From the Washington National Guard:

CAMP MURRAY, Wash. – Members of The Washington National Guard have spent the last few days reflecting on the life and service of Specialist Samuel Stone, age 20 from Port Orchard, who died in a vehicle accident early Sunday morning.

Governor Chris Gregoire and Major General Timothy J. Lowenberg, The Adjutant General, have spoken with SPC Stone’s parents to offer their support and condolences during this time of bereavement. "I am deeply moved by Samuel Stone’s service and the impact he had on those around him. The people of Washington join me in honoring his sacrifice and expressing our condolences to his family, friends and community," said Governor Gregoire.

"SPC Stone was an outstanding soldier who served with distinction with his primary aviation unit (the 66th Theater Aviation Command) and his "adopted" unit (the 81st Brigade Combat Team) for this combat deployment. We miss him tremendously and will always remember his commitment to his state, nation and fellow soldiers," said Maj. Gen. Lowenberg.

SPC Stone enlisted in the Washington Army National Guard at the age of 18 and was the Distinguished Honor Graduate in his training class. SPC Stone was serving with the 66th Theater Aviation Command when he volunteered to deploy to Iraq with the 81st Brigade Combat Team. Stone’s proficiency and excellence earned him a promotion to the rank of Specialist in April.

SPC Stone’s death was the result of a rollover vehicle accident during the course of a convoy security mission. Investigations are mandatory for all accidents resulting in death or serious injury; the duty-related accident is therefore undergoing routine investigation.

Deion Branch crawled through dust on his stomach, jumped over a log and yelled at his Seattle Seahawks teammates to keep up. The wide receiver then bear-crawled up a small hill and broke into a sprint toward a 10-foot wall.

Before he pulled himself over, the eight-year veteran turned around and flashed a wide smile to his teammates.

"Come on fellas, let’s go!" he yelled.

The obstacle course at North Fort Lewis – complete with monkey bars, log runs, log-runs and leaping pits – is designed to whip soldiers into shape, but the Seahawks seemed to relish running it during a teambuilding exercise that allowed the pro players to interact and work out alongside soldiers.

"I wanted the full experience, and I think we got it," free safety Brian Russell said. "It’s impressive. They train ’em hard here."

The Seahawks’ visit to the Army post was designed to help build camaraderie and reach out to the community. Shortly after arriving in the morning, the players broke into groups of about five players and visited specific units or schools on Fort Lewis. After lunch at the 593rd Sustainment Brigade dining facility, they ran the obstacle course and several implements of the nearby confidence course, like shimmying across a rope suspended more than 30 feet above the ground.

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This isn’t a surprise but sad nonetheless:

Body recovered in Nisqually River identified as Fort Lewis Soldier

FORT LEWIS, Wash. - The body of Private First Class Robert Lang Wheatley, Jr., of Arcadia, Calif., was recovered from the Nisqually River June 2 by members of Thurston County's dive team.

According to Thurston County Sheriff's Department the body was located about 10:30 a.m. Tuesday by an unidentified individual who then called 911. Members of the dive team responded to the reported location, entered the water and recovered Pfc. Wheatley's body. Next of kin notification was completed earlier this afternoon.

The thoughts and prayers of the entire Fort Lewis community are with the Soldier and his family, friends and loved ones. Additionally, we would like to thank the Thurston County Sheriff's Department, Soldiers and many others who aided in the search.

Pfc. Wheatley was assigned to Battery C, 2nd Battalion, 12th Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, Fort Lewis, Wash.

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The middle-of-the-night phone calls from deployed parents, a new school almost every year and making friends at the parent's new duty station can be difficult for the children of service members.

Multiple deployments don't make the sting of a missing parent any easier, and counselors at some schools just can't understand what military kids are going through, a panel of 10 children told a gathering of about 200 health-care professionals Thursday.

The discussion was part of the Military Child and Adolescent Summit, a three-day meeting at Tacoma's Hotel Murano of military and civilian health-care officials whose care focuses on children of service members.

The children, ranging from 5 to 16 years old, spoke about life with a parent in the service. Here are some selected questions and answers from the hourlong discussion:

Q: What's it like to be a kid when a parent deploys?

Tiana Douglas, an 11-year-old Navy daughter from Spanaway: "It's hard and it's not cool. I don't like it because (others) don't really understand what it's like to have your parents go."

Bria White, a 15-year-old Army daughter from Puyallup: "You get really sad and start missing your parents. It's hard just talking to them on the phone and not being able to see them or hug them."

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