Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity is accepting donations for the family of a member and Stryker soldier who died Friday while serving in Iraq.

Sgt. Israel “Izzy” P. O’Bryan, 24, of Newbern, Tenn., died of wounds sustained in a bomb blast in the town of Jalula. A suicide bomber drove an explosives-rigged vehicle into O’Bryan’s convoy. O’Bryan was assigned to the 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division. He is survived by his wife, Brenna, and his young son, Turner.

All donations to the fund will be held in trust for Turner’s college education. To donate, visit www.SigEpFoundation.org, and …

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Three more soldiers from Joint Base Lewis-McChord had been charged in the deaths of three Afghan civilians earlier this year.

Pvt. 1st Class Andrew Holmes, Spc. Michael Wagnon and Spc. Adam Winfield were charged Tuesday evening with one count of murder under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, according to a news release issued today from the base. Each is accused in separate incidents.

The three men returned to Lewis-McChord on Monday and have been placed in pretrial confinement.

Five soldiers from the base are now accused in the deaths of Afghan civilians between January and May. Details of the …

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From News Tribune reporter Stacey Mulick:

A 29-year-old soldier from Joint Base Lewis-McChord has died in Iraq in a noncombat-related incident, the Department of Defense announced this morning.

Spc. Christopher W. Opat of Spencer, Iowa, died Tuesday in Baquah, Iraq. Opat had been assigned to the 1st Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division.

No other details about the incident were immediately released.

Two Joint Base Lewis-McChord soldiers who were killed in Iraq last Friday by a suicide bomber in an explosives-rigged car have been identified.

Sgt. Israel P. O’Bryan, 24, of Newbern, Tenn., and Spc. William C. Yauch, 23, of Batesville, Ark. died in the town of Jalula of wounds sustained in the attack. They were assigned to the 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division.

The bomber hit a convoy of U.S. and Iraqi forces on joint patrol about 80 miles northeast of Baghdad, near the Iranian border. At least three Iraqis were also killed, and another six Americans were …

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The Rangers based at Joint Base Lewis-McChord have a new commander, but he’s a familiar face.

Lt. Col. David M. Hodne assumed command of the 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment from Col. Mark W. Odom during a ceremony Friday.

Hodne previously served with 2nd Battalion as a liaison officer, operations officer and executive officer. He also served at the 75th’s Regimental Headquarters at Fort Benning, Ga., as the assistant operations officer and the regimental executive officer.

His most recent assignment was with the 25th Infantry Division at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, where he commanded the 3rd Squadron, 4th …

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Army Chief of Staff Gen. George W. Casey, Jr. is scheduled to award the Purple Heart to a 5th Stryker Brigade soldier during a visit to Joint Base Lewis-McChord on Friday.

The soldier, a member of the 5th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, was injured by an improvised explosive devise in Afghanistan, according to a news release. The soldier was not identified.

Also during his visit, Casey is scheduled to visit future Army leaders at Operation Warrior Forge, meet with medical providers and wounded personnel at the Warrior Transition Battalion, and speak with senior I Corps leaders, the news release …

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Job seekers with military backgrounds will be out in force Thursday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Greater Tacoma Convention and Trade Center. Help will be available for employment, entrepreneurship and educational opportunities.

The military-to-civilian recruiting firm RecruitMilitary will host the Opportunity Expo for men and women who are making a transition from active duty to civilian life; veterans who already have civilian work experience; members of the National Guard and reserves; military spouses; and other military family members.

RecruitMilitary expects more than 25 employers, franchisors, and educational institutions to be on hand to interview …

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About 300 early-returning Stryker soldiers from Iraq are scheduled to arrive at Joint Base Lewis-McChord Wednesday.

Early-returning, in two ways. It’s expected to be the wee hours of the morning when they are met at Sheridan Gym by the tired but eager embraces of wives, children and other family members.

And they will come home more than a month earlier than most of their comrades of the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division. Last August, the Army’s original Stryker brigade left Lewis-McChord on what was supposed to be a year-long deployment – its third tour of Iraq since 2003.

The …

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