Afghanistan

An Overland Park native is killed in the war in Afghanistan. The Department of Defense says 2nd Lt. Justin Lee Sisson, formerly of Overland Park, and another soldier were killed Monday after their unit was struck by an Improvised Explosive Device in Tsamkani, Afghanistan. “On behalf of the State of Kansas, Lt. Governor Colyer and I offer our deepest sympathies to 2nd Lt. Sisson's family and friends,” Governor Brownback said. “His service to and sacrifice for his country will not be forgotten.

Eight Marines deployed for seven months arrived in Kansas just after five Thursday evening. Wyatt Pankratz clutched an American flag in his 6 year old hand.  His younger brother and mother also held their own. "A flag, he said, "because it stands for our country, I guess. "       His mother stood next to him and added, "to just say how proud we are of him, for serving our country. "  She was just minutes away from seeing her brother for the first time in 7 months.

A 1 st Infantry Division Soldier from Fort Riley was killed by enemy forces while deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, the U.S. Army announced Monday. In a press release, the Army said, Spc. Chazray Clark, 24, died of wounds sustained from an improvised explosive device on Sep. 18 while on dismounted patrol in the Kandahar Province of southern Afghanistan. Clark was assigned to 4 th Squadron, 4 th Cavalry, 1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1 st Infantry Division.

1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way President Obama is handling the situation in Afghanistan? Asked of 500 Adults Margin of Sampling Error for this question = ± 4.5% 33% - Approve 54% - Disapprove 13% - Not Sure 2. Which of these 4 statements best describes the situation in Afghanistan: America will emerge soon as the clear winner. The Taliban will emerge soon as the clear winner. It will be years until we know who won. There will never be a clear winner.

Kenny Kalish joined the Marines five years ago, when he turned 18. He rose to the rank of Corpral and fought in Afghanistan for the last year. Then on Thursday, his family got a call that there was an IED explosion. Kenny was injured. "He had lost both of his legs, one below the knee and one above the knee, and his left arm below the elbow" said his brother Kyle. Kenny was flown to Germany where he'll stay until his doctors say he can return to the US.

SPC James Burnett, of Wichita, died on Wednesday while serving in Afghanistan. His family confirming the information Thursday morning. SPC Burnett is a graduate of Clearwater High School, and most recently lived in Wichita. He served in the Army with the 11th Battalion Infantry, based out of Alaska. "He always went out of his way for everybody. When anyone needed anything, he was there for them. It didn't matter what they did to him," explains Burnett's mother, Rebecca Metcalf.

An Overland Park native is killed in the war in Afghanistan. The Department of Defense says 2nd Lt. Justin Lee Sisson, formerly of Overland Park, and another soldier were killed Monday after their unit was struck by an Improvised Explosive Device in Tsamkani, Afghanistan. “On behalf of the State of Kansas, Lt. Governor Colyer and I offer our deepest sympathies to 2nd Lt. Sisson's family and friends,” Governor Brownback said. “His service to and sacrifice for his country will not be forgotten.

A soldier from the Kansas town of Oakley has died while serving in Afghanistan. 33-year-old Sergeant First Class Trenton L. Rhea died in Kandahar on May 15. According to a Department of Defense report, Rhea drowned while trying to cross a body of water during combat operations. He was assigned to the 603rd Military Police Copmany, 530th Military Police Battalion, 300th Military Police Brigade, 200th Military Police Command out of Belton, Missouri. Kansas Governor Sam Brownback released the following statement regarding SFC Rhea's death: “On behalf of the citizens of Kansas, Lt. Governor Colyer and I offer our condolences to Sgt. 1st Class Rhea's family and friends for their loss,” said Governor Brownback.

An Afghanistan War veteran and a double amputee has a new companion. Ryan Newell's previous dog was stolen from him while he was washing his car in Park City. The dog was later hit by a car along I-135. A nationally certified animal obedience instructor will help train Newell's dog free of charge. Meantime, police are still looking for the couple that stole Newell's first dog, Red, on August 3. In 2010, Newell  was arrested for stalking members of the Westboro Baptist Church.

People lined the streets of Valley Center this morning to say goodbye to someone many had never met. Army Sgt. Erik May died in Afghanistan July 14. The cause of death has not been determined. On Tuesday, dozens held up signs, waved flags and rode motorcycles to honor his memory and show his family support. A service was held for May at Valley Center Christian Church, with the processional ending at Greenwood Cemetery. May lived in Independence but grew up in Wichita.

A Fort Riley Soldier has died in Afghanistan. 26 year old Sgt. Erik May was found unresponsive and later pronounced dead at a medical facility in eastern Afghanistan on July 14. The cause of death is under investigation. May was an infantryman assigned to 2 nd Battalion, 16 th Infantry Regiment, 4 th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1 st Infantry Division which is currently deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. This was May's second combat deployment with the 'Dragon' Brigade.

A Fort Riley soldier dies from injuries he sustained while serving in Afghanistan. Sergeant Jamie Jarboe was injured last April when he was struck by a sniper's bullet while on foot patrol. The shot paralyzed him from his chest down. The 27-year-old has had more than a hundred surgeries and more were scheduled Jarboe died Wednesday. Officials say Jarboe returned home to Topeka just five weeks ago.

A little more than a year after being unfurled following a deployment to Iraq, the colors of the 1st Infantry Division were again cased March 7 during a ceremony on Fort Riley's Cavalry Parade Field. The ceremony symbolized one of the unit's final steps in preparation for its upcoming deployment to Afghanistan. The first of about 700 division staff members and Division Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion Soldiers slated to deploy are set to depart by the end of the month.