Reporting from Iraq

It’s a cool rain, literally, falling on Baghdad tonight.

It came in as a warm, whipping wind, stirring up dust and dirt but obscuring the usually flaming sunset. As the clouds moved in, the misting began, then the steady, light rain. The first effect was not in the temperature but in the soles of boots everywhere. Muddy season has arrived. Caked gravel and mud on the buses that shuttle soldiers and civilians around base, mud in the PX, mud in the dining hall. Stomping and scraping helps with big chunks, but it’s a season these soldiers know all too well from last fall and winter in Mosul and Rawah. And one they didn’t expect to have to see again. Read more »

Chaplain Steve Dunn with the 2-1 Infantry battalion said he has more than 75 businesses, organizations and individuals from Fairbanks and around the country that have faithfully kept in touch with the battalion throughout the units’ deployment and extension.

He said soldiers have appreciated every care package, piece of mail, bag of candy, and variety of toiletries and other items. But who would guess the Alaska Trappers Association would provide soldiers with some of the most coveted items in the form of the 2006-07 Alaska hunting and fishing regulations. Read more »