In Memoriam

[Grace]

15 October 2009



The Department of Defense announced today the death of four soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. They died Oct. 15 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked their vehicle with an improvised explosive device. They were assigned to the 569th Mobility Augmentation Company, 4th Engineer Battalion, Fort Carson, Colo.

Killed were:

Staff Sgt. Glen H. Stivison, Jr., 34, of Blairsville, Pa.;

Spc. Jesus O. Flores, Jr., 28, of La Mirada, Calif.;

Spc. Daniel C. Lawson, 33, of Deerfield Beach, Fla.; and

Pfc. Brandon M. Styer, 19, of Lancaster, Pa.

[Grace]

17 October 2009


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

Spc. Michael A. Dahl Jr., 23, of Moreno Valley, Calif., died Oct. 17 in Argahndab, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.

[Grace]

18 October 2009



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

Pfc. Daniel J. Rivera, 22, of Rochester, N.Y., died Oct. 18 in Mosul, Iraq, of injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation.

[Grace]

20 October 2009



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

Lance Cpl. David R. Baker, 22, of Painesville, Ohio, died Oct. 20 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.

[Grace]

19 October 2009



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

Staff Sgt. Bradley Espinoza, 26, of Mission, Texas, died Oct. 19 in Qwest, Iraq, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

[Grace]

21 October 2009


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

Spc. Kyle A. Coumas, 22, of Lockeford, Calif., died Oct. 21 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.

[Grace]

UNITED KINGDOM

22 October 2009


It is with deep regret that the Ministry of Defence must confirm that Corporal James Oakland of the Royal Military Police was killed in Afghanistan yesterday, Thursday 22 October 2009.

Corporal Oakland died after being mortally wounded by an improvised explosive device on a foot patrol in the Gereshk region of Helmand province. He was conducting a route search to clear devices to allow the Battle Group freedom of movement.

[Grace]

Yesterday was another of the horrific days.

From the NY Times -

KABUL, Afghanistan — Fourteen Americans were killed in Afghanistan on Monday in two separate incidents involving helicopters.

Seven soldiers and three civilian employees of the United States embassy — all of them Americans — were killed in a helicopter crash in western Afghanistan, military officials said. And in southern Afghanistan, the midair collision of two coalition helicopters resulted in the deaths of four American soldiers. A spokeswoman said gunfire from insurgents was not to blame for the collision.

The spokeswoman, Capt. Elizabeth Mathias, would not specify an exact location for the deadly crash in the west, although she said the craft was a large Chinook helicopter and the military was “98 percent sure that insurgent activity was not involved.”

The crash reportedly injured 26 people: 14 Afghan Army soldiers, 11 American troops and an American civilian.

[Grace]

23 October 2009



The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. They died Oct. 23 in Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked their vehicle with an improvised explosive device. The soldiers were assigned to the 569th Mobility Augmentation Company, 4th Engineer Battalion, Fort Carson, Colo.

Killed were:

Spc. Eric N. Lembke, 25, of Tampa, Fla.

Pfc. Kimble A. Han, 30, of Lehi, Utah.

[Grace]

One of the 14 - from the Boston Globe -


A Marine helicopter pilot from North Attleborough whose wife is expecting their first son was one of 14 Americans killed in two helicopter crashes in Afghanistan today, in one of the deadliest days for US forces since fighting began there eight years ago.
afghan.jpg

The family of Captain Kyle R. VanDeGiesen, 29, said he died in one of the crashes. The family said it did not know what occurred and released a statement saying, “It is with sadness today that we learned that our son, brother and husband, Marine Captain Kyle VanDeGiesen was killed today in the line of duty in Afghanistan.

The statement continued, “He was a 1998 graduate of North Attleborough High School, a 2002 graduate of St. Anselm College, and was currently stationed at Camp Pendleton in San Diego, CA. He fulfilled his lifelong dream of becoming a Marine helicopter pilot, protecting his family and serving his country.”

His wife, Megan, is expecting their first son, and they have a daughter, Avery, who recently celebrated her first birthday. He also leaves his parents, Ruth Ann and Calvin VanDeGiesen, brothers Ryan and Christian, and sister Caitlin.

Funeral arrangements have not yet been made.

The military has released little information about the crashes, expect to say they were not a result of hostile fire.

The deadliest crash occurred in the western part of Afghanistan. A helicopter went down after leaving the scene of a firefight, killing 10 Americans on board – including three Drug Enforcement Administration agents. The agents routinely patrol with US forces in Afghanistan, the world’s larges producer of opium, the key ingredient of heroin and a major source of funding for insurgent groups.

The helicopter was on an operation that targeted insurgents involved in drug trafficking when a firefighter began.

A military spokeswoman did not give a cause of the crash, but said hostile fire was unlikely because the troops were not receiving fire when the helicopter took off. Taliban fighters claimed they had shot down a helicopter in the Badghis province, but it was not clear if they were referring to the same incident, and their claim could not be independently verified.

It was the first time a DEA agent has died since the agency began operations in Afghanistan in 2005.

A second crash occurred when two US Marine helicopters – a UH-1 and an AH-1 Cobra -- collided in flight in the southern province of Helmand, killing four American troops and wounding two more.

Which crash VanDeGiesen was involved in was not known.

The crashes made today the heaviest single-day loss of life since June 28, 2005, when 19 US troops died, including 16 on an MH-47 Chinook helicopter that was shot down by insurgents.

[Grace]

UNITED KINGDOM

25 October 2009



It is with deep regret that the Ministry of Defence must confirm the death of Corporal Thomas 'Tam' Mason from The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland (3 SCOTS), at the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine, Selly Oak Hospital, on Sunday 25 October 2009.

Corporal Mason was injured when an improvised explosive device detonated during an operation in Kandahar province on 15 September 2009. Despite the best efforts of medical staff, both in theatre and back in the UK, over a period of nearly six weeks, he sadly died as a result of his wounds.


Corporal Thomas Mason, known as Tam, was 27. He was born in Bellshill, Glasgow, and brought up in Rosyth, Fife.

[Grace]

26 October 2009



The Department of Defense announced today the death of four Marines who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

The following Marines died Oct. 26 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

Cpl. Gregory M.W. Fleury, 23, of Anchorage, Alaska.

Capt. Eric A. Jones, 29, of Westchester, N.Y.

Capt. David S. Mitchell, 30, of Loveland, Ohio.

Capt. Kyle R. Van De Giesen, 29, of North Attleboro, Mass.



Fleury, Jones and Van De Giesen were assigned to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 169, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, I Marine Expeditionary Force, based out of Camp Pendleton, Calif.

Mitchell was assigned to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 367, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, I Marine Expeditionary Force, based out of Camp Pendleton, Calif.

[Grace]

From the NY Times -


KABUL, Afghanistan — Eight Americans died in combat in southern Afghanistan on Tuesday, bringing October’s total to 53 and making it the deadliest month for Americans in the eight-year war. September and October were both deadlier months overall for NATO troops.

With 4 more days left in the month :(

[Grace]

25 October 2009



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


Sgt. Eduviges G. Wolf, 24, of Hawthorne, Calif., died Oct. 25 in Kunar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked her vehicle with a rocket propelled grenade. She was assigned to the 704th Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.

[Grace]

24 October 2009



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

Pfc. Devin J. Michel, 19, of Stockton, Ill., died Oct. 24 in Zhari province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.

[Cinder & Smoke]

:mad:
WHY ?

WHY, Why, why? Do we continuously load 4 Young Soldiers into flimsy tin cans
and then parade them up & down roads we KNOW are mined and/or
in the sights of the heavy weapons of our enemies?????????????

WHAT purpose do these daily sacrifices of our troops accomplish?

Let's either WIN this thing or GET the HECK OUT!!!!!!

:(

[Daisy and Delilah]

:mad:
WHY ?

WHY, Why, why? Do we continuously load 4 Young Soldiers into flimsy tin cans
and then parade them up & down roads we KNOW are mined and/or
in the sights of the heavy weapons of our enemies?????????????

WHAT purpose do these daily sacrifices of our troops accomplish?

Let's either WIN this thing or GET the HECK OUT!!!!!!

:(

I can't agree more. This loss of life is an outrage. When will it end?? I wish we could do something!!!

As soon as we thought it couldn't get worse..........:( :( :(

[Grace]

27 October 2009



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

Maj. David L. Audo, 35, of Saint Joseph, Ill., died Oct. 27 in Baghdad, Iraq, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident. He was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 22nd Military Police Battalion, 6th Military Police Group, Fort Lewis, Wash.

The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation.

[Grace]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/March16th/flag-canada.gif


28 October 2009



Lt. Justin Boyes, 26, from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry.

Killed when a roadside bomb detonated near his dismounted patrol 12 miles (20 km) southwest of Kandahar, Afghanistan.

[Grace]

25 October 2009


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

Spc. Brandon K. Steffey, 23, of Sault Sainte Marie, Mich., died Oct. 25 in Laghman province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 178th Military Police Detachment, 89th Military Police Brigade, III Corps, Fort Hood, Texas.

[Grace]

28 October 2009


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

Lance Cpl. Cody R. Stanley, 21, of Rosanky, Texas, died Oct. 28 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif.

[Grace]

27 October 2009


The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of seven soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. They died Oct. 27 in Arghandab Valley, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked their vehicle with an improvised explosive device. They were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.

Killed were:

Staff Sgt. Luis M. Gonzalez, 27, of South Ozone Park, N.Y.

Sgt. Fernando Delarosa, 24, of Alamo, Texas.

Sgt. Dale R. Griffin, 29, of Terre Haute, Ind.

Sgt. Issac B. Jackson, 27, of Plattsburg, Mo.

Sgt. Patrick O. Williamson, 24, of Broussard, La.

Spc. Jared D. Stanker, 22, of Evergreen Park, Ill.

Pfc. Christopher I. Walz, 25, of Vancouver, Wash.

[Grace]

I think I will keep my flag at half-mast until this ghastly mess is done. I may even turn it upside down :(:(

[Grace]

26 October 2009


The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of seven soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. They died Oct. 26 of wounds suffered when the MH-47 helicopter they were aboard crashed in Darreh-ye Bum, Afghanistan.



Killed were five soldiers assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 160th Special Operations Regiment (Airborne), Hunter Army Airfield, Ga.:

Chief Warrant Officer Michael P. Montgomery, 36, of Savannah, Ga.

Chief Warrant Officer Niall Lyons, 40, of Spokane, Wash.

Staff Sgt. Shawn H. McNabb, 24, of Terrell, Texas.

Sgt. Josue E. Hernandez Chavez, 23, of Reno, Nev.

Sgt. Nikolas A. Mueller, 26, of Little Chute, Wisc.



Also killed were two soldiers assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Bragg, N.C.:

Sgt. 1st Class David E. Metzger, 32, of San Diego.

Staff Sgt. Keith R. Bishop, 28, of Medford, N.Y.

[Daisy and Delilah]

I think I will keep my flag at half-mast until this ghastly mess is done. I may even turn it upside down :(:(

:( :( :( Good idea. :( :( :(

[Grace]

27 October 2009



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

Spc. Robert K. Charlton, 22, of Malden, Mo., died Oct. 27 at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Landstuhl, Germany, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident Oct. 23 in Wardak, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, N.Y.

The circumstances surrounding the non-combat related incident are under investigation.

[Grace]

28 October 2009



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

Spc. Joseph L. Gallegos, 39, of Questa, N.M., died Oct. 28 in Tallil, Iraq, in a non-combat related incident. He was assigned to the 720th Transportation Company, New Mexico Army National Guard, in Las Vegas, N.M.

The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation.

[Grace]

27 October 2009



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

Pfc. Brian R. Bates, Jr., 20, of Gretna, La., died Oct. 27 in Kandahar, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.

[Grace]

28 October 2009



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

Frank R. Walker, 66, of Oklahoma City, Okla., died of non-combat related medical causes Oct 28 at Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 72nd Civil Engineering Directorate, Tinker Air Force Base, Okla.

[Edwina's Secretary]

66???????? What was he doing there???

I heard on the radio yesterday that to send 44,000 more troops would take until early 2011. Have to build housing for then, recruit and train.

Are we insane enough to still plan on being there in 2011???

[Grace]

66???????? What was he doing there???

I heard on the radio yesterday that to send 44,000 more troops would take until early 2011. Have to build housing for then, recruit and train.

Are we insane enough to still plan on being there in 2011???

I did a google search. He was a Civil Engineer with the Air Force; assigned to the 72nd Civil Engineering Directorate, Tinker Air Force Base.

[Grace]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/March16th/flag-canada.gif

30 October 2009



OTTAWA – One Canadian soldier was killed by an improvised explosive device that detonated near his dismounted patrol approximately 10 km south-west of Kandahar City at approximately 4:30 p.m. Kandahar Time on 30 Oct 2009.

Killed in action was Sapper Steven Marshall, 24, from the 1 Combat Engineer Regiment based in Edmonton, Alberta, serving as a member of the Task Force 3-09 Battle Group.

Sapper Marshall was conducting a foot patrol in the Panjwayi District when the incident happened. No other soldiers were injured in this incident.

[Grace]

UNITED KINGDOM

31 October 2009



Staff Sgt. Olaf S.G. Schmid, 30, of Truro, Cornwall, England. 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps.

SSgt Schmid died instantly following an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) explosion in the Sangin region of Helmand Province, Afghanistan.

At the time he was commanding an Improvised Explosive Device Disposal (IEDD) team who were dealing with a confirmed IED.

Working in concert with an Advanced Search team he was conducting a manual route search to clear devices in the vicinity of the Forward Operating Base and was defusing the device when it initiated.

[Grace]

29 October 2009



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

Spc. Adrian L. Avila, 19, of Opelika, Ala., died Oct. 29 at Khabari Crossing, Kuwait, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related accident. He was assigned to the 1343rd Chemical Company, 151st Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear Battalion, 115th Fires Brigade of the Alabama Army National Guard, in Fort Payne, Ala.

The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation.

[Grace]

30 October 2009



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

Pfc. Lukas C. Hopper, 20, of Merced, Calif., died Oct. 30, southeast of Karadah, Iraq, of injuries sustained during a vehicle roll-over. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.

The circumstances surrounding the accident are under investigation.

[RICHARD]

http://www.myfoxla.com/dpp/news/local/navy_helicopter_crashes_off_socal_coast_20091029

[Grace]

Richard, the C-130 is the plane my son flew when he was on active duty.

I remember when he took us into the cockpit; I couldn't get over all the buttons, gauges and switches. He reminded me that when I was working in the ICU, there were a lot of the same things. You get used to what you're working with.

[Grace]

31 October 2009



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

Sgt. Cesar B. Ruiz, 26, of San Antonio, Texas, died Oct. 31 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to Marine Forces Reserve, New Orleans.

[Grace]

2 November 2009


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

Spc. Jonathon M. Sylvestre, 21, of Colorado Springs, Colo., died Nov. 2 in Kut, Iraq, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 10th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Benning, Ga.

The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation.

[Grace]

UNITED KINGDOM

3 November 2009


It is with great sadness that the Ministry of Defence must confirm the names of the five Servicemen killed in Afghanistan on Tuesday 3 November 2009.


The soldiers were all killed as a result of gunshot wounds sustained in an attack in the Nad-e'Ali District of Helmand Province.

The five personnel are:

Sergeant Major Darren Chant, 1st Battalion The Grenadier Guards

Sergeant Matthew Telford, 37, 1st Battalion The Grenadier Guards

Guardsman James Major, 18, 1st Battalion The Grenadier Guards

Acting Corporal Steven Boote, Royal Military Police

Corporal Nicholas Webster-Smith, Royal Military Police

Killed by an Afghan policeman - article from the Daily Mail, (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1225090/Five-British-soldiers-killed-Afghanistan-single-attack-Taliban.html) here.

[Daisy and Delilah]

I was reading today about some quilts that are being made in honor of these wonderful people. They are memorial quilts. There is supposed to be one that's traveling through Florida right now. I want to find one I can contribute to and dedicate my block to one of these fallen soldiers.

Thank you again, Gretchen, for posting this valuable information for all of us to see. The sadness is overwhelming for me but not nearly as overwhelming as it is for their families and friends.:(

[RICHARD]

Crew of the C-130 and UH-1 crash.

The two Marine pilots were conducting routine training about 15 miles off San Clemente Island when their helicopter collided with the U.S. Coast Guard plane.

Marine Corps Air Station Miramar identified them as Maj. Samuel Leigh and 1st Lt. Thomas Claiborne, both with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 469.

The Coast Guard's seven missing personnel were stationed at Coast Guard Air Station Sacramento, California, where their aircraft was based.

Castillo has said that an investigation was beginning with the Marine Corps. A large debris field has been located, and pieces have been collected, the Coast Guard spokesman said.

The Coast Guard identified its seven missing personnel as
Lt. Cmdr. Che J. Barnes of Capay, California, aircraft commander;
Lt. Adam W. Bryant of Crewe, Virginia, co-pilot;
Chief Petty Officer John F. Seidman of Stockton, California, flight engineer; Petty Officer 2nd Class Carl P. Grigonis of Mayfield Heights, Ohio, navigator; Petty Officer 2nd Class Monica L. Beacham of Decaturville, Tennessee, radio operator;
Petty Officer 2nd Class Jason S. Moletzsky of Norristown, Pennsylvania, air crew; and
Petty Officer 3rd Class Danny R. Kreder II of Elm Mott, Texas, drop master.

[cassiesmom]

Guardsman James Major, 18, 1st Battalion The Grenadier Guards

My goodness, eighteen years old. Your life has hardly started when you are eighteen years old. This is so sad.

[Grace]

4 November 2009



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

Spc. Julian L. Berisford, 25, of Benwood, W.V., died Nov. 4 in Paktika province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms and rocket-propelled grenade fires. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, Fort Richardson, Alaska.

[Grace]

4 November 2009



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

Staff Sgt. Amy C. Tirador, 29, of Albany, N.Y., died Nov. 4 in Kirkush, Iraq, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident. She was assigned to the 209th Military Intelligence Company, 1st Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.

The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation.

[Grace]

From the Washington Post, the fallen at Fort Hood. (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/nation/fort-hood-victims.html?hpid=topnews)

[Grace]

UNITED KINGDOM

5 November 2009



It is with deep regret that the Ministry of Defence must confirm that Serjeant Phillip Scott, 30, of 3rd Battalion The Rifles was killed in Afghanistan yesterday, Thursday 5 November 2009.

Serjeant* Phillip Scott died following an improvised explosive device explosion in northern Helmand province.

[Grace]

UNITED KINGDOM

7 November 2009



Rifleman Philip Allen, 20, of Dorset, England. Company B, 2nd Battalion, The Rifles.

Killed when a roadside bomb detonated near Sangin in central Helmand province, Afghanistan.

[Grace]

4 November 2009



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

Spc. Tony Carrasco Jr., 25, of Berino, N.M., died Nov. 4 in Ad Dawr, Iraq, of a gunshot wound suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 32nd Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan.

[Grace]

5 November 2009



The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

They died Nov. 5 in Jelewar, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked their vehicle with an improvised explosive device. The soldiers were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.

Killed were:

Spc. Aaron S. Aamot, 22, of Custer, Wash.

Spc. Gary L. Gooch Jr., 22, of Ocala, Fla.

[Daisy and Delilah]

Let's say an extra Pet Talk prayer today for all these unfortunate soldiers. I feel like I can not give them enough recognition and respect, no matter what I do.:(

Thank you again, Gretchen.

[Grace]

UNITED KINGDOM

8 November 2009


Rifleman Samuel John Bassett, 20, Plymouth, England.
Company A, 4th Battalion, The Rifles

Died of wounds suffered when a roadside bomb exploded during a patrol near Sangin in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

[cassiesmom]

From the Washington Post, the fallen at Fort Hood. (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/nation/fort-hood-victims.html?hpid=topnews)

Two from Chicago. So sad. Some flags are at half staff and some are not. I think they ought to be and hopefully for tomorrow for Veterans' Day, in light of this event more will be (at least around here). Please, God, please give us a peaceful world.

[Grace]

7 November 2009



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

Sgt. Charles I. Cartwright, 26, of Union Bridge, Md., died Nov. 7 while supporting combat operations in Farah province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 1st Marine Special Operations Battalion, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command, Camp Pendleton, Calif.

[Grace]

8 November 2009



The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. They died Nov. 8 in Tikrit, Iraq, of injuries sustained when their OH-58D helicopter crashed. They were assigned to the 2nd Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment, 25th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.

Killed were:

Chief Warrant Officer Mathew C. Heffelfinger, 29, of Kimberly, Idaho; and

Chief Warrant Officer Earl R. Scott III, 24, of Jacksonville, Fla.



The circumstances of the incident are under investigation.

[Grace]

10 November 2009


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

Lance Cpl. Justin J. Swanson, 21, of Anaheim, Calif., died Nov. 10 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.

[Grace]

From the DoD website -

Army Releases October Suicide Data

The Army today released suicide data for the month of October. Among active-duty soldiers, there were 16 potential suicides, all of which are pending determination of the manner of death. For September, the Army reported seven potential suicides among active-duty soldiers. Since the release of that report, three have been confirmed as suicides, and four remain under investigation.

There were 133 reported active-duty Army suicides from January 2009 through October 2009. Of those, 90 have been confirmed, and 43 are pending determination of manner of death. For the same period in 2008, there were 115 suicides among active-duty soldiers.

During October 2009, among reserve component soldiers who were not on active duty, there were eight potential suicides. Among that same group, from January 2009 through October 2009, there were 69 reported suicides. Of those, 41 were confirmed as suicides, and 28 remain under investigation to determine the manner of death. For the same period in 2008, there were 47 suicides among reserve soldiers who were not on active duty.

[Grace]

9 November 2009


The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Staff Sgt. Stephen L. Murphy, 36, of Jaffery, N.H., died Nov. 9 as a result of a non-hostile incident in Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned to 2nd Intelligence Battalion, II Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

The incident is under investigation.

[Grace]

13 November 2009


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

Lance Cpl. Shawn P. Hefner, 22, of Hico, Texas, died Nov. 13 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 2nd Amphibious Assault Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

[Grace]

13 November 2009


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

Spc. Christopher J. Coffland, 43, of Baltimore, Md., died Nov. 13 in Wardak province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 323rd Military Intelligence Battalion, Fort Meade, Md.

[RICHARD]

http://news.aol.com/article/missing-navy-training-plane-found-off/769873

[Grace]

UNITED KINGDOM

15 November 2009



It is with sadness that the Ministry of Defence must confirm the death of Rifleman Andrew Ian Fentiman, 23, Cambridge, England - from 7th Battalion The Rifles (7 RIFLES), attached to the 3 RIFLES Battle Group.
Killed by enemy small arms fire during a foot patrol near Sangin in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

[Grace]

UNITED KINGDOM

15 November 2009


It is with deep regret that the Ministry of Defence must confirm that Corporal Loren Owen Christopher Marlton-Thomas, 28, from 33 Engineer Regiment was killed in Afghanistan on Sunday 15 November 2009.

Corporal Marlton-Thomas was mortally wounded by an improvised explosive device whilst conducting a route search to clear devices in the vicinity of Patrol Base Sandford, in the Gereshk area of Helmand province.

[Grace]

4 November 2009


The Department of Defense today announced the identity of a soldier currently listed as Duty Status Whereabouts Unknown (DUSTWUN) and the death of a soldier who were both supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. The two soldiers were members of the 1st Battalion, 508thParachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.

Sgt. Brandon T. Islip, 23, of Richmond, Va., has been unaccounted for since Nov. 4 in Bala Murghab, Afghanistan, when he went missing while involved in a resupply mission.

Sgt. Benjamin W. Sherman, 21, of Plymouth, Mass., has been identified as having been killed while participating in the Nov. 4 resupply mission.

Search and recovery efforts are ongoing, and the incident is under investigation.

[Grace]

16 November 2009



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

Staff Sgt. Ryan L. Zorn, 35, of Upton, Wyo., died Nov.16 in Tal Afar, Iraq, of injuries sustained during a vehicle roll-over. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 34th Armor Regiment, 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan.

The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation.

[Grace]

UNITED KINGDOM

18 November 2009



It is with deep regret that the Ministry of Defence must confirm the death of Sergeant Robert David Loughran-Dickson, 33, of the Royal Military Police in Afghanistan on 18 November 2009.

Sergeant Loughran-Dickson died as a result of gunshot wounds sustained whilst taking part in a routine patrol in the vicinity of Patrol Base Wahid, in Nad-e-Ali District, Helmand Province.

[Grace]

17 November 2009



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

Spc. Joseph M. Lewis, 26, of Terrell, Texas died on Nov. 17 in Kandahar, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 8th Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.

The incident is under investigation.

[Grace]

19 November 2009



The Department of Defense announced today the death of a sailor who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Brian M. Patton, 37, of Freeport, Ill., died Nov. 19 in Kuwait in a non-combat accident.

[Daisy and Delilah]

I still look forward to the day that this thread can end. Why are we still waiting for this to happen?:( :( :(

[Grace]

I still look forward to the day that this thread can end. Why are we still waiting for this to happen?:( :( :(

That day cannot come fast enough. As for why we are waiting - why didn't we stay the course in Afghanistan 6 years ago? Because someone in power had an itch he needed to scratch.

There's a columnist - Bob Herbert - who accurately describes what is going on -

" feeding young, healthy American men and women and endless American dollars into the relentless meat grinders of Afghanistan and Iraq."

[Grace]

19 November 2009


The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. They died Nov. 19 in Zabul province, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when a suicide car-bomber attacked their unit. They were assigned to the 782d Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.

Killed were:

Staff Sgt. John J. Cleaver, 36, of Marysville, Wash.; and

Sgt. Daniel A. Frazier, 25, of Saint Joseph, Mich.

[Grace]

22 November 2009



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

Lance Cpl. Nicholas J. Hand, 20, of Kansas City, Mo., died Nov. 22 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

[Grace]

22 November 2009


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

Sgt. Briand T. Williams, 25, of Sparks, Ga., died Nov. 22, in Numaniyah, Iraq, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms fire. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 10th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Benning, Ga.

[Grace]

22 November 2009



The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. They died Nov. 22 in Zabul province, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when enemy forces attacked their vehicle with an improvised explosive device. They were assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.

Killed were:

Sgt. James M. Nolen, 25, of Alvin, Texas; and

Pfc. Marcus A. Tynes, 19, of Moreno Valley, Calif.

[Grace]

23 November 2009



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


Staff Sgt. Matthew A. Pucino, 34, of Cockeysville, Md., died Nov. 23 in Pashay Kala, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 20th Special Forces Group of the Maryland Army National Guard in Glen Arm, Md.

[Grace]

23 November 2009


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

Sgt. Jason A. McLeod, 22, of Crystal Lake, Ill., died Nov. 23, west of Pashmul, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with mortar fire. He was assigned to the 704th Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.

[Grace]

DENMARK

25 November 2009


Pvt. Kenneth Patrick Nielsen, 23
2. Lette Opklaringseskadron, Opklaringsbataljon, Gardehusarhusarregimentet (2nd Facilitate Solution Squadron, Solution Battalion, Guard Hussar Regiment).

Killed when a roadside bomb detonated near his dismounted patrol outside Patrol Base Barakzai in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

[Daisy and Delilah]

The Bob Herbert quote says it all so well. :(

[Grace]

27 November 2009



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

Pfc. Michael A. Rogers, 23, of White Sulphur Springs, Mont., died Nov. 27, at Forward Operating Base Hammer, east of Baghdad, Iraq, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident. He was assigned to the 210th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, N.Y.

The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation.

[Grace]

DoD Announces Change-In-Status of Army Soldier


The Department of Defense today announced the death of a soldier supporting Operation Enduring Freedom who was previously listed as Duty Status Whereabouts Unknown.

Sgt. Brandon T. Islip, 23, of Richmond, Va., had been listed as Duty Status Whereabouts Unknown. His status was changed Nov. 29 to having died in a non-combat related incident.

He was a member of the 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C. and went missing, Nov. 4, while involved in a resupply mission in Bala Murghab, Afghanistan.

[Grace]

DoD Identifies Navy Casualty



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

Petty Officer 3rd Class David M. Mudge, 22, of Sutherlin, Ore., died Nov. 28, in a non-hostile accident aboard USS Rentz while in Jebel Ali, United Arab Emirates.

[Grace]

29 November 2009



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

Pfc. Derrick D. Gwaltney, 21, of Cape Coral, Fla., died Nov. 29 south of Basra, Iraq, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 377th Field Artillery Regiment, 17th Fires Brigade, Fort Lewis, Wash.

The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation.

[Grace]

1 December 2009



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

Lance Cpl. Jonathan A. Taylor, 22, of Jacksonville, Fla., died Dec. 1 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

[Grace]

UNITED KINGDOM

30 November 2009



Acting Sgt. John Paxton Amer, 30, Sunderland, England. No. 1 Company, 1st Battalion, Coldstream Guards

Died of wounds sustained in an explosion in the Babaji area of Helmand province, Afghanistan.

[Grace]

1 December 2009


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

Sgt. Kenneth R. Nichols Jr., 28, of Chrisman, Ill., died Dec. 1 in Kunar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit using small arms and rocket-propelled grenade fires. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.

[Grace]

#100 from the United Kingdom

7 December 2009


It is with deep regret that the Ministry of Defence must confirm that Lance Corporal Adam Paul Drane, 23, from 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment was killed in Afghanistan on Monday 7 December 2009.

Lance Corporal Drane died whilst carrying out security duties at Check Point Paraang in southern Nad e-Ali, Helmand province.

[Grace]

From the NY Times


December 8, 2009
Op-Ed Columnist
A Fearful Price
By BOB HERBERT

I spoke recently with a student at Columbia who was enthusiastic about the escalation of U.S. forces in Afghanistan. He argued that a full-blown counterinsurgency effort, which would likely take many years and cost many lives, was the only way to truly win the war.

He was a very bright young man: thoughtful and eager and polite. I asked him if he had any plans to join the military and help make this grand mission a success. He said no.

There was an article in The Times on Monday about a new study showing that the eight years of warfare in Iraq and Afghanistan were taking an emotional toll on the children of service members and that the difficulties increased the longer parents were deployed.

There is no way that the findings of this study should be a surprise to anyone. It just confirms that the children of those being sent into combat are among that tiny percentage of the population that is unfairly shouldering the entire burden of these wars.

The idea that fewer than 1 percent of Americans are being called on to fight in Afghanistan and Iraq and that we’re sending them into combat again and again and again — for three tours, four tours, five tours, six tours — is obscene. All decent people should object.

We already knew that in addition to the many thousands who have been killed or physically wounded, hundreds of thousands have returned with very serious psychological wounds: deep depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and so on. Other problems are also widespread: alcohol and drug abuse, family strife, homelessness.

The new study, by the RAND Corporation, was published in the journal Pediatrics. The children surveyed were found to have higher levels of emotional difficulties than their peers in the general population.

According to the study:

“Older youth and girls of all ages reported significantly more school, family and peer-related difficulties with parental deployment. Length of parental deployment and poorer non-deployed caregiver mental health were significantly associated with a greater number of challenges for children, both during deployment and deployed parent reintegration.”

The air is filled with obsessive self-satisfied rhetoric about supporting the troops, giving them everything they need and not letting them down. But that rhetoric is as hollow as a jazzman’s drum because the overwhelming majority of Americans have no desire at all to share in the sacrifices that the service members and their families are making. Most Americans do not want to serve in the wars, do not want to give up their precious time to do volunteer work that would aid the nation’s warriors and their families, do not even want to fork over the taxes that are needed to pay for the wars.

To say that this is a national disgrace is to wallow in the shallowest understatement. The nation will always give lip-service to support for the troops, but for the most part Americans do not really care about the men and women we so blithely ship off to war, and the families they leave behind.

The National Military Family Association, which commissioned the RAND study, has poignant comments from the children of military personnel on its Web site.

You can tell immediately how much more real the wars are to those youngsters than to most Americans:

“I hope it’s not him on the news getting hurt.”

“Most of my grades dropped because I was thinking about my dad, because my dad’s more important than school.”

“Mom will be in her room and we hear her crying.”

The reason it is so easy for the U.S. to declare wars, and to continue fighting year after year after year, is because so few Americans feel the actual pain of those wars. We’ve been fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan longer than we fought in World Wars I and II combined. If voters had to choose right now between instituting a draft or exiting Afghanistan and Iraq, the troops would be out of those two countries in a heartbeat.

I don’t think our current way of waging war, which is pretty easy-breezy for most citizens, is what the architects of America had in mind. Here’s George Washington’s view, for example: “It must be laid down as a primary position and the basis of our system, that every citizen who enjoys the protection of a free government owes not only a proportion of his property, but even his personal service to the defense of it.”

What we are doing is indefensible and will ultimately exact a fearful price, and there will be absolutely no way for the U.S. to avoid paying it.

[Grace]

United Kingdom

7 December 2009


Lance Cpl. Adam Drane, 23, of Bury St Edmunds, England.
Serving with Company C, 1st Battalion, The Royal Anglian Regiment.

Killed while carrying out security duties at Check Point Paraang in the southern Nad e-Ali district of Helmand province, Afghanistan, on December 7, 2009

[Grace]

5 December 2009


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

Sgt. Elijah J. Rao, 26, of Lake Oswego, Ore., died Dec. 5 in Nuristan, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.

[Grace]

8 December 2009


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

Cpl. Xhacob Latorre, 21, of Waterbury, Conn., died Dec. 8 of wounds sustained while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

[Grace]

7 December 2009


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

Staff Sgt. Dennis J. Hansen, 31, of Panama City, Fla., died Dec. 7 at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Landstuhl, Germany, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit Dec. 3 with an improvised explosive device in Logar province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, N.Y.

[Grace]

8 December 2009



The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Sgt. Ralph Anthony Webb Frietas, 23, of Detroit, Mich., died Dec 8. as a result of unknown causes in Baghdad. He was assigned to Marine Wing Support Squadron 172, Marine Wing Support Group 17, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Okinawa, Japan.

The incident is under investigation.

[Daisy and Delilah]

Bless the families of these fallen soldiers. They will spend Christmas without them this year.:(

Gretchen, thank you again.

A giant thank you again to all our troops. No matter where you are stationed, we love you and support you all.

[Grace]

11 December 2009



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

Pfc. Jaiciae L. Pauley, 29, of Austell, Ga., died Dec. 11 in Kirkuk, Iraq, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.

The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation.

[Grace]

10 December 2009


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

Pvt. Jhanner A. Tello, 29, of Los Angeles, Calif., died Dec. 10 in Baghdad, Iraq, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident. He was assigned to the 3rd Aviation Support Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation.

[cassiesmom]

I lighted a candle for ALL troops.
http://www.gratefulness.org/candles/message.cfm?l=eng&cid=9768757

[Grace]

15 December 2009


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

Tech. Sgt. Anthony C. Campbell Jr., 35, of Florence, Ky., died Dec. 15 of wounds suffered from the detonation of an improvised explosive device in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Campbell was assigned to the 932nd Civil Engineer Squadron, Scott Air Force Base, Ill.

[Grace]

UNITED KINGDOM

15 December 2009


Lance Cpl. David Leslie Kirkness, 24, West Yorkshire, England.

Rifleman James Stephen Brown, 18, Kent, England.

Both with Company B, 3rd Battalion, The Rifles.

Killed when a suicide bomber detonated a homemade bomb at a vehicle checkpoint on a route into Sangin, Helmand province, Afghanistan

[Grace]

ESTONIA

15 December 2009


Junior Sgt. Kristjan Jalakas, 19, Estcoy-9 Infantry Company.

Killed when a roadside bomb detonated near his foot patrol near Patrol Base Wahid in Nad-e-Ali district, Helmand province, Afghanista.

[Grace]

POLAND

19 December 2009



Pfc. Michał Kołek, 22. Polsko-Ukraiński Batalion Sił Pokojowych (Polish-Ukrainian Peace Force Battalion)

Killed in a firefight after a Polish patrol was attacked with small arms and rocket-propelled grenades about 12 miles (20 km) from a Polish forward operating base in Ghazni province, Afghanistan.

[Grace]

UNITED KINGDOM

19 December 2009


Cpl. Simon Hornby, 29, Liverpool, England.
Arnhem Company, 2nd Battalion, The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment.

Killed when a roadside bomb detonated near his foot patrol in Nad-e-Ali district, Helmand province, Afghanistan.

[Grace]

20 December 2009


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

Pfc. Serge Kropov, 21, of Hawley, Pa., died Dec. 20 as a result of a non-hostile incident in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif.

This incident is under investigation.

[Grace]

18 December 2009


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

Sgt. Albert D. Ware, 27, of Chicago, Ill., died Dec. 18 in Arghandab River Valley, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 782nd Combat Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.

[Grace]

UNITED KINGDOM
20 December 2009


Lance Cpl. Michael David Pritchard, 22, Maidstone, England.

160 Provost Company, 4th Regiment, Royal Military Police

Killed as a result of small arms fire -- possibly friendly fire, according to the British Ministry of Defense -- in the Sangin area of Helmand province, Afghanistan.

[Grace]

Nominated for the Medal of Honor 3 times - 8 Purple Hearts - 5 tours in Vietnam


Robert Howard - obituary (http://www.oakcrestwaco.com/content/obituaries/view.jsp?OID=54294)

[Cinder & Smoke]

Nominated for the Medal of Honor 3 times -
8 Purple Hearts -
5 tours in Vietnam

Robert Howard - obituary (http://www.oakcrestwaco.com/content/obituaries/view.jsp?OID=54294)

And coverage on the evening news >>>

Colonel Bob Howard - an American Hero
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/34579550#34579550

:love:

[Daisy and Delilah]

Happy Holidays to all of our servicemen and women. Also, to all their families. Thank you to each and every one of you for all you do.

[Grace]

And coverage on the evening news >>>

Colonel Bob Howard - an American Hero
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/34579550#34579550

:love:

Thanks, Phred.

I think the one statistic that really got me was the 5 tours in Vietnam. You only went once - unless you volunteered. Douglas was in the Air Force, and volunteered for a 2nd tour.

Robert Howard volunteered for 4 extra tours!!

[cassiesmom]

18 December 2009

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

Sgt. Albert D. Ware, 27, of Chicago, Ill., died Dec. 18 in Arghandab River Valley, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 782nd Combat Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.

This was on the news last night. Sgt. Ware leaves behind his parents, his wife and three young children. His father wept when he spoke on camera about trying to keep Christmas normal for the children. I know a lot of hearts went out to that family last night from people who saw it on the 10 o'clock news.

[Grace]

22 December 2009



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

Lance Cpl. Omar G. Roebuck, 23, of Moreno Valley, Calif., died Dec. 22, as a result of a non-hostile incident in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

[Grace]

30 years ago today, 24 December 1979, the Soviet Union began the invasion of Afghanistan. They were totally withdrawn by 15 February 1989.

We have been in Afghanistan now for 3000 days. Will we stay as long as they did?

[Grace]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/March16th/flag-canada.gif

23 December 2009


Lt. Andrew Richard Nuttall, 30, Victoria, Canada.
1st Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry

Killed when a roadside bomb detonated during a joint Afghan-Canadian foot patrol near the village of Nakhonay in Panjwaii district, Kandahar province, Afghanistan.

[Grace]

UNITED KINGDOM

22 December 2009


Lance Cpl. Tommy Brown.
1st Battalion, The Parachute Regiment

Died when a roadside bomb detonated while on a foot patrol about .62 miles (1 kilometer) south of Sangin in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

[Grace]

UNITED KINGDOM

21 December 2009


Lance Corporal Christopher Roney, 23, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear.
A Company, 3rd Battalion The Rifles

Died of his wounds following a firefight in Sangin, Northern Helmand, Afghanistan.

At the time, his platoon was working out of Patrol Base Almas, providing security, reassurance and freedom of movement for the local population in support of the Government of Afghanistan.

[Grace]

Christmas Day :(



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

Staff Sgt. David H. Gutierrez, 35, of San Francisco, Ca., died Dec. 25 at Kandahar Air Field, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his dismounted patrol with an improvised explosive device in Howz-e Madad. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 5th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.

[Grace]

26 December 2009


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

Spc. Jason M. Johnston, 24, of Albion, N.Y., died Dec. 26 in Arghandab, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.

[Grace]

From the Washington Post -


US troop deaths soared in Afghanistan in 2009

By JIM HEINTZ
The Associated Press
Thursday, December 31, 2009; 10:19 AM

KABUL -- U.S. military deaths in Afghanistan doubled in 2009 compared with a year ago as 30,000 additional troops began pouring in for a stepped-up offensive and the Taliban fought back with powerful improvised bombs.

A tally by The Associated Press shows 304 American service members had died as of Dec. 30, up from 151 in 2008. The count does not include eight U.S. civilians killed by a suicide bomber on a base in eastern Afghanistan on Wednesday.

Also, the annual death toll of international troops, including U.S. forces, surpassed 500 for the first time in the war. The total this year was 502 compared with 286 in 2008, according to the AP count.

Among other forces, Britain took the worst blow in 2009 with 107 deaths and Canada lost 32, including four who died Wednesday when their vehicle was blown up by a roadside bomb. Other countries in the international military operation lost a total of 59 service members.

Associated Press Writers Rahim Faiez and Deb Riechmann in Kabul and Rebecca Santana in Baghdad and researcher Monika Mathur in New York contributed to this report.

[Grace]

29 December 2009


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

Staff Sgt. Ronald J. Spino, 45, of Waterbury, Conn., died Dec. 29 in Bala Morghab, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when he was shot while unloading supplies. He was assigned to the 274th Forward Surgical Team, 44th Medical Command, Fort Bragg, N.C.

The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation.

[Grace]

1 January 2010

And another year begins . . . . .

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

Spc. Brushaun X. Anderson, 20, of Columbus, Ga., died Jan. 1 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when he was attacked by an unknown assailant. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, N.Y.

The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation.

[Scooter's Mom]

I don't know how I've missed this thread.

[RICHARD]

THere there NO COMBAT RELATED DEATHS in Iraq in the month of December.

Three did die from non-combat related deaths during the month.

[Grace]

3 January 2010



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


Senior Airman Bradley R. Smith, 24, of Troy, Ill., died Jan. 3 near Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained while supporting combat operations. He was assigned to the 10th Air Support Operations Squadron, Fort Riley, Kan.

[Grace]

3 January 2010


The Department of Defense announced today the death of three soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. They died Jan. 3 in Ashoque, Afghanistan, from wounds suffered when insurgents attacked their unit with multiple improvised explosives devices and small arms fire. They were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.

Killed were:

Sgt. Joshua A. Lengstorf, 24, of Yoncalla, Ore.

Spc. Brian R. Bowman, 24, of Crawfordsville, Ind.

Pvt. John P. Dion, 19, of Shattuck, Okla.

[Grace]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/March16th/flag-canada.gif

30 December 2009


OTTAWA – Four Canadian soldiers and one Canadian reporter embedded with Joint Task Force Afghanistan (JTF-Afg) were killed, while four other Canadian soldiers and one Canadian civilian official were injured in an IED incident in Kandahar province, on Wednesday December 30, 2009.

The incident occurred 4 km south of Kandahar City at approximately 4:00 p.m., Kandahar time, Wednesday afternoon as a result of an improvised explosive device attack on an armoured vehicle during a patrol.

Killed in action was Sergeant George Miok a member of 41 Combat Engineer Regiment, based in Edmonton, Alberta and serving with the Kandahar Provincial Reconstruction Team.

Killed in action was Sergeant Kirk Taylor a member of 84 Independent Field Battery, Royal Canadian Artillery, based in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia and serving with the Kandahar Provincial Reconstruction Team.

Killed in action was Corporal Zachery McCormack a member of the Loyal Edmonton Regiment, 4th Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, based in Edmonton, Alberta and serving with the Kandahar Provincial Reconstruction Team.

Killed in action was Private Garrett William Chidley a member of the 2nd Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, based in Shilo, Manitoba and serving with the Kandahar Provincial Reconstruction Team.

Michelle Lang, a Canwest journalist from Calgary, embedded with the Canadian Forces in Afghanistan was killed in the same incident.

Four Canadian soldiers and one Canadian civilian official were also seriously wounded in the incident. All of the injured were evacuated by helicopter to the Multi-National Medical Facility at Kandahar Airfield. The injured soldiers and civilian are reported to be in stable condition.

[Grace]

UNITED KINGDOM

31 December 2009


Sapper David Watson, 21, Whickham, Newcastle upon Tyne, England. 49 Field Squadron (Explosive Ordnance Disposal), 33 Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers

Died of wounds sustained when a roadside bomb detonated near Patrol Base Blenheim in the Sangin region of Helmand province, Afghanistan.

[Grace]

UNITED KINGDOM

3 January 2010


It is with great regret that the Ministry of Defence must confirm the death of Private Robert Hayes, 19, of 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment who was killed in Afghanistan on Sunday 3 January 2010.

Private Robert Hayes was killed as a result of an improvised explosive device blast while conducting a security patrol south of Check Point Paraang in southern Nad e-Ali, Helmand province. He had deployed to Afghanistan with C (Essex) Company, 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment (Vikings), attached to the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards Battle Group.

[cassiesmom]

3 January 2010

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


Senior Airman Bradley R. Smith, 24, of Troy, Ill., died Jan. 3 near Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained while supporting combat operations. He was assigned to the 10th Air Support Operations Squadron, Fort Riley, Kan.



I heard about this on the news last night. This young man leaves behind a wife and a new baby, just born in October 2009, that he had never met. How very, very sad.

[Grace]

I heard about this on the news last night. This young man leaves behind a wife and a new baby, just born in October 2009, that he had never met. How very, very sad.

Yes, it is very sad. This entire mess becomes sadder every day.

[Grace]

5 January 2010


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

Spc. David A. Croft Jr., 22, of Plant City, Fla., died Jan. 5 in Baghdad, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device and small arms fire. He was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

[Grace]

From the NY Times (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/07/world/asia/07intel.html?hp), an article about the murder of the CIA agents.

[Grace]

From CNN -


London, England (CNN) -- A British journalist was killed and a second wounded in Afghanistan when the vehicle in which they were traveling struck an improvised explosive device, the Ministry of Defence said Sunday.

Rupert Hamer, defense correspondent for the Sunday Mirror newspaper, and photographer Philip Coburn were embedded with the U.S. Marine Corps and were accompanying a patrol near Nawa in southern Afghanistan when the explosion occurred Saturday, the ministry said in a statement.

"Despite the best efforts of medics at the scene, Mr. Hamer died of his wounds," the statement said. "Mr. Coburn remains in a serious but stable condition."

A U.S. Marine and a member of the Afghan National Army were also killed in the explosion, the ministry said. Four U.S. Marines were seriously injured.

"Both Rupert Hamer and Phil Coburn accompanied me on my most recent trip to Afghanistan," said British Defense Secretary Bob Ainsworth in the statement. "I got to know them well and I was impressed by their hard work and professionalism. My thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the families, friends and colleagues of both men at this extremely distressing time."

In recent weeks, the ministry had worked with Hamer on a special Christmas edition of the Sunday Mirror, containing messages for deployed personnel from their families, Ainsworth said.

"The sacrifice of service personnel is well documented and rightly respected, but this news demonstrates the risks also faced by journalists who keep the public informed of events on the front line," he said.

Hamer is the second journalist to die in Afghanistan in recent weeks. On December 30, Calgary Herald reporter Michelle Lang, 34, died along with four Canadian soldiers when a roadside bomb struck their armored vehicle in the southern Afghan province of Kandahar.

According to a tally kept by Reporters without Borders, Hamer would be the 20th journalist to die in Afghanistan, and the 12th foreign journalist, since September 11, 2001.

[trayi52]

This is so sad, I just cry when I hear about these men, and women dying over there in this stupid war. Some of them are so young. I will keep all our soldiers in my prayers.

Willie:(

[Grace]

ECUADOR

8 January 2010


Pvt. Christian Javier Quishpe Aguirre, 24.
Grupo Logístico de Montaña número 1 (1st Mountain Logistical Group)
Died of wounds sustained when he was struck by a vehicle at a support base in Herat, Afghanistan, on January 8, 2010

[Grace]

DENMARK

8 January 2010


Pvt. Simon S. Hoffmann, 23.
2. Lette Opklaringseskadron, Opklaringsbataljonen, Gardehusarregimentet (2nd Facilitate Solution Squadron, Solution Battalion, Guard Hussar Regiment)

Killed when his vehicle struck a roadside bomb near Forward Operating Base Armadillo in Nahri Sarraj district, Helmand province, Afghanistan, on January 8, 2010

[Grace]

7 January 2010


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

Sgt. 1st Class Jason O. B. Hickman, 35, of Kingsport, Tenn., died Jan. 7 at Forward Operating Base Salerno, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered earlier that day at Combat Outpost Bowri Tana, when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device and small arms fire. He was assigned to Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 4th Airborne Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Fort Richardson, Alaska.

[Grace]

9 January 2010


The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. The initial press release had an incorrect name due to a clerical error. However, the correct family was notified by Marine Corps officials.

Lance Cpl. Mark D. Juarez, 23, of San Antonio, Texas, died Jan. 9 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.

[Grace]

10 January 2010



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

Lance Cpl. Jacob A. Meinert, 20, of Fort Atkinson, Wis., died Jan. 10 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.

[Grace]

Iraq -


There have been 4,693 coalition deaths -- 4,376 Americans, two Australians, one Azerbaijani, 179 Britons, 13 Bulgarians, one Czech, seven Danes, two Dutch, two Estonians, one Fijian, five Georgians, one Hungarian, 33 Italians, one Kazakh, three Latvians, 22 Poles, three Romanians, five Salvadoran, four Slovaks, one South Korean, 11 Spaniards, two Thai and 18 Ukrainians -- in the Iraq war as of January 11, 2010, according to a CNN count.

At least 31,616 U.S. Troops have been wounded in action, according to the Pentagon.

[Grace]

Afghanistan



There have been 1,569 coalition deaths -- 947 Americans, 11 Australians, one Belgian, 246 Britons, 138 Canadians, three Czech, 29 Danes, 21 Dutch, seven Estonians, one Finn, 37 French, 31 Germans, two Hungarians, 22 Italians, three Latvian, one Lithuanian, four Norwegians, 16 Poles, two Portuguese, 11 Romanians, one South Korean, 27 Spaniards, two Swedes and two Turks -- in the war on terror as of January 11, 2010, according to a CNN count.

At least 4,748 U.S. personnel have been wounded in action, according to the Pentagon. In addition to the military deaths, one Jordanian and 11 U.S. intelligence operatives have died in Afghanistan.

[Grace]

6 January 2010


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

Pfc. Michael R. Jarrett, 20, of North Platte, Neb., died Jan. 6 in Balad, Iraq, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 159th Aviation Regiment, 12th Combat Aviation Brigade, Illesheim, Germany.

The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation.

[Grace]

From 1967 - and the Vietnam conflict -


Air Force Pilot Missing In Action From Vietnam War Is Identified

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from the Vietnam War, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial.

Air Force Maj. Russell C. Goodman of Salt Lake City, Utah, will be honored this week at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., home of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbird demonstration team. At the time of his loss, Goodman was assigned to the Thunderbirds and was flying with the U.S. Navy on an exchange program. He will be buried in Alaska at a date determined by his family.

On Feb. 20, 1967, Goodman and Navy Lt. Gary L. Thornton took off in their F-4B Phantom from the USS Enterprise for a bombing mission against a railroad yard in Thanh Hoa Province, North Vietnam. They were struck by enemy antiaircraft fire and their plane exploded. Thornton was able to eject at just 250 feet altitude, but Goodman did not escape. Thornton survived and was held captive until his release in 1973.

Search and rescue attempts were curtailed because of heavy anti-aircraft and automatic weapons fire in the area of the crash.

Between October 1993 and March 2008, joint U.S.-Vietnamese teams led by the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) investigated the crash site twice and conducted two excavations, recovering human remains and pilot equipment. The aircraft debris recovered correlates with the type of aircraft the men were flying.

Among other forensic identification tools and circumstantial evidence, scientists from JPAC and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory also used mitochondrial DNA – which matched two of his maternal relatives -- in the identification of Goodman’s remains.

[Grace]

FRANCE

11 January 2010


Staff Sgt. Mathieu Toinette, 27, of Reunion, France.
402e Régiment d'Artillerie (402nd Artillery Regiment), assigned to a French Operational Mentoring Liaison Team

Killed when a joint French-Afghan National Army patrol was attacked during a foot patrol in the village of Alasay, Kapisa province, Afghanistan, on January 11, 2010. Another soldier wounded in the attack died the next day.

[Grace]

FRANCE

12 January 2010


Capt. Fabrice Roullier, 39, Caen, France
1e Brigade Mécanisée (1st Mechanized Brigade), assigned to a French Operational Mentoring Liaison Team

Died on January 12, 2010, of wounds suffered when a joint French-Afghan National Army patrol was attacked during a foot patrol in the village of Alasay, Kapisa province, Afghanistan, on January 11, 2010. Another French soldier was killed in the attack.

[Grace]

11 January 2010


The Department of Defense announced today the death of three Marines who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.



The following Marines died Jan. 11 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan:

Staff Sgt. Matthew N. Ingham, 25, of Altoona, Pa.

Cpl. Jamie R. Lowe, 21, of Johnsonville, Ill.

Cpl. Nicholas K. Uzenski, 21, of Tomball, Texas.

Ingham, Lowe and Uzenski were assigned to 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Okinawa, Japan.

[Grace]

UNITED KINGDOM

11 January 2010


Capt. Daniel Read, 31, Rainham, Kent, England
821 Squadron, 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps

Killed when a roadside bomb detonated in the Musa Qala district of Helmand province, Afghanistan, on January 11, 2010

[Grace]

13 January 2010


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

Spc. Kyle J. Wright, 22, of Romeoville, Ill., died Jan. 13 at Kandahar Air Field, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered earlier that day when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device in Kandahar province. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.

[Grace]

14 January 2010



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

Sgt. Christopher R. Hrbek, 25, of Westwood, N.J., died Jan. 14 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

[Grace]

13 January 2010



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

Sgt. Lucas T. Beachnaw, 23, of Lowell, Mich., died Jan. 13 in Darya Ya, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit using small arms fire. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, Camp Ederle, Italy.

[Grace]

Suicide report -


Army Releases December Suicide Data

The Army released suicide data today for the month of December. Among active-duty soldiers, there were ten potential suicides: one has been confirmed as suicide, and nine remain under investigation. For November, the Army reported 11 potential suicides among active-duty soldiers. Since the release of that report, three have been confirmed as suicides, and eight remain under investigation.

There were 160 reported active-duty Army suicides during 2009. Of these, 114 have been confirmed, and 46 are pending determination of manner of death. During 2008, there were 140 suicides among active-duty soldiers.

During December 2009, among reserve component soldiers who were not on active duty, there were six potential suicides. For the year 2009, among that same group, there were 78 total suicides. Of those, 49 were confirmed as suicides and 29 are pending determination of the manner of death. For 2008, there were 57 suicides among reserve soldiers who were not on active duty.

[phesina]

Oh, my God.

[gini]

May God grant peace to all of their souls.

[Grace]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/March16th/flag-canada.gif

16 January 2010


KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan — “A career soldier” and “family man” from Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., has become the first Canadian killed in action in Afghanistan in 2010.

Sgt. John Wayne Faught, from the Edmonton-based 1 Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, stepped on a homemade landmine early Saturday afternoon while leading his section on a joint foot patrol with Afghan army troops, about 15 kilometres southwest of Kandahar City.

The 44-year-old infantryman died near the village of Nakhoney in Panjwaii District, which Canadian forces seized from Taliban-control without a fight late last year. The security patrol he led was to learn more about what villagers needed to build the local economy.

Faught was “affectionately known to his soldiers” as Toast “because, in his words, he was hard and crusty (and) was known for his straightforward approach to soldiering,” Brig.-Gen. Daniel Menard, the Canadian Task Force commander said in announcing the death.

“He could always be counted on to tell it like it is when asked his opinion. A career soldier, his life revolved around the army.”

[Grace]

13 January 2010



The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. They died Jan. 13 at Combat Outpost McClain, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked their vehicle with an improvised explosive device. The soldiers were assigned to the 118th Military Police Company (Airborne), 503rd Military Police Battalion (Airborne), 16th Military Police Brigade (Airborne), Fort Bragg, N.C.

Killed were:

Staff Sgt. Daniel D. Merriweather, 25, of Collierville Tenn.

Pfc. Geoffrey A. Whitsitt, 21, of Taylors, S.C.

[Grace]

UNITED KINGDOM

15 January 2010


Cpl. Lee Brownson, 30, Bishop Auckland, England
Rifleman Luke Farmer, 19, Pontefract, West Yorkshire, England

Company A, 3rd Battalion, The Rifles

Two British soldiers killed when a roadside bomb detonated while on patrol near Sangin in Helmand province, Afghanistan, on January 15, 2010

[Grace]

31 December 2009



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

Staff Sgt. Anton R. Phillips, 31, of Inglewood, Calif., died Dec. 31, 2009, at Forward Operating Base Methar Lam, Afghanistan. He was assigned to G Forward Support Company, 77th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Battalion, Task Force Wildhorse, Forward Operating Base Methar Lam, Afghanistan.

The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation.

[Grace]

16 January 2010



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

Spc. Robert Donevski, 19, of Sun City, Ariz., died Jan. 16 in Abad, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms fire. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.

[RICHARD]

He had white Horses
And ladies by the score
All dressed in satin
And waiting by the door

Ooooh, what a lucky man he was


White lace and feathers
They made up his bed
A gold covered mattress
On which he was laid

Ooooh, what a lucky man he was


He went to fight wars
For his country and his king
Of his honor and his glory
The people would sing

Ooooh, what a lucky man he was

A bullet had found him
His blood ran as he cried
No money could save him
So he laid down and he died

Ooooh, what a lucky man he was

-elp

[Grace]

19 January 2010


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

Tech. Sgt. Adam K. Ginett, 29, of Knightdale, N.C., died Jan. 19 near Kandahar Air Field, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered from an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 31st Civil Engineer Squadron, Aviano Air Base, Italy.

[Grace]

17 January 2010


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

Sgt. 1st Class Michael P. Shannon, 52, of Canadensis, Pa., died Jan. 17, in Kabul, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident. He was assigned to Headquarters, 7th Army and U.S. Army Europe, Heidelberg, Germany.

The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation.

[Grace]

20 January 2010



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

Staff Sgt. Thaddeus S. Montgomery, 29, of West Yellowstone, Mont., died Jan. 20 at Korengal Outpost, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.

The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation.

[Grace]

19 January 2010


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

Capt. Paul Pena, 27, of San Marcos, Texas, died Jan. 19 in Arghandab River Valley, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.

[Grace]

20 January 2010


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

Pfc. Gifford E. Hurt, 19, of Yonkers, N.Y., died Jan. 20, in Mosul, Iraq, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related accident. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 14th Field Artillery Regiment, 214th Fires Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Sill, Okla.

The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation.

[Grace]

United Kingdom

22 January 2010


It is with deep regret that the Ministry of Defence has confirmed the death of Rifleman Peter Aldridge, 19, of 4th Battalion The Rifles, in Afghanistan on Friday 22 January 2010.

A soldier from A Company 4 RIFLES, serving as part of 3 RIFLES Battle Group, he was killed by an explosion near Sangin in Helmand Province. He was on a foot patrol, part of a larger operation to provide security for the local population in Sangin, when the explosion happened.

[wombat2u2004]

United Kingdom

22 January 2010

My grandfather was with The Rifles in WW1.....very badly wounded on the Somme. The Rifles are a very famous outfit, history goes back to the 95th Foote during the Napoleonic wars.
They have always been in the thick of the fighting.
Wom

[Grace]

23 January 2010



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

Petty Officer 2nd Class Xin Qi, 25, of Cordova, Tenn., died Jan. 23, while supporting combat operations in Afghanistan. Qi was assigned to Fourth Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Marine Expeditionary Brigade – Afghanistan.

[Grace]

UNITED KINGDOM

24 January 2010


It is with deep regret that the Ministry of Defence must confirm the death of Lance Corporal Daniel Cooper, 21, from 3rd Battalion The Rifles.

He was leading a resupply patrol, near Sangin, in Helmand province, when an improvised explosive device detonated critically injuring him. He later died of his wounds.

[Grace]

Afghanistan

There have been 1,587 coalition deaths --
961 Americans,
11 Australians,
one Belgian,
250 Britons,
139 Canadians,
3 Czech,
29 Danes,
21 Dutch,
7 Estonians,
one Finn,
39 French,
31 Germans,
2 Hungarians,
22 Italians,
3 Latvian,
one Lithuanian,
4 Norwegians,
16 Poles,
2 Portuguese,
11 Romanians,
one South Korean,
27 Spaniards,
2 Swedes,
2 Turks
and one NATO/ISAF-- in the war on terror as of January 24, 2010, according to a CNN count.

At least 4,829 U.S. personnel have been wounded in action, according to the Pentagon. In addition to the military deaths, one Jordanian and 11 U.S. intelligence operatives have died in Afghanistan.

[Grace]

Iraq

There have been 4,694 coalition deaths --
4,377 Americans,
2 Australians,
one Azerbaijani,
179 Britons,
13 Bulgarians,
one Czech,
7 Danes,
2 Dutch
2 Estonians,
one Fijian,
5 Georgians,
one Hungarian,
33 Italians,
one Kazakh,
3 Latvians,
22 Poles,
3 Romanians,
5 Salvadoran,
four Slovaks,
one South Korean,
11 Spaniards,
2 Thai and
18 Ukrainians -- in the Iraq war as of January 24, 2010, according to a CNN count.

The list also includes 13 U.S. Defense Department civilian employees. At least 31,633 U.S. troops have been wounded in action, according to the Pentagon.

[Grace]

Vermont assumes a heavy burden in Iraq war

By JOHN CURRAN, Associated Press Writer

BENNINGTON, Vt. – Vermont, a bastion of ex-hippies and Ben & Jerry liberals, has another distinction seemingly at odds with its peace-loving, tie-dyed politics: It has suffered more deaths per capita in the Iraq war than any other state.

Beginning with Chief Warrant Officer 4th Class Erik Halvorsen on April 2, 2003, a total of 22 Vermont men have perished in roadside bombings, firefights, sniper attacks and helicopter crashes during the six-year-long war.

"The losses we've had in Vermont have touched most of the state because we're so close-knit," said Maj. Gen. Michael Dubie, commander of the Vermont National Guard. "Almost everyone knows someone — or they know someone who knows someone — who's been affected by our losses."

The casualties give Vermont, pop. 621,000, a rate of 3.54 deaths per 100,000 people.

The high rate speaks more to Vermont's small size than it does to the actual number of deaths. With such a small population, it doesn't take a large number of deaths to produce a high per-capita rate. Vermont is followed on the list by Montana (2.87), Wyoming (2.57), Nebraska (2.50), and South Dakota (2.46).



The state has lost only one soldier in Afghanistan, ranking 45th in per-capita losses for that war.



link to entire article (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100126/ap_on_re_us/us_vermont_s_sacrifice)

[Grace]

23 January 2010


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

Lance Cpl. Jeremy M. Kane, 22, of Towson, Md., died Jan. 23 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 4th Marine Division, Marine Forces Reserve, based out of Camp Pendleton, Calif.

[Grace]

24 January 2010


The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of three Marines who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

The following Marines died Jan. 24 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan:

Sgt. Daniel M. Angus, 28, of Thonotosassa, Fla.

Lance Cpl. Timothy J. Poole, 22, of Bowling Green, Ky.

Lance Cpl. Zachary D. Smith, 19, of Hornell, N.Y.

Angus and Smith were assigned to 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Poole was assigned to 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.

[Grace]

NORWAY

25 January 2010



Soldier Claes Joachim Olsson, 22, Gressvik, Norway

Telemark Bataljon, Brigade Nord (Telemark Battalion, Northern Brigade)

Killed when a roadside bomb struck his CV9030 infantry fighting vehicle in Ghormach district, Faryab province, Afghanistan.

[Grace]

Lee Archer Of Famed Tuskegee Airmen Dies At Age 90

A member of the famed Tuskegee Airmen has died.

Lieutenant Colonel Lee Archer died Wednesday at Cornell University Medical Center in Manhattan, his son says. He was 90 years old.

Archer was considered the only "ace" pilot in the country's first black fighter group in World War II. He's credited with shooting down four planes during the war.

From the NY Times. (http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010/01/28/us/AP-US-Obit-Tuskegee-Airman.html?_r=1&dbk)

[Grace]

26 January 2010


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

Sgt. Carlos E. Gill, 25, of Fayetteville, N.C., died Jan. 26 at Walter Reed Army Medical Center of an illness. He was evacuated from Kandahar Air Field, Afghanistan, Dec. 19, 2009, where he was supporting combat operations. Gill was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.

[Grace]

28 January 2010


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

Pfc. Scott G. Barnett, 24, of Concord, Calif., died Jan. 28 in Tallil, Iraq, of injuries sustained while supporting combat operations. He was assigned to the 412th Aviation Support Battalion, 12th Combat Aviation Brigade, Katterbach, Germany.

[Grace]

May 1968


Soldier Missing in Action from Vietnam War Identified

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from the Vietnam War, have been identified and returned to his family for burial.

Army Specialist Lawrence L. Aldrich will be buried in his home town of Fort Worth, Texas tomorrow.

On May 6, 1968, Aldrich was a member of a search-and-clear mission in Binh Dinh Province in what was then South Vietnam. He was last seen with two other Americans engaged in a battle with enemy forces while manning a M-60 machine gun position. An air strike was called in, but one of the bombs inadvertently landed on Aldrich’s position, killing the three soldiers. Members of his unit later recovered the remains of the two other men, but Aldrich could not be found.

In July 1992, a joint U.S.-Socialist Republic of Vietnam team traveled to the province to investigate the loss. They interviewed a local citizen who remembered a large ground battle in the area in May or June 1968. He took the team to a location where he indicated the remains were buried, but an excavation in 1994 found no evidence of a grave or remains.

Vietnamese officials unilaterally investigated the case in 2006 and interviewed two villagers who recalled finding a body of an American after the battle and burying it where it lay. A second joint investigation in 2007, led by the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command, recommended another excavation based on the information provided by the Vietnamese.

The excavation in March 2009 unearthed human remains and other non-biological evidence. The identification of the remains was confirmed by matching the remains with Aldrich’s dental records.

[wombat2u2004]

May 1968

That happened to us to in 1969, they never found very much of him, as he took a direct hit, the artillery shell landed smack bang in the middle of his back.

[Grace]

26 January 2010



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

Sgt. David J. Smith, 25, of Frederick, Md., died Jan. 26 from wounds received Jan. 23 while supporting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 4th Marine Division, Marine Forces Reserve, based out of Camp Pendleton, Calif.

[Grace]

29 January 2010


The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. They died Jan. 29 in Wardak province, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained while supporting combat operations.

Killed were:

Capt. David J. Thompson, 39, of Hooker, Okla., who was assigned to the 3rd Battalion 3rd Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, N.C.

Spc. Marc P. Decoteau, 19, of Waterville Valley, N.H., who was assigned to the 6th Psychological Operations Battalion (Airborne), 4th Psychological Operations Group (Airborne), Fort Bragg, N.C.

[Grace]

1 February 2010



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

Lance Cpl. Michael L. Freeman Jr., 21, of Fayetteville, Pa., died Feb. 1 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

[Grace]

28 January 2010



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

Staff Sgt. Rusty H. Christian, 24, of Greenville, Tenn., died Jan. 28 in Oruzgan province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.

[Grace]

2 February 2010


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 Feb. 2 in Zabul province, Afghanistan. They were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.

Killed were:

Capt. Daniel Whitten, 28, of Grimes, Iowa; and

Pfc. Zachary G. Lovejoy, 20, of Albuquerque, N.M.

[Grace]

UNITED KINGDOM

1 February 2010



It is with great sadness that the Ministry of Defence must confirm that Corporal Liam Riley, 21, and Lance Corporal Graham Shaw, 27, from 3rd Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment (3 YORKS) were killed in Helmand province on Monday 1 February 2010.
Corporal Liam Riley and Lance Corporal Graham Shaw

The soldiers, who were serving as part of the Coldstream Guards Battle Group, were killed as a result of two improvised explosive device blasts near Malgir, which lies between Babaji and Gereshk.

[Grace]

3 February 2010


The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of three soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. They died Feb. 3 in Timagara, Pakistan, from wounds suffered when insurgents attacked their unit with an improvised explosive device.



Killed were:

Sgt. 1st Class David J. Hartman, 27, of Okinawa, Japan. He was assigned to the 96th Civil Affairs Battalion (Airborne), 95th Civil Affairs Brigade (Airborne), Fort Bragg, N.C.

Sgt. 1st Class Matthew S. Sluss-Tiller, 35, of Callettsburg, Ky. He was assigned to the 96th Civil Affairs Battalion (Airborne), 95th Civil Affairs Brigade (Airborne), Fort Bragg, N.C.

Staff Sgt. Mark A. Stets, 39, of El Cajon, Calif. He was assigned to the 8th Psychological Operations Battalion (Airborne), 4th Psychological Operations Group (Airborne), Fort Bragg, N.C.

[Grace]

COLUMBIA

1 February 2010



Pvt. John Felipe Romero Meneses, 21.

Killed when an anti-tank mine detonated near his Spanish Army armored vehicle north of Qala-i-Naw in Badghis province, Afghanistan, on February 1, 2010

[Grace]

Wonder where he is?


The Department of Defense today announced the identity of a civilian employee listed as Excused Absence Whereabouts Unknown (EAWUN) while supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Issa T. Salomi, 60, of El Cajon, Calif., has been unaccounted for since Jan. 23. He was last seen in Baghdad, Iraq, where he is assigned to U.S. Forces – Iraq.

Search and recovery efforts are ongoing.

[Daisy and Delilah]

Just wanted to say thanks again, Gretchen. I've been without my computer for several weeks. So glad you're still keeping this thread going.

[Grace]

5 February 2010



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

Sgt. Dillon B. Foxx, 22, of Traverse City, Mich., died Feb. 5 in Bala Murghab, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.

[Grace]

Referring back to post #436 - from the Washington Post . . . .


Baghdad -- An American contractor working for the U.S. military in Baghdad has been kidnapped by a Shiite militant group, U.S. officials said this weekend in response to a statement and video issued by the group.

The abduction of contractor Issa T. Salomi, 60, of El Cajon, Calif., marks the first reported kidnapping of an American in Iraq since the summer of 2008.

[Grace]

SWEDEN

7 February 2010


Lt. Gunnar Andersson, 31, Stockholm, Sweden

Capt. John Palmlov, 28, Sundbyberg, Sweden

Both men from Livgardet (The Life Guards), killed in a firefight west of Mazar-e Sharif in northern Afghanistan on February 7, 2010

[MonicanHonda]

I would like to mention a good friend of my husbands. We all went to high school together and they were in Boyscouts together when they were younger.

Don Kaspar, a Boy Scout leader, remembers meeting Airman 1st Class Eric M. Barnes as a 15-year old.

“Even then, he showed signs of leading the boys. He was a natural-born leader,” Kaspar said. “He always took care of the boys. The ones that needed to be pushed a little bit, he pushed them along and helped them through things.”

Barnes, 20, of Lorain, Ohio, was killed June 10 by a bomb about 100 miles south of Baghdad. He was on his second tour and was assigned to F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo.

He grew his blond hair long in high school to donate to Locks of Love, an organization that provides wigs for those with hair loss.

He enjoyed the music and psychedelic styles of the 1970s, posing in a brightly colored tie-dyed shirt for his 2004 high school graduation photo.

“He was one of those kids who you hope your son grows up to be like,” Kaspar said.

Eric was a catcher and outfielder on his high school baseball team and earned an Eagle Scout for building a ramp for the disabled. He also was an avid bowler who played a 300 game at age 18 in an adult league.

He is survived by his parents, Tom and Shary.

June 10, 2007.

[Grace]

I would like to mention a good friend of my husbands. We all went to high school together and they were in Boyscouts together when they were younger.

Don Kaspar, a Boy Scout leader, remembers meeting Airman 1st Class Eric M. Barnes as a 15-year old.

Barnes, 20, of Lorain, Ohio, was killed June 10 by a bomb about 100 miles south of Baghdad. He was on his second tour and was assigned to F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo.

June 10, 2007.

Thank you.

[Grace]

UNITED KINGDOM

8 February 2010


Warrant Officer Class 2 David Markland, 36, Euxton, Lancashire, England

70 Gurkha Field Support Squadron, 36 Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers, assigned to Counter-IED Task Force

Killed when a roadside bomb exploded in the Nad-e Ali district, Helmand province, Afghanistan, on February 8, 2010

[Grace]

FRANCE

9 February 2010


Pvt. Enguerrand Libaert, 20, Lyon, France

13e Bataillon de Chasseurs Alpins (13th Mountain Infantry Battalion)

Killed in a firefight after insurgents attacked an Afghan army resupply convoy being escorted by French troops in Alasay Valley in Kapisa province, Afghanistan, on February 9, 2010

[Grace]

SCOTLAND

7 February 2010


Pvt. Sean McDonald, 26, Edinburgh, Scotland

Cpl. Johnathan Moore, 22, Lanarkshire, Scotland

Company B, The Royal Scots Borderers, 1st Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland

Killed when a roadside bomb detonated during a routine night patrol south of Patrol Base Wishtan in the Sangin area of Helmand province, Afghanistan, on February 7, 2010

[Grace]

Charlie Wilson (http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0210/32815.html) died yesterday at the age of 76.

[Grace]

9 February 2010


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

Sgt. Adam J. Ray, 23, of Louisville, Ky., died Feb. 9 in southern Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 4th Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.

[Grace]

10 February 2010



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

Pfc. Adriana Alvarez, 20, of San Benito, Texas, died Feb. 10 in Baghdad, of injuries sustained while supporting combat operations. She was assigned to the 504th Military Police Battalion, 42nd Military Police Brigade, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.

[Grace]

GREAT BRITAIN

11 February 2010


Lance Cpl. Darren Hicks, 29, Mousehole, Cornwall, England

No. 1 Company, 1st Battalion, Coldstream Guards

Killed when a roadside bomb detonated in Babaji district, Helmand province, on February 11, 2010

[Grace]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/March16th/flag-canada.gif


One Canadian soldier was killed and four were injured in a training accident on a range located approximately 4 km northeast of Kandahar City. The accident took place at about 5:00 p.m., Kandahar time, on 12 February 2010.

Killed in the accident was Corporal Joshua Caleb Baker, a member of The Loyal Edmonton Regiment (4th Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry), from Edmonton, Alberta, and serving with the Kandahar Provincial Reconstruction Team.

This accident is non-battle related and an investigation by the Canadian Forces National Investigation Service (CFNIS) is under way to determine the circumstances.

[Grace]

GREAT BRITAIN

Lance Sgt. Dave Greenhalgh, 25, Ilkeston, Derbyshire, England
The Queen's Company, 1st Battalion, Grenadier Guards

Killed when his vehicle was struck by a roadside bomb while on patrol near Lashkar Gah in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, on February 13, 2010

[Grace]

16 February 2010



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

Cpl. Jacob H. Turbett, 21, of Canton, Mich., died Feb. 13 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

[Grace]

15 February 2010


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

Pfc. Jason H. Estopinal, 21, of Dallas, Ga., died Feb. 15 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

[Grace]

16 February 2010



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

Lance Cpl. Noah M. Pier, 25, of Charlotte, N.C., died Feb. 16 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.

[Grace]

Army Releases January Suicide Data


The Army released suicide data today for the month of January. Among active-duty soldiers, there were 12 potential suicides: one has been confirmed as suicide, and 11 remain under investigation. For December, the Army reported ten potential suicides among active-duty soldiers. Since the release of that report, three have been confirmed as suicides, and seven remain under investigation.

During January 2010, among reserve component soldiers who were not on active duty, there were 15 potential suicides. For December, among that same group, there were seven total suicides. Of those, five were confirmed as suicides and two are pending determination of the manner of death.

[Grace]

GREAT BRITAIN

14 February 2010



Rifleman Mark Marshall, 29, Exeter, England

6th Battalion, The Rifles, assigned to 3 Rifles Battle Group.

Killed when a roadside bomb detonated during a routine foot to the northeast of Sangin in Helmand province, Afghanistan, on February 14, 2010

[Grace]

GREAT BRITAIN

14 February 2010


Kingsman Sean Dawson, 19, Ashton-Under-Lyne, Manchester, England

Chindit Company, 2nd Battalion, The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment

Dawson was part of an ambush set up 300 meters northwest of Patrol Base Minden in the Musa Qala district of Helmand province, Afghanistan, on February 14, 2010. The ambush engaged suspected insurgents with small arms fire and Dawson was shot and killed.

[Grace]

16 February 2010



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

Petty Officer 1st Class Sean L. Caughman, 43, of Fort Worth, Texas, died Feb. 16, while supporting operations in Kuwait. Caughman was assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion Twenty-Two.

[Grace]

13 February 2010



The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of three soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. They died of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked their unit with an improvised explosive device Feb. 13 in Zhari province, Afghanistan. They were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.

Killed were:

Staff Sgt. John A. Reiners, 24, of Lakeland, Fla.;

Sgt. Jeremiah T. Wittman, 26, of Darby, Mont.; and

Spc. Bobby J. Pagan, 23, of Austin, Texas.

[Grace]

16 February 2010



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

Lance Cpl. Alejandro J. Yazzie, 23, of Rock Point, Ariz., died Feb. 16 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.

[Grace]

GREAT BRITAIN

15 February 2010


Sapper Guy Mellors, 20, Coventry, England

20 Field Squadron, 36 Engineer Regiment

Killed when a roadside bomb detonated while he was engaged in explosive clearance operations near Patrol Base Ezaray to the northeast of Sangin district center in Helmand province, Afghanistan

[Grace]

17 February 2010



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

Pfc. Eric D. Currier, 21, of Londonderry, N.H., died Feb. 17 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

[Grace]

7 February 2010



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


Pfc. Charles A. Williams, 29, of Fair Oaks, Calif., died Feb. 7 at Camp Nathan Smith, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained while supporting combat operations. He was assigned to the 97th Military Police Battalion, 18th Military Police Brigade, Fort Riley, Kan.

[Grace]

18 February 2010



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


Pfc. Kyle J. Coutu, 20, of Providence, R.I., died Feb. 18 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

[Grace]

18 February 2010


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

Lance Cpl. Larry M. Johnson, 19, of Scranton, Pa., died Feb. 18 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

[Grace]

GREAT BRITAIN


It is with regret that the Ministry of Defence must confirm that Lieutenant Douglas Dalzell of 1st Battalion The Coldstream Guards was killed in Afghanistan on Thursday 18 February 2010. (On his 27th birthday)

Lieutenant Dalzell was serving as part of Combined Force Nahr-e Saraj (South) (formerly known as Battle Group (Babaji)), and was operating as part of Operation MOSHTARAK.

He died from wounds received as a result of an explosion in the Babaji area of Nahr-e-Saraj in Central Helmand.


http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/Templates/GenerateThumbnail.aspx?imageURL=/NR/rdonlyres/35953A4F-4CD0-4CB5-8399-A06B8D19F35B/0/DougieDalzellC_30.jpg&maxSize=210

[Grace]

18 February 2010



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

Lance Cpl. Kielin T. Dunn, 19, of Chesapeake, Va., died Feb. 18 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

[Grace]

18 February 2010



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

Sgt. Jeremy R. McQueary, 27, of Columbus, Ind., died Feb. 18 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

[Grace]

SCOTLAND

18 February 2010



It is with sadness that the Ministry of Defence must confirm that Lance Sergeant David "Davey" Walker, of 1st Battalion Scots Guards was killed in Afghanistan on 18 February 2010.

Lance Sergeant Walker was fatally wounded while conducting a ground domination patrol which was engaged by insurgent fire. He was serving with Right Flank, Scots Guards, attached to Combined Force Nad-e-Ali (North).

Lance Sergeant Walker was employed as a Section Commander within Right Flank who had been playing a vital part in Operation MOSHTARAK since 3 February 2010.


http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/Templates/GenerateThumbnail.aspx?imageURL=/NR/rdonlyres/A0B171D5-E88E-4576-9483-754E4512A712/0/LSgtWalker.jpg&maxSize=210

[Grace]

19 February 2010



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

Lance Cpl. Joshua H. Birchfield, 24, of Westville, Ind., died Feb. 19 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, Calif.

[Grace]

19 February 2010



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

Cpl. Gregory S. Stultz, 22, of Brazil, Ind., died Feb. 19 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Okinawa, Japan.

[Grace]

21 February 2010


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

Lance Cpl. Adam D. Peak, 25, of Florence, Ky., died Feb. 21 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

[Grace]

20 February 2010



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

Staff Sgt. Christopher W. Eckard, 30, of Hickory, N.C., died Feb. 20 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 8th Engineer Support Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

[cassiesmom]

02/19/2010: Lance Cpl. Joshua H. Birchfield, 24, of Westville, Ind., died Feb. 19 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, Calif.
I heard about this on news radio. It makes me sad that soldiers are still getting killed in Afghanistan. Makes me think things are still not happening as they ought to be in that part of the world.

[Grace]

20 February 2010



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

Staff Sgt. Michael David P. Cardenaz, 29, of Corona, Calif., died Feb. 20 in Kunar, Afghanistan, when enemy forces attacked his unit with rocket-propelled grenades. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.

[Grace]

21 February 2010



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

Lance Cpl. Matthias N. Hanson, 20, of Buffalo, Ky., died Feb. 21 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

[Grace]

21 February 2010



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

Lance Cpl. Eric L. Ward, 19, of Redmond, Wash., died Feb. 21 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

[Grace]

21 February 2010


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

Pfc. JR Salvacion, 27, of Ewa Beach, Hawaii, died Feb. 21 at Senjaray, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.

[Grace]

21 February 2010



The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. They died Feb. 21 in Qayyarah, Iraq, of wounds suffered when their OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopter had a hard landing. The soldiers were assigned to the 1st Squadron, 230th Cavalry Regiment, Louisville, Tenn.

Killed were:

Capt. Marcus R. Alford, 28, of Knoxville, Tenn.

Chief Warrant Officer Billie J. Grinder, 25, of Gallatin, Tenn.

[Grace]

ROMANIA

23 February 2010



Sgt. Maj. Florin Badiceanu, 31.

Batalionului 33 Manevra (33rd Maneuver Battalion)

Killed when a roadside bomb detonated underneath his Humvee during a patrol on Highway A1 in Zabul province, Afghanistan.

[Grace]

21 February 2010


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

Sgt. Marcos Gorra, 22, of North Bergen, N.J., died Feb. 21 at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained while supporting combat operations. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.

[Grace]

23 February 2010


Cpl. Daniel T. O’Leary, 23, of Youngsville, N.C., died Feb. 23 in Fallujah, Iraq, of injuries sustained during a vehicle roll-over. He was assigned to the 307th Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.

[Grace]

25 February 2010



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

Sgt. William C. Spencer, 40, of Tacoma, Wash., died Feb. 25 at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Landstuhl, Germany, of wounds sustained Feb. 20 while supporting combat operations at Combat Outpost Marez, Iraq. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 146th Field Artillery Regiment, Olympia, Wash.

[Grace]

GREAT BRITAIN

24 February 2010



It is with sadness that the Ministry of Defence must confirm that Senior Aircraftman Luke Southgate from II Squadron Royal Air Force Regiment was killed in Afghanistan on Wednesday 24 February 2010.

Senior Aircraftman Southgate was part of the Kandahar Airfield Force Protection Wing and was conducting a patrol to protect Kandahar Airfield, and all who operate within it, from the ever-present threat of rocket attacks when he was killed by an improvised explosive device whilst driving his WMIK Land Rover.

Senior Aircraftman (SAC) Luke Southgate was born in Bury St Edmunds on 10 March 1989 and was soon to celebrate his twenty-first birthday on operations in Afghanistan.

[Grace]

GREAT BRITAIN

25 February 2010



It is with sadness that the Ministry of Defence must confirm that Rifleman Martin Kinggett from A Company, 4th Battalion The Rifles (4 RIFLES), part of the 3 RIFLES Battle Group, was killed in Afghanistan on Thursday 25 February 2010.

Rifleman Kinggett, a 19-year-old soldier from A Company 4 RIFLES, serving as part of 3 RIFLES Battle Group, was killed by a gun shot wound in Sangin, Helmand Province.

He was on a routine foot patrol, part of a larger operation to provide security for the local population in Sangin. During the patrol he and his comrades were required to provide covering fire for the evacuation of an injured colleague and Rifleman Kinggett was shot and killed.

[Grace]

GREAT BRITAIN

26 February 2010


It is with regret that the Ministry of Defence must confirm the death Sergeant Paul Maurice Fox, of 28 Engineer Regiment, attached to the Brigade Reconnaissance Force, who was killed in Afghanistan on Friday 26 February 2010.


Sergeant Paul Fox, from St Ives, was born in Manchester on 16th December 1975. He joined the Army and entered the Corps of Royal Engineers in August 1994 and was trained as a combat engineer and Welder Royal Engineer Class 1.

He was killed on the 26 February 2010 by an Improvised Explosive Device while on foot patrol in southern Nad-e Ali.

[Grace]

27 February 2010


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

Staff Sgt. William S. Ricketts, 27, of Corinth, Miss., died Feb 27 at Bala Murghab, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with small arms fire. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.

[Grace]

1 March 2010


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

Spc. Ian T.D. Gelig, 25, of Stevenson Ranch, Calif., died March 1 in Kandahar, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 782nd Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.

[Grace]

1 march 2010


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

Lance Cpl. Carlos A. Aragon, 19, of Orem, Utah, died March 1 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 4th Marine Division, Marine Forces Reserve, based out of Camp Pendleton, Calif.

[Grace]

SOUTH AFRICA




Rifleman Carlo Apolis, 28.
Company A, 4th Battalion, The Rifles

Killed when his foot patrol received small arms fire about 2,310 feet (700 meters) east of Patrol Base Blenheim in Sangin district, Helmand province, Afghanistan, on March 1, 2010

[Grace]

1 March 2010



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

Sgt. Vincent L.C. Owens, 21, of Fort Smith, Ark., died March 1 at Forward Operating Base Sharana, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered earlier that day when enemy forces attacked his vehicle using direct fire in Yosuf Khel. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.

[Grace]

Great Britain


Cpl. Richard Green, 23, Reading, England.

Reconnaissance Platoon, Company B, 3rd Battalion, The Rifles

Died as a result of small arms fire near Sangin in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, on March 2, 2010

[Grace]

4 March 2010


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

Lance Cpl. Nigel K. Olsen, 21, of Orem, Utah, died March 4 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 4th Marine Division, Marine Forces Reserve, based out of Camp Pendleton, Calif.

[Grace]

4 March 2010



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

Spc. Anthony A. Paci, 30, of Rockville, Md., died Mar. 4 at Gereshk, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered during a vehicle rollover. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry, 5th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.

[Grace]

5 March 2010



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

Spc. Alan N. Dikcis, 21, of Niagara Falls, N.Y., died March 5 in Kandahar, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 630th Engineer Company (Clearance), 7th Engineer Battalion (Combat Effects), 20th Engineer Brigade (Combat) (Airborne), Fort Drum, N.Y.

[Grace]

Great Britain



Rifleman Jonathon Allott, 19, North Shields, England.
Company B, 3rd Battalion, The Rifles

Killed when a roadside bomb exploded while conducting an operation to insert a new patrol base near Sangin, Helmand province, Afghanistan, on March 5, 2010

[Grace]

Great Britain



Rifleman Liam Maughan, 18, Doncaster, England
Company B, 3rd Battalion, The Rifles

Shot and killed while providing protection to his platoon as they engaged with the local population near Sangin, Helmand province, Afghanistan, on March 6, 2010

[Grace]

Great Britain



Cpl. Stephen Thompson, 31, Bovey Tracey, Devon, England

1st Battalion, The Rifles

Killed when a roadside bomb exploded while on patrol south of Sangin district center in Helmand province, Afghanistan, on March 7, 2010

[Grace]

Great Britain



Lance Cpl. Tom Keogh, 24, Paddington, London, England

Company A, 4th Battalion, The Rifles

Died of a gunshot wound sustained during a small arms engagement at Patrol Base Bariolai near Sangin in Helmand province, Afghanistan, on March 7, 2010

[Grace]

8 March 2010



The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. They died March 8 north of Al Kut, Iraq, of injuries sustained during a vehicle roll-over. They were assigned to the 203rd Brigade Support Battalion, attached to the 1st Battalion, 10th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Benning, Ga.

Killed were:

Sgt. Aaron M. Arthur, 25, of Lake City, S.C.

Spc. Lakeshia M. Bailey, 23, of Columbus, Ga.