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AR Freepers: I know this is late notice (I just got my drill letter..sigh) and am back from Operation Katrina duties (yes thats right, AR 39th BCT guys are still in Nuevo Orleans). We are having our annual "Family Day" event at 39th BCT HHC (HQ) at Rick's Armory. The Armory is located at 4700 West 8th Street in Little Rock, AR. (Large Dome building just east of Travellers Baseball field and 50 meters north of I-630).Anyways, its a great time to stop by for a little BBQ and say hello (or thank you) to your AR National Guard members....

News Cop Fired While On Active Duty Wants Job Back By Terry Groover TIMES RECORD • TGROOVER@SWTIMES.COM A former Mulberry police officer who was fired while on active military duty says he wants his job back, and the U.S. Department of Labor has agreed. However, Mulberry Mayor Jeff Marvin says Jerry W. Cunningham cannot return to work as a Mulberry officer. Cunningham, who is serving near Baghdad with the 39th Infantry Brigade, was fired from the Mulberry Police Department on June 24, 2003. At the time, Cunningham was on active duty with a National Guard unit and was serving Homeland...

Tragedy Leads to Discovery Left to right: U.S. Army Capt. John Vanlandingham, Staff Sgt. Shawn Buffalo, 1st Lt. Mark Bourgery, and an Iraqi National Guard Captain wait for the word to move forward from U.S. Army Maj. Christian Neary, on radio in background. The U.S. soldiers, assigned to the Arkansas National Guard's 39th Brigade Combat Team, searched 23 homes and buildings in Taji Village along the banks of the Tigris River after two of their comrades were slain in a firefight in the area. U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. Chris Heathscott opfopfopfopfopfopfopfopfopfo U.S. Army 1st Lt. Mark Bourgery...

Today's THV has confirmed reports Saturday that members of Arkansas' 39th Brigrade were attacked at their camp 15 miles north of Baghdad. Captain Kristine Munn with the Arkansas Army National Guard would only say that it was a rocket attack and could not confirm or deny if any Arkansas soldiers were killed or injured. U.S. military officials are reporting four U.S. soldiers were killed in that attack and six soldiers were wounded. Today's THV will, of course, continue to follow this story and have more information as the names of those soldiers are released

An Arkansas soldier stationed at Camp Cooke in Iraq died Saturday after sustaining injuries in an early morning attack. Chief Warrant Officer Patrick Kordsmeier, 49, served in the Army for 25 years. He was up for retirement right before the U.S-led invasion into Iraq but asked for an extension, his family said. Details of the attack are sketchy, but military officials confirm Camp Cooke was hit by rockets Saturday Morning. Camp Cooke is the base for Arkansas` 39th Infantry Brigade. Funeral arrangements are pending.

Two more Arkansas families are grieving over the loss of their loved ones. Staff Sergeant Billy Joe Orton of Carlisle and Staff Sergeant Stacey Brandon of Hazen were both killed over the weekend when their base camp was attacked in Taji, Iraq. Both soldiers were assigned to the 39th's Support Battalion Headquarters in Hazen. Driving through the town, you could find rows of yellow ribbons tied to trees. Family and friends of the soldiers say they are relying on each other to get through this tough time. SSG Orton's mother, Dorothy, lives in Hazen. She can't believe her son is...

LEWISVILLE SOLDIER AMONG THOSE KILLED AT BASE CAMP FOR 39TH Military officials have notified the family of a second Arkansas soldier killed in a rocket attack in Iraq. The attack occurred Saturday at the base camp of Arkansas' 39th Infantry Brigade. According to the Banner News newspaper at Magnolia, Captain Arthur "Bo" Felder of Lewisville was among four brigade members who died in the attack. The newspaper spoke with family members, although the Department of Defense had not yet released the names of those killed. Felder was 36 years old. He had served in the National Guard since 1986,...

Little Rock (AP) - A ninth member of the Arkansas-based 39th Infantry Brigade has been killed in action in Iraq. Staff Sergeant Troy Miranda is the 12th Arkansan to die in combat in Iraq since the March 2003 start of the war. The 44-year-old Miranda had family in Wickes in Polk County. Military officials in Baghdad said a soldier was killed early Thursday by grenade-bearing assailants in central Baghdad. They did not release a name. Army records showed that Miranda was assigned to Detachment One, Charlie Company, in the First Battalion of the 153rd Infantry. The unit had been assigned...