Stryker Brigade News

Army Col. Anthony Cornett, 41, is training Iraqi troops. Sgt. Maj. Herbert Cornett, 44, is in Afghanistan with the Army National Guard.

Herbert and Anthony also served in Operation Desert Storm 15 years ago.

"I just wish all of them could have come back," said Mrs. Cornett, 74, of the North Side. "It is always tougher around the holiday season because you know how badly they want to be home."

Having family members in harm’s way is not unusual for the Cornett family. Seven of Kathryn Cornett’s 10 children have served in the military.

Her late husband, Raymond, fought in Korea.

"I think in anything anybody does, they are led by the spirit," she said. "Anthony talked about being in the military since fifth grade. And they all wanted to follow what Dad did."

Last night, Juan didn’t expound on how he thought the war was being fought, except to say, "It’s like the president said, it’s still going to take a lot of work to get it where it needs to be."

His two tours in Iraq totaled 17 months. He spent it with a Stryker unit, a type of quick, mobile fighting machine. The unit’s brigade is based at Fort Wainwright near Fairbanks, Alaska. Cornett arrived there from Iraq a couple of weeks ago.

Cornett, his wife, Etta, and their two sons, Christopher, 12, and Juan II, 13, flew in last night from their home in Alaska.

Etta said family and friends helped her weather a deployment of more than 18 months. Phone calls to Iraq also helped.