July 15, 2006
Top row: Nick Perry, Thomas Carl, Jeffery Egoak, Sonny Jones, Joseph Lowe, Gabriel Charlie. Middle row: Harry Nicholas, Noah Andrew, Carl Glore, Jon Brink, David Naneng, Leon Hurst. Bottom row: Raul Luevano, Mike Wassilie, James Altsik, Allan Dock, James
Not since World War II have more Alaska National Guard troops been deployed than the men and women who left July 8 for training and eventual duty in Iraq. Among the more than 600 Alaskans, 134 are from the YK Delta. Twenty of the troops are pictured at right.
"The stress level of being a soldier is going to be high. We are all in the same boat and the good thing about our unit is that we are all from the YK Delta, we are not dispersed to other units," First Sergeant John Flynn said.
Originally from Chefornak, Flynn is married with five children between ages 5 and 13.
Four of the soldiers who departed are YKHC employees. Senior Psychiatric Technician Jon Brink, Web Administrator Nick Perry, Developmental Disabilities Case Manager Raul Luevanto, and Environmental Service Worker Robert Kozevnikoff are on military leave and will continue their jobs at YKHC upon returning home 18 months from now.
Jon Brink, a husband and father of two, is confident in the men he is touring with and sees the strong ties between people of the YK Delta as an advantage. "You know who you are working with and you've been working with them for many years. So you know you have a better chance of coming home and getting the mission completed," Brink said.
Troops left Bethel on a midnight charter on Saturday, July 8. The tour takes them to Camp Shelby, Mississippi, for three months of training before heading to the Middle East.
We would like to extend our gratitude to the soldiers for serving our country. We look forward to your safe return home.