In Memoriam

[Grace]

United Kingdom

13 September 2009

It is with great sadness that the Ministry of Defence must confirm that a soldier from 2nd Battalion The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, operating with The Light Dragoons Battle Group, has been killed in Afghanistan.

The soldier was killed as a result of a gunshot wound whilst on a foot patrol in the Babaji district, central Helmand province, on the evening of 13 September 2009.

Spokesman for Task Force Helmand, Lieutenant Colonel Nick Richardson, said:

"This brave British soldier has paid the ultimate sacrifice and his memory will live with us forever. We all mourn his loss and our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends at this very sad time."

Next of kin have been informed and have asked for a period of grace before further details are released.

[Grace]

The soldier from the UK has been identified - Jason Dunn-Bridgeman, age 20.

[Grace]

12 September 2009

The Department of Defense announced today the death of an airman who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Staff Sgt. Bryan D. Berky, 25, of Melrose, Fla., died Sept. 12 near Bala Baluk, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained from enemy fire while supporting combat operations. He was assigned to the 28th Civil Engineer Squadron, Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D.

[Grace]

United Kingdom

16 September 2009

It is with great sadness that the Ministry of Defence must confirm that a British soldier from 2nd Royal Tank Regiment has died of his wounds on Wednesday 16 September 2009 at the Royal College of Defence Medicine, Selly Oak.

The soldier had been wounded in an explosion whilst in a Viking vehicle on a Combat Logistic Patrol in rural north-west Helmand Province, Afghanistan, on Saturday 12 September 2009.

Spokesman for Task Force Helmand, Lieutenant Colonel Nick Richardson, said:

"This brave British soldier has made the ultimate sacrifice and his passing is mourned by the whole of Task Force Helmand.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and comrades at this very sad time."

Next of kin have been informed and have asked for a period of grace before further details are released.

[Grace]

15 September 2009

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Spc. Demetrius L. Void, 20, of Orangeburg, S.C., died Sept. 15 at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when a military vehicle struck him while conducting physical training. He was assigned to the 57th Expeditionary Signal Battalion, 11th Signal Brigade, III Corps, Fort Hood, Texas.

The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation.

[Grace]

14 September 2009

The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. They died of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked their vehicle with an improvised explosive device Sept. 14 in southern Afghanistan. They were assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.

Killed were:

1st Lt. David T. Wright II, 26, of Moore, Okla.; and

Sgt. Andrew H. McConnell, 24, of Carlisle, Pa.

I wonder if/when this will ever end

[Grace]

These numbers do not include my last 3 posts -

From CNN -

Afghanistan

There have been 1,379 coalition deaths --
827 Americans,
11 Australians,
one Belgian,
214 Britons,
130 Canadians,
three Czech,
24 Danes,
21 Dutch,
six Estonians,
one Finn,
31 French,
30 Germans,
two Hungarians,
14 Italians,
three Latvian,
one Lithuanian,
four Norwegians,
13 Poles,
two Portuguese,
11 Romanians,
one South Korean,
25 Spaniards,
two Swedes
and two Turks --

in the war on terror as of September 16, 2009, according to a CNN count. The list also includes one U.S. Defense Department civilian employee. The troops died in support of the U.S.-led Operation Enduring Freedom or the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan. At least 3,896 U.S. personnel have been wounded in action, according to the Pentagon.