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• Job fair Thursday in Alex for returned soldiers

  January 23, 2012 10:58 AM

  FORT POLK, La. (AP) - Fort Polk is holding a job fair this week for soldiers who are or will be moving from military to civilian life - and their spouses. It's 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday at the England Airpark Army Processing Facility in Alexandria. Deborah Randolph, president... more »

• Home for the Holidays, Soldiers Reunited with their Families Play Video

  December 11, 2011 9:13 PM

  After a year in Afghanistan, almost 4,000 troops from the 4th Brigade 10th Mountain Division are finally all home, save 24 who lost their lives in service. To mark the homecoming, the city of Leesville, hometown to Fort Polk, hosted a huge party, ceremony and parade in their honor. ... more »

• 4,000 Fort Polk Soldiers Home for the Holidays Play Video

  December 10, 2011 11:12 PM

  Just in time for the holidays was a homecoming for soldiers based out of Fort Polk. In all, about 4-thousand soldiers were welcomed home today from Afghanistan, and quite the party was thrown in their honor. Since September, they've been returning home in the hundreds. And finally, all of... more »

• "Apple Pie Brigade" Welcomes Hundreds of Soldiers Home Play Video

  October 25, 2011 11:45 PM

  With dusty boots and heavy packs, more than 300 men and women of the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division arrived home Tuesday at the Alexandria International Airport. But before the bus ride back to Fort Polk where they're reunited with family, the soldiers go through debriefing. That's where... more »

• Plaque for Soldiers Considered in Opelousas

  October 15, 2011 10:28 AM

  OPELOUSAS, La. (AP) - A sign or plaque honoring families of soldiers fighting in or killed in foreign wars will be erected, the city's Board of Aldermen has decided. Opelousas is the first community in Acadiana approached to put up such a sign, said veterans activist Link Savoie. Mayor Don... more »

• 9/11 Changed the Lives of Many Acadiana Soldiers

  September 9, 2011 5:31 PM

  Nine-eleven sent shock waves through our country, placing a fear of terrorism in many people's minds. That tragic day encouraged some them to put their life on the line and fight back, like Lafayette resident Mark Graham. He was senior at St. Thomas More when it happened. His... more »

• Delta bag fees for soldiers ignites backlash

  June 9, 2011 10:06 AM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - Delta Air Lines hastily changed its baggage fees for troops Wednesday after a YouTube video showed soldiers complaining that they had to pay $200 apiece to check extra bags as they made their way home from Afghanistan. The video was posted Tuesday and was viewed almost 200,000... more »

• Jindal backs expanding death benefits for soldiers

  January 25, 2011 5:11 PM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Gov. Bobby Jindal is backing legislation to expand special benefits for the families of National Guard members who die while on active duty. The bill, which carries a nearly $9 million price tag, didn't make it through the legislative session last year because of its... more »

• Soldiers from Texas, Arkansas die in Afghanistan

  January 10, 2011 10:46 AM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - Soldiers from Texas and Arkansas have been killed in an improvised bombing in Afghanistan. The Department of Defense says both victims were based in Fort Polk, La. DOD on Sunday announced the deaths of 22-year-old Pfc. Ira B. Laningham IV of Zapata, Texas, and 25-year-old Spc. Ethan... more »

• Return of La. National Guard soldiers continues

  December 21, 2010 9:50 AM

  SHREVEPORT, La. (AP) - The return of Louisiana National Guard soldiers deployed to Iraq continues this week. On Monday, 44 soldiers on two buses arrived at Shreveport's Fort Humbug, where friends and family were waiting. More were expected there Tuesday and Wednesday. Members of the 256th Infantry Brigade have been... more »

• Members of 256th Brigade return home

  December 8, 2010 9:15 PM

  The first group of soldiers from the 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team returned home Wednesday to Louisiana. KATC's Maddie Garrett goes inside their journey home with one Acadiana soldier that was reunited with his family today. In January 2010, the 256th Infantry Brigade mobilized and deployed roughly 3,000 troops... more »

• "Walk for the Fallen" Moves Through Acadiana

  October 13, 2010 12:54 PM

  This Friday, fifteen Airmen will walk through Acadiana in remembrance of Fallen Soldiers. They're on an 860-mile trek. Here's the details: What: 15 active-duty Airmen will pass near Lafayette this Friday and Saturday on their 860-mile trek from Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio to Hurlburt Field in Florida.... more »

• Fort Polk Soldiers Prepare to Deploy

  October 1, 2010 8:51 AM

  FORT POLK, La. (AP) - It was clear that the brigade about to ship out to eastern Afghanistan was so ready that they didn't want to wait any longer, Brig. Gen. James Yarbrough told the 4th Brigade, 10th Mountain Division. Soldiers get a "Nike attitude" before deployment, said Yarbrough, commander... more »

• Relief Task Force Finishes Mission in Haiti

  September 16, 2010 11:06 AM

  An earthquake relief task force led by the Louisiana National Guard has wound up its mission in Haiti. Sgt. Rebekah Malone says a closing ceremony was held Wednesday in Port au Prince, and the 72 guardsmen who have run the operation since May are expected back in Alexandria this weekend.... more »

• 256th Soldiers from Jeanerette Return

  August 12, 2010 7:06 PM

  About a dozen National Guardsmen from the 256th Infantry Brigade made their way back home to Jeanerette. They were gone for six months, but were originally expected to be gone for an entire year. Their mission was cut short because of a reduction in the number of troops. One... more »

• Special Mass for Families with Soldiers Serving in Iraq and Afghanistan

  August 12, 2010 11:53 AM

  Lending support to families with soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan is the goal of a special Mass set for Thursday, August 12, 2010 at 6:30 p.m. at St. Michael Catholic Church in Crowley. Prayer and recognition of those serving their country will be offered by Bishop Michael Jarrell who... more »

• 250 soldiers from LA 256th Infantry back in the U.S.

  August 11, 2010 11:24 AM

  GULFPORT, Miss. (AP) - More than 250 soldiers from the Louisiana National Guard's 256th Infantry Brigade Team are back in the United States after eight months in Iraq. The soldiers arrived Saturday in Gulfport and have a week of demobilization training at Camp Shelby before they return to Louisiana. They... more »

• 2 Local Veterans Honored

  May 31, 2010 6:13 PM

  Two Lafayette soldiers-- Eddie Gautreau and Willie Celestine Jr.-- were honored and remembered this Memorial day at a service at Greenlawn Memorial Gardens in Lafayette. Eddie Gautreau was a private in the U.S. Army who fought in the Korean War. He passed away last year, but without a proper... more »

• Knitting for Soldiers in Eunice

  March 17, 2010 7:22 PM

  A group of women is teaming up to help soldiers overseas keep warm in the upcoming winter months. Volunteers send 140 helmet liners and gators—which are neck warmers, to the 10 th Mountain Division Last month, but now they are turning their focus to the soldiers in the 256 th... more »

• St. Martinville Goes YELLOW For Soldiers In The 256th

  March 4, 2010 12:18 PM

  ST. MARTINVILLE, La. (AP) - Much of St. Martinville is tied up with yellow ribbons to support local soldiers who will soon be heading to Iraq. John Colletti of the local Knights of Columbus says the group is challenging every town in St. Martin Parish to show support of Louisiana... more »

• Landrieu Commemorates Veterans Day

  November 11, 2009 1:52 PM

  WASHINGTON - On Veterans Day, United States Senator Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., commemorated the brave men and women who served their country in the U.S. Armed Forces. Sen. Landrieu said: "Throughout our nation's history, our soldiers, sailors and airmen have stood up and beaten back the advances of tyranny... more »

• Homemade Helmet Liners Help Soldiers

  November 3, 2009 1:56 PM

  "Help Us Warm the Heads and Hearts of Our Soldiers" -- that is the motto of Project Helmet Liner. While U.S. soldiers are fighting for our country, some Acadiana women are helping them with homemade gear. Lafayette knitter Kim Gunniss started the project after meeting moms like Pam Frey, who... more »

• Louisiana Guardsmen get surprise visit from NFL players

  October 29, 2009 9:33 AM

  PINEVILLE, La. - Members of the Louisiana Army National Guard were greeted by four NFL players in a special visit during pre-deployment training at Camp Beauregard near Pineville, La., Oct. 23. New Orleans Saints players Mark Brunell, Jonathan Goodwin, Zachary Strief and Jonathan Stinchcomb surprised members of the LANG's... more »

• Workshops planned for families of deploying soldiers

  October 23, 2009 8:55 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A series of workshops is planned for families of soldiers in the Louisiana National Guard's 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, which is to deploy in January. The purpose of the workshops is to share information with family members regarding programs and support available to them... more »

• Combat veteran challenges leaders to care for Soldiers

  October 7, 2009 1:18 PM

  FORT POLK, La. - The message to Soldiers on Fort Polk was clear: You will not be stigmatized if you seek help for post traumatic stress disorder or depression. That came from retired Command Sgt. Maj. Samuel Rhodes and Joint Readiness Training Center and Fort Polk Command Sgt. Maj.... more »