The Soldiers Project NW has put out an open call for licensed mental health counselors in private practice who want to volunteer their time to work with troops returning from or serving in Iraq or Afghanistan and their loved ones.

Organizers are holding a meeting on Feb. 12 for therapists to learn about the project and learn about specific health issues related to the service members and their families (including parents, children, spouses and significant others).

The project, which started in Western Washington in February 2008, is a group of psychotherapists from various disciplines who volunteer at least one hour per week to offer confidential counseling. It’s totally volunteer-run and receives no funding.

What: The Soldiers Project NW information session
Where: First United Methodist Church of Tacoma, 621 Tacoma Ave. S.
When: Thursday, Feb. 12, 6-8:30 p.m.
RSVP/Contact: soldiersprojectnw@yahoo.com or 206–290–1035

The University of Washington softball team will be at Fort Lewis on Saturday to learn about leadership and team-building from an infantry battalion preparing for its third deployment to Iraq.

The Huskies will be paired with the 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment – a unit of the 3rd Stryker Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division – to “conduct team-building exercises and to
establish esprit de corps,” according to a Fort Lewis release.

But an informal boot camp this is not: “Afternoon activities will involve timed team building events requiring good communication and more mental than physical exertion,” Fort Lewis says. So no worries about push-ups like the variety in the photo.

Photo: Pvt. Darrin Carroll, 21, does push-ups as Cpl. Paul Goodyear walks on his hands during physical training with the 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment on Sept. 29, 2006. (Tony Overman/The Olympian)

Story by the Bellingham Herald’s Zoe Fraley. Photos by The News Tribune's Janet Jensen:

For three months, Joe Moser lived a nightmare.

Shot down over France on Aug. 13, 1944, during his 44th mission of World War II, the fighter pilot was captured by the Germans and taken to Buchenwald concentration camp.

He was transferred to a prisoner of war camp Oct. 20, 1944, just four days before he was scheduled to be executed.

On Thursday, the 87-year-old Moser got to close the door on that painful chapter of his life as he accepted the Distinguished Flying Cross at McChord Air Force Base’s annual awards banquet. Two former members of his Army Air Corps squadron were to escort Moser on stage.

“I guess I’d say it fulfills my dreams,” he said, “that all I went through has turned out really fantastic now.”

Moser didn’t realize he was eligible for the award until 10 years ago at a reunion for his squadron. He just got word a week ago that he would finally receive the award for a bombing mission in his P-38 Lightning aircraft.

“It’s been a long wait, and I’m sure happy for him that he’s finally getting it, after 64 years,” said his wife, Jean. “I thought he deserved it after all he went through.”

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