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| John Cramer (left) and Sam Dean in Afghanistan. | In July and August, 2004, The Roanoke Times sent a pair of journalists to Afghanistan with soldiers from Southwest Virginia in Company C, 3rd Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 29th Division.
John Cramer, a reporter, and Sam Dean, a photojournalist, told the stories of Virginia Army National Guardsmen from across the region who have put their civilian lives on hold and said farewell to their families for an 18-month overseas deployment. Cramer and Dean returned to Roanoke on Aug. 23, 2004, but will continue to follow Charlie Company's mission.
See a group photo of Charlie Company taken in September at Camp Ghazni. Read the blog from Sonny Louie, a Virginia Tech grad and member of Headquarters Company in the 3rd Batallion.
To write a soldier serving in Afghanistan, include the following:
Soldier's name
Company name 3-116
APO AE 09354 |
The time in Kabul, Afghanistan is
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| Stories |
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Photos, audio and video |
Online only: From the soldiers
July 28, 2005
Bedford welcomes its boys
A parade honored the soldiers for their service in Afghanistan.
 Photo gallery the parade
July 17, 2005
Tears fall as hearts soar
The Virginia Army National Guard's 3rd Battalion returned from Afghanistan to Fort Bragg, N.C. yesterday morning to the delight of friends and family.
Photo gallery of Company C homecoming
Company C message board
Related: Familes anxious for today's return
April 8, 2005
Soldier has close call
Dec. 26, 2004
Guardsmen adapt to their new lives but look forward to going home
Dec. 12, 2004
Group effort brightens holiday for Guard families
Nov. 26, 2004
A brief respite from the war
Nov. 22, 2004
Soldiers' wives find support, strength in one another
Nov. 18, 2004
Stanley crosses the globe to help students make friends
Oct. 10, 2004
Company C helps provide poll security
Sept. 17, 2004
Families welcome Company C soldiers home
August 29, 2004
Afghanistan, in all its beauty, in all its terror
August 23, 2004
Bagram: The boring part of war
August 22, 2004
Keepsakes help keep soldiers going
August 22, 2004
Roanoke Times journalists end Afghanistan stay
August 18, 2004
Guardsmen pass time much like forebears did
August 16, 2004
Soldiers guard those who treat many ills
August 15, 2004
Capt. Gilligan relishes his part in making history
Online only: Afghan Journal
August 12, 2004
Company C's menu boasts good food - and plenty of it
August 10, 2004
Battalion salutes its first fallen
August 9, 2004
Camp Ghazni service to honor Va.-based soldiers
August 8, 2004
Winchester company loses 2
August 6, 2004
Keeping the peace at home and abroad
August 5, 2004
Soldiers keep smiling when latrine duty falls on them
August 4, 2004
Guardsmen challenged by roadside bomb ordeal
July 31, 2004
Afghan police avert rocket attack on camp
July 30, 2004
Soldiers are introduced to Afghans' everyday life
July 30, 2004
Hope to arrive in packages for Company C
July 29, 2004
Bomb doesn't deter Afghans' desire for free elections
July 28, 2004
'It's all about the kids'
July 27, 2004
Snafu happens, twice, during night patrol mission
July 25, 2004
Soldiers start venturing out into countryside
July 24, 2004
Soldiers pine for postal delivery to catch up with them at camp
July 22, 2004
Helicopters deliver early troops without incident to Camp Ghazni
July 21, 2004
Official: Switch going smoothly
July 19, 2004
Soldiers head for unsecured territory
July 18, 2004
Guardsmen face the unknown
July 18, 2004
Anxiety gives way to acceptance
July 15, 2004
"Bedford boys" touch down on Afghan soil
July 14, 2004
Virginia soldiers leave base
July 14, 2004
Experts: Afghanistan crucial to U.S.
July 12, 2004
Father and sons far apart but serving for each other
July 11, 2004
Unit says goodbye, for now
July 11, 2004
Courage of original Bedford boys lives on in new generation
July 10, 2004
All packed, battalion is ready to go
July 4, 2004
Sweethearts wed before husband ships out
May 31, 2004
Bedford boys unit haggard but trudging through at Fort Bragg
April 11, 2004
From Bedford to Fort Bragg
March 5, 2004
Bedford bids its boys farewell
March 5, 2004
It was a Wednesday night like any other, except Daddy won't be back for 18 months
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