Two Georgia Soldiers Killed in Afghanistan

The Department of Defense says two members of the Georgia National Guard's 48th Infantry Brigade have been killed in action in Afghanistan.

The Pentagon says the two were killed on Monday. They are identified as 25-year-old Sgt. Brock Henry Chavers Sr. of Statesboro, who was assigned to Americus' Company D, 2nd Battalion, 121st Infantry, and 24-year-old Spc. Isaac Lee Johnson Jr. of Columbus, assigned to Rome's Troop A, 1st Battalion, 108th Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition Squadron.

Defense officials say they died July 6 of wounds from an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) near Kunduz.

Court Rules Soldier's Wife Can't Sue

A federal appeals court says the wife of a U.S. soldier incapacitated by brain injury in a wreck during a fuel convoy in Iraq cannot sue the civilian contractor delivering the fuel. Sgt. Keith Carmichael, of Atlanta, was a gunner assigned to ride in a tanker truck operated by Kellogg, Brown & Root during the 2004 convoy. He was thrown and pinned beneath the truck when the civilian driver failed to negotiate a curve. Annette Carmichael sued KBR and its former parent company, Halliburton, claiming the civilian contractor, not the military, was responsible for the accident. In Tuesday's 2-1 ruling, a panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said it found "no judicially manageable standards" to settle the suit and upheld its dismissal by a lower court.

(Associated Press)

Group Of Fort Benning Soldiers Return Today

The Army says about 90 soldiers from the 63rd Engineer Company are scheduled to return early today to Fort Benning from a 15-month deployment to Iraq. The 63rd is returning from its third round of duty in the middle East. The unit last deployed from November 2005 to November 2006. The 63rd is part of the 11th Engineer Battalion. It provides support to soldiers in defensive positions and constructs roads and airfields.

Georgia Soldier Killed in Afghanistan

The Army says a citizen-soldier in the Georgia National Guard has been killed in Afghanistan. The Pentagon says 1st Sgt. John D. Blair of Calhoun died Saturday after a rocket-propelled grenade struck his vehicle. Blair was deployed with the Georgia Guard's 48th Brigade. He was assigned to the brigade's 1st Battalion, 121st Infantry based in Lawrenceville.

A Guard spokesman says the 38-year-old Blair is the fourth member of the Brigade killed since its soldiers began arriving in Afghanistan in May. More than 2,000 guardsmen from the Georgia brigade have deployed to Afghanistan to help train the country's police and security forces.

3 Georgia Soldiers Killed in Afghanistan

The Defense Department says three members of a Georgia National Guard unit that deployed to Afghanistan less than month ago have been killed.

The Pentagon identified the men as 37-year-old Major Kevin M. Jenrette of Lula; 39-year-old Staff Sergeant John C. Beale of Riverdale, and 21-year-old Specialist Jeffrey W. Jordan of Rome.

Military officials say the three died on Thursday of wounds from an improvised explosive device and small arms fire near Kapisa.

(Associated Press)

Fort Benning Unit Due Back

Some 90 U.S. Army soldiers assigned to the 24th Ordnance Company are scheduled to return to Fort Benning on Feb. 1.

The soldiers were deployed in the Baghdad vicinity since November 2007, according to the post Public Affairs Office.

Formerly the 608th Ordnance Company, the unit was reflagged as the 24th Ordnance Company in early 2007 prior to their current deployment.

Click here for more GPB News coverage about Fort Benning.

Troops due back from Iraq

Fort Benning entrance gate. (Dave Bender)

About 80 Fort Benning soldiers are due back in the US Wednesday evening, after a 15-month deployment in Iraq.

The troops are from the 13th Combat Support Sustainment Battalion, a a maintenance and transport unit.

The troops are one of two groups returning: another 150 of the unit's soldiers are due back in about a week.

There were no losses to the unit during their tour of duty, according to the Fort Benning Public Affairs Office.

Click here for more GPB coverage of events at Fort Benning.

WWII hero donates $2.5 M to infantry museum

The retired chairman and CEO of United Technologies has pledged $2.5 million towards the National Infantry Museum, now under construction at Fort Benning near Columbus.

The pledge by Harry Jack Gray, and his wife, Helen is the project's largest individual donation to date, according to an NIF statement.

Gray received a silver and bronze medal for bravery in two battles in Europe during World War II, including the Battle of the Bulge. The museum's mezzanine area will be named for the 2nd Infantry Regiment, Gray's unit in the war.

Conglomerate United Technologies, among its other industries builds weapons systems for the military, including the Black Hawk helicopter, and Pratt &Whitney aircraft engines.

Click here for more GPB News coverage about the museum, which is scheduled to open in March, 2009.

Two Georgia soldiers die in Afghanistan

U.S. military officials report two Georgia soldiers were among nine killed in an insurgent raid over the weekend in Afghanistan. The dead include 24-year-old Corporal Johnathan Ayers of Snellville, and 27-year-old Corporal Matthew Phillips from Jasper. The nine killed represent the deadliest incident for U.S. troops in Afghanistan since June of 2005.