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Lester Schrenk, who served as an Army B-17 ball turret gunner during World War II, stands in the forest outside Tychowo, Poland, on March 22, 2025, where he was detained as a prisoner of war 80 years earlier.

At 102, American WWII veteran returns to the Polish forest where he was once a POW

Lester Schrenk, a former U.S. Army Air Forces B-17 gunner who was shot down over Denmark in February 1944, spent about half of his 15 months as a POW enduring the harsh conditions at Stalag Luft IV in Poland. Over the weekend, the 102-year-old returned for the first time since he left eight decades ago.

RELATED Iwo Jima veteran recalls ‘terrible, terrible’ battle 80 years after WWII

U.S. soldiers began moving into new, Polish-built barracks buildings at Drawsko Pomorskie Training Area on March 11, 2025. Many of the deployed troops have been living in tents there.

US troops leave behind tents for newly built barracks in Poland

Dr. Lienne Hill engages her 5th grade students in an interactive lesson at Kessler Elementary School, Fort Stewart. With a dynamic classroom environment and technology at their fingertips, students actively participate in learning and critical thinking activities. DoDEA operates as a field activity of the Office of the Secretary of Defense. It is responsible for planning, directing, coordinating, and managing pre-kindergarten through 12th-grade educational programs for the Department of Defense. DoDEA operates 160 accredited schools in 8 districts in 11 foreign countries, seven states, Guam, and Puerto Rico. DoDEA Americas operates 50 accredited schools across two districts, located on 16 military installations, including Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard bases in seven states, Puerto Rico, and Cuba. Committed to excellence in education, DoDEA fosters well-rounded, lifelong learners, equipping them to succeed in a dynamic world.

DOD teachers, child care workers, civilian MEPS and maintenance workers included in categories exempted from Pentagon hiring freeze

North Korea is testing weapons in Ukraine for potential use against South, envoy warns

Kadena should receive its first F-15EX fighters next year, wing commander says

Sailor who watched first bombs drop in 1941 Pearl Harbor attack dies at 102

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branches

Army

U.S. soldiers began moving into new, Polish-built barracks buildings at Drawsko Pomorskie Training Area on March 11, 2025. Many of the deployed troops have been living in tents there.

US troops leave behind tents for newly built barracks in Poland

Troops train for underground warfare, North Korean tunnel threat

Army seeks to overcome watercraft ‘gap’ with leased vessels, local repair work

Air Force

Brig. Gen. Nicholas Evans, commander of the 18th Wing, speaks with reporters inside a hangar at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, March 21, 2025.

Kadena should receive its first F-15EX fighters next year, wing commander says

Red Flag exercise concludes at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada

Air Force DEI compliance teams scheduled to visit 9 US bases

Navy

Sailors man the rails on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) in the Puget Sound after getting underway for a regularly scheduled Indo-Pacific deployment, March 21, 2025. An integral part of U.S. Pacific Fleet, U.S. 3rd Fleet operates naval forces in the Indo-Pacific and provides the realistic and relevant training to ensure the readiness necessary to execute the U.S. Navy’s timeless role across the full spectrum of military operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Japeth Carter)

Oldest aircraft carrier USS Nimitz departs for what is likely to be its final deployment

Navy deploys second destroyer on security mission to southern border

Improving technology raises concerns that Houthi strikes could hit US ships

Space Force

Personnel in white safety suits and helmets stand on the runway before a spacecraft.

Space Force’s secretive X-37B completes seventh mission after spending over a year in space

SpaceX behind secretive $1.8 billion Space Coast investment; wants Starship launch by year-end

Unarmed ICBM launched from Vandenberg SFB in routine show of US nuclear readiness

Coast Guard

U.S Coast Guard officers set up pallets at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale that are part of 45,600 pounds of cocaine worth more than $517.5 million, confiscated during 14 interdictions by the U.S. Coast Guard. The agency held a press conference at Port Everglades on Thursday March 20, 2024.

Over half a billion dollars worth of cocaine offloaded in Fort Lauderdale by Coast Guard

House bill offers job security for Coast Guard members near retirement

More sexual abuse complaints filed against Coast Guard, service now faces $290M in claims

Marine Corps

Members of the 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment fire an M-777 howitzer.

US, Philippines to conduct large-scale battle simulation during Balikatan drills

Marine rotational force returns to Australia for regional ops, training

Marine struck, killed while running on MacDill Air Force Base

theaters

Europe

In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Service, firefighters put out the fire following a Russian attack in Donetsk region, Ukraine, Monday, March 24, 2025. (Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP)

US holds separate talks with Russians after meeting Ukrainians to discuss a potential ceasefire

Ukraine-US talks start in Riyadh, Russia-US meeting to follow

A Russian drone attack kills 7 in Ukraine ahead of ceasefire talks

Asia-Pacific

The blooming Somei Yoshino cherry tree at the specimen tree at Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo, Monday March 24, 2025. (Kyodo Photo via AP)

Japan’s weather agency declares flowering of Tokyo’s cherry blossoms as the festive season begins

Japan launches Joint Operations Command as US restructuring plan faces uncertainty

Tensions rise as Chinese ships break record for presence near disputed islands

Middle East

Smoke rises to the sky after an explosion in the Gaza Strip as seen from southern Israel, Sunday, March 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

UN to reduce staff in Gaza and blames Israel for a strike that killed its employee

US airstrikes targeting Yemen’s Houthi rebels kill at least 1 person, group says

A legal showdown looms in Israel as Netanyahu moves to oust top officials

Africa

FILE - Rebel leader of group of Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC) including M23, Corneille Nangaa, addresses a news conference in Goma, Democratic republic of the Congo, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga, file)

Congo rebel leader says sanctions, any minerals deal with US won’t stop fighting in the east

Sudan’s army says it seized key buildings in Khartoum after retaking the Republican Palace

Sudan’s military says it has retaken presidential palace from rebels

Americas

Mark Carney, at the microphone, raises his left hand while speaking at a lectern with a maple leaf emblem.

Canada’s prime minister and his opponent kick off election saying Trump must respect sovereignty

Venezuela to resume repatriation of migrants after deal with US, official says

Canada in talks with the EU to reduce US defense reliance

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Japan

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Korea

Korea kid’s corner: Fun kids cafes near Camp Humphreys!

What’s on in Busan: March 24-30

Come to the spring festival at Jinju’s Forest of Wolasan to celebrate blooming season

Okinawa

Fun on Guam: Basket weaving workshop to be held on April 5, 12, and 19

Fun on Guam: Mad Collab Block Party to be held on May 3

VIDEO: A virtual trip around the Okinawan Islands

Guam

Hiking to Guam's 7 freshwater pools with waterfalls

Fun on Guam: Arts and crafts at Gef Pa’go

Spotlight on Guam’s unique adult beverages

Veterans

Lester Schrenk, who served as an Army B-17 ball turret gunner during World War II, stands in the forest outside Tychowo, Poland, on March 22, 2025, where he was detained as a prisoner of war 80 years earlier.

At 102, American WWII veteran returns to the Polish forest where he was once a POW

Lester Schrenk, a former U.S. Army Air Forces B-17 gunner who was shot down over Denmark in February 1944, spent about half of his 15 months as a POW enduring the harsh conditions at Stalag Luft IV in Poland. Over the weekend, the 102-year-old returned for the first time since he left eight decades ago.

Sports

Stuttgart shortstop Hayden Foley grabs a throw from home plate while Kaiserslautern's Lucas Sullivan steals second base during the second game of a doubleheader on March 22, 2025, at Pulaski Park in Kaiserslautern, Germany.

Raiders’ Bell finally gets the best of Panthers

Kaiserslautern senior pitches, hits his team to a doubleheader sweep of Stuttgart on Saturday for his first victories ever over the team from Bavaria.

History

HED: Ready to blow, 2002

Kandahar, Afghanistan, Feb. 25, 2002: Explosive ordnance experts attach explosives to Soviet rockets for the purpose of blowing up the munitions. U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1 Brian McMullen of the Navy's Explosive Ordnance Detachment Mobile Unit 8 works with two Norwegian EOD experts, Cpl. Kim Soderstrom, center, and Cpl. Kjarten Snorrason. A multi-national explosive ordinance demolition crew of American, Canadian and Norwegian worked to permanently dispose of a cache of some 2,400 57 mm Russian-made rockets found two miles from Kandahar Airfield.

META TAGS: U.S. Navy; U.S. Army; EOD; Wars on Terror; Operation Enduring Freedom;

Ready to blow, 2002

From the Stars and Stripes archives: Explosive ordnance experts attach explosives to Soviet rockets for the purpose of blowing up the munitions in Kandahar, Afghanistan on Feb. 25, 2002.

Living

Gary Sinise performs with the Lt. Dan Band at the Invincible Spirit Festival at Brooke Army Medical Center, Joint Base San Antonio – Fort Sam Houston, Texas, March 21, 2025. Hosted by the Gary Sinise Foundation, the Invincible Spirit Festival honors first responders, military members, veterans and their families by providing free food and entertainment. (DoD photo by Jason W. Edwards)

Gary Sinise Foundation hosts Invincible Spirit Festival at Brooke Army Medical Center in Texas

The Gary Sinise Foundation honored first responders, active-duty military, veterans and their families with the Invincible Spirit Festival at Brooke Army Medical Center, Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston in Texas.

Travel

Actor Miguel Long as a costumed butler for “Clue: A Walking Mystery” in Chicago.

‘Clue: A Walking Mystery’ to turn Fort Lauderdale into a board game

The Cafe Gourmand at Restaurant 11A in Kaiserslautern, Germany, has a selection of small desserts, including some with chocolate and passion fruit.

Fab 5 from dessert menu: These Kaiserslautern offerings dish up sugar fix with flair

Canola flowers in full bloom.

Sights and sounds: Canola flowers reach full bloom in Tokyo