Erik Anthes poses for a picture with his mom, Melissa, before his third deployment to Iraq in October 2014. Melissa had just been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, and mother and son were facing significant fights. Read more...
For Army Capt. Erik Anthes the hardest day commanding Easy Company came in December 2012. That's when h was forced to deal with one of the biggest problems facing the military, the suicide of a soldier. It is one of the most difficult times any leader will face. Read more...
When everything was taken away, the small things mattered most. Whether they were photos, jewelry, military memorobilia, toys, a Christmas ornament or a holographic picture of The Last Supper, each discovery held more significance than the soldiers first realized. Read more...
As the military begins to reduce the size of its force after hard campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan, communities like ours will begin to see a growing population of experienced veterans returning home. Our veterans of these conflicts have served with distinction on the battlefield and deserve a chance to begin their new life with the support of their neighbors. Read more...
Two-hundred soldiers stood in formation, ready to meet their new commanding officer. Friends and family filled the chairs for the ceremony. All but one. Read more...
It was the spring of 2004- few weeks past the one-year anniversary of Mission Accomplished- when four young men began to follow a commitment. Read more...
Capt. Erik Anthes never knew Sgt. 1st Class Paul R. Smith. Still, he felt a common bond, one that hit him squarely during the summer of 2005 when Anthes got his first look at Smith's Medal of Honor citation during an ROTC training session at West Point. Read more...