There was a slightly smaller crowd at the Alaska Army National Guard annual Family Christmas Dinner on Sunday at the Alaska National Guard Armory in Fairbanks. There were dozens of wives and children and some soldiers gathered for the feast, briefing and visit by Santa. But missing were several soldiers from the Fairbanks area, who make up a total of 70 soldiers with the 1st Battalion, 297 Infantry (Forward) from Anchorage, Fairbanks, Nome, Kotzebue and other villages that deployed to Iraq in November.
Michelle Auman has come to the Christmas dinner almost every year since her husband, Staff Sgt. Johnny Auman joined the guard 24 years ago. But this year she braved the 34 below zero temperature to come with one of her sons and his friend while her husband is stationed in near 80 degree temperatures at a base in southern Iraq. She came to see families she's known for years and see what information the guard had to share with the families. [...]
Somebody to lean on
Link to Full ArticleBy MARGARET FRIEDENAUER, The News-Miner
There was a slightly smaller crowd at the Alaska Army National Guard annual Family Christmas Dinner on Sunday at the Alaska National Guard Armory in Fairbanks. There were dozens of wives and children and some soldiers gathered for the feast, briefing and visit by Santa. But missing were several soldiers from the Fairbanks area, who make up a total of 70 soldiers with the 1st Battalion, 297 Infantry (Forward) from Anchorage, Fairbanks, Nome, Kotzebue and other villages that deployed to Iraq in November.
