Fort Drum, NY, Mar 16, 2010 — This month, planes are leaving Fort Drum's Wheeler-Sack airfield with soldiers bound for Afghanistan. About 4,000 troops of the 10th Mountain Division's 1st Brigade are a part of President Obama's surge announced late last year. With roadside attacks and bombings up in Afghanistan, the departure is a painful one for many Fort Drum families. But recently, the author of the best-selling book, Three Cups of Tea, paid a visit to the spouses of Fort Drum's officers. Greg Mortenson builds schools in Afghanistan. As David Sommerstein reports, he brought a sense of hope and purpose to an Army base that's been ground down by repeat deployments.  Go to full article

Glens Falls, NY, Feb 19, 2010 — Congressman Scott Murphy returned from a two-day trip to Afghanistan saying a plan is in place to win the war there. Martha Foley has more.  Go to full article

Lake Placid, NY, Jan 28, 2010 — More soldiers from the 10th Mountain Division are arriving in Afghanistan this week, as part of the surge ordered by President Barack Obama. Army Captain Sean Kane from Lake Placid checked in by phone just before heading overseas. He told reporter Chris Morris that the transition from home to the front lines can be tricky.  Go to full article

Washington, DC, Jan 04, 2010 — 2010 will be the year of President Obama's surge in the war in Afghanistan. The first units of the 30,000 additional troops are already settling in the war-torn country. Fort Drum's 1st brigade will begin sending 3500 soldiers this month. Violence in Afghanistan continues to escalate with last week's suicide bombing that killed seven CIA operatives. Congressman Bill Owens made a two-day trip to Afghanistan just before Christmas. Owens sits on the House Armed Services committee. He and other committee members met with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Army General Stanley McChrystal, and visited with U.S. soldiers in Kabul and Kandahar. Owens told David Sommerstein the soldiers are facing a dangerous situation, but they're comfortable with the new mission they've been given by President Obama.  Go to full article

Fort Drum, NY, Dec 03, 2009 — According to the Associated Press, thousands of soldiers from Fort Drum near Watertown will play a major role in President Obama's new strategy in Afghanistan. The 10th Mountain Division's 1st Brigade was called off a mission to Iraq last month and is believed to be heading to Afghanistan instead as a part of the 30,000 troop surge announced last night. Fort Drum's 10th Combat Aviation Brigade is already slated to go there next October. And the division's headquarters is scheduled to take command of part of the war effort in Afghanistan in 2011. But eight years of war are wearing on one of the most-deployed divisions in the Army. David Sommerstein reports.  Go to full article

Evans Mills, NY, Dec 03, 2009 — As David Sommerstein reported today (see related story), the revolving door of deployments is taking its toll at Fort Drum. David joined Martha Foley during the Eight O'Clock Hour to talk more about how continuing deployments are affecting morale.  Go to full article

Fort Drum, NY, Nov 02, 2009 — The cycle of "train, deploy, return, repeat" has been steady at Fort Drum since 2001. Troops are regularly leaving for Iraq or Afghanistan, or coming home. A chain-link fence across Route 26 from Fort Drum's airfield has become a part of that routine. Soldiers lodge red and blue plastic cups in the fence to make homemade welcome home signs for their comrades. Sgt. Robert Hoosier of the 10th CAB on "cup duty" is today's Heard Up North.  Go to full article

Sep 28, 2009 — An Army soldier from the Adirondack town of Chester was laid to rest over the weekend. Jeremiah Monroe was 31 years old when he was killed by a roadside bomb in Kandahar, Afghanistan.

As Brian Mann reports, his death has brought sorrow to his family and his small mountain village.  Go to full article

Sep 21, 2009 — The Defense Department has confirmed the death of a soldier from Brant Lake, in the Adirondacks, who was serving in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Todd Moe has more.  Go to full article

Aug 07, 2009 — Yesterday we reported that New York's National Guard is struggling to hire enough clergy to serve as part-time chaplains. The problem reflects an aging clergy and also a growing shortage of priests across the North Country - and across New York state. Brian Mann spoke with Father Douglas Decker. He's the priest at St. Cecilia's in the Jefferson County town of Adams. He also serves with New York's Air National Guard.  Go to full article