NY Times profiles one Fort Drum battalion

Over the next year, the New York Times will be focusing in-depth on the experiences of the First Battalion, 87th Infantry of the 10th Mountain Division from Fort Drum.

The series begins this morning with full build-out of photographs, interactive features, and a stark description of the challenges of leaving the North Country to go to war.

Capt. Adrian Bonenberger took a drive through the farmland of northern New York to absorb one last view of the St. Lawrence River. To drink one last cup of coffee at the Lyric Bistro in Clayton. To savor one last moment of real peace and quiet before heading to Afghanistan. For a year.

Read the story and view the extra features here.  And you can go here to hear an in-depth conversation between our Fort Drum correspondent, David Sommerestin, and James Dao, the Times reporter who will be embedded with the 87th.