In Memoriam

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Update on post #1691 - Army Private Danny Chen - he may have committed suicide following abuse by others in his unit.

US Army Pvt. Danny Chen death subject to criminal investigation
MANHATTAN: The US Army's criminal investigations unit is probing the death of a soldier from Manhattan who was killed in Afghanistan early this month.

Army Pvt. Danny Chen, 19, who grew up in Chinatown and went to school on the Lower East Side, died on Oct. 3 in Kandahar Province, the military said last week.

Chen’s parents reportedly said military personnel informed them that their son had been subjected to harassment and physical abuse by fellow soldiers and may have committed suicide. Reports indicate that Chen died from a gunshot wound to the head.

Read full story at DNAinfo.com Manhattan Local News

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12 October 2011

33-year-old US Navy SEAL Chief Petty Officer Michael R. Tatham, died in a motorcycle accident in Bali, Indonesia whilst on leave from combat operations in Afghanistan.

CPO Tatham, from University Place, Washington, served with a West Coast-based Naval Special Warfare Unit. A native of Fayetteville, North Carolina, CPO Tatham was a highly decorated Special Forces member with combat experience in Iraq and Afghanistan.

His military awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal with combat “V,” Joint Service Achievement Medal, four Navy-Marine Corps Achievement Medals including one with “V,” two Good Conduct Medals, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, three Sea Service Deployment Ribbons and NATO Service Medal, along with the expert rifle and expert pistol ribbons.

He is survived by his parents and a younger brother.

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13 October 2011

21-year-old US Marine Lance Corporal Scott D. Harper, from Winston, Georgia, was killed in Helmand province whilst conducting combat operations on 13th October 2011.

Lance Cpl. Harper served with the 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, based at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

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13 October 2011

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

Staff Sgt. Robert B. Cowdrey, 39, of Atwater, Ohio, died Oct. 13 in Kunar province, Afghanistan, from injuries suffered during combat operations. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.

Article and picture from local paper.

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Estonia

Estonian Army Corporal Agris Hutrof was killed in action during a firefight with enemy forces in Helmand province on 15th October 2011.

25-year-old Cpl. Hutrof, who was injured seriously during the battle, died after he was transferred to a field hospital. He joined the army as a conscript in 2008 and then opted to turn professional, and had been serving in Afghanistan since May 2011.

Three other Estonian soldiers were also wounded in the incident.

[phesina]

Update on post #1691 - Army Private Danny Chen - he may have committed suicide following abuse by others in his unit.




Read full story at DNAinfo.com Manhattan Local News

How awful.

All these deaths are awful, but this one even more so.

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13 October 2011

US Army 10th Mountain Division Spc. Jeremiah "Jerry" T. Sancho was killed in action on 13th October 2011 when enemy forces detonated a bomb against his unit in Kandahar province.

23-year-old Spc. Sancho, from Palm Bay, Florida, was serving with the 3rd Squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment, based at Fort Drum, New York. He deployed to Afghanistan in April this year.

His awards and decorations include the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the NATO Medal and the Combat Action Badge.

His wife, RaiAnne, posted this farewell message to him on her Facebook page: "Jerry I miss you. I love you so much baby. I don’t know what I’m gonna do without you, but I know you’re watching over me. I love you and was proud to be your wife."

Article with photo from local paper.

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15 October 2011

Gurkha Rifleman Vijay Rai

Rifleman Vijay Rai from 2nd Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles was killed in action in Helmand province on 15th October 2011. His unit was protecting a checkpoint in Nahr-e-Saraj district when they were attacked by enemy forces. Rifleman Rai died from gunshot wounds.

Rifleman Rai was born in Bhojpur District, Deaurali, in the East of Nepal in August 1990. After passing the infamous Gurkha Selection, he joined the British Army in December 2008. He was posted to 2 RGR in Brunei when he finished his basic training.

On 14th October, his Company deployed with members of the Afghan Uniformed Police (AUP) and soldiers from the 1 RIFLES to a checkpoint in an area known to have a strong insurgent presence. Next day, Rifleman Rai was in position on the roof of the checkpoint when enemy forces attacked with small arms fire. Rifleman Rai was hit in the opening burst. He was given medical care on the ground and evacuated to Bastion hospital by helicopter but sadly he later died of his wounds.

Rifleman Vijay's family said: "Our family is shocked with the news of Vijay's death in Afghanistan on 15th October 2011. He was the youngest son. He followed his father's and brother's footsteps as his father and elder brother served as Indian Gurkhas and his middle brother is serving with Indian Gurkhas as a Sergeant. He rang his family a day before he was taken away from us.

"He was very proud to be a Gurkha, and died doing his chosen job. His father and family members are very proud of him."

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13 October 2011

Hawaii-based US Army Staff Sergeant Houston M. Taylor, from Texas, was killed in action on 13th October 2011 when enemy forces attacked his unit in Kunar province.

25-year-old SSgt. Taylor served with the 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. Married to his childhood sweetheart and father to two children, he had been in the Army since 2005. He joined the 2nd Battalion in March 2010 and was assigned as a section leader.

His medals and awards include the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal 2 OLC, Army Achievement Medal 3 OLC, Meritorious Unit Citation, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal with 3 Bronze Stars, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Star, Global War on Terrorism Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon with numeral 3, NATO Medal and Combat Infantry Badge.

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2011 Foreign Fatalities

* Australia: 7

* Azerbaijan: 6

* Canada: 3

* Czech: 1

* Denmark: 3

* Estonia: 1

* Fiji: 1

* Finland: 1

* France: 23

* Georgia: 4

* Germany: 7

* Hungary: 2

* Italy: 8

* Jordan: 1

* Nepal: 4

* New Zealand: 3

* Norway: 1

* Poland: 8

* Romania: 3

* Spain: 4

* Sweden: 1

* UK: 36

* US: 367

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Korea

POW/MIA Talks Begin with North Korean Officials

A delegation from the United States will meet in Bangkok on Oct. 18 to begin negotiations with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) on resuming recovery of the remains of American servicemen missing in action from the Korean War.

Robert J. Newberry, deputy assistant secretary of defense for POW/missing personnel affairs, will lead negotiations with a team including representatives from the Department of State, the Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office, the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command, the U.S. Pacific Command and the United Nations Command-Korea.

The talks will only address the issue of resuming remains recovery of missing U.S. servicemen from the Korean War. Accounting for Americans missing in action is a stand-alone humanitarian matter, not tied to any other issue between the two countries.

Of the approximately 83,000 Americans missing from all conflicts, more than 7,900 are from the Korean War with 5,500 of those believed to be missing in the DPRK.