Hero Stories for deployment

About IAVA

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) is the voice of the 21st century veteran. Founded in June 2004, IAVA is the nation's first and largest non-partisan, nonprofit supporting veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and their families. IAVA has thousands of active member veterans and more than 120,000 grassroots supporters nationwide. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are in their sixth and seventh years respectively. More than 1.8 million American troops have served in Iraq or ...

Read More...

Aviators answer Afghan teacher's call for help

Sgt. Matthew West said he didn't know what to think when a rock came flying at him while guarding his Black Hawk helicopter at a landing zone on Camp Kiwi in central Afghanistan's Bamyan provin

Read More...

Haiti native heads home to help

Sgt. Maj. Jean Chouloute was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and lived in Saint-Marc until he was about 11. Although he moved away, he still has family living in Port-au-Prince, and like the rest of the world, the events that have unfolded in Haiti have held his rapt attenti

Read More...

General wants troops ready for 'complex human terrain'

U.S. troops need to be prepared to operate in a "complex human terrain" when they arrive in Afghanistan, the commander of International Security Assistance Force Joint Command said Mond

Read More...

U.S.-Iraqi partnership halts smuggling across Syrian border

Since U.S. advise and assist forces began partnering with Iraqi border patrols along the Syrian border in mid-November, instances of smugglers circumventing port-of-entry stations have all but ceas

Read More...

Time right to transfer security to Iraqis, Odierno says

It is necessary and right that Iraqi soldiers and police assume security responsibilities for their people, the commander of Multinational Force Iraq said in New York City Wednesd

Read More...

Obama promises conditions-based Afghanistan transition

Any changes in U.S. troop strength in Afghanistan, when security responsibility starts to transfer to the Afghans in July 2011, will be considered in light of the situation on the ground at that time, President Barack Obama said Thursd

Read More...

Corps of Engineers helps Iraq prepare for 2010 elections

A strong, capable police force is a key factor in the U.S. strategy to bring stability to Iraq. To prepare for the 2010 national elections, the Corps Gulf Region District is managing the construction of 15 Expedient Police Stations in northern Ir

Read More...

McChrystal calls Afghan training crucial to mission success

The training of tens of thousands of additional, capable Afghan soldiers and police is among the crucial tasks necessary to achieving success in Afghanistan, the commander of U.S. and international forces in Afghanistan told Capitol Hill legislators Tuesd

Read More...

Ranger receives Silver Star for combat actions

squad leader with the 75th Ranger Regiment was awarded the Silver Star for risking who his life to save two fellow Rangers in Afghanist

Read More...