"Band of Brothers, a platoon at war comes home" (by David Goldman)

Soldiers with 2nd Platoon, Apache Company, 2nd Battalion 87th Infantry Regiment gather on a hilltop observation point before their first patrol in Baraki Rajan, Afghanistan Monday April 20, 2009.

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 22:53:14 +0000

Soldiers with 2nd Platoon, Apache Company, 2nd Battalion 87th Infantry Regiment gather on a hilltop observation point before their first patrol in Baraki Rajan, Afghanistan Monday April 20, 2009.
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A soldier stands in a doorway of Command Outpost Apache in Afghanistan's Wardak province Tuesday March 31, 2009.

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 22:55:46 +0000

A soldier stands in a doorway of Command Outpost Apache in Afghanistan's Wardak province Tuesday March 31, 2009.
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1LT Mark Hogan studies the best way to install a makeshift toilet on a pile of sandbags at an observation point in Baraki Rajan, Afghanistan Saturday April 25, 2009. The platoon comes for several days to the O.P., which has nothing but the armored vehicles they arrived and then returns for a day of rest to their nearby outpost.

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 22:56:13 +0000

1LT Mark Hogan studies the best way to install a makeshift toilet on a pile of sandbags at an observation point in Baraki Rajan, Afghanistan Saturday April 25, 2009. The platoon comes for several days to the O.P., which has nothing but the armored vehicles they arrived and then returns for a day of rest to their nearby outpost.
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PV1 Caven Cox performs a rendition of the song "I'm a Little Tea Pot" in front of his platoon as penalty for making a mistake on a recent patrol at Combat Outpost Tangi in Afghanistan's Wardak Province Saturday Aug. 15, 2009. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

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PV1 Caven Cox performs a rendition of the song "I'm a Little Tea Pot" in front of his platoon as penalty for making a mistake on a recent patrol at Combat Outpost Tangi in Afghanistan's Wardak Province Saturday Aug. 15, 2009. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
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Sgt. Joshua Engbrecht, 28, of Riverside Calif., left, and Pfc. Jack Shortridge, 21, of Long Beach Calif., give each other haircuts under the stars at Combat Outpost Tangi in Afghanistan's Wardak Province Tuesday Aug.18, 2009.(AP Photo/David Goldman)

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 22:57:06 +0000

Sgt. Joshua Engbrecht, 28, of Riverside Calif., left, and Pfc. Jack Shortridge, 21, of Long Beach Calif., give each other haircuts under the stars at Combat Outpost Tangi in Afghanistan's Wardak Province Tuesday Aug.18, 2009.(AP Photo/David Goldman)
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"I wish I had my banjo" says SSG Cody Collins, left, of Joy, Ky, population 14, as he tries to keep up on the guitar with fellow soldiers of 2nd Platoon, SPC David Helton, middle, and SGT Daniel Steciak, right as they play in a fortified room of Combat Outpost Apache in Afghanistan's Wardak province Tuesday March 31, 2009.

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 22:57:46 +0000

"I wish I had my banjo" says SSG Cody Collins, left, of Joy, Ky, population 14, as he tries to keep up on the guitar with fellow soldiers of 2nd Platoon, SPC David Helton, middle, and SGT Daniel Steciak, right as they play in a fortified room of Combat Outpost Apache in Afghanistan's Wardak province Tuesday March 31, 2009.
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SPC David Flint, 25, of Indianapolis, Ind., is attacked with water balloons from fellow soldiers at Combat Outpost Tangi in Afghanistan's Wardak Province Saturday Aug.15, 2009. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 22:58:06 +0000

SPC David Flint, 25, of Indianapolis, Ind., is attacked with water balloons from fellow soldiers at Combat Outpost Tangi in Afghanistan's Wardak Province Saturday Aug.15, 2009. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
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"I'm not really religious but I definitely feel it a lot more over here." SGT Daniel Shank writes one of his favorite bible passages on the wall of his sleeping bunk Monday May 4, 2009, at Joint Combat Outpost Baraki Barak in Afghanistan's Logar province.

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 22:59:24 +0000

"I'm not really religious but I definitely feel it a lot more over here." SGT Daniel Shank writes one of his favorite bible passages on the wall of his sleeping bunk Monday May 4, 2009, at Joint Combat Outpost Baraki Barak in Afghanistan's Logar province.
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LT Mark Hogan stands by a fire at dusk at Command Outpost Apache in Afghanistan's Wardak province Thursday April 2, 2009.

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 22:59:42 +0000

LT Mark Hogan stands by a fire at dusk at Command Outpost Apache in Afghanistan's Wardak province Thursday April 2, 2009.
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1LT Mark Hogan sits with Afghan National Police officers during dinner at a hilltop observation point shared by the two groups in Baraki Rajan Saturday April 25, 2009. This is LT Hogan's first deployment and his first time leading a platoon into battle.

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1LT Mark Hogan sits with Afghan National Police officers during dinner at a hilltop observation point shared by the two groups in Baraki Rajan Saturday April 25, 2009. This is LT Hogan's first deployment and his first time leading a platoon into battle.
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A reminder of an ex-wife signified by the tattoo 'hate=love' decorates the arm of Spc. David Helton, 22, of Palm Bay, Fla., as he plays the guitar in between missions on Combat Outpost Tangi in Afghanistan's Wardak Province Monday Aug.17, 2009. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

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A reminder of an ex-wife signified by the tattoo 'hate=love' decorates the arm of Spc. David Helton, 22, of Palm Bay, Fla., as he plays the guitar in between missions on Combat Outpost Tangi in Afghanistan's Wardak Province Monday Aug.17, 2009. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
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SSG Rick Zamora takes a moment to cuddle with Joe, a stray dog the platoon rescued from their last outpost, before heading out on a patrol in Baraki Barak after arriving in Logar province as reinforcements against a rising insurgency in the area Monday April 20, 2009.

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 23:01:19 +0000

SSG Rick Zamora takes a moment to cuddle with Joe, a stray dog the platoon rescued from their last outpost, before heading out on a patrol in Baraki Barak after arriving in Logar province as reinforcements against a rising insurgency in the area Monday April 20, 2009.
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Soldiers with the U.S. Army's 2nd Platoon Apache Company of 2nd Battalion 87th Infantry Regiment patrol through a field looking for insurgents in the village of Baraki Rajan in Logar province Sunday April 26, 2009.

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 22:36:16 +0000

Soldiers with the U.S. Army's 2nd Platoon Apache Company of 2nd Battalion 87th Infantry Regiment patrol through a field looking for insurgents in the village of Baraki Rajan in Logar province Sunday April 26, 2009.
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SGT Daniel Steciak patrols through the village of Baraki Rajan in Afghanistan's Logar province Monday April 20, 2009.

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 23:01:48 +0000

SGT Daniel Steciak patrols through the village of Baraki Rajan in Afghanistan's Logar province Monday April 20, 2009.
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Two Afghan men on a motorcycle look on as soldiers with 2nd Platoon patrol the streets for insurgents of Baraki Rajan, Afghanistan Thursday April 23, 2009.

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 23:02:39 +0000

Two Afghan men on a motorcycle look on as soldiers with 2nd Platoon patrol the streets for insurgents of Baraki Rajan, Afghanistan Thursday April 23, 2009.
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Pfc. Todd Ruiz, 20, keeps guard of a detainee at Combat Outpost Tangi in Afghanistan's Wardak Province Tuesday Aug.18, 2009. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 23:02:59 +0000

Pfc. Todd Ruiz, 20, keeps guard of a detainee at Combat Outpost Tangi in Afghanistan's Wardak Province Tuesday Aug.18, 2009. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
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1LT Mark Hogan meets with village elders to discuss problems with insurgents at an observation point in Baraki Rajan, Afghanistan Thursday April 23, 2009.

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 23:03:35 +0000

1LT Mark Hogan meets with village elders to discuss problems with insurgents at an observation point in Baraki Rajan, Afghanistan Thursday April 23, 2009.
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1LT Mark Hogan looks around during their first patrol in Baraki Rajan after arriving in Logar province as reinforcements against a rising insurgency in the area Sunday April 19, 2009.

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 23:04:06 +0000

1LT Mark Hogan looks around during their first patrol in Baraki Rajan after arriving in Logar province as reinforcements against a rising insurgency in the area Sunday April 19, 2009.
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Soldiers of 2nd Platoon prepare for a night patrol through the village of Baraki Rajan in Afghanistan's Logar province early Tuesday April 21, 2009.

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Soldiers of 2nd Platoon prepare for a night patrol through the village of Baraki Rajan in Afghanistan's Logar province early Tuesday April 21, 2009.
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PV2 Joshua Shonert, left, and SPC Josh Edwards sleep crouched up on the seats of an armored vehicle as a gunner sits in the turret on watch in the early hours of Thursday April 23, 2009 at a hilltop observation point in Baraki Rajan.

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 23:05:28 +0000

PV2 Joshua Shonert, left, and SPC Josh Edwards sleep crouched up on the seats of an armored vehicle as a gunner sits in the turret on watch in the early hours of Thursday April 23, 2009 at a hilltop observation point in Baraki Rajan.
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1LT Mark Hogan catches a quick nap on a stretcher between leading patrols from a dusty hilltop observation point in Baraki Rajan Thursday April 23, 2009.

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 23:05:52 +0000

1LT Mark Hogan catches a quick nap on a stretcher between leading patrols from a dusty hilltop observation point in Baraki Rajan Thursday April 23, 2009.
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PV2 Joshua Schonert, 21, pulls rear security during their first patrol in Baraki Rajan, Afghanistan Sunday April 19, 2009.

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 23:06:44 +0000

PV2 Joshua Schonert, 21, pulls rear security during their first patrol in Baraki Rajan, Afghanistan Sunday April 19, 2009.
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A drop of sweat rolls down the face of Pfc. John Eichenberger, 30, as he looks through the scope on his gun after gunfire breaks out on an ambush by insurgents in Baraki Rajan, Afghanistan, Monday April 27, 2009.

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 23:07:13 +0000

A drop of sweat rolls down the face of Pfc. John Eichenberger, 30, as he looks through the scope on his gun after gunfire breaks out on an ambush by insurgents in Baraki Rajan, Afghanistan, Monday April 27, 2009.
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Spc. Jason Schrader, 26, of Bend, Ore., left to right, Pfc. Johnathan Richardson, 20, of Lexington, Texas, and Spc. Jeff Sliker, 21, of Middletown, R.I., fire an 81mm mortar round at insurgents in response to the base receiving an incoming rocket at Combat Outpost Tangi in Afghanistan's Wardak Province Tuesday Aug.18, 2009. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 23:07:38 +0000

Spc. Jason Schrader, 26, of Bend, Ore., left to right, Pfc. Johnathan Richardson, 20, of Lexington, Texas, and Spc. Jeff Sliker, 21, of Middletown, R.I., fire an 81mm mortar round at insurgents in response to the base receiving an incoming rocket at Combat Outpost Tangi in Afghanistan's Wardak Province Tuesday Aug.18, 2009. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
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Spc. Paul Pickett, 22, of Minden, La., center, covers Pfc. James Gordon, 20, of Texas, from the rotar wash of a landing medivac helicopter after Gordon sustained leg injuries when the armored vehicle he and six others were riding in hit an improvised explosive device in the Tangi Valley of Afghanistan's Wardak Province Wednesday Aug. 19, 2009. It was Apache company's 48th IED in a month, seven that were attacks, 41 diffused or destroyed, resulting in 22 soldiers injured and one soldier killed in that timeframe. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 23:08:11 +0000

Spc. Paul Pickett, 22, of Minden, La., center, covers Pfc. James Gordon, 20, of Texas, from the rotar wash of a landing medivac helicopter after Gordon sustained leg injuries when the armored vehicle he and six others were riding in hit an improvised explosive device in the Tangi Valley of Afghanistan's Wardak Province Wednesday Aug. 19, 2009. It was Apache company's 48th IED in a month, seven that were attacks, 41 diffused or destroyed, resulting in 22 soldiers injured and one soldier killed in that timeframe. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
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Spc. Paul Pickett, 22, of Mendon La., right, helps evacuate a wounded Pfc. James Gordon, 20, of Texas, after the armored vehicle he and six others were riding in hit an improvised explosive device in the Tangi Valley of Afghanistan's Wardak Province Wednesday Aug. 19, 2009. It was Apache company's 48th IED in a month, seven that were attacks, 41 diffused or destroyed, resulting in 22 soldiers injured and one soldier killed in that timeframe. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 23:08:44 +0000

Spc. Paul Pickett, 22, of Mendon La., right, helps evacuate a wounded Pfc. James Gordon, 20, of Texas, after the armored vehicle he and six others were riding in hit an improvised explosive device in the Tangi Valley of Afghanistan's Wardak Province Wednesday Aug. 19, 2009. It was Apache company's 48th IED in a month, seven that were attacks, 41 diffused or destroyed, resulting in 22 soldiers injured and one soldier killed in that timeframe. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
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Spc. Kenneth Dykes, 20, left, of Greenville Tenn., and Pfc. James Gordon, 20, of Texas, hold each other's hands after being loaded side by side into a medi-vac helicopter after their armored vehicle hit an IED in the Tangi Valley of Afghanistan's Wardak Province Wednesday Aug.19, 2009. It was Apache company's 48th IED in a month, seven that were attacks, 41 diffused or destroyed, resulting in 22 soldiers injured and one soldier killed in that timeframe. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 23:10:09 +0000

Spc. Kenneth Dykes, 20, left, of Greenville Tenn., and Pfc. James Gordon, 20, of Texas, hold each other's hands after being loaded side by side into a medi-vac helicopter after their armored vehicle hit an IED in the Tangi Valley of Afghanistan's Wardak Province Wednesday Aug.19, 2009. It was Apache company's 48th IED in a month, seven that were attacks, 41 diffused or destroyed, resulting in 22 soldiers injured and one soldier killed in that timeframe. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
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Sgt. Jacob Hayes, 25, smokes a cigarette at Combat Outpost Tangi in Afghanistan's Wardak Province Tuesday Aug.18, 2009. Apache company has lost 22 soldiers to injuries and one killed within a one month timeframe that saw 48 improvised explosive devices, seven that were attacks and 41 diffused or destroyed. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

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Sgt. Jacob Hayes, 25, smokes a cigarette at Combat Outpost Tangi in Afghanistan's Wardak Province Tuesday Aug.18, 2009. Apache company has lost 22 soldiers to injuries and one killed within a one month timeframe that saw 48 improvised explosive devices, seven that were attacks and 41 diffused or destroyed. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
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Natalie Pickett, 23, left, kisses her husband, SGT Paul Pickett, 23, both of Minden La., as his unit returns from a year-long deployment in Afghanistan in Fort Drum., N.Y. Thursday Dec. 31, 2009. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

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Natalie Pickett, 23, left, kisses her husband, SGT Paul Pickett, 23, both of Minden La., as his unit returns from a year-long deployment in Afghanistan in Fort Drum., N.Y. Thursday Dec. 31, 2009. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
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SPC Christian Jimenez, left, celebrates his 22nd birthday after being serenaded by fellow soldiers of 2nd Platoon, from right, SSG Cody Collins, 25, SGT Daniel Shank, 25, and Olivia Nammack, 26, second from right, after the platoon returned from a year-long deployment in Afghanistan in Watertown, N.Y., Wednesday Dec. 30, 2009. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

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SPC Christian Jimenez, left, celebrates his 22nd birthday after being serenaded by fellow soldiers of 2nd Platoon, from right, SSG Cody Collins, 25, SGT Daniel Shank, 25, and Olivia Nammack, 26, second from right, after the platoon returned from a year-long deployment in Afghanistan in Watertown, N.Y., Wednesday Dec. 30, 2009. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
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SGT Sam Garvin, 22, of Middleburg, Fla., embraces his father Sam Garvin Sr., after being surprised with a 2003 Ford Mustang upon the platoon's return from a year-long deployment in Afghanistan in Fort Drum, N.Y., Thursday Dec. 31, 2009. Mr. Garvin bought the car for his son who loves Mustangs to replace the one that was ruined in an accident before his son deployed. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

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SGT Sam Garvin, 22, of Middleburg, Fla., embraces his father Sam Garvin Sr., after being surprised with a 2003 Ford Mustang upon the platoon's return from a year-long deployment in Afghanistan in Fort Drum, N.Y., Thursday Dec. 31, 2009. Mr. Garvin bought the car for his son who loves Mustangs to replace the one that was ruined in an accident before his son deployed. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
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SSG Cody Collins, 25, tries to figure out which mailbox is his after moving into an a apartment complex upon his platoon's return from a year-long deployment in Afghanistan in Evans MIlls, N.Y., Thursday Dec. 31, 2009. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

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SSG Cody Collins, 25, tries to figure out which mailbox is his after moving into an a apartment complex upon his platoon's return from a year-long deployment in Afghanistan in Evans MIlls, N.Y., Thursday Dec. 31, 2009. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
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1LT Mark Hogan, 24, passes the time with a handstand while waiting with his girlfriend Liz Hacker, left, for the moving company to show up as Hogan moves into his new apartment the day his platoon returned from a year-long deployment in Afghanistan in Sackets Harbor, N.Y., Thursday Dec. 31, 2009. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

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1LT Mark Hogan, 24, passes the time with a handstand while waiting with his girlfriend Liz Hacker, left, for the moving company to show up as Hogan moves into his new apartment the day his platoon returned from a year-long deployment in Afghanistan in Sackets Harbor, N.Y., Thursday Dec. 31, 2009. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
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"It feels really surreal now, almost like I never left. Like the whole year in Afghanistan was just a dream." 1LT Mark Hogan, 24, sits in his vacant apartment waiting for the moving company to show up the day his platoon returned from a year-long deployment in Afghanistan in Sackets Harbor, N.Y., Thursday Dec. 31, 2009. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

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"It feels really surreal now, almost like I never left. Like the whole year in Afghanistan was just a dream." 1LT Mark Hogan, 24, sits in his vacant apartment waiting for the moving company to show up the day his platoon returned from a year-long deployment in Afghanistan in Sackets Harbor, N.Y., Thursday Dec. 31, 2009. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
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"Now that I'm home it feels like only yesterday I left but when I was over there in Afghanistan it felt like I was gone three or four years. You get used to being over there for a year and then coming back it's just totally different. It's overwhelming. It still feels a little weird." SPC Mike Schmidt, 23, plays the Hannah Montana guitar video game as his step daughter Ariana Hartford, 6, runs around their Watertown, N.Y., home two days after his platoon returned from a year-long deployment in Afghanistan Saturday Jan. 2, 2010. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 23:14:31 +0000

"Now that I'm home it feels like only yesterday I left but when I was over there in Afghanistan it felt like I was gone three or four years. You get used to being over there for a year and then coming back it's just totally different. It's overwhelming. It still feels a little weird." SPC Mike Schmidt, 23, plays the Hannah Montana guitar video game as his step daughter Ariana Hartford, 6, runs around their Watertown, N.Y., home two days after his platoon returned from a year-long deployment in Afghanistan Saturday Jan. 2, 2010. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
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SPC Gary Galland, 23, right, gets a tattoo finished at the Empyre Tattoo parlor which he started before he deployed to Afghanistan, as his wife Rianne Galland, 20, sits by, upon the platoon's return from a year-long deployment in Afghanistan in Carthage, N.Y., Sunday Jan. 03, 2010. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

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SPC Gary Galland, 23, right, gets a tattoo finished at the Empyre Tattoo parlor which he started before he deployed to Afghanistan, as his wife Rianne Galland, 20, sits by, upon the platoon's return from a year-long deployment in Afghanistan in Carthage, N.Y., Sunday Jan. 03, 2010. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
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"I'm not used to the peacefulness here. I slept better over there than I do over here. Probably cause I was drained tired back in Afghanistan and it's just too quiet here." SPC Todd Beatty, 30, looks out the window of his barracks upon the platoon's return from a year-long deployment in Afghanistan in Fort Drum, N.Y., Friday Jan. 01, 2010. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

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"I'm not used to the peacefulness here. I slept better over there than I do over here. Probably cause I was drained tired back in Afghanistan and it's just too quiet here." SPC Todd Beatty, 30, looks out the window of his barracks upon the platoon's return from a year-long deployment in Afghanistan in Fort Drum, N.Y., Friday Jan. 01, 2010. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
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"The shrapnel went an 1/8 inch from my artery. I came close, really close. I think about how close I came on a daily basis, hourly basis, every time I feel my throat. I'm glad to be alive, lucky be alive. If that hit my artery I wouldn't be here, I would have bled out on the field. Everything's different now. You get a whole new perspective on life." PFC Daniel Neer, 20, talks about the shrapnel that pierced his throat from an IED blast after the platoon's return from a year-long deployment in Afghanistan in Fort Drum, N.Y., Sunday Jan. 03, 2010. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 23:16:15 +0000

"The shrapnel went an 1/8 inch from my artery. I came close, really close. I think about how close I came on a daily basis, hourly basis, every time I feel my throat. I'm glad to be alive, lucky be alive. If that hit my artery I wouldn't be here, I would have bled out on the field. Everything's different now. You get a whole new perspective on life." PFC Daniel Neer, 20, talks about the shrapnel that pierced his throat from an IED blast after the platoon's return from a year-long deployment in Afghanistan in Fort Drum, N.Y., Sunday Jan. 03, 2010. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
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SGT Paul Pickett, 23, right, gets a pedicure along with his wife Natalie Pickett, 23, both of Minden La., after his unit returned from a year-long deployment in Afghanistan in Watertown, N.Y. Sunday Jan. 3, 2010. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

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SGT Paul Pickett, 23, right, gets a pedicure along with his wife Natalie Pickett, 23, both of Minden La., after his unit returned from a year-long deployment in Afghanistan in Watertown, N.Y. Sunday Jan. 3, 2010. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
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"It definitely got harder as it went on. The last few months were the worst. She would talk a lot more about missing him," says Jackie Schmidt, 24, left, about her daughter Ariana, 6, sitting at home with her husband and Ariana's step father, SPC Mike Schmidt, 23, in their Watertown N.Y., home with dog Colby, two days after Schmidt's platoon returned from a year-long deployment in Afghanistan Saturday Jan. 2, 2010. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

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"It definitely got harder as it went on. The last few months were the worst. She would talk a lot more about missing him," says Jackie Schmidt, 24, left, about her daughter Ariana, 6, sitting at home with her husband and Ariana's step father, SPC Mike Schmidt, 23, in their Watertown N.Y., home with dog Colby, two days after Schmidt's platoon returned from a year-long deployment in Afghanistan Saturday Jan. 2, 2010. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
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Olivia Nammack, 26, left, embraces her husband SPC Don Johnson, 28, right, at the stroke of midnight as they celebrate New Year's Eve together the day his platoon returned from a year-long deployment in Afghanistan in Watertown, N.Y., Thursday Dec. 31, 2009. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

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Olivia Nammack, 26, left, embraces her husband SPC Don Johnson, 28, right, at the stroke of midnight as they celebrate New Year's Eve together the day his platoon returned from a year-long deployment in Afghanistan in Watertown, N.Y., Thursday Dec. 31, 2009. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
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