This from The News Tribune: The new "Warrior Zone" at Joint Base Lewis-McChord isn't going to be a place to practice firing an M4.

It's designed to become a place where single soldiers can hang out, eat and play games. The $10 million site is under construction by Stellar, a Florida contractor, and it's expected to open next year.

To read about the features and see an artist rendition, click here.

(WASHINGTON) -- Military bases across the U.S. have banned the sale of a new video game that lets a player pretend to be a Taliban fighter and "shoot" U.S. troops in Afghanistan.

"Medal of Honor" by Electronic Arts, a major game developer based in Redwood City, Calif., hits stores Oct. 12. Gamers are scoffing at the decision, saying that advanced technology has made it commonplace in the gaming world to let players switch sides and play the bad guy.

For more on the story, click here.

We published a story on this a couple of weeks ago in The Ranger. You can read the story here.

The event organizers also arranged something locally for those who want to contribute. Here is more from the press release:

On Thursday March 25th from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., the general public and local military are invited to the Palace Casino (near Joint Base Lewis-McChord) at 8200 Tacoma Mall Blvd, Lakewood, WA 98499, phone (253) 581-5851, www.chipscasino.com/lakewood-palace.html to play poker and support Operation Ward 57 and the "Hold ‘em for Heroes" poker tournament taking place on the same day in Basra, Iraq.

As America enters its seventh year of the Iraq war, showing support for our returning wounded service members is more important than ever.  Supporters can make a donation online at www.operationward57.org and secure a place at the reserved tables and/or donate a portion of their winnings to the cause. Betting limits start as low as $1-2. This event is regular game play, not tournament poker. Gaming age is 19. Donations go directly to support the wounded Operation Iraqi Freedom /Operation Enduring Freedom Service members recovering from their injuries at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC. No purchase or donation is required. Operation Ward 57 T-shirts that are given to patients and families will also be available for sale at the Palace Casino event.

Occurring the same day the Contingency Operating Base, Basra USO will be holding the 1st ever "Hold ‘em for Heroes" poker tournament. The event is open to service members who can participate at the USO center in Basra.  Special poker chip design trophies were made for the winners and prizes have been donated from various companies and supporters around the country.  All funds raised will go to Operation Ward 57.

The community of Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines, have time and time again proven that there is no better network of support than Service members helping Service members. The "Hold ‘em for Heroes" event was conceived by SSG Christian Hamilton and supported by the USO and the 1st Battalion (ASSLT), 377th FAR. Personally impacted by the casualties of war, and inspired by Operation Ward 57, he was motivated to find a way to make an impact on and improve the overall quality of life of the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines that have sacrificed so much in support of OIF/OEF.

About Operation Ward 57: Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC) in Washington DC is the first stop for many of America's returning wounded service members from Iraq and Afghanistan. Known as "the amputee ward", the orthopedic Ward 57 at WRAMC houses patients for weeks or even months and the painful sacrifice of losing a limb is the new battle these heroes and their families now fight. Operation Ward 57 was founded in 2007, as a program of pro-football player, Kerry Carter's Think Big Foundation, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, to provide ongoing support for wounded soldiers, their family and the staff who take care of them. The program has grown in popularity so much that Operation Ward 57 will become its own non-profit in 2010.

How to Donate: www.operationward57.org/order.aspx Scroll to cash donate button and enter amount of donation, or purchase a shirt and write a note "Hold ‘em for Heroes" when prompted in Paypal.

Looking for a laugh?  Here's just a sample at Out of Step.

Your Family Might Be Hoo-Ah If...

Your newborn must attend the new comers' orientation briefing within the first 30 days of life.

Your wife's two favorite shades of lipstick are light green and loam.

You go to a barbecue and insist that your family feed tactically.

Your children clear housing before they go to college.