Military Life
Alex Fallot woke up on New Year's Day and thought, "You do not want to do this." However, the 9-year-old ignored his intuition. He got up, got dressed, and headed to the Tacoma Country Club with his mother and younger brother. Upon arriving, Alex, and 15 other Pack 472 Cub Scouts,
Operation Family Support
Five years ago Sgt. Thomas Sekely and his wife, Melissa, received Christmas presents for their family from Operation Homefront - a nonprofit organization that provides financial assistance to low ranking military servicemembers. Shortly thereafter to give back to the organization for helping her family, Melissa baked cookies. As time went
Support
In December, some Fort Lewis soldiers who deployed to Iraq found a shipping container jammed full of about 50,000 golf balls. Although they were excited about their golf treasure, they only had two junior-sized clubs with which to hit the balls. When Kara Brevet, the club manager at the Oakbrook Golf and
Focus
Capt. Tom Casey and his soldiers still work in a tent. The reason for this is simple; he wanted everyone else to have hard structures in order to better do their missions. "As you can see, we are still in a tent," said the commander of Headquarters and Headquarters Troop (HHT), 8th
Focus
KANDAHAR AIR FIELD, Afghanistan - Three memorial fires provided the only light during the 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division's "Tribute To Our Fallen Soldiers," Jan. 1, on Kandahar Air Field. The fires represented the lives of 32 Stryker soldiers who have passed away since the brigade arrived in
News Articles
SEATTLE (AP) - A former Army Ranger convicted of leading a takeover-style bank holdup in 2006 in Washington state has pleaded guilty to trying to hire a hit man to kill a federal prosecutor. Luke Sommer also pleaded guilty Monday to attacking a robbery co-defendant because he thought the man had
Focus
With the recent signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), the creation of Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) passed a key milestone. The final result of many months of work by planners from both bases, the agreement completes the process of creating the joint base. JBLM is on track to initiate joint operations
Archives
Who’s with me on how nice the weather has been? It’s been hot enough for girls to show off their legs, and the fellas are busting out the muscle shirts. But just because it’s warm does not give anyone an excuse to wear open-toed tan platform sandals, gray leggings, a
We Recommend
The only polar bear photograph you've seen recently was a snapshot of your hefty neighbor Earl and his New Year's Day plunge into Commencement Bay wearing a tutu and Viking helmet. Why would someone do such a thing? Anyway, you don't have to be a polar bear to enjoy traveler
Features
There are restaurants I have to ease into slowly, coming around to their flavors or unique takes on cuisine by the end of the meal. There are other restaurants that win me over quickly - love at first bite, or damn close to it. Typically, the latter has to due
Live & CD Reviews
I like this job. It makes me do stuff that I want to do, but never get around to without a kick in the pants. I started a blog of my own a few years ago, and said to myself, "OK, now you've got a reason to get off your
Stage
My first experience with Lakewood Playhouse's production of 12 Angry Men began as I took my seat. To do so, I was led across the stage - passing by a table littered with scraps of paper, ashtrays, and discarded paper cups - to my section, which happened to sit right
We Recommend
Becky Knold's paintings are hard to describe. They're nothing and they're everything. They're abstract, minimalist, colorful but in a subdued way. They're atmospheric color-field paintings with barely discernable forms if any, and no subject matter whatsoever; yet they are clearly landscapes and paintings of buildings. They
Music
So you think that you and your fledgling band can practice on some kind of a street corner or maybe in a park or on a bus or rooftop? Untrue! Your band is required to convene in a small room of some sort. But where to find such a room?I
Concert Alert
Having turned 21 a mere 10 months ago, I certainly can’t consider myself a bar aficionado (despite some impressive efforts). However, after stepping into Bob’s Java Jive a few weeks ago and entering its still, hushed atmosphere, I knew something was amiss. My friends and I came to see a
Spouses
It's that time. You've waited many difficult months to see your friend, soul mate, spouse. You envision the both of you romping through a field of daisies in formal clothes to embrace while a classical music theme plays in the background. What you get is a crowded military installation thrumming with activity,
Recreation
Since joining the Army 20 years ago, Scott Fitzgerald has always tried to bring a little piece of his past with him wherever he goes. Whether he's been stationed in Germany, or in Leavenworth, or, as he is now, at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Fitzgerald packs his skates and hockey stick. This
Transitioning
Fort Lewis and McChord Air Force Base will likely grow a lot closer in the coming years as joint basing starts to take shape. But soldiers don't have to wait until the unspecified moves to take advantage of all that McChord has to offer. Fitness and recreation The fitness and outdoor recreation opportunities
Archives
The stories are becoming familiar and plentiful. They are the stories of soldiers watching their buddies' lives taken away and then walking away with sorrow, remorse, and sometimes crippling guilt. Just how does a soldier who accidentally kills a child or other innocent bystander in the cross fire deal with that event
Jobs
Staff Sgt. Christian Panquerne is a dedicated soldier who enjoys the variety his military occupational specialty, or MOS, provides him. "It's part of combat arms," said Panquerne as he sat in his living quarters at Camp Taji, Iraq. "I enjoy the infantry, and I also enjoy the engineering - the blowing
