US Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Thursday praised an Army soldier in eastern Afghanistan who drew media attention this month after rushing to defend his post from attack while wearing pink boxer shorts and flip-flops.

In fact, Mr Gates said he wants to meet the soldier and shake his hand the next time he visits Afghanistan.

**Update to This Story picked by bingo 6 months ago

The American soldier who went missing June 30 from his base in eastern Afghanistan and was later confirmed to have been captured, appeared on a video posted Saturday to a Web site by the Taliban. picked by nateebiinature 4 months ago

Fayetteville detectives arrested Edgar Patino, a fellow soldier, at his home in Hope Mills, North Carolina, about 15 miles south of Fort Bragg, North Carolina. picked by punthe 1 year ago

Bronx soldier hatches elaborate plan to avoid "tour of trauma" picked by deepchill 2 years ago

A soldier trying to avoid redeployment to Iraq had a friend shoot him in the leg and then claimed he'd been wounded in a holdup, authorities said. picked by dollyllama 2 years ago

A U.S. soldier on active duty in Iraq has called President Obama an "impostor" in a statement in which he affirmed plans to join as plaintiff in a challenge to Obama's eligibility to be commander in chief. picked by coldbladed 9 months ago

Register on this site, and they send you an email in 3-5 days with information on how to contact a US soldier that has been deployed. Some can't write back due to where they are located, but the support is appreciated. picked by xiatethebish 2 years ago

A soldier claimed Wednesday that his promotion was blocked because he had claimed in a lawsuit that the Army was violating his right to be an atheist. picked by MandolinOrange 2 years ago

A soldier thought he was in for a night of sexual adventure when he let a woman handcuff him but instead she assaulted him because she thought he had wronged her. picked by AutumnLotus 2 years ago

A 22-year-old female Fort Lewis soldier is under investigation in the killing of two other soldiers and the abduction of the couple's 7-month-old daughter. picked by dollyllama 2 years ago

In a move that seemingly parodies the stereotype he wishes to shed, Jean Claude Van Damme is set to return to one of his classic franchises. Universal Soldier III: A New Beginning will reportedly feature the return of JCVD as he reprises his role of Luc Devereaux. picked by punthe 1 year ago

Rupert Brooke, like Wilfred Owen was an influential war poet who fought, wrote and died in WWI. The Soldier is his most well known poem, the words often used in Remembrance Day Services. picked by pocksucket 2 years ago

Frank Buckles, at age 108 is the last surviving soldier of World War I. In the year 1917 at age 16, Frank was too young to enlist. So he said he lied to the army recruiter and joined the world war against Germany, who planned world domination. "I didn't lie, I just misrepresented," Frank says with a laugh picked by mutil8or 6 months ago

A beaten and abused dog in Iraq tracked a soldier who had befriended him 70 miles across the Iraqi desert. picked by dollyllama 2 years ago

Your never too old for a good plastic soldier war! picked by trushafty38 2 years ago

A California mother who lost her son in the Iraq war gained a little piece of his heart. The Army shipped his puppy from Iraq to bring solace to the mourning mom.
note: different soldier and puppy in pic picked by bevissimo 2 years ago

As a soldier in the British Army, Rogers Jean-Baptiste served proudly in Iraq. He volunteered for a second tour of duty and upon discharge he received an exemplary rating. Fast forward...His application for citizenship has been denied because he was not in the UK 5 years ago - he was fighting FOR the UK in Iraq! picked by bernardblack 1 year ago

A British soldier crashed not one but two 8-tonne reconnaissance tanks... picked by topofall 9 months ago

An unidentified soldier at home on leave from Iraq is in critical condition after catching on fire at a Phoenix area gas pump. Video on website; pic is not his car. picked by meggysue 8 months ago

A soldier convicted of rape and murder in an attack on an Iraqi teenager and her family was sentenced Saturday to 110 years in prison. picked by kxmk 2 years ago