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«... .— -4#CSPECIAL EDITIONMission Iraq: The story of the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat TeamThe faces you see before you represent the human nature of war.”Chaplain Robert NayHONORING THE FALLENat the Carlson Center'jr'-|f ' * | fit. ' || ' .H ; Eric Engroan News-MmerMemorials for the fallen soldiers are spotlighted during the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team's Redeployment Ceremony on Tuesday afternoonAlaska soldiers whodiedIraq honoredBy MARGARET FRIEDENAUERStaff Writerearly 3,800 soldiers with the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team returned home to Alaska from Iraq during the last two weeks.Twenty-six did not.Those 26 died while serving with the brigade — 19 of them during the brigade’s first 12CEREMONY:Strykers feted as the 172nd unfurls its colors in a packed Carlson Center.Page A7months in northern and western Iraq, and seven in Baghdad after the brigade’s tour was extended 120 days and moved to the capital to help combat sectarian violence. Anadditional 10 service members died while attached to the 172nd or assisting the brigade with combat operations.But commanders, soldiers and family' Vmembers at a Tuesday memorial ceremony on Fort Wainwright asked that those soldiers not be remembered just for how they died.“While today’s ceremony could easily focus on the death of these great Ameri-Eric Engman News-MinerMEMORIAL WALL — Kelly Frantz, right, gazes at a picture of her late husband, Spc. Lucas Frantz, during the Wall of Honor dedication ceremony Tuesday morning at the Battle Command Training Center on Fort Wainwright. The memorial wall honors those soldiers from the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat team who lost their lives while serving in Iraq. Spc. Frantz died Oct. 18, 2005, in Mosul. James Trout, left, touches one of the pictures on the memorial wall. Trout has a grandson honored on the wall. At left, people search through the dog tags hanging from the rifle on the memorial displav/.cans, we choose to celebrate how they lived,” said the brigade’s commander, Col Michael Shields. “This group of warriors consisted of hunters, fishermen, outdoors men, mountain climbers, snowboarders, skiers, musicians, cowboys, philosophers, athletes, pilots and so much more. Thesesoldiers were someone’s best friend, leader, son, brother, fiance, husband and dad. Several of them left children that will never know their father.The ceremony came on a day that the Army officially redeployed, or established the brigade back in Alaska, from its Iraqtour. Soldiers and families gathered at the Carlson Center in Fairbanks later in the day to uncase the unit’s colors, or flags, that the unit Hew while in Iraq. The 36 fallen service members were honoredSee MEMORIAL, Page A6A 96-page special publication inside today’s paper chronicles the life of the 172nd at Fort Wainwright from its inception in 2002 to it* joyous return from Iraq this monthWith welcome-home greetings from advertisers throughout the Fairbanks area, a portion of the proceeds from the edition will be donated to the Chaplains’ Operation Helping Hand Holiday Assistance Program Also inside: envelope containing yellow “welcome home” ribbons and red, white and blue “proud to be an American” ribbons to wear or display in support of local troops
Newspaper Details
Fairbanks Daily News Miner
Fairbanks, Alaska, US
Wed, Dec 13, 2006
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Neta S.
AK, USA 12 Aug 2020
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