided by the U.S. Navy Pearl Harbor survivors observe the U.S. Naval Sea Cadets Concert Band of the West perform at the Pearl Harbor Visitor's Center during Kama'aina and military appreciation day Sunday Dec. 4, 2011. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the 1941 attacks on Pearl Harbor in which more than 2,400 people died. According to the New York Times this is the last year the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association will mark the anniversary. The association will disband on Dec. 31.

The 70th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack was commemorated around the nation, December 7, 2011. One WWII vet who passed on this year was memorialized in Hawaii. His ashes were also interred inside the USS Utah, his ship that sank during the Japanese attack.

PHOTO GALLERY

Legacy

United States Marine Gunnery Sgt. Johnny McKnight listens Saturday, November 5, 2011, during a prayer vigil on the Laurel County Courthouse steps before a veterans' parade in London, Kentucky. McKnight retired in August after overseas duty in Somalia, Afghanistan, and Iraq.

The legacy of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq weigh heavily on the residents of London, Kentucky.

Multimedia

Lauren Bretz: Anchored in faith

For Lauren Bretz, strength to handle her husband's yearlong deployment came from her faith.

Cari Collins: Keeping it together

Cari Collins offers a glimpse into her life raising four daughters alone while her husband serves in Iraq, and what his return will mean.

Vicki Bell: Talk about stress

Vicki Bell gives insight into the unique challenges of military matrimony others" and her own.

Colleen Mihalic: Counting the days

Colleen Mihalic recounts her journey through isolation and sadness and finally welcomes her husband home.

Reader-submitted

2011/12 Alaska winter

From low sunlight, plunging temperatures and massive snow fall, Alaska's winter are an extreme mix of beauty and danger. Post a photo of you how you live through it.

Reader submitted: 2012 Aurora Borealis

Location: Point Woronzof Park Anchorage, AK, 01/24/12

RSVP: January - 2012

Location: Sheraton Anchorage, 01/14/12 The Chenega Commercial Holdings, LLC team poses for a group photo at the 2011 Stars of the Industry event at the Sheraton Anchorage. The Alaska Hotel & Lodging Association hosts this annual event to recognize and celebrate excellence in the hospitality industry.

Submit your photos from community projects and social occasions around town in January, 2012.

Post an RSVP photo

Cordova snowstorm

Location: Cordova, AlaskaThis was even before the final part of the storm!

Cordova residents are tunneling out after several snow storms moved through Prince William Sound.

January Valdez snowstorm

Heavy snow pounded Valdez and Cordova on January 6, 2012, after the town received 19.2 inches Thursday from the Prince William Sound blizzard, making for a season total of more than 20 feet. Meanwhile, Nome is having its worst cold spell since 1989.

Frosty Alaskans

Best of 2011: Reader-submitted

Skiing and snowboarding

2011 Howwwwl-oween dog costume contest

Aurora Borealis: September, 2011

My Aces

2011 Halloween: Kids

Crafts on sale at 2011 holiday bazaars

Denali National Park road lottery

Reader photos: Big Hunt

Reader photos: 2011 Fall colors

Reader photos: 2011 Alaska State Fair

Slideshows

Alaska-based soldiers headed for Afghanistan

Brigade commander Col. Morris Goins addresses his troops and guests at a U.S. Army Alaska deployment ceremony for the 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division Tuesday morning November 29, 2011 at Sullivan Arena. The 3,500-soldier brigade will be departing for Afghanistan on a series of flights in November and December.

AUDIO SLIDE SHOW

Food Bank of Alaska Thanksgiving Blessing

The Food Bank of Alaska Thanksgiving Blessing project is a community-wide effort to provide turkeys and all the fixings to everyone in need on one day, Monday, Nov. 21, 2011, from seven locations and is expected to provide enough food to feed around 7,000 families.

AUDIO SLIDE SHOW

Southcentral Power Project

Project manager Dustin Highers discusses the Southcentral Power Project located at the Chugach Electric Association headquarters off International Airport Road in Anchorage.

Touring the Goose Creek Correctional Center

Corrections commissioner Joe Schmidt describes the new Goose Creek Correctional Center slated to begin accepting prisoners in March of 2012 at Point MacKenzie.

AUDIO SLIDE SHOW

Operation Bulldog Bite