
Tupper Lake is a small upstate New York community in the heart of the Adirondack Mountains. The drive to this community proceeds through paths where the sky is blocked out by the mountains on either side of the road. It is perhaps one of the most beautiful regions of the United States.
Industry is scarce in [...]
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Tags: Bergan Arsenault, female amputee, Lt. Bergan Flannigan, purple heart, wounded in action
Posted in Military, Our Best: Military Women • No Comments »

There were plenty of intense situations that called on Malone to be at her best as her unit’s lead soldier. Twice, Malone’s convoy took direct hits as the lead vehicle traveling through Tikrit. The impact of the attacks left her with shoulder, neck and back injuries that cause her daily pain, and that she hopes to overcome through surgery and physical therapy.
The first direct hit with an IED happened in November 2006, when two anti-tank mines wired together exploded and damaged the front right corner of Malone’s Humvee.
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Tags: Alabama National Guard, community-based warrior transition unit, purple heart, Sgt. Sophia Malone
Posted in Military, Our Best: Military Women • No Comments »

“I was probably two feet from my door of my truck when I heard gun fire and it felt like someone just cracked me in the right shoulder blade with a hammer,” said Spc. Matthew Mortensen of Olathe, Kan.
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Tags: 10th mountain division, Combat Medical Badge, combat medics, Joint Security Station Loyalty, Matthew Mortensen, purple heart
Posted in Iraq, Tenth Mountain Division, War on Terror • Comments Off

Sergeant First Class (SFC) Jared C. Monti, a Military Occupational Specialty 13F Fire Support Specialist, was a Targeting NCO assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 3rd Squadron, 71st Cavalry, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, New York. He distinguished himself by acts of conspicuous gallantry above and beyond the call of duty against an armed enemy in Gowardesh, Nuristan Province, Afghanistan.
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Tags: 10th mountain division, Gowardesh region Afghanistan, hero, medal of honor, Nuristan province Afghanistan, purple heart, Sgt. 1st Class Jared C. Monti
Posted in Afghanistan, Heroes, Jared Monti, Military, Tenth Mountain Division, WOT Heroes, WOT Medal of Honor, War on Terror • 7 Comments »

Garrett spoke of the “warrior ethos” that guides soldiers: place the mission first, never accept defeat, never quit, and never leave a fallen comrade.
“These are just words to some people,” Garrett said. “But the warrior ethos is a way of life to Staff Sergeant Begaye. Amazing acts of bravery and valor were commonplace that grim day. But this morning, we recognize Staff Sergeant Begaye for his courage – and we are thankful for the opportunity to serve with such a man.”
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Tags: 503rd Infantry Regiment, American Indian war hero, hero, Native American war hero, Navajo war hero, Nuristan province Afghanistan, purple heart, silver star, Staff Sgt. Conrad Begaye
Posted in Afghanistan, Heroes, Military, WOT Heroes, War on Terror • 2 Comments »
Nearing the end of the meeting, a young Soldier stood up and asked them, with everything they’ve experienced, if they would be willing to return for another tour in Afghanistan or Iraq.
Every one of the Soldiers nodded.
“Sure, we’d go back,” one of them said. “We’re here with you right now, aren’t we?”
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Tags: Operation Proper Exit, purple heart, Sgt. Christopher A. Burrell, Sgt. Robert Brown, Staff Sgt. Jamal Hogan, Wounded warriors
Posted in Iraq, Medicine, Military, War on Terror • Comments Off

Gustafson is now looking to the future and says he is looking forward to a bright future outside of the Marine Corps.
“I took a lot of photos in Afghanistan,” said Gustafson. “I’m going to go to college in the fall and try and make a career out of it.”
Cpl. Brady Gustafson never faltered during the ambush and his heroism helped save the lives of all the Marines involved.
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Tags: 7th Marine Regiment, hero, Lance Cpl. Brady Gustafson, Navy Cross, operation enduring freedom, purple heart, Shewan Afghanistan, united states marines
Posted in Afghanistan, Heroes, Marines, Military, WOT Heroes, War on Terror • 3 Comments »

Photo: Lt. j.g. Francis L. Toner IV, assigned to Naval Facilities Engineering Command Hawaii, died March 27 when an Afghan National Army soldier opened fire on U. S. Navy personnel.
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Tags: Afghan National Army soldier opened fire on U. S. Navy personnel, Afghan Regional Security Integration Command North, Afghanistan, Camp Shaheen, KIA in Afghanistan, Lt. j.g. Francis L. Toner IV, Mazar-E-Sharif, purple heart
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The Silver Star was accepted by Ayers’ brother, Josh Ayers, in front of an audience of family members, friends and about 20 members of Ayers’ unit, stationed in Vicenza, Italy.
On March 30, Meyer and Spc. Michael T. Denton (members of Ayers’ unit) were also awarded Silver Stars for their actions during the battle at Wanat, while Sgt. 1st Class David L. Dzwik received a Bronze Star with a Valor device. Throughout Chosen Company’s 15-month deployment in Afghanistan, 16 Soldiers were killed in action and 50 were wounded.
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Tags: 173rd airborne brigade, Afghanistan, Cpl. Jonathan Ayers, Patriot Guard Riders, purple heart, silver star, taliban, Wanat Afghanistan
Posted in Afghanistan, Heroes, Military, WOT Heroes, War on Terror • Comments Off