"...the biggest Army deployment from Alaska since the Vietnam War."

Today's Anchorage Daily News:

About 3,800 soldiers from forts Richardson and Wainwright are to ship out for Iraq during August. They are from the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team and will use 300 of the new Stryker units, eight-wheeled armor combat vehicles that carry soldiers.

I was in Costco the end of last week and saw a family doing two carts worth of shopping. Dad was wearing desert BDUs and the little girl kept clinging on to him. I got a lump in my throat.

Alaska has lost two soldiers to the Iraq War. With 3,800 over there in the thick of it, doing reconnaissance and convoy security (among other duties), I'm sure we all fear that the number will rise.

May the War end before they serve out their year over there.