Soldiers in the Army Reserve are performing valuable missions around the world every day. Below is a sampling of press reports from the last year about the Army Reserve and its Soldiers.

To view the complete article, please contact the media source listed.

2004: Sep | Aug | Jul | Jun | May | Apr | Mar | Feb | Jan 2003: Dec | Nov | Oct

From the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, September 14, 2004
ARMY RESERVIST GETS BRONZE STAR MEDAL
An Army Reserve Soldier from Tacoma received the Bronze Star medal at Seattle's Fort Lawton Sunday for leadership and quick thinking under harsh conditions in Iraq last year that saved the lives of four people. Staff Sgt. Mikel Spencer, a full-time member of the 804th Transportation Detachment based in Tacoma, was awarded the medal for his actions leading a team of soldiers at Ad Diwaniyah, Iraq, last summer, Army officials said. The small post is headquarters for the Reserve's 70th Regional Readiness Command, which covers Army Reserve units in the Pacific Northwest. Spencer's team established railroad operations despite "little equipment, blinding snowstorms and completely unreliable communications," the Army said in a statement. Despite the circumstances, the team carried out its assignment -- and saved the lives of four people found trapped in vehicle accidents, the Army said. Spencer's leadership is credited as being the catalyst to the overall success of the 969th Transportation Detachment from Belleville, Ill., to which the local group was assigned, Army officials said.

From the Associated Press, 13 September 2004
AMPUTEE RECEIVES BRONZE STAR, RE-ENLISTS IN ARMY
An Army Reserve Soldier who lost his right arm in a roadside bombing in Iraq re-enlisted in the Army on the same day he received a Bronze Star for his service. Sgt. Chuck Bartles, 26, did both Thursday during a ceremony at the Airborne & Special Operations Museum. "I'm not bitter at all," he said. "I've been in the military my whole adult life, and I really enjoy it." Bartles was injured when a roadside bomb rocked his vehicle, spraying shrapnel everywhere. One soldier died and two others were injured. Bartles' right arm was shattered and had to be removed above the elbow. Amputees are usually medically discharged from the Army with no questions asked, said Lt. Col. James Suriano, commander of the 418th Civil Affairs Battalion, the Belton, Mo.-based unit to which Bartles belongs. Instead, Bartles twice appealed to a medical board at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. Satisfied that he could perform his duties; they agreed to let him re-enlist.

From the Honolulu Star Bulletin, 10 September 2004
100TH BATTALION GETS TO KEEP STORIED PATCH
The Soldiers of the Army Reserve's 100th Battalion will get to wear their unit's coveted shoulder patch in Iraq after all. The battalion's 600 Soldiers are headed for an Iraq deployment next year with the Hawaii Army National Guard's 29th Infantry Brigade. On Sept. 4, Army Chief of Staff Peter Shoomaker was visiting training at Schofield Barracks when he was asked by 100th Battalion Medal of Honor recipient Shizuya Hayashi if the current battalion Soldiers could wear the shoulder patch that he wore through World War II as a member of an Army unit made up of nisei, or first-generation Japanese Americans. Yesterday, Brig. Gen. Joe Chaves, commander of the brigade, met with the Soldiers of the 100th to let them know he will authorize them to continue to wear their patch throughout their mobilization.

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From the Minneapolis, MN, Star Tribune, 30 August 2004
MILITARY COUNSELORS HELP COUPLES IN LOVE AND WAR
After working side by side in the same Army Reserve unit and seeing eye to eye on everything, civil affairs team sergeants Josh and Chelly thought their "perfect" marriage would not be strained by their deployment in June 2003. But when they returned from active duty in Afghanistan, they were in for a surprise. "All of a sudden there were more stresses. Josh and Chelly got help from the newest -- and perhaps most unexpected -- provider of marriage and family counseling: the Army Reserve. Army Reserve chaplains and combat stress officers taught the couple to communicate, and made their marriage stronger than ever. The hallmark of the new policy is "PREP," or the Prevention and Relationship Enhancement Program -- a three-day, all-expenses-paid retreat for couples returning from active duty.

From the Tampa, FL, Tribune, 29 August 2004
UNRESERVEDLY BACK
After 15 months in the blazing heat of Iraq and Kuwait, the 810th Military Police Company returned home Saturday, leaving behind the war and aging equipment that made its job more difficult and dangerous. Several hundred family members and friends greeted three bus loads of soldiers enthusiastically at Tampa's Lovejoy Army Reserve Center. U.S. Rep. Bill Young, R-Indian Rocks Beach, and Brig. Gen. Thomas Bryson, deputy commander of the headquarters that oversees the 810th, also were on hand.

From the San Francisco Chronicle, 24 August 2004
MAJ. GEN. ROBERT OSTENBERG: THE PENTAGON'S POINT MAN AGAINST TERROR THREAT IN STATE
Ostenberg, a two star general, is one of 10 high-ranking Army officers from across the country that the Pentagon relies on for “regional readiness,” to ensure that troops and equipment are prepared for use and deployment in war or peace. The decorated Vietnam War veteran is in charge 12,000 active duty and Army Reserve troops in California, Nevada and Arizona. As the Pentagon’s point person for terror response in California, the general is prepared for disasters ranging from a downed Golden Gate Bridge to a destroyed Hetch Hetchy water system.

From the Fort Lauderdale, FL, Sun-Sentinel, 10 August 2004
A WARM WELCOME BACK
Cynthia Chevrestt has spent the last 18 months in Kuwait inspecting equipment near the Iraqi border. The first-grade teacher says that she loves the military and was proud to go when her country needed her, but adds that it is very good to be home. She received a hero’s welcome, complete with balloons and “hero” sandwiches, and looks forward to beginning the new school year.

From the Los Angeles, CA, Los Angeles Times 9 August 2004
TAKING THEIR COUCHES TO IRAQ
Charles Ham, a 67-year-old psychiatrist and Army Reserve retiree, has agreed to go to Iraq to help fill the need for mental health personnel. Psychiatrists have always been a part of war, yet it is often difficult to fill the need for these professionals. Ham says that he is just looking to help however he can.

From the Greensboro, NC, Greensboro News & Record, 5 August 2004
FIREFIGHTING SOLDIER RECALLS IRAQ TOUR
When North Carolina firefighter Brent Gerald arrived in Iraq, he and his unit were faced with the task of restoring some structure in the nation’s chaotic capital. They foiled the looting of an Iraqi bank, set up a base of operations, and discovered that the firefighters in Baghdad were continuing to work without pay to fight fires in the city. They worked together to secure supplies and fire trucks, set up an organizational system and see that the local firefighters were paid.

From the New Hampshire Union Leader, 4 August 2004
Guest Commentary: ANOTHER VIEW: 94TH MP MEMBERS ARE WARRIORS AND NOT WHINERS
Master Sgt. Dean Miles, home after a 20-month deployment, proclaims his pride and willingness to serve in defense of the nation’s interests. Some family members of soldiers in his unit spoke out against the long deployment, but Miles and many of his fellow soldiers were proud to serve and willing to stay in Iraq longer if their specialized skills had been needed.

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From CNN Show: Lou Dobbs Tonight, 30 July 2004
“HEROES” THE STORY OF JOHN SMATHERS, THE MOST DECORATED RESERVE SOLDIER IN “OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM”
Lisa Sylvester profiles John Smathers, lawyer and Army Reserve Soldier. Although Smathers was sent to Iraq because of the need for skilled legal minds, he was on the front lines with the rest of his unit. He policed the lawless streets and wrote new traffic laws to replace the corrupt system left over from Saddam. John Smathers is proud of the work he has done but makes a point to say that his accomplishments were the result of his entire team working together.

From the Baltimore, MD, Baltimore Sun, 7 July 2004
HIS NEXT CALL TO SERVE
Charles M. Blomquist serves as a prosecutor in the Baltimore state’s attorney office. Before working as an attorney, Blomquist served in the Peace Corps, attended seminary school, and worked for the Catholic Relief Services. A member of the Army Reserve, Blomquist is preparing to leave for Afghanistan where he will supervise a team of soldiers working to build schools and provide electricity to Afghani towns. He is proud to serve in the Reserve and looks forward to an experience that he says is the closest thing the military has to the Peace Corps.

From the Tri-Valley Herald, Pleasanton, CA, 6 July 2004
BAND OF BROTHERS: FOUR SIBLINGS HEAD TO IRAQ TOGETHER
Four brothers are being sent to Iraq together, all in the same Army Reserve unit, and for three of them it's the second tour of duty in less than a year. Justin said he and his brothers are close and constantly keep tabs on one another: "It goes to another level when you go overseas together."

From The Racine, WI, Journal-Times, 3 July 2004
Editorial: SOLDIERS IN PARADE DESERVE OUR CHEERS AND RESPECT
Author asks spectators to support and thank the Army reservists marching in the local July 4th parade. Many have been to Iraq and others are awaiting a ship date. He also notes that many local soldiers will spend the holiday in Afghanistan with fireworks of a different ilk – they're digging up land mines.

From the Twin Falls, ID, Times-News, 1 July 2004
FIRST CALL-UP NOTICES TO INDIVIDUAL READY RESERVES ARE DUE TUESDAY
The Army will begin notifying more than 5,600 of those soldiers next week that they are being involuntarily recalled to active duty and could be sent overseas. It is the first large-scale use of former soldiers in the Individual Ready Reserve since 1991.

From the Buffalo, NY, News, 1 July 2004
WESTERN NEW YORKERS SERVE IN IRAQ, ELSEWHERE
Approximately 360 citizen soldiers from Western New York are currently serving in the Iraq and Afghanistan theaters, training to go overseas or serving on active duty stateside to support the war effort. The Army Reserve's 402nd Civil Affairs Battalion, headquartered in the Town of Tonawanda, has about 25 members in Iraq.

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From the Madison, WI, Wisconsin State Journal, 26 June 2004
U.S. ARMY RESERVE STAFF SGT. JOHN VINCENTE, OF MADISON, SAYS: KIDS WOULD 'MOB YOU, JUST SMILING'
Army Reserve soldier John Vicente has positive memories of his year-long deployment to Iraq. He remembers friendly Iraqis and mobs of children who loved the US soldiers, especially when they were handing out candy. Vicente believes in the war and says that while he loves being home, he will proudly serve again if his country needs him.

From the Washington Post, 24 June 2004
NEW WHIP IN MD. HOUSE FACING IRAQ DEPLOYMENT
Anthony G. Brown, Maryland House of Delegates’ new majority whip, departs today to begin training with his Army Reserve unit. Brown’s unit has not received confirmation that it is headed overseas, but he feels that the order to begin training indicates that Iraq is the next step. His seat in the House of Delegates will be waiting for him when he returns. He is focused now on preparing his family for his absence. “I'm honored to be serving,” says Brown, “I can think of no higher calling."

From the Muskogee, OK, Muskogee Daily Phoenix & Times Democrat, 20 June 2004
SOLDIER HELPING TO EASE TRANSITION IN AFGHANISTAN
Staff Sgt. Andrew J. Long and the rest of his Army Reserve unit are working hard to help the villages that surround the city of Kandahar, Afghanistan. The civil affairs soldiers are faced with the important task of informing the Afghanis of the changes that have occurred in their country’s government since the Taliban was removed from power after 9/11. Of the more significant messages being conveyed by the soldiers is the importance that all citizens make the effort to vote in their nation’s first democratic elections.

From the Augusta, GA, Augusta Chronicle, 17 June 2004
OPERATION HELPS MEDICS HONE SKILLS
The 73rd Army Field Hospital Army Reserve unit from St. Petersburg, Florida is one of many units participating in Operation Golden Medic. The effort began in early June and is helping Reserve medics prepare for the challenges they will face when on an actual deployment. Colonel Burns, commander of the St. Petersburg unit reported that Golden Medic is “as close to a real deployment as we’ve been able to provide.”

From the Cherry Hill, NJ, Courier-Post, 15 June 2004
STUDENTS WELCOME HOME HERO TEACHER FROM IRAQ
Collingwood area elementary school students and faculty welcomed back one of their own, Joe Ann Coldiron Caputo, with a surprise ceremony. The students sang patriotic songs and presented Caputo with different colored roses symbolizing friendship, pride, loyalty, gratitude, and love. Capulto, a special education teacher, was deployed with her Army Reserve unit 14 months in Iraq and Kuwait. She is happy to be home with her students and her family, but says she will make sure to support the troops who are still overseas.

From the Tulsa, OK, Tulsa World, 6 June 2004
UNIT GETS MAIL TO THE TROOPS
To soldiers in Afghanistan, the 841st Adjutant General Postal Company has the most important job in the military. The unit, based in Sand Springs Oklahoma, brings letters to soldiers stationed in and around Kandahar Afghanistan. Their work is hard, but it is important to every soldier waiting for news from home.

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From the Atlanta, GA, Atlanta Journal – Constitution, 20 May 2004
A LOVE AFFAIR WITH HIS ADOPTED LAND
Sinfroso Concepcion, now called Sim, says that while his heart is Filipino, his spirit is American. A staff sergeant in the U.S. Army Reserve, Concepcion came to America in 1970 with dreams of a better life. Soon after arriving in the US, Sim joined the military and has now served proudly for more than 30 years. He models his life and career after the mantra of his hero, Gen. Douglas MacArthur: duty, honor, country.

From the Kansas City, MO, Kansas City Star, 20 May 2004
DOCTOR'S TALENTS HELP KC, IRAQ
In 2003 Dr. Alex Garza left his family and his job as an emergency room physician behind to serve with his Army Reserve unit in Iraq. He served with the 418th Civil Affairs Battalion as team chief over public health, working with Iraqi doctors and nurses to assess the situation of medical care in Iraq. Now, having returned from his deployment, he looks forward to bringing lessons from his overseas experience to the ER.

From the Oklahoma City, OK, Daily Oklahoman, 6 May 2004
ELEMENTARY PRINCIPAL LEAVING FOR ACTIVE DUTY
Principal Randy Rader will be training new recruits and maintaining order, a task that should be fairly easy for a man who spends his days keeping elementary students out of trouble. Rader is proud to serve and has been anticipating his chance to help with the war on terror.

From the Quad City Times, Davenport, IA, 6 May 2004
389TH UNIT EXPECTED TO ARRIVE HOME FRIDAY
About 100 soldiers from C Company of the Army Reserve 389th Engineer Battalion are expected to arrive on May 7 in Middletown, Iowa. The 389th Battalion is classified as a heavy combat engineer unit that provides large-scale construction operations. Headquartered in Dubuque, the battalion was activated for duty March 15, 2003, in the largest single mobilization of an Army Reserve unit in Iowa since World War II. The battalion’s more than 600 soldiers arrived in Iraq last May.

From the Uniontown, PA, Herald-Standard, 5 May 2004
HILLER RESERVISTS TO SHIP OUT FOR ACTIVE DUTY
Mayor asks area residents to line the streets in support of members of the 298th Transportation Co. Detachment 2, when the unit leaves for an assignment that could be sending them to Iraq.

From the Atlanta, GA, The Atlanta Journal – Constitution, 4 May 2004
VETERAN, 21, CHANGED FOR THE BETTER
Mark Pombo joined the Army Reserve for practical reasons – the promise of low commitment and a check that he could count on each month – but his deployment to Iraq changed him. His studies are more important to him, partying doesn’t hold his interest as much as it used to and he’s more mature.

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From the Allentown, PA, Morning Call, 15 April 2004
378TH BATTALION BACK IN PENNSYLVANIA AFTER A YEAR IN KUWAIT
In Kuwait for one year, the 378th Corps Support Battalion is back. They were greeted by more than 100 people as well as flags, posters, balloons, clothing adorned with red, white and blue, and an escort of two siren-blasting police cars and four fire trucks. During their year , the battalion was assigned to the U.S. Marine headquarters at Camp Commando, Kuwait and assisted coalition forces from 22 countries, including Italy, Nicaragua, Mongolia and Poland, as they moved north into Iraq.

From the Pantagraph, Bloomington, IL, 15 April 2004
RESERVIST EAGER TO RETURN TO UNIT
Army Reserve Spc. Shawn Kirkpatrick of the 724th Transportation Company wants to return to his platoon as soon as he recovers from wounds suffered in combat last week in Iraq. "I want to go back. I want to be with my unit," Kirkpatrick, said during a phone interview from Washington, D.C., where he's undergoing treatment. "I just did the best of my ability to do what I was trained to do." But he knows where he wants to be. "I have a whole unit over there depending on me," Kirkpatrick said.

From the Duluth, MN, News Tribune, 15 April 2004
SCHOOL HONORS MILITARY MOM
A year after U.S. Army Reserve Sgt. Karen DeVries shipped off to Iraq she was finally back home.While in Iraq, DeVries guarded a prison between Baghdad and Fallujah filled with 5,000 Iraqi criminals and terrorism suspects. It wasn't a far stretch for her , as DeVries is a detective with the County Sheriff's Office.

From the Indianapolis, IN, Star, 14 April 2004
LAFAYETTE COMPANY MEETS CROWD IN MOTORCADE
About 90 soldiers who spent a year in Iraq were greeted by hundreds of well-wishers, family and friends during a motorcade through Tippecanoe County. Members of the 209th Quartermaster Company Army Reserve Unit arrived by bus from Fort Knox, Ky., working their way to downtown decorated with yellow and blue ribbons, U.S. flags and a "Welcome Home 209th" banner stretching across Main Street. The groups of schoolchildren, area residents and downtown employees scattered along Main and South streets happily waited for the Lafayette Army Reserve unit to return after being in Iraq for more than a year.

From the Valley Morning Star, Harlingen, TX, 14 April 2004
WELCOME HOME: FAMILY, FRIENDS GREET RETURNING SOLDIERS WITH OPEN ARMS
U.S. Army Reserve 370th Transportation Company returns to Brownsville. Screams of "Heroes Welcome" and "Good Job" greeted about 90 members of the 370th Transportation Company . "Every time that our soldiers serve our country and go in harm’s way, they need to be honored when they return," said David Rivera, program coordinator for the UTB-TSC Veterans Upward Bound Program. Rivera organized a celebration at the corner of the university’s student union and bookstore. "This is for the soldiers and the families that endured the hardships, too."

From the Rocky Mount, NC, Telegram, 14 April 2004
RESERVES COMING HOME
The 849th Quartermaster Company that's been in Iraq for the past year returns. Some of the 849th's family members, including the unit's Family Readiness Group coordinator, have been working with the Chamber of Commerce to plan a homecoming ceremony for the men and women in the company.

From the Council Bluffs, IA, Daily Nonpareil, 13 April 2004
POLICE OFFICER RECOUNTS TOUR OF DUTY IN IRAQ
A year ago, Council Bluffs resident Dan Dawson packed his gear and shipped out as a staff sergeant with the 530th Military Police Battalion of the U.S. Army Reserve. His destination: Iraq. Last month, he stepped off a convoy back in the United States- back to his job with the Council Bluffs Police Department. Dawson said one of the first things he noticed was the poverty of the country.

The Herald, Brownsville, TX, 13 April 2004
370TH TRANSPORTATION COMPANY RETURNS TO BROWNSVILLE TODAY
The Brownsville-based U.S. Army Reserve 370th Transportation Company returned. The city plans to distribute small American flags to people attending the welcome home observance. U.S. Border Patrol Agent Richard Solis said the agency is sending four of its patrol units to escort the soldiers.“Our troops coming back home is a big deal,” Solis said. “It’s important and something major for this community. We’ve got to recognize them for their efforts.”

The Derrick, Oil City, PA, 13 April 2004
RESERVE UNIT WITH LOCAL SOLDIERS GETS HEROES' WELCOME ON RETURN HOME
Pouring rain did nothing to dampen the spirits of the hundreds of family members and well-wishers who gathered in Meadville to welcome home members of the Army Reserve's 475th Quartermaster Co. Det. 1. The 475th is a petroleum unit based out of Beaver Falls and was responsible for fueling operations while in Iraq.

The Demopolis, AL, Times, 12 April 2004
AREA TROOPS HOME SAFE
The 287th Transportation Company returns home from the conflict in Iraq after 13 months. They were called to active duty on Feb. 20, 2003. Thankfully, no one had been killed in the reservists' time away from Alabama. "We started out in Kuwait," said Sherry Roberts from Butler, "then we moved to Tikrit, Iraq (the hometown of Saddam Hussein). A community homecoming is planned for the soldiers and their families.

The Coloradoan, Fort Collins, CO, 11 April 2004
WELCOME HOME
Bravo Company, 244th Engineering Battalion, came home Saturday. After serving nearly a year in Iraq, 85 members of the Fort Collins-based U.S. Army Reserve unit and 160 other troops marched out of the snow and into a crowded Fort Carson gymnasium to wild cheers that rattled the bleachers. Bravo Company was called up in February 2003, shipped out to Kuwait in May and arrived in Tikrit, Iraq, in June. A celebration in honor of Bravo Company's return to Fort Collins is scheduled.

The Press-Telegram, Long Beach, CA, 11 April 2004
HOLIDAY HOMECOMING
Sixty Army Reserve medical soldiers of the 113rd Medical Company arrived Saturday at the Los Alamitos Army Airfield. Deployed in February 2003, the company tended troops with combat-stress disorders.

The San Jose, CA, Mercury-News, 10 April 2004
SAN JOSE `ADOPTS' SOLDIERS
Debbie Katsounakis wants to make sure her son and the other 164 members of the Army Reserve's 341st Military Police Company based in San Jose get a big welcome home when they return from Iraq. In a brief ceremony before Tuesday's evening council meeting, San Jose officially adopted the 341st, joining other cities in 22 states that have adopted military units through America Supporting Americans. In Iraq, the 341st is in charge of clearing and monitoring supply routes.

The Akron, OH, Beacon Journal, 2 April 2004
45 AREA SOLDIERS RETURNING FROM IRAQ
Members of the U.S. Army Reserve 79th Quartermaster Company, Detachment 2 will be coming home from Iraq on Saturday.

The St. Cloud, MN, Times, 2 April 2004
367TH ENGINEER BATTALION: SOLDIERS PREPARE TO LEAVE FOR DUTY
U.S. Army Reserve's 367th Engineer Battalion are about to complete the first step of a long journey to Afghanistan. This is the first time the 367th has been deployed since World War II.

The Springfield, OH, News-Sun, 2 April 2004
656TH GETS A BIG WELCOME HOME
The sign read, "Welcome home 656th," and just below it were the words, "Just in time for lawn-mowing season." Army Reserve soldiers of the 656th Transportation Company are home from Iraq.

KATV-TV7 (ABC), Little Rock, AR, 1 April 2004
MEMBERS OF THE 468TH CHEMICAL BATTALION RETURN HOME
Soldiers with the Army Reserve's 468th Chemical Battalion have been overseas for more than a year, now they are reunited with their families.

The Omaha, NE, World Herald, 1 April 2004
PARADE FOR RETURNING RESERVE SOLDIERS IS PLANNED
Residents have bought 2,000 miniature American flags and has lined up Boy Scouts to pass them out Friday for Florence's welcome home parade for troops who have been away for 14 months. The community has organized the event to salute the 530th Military Police Battalion.

The Washington Post, 1 April 2004
SHOWING METTLE, EARNING MEDALS UNDER FIRE IN IRAQ
As an Army Reserve civil affairs soldier in Iraq for one year, John E. Smathers helped stop a bank robbery, engaged in ferocious firefight, helped recover stolen Iraqi artwork and endured 140-degree heat. He came home with four Bronze Stars, two Purple Hearts, and an Army commendation medal.

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The Aberdeen, SD, American News, 31 March 2004
RESERVE UNIT RETURNS FROM IRAQ
Members of the 323rd Chemical Company of the Army Reserve arrived in Sioux Falls after spending 14 months in Kuwait and Iraq. "We saw new buildings being built, new businesses emerging. You just see a general happiness. They would actually cheer when we drove into town ," said one soldier.

The San Jose, CA, Mercury News, 31 March 2004
BISMARCK-BASED ARMY RESERVE UNIT HEADED HOME FROM IRAQ
The 439th Engineer Detachment is headed back to home station. The soldiers helped reconnect power supplies, fix sewer systems and perform other engineering tasks in Iraq.

The Brockton, MA, Enterprise, 31 March 2004
MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN IRAQ
When Army Reserve Specialist Virginia Cruse went deployed to Iraq, last year, the soldier's red hair, hazel eyes and pale ivory skin fascinated Iraqis. But when she spoke to Iraqi villagers in fluent Arabic, they were stunned. "It just blew their minds," said Cruse, who has just returned from Iraq, where she served as an interpreter for 14 months. After signing up with the Army Reserve, she became an Arabic linguistic.

KELO-TV (CBS), Sioux Falls, SD, 31 March 2004
MORE TROOPS RETURN TO SOUTH DAKOTA
South Dakota soldiers of the Army Reserve's 323rd Chemical Company are back after more than a year away from home. They spent time in Iraq and Kuwait since they were deployed in February of last year.

Tbe Norristown, PA, Times-Herald, 31 March 2004
UNIT WELCOMED BACK HOME
The 358th Civil Affairs Brigade is home from Iraq after more than a year away. The soldiers flew into Philadelphia International Airport where they were met by ecstatic loved ones.

The Allentown, PA, Morning Call, 30 March 2004
FAMILIES REJOICE IN SOLDIERS' RETURN
Members of 744th MP Battalion home after 14-months in Iraq. Family members waved hand-made signs, balloons, flowers and American flags, crowding the parking lot of the Army Reserve unit's headquarters in Hanover Township, Lehigh County.

The El Paso, TX, Times, 31 March 2004
SOLDIERS WILL RECEIVE GRAND WELCOME
The 285th Engineering Company is on its way home. A family member said the community support will mean a lot to the families of the soldiers who have been through so much this year. "These men and women provide so much for the community in and out of the Army," she said.

The Victoria, TX, Advocate, 31 March 2004
VICTORIA'S 288TH COMING HOME
After serving more than a year in Iraq, the 288th Quartermaster Company is on its way home. The U.S. Army Reserve water-supply-and-distribution unit is reported to have left its base in Iraq for Kuwait to prepare for departure.

The Fremont, NE, Tribune, 26 March 2004
"MAYOR" KEEPS 809TH ROLLING
The Fremont deputy police chief, a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve is now "mayor " of two camps in Kuwait. Lt. Col. Steve Tellatin serves as commander of the Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 809th Quartermaster Battalion headquartered in Kuwait. "I'm mayor of Truckville. It's an area full of tents and trucks. I have to make sure they are provided with all the services a mayor of a city would."

The Pittsburgh, PA, Post-Gazette, 17 March 2004
WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA-BASED UNITS MAKE THEIR MARK IN IRAQ MISSION
Article cites 99th Regional Readiness Command Pennsylvania-based units supporting operations in Iraq and Afghanistan -- 307th Military Police Company, 332 Engineer Company,744th Military Police Battalion; Detachment 1 of 23rd Adjutant General Company, 44th Adjutant General Battalion, 23rd Adjutant General Company, 326th Quartermaster Detachment, the 3404th Military Intelligence Detachment, and Detachment 2 of B Company, 458th Engineer Battalion, and the 459th Engineer Company. The story also mentions three 99th RRC units -- the Pittsburgh-based 336th MP Battalion, the 1004 Quartermaster Co. based in Greensburg, and the 630th Transportation Co., headquartered in Washington, Pa. which are part of the spring rotation.

The Enterprise-Journal, McComb, MS, 17 March 2004
MCCOMB NATIVE AMONG TEAM CHOSEN TO TRAIN IRAQI ARMY
A 10-soldier team of U.S. Army Reserve officers and noncommissioned officers has deployed to Iraq as the first American training team to work with a battalion of the new Iraqi Army. The soldiers, all Mississippians, were chosen from the 3rd Brigade, 87th Division (Training Support) from Camp Shelby.

WBMG-TV12 (CBS), Binghamton, NY, 17 March 2004
SERVING IN IRAQ: A SOLDIER'S STORY
TV news feature on Army Reserve Sgt. Mark McGreal. "Now that I've had a chance to serve, I want to teach the younger soldiers, the up and coming soldiers on what I've learned, what I've experienced, and what it is to be an American soldier." Sgt. McGreal also says the Iraqi's he knew, and those he talked with, appreciate what the U.S. is doing in their country.

The Portsmouth, NH, Herald, 16 March 2004
FAMILIES FETE RETURNING SOLDIERS
Traffic came to a stop on Route 108 for buses carrying more than a hundred 368th Engineer Battalion soldiers returning home from the Persian Gulf region.

The Abilene, TX, Reporter-News, 16 March 2004
CIVIL AFFAIRS SOLDIERS RETURN FROM SERVICE IN IRAQ
Soldiers from the 490th Civil Affairs Battalion returned to Abilene after a yearlong deployment in Iraq. The return was the first of two reunions scheduled for the Army Reserve unit.

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The Atlanta, GA, Journal-Constitution, 29 January 2004
RESERVE UNITS URGED TO LOOK AT READINESS
Lt. Gen. Joseph Inge, commander of the 1st Army at Fort Gillem, said Reserve Component commanders need to make an honest appraisal of every unit's readiness and address problems before they report to mobilization stations.

The Rocky Mountain News, Denver, CO, 28 January 2004
NOT JUST A DOCTOR ON TV
Dr. Dave Hnida, local television news medical reporter, and an Army Reserve physician with the 160th Military Police Battalion speaks about his Iraq deployment. "I thought the place I could do the most good would be Iraq," said Hnida.

HarvardHillside.com, Harvard, MA, 28 January 2004
AFGHANISTAN REBUILDING EFFORT IS MAKING A DIFFERENCE
Army Reserve civil affairs officer speaks about his tour of duty in Afghanistan -- visiting local villages, identifying needs, and applying for the necessary funds needed to build up the public infrastructure. "Afghanistan's still a dangerous place, but we are making progress," said the civil affairs officer. " It was a very rewarding experience for us to do this."

The Washington, DC, Times, 15 January 2004
U.S. WAGES QUIET BATTLE IN AFRICA
Army Reserve civil affairs soldiers train with local troops in rural Ethiopia. Projects include rehabilitation and infrastructure repair. The U.S. military mission uses military training, humanitarian aid and intelligence operations to keep northeastern Africa and Yemen from becoming the next Afghanistan, said Marine Brig. Gen. Mastin Robeson, commander of the task force.

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The Associated Press, 24 December 2003
FEMALE RESERVE SOLDIER, AGE 59, WELL QUALIFIED FOR KUWAIT DUTY
NASHVILLE -- Wearing combat boots and camouflage didn't faze an Army Reserve soldier who recently returned from duty in Kuwait -- even though that's not the usual attire for a grandmother of four. ``Sometimes I think older people who have been through more in life are able to endure more,'' said the soldier, a member of the 678th Personnel Services Battalion from Nashville.

Army News Service, 19 December 2003
MOBILIZED RC OFFICERS NOW COMPETITIVE FOR PROMOTION
WASHINGTON (Army News Service, Dec. 19, 2003) – Mobilized reserve-component officers who have been selected for promotion now have a chance to pin their new rank on about the same time their counterparts at home do. Assistant Secretary of the Army for Manpower and Reserve Affairs Reginald J. Brown signed a memorandum Dec. 17 that changes the requirement for Army Reserve and National Guard promotion-selectee officers to first be in position of higher grade before pinning that higher rank on.

The King County Journal, Bellevue, WA, 17 December 2003
BELLEVUE MAN PARTICIPATED IN SADDAM MISSION
A Bellevue Army Reserve aviator , had a brush with history when he and another pilot embarked on a mission north of Baghdad, carrying about 20 forensics and Criminal Investigation Division personnel aboard Chinook CH47 helicopters. The specialists' job: positively identify Saddam Hussein, who had just been captured.

The Portland, ME, Press-Herald, 17 December 2003
MAINER'S NEW MISSION IN BAGHDAD: TURN SYMBOL OF SADDAM INTO ART
An art student from Maine, whose studies were delayed when his Army Reserve unit was called to Iraq, hopes to turn a toppled bust of Saddam Hussein into one of the country's first postwar public art projects. The civil affairs officer has asked Iraq's Ministry of Culture for permission to use the bronze from a bust of the captured president as a starting point for a project among Iraqi artists . "If it can be melted down, the intention is to have contact among Iraqi artists and use the material in a new project ."

The Duluth, MN, News Tribune, 12 December 2003
TO SADDAM'S PALACE AND HOME AGAIN
University of North Dakota's Sports information director is home in Grand Forks and with family after his Army Reserve unit's tour of duty in Baghdad. Lived in former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein's massive palace in downtown Baghdad.

The Pittsburgh, PA, Post-Gazette, 4 December 2003
TROOPS TRAIN FOR IRAQ USING AMBUSH ALLEY NEAR BREEZEWOOD
An abandoned state highway becomes training ground. Gun Truck Alley is a nine-mile stretch of abandoned highway off the Pennsylvania Turnpike near Breezewood, and the name of an imaginative new training program designed to prepare Army Reserve soldiers for the hazards they are likely to face in Iraq. After each convoy passed through Gun Truck Alley, the trainers conducted a brief review, telling the transporters what they had done right and wrong. The trainers are also Reserve soldiers--police officers with local counties.

The Pittsburgh, PA, Post-Gazette, 4 December 2003
LEGISLATORS ORGANIZE GIFT DRIVE FOR ARMY RESERVE SOLDIERS
State legislators are organizing a holiday gift drive for the overseas troops serving in the 332nd Engineering Company, a Kittanning-based Army Reserve unit. State Sen. John Pippy, R-Moon, is in that 332nd , currently stationed in the Middle East. Republican senators are calling the gift drive "Operation Pippy."
Senators are asking people to donate books, games and sports equipment.

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The Louisville, KY, Courier-Journal, 26 November 2003
ARMY RESERVE LEADER UP FOR PROMOTION
The commander of Louisville's Army Reserve 100th Division (Institutional Training) has been nominated by President Bush for the rank of major general. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has proposed the promotion of Brig. Gen. Gregory J. Hunt. Hunt took over the Louisville command in June.

The Springfield, MO, News-Leader, 26 November 2003
RESERVE TROOPS TO HAVE GREATER ROLE IN IRAQ
Reserve Components will take on more roles in Iraq next year, replacing some Army troops with a smaller, lighter and more mobile force equipped with fewer tanks and more Humvees. Missouri Reserve soldiers welcome the opportunity to jump in the fight they're trained to join, said Charlene Gemar, spokeswoman for the Regional Readiness Command of the Army Reserve.

The Helena, MT, Independent Record, 19 November 2003
NEW RESERVE COMMANDER HAS HIGH REGARD FOR SOLDIERS
Col. Mike Trombetta took command of the U.S. Army Reserve's 652nd Area Support Group two months ago. The ASG commander holds the soldiers under his watch in high regard and believes they are up for their historic role in supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom and the war on terror. "It's something bigger than you are and it's worth doing," he said. "There are a lot of people sacrificing quite a bit right now. We've got some pretty dedicated people and they're happy to do it."

The Montana Kaimin, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, 19 November 2003
UM RESERVISTS CALLED UP
UM students, members of the 379th Battalion of the Army Reserve in Missoula, received orders for Iraq. “This is the job that needs to be done, and it’s my turn to do the job,” said one of the soldiers. “To me, it’s not a bad thing,” he said. “I look forward to it.”

The Honolulu, HI, Star-Bulletin, 19 November 2003
MAUI NATIVE AMONG 17 KILLED IN IRAQI CRASH
Sgt. 1st Class Kelly Martin Liberato Bolor, a Maui native, and an Army Reserve supply specialist with the 137th Quartermaster Company was one of 17 soldiers killed during a collision of two Black Hawk helicopters in Mosul, Iraq

The Paynesville, MN, Press, 19 November 2003
LOCAL ARMY RESERVE UNIT RETURNS HOME
Soldiers from the Army Reserve 704th Chemical Company stationed in Paynesville returned home.

The Joplin, MO, Globe, 19 November 2003
MILITARY CALLS UP MIAMI RESERVES
A Miami-based Army Reserve unit has been called to active duty. Maj. Craig Johnson, with the 319th Corps Support Battalion in Miami, said that 50 to 60 members of his unit are scheduled to depart for Fort Sill on Dec. 10, and that the deployment could last as long as 18 months.

The Fremont, NE, Tribune, 18 November 2003
809TH BEGINS MONTHLONG TRAINING SESSION
Army Reserve soldiers of Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 809th Quartermaster Battalion (supply and services) will prepare for their role in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The Bothell, WA, Herald, 14 November 2003
COUNTY UNITS GIVEN ORDERS FOR IRAQ DUTY
Army Reserve soldiers from the Bothell-based 909th Adjutant General Company (Postal) in Snohomish County have gotten orders to get ready for a tour of duty in Iraq.

The North West Indiana Times, Munster, IN, 14 November 2003
LOCAL RESERVES HEADING HOME
The Army Reserve's 685th Transportation Company is expected to return home from Kuwait during Thanksgiving week.

The Jackson, TN, Sun, 14 November 2003
JACKSON RESERVISTS TO LEAVE DEC. 15
About 55 Army Reserve soldiers with the 342nd Quartermaster Battalion from Jackson will be called to active duty on Dec. 15.

The Asheville, NC, Citizen-Times, 13 November 2003
MEMBERS OF BREVARD ARMY RESERVE UNIT BEING CALLED UP FOR ACTIVE DUTY
Twenty members of the 449th Adjutant General Company from Brevard will be called to active duty Dec. 16.

The Derrick, Oil City, PA, 14 November 2003
BROOKVILLE RESERVE UNIT PUT ON ALERT STATUS
Company A of the 458th Engineer Battalion assigned to the U.S. Army Reserve Center in Brookville has been placed on alert status for a possible mobilization to Iraq or Afghanistan.

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The Aberdeen, SD, News, 13 November 2003
DUTY EXTENDED FOR RESERVE UNIT
The tour of duty for the Sioux Falls-based 323rd Chemical Company has been extended by about 3 1/2 months, the U.S. Army Reserve said Thursday.

The Freemont, NE, Tribune, 13 November 2003
809TH GETS MOBILIZATION ORDERS
U.S. Army Reserve soldiers in the Fremont area were put on alert for possible deployment to Iraq, Kuwait or Afghanistan. Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 809th Quartermaster Battalion (supply and services) has been mobilized and will begin local training next week. The mobilization orders are for 545 days, or approximately 18 months.

The Biloxi, MS, Sun-Herald, 13 November 2003
MINNESOTA RESERVE SOLDIERS AWAIT DEPLOYMENT
Army Reserve soldiers from the 477th Medical Company and the 367th Engineer Battalion could soon be headed to Iraq or Afghanistan.

The Indiana, PA, Gazette, 12 November 2003 Internet Edition
INDIANA RESERVE SOLDIERS AWAITING DECISION
Members of Indiana's U.S. Army Reserve unit, Co. B, 458th Engineer Battalion, apparently are among soldiers in the 99th Regional Readiness Command who may be called to active duty to replace soldiers already serving in the Persian Gulf and Afghanistan.

The Quad City Times, Davenport, IA, 12 November 2003
STATE GOP CHAIRMAN CALLED TO DUTY
The Iowa Republican Party chairman, will pass his duties on to Black Hawk County Supervisor after being mobilized by his Army Reserve unit -- the 372nd Engineer Group based out of Des Moines.

WJXT-TV4 (CBS), Jacksonville, FL, 12 November 2003
SOLDIERS CALLED UP IN GAINESVILLE
About 30 members from the from the Army Reserve's 81st and 317th Transportation detachments will be called to active duty Dec. 7 and deployed overseas.

The State, Columbia, SC, 12 November 2003
GREENVILLE, FORT JACKSON ARMY RESERVISTS NOTIFIED OF IRAQ DUTY
The Army is calling up 120 members of the 450th Ordnance Company of Aiken, the 457th Chemical Battalion of Greenville and the 874th Medical Team from Jackson.

The Savannah, GA, Morning News, 12 November 2003
SAVANNAH RESERVE UNIT CALLED UP
About 60 soldiers from the Army Reserve's 429th Medical Battalion will report to active duty.

The Rockdale Citizen, Conyers, GA, 12 November 2003
ATHENS ARMY RESERVE MAY BE CALLED UP
The 357th Support Battalion, which provides combat service support in the field such as hauling water and fuel, has been put on alert status and received word Thursday that its soldiers likely would be called to active duty.

The Washington, PA, Observer-Reporter, 12 November 2003
NORTH FRANKLIN TWP. UNIT ALERTED OF POSSIBLE SERVICE
Members of a U.S. Army Reserve unit in Washington County were alerted last week to pack their bags for possible service in the war on terrorism.

WLBT-TV3 (NBC), Jackson, MS, 11 November 2003
STUDENTS HONOR VETERANS
Madison Middle School students paid tribute to those who have fought for our country and are still serving today. Some of them like Lt. Col. Mike McCollum of the Army Reserve 3rd Personnel Command in Jackson have just returned from Operation Enduring Freedom.

The Mobile, AL, Register, 12 November 2003
A SALUTE TO VETERANS
Col. Janet Cobb, commander of the 1184 Transportation Battalion of the U.S. Army Reserve, said all of the 26.4 million Americans who have served in the armed forces have answered their country's call.

The Birmingham, AL, News, 12 November 2003
CITY SALUTES VETERANS PAST, PRESENT
Col. George D. Fortenberry, a Baptist minister from Chattanooga and chaplain for the Birmingham-based 87th Army Reserve Division, said combat veterans may remember war but they do not glorify war. That is because they have experienced it first-hand and lost close friends. "America is free because of men and women who risked their lives," he said. "They wanted a better world populated by better people."

The Quincy, MA, Patriot-Ledger, 12 November 2003
STILL SUPPORTING THE TROOPS - AND EACH OTHER
With her son serving in the military in Iraq, Elaine Crudup of Pembroke has found a local source of comfort and reassurance. Crudup joined the Pembroke Military Support Group in January, right after Jesse, 22, an Army Reserve member, was activated.

The Jackson, MS, Clarion-Ledger, 12 November 2003
RESERVIST TO SPEAK AT MSU
A senior Army Reserve officer who helped mobilize U.S. troops for duty in Iraq, Kuwait and Afghanistan speaks Nov. 19 at Mississippi State University. Col. Leonette W. Slay has served since 2001 as assistant chief of staff for the Birmingham-based 87th Division that mobilized more than 15,000 troops for Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The Tennessean, Nashville, TN, 12 November 2003
TENNESSEE RESERVISTS ON NOTICE FOR ACTIVE DUTY
Five Army Reserve units received mobilization orders for likely duty in the Persian Gulf.

The St. Paul, MN, Pioneer Press, 12 November 2003
LOCAL ARMY RESERVISTS GETTING READY FOR DUTY
Last week, the Pentagon announced it would rotate 85,000 members of Army and Marine forces into Iraq early next year to relieve troops completing yearlong tours. Among those are about 2,800 members of the 88th Regional Readiness Command of the Army Reserve based at Fort Snelling near the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.

The Stamford, CT, Advocate, 11 November 2003
VETERANS DAY HAS NEW MEANING FOR THOSE RETURNING FROM WAR
A major in the Army Reserve's 405th combat support hospital unit from West Hartford, Brown is one of three Hartford Hospital physicians who've recently returned from duty in Iraq or Kuwait.

The Tullahoma, TN, News, 11 November 2003
RESPECT THE RESERVES
OP-ED National Guard and Reserve units have been tightly incorporated into U.S. military campaigns in recent decades - for sound strategic reasons.

The Tuscaloosa, AL, News, 11 November 2003
ALABAMA RESERVE UNIT HEADED FOR BOSNIA
Members of the 336th Adjutant General Company, a military postal unit in Sheffield, have received mobilization orders, although their departure date was not made public.

The McCook, NE, Daily Gazette, 11 November 2003
A VETERAN NOW, HERSELF
Veterans Day for Spc. Nicole Anderson will, from now on, always mean more than it did before she joined the Army Reserve and volunteered to serve her country in its war against terrorism. Nicole has spent the past eight months in Iraq, an American soldier in "Operation Iraqi Freedom."

The Pittsburg, KS, Morning Sun, 11 November 2003
PARSONS UNIT GETS ORDERS TO MOBILIZE
The 243rd Army Reserve Supply and Service Company, a Parsons-based Army Reserve unit has received orders to prepare for mobilization as part of the U.S. military operations in Iraq.

The Green Bay, WI, Press-Gazette, 10 November 2003
RESERVIST ENJOYS BRIEF TASTE OF 'NORMAL LIFE'
Army Reserve Spc. Martin Selle reported to active duty with the 998th Quartermaster Company, based in Junction City. Since March, the Shawano resident has been in Kuwait and Iraq. Last week, he got a 15-day reprieve from the war - he came home on leave.

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The Lawrence, KS, Journal-World, 31 October 2003
LAWRENCE SOLDIER WOUNDED IN BOMBING
Army Reserve Sgt. Jared L. Myers, a Lawrence resident suffered injuries Oct. 23 when a remote-controlled bomb exploded under a military Humvee north of Baghdad.

The Springfield, OH, News-Sun, 30 October 2003
THERE'S STILL TIME TO GIVE TO 656TH SOLDIERS
People who want to donate Christmas gifts to Springfield's 656th Transportation Company, an Army Reserve unit have a second opportunity. The soldiers can use DVDs, hand-held games, board games, compact discs, hard candy, toiletries, socks, T-shirts, drink mixes, disposable cameras, nuts and sunscreen.

NY1 (Time Warner Cable, New York, NY, 29 October 2003
BRONX ARMY RESERVE UNIT HONORED FOR EFFORTS IN IRAQ
Borough President Adolfo Carrion honored the 773 Transportation Company, a Bronx Army Reserve unit for its efforts in Iraq. "The day we crossed into Iraq was a memorable day for me," said Sgt. Haldone Clarke, "because that was when the realization of me losing my life, or somebody I know losing their life really hit home."

KOB-TV4 (NBC), Albuquerque, NM, 27 October 2003
THOUSANDS WELCOME HOME 281ST TRANSPORTATION COMPANY IN LAS CRUCES
More than 1,000 turned out for the homecoming celebration of the Army Reserve's 281st Transportation Company after eight months in the Middle East. Marching bands and patriotic townspeople waving flags and holding multi-colored balloons gave the community's thank-you to the 205 members of the 281st who served in Kuwait and Iraq.

The Norristown, PA, Times-Herald, 19 October 2003
LOCAL RESERVISTS CONTINUE SERVICE
When family members of the Army Reserve's 358th Civil Affairs Brigade heard reports that military deployment to in Iraq was extended, they needed to vent their frustration to someone. That someone was Maj. Katherine Russell, the 358th's family readiness liaison whose job it is to listen to and help Army Reserve families cope with their separation anxiety.

The Casper, WY, Star Tribune, 18 October 2003
BOISE ENGINEER BATTALION GETS NEW COMMANDER
Soldiers attached to the U.S. Army Reserve's 321st Engineer Battalion welcomed their new commander. Lt. Col. Mike Hoxie of Richland, Wash. takes over for outgoing commander Lt. Col. Kurt Smith of Boise. Smith had commanded the battalion since 2001.

The Las Cruces, NM, Sun-News, 18 October 2003
LAS CRUCES-BASED RESERVISTS RETURN FROM IRAQ TUESDAY
The remaining 105 members of the U.S. Army Reserve's 281st Transportation Co., which is based in Las Cruces, arrived home.

Voices, Woodbury, CT, 2 October 2003
RESIDENT RECALLS THE KINDNESS OF AREA SOLDIER KILLED IN IRAQ
An Army Reserve soldier from Connecticut who was killed in action in Iraq last week was a former resident of Seymour who touched the life of a local woman. She remembered he regularly offered his assistance with chores around the house, such as mowing the lawn and clearing her driveway during the winter months.

The Elizabethtown, KY, News-Enterprise, 2 October 2003
PRINCIPAL'S STAY TO BE QUICK, QUIET
Reserve soldier who is also Central Hardin High School's principal, is back home in Elizabethtown for two weeks of rest and relaxation more than six months after leaving his education job to join his Army Reserve unit overseas.

The Richmond, IN, Palladium-Item, 1 October 2003
SALE HELPS FAMILIES OF ACTIVATED RESERVE SOLDIERS
A garage sale Saturday at the Army Reserve Center in Richmond helped the families of area reservists who have been activated for duty. The Richmond Army Reserve Center has at least six soldiers serving in active duty.

The Palm Beach, FL, Post, 1 October 2003
LOCAL RESERVISTS RETURNING FROM GEORGIA
More than 100 Army Reserve soldiers returned home, marking the largest demobilization of troops of the 3220th U.S. Army Reserve Garrison since the Gulf War in 1991 when the unit was given the title "First to Mobilize."

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