army

South Tahoe grad Army Spc. Garrett Fant dies in Afghanistan

UPDATE: 9:50AM: We received word this morning that U.S. Army Spc. Garrett Fant, 4th Calvary, died on Sept. 26 in Afghanistan. He was 21-years old and listed as attending South Tahoe High School. The U.S. Army has not sent an official notice of his death but it has been confirmed through the news organization KSAL out of Fort Riley, Kansas. Fant's mother is Julia Towle Farell of South Lake Tahoe.

The U.S. Army announcement to the press came this morning but details have remained vague. News also reached Fant's Facebook page. Word surfaced from family friend and Gold Star Mother Patty Smith, who's son Sgt. Tim Smith, of South Lake Tahoe, died April 7. 2008 in Iraq. According to KSAL, Garrett Fant died due to injuries sustained from an improvised explosive device in southern Afghanistan. He was on patrol in southern Afghanistan's Kandahar Province on Monday of this week when the IED detonated.

Fant, who was listed on KSAL News Radio as being from American Canyon, Calif., was assigned to the 4th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, currently deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Fant joined the Army in March 2009 as an indirect fire infantryman. This was his first deployment. Fant's awards include the Combat Infantryman's Badge, NATO Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with one Campaign Star, and the Army Service Ribbon.

S Tahoe native training with Army in Alaska

S Tahoe native training with Army in Alaska. Posted by admin in Lifestyle on September 25th 2011 | no responses. By Jason Epperson ...www.laketahoenews.net/.../s-tahoe-native-training-with-army-i......

OBITUARY: Bill Cusac, July 24, 1947 - Sept. 4, 2011

Bill served in the US Army from 1965 - 1971. In 1977, he moved to Lake Tahoe looking for a new start in life after a divorce. He started umpiring for Little League baseball in South Lake Tahoe. ...

OBITUARY: Bill Cusac, July 24, 1947 - Sept. 4, 2011

Bill served in the US Army from 1965 - 1971. In 1977, he moved to Lake Tahoe looking for a new start in life after a divorce. He started umpiring for Little League baseball in South Lake Tahoe. ...

Friends recall Florence Donovan-Gunderson; witness describes shooting as tragedy hits South Lake Tahoe

A gunman who opened fire inside a Carson City restaurant has torn a hole through the South Lake Tahoe community, taking the life of a long-time local woman, maiming her disabled husband, and sending shock waves in the community after learning the gunman has family business ties in town.
The brutal murder that happened inside the International House of Pancakes this week claimed the lives of three U.S. Army National Guard personnel and Lake Tahoe Keys resident Florence Donovan-Gunderson, 67. Shooter Eduardo Sencion, 32, of Carson City turned the automatic weapon he was packing on himself and left both communities stunned and asking questions about why such a senseless act of violence happened.

Tahoe doc puts skills to work at Army hospital in Afghanistan

Kyle Swanson, orthopedic surgeon for Barton Health's Tahoe Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, has seen and dealt with medical and hospital conditions that few people, let alone doctors, have exper...

Carson City IHOP shooting: Names of deceased victims released

Names of those killed in yesterday's IHOP shooting are:

Major Heath Kelly, 35, Reno, decorated field artillery officer, husband and father, commander of Joint Force Headquarters in Carson City, served in Iraq 2004-2005. Avid student of military history, known for his dry sense of humor. See story
Sgt. 1st Class Christian Riege, 38, Carson City, father of three, served in Afghanistan 2009-2010, also served in U.S Navy for two years before joining the Guard
Sgt. 1st Class Miranda McElhiney, 31, Reno, owner of a small baking company, well known in the company for providing cupcakes for guard functions. See story
Florence Donovan-Gunderson, 67, South Lake Tahoe. See story

According to Sheriff Kenny Furlong, the names of those wounded are not going to be released at this time.

One of those wounded is Wally Gunderson, husband of Florence Donovan-Gunderson, who died in the attack.

See all stories on IHOP Shooting

Two military personnel among dead in Carson City shooting

At least three people, two whom are U.S. military personnel and were in full uniform, have died with the gunman reportedly near death after a shooting this morning shortly before 9 a.m. at the International House of Pancakes, IHOP, in Carson City, according to Sheriff Ken Furlong.

The suspected shooter, reportedly using an automatic weapon, apparently shot himself and is clingling to life, Furlong said during a press conference. Three police chaplains have also been called in to respond to and speak with families of the shooting victims. The FBI is not investigating and members of the U.S. Army National Guard are on the scene.

The shooting on South Carson Street has the roadway closed at both sides of Highway 395 and at Eagle Station Lane.

A couple inside the restaurant, Howard and Ellen MacDonald from Southern California who were visiting family from Carson City, both managed to escape with other customers out of the back door of IHOP when bullets began flying. The MacDonalds said they had been eating their breakfast when they heard several shots being fired, windows breaking and an employee who came out of the kitchen yelling "Get out now!" said Howard MacDonald.

"I'll never forget that sound," said Ellen MacDonald, adding that it was gunshots followed by screams.

Across the way at Locals' BBQ, owner Ralph Swagler said he witnessed much of the shooting. He said that he and his son were in the restaurant when they saw a man pull into the IHOP parking lot, where he began shooting outside the restaurant. Swagler said he then saw a man on the ground next to a motorcycle, as the male shooter began shooting from the front of the restaurant to the inside. Swagler said the weapon was an assault-style weapon, in which he said the man "fired off an entire clip, reloaded and then walked inside and began shooting."

The shooter then walked outside restaurant, saw Swagler and his son as they attempted to lock the Locals' BBQ door, then began shooting at the restaurant, he said. And then the shooter walked over to the H&R Block building and shot at it but did not go inside, Swagler said.

Stray bullets have been found all over the area, in between the McDonald's building and Casino Fandango, as well as throughout the IHOP parking lot.

Law officers from agencies around Northern Nevada are responding to scene, with officers asked to respond to Carson Tahoe and Renown Medical Center in Reno to speak with and identify the victims, according to police scanner dispatch.

Gun shells have been found as far as the Casino Fandango. At least one more patient has been airlifted to Reno with one other shooting victim being taken by ground ambulance.
Developing ....

U.S. military veterans gain job skills while reducing Lake Tahoe wildfire risk

By Cheva Heck
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. — A crew of military veterans who are preparing for future employment while they're helping to protect Lake Tahoe communities from wildfire were visited today by U.S. Forest Service and California Conservation Corps officials.

2011 Lake in The Sky Air Show

The 22nd annual Lake in the Sky Air Show, considered the biggest and best air show in the high Sierra is on Saturday, Aug. 27 beginning at 8 a.m. and runs throughout the day.
You won’t want to miss the spectacular opening ceremonies Warbird ‘fly bys!’ And then get up close to several vintage Warbirds and military static display aircraft, including the Air Forces C-17 Globemaster, and the #1 rated fighter plane of WWII - the legendary P-51 Mustang. Plus many more Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and Marine Corp aircraft on display.

Prosthetics blur line between disabled and able

By Alexander Wolff, Sports Illustrated. Examine what military tacticians call the tip of the spear—the leading force in combat—and you're liable to find 1st Lieut. Melissa Stockwell, U.S. Army...

DEATH NOTICE: Steven Ruiz

Steven Ruiz died July 18, 2011, in Reno, Nev. He was 64 years old.Ruiz was born Jan. 2, 1947 to Philip and Gail Ruiz in Oakland, Calif. He was raised in San Leandro, Calif. As an U.S. Army Veteran,...

DEATH NOTICE: Robert R. Moser

Robert R. Moser died May 21, 2011 in South Lake Tahoe. He was 68.He was born April 23, 1943 in San Francisco and grew up in Fresno, Calif. He served in the U.S. Army and National Guard from 1965 un...

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