Goggles Missing, But Soldiers Free

Some 135 soldiers, who were confined to their Fort Lewis barracks after an expensive pair of night vision goggles disappeared, have been released. The goggles have not been found.

Members of the 29th Signal Battalion were released Thursday afternoon after 13 days.

The goggles, valued at about $6,000, were last seen during a field exercise at the Yakima Training Center.

“The commander didn’t feel it would be useful to keep (the soldiers) there,” said Sgt. Todd Oliver, a Fort Lewis public affairs officer.