Law Director Surrounded by Danger, Returns Safely from Afghanistan

"There are attacks in Afghanistan every day, wounded every day and we usually lose someone every day," said Stow Law Director Brian Reali after returning from a three month long deployment to Kabul.

Ohio National Guard Member and Stow Law Director Brian Reali received official orders to deploy to Afghanistan in June and he recently returned home Sept. 6 after being stationed at a small base in Kabul.  Reali went as an Individual Mobilization Augmentee (IMA) and deployed with an active duty unit from Washington. He was flown in by helicopter and because of the security and walls around his office at the base, he said he didn't get to see much of the country.  "We were right in the city, by the airport and Embassy, but because of the walls around the perimiter, I could not see any part of the city," he said. "There were hills above us, so that was my view." While there, he said he did legal work on retrograde.  "That means we worked on …

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Stow Student Striving to be U.S. Soldier

He's got the determination, test scores and motivation ... he just needs to drop some weight before he can be accepted into the Ohio National Guard.

A month and a half ago, Josh Pierson weighed 235 pounds and he had just decided he wanted to serve his country. The 17-year-old Stow-Munroe Falls High School graduate wasn't in shape when he made the decision. But, in a few short weeks, his motivation and discipline has allowed him to drop more than 20 pounds and he is closer to being accepted into the National Guard. "He was referred by the soldier Joshua Whiting that shipped out on July 9. He scored a real decent ASVAB [Armed Service Vocational Aptitude Battery Test] score of 88. However, he doesn't meet the Army's standards to ship to basic training due to body fat content," said Sfc. David Sollberger, who explained that the required amount is 24 percent.  Want to figure out if your …

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Law Director Officially Ordered to Deploy to Afghanistan Soon

Stow Law Director Brian Reali will be deploying to Afghanistan soon for an Ohio Army National Guard assignment that could last from seven to 10 months.

Ohio National Guard Member and Stow Law Director Brian Reali received official orders to deploy to Afghanistan. Amber Kerek, who is taking over as law director while Reali is gone, said his last day of work is Friday and he is being deployed June 16.  "I'm excited to go serve our country. It is an honor," said Reali, who is in his second, four-year term as law director. "I will absolutely miss my four kids and family."  Reali has four children that range from ages 3 to 11.  "The two younger ones don’t have a concept of what the time span is and the two older ones are doing OK. They both saw daddy go before, but it’s probably harder on them than anyone,” he previously said. Reali is going as an Individual Mobilization Augmentee (IMA) and …

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Tom Stephan

8:57 am on Sunday, June 10, 2012

Stay safe, Brian, and thank you for your service!   more ›

Ohio National Guardsmen Killed in Afghanistan

As news trickles in on the suicide bombing in Badakhshan Province where Ohio National Guardsmen are stationed, we know you are anxious to learn whether anyone you know is among those injured and killed. We're going to give you the latest as we find it.

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Pastor Chris

9:14 pm on Saturday, April 7, 2012

Prayers for the families and support for our troops. God Bless America!   more ›