Puyallup sailor grants grandfather's wish: a burial at sea

Scott Fontaine | October 31, 2008

For years, Eugene Morgan didn

One year in prison for Army officer who received illegal gratuity

Scott Fontaine | October 31, 2008

My colleague, Adam Lynn, was at U.S. District Court in Tacoma today and reported on the sentencing of Cedar Lanmon, an Army captain who pleaded guilty to one count of accepting illegal gratuities. Prosecutors say he accepted $25,000 from an Albanian entrepreneur hoping to land work for the military in Iraq.
From the story:
Lanmon declined an [...]

The agreement that could change I Corps' mission

Scott Fontaine | October 31, 2008

Another day brings more bad news about the viability of a negotiated security deal between the United States and Iraq. Both countries are working against a Dec. 31 deadline, when the United Nations mandate that authorizes American troops in Iraq is set to expire.
Some Iraqi lawmakers want changes to the agreement. Sticking points include the [...]

Fort Lewis Marines (yep) return from deployment

Scott Fontaine | October 30, 2008

There was no band. No speeches. The members of the Marine Corps Reserve unit based at Fort Lewis stepped off the bus and walked directly into the arms of their family members.
For Sgt. Arsenio Diga, that meant no wait in holding his 4-month old daughter, Jaynah, for the first time.
Diga and about 45 other Marines [...]

Exercise prepares I Corps for deployment to Iraq

Scott Fontaine | October 30, 2008

Five large projection screens displayed a schedule, a map of Iraq, flowcharts and a live broadcast of MSNBC. Soldiers sat in front of computer monitors, typing constantly and receiving updates from around Iraq.
Over the public-address system, a voice announced news of a suicide bombing in Mosul, followed by an ambush by insurgents firing rocket-propelled grenades [...]

Dept. of Labor to hold veterans job fairs across the state

Scott Fontaine | October 30, 2008

The U.S. Department of Labor is hosting a series of job fairs across the country

Washboard abs, an M-4 and tofu

Scott Fontaine | October 30, 2008

Do you know a solider who craves bean sprouts with his MRE? What about an airman who pines for something that grows on a pine tree come dinnertime? A Marine who won

Marine reservists coming home from Iraq deployment

Scott Fontaine | October 29, 2008

Marines from a Washington reserve unit are returning from a seven-month deployment to Iraq tomorrow. Friends and family will welcome them at a ceremony at the Marine Home Site Training Center at Fort Lewis.
The 45 Marines, all from Western Washington, serve with the Headquarters and Service Company of the 4th Landing Support Battalion, 4th Marine [...]

Headquarters of 81st arrives at Camp Ramadi

Scott Fontaine | October 29, 2008

The headquarters company of the Washington National Guard

Mosul could be destination for Washington Guardsmen

Scott Fontaine | October 29, 2008

Could a Washington National Guard battalion be heading to Mosul?
The 81st Brigade is in Kuwait, preparing to soon enter Iraq. Its commander, Col. Ronald Kapral, has previously said the unit will serve throughout northern Iraq, mostly working convoy security.
The Guard isn