Track Palin

Track Palin is the oldest son of former Alaska Governor and former Republican Vice-Presidential Candidate Sarah Palin and champion snowmachine racer Todd Palin. Track was born on April 20, 1989. He was 19 years old when his mother, Sarah Palin, was chosen as John McCain's vice-presidential running mate in 2008 on the Republican ticket. Track is part Yup'ik, a native Alaskan Eskimo tribe, on his father's side.

Track graduated from high school in 2007. Where did Track get his unusual name? His grandfather, Charles Heath, was an avid track fan and coach. Hence, the name "Track!"

Track Palin - Hockey player

Track Palin went to school at Wasilla High School in Wasilla, Alaska, the home of Sarah Palin. In 2004, when Sarah Palin was considering running for one of Alaska's US Senate positions, she decided against it at Track's request. He didn't think she could be the "Team Mom" if she was away in Washington DC! Track became an All-Alaska hockey star.

Hockey is a huge sport in Alaska, just as basketball or football is in the lower 48 states. It is very common for the parents of promising young hockey players to send their children to training programs in other states. The students live with their teammates and go to local high school, while playing on the team and hoping to get noticed by college recruiters.

In 2006, Track's senior year of high school and the same year his mother was elected governor, he went to just such a program in Portage, Michigan to play for AAA hockey team nXi Hockey. According to the NY Times, Steve Lowe, the director of the program, " ...liked that Track, a forward, was extremely focused and aggressive on the ice. If he could manage his temper a little and improve his shooting, the boy could have gone all the way."

Track Palin was very popular with his teammates, but was often ejected from the game due to his temper, including once in Michigan. Track's hockey dreams were ended though after injuring his shoulder while playing in Michigan. After the season ended in March, 2007, he returned to Wasilla and finished his high school career there. After having shoulder surgery, Track was offered a spot with the Anchorage Avalanche, Alaska's pro hockey team, to play with the other high school graduates. Track turned the position down though in the summer, saying that his shoulder was not healed. A few months later, he made a big announcement, he was going into the Army.

Track Palin - US Army

On September 11, 2007, the sixth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, Track Palin joined the US Army to serve and protect his country. On September 18, 2007, Track left Alaska to go to Fort Benning, Georgia for basic training. At the time, his mother, Sarah Palin, was quoted as saying, "I support my son's independence, and I am proud of his decision because he made it for the right reasons -- to serve his country."

Track has been mostly a private person, in spite of his mother's public image. The only public statement he has made about his decision to join the army was, "Joining the military is something I've been considering for a while now. I've always been competitive and look forward to the challenges that will come as I answer the call and serve my country."

Track Palin during Sarah Palin's biggest moment

Track Palin's mother, Sarah Palin, became the first female governor of Alaska on December 4, 2006. On August 29, 2008, Republican Presidential nominee John McCain announced that Sarah Palin would be his vice-presidential running mate. This was a huge moment in the lives of every member of the Palin family. Track went with his mother and other family members to the Republican National Convention in St. Paul during the last week of August.

Sarah Palin's nomination energized the Republican party because of her likeable, down to earth personality. An energized Republican party naturally threatened opposing parties and Sarah and her family, including Track, came under intense scrutiny and criticism by the national media. Pray for Track and his family that they will not be discouraged or disheartened by this intense media coverage.

Track Palin - Off to Iraq

On September 11, 2008, Track's brigade was deployed for a one year mission to the Middle East. He belonged to the Fort Wainwright 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, a division of 4,000 soldiers, also known as the "Arctic Wolves." Sarah Palin delivered a sendoff speech for the division at Fort Wainwright in Fairbanks, Alaska. When he left, Track requested that he not receive treatment different than any other soldiers in his division as a result of his mother's unique position and his commanding officers said he would not receive any special treatment. You can watch Sarah Palin's speech to the troops here.

Based on public reports, Track went to Diyala, Iraq, where he began as a driver for a Stryker vehicle and was eventually promoted to "air guard," which means standing in the hatch of the vehicle with a rifle and watching out for threats to the vehicle. His unit also provided security for the brigade's top officers. Colonel Burt Thompson, who commanded the Arctic Wolves, said that as a mother, Sarah Palin was in frequent communication with the brigade through email and that she received weekly brigade updates in the form of a newsletter. She was also the official Brigade Mom. Col. Thompson was quoted in usnews.com, saying, "...We know Governor Palin very well, trust me. We get her E-mails and she gets ours. She has sent us some very nice E-mails." He adds, "Listen, she's been to every deployment ceremony, she visits units in Alaska, and she really cares about the military. And all that was even before she decided to run for vice president." Track is now an Iraqi War veteran and is enrolled in the Alaska National Guard.

Track and Britta Palin

After returning from Iraq, Track Palin rekindled his romance with high school sweetheart Britta Hanson. They were married in May, 2011 at Hatcher Pass in the Talkeetna Mountains near their home town of Wasilla. Track was 22 and Britta was 21 at the time of their marriage. Britta is a nursing student at the University of Alaska and Track plans to enroll there in 2011 as well.

Track is working hard to learn the ropes of his father's fishing business and hopes to one day take over. Todd Palin owns the top fishing site on Alaska's beautiful Bristol Bay.

On August 7, 2011, Track and Britta welcomed Kyla Grace Palin into their household. Kyle is the second grandchild of Sarah Palin and Todd Palin.

Read about Track Palin's family:

Tweet