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Alaska Military in Iraq

Last of Fort Wainwright Stryker brigade returning from Iraq

The last members of the 1st Stryker brigade are returning to Fort Wainwright after a year in Iraq.

Alaska-based soldier dies in Iraq helicopter crash

A Fort Wainwright soldier died over the weekend in Iraq when a Black Hawk helicopter went down in a sandstorm, the Army said.

Fort Wainwright Stryker brigade completing return from Iraq

With flights this weekend, nearly all 4,000 members of the 1st Stryker brigade will be back at Fairbanks' Fort Wainwright after a year in Iraq.

Stryker soldiers returning from Iraq war zone

More than 1,000 soldiers are expected to return to Fairbanks over the next few days.

Alaska Air Guardsmen to head for Afghanistan

About 200 members of the Alaska Air National Guard will deploy this week to Afghanistan.

Fort Rich soldier dies in Afghanistan

Staff Sgt. Kurt R. Curtiss, 27, of Murray, Utah, a soldier from Fort Richardson's airborne brigade, was killed in a firefight at a hospital in Afghanistan on Wednesday.

Sheik blames outsiders for rocket attack

FOB NORMANDY-Capt. Chris Hassan, of the 3-23rd Infantry Regiment, and Second Platoon, Charlie Company, had a different mission scheduled with their Iraqi Army partners. Plans changed in the wake of an unsuccessful rocket attack against American forces the previous night.

Help requires hard sell

FOB NORMANDY, Iraq- Exiting the Wajihiyah district police station, Lt. Col. Jim DeMoss, commander of 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry, called a quick team huddle in the courtyard.

Living On The Iraqi Frontier

COP COBRA, Iraq - "Ah yes, Cobra," Maj. Chris Hyde said, laughing nervously and sucking air through his teeth. "It's nice up there, really nice. But - how shall I say it - very austere."

Aerial assault at dawn

FOB GRIZZLY, Iraq—The Chinook jostled from side to side, suggesting turbulence rather than touchdown at the LZ. Hugging their guns, Iraqis and Americans streamed toward the big helicopter's gaping rear hatch.

Transferring law enforcement duties presents challenges

Any detective ought to appreciate the Iraqi policeman's dilemma. Turf battles between local police and the Iraqi Army, the IP and IA, respectively, pose continuing concern for Americans working to hand off responsibilities to Iraqis.

Taliban wants US response on Fort Richardson soldier

A militant commander who is holding a Fort Richardson-based soldier abducted in Afghanistan said Sunday that Taliban leader Mullah Omar's council is waiting for a response to its demands before deciding the American's fate.

Facing Iraqi detainees

BAQUBAH, Iraq -- The air is hot and thick in the high-ceilinged room as the man shuffles forward. Sitting at a desk in front of him is a gray-suited official with a folder, who glares and starts asking questions.

Send out the drones

FOB WARHORSE, Iraq -- The lawnmower-like buzzing grows louder, and after a few seconds the silhouette of a small plane takes shape in the 115-degree haze.

Strykers take students on search for explosives

FOB WARHORSE, Iraq— Capt. Richie Santiago interrupts First Platoon's movement through a palm grove and greets the imam of Saysabani.

Advance group of Strykers back home at Fort Wainwright

The first group of Strykers has returned to Fort Wainwright from Iraq. About 150 soldiers came back Monday morning.

UAF quartet joins Fort Wainwright soldiers in Iraq

Three UAF students are on the way to Iraq this weekend with a journalism professor for a month-long embed with Fort Wainwright's 1st Stryker Brigade.

Wainwright troops near homecoming

Fort Wainwright's 1st Stryker Brigade is winding up its year-long tour in Iraq's Diyala Province and looking forward to starting its return to Fairbanks, its commander said Tuesday.

Hundreds attend vigil for captured Fort Rich soldier

More than 500 people attended a vigil in Idaho on Wednesday night for a Fort Richardson-based soldier who was captured in Afghanistan by the Taliban.

Idaho town hopes for the safe return of local soldier

To the rest of the world, Fort Richardson-based Pfc. Bowe Bergdahl is the frightened soldier who appeared in a Taliban propaganda video after he was captured in Afghanistan. The people of Hailey, Idaho, which he calls home, have a more complete portrait of Bergdahl.

Family of captive Fort Rich soldier asks for privacy

The Pentagon said Monday that troops are "sparing no effort" to find a Fort Richardson-based soldier captured by the Taliban as his family pleaded for privacy.

PHOTO GALLERY

Women Airforce Service Pilots Honored

A Congressional Gold Medal ceremony honors the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) of World War II at the Capitol Visitor's Center in Washington D.C., Wednesday, March 10, 2010.

A Congressional Gold Medal ceremony honored the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) of World War II at the Capitol Visitor's Center in Washington D.C., March 10, 2010. See photos from the ceremony as well as images of Alaska's own WASPs.

VIDEO

Stryker Driver Ed

Anchorage longshoremen received training to drive Stryker armored combat vehicles from ship to railhead Thursday February 4, 2010 at the Port of Anchorage.

Hickman memorial

Sgt. 1st Class Jason Hickman is remembered at a memorial ceremony Tuesday February 23, 2010 on Ft. Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska.

PHOTO GALLERY

At War

The assault on Marjah is the biggest offensive since the 2001 U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan and is a major test of a new NATO strategy focused on protecting civilians. The attack is also the first major combat operation since President Barack Obama ordered 30,000 U.S. reinforcements here in December to try to turn the tide of the war.

Homecoming

The first plane load of main body paratroopers from the 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, were welcomed home to Fort Richardson on Sunday, Feb. 7, 2010, after a year-long deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.   About 800 paratroopers of the 3,500 member brigade have returned to Alaska and most of the rest will be returning this month.

The first plane load of "main body" paratroopers from the 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, were welcomed home to Fort Richardson on Sunday, Feb. 7, 2010, after a year-long deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Pilot for a Day

Brendan Thompson enjoys the view from a personalized F-15C fighter jet cockpit Friday morning January 29, 2010 at Elmendorf Air Force Base. Thompson, 13, his brother Joshua Poole, 9, and mom Cristin Poole spent the day on base courtesy of the Air Force and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The three toured fighters in Hangar 3, visited the control tower, watched F-15s and an F-22 take off on a training exercise, checked out a C-17A Globemaster transport plane, and experienced a flight simulator. Diagnosed with aplastic anemia a year ago, Thompson and his family will head to Seattle soon to discuss treatment options. After that, Flying would be awesome!, he concluded.

Brendan Thompson is guest of honor in the Pilot-for-a-Day program Friday January 29, 2010 at Elmendorf Air Force Base.

SOLDIER PROFILES

Alaska's Fallen Soldiers

Running list of profiles of Alaskan, or Alaska-based, soldiers who have died since 2003.

SERIES

The Way Home

Four-part series on military families growing up in Alaska while their husbands and fathers serve in Iraq.

Post a message to the troops

Bill Roth/Anchorage Daily News   The first flight of nearly 100 paratroopers from the 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, from Fort Richardson arrived early Monday morning, November 5, 2007, at Elmendorf Air Force Base after serving over a year in Iraq.  The remaining 3,500 paratroopers are expected back in Alaska by mid-December.

They're coming back! Soldiers, guardsmen and airman. Here's a chance to say thanks to the men and women who've served on your behalf.

PHOTOS

Iraq and Homefront

Images of Alaska's troops serving in Iraq, and coming home to family and friends.

Fort Richardson soldier held in Afghanistan

Soldiers return to Fairbanks after mission in Iraq

Fort Richardson soldier killed in Afghanistan

Two Fort Richardson soldiers dead in Afghanistan

Stryker brigade commander reports on progress in Iraq

Fort Richardson unit tries to help Afghans help themselves

Fort Rich team adapts to wider role in Afghanistan

Bomb kills Elmendorf airman in Afghanistan

Hundreds gather for fallen soldier's send-off in New York

Soldier based in Alaska is killed

Fort Wainwright soldier killed in Iraq honored in his home town

Soldier's services set in New York

Three soldiers killed in Iraq

Slow action not to Fairbanks Stryker brigade's liking

Soldier's death in Iraq under investigation

Wainwright officer dead in Iraq

Military says helicopter fatality not combat related

Two Wainwright soldiers killed in Iraq

Tribute to the fallen

Judge backs Christian soldier's conscientious objector petition

Soldier appeals to be conscientious objector

Medic in Alaska Guard earns Bronze Star

The cost of war: 5 years in Iraq

Alaska paratroopers return from Iraq

Stranded troops thought they'd be in Hawaii by now

Fort Richardson paratrooper killed

Iraqi girl's vision becomes soldier's mission

Iraqi girl's vision becomes soldier's mission

Fort Rich soldier who traded leave with a friend dies in Iraq

Fort Rich soldier who traded leave with a friend dies in Iraq

Fort Rich casualties identified

Fort Rich casualties identified

Slain Fort Rich soldier is praised

Slain Fort Rich soldier is praised

Alaska Army Ranger always defended others

Alaska Army Ranger always defended others

Fort Richardson's 32nd Iraq death identified

Fort Richardson's 32nd Iraq death identified

Fort Rich widow faces putting life back together

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