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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.

Funeral for Marine Cpl. Gregory Fleury

A Marine presents a rose to Donna Fleury-Brown, mother of Cpl. Gregory Fleury. The funeral service for Marine Cpl. Gregory M. W. Fleury was held on Friday afternoon, November 6, 2009, at First Baptist Church in Anchorage. Fleury died while serving in the Afghanistan province of Helman when two helicopters collided on October 26.

A funeral service for Marine Cpl. Gregory M. W. Fleury was held on Friday afternoon, November 6, 2009, at First Baptist Church in Anchorage. Fleury died while serving in the Afghanistan province of Helman when two helicopters collided on October 26.

Tragedy at Fort Hood

A swat team enters the main gate at Fort Hood, Texas, Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009. A soldier opened fire at a U.S. Army base in Fort Hood, unleashing a stream of gunfire that left 12 people dead and 31 wounded. Authorities killed the gunman, and apprehended two other soldiers suspected in what appears to be the worst mass shooting at a U.S. military base.

A military mental health doctor facing deployment overseas opened fire at the Fort Hood Army base on Thursday, setting off on a rampage that killed 11 other people and left 31 wounded.

Military memorials

The U.S. Marine Corps performs plane-side military honors Monday for Cpl. Gregory M.W. Fleury, 23, as his body arrives at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport. Cpl. Fleury, a Service High graduate, was one of four Marines who died in a helicopter collision in Afghanistan on Oct. 26 in the Helmand Province while serving with the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade. A funeral will be at noon Friday at First Baptist Church of Anchorage, 1100 W. 10th Avenue, with a visitation one hour prior to the church service. A private interment will be at Fort Richardson National Ceremony.

Images from recent memorials held for Alaskans killed in the line of duty in 2009, and brought home to rest.

Fort Rich soldiers in Afghanistan

The 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division at work and during downtime.

VIDEO

Fort Richardson Memorial

Andy and Sondra Andrews talk about their son 2nd Lt. Darryn Andrews who was killed while serving in Iraq.

Sgt. Shannon Smith funeral

The hearse carrying the body of Staff Sgt. Shannon Smith travels west on W. Cherry Street in Sunbury, Ohio on Friday, Sept 18, 2009.

Staff Sgt. Shannon M. Smith with the 545th Military Police Company, Arctic Military Police Battalion at Fort Richardson was killed in Iraq on Sept. 8, 2009. His funeral in Sunbury, Ohio was held Sept. 18.

SOLDIER PROFILES

Alaska's Fallen Soldiers

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

PHOTOS

Alaska brigade deployed

A ceremony at Sullivan Arena sends Alaska troops on their way.

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

Back home, with a welcome new assignment

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

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