<I>Contributed</I><BR>Spc Cassandra Curry pictured with children in Afghanistan outside the gates of Camp Phoenix. Curry is spending the year in Afghanistan serving in "Operation Enduring Freedom." She and the rest of her troop will be assisting in the training of the Afghan National Army and providing support for the many Coalition Forces already in the area.

Cassandra Curry was deployed with the 41st Brigade Combat Team, 141BSB out of Portland to Camp Phoenix, Kabul Afghanistan where she will serve a 16-month tour.

The tour started in Feb. at Camp Shelby, Miss. While in Mississippi for three and a half months, the unit went through rigorous training to prepare for a full year in Afghanistan, where they will be assisting in the training of the Afghan National Army and providing support for the many Coalition Forces already in the area.

There are also many humanitarian missions that will be conducted, a few of them are digging wells for fresh water and rebuilding hospitals and schools. Afghanistan is the third poorest country in the world.

Curry grew up in Mt. Vernon and John Day. She is the daughter of Susan Franks and the niece of Mary Ann Osborne of Mt. Vernon.