KCTR: We’re Montana’s Own » Support Our Troops

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The Breakfast Flakes — Fri, 03 May 2013 14:14:43 +0000

The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis is returning from an eight-month deployment to her homeport in Bremerton on Friday, carrying several soldiers from Montana.Friends and family members will be at Naval Base Kitsap to greet the nearly 3,000 sailors as they return from an eight-month deployment to the U.S. 5th and 7th Fleet [...]

Miss the Flakes Yesterday?

The Breakfast Flakes — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 11:10:15 +0000

The Montana Army National Guard is holding a ceremony in appreciation of the 59 soldiers and their families who served in Afghanistan. Guard officials say the Freedom Salute Ceremony will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday in Helena’s Great Northern Town Center Best Western hotel. Let’s hope there is a huge turn-out for these returning [...]

Gary Allan Joins Boot Campaign to Support the Troops

Megan Pacella — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 13:00:32 +0000

You wouldn’t think that a pair of shoes could change someone’s life, but in Gary Allan‘s case, trading in cowboy kickers for a pair of combat boots is a great way to support our troops. As a former military man himself, Allan is joining Dolly Parton, Charlie Daniels, George Jones and other notable celebs in the Boot Campaign, which helps soldiers cope with physical and emotional issues as they return home.

Tim McGraw Honors Military Members With Live Concert on Memorial Day

Megan Pacella — Wed, 30 May 2012 16:30:29 +0000

This Memorial Day, Tim McGraw gave military members and veterans a real treat when he put on a military-only live performance at Manhattan’s Beacon Theater. The venue was packed to the hilt with men and women in uniform, but that doesn’t mean that soldiers around the world had to miss out. Thanks to a partnership between the United Service Organization and Chase, the concert streamed live via YouTube to bases all over the country.

Kellie Pickler Embarks on Fifth USO Tour

Amy Sciarretto — Sat, 26 May 2012 16:08:21 +0000

Kellie Pickler loves our troops! The country cutie headed to the Middle East for her fifth international USO tour, a fact she let us know via a recent tweet. Five tours? That’s dedication to our boys (and girls) in the service. Pickler is naturally perky, but the ‘Where’s Tammy Wynette’ singer expressed excitement about being able to visit the military bases overseas and perform. But that’s not the extent of her support. Heck, it’s not even the half of it.

Country Artists Who Have Served Their Country

Billy Dukes — Fri, 25 May 2012 18:30:42 +0000

Country music has a long tradition of supporting the troops, with stars like Toby Keith, Kellie Pickler and Darryl Worley taking frequent trips overseas to play for the men and women stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan. Of course, before the Gulf Wars, country musicians were quick to join the USO to play for troops stationed just about anywhere. While only a minority of Nashville’s best served in the military, more than a few on this list may surprise you.

Tim McGraw to Give New Homes to Military Veterans in Need

Cory Stromblad — Thu, 24 May 2012 20:00:13 +0000

Tim McGraw is giving back to wounded warriors and service members by launching the nationwide HomeFront initiative, a goodwill effort that will award 25 deserving families with a mortgage-free home at each of his summer concert stops. “My sister’s a veteran of the first Gulf War. My uncle was a Vietnam veteran and my grandfather [...]

Wounded Soldier Reunites With Dog Found in Afghanistan [VIDEO]

Don Deane — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 22:00:12 +0000

While on tour of duty in Afghanistan, soldier Donny Eslinger adopted an adorable dog that he named Smoke-pup Barbarian. But after he was critically wounded during a mortar attack and shipped to Germany, Eslinger was forced to leave the pooch behind. But thanks to the efforts of an organization called The Puppy Rescue Mission, Eslinger [...]

Returning Soldier Surprises Family at KFC [VIDEO]

Jeremy Taylor — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 08:00:10 +0000

We’ve all seen the heartwarming videos of soldiers stationed overseas surprising their children stateside with early returns home.

And that’s how this video of Capt. Cherissa Jackson, who had been deployed in Afghanistan, begins, with mom surprising her daughters Anita and Ashley at a Gaitherburg, Maryland Kentucky Fried Chicken. But then it gets even more touching.

'Santa' Grants Little Girl's Christmas Wish By Bringing Her Father Back From Iraq [VIDEO]

Danny Gallagher — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 15:00:31 +0000

Christmas may have come and gone but there is still magic to marvel at from this joyous holiday, like the magic that granted the wish of a little girl who only wanted her soldier father back for the holidays. Bethany Arnold’s class got a visit from Santa Claus this past holiday. He brought toys and [...]

Troops Returning From Iraq War Have Americans Split — Survey of the Day

Jeremy Taylor — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 10:00:28 +0000

Earlier this week, the Pentagon declared the end of the Iraq War, an almost nine-year conflict which claimed 4,487 American lives and removed Saddam Hussein from power. Now, Americans are are conflicted over whether the entire endeavor was worth it. Recently, the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press asked 2,001 adults if [...]

President Obama Welcomes Home US Soldiers After 8 Years of War [PICTURES, VIDEO]

Kathy Landin — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 01:00:45 +0000

President Barack Obama finally made good on his 2008 campaign promise to end the war in Iraq. On Wednesday, the president was at Fort Bragg in North Carolina to welcome troops returning home from Iraq for the last time.

Mila Kunis Stands by Her Date at the Marine Corps Ball [PICTURE]

Shauna Wright — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 01:00:29 +0000

Her pal and ‘Friends with Benefits’ co-star Justin Timberlake already fulfilled his promise to attend a Marine Ball — and this weekend, it was Mila Kunis’ turn.

While stationed in Afghanistan this summer, Marine Sgt. Scott Moore sparked the “ask a celeb out via YouTube” craze when he requested the pleasure of the beauty’s company at his upcoming fete. She accepted, so on Friday night he escorted her to the Marine Corps Ball in Greenville, NC, an event celebrating 236 years of military history.

Dogs Welcome Home Soldiers In Heartwarming Montage [VIDEO]

Don Deane — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 01:00:00 +0000

Is there anything more adorable than a dog greeting its owner? How about a dog greeting its owner after they return home from military deployment? We dare you to watch this supercut of lovable pooches welcoming their owners home from military service and not get choked up.

Returning Soldier Gives Fiance Joyful Surprise During Football Game [VIDEO]

Don Deane — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 19:00:42 +0000

Staci Lowe got the surprise of her life at a Kansas City Chiefs game on Sunday when fiancé William Bell, an Army staff sergeant who wasn’t expected home from Iraq until later in the week, ran onto the field during halftime. As Lowe and her children watched a special video message from Bell, he jogged [...]

Friday Night Lights and Weekend Fun!

Dylan Fletcher — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 20:44:17 +0000

Hey, good luck to all those area high school football teams tonight! If you are headed out to occupy the bleachers under the ”Friday Night Lights” tonight, there is plenty of action going on. Skyview hosts Missoula Sentinel tonight at 6pm West at Missoula Big Sky Senior at Great Falls Central at Glendive Laura at Sidney Plus [...]

President Obama Announces US Troops Will Be Out of Iraq by Year's End [VIDEO]

Shauna Wright — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 17:45:14 +0000

In a White House briefing held Friday, President Obama announced the remaining American troops in Iraq will be home by the end of the year, closing a war effort there that has killed more than 4,400 US servicepeople and wounded 32,000 more since 2003.

“After nine years, America’s war in Iraq will be over,” the president said.

Returning Soldier Surprises Young Son at School [VIDEO]

Shauna Wright — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 13:00:16 +0000

We admit it. These things make us misty.

Army Specialist Matthew Peters of Owensville, Missouri spent a year deployed in Kuwait and Iraq, and hadn’t seen his young son, Blake, in more than six months. When he came home, he decided to pop in on the unsuspecting tyke at school for a hug the kid will probably never forget.

Alan Jackson Invited to Perform at 9/11 Memorial Concert

Jeff Giles — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 20:00:04 +0000

In the days after the September 11 attacks, Alan Jackson put his emotions into song with ‘Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning),’ an eventual country number one hit that also broke into the top 30 on the pop charts.

Ten years later, the track is regarded as one of the defining moments of Jackson’s career — and he has been asked to perform it at the upcoming Concert for Hope, held to commemorate the 10th anniversary of 9/11.

See Seven Years of 9/11 Memorial Construction in 90 Seconds [VIDEO]

Shauna Wright — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 20:00:11 +0000

The National September 11 Memorial will be unveiled on the 10th anniversary of the attacks next month. Workers have been toiling at the site for seven years, but this time-lapse video crunches it all down to just a minute and a half. Using footage from live webcam site EarthCam, the past several years of construction [...]