Cali Bagby

We had met for one class to go over the details of the trip. The boys filled the room with their lean, muscular bodies and dry, sunburned cheeks.

Our instructor said he had found an awesome crevasse on the glacier to lower people into. Broad grins hung on our faces as we imagined our ice picks spraying our faces with snow as our ropes swung against the sides of white-blue caverns.

As I looked at their dreamy expressions, I realized all my classmates had facial hair. I wondered if they had realized I didn't have facial hair. Were they worried I would slow the team down? Did I stick out like the hand of a man buried inches underneath an avalanche?

-An excerpt from the story published in the Washington Post

 Oregon Guard soldier wounded in roadside bombing, recieves purple heart

 As the Blackhawk landed on Balad's helipad with Pierce inside, about 30 fellow soldiers lined up on the walkway to the hospital doors and saluted as Pierce's gurney rolled by.

Until Pierce is transferred from Balad to Germany, which could happen as early as today, Brigade Commander Col. Dan Hokanson and about eight Oregon soldiers will take shifts so Pierce is never alone. His battle buddy, Spc. Scott Tyrrel, 26, who lives in California, is also by his side offering juice or Chap Stick, or whatever his wounded friend needs. Tyrrel will travel with Pierce to Germany, and then Tyrrel will return to his base in Al-Asad, where they were both stationed. Pierce will be going back to Oregon. "He doesn't want to get sent home," says Tyrrel.

On Friday afternoon, Pierce received a Purple Heart. He already has a Bronze Star from his first deployment with the Alaskan National Guard in 2008. He joined the Oregon Guard after that, and deployed to Iraq this summer.

"You can't really prepare yourself for this," said Pierce, his bright green eyes illuminated by the fluorescent hospital lights. "I knew what I was getting into."

Pierce will celebrate his 23rd birthday on Aug. 21.

-An excerpt from the story published in the Oregonian