Afghanistan

Idaho Soldier Killed In Afghanistan

Associated Press and BSPR Staff — Mon, 06 May 2013 23:24:39 +0000

Military officials say five Fort Bliss soldiers have died in a roadside bomb blast in southern Afghanistan.

An Army statement Monday identified the dead as Spc. Kevin Cardoza of Mercedes, Texas; 1st Lt. Brandon James Landrum of Lawton, Okla.; Spc. Thomas Paige Murach of Meridian, Idaho; Staff Sgt. Francis Gene Phillips IV of Meridian, N.Y.; and 24-year-old Spc. Brandon Joseph Prescott of Bend, Ore.

They served in the 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division.

Idaho National Guard Soldiers Back In The U.S. After 9 Months In Afghanistan

Sadie Babits — Sun, 10 Feb 2013 17:12:53 +0000

Nearly 60 Idaho Army National Guard Soldiers returned to the U.S. late Saturday night after a nine-month deployment to Afghanistan. They’re charter flight took them to Ft. Hood, Texas where they were greeted by Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter, Idaho Adjutant General Gary L. Sayler, and Command Sgt. Major Kenneth Downing.

Combat Vet With PTSD Booted From Army, Barred From Healthcare

Austin Jenkins — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 21:14:31 +0000

In Salem, Oregon a former Army staff sergeant named Jarrid Starks has run out of the medications that keep him stable. He has severe Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and other mental and physical wounds of war. But he’s currently not eligible for veterans’ health benefits that would include prescription refills. That’s because Starks was kicked out of the Army for bad behavior. He’s far from alone.

Idaho Soldier Dies In Afghanistan

Samantha Wright — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 22:49:25 +0000

United States Army Specialist Ethan J. Martin was killed by small-arms fire Tuesday in Afghanistan.

The 22-year-old was assigned to a squadron based out of Alaska. He hailed from Lewiston, Idaho and Bonners Ferry, Idaho.

Martin's family says he loved Idaho and loved to hunt and fish. He had planned to go to nursing school after leaving the Army.

Ethan Martin is survived by his mother and father, one sister, and seven stepbrothers and sisters.

Idaho Soldier Killed In Attack In Afghanistan

Sadie Babits — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 15:13:52 +0000

Idaho solider Pfc. Cody Moosman died Tuesday in Afghanistan. The Department of Defense said the 24-year-old soldier from Preston, Idaho had died in Gayan Alwara Mandi, Afghanistan when enemy forces attacked his unit with small arms fire.

Moosman was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan. He joined the military two years ago.

Earlier today, Pfc. Moosman's family issued this statement:

Parents Of Captured Idaho Soldier Want Prisoner Swap

Jessica Robinson — Wed, 09 May 2012 22:14:24 +0000

The Idaho parents of the only U.S. soldier in Taliban captivity say they want the Obama administration to negotiate a prisoner swap to bring their son home. Bob and Jani Bergdahl broke their long silence in new interviews. They hope to build public pressure for a deal.

Idaho Soldier Killed In Afghanistan

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 18:02:48 +0000

An Idaho soldier who grew up in Rupert died last week in Afghanistan.

Sergeant Chris Workman and three others crashed while in a Blackhawk helicopter in Helmand province. According to the New York Times, they were involved in a rescue operation for Afghan policemen.

All four were based at the 25^th Infantry Division, Wheeler Army Airfield in Hawaii. The 33 year-old Workman lived in Boise before his assignment to Wheeler.

Emotional Send-Off As Nearly 4,000 NW Soldiers Deploy To Afghanistan

Austin Jenkins — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 15:30:00 +0000

Nearly four thousand Northwest-based soldiers are about to deploy for nine months to Afghanistan. The Army’s 2nd Stryker Brigade received a formal send off Friday at Joint Base Lewis-McChord near Tacoma Washington. The departure comes amid continuing fallout from the case of suspected Afghan shooter Sgt. Robert Bales.

As an Army band played, soldiers in fatigues lined up by battalion on a parade field. In the stands sat, proud and worried family members like Wendy Mertka. She fought back tears as she spoke of her son’s first deployment.

Idaho Soldier Dies In Afghanistan

Samantha Wright — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 21:02:48 +0000

The Department of Defense reports an Idaho soldier has died in Afghanistan. Sergeant Daniel Brown of Jerome died last week in Kandahar province. He died after his unit was attacked with an improvised explosive device.

He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colorado.

Army Secretary: Nationwide Inquiry Underway After Madigan PTSD Scandal

Sadie Babits and Austin Jenkins — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 22:36:36 +0000

A scandal over PTSD diagnoses at Madigan Army Hospital has triggered an Army-wide Inspector General investigation. That’s according to the Secretary of the Army, John McHugh.

He was questioned at length Wednesday by Washington Senator Patty Murray. She noted that 40 percent of soldiers who were evaluated by a special psychiatric team at Madigan had their Post Traumatic Stress Disorder diagnoses downgraded or reversed.

Attorney: Bales 'Doesn’t Remember Everything' Of Night Of Massacre

Austin Jenkins — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 14:45:33 +0000

The lead attorney for the western Washington soldier accused of killing 16 Afghan civilians says his client has gaps in his memory about the night of the massacre. Seattle lawyer John Henry Browne met with Staff Sergeant Robert Bales Monday for seven hours at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. That’s where Bales is being held in pretrial detention. After the meeting, Browne told reporters that his client’s state of mind is “confused.” “He doesn’t remember everything of the evening in question. That doesn’t mean he has amnesia.”

Afghanistan Massacre Suspect Named

Austin Jenkins/ Northwest News Network — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 00:14:31 +0000

NPR has confirmed the name of the Washington-based soldier accused of killing 16 Afghan civilians. He is 38-year old Robert Bales of Lake Tapps, Washington.