Afghanistan

A Minnesota teacher says he's "overwhelmed" after receiving a check to cover pay lost while he was stationed in Afghanistan.

Around 50 National Guard Soldiers, joined by family, friends and officials, were honored in a deployment ceremony in St. Cloud on Friday morning.

A 21-year-old Marine from Minnesota has died in Afghanistan. The Department of Defense said Thursday that Cpl. Taylor J. Baune, of Andover, died in combat Wednesday in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

After nearly nine years, the war in Iraq has been formally shut down. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and other U.S. officials took part in a Baghdad ceremony today retiring the flag of U.S. Forces-Iraq.

The 10th anniversary of the war in Afghanistan quietly came and went last week. It's the longest conflict ever for the United States. Soldiers from the Minnesota National Guard have been called on to help fight in the war since May of 2004.

Seventeen soldiers who have been serving in Afghanistan for the past 10 months are scheduled to return to Minnesota. The troops are members of the U.S. Army Reserve's 309th Engineering Company.

A Minnesota Marine from near Buffalo died Tuesday while conducting combat operations in Helmand Province of Afghanistan.

Sartell City Councilman David Peterson is heading back overseas with the Minnesota Army National Guard. Peterson, who's a captain in the National Guard, says he's being deployed for the second time in three years - this time to serve a seven-month stint in Afghanistan.

Family and friends of a 25-year-old St. Paul soldier killed in Afghanistan are planning to share memories of him at a news conference. Army Spc. Joseph Kennedy was killed Friday when enemy forces attacked his unit with small arms.

A 25-year-old man from St. Paul is being remembered as a savvy builder and loyal, well-liked friend. Spc. Joseph A. Kennedy died Friday in Helmand province, Afghanistan, from injuries sustained when enemy forces attacked his unit with small arms fire.