God bless Corporal Dakota Meyer.
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God bless Corporal Dakota Meyer.
12 July 2011
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US Marine Major Jeremy James Graczyk, age 33, died on 12th July 2011 in a BASE jumping accident in Switzerland.
Major Graczyk, a decorated war veteran, had deployed more than seven times to Afghanistan, Iraq and Africa. He attended the United States Naval Academy, and received a BSc degree in Systems Engineering in 1999. He was promoted to the rank of major in 2009.
Major Graczyk holds three Navy-Marine Corps Commendation Medals, one Navy-Marine Corps Achievement Medal, two Combat Action Ribbons, a Presidential Unit Citation, a Meritorious Unit Citation, two National Defense Service Medals, two Afghanistan Campaign Medals, five Iraq Campaign Medals, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and seven Sea Service Deployment Ribbons.
He is survived by his parents, James and Darlene Graczyk, sister Jennifer, nephews Aidan and Gabe, grandparents Richard and Leora Shoop and several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.
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18 July 2011
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Pennsylvania TV station WHTM has reported that three soldiers with the Pennsylvania Army National Guard's 131st Transportation Company were killed in Afghanistan on Monday, according to friends and relatives.
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US Army National Guard Staff-Sgt. Kenneth R. VanGiesen, from Kane, Pennsylvania, was killed along with two fellow soldiers on Monday 18th July when his patrol vehicle struck a roadside bomb in Afghanistan. He was serving with the 131st Transportation Company.
According to a report in Kanerepublican.com, SSgt VanGiesen, a mechanic, was pulled from his "home" base to go to Afghanistan with another National Guard unit that needed someone with his expertise.
The 30-year-old soldier is the son of Tom and Sue VanGiesen from Kane. He and his longtime girlfriend, Erin Sirianni of Kane, have been living in a house they purchased in Erie where SSgt. VanGiesen had been working with the National Guard.
SSgt. VanGiesen had previously deployed to Iraq twice.
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US Army Sergeant Brian K. Mowery from Halifax, Pennsylvania, was one of three soldiers killed on 18th July 2011 in Ghazni province, when his patrol vehicle struck a road mine.
The 49-year-old served with the 131st Transportation Company, 213th Area Support Group, based at Williamstown, Pennsylvania.
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US Army Sergeant Edward W. Koehler, age 47, from Lebanon, Pennsylvania, was one of three soldiers killed on 18th July 2011 in Ghazni province, when his patrol vehicle struck a road mine.
Sgt. Koehler served with the 131st Transportation Company, 213th Area Support Group, based at Williamstown, Pennsylvania.
After serving with the Marine Corps from 1982 to 1988, he took a 10-year break from the service. He enlisted in the Pennsylvania National Guard in 1997 as a motor transport operator, serving his entire Guard career in the 131st Transportation Company.
This was Sgt. Koehler's first tour of duty in Afghanistan. He had also served with the 131st in Kuwait and Iraq from 2003 to 2004.
His awards include the Combat Action Badge, three Army Reserve Component Achievement Medals, Army Achievement Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary and Service Medals, Driver and Mechanic Badge, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon and the Governor's Unit Citation.
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18 July 2011
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[B]Nebraska Army National Guard Sergeant Omar A. Jones died on 18th July 2011 at a base in Balkh province from a "non-combat" related injury. The 28-year-old soldier served with the 126th Chemical Battalion, 92nd Troop Command, Nebraska Army National Guard, based at Wahoo, Nebraska.
The Nebraska National Guard said Sgt. Jones was born in Jackson, Mississippi and enlisted in the Army in 2001 when he was 18. After his active tour duty, he joined the Nebraska National Guard in 2005. He had previously deployed twice to Iraq. This was his first tour of duty in Afghanistan.
Sgt. Jones, who spent much of his childhood in Colombia, is survived by his wife, Ava L. Jones, his daughter, Airiana G. Jones, son Malachi A. Jones, his father, Dennis D. Jones and his mother, Luz A. Jones.
19 July 2011
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27-year-old US Army Sergeant Jacob Molina was one of two soldiers killed in Kunar province on 19th July 2011 from the blast of a roadside bomb against their patrol vehicle.
Sgt. Molina, from Houston, Texas, served in the Hawaiian based 25th Infantry Division with 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment. He enlisted in the Army in February 2007. This was his second overseas combat tour. He had previously served in Iraq.
His mother, Janie Torre, told a local news channel that Jacob had wanted to be in the military ever since becoming a teenager. She knew it was his destiny, but never expected he wouldn’t come back alive.
"He’s tough," said Janie, choking back the tears. "And, I’ve always known Jacob to get out of everything, not this time."
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29-year-old US Army Staff Sergeant James M. Christen was one of two soldiers killed in Kunar province on 19th July 2011 from the blast of a roadside bomb against their patrol vehicle.
Staff-Sgt. Christen, from Loomis, California, served in the Hawaiian based 25th Infantry Division with 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment.
This was Staff-Sgt. Christen’s third overseas combat deployment. He previously served two tours in Iraq. He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart.
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21 July 2011
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36-year-old US Army Master Sergeant Benjamin A. Stevenson was killed in action in Paktika province on 21st July 2011 by small arms fire in a contact with enemy forces.
Master Sgt. Stevenson, from Canyon Lake, Texas, served with the U.S. Army Special Operations Command, based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
23 July 2011
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President Obama marked the passing of a “genuine soldier-statesman” Saturday after it emerged former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. John Shalikashvili had died at 75.
Shalikashvili led the Joint Chiefs under President Bill Clinton from 1993 to 1997, succeeding Gen. Colin Powell. He counseled Clinton on the use of troops in Bosnia and other trouble spots.
Polish-born Shalikashvili fled his homeland in 1944 ahead of the Russian advance and came to the U.S. as a teenager. He survived a stroke in 2004.
Obama said in a statement: “With the passing of General John M. Shalikashvili, the United States has lost a genuine soldier-statesman whose extraordinary life represented the promise of America and the limitless possibilities that are open to those who choose to serve it. From his arrival in the United States as a 16-year old Polish immigrant after the Second World War, to a young man who learned English from John Wayne movies, to his rise to the highest ranks of our military, Shali’s life was an “only in America” story. By any measure, he made our country a safer and better place.
“As Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, he strengthened our alliances in Europe and in Asia, forged closer defense ties with Russia, and championed the Partnership for Peace with the former Soviet states. At the same time, he oversaw successful military operations in Bosnia and Haiti, and elsewhere. Most of all, he fought tirelessly to improve the quality of life for our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen and their families who serve to keep us safe.
“Michelle and I extend our heartfelt condolences to General Shalikashvili’s wife Joan and their son Brant.” Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, who worked with Shalikashvili in the Clinton White House, also paid tribute “with a heavy heart.”
His statement read: “It is with a heavy heart that I received news of the passing of General John M. Shalikashvili. John was an extraordinary patriot who faithfully defended this country for four decades, rising to the very pinnacle of the military profession. He lived the American dream, arriving from Europe with his family as a teenager after World War II, and he dedicated his life to defending the country that had quickly adopted him and his family.
“I worked closely with John back in the Clinton administration when he served as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and I was the White House Chief of Staff. I came to rely on his wise counsel, his wealth of military expertise, and his candor as we were challenged by foreign policy crises in Haiti, the Balkans, and elsewhere. I will remember John as always being a stalwart advocate for the brave men and women who don the uniform and stand guard over this nation.
“During my many years of public service, I have had the privilege to serve alongside great leaders. John Shalikashvili was one of this country's finest. My condolences go out to his wife Joan and his son Brant.”
Current Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen said in a statement: “The Joint Chiefs and the more than two million men and women in uniform join me today in mourning the death of retired General John Shalikashvili, our 13th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
“During his tenure as Chairman, he skillfully shepherded our military through the early years of the post-Cold War era, helping to redefine both U.S. and NATO relationships with former members of the Warsaw Pact, while crafting a vision for our military that vastly improved its joint capabilities and interoperability, efforts that continue to make a difference around the world today.”
Italy
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Italian paratrooper, Caporal Maggiore David Tobini, was killed in action on Monday 25th July 2011 during a gun battle with enemy forces near Bala Murghab. Two other Italian troops were wounded.
C-Maggiore, age 28, served with the Italian 183rd Parachute Regiment "Nimbus". He lived in Osteria Nuova, Rome, with his mother and brother. His father also lives in Rome. This was his first deployment to Afghanistan.
E’ il 1° Caporal Maggiore David Tobini, 28 anni, del 183° reggimento paracadutisti “Nembo” di Pistoia, il militare italiano rimasto ucciso oggi nel corso di un’operazione nella parte occidentale dell’Afghanistan.
Altri due soldati sono rimasti feriti, uno dei quali in modo grave.
Durante l’operazione congiunta condotta da forze italiane e afgane nella zona a nord ovest della valle di Bala Murghab, l’unità nella quale erano presenti anche i militari italiani e’ stata attaccata.
Resta in gravi condizioni uno dei due militari rimasti feriti nello scontro a fuoco, mentre il secondo non è in pericolo di vita.
World War II
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Missing World War II Soldiers Indentified
The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced Monday that the remains 12 U.S. servicemen, missing in action from World War II, have been identified and are being returned to their families for burial with full military honors.
They are Army Air Forces
1st Lt. Jack E. Volz, 21, of Indianapolis;
2nd Lt. Regis E. Dietz, 28, of Pittsburgh, Pa.;
2nd Lt. Edward J. Lake, 25, of Brooklyn, N.Y.;
2nd Lt. Martin P. Murray, 21, of Lowell, Mass.;
2nd Lt. William J. Shryock, 23, of Gary, Ind.;
Tech. Sgt. Robert S. Wren, 25, of Seattle, Wash.;
Tech. Sgt. Hollis R. Smith, 22, of Cove, Ark.;
Staff Sgt. Berthold A. Chastain, 27, Dalton, Ga.;
Staff Sgt. Clyde L. Green, 24, Erie, Pa.;
Staff Sgt. Frederick E. Harris, 23, Medford, Mass.;
Staff Sgt. Claude A. Ray, 24, Coffeyville, Kan.;
and Staff Sgt. Claude G. Tyler, 24, Landover, Md.
The remains representing the entire crew will be buried as a group, in a single casket, Aug. 4 in Arlington National Cemetery near Washington, D.C. Eight of the airmen were identified and buried as individuals during previous ceremonies. Shryock, Green and Harris were also individually identified and will be interred individually at Arlington on the same day as the group interment.
These 12 airmen were ordered to carry out a reconnaissance mission in their B-24D Liberator, taking off from an airfield near Port Moresby, New Guinea, on Oct. 27, 1943. Allied plans were being formulated to mount an attack on the Japanese redoubt at Rabaul, New Britain. American strategists considered it critical to take Rabaul in order to support the eventual invasion of the Philippines. The crew’s assigned area of reconnaissance was the nearby shipping lanes in the Bismarck Sea. But during their mission, they were radioed to land at a friendly air strip nearby due to poor weather conditions. The last radio transmission from the crew did not indicate their location, and in the following weeks, multiple searches over land and sea areas did not locate the aircraft.
Following World War II, the Army Graves Registration Service conducted investigations and searches for 43 missing airmen, including these airmen, in the area but concluded in June 1949 that they were unrecoverable.
In August 2003, a team from the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) received information on a crash site from a citizen in Papua New Guinea while they were investigating another case. He also turned over an identification card from one of the crew members and reported that there were possible human remains at the site of the crash. Twice in 2004 other JPAC teams attempted to visit the site but were unable to do so due to poor weather and hazardous conditions at the helicopter landing site. Another team was able to successfully excavate the site from January to March 2007 where they found several identification tags from the B-24D crew as well as human remains.
Among other forensic identification tools and circumstantial evidence, scientists from JPAC and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory used mitochondrial DNA—which matched that of some of the crewmembers’ families—in the identification of their remains
Of the 16 million Americans who served in World War II, more than 400,000 died. At the end of the war, the U.S. government was unable to recover and identify approximately 79,000 Americans. Today, more than 73,000 are unaccounted-for from the conflict.
Interesting to watch and listen to what really happened, and why so many lives were just thrown away.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F67C8yzww_Y
Poland
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Polish Army Lance-Corporal Paweł Poświat was killed in Ghazni province on 28th July 2011 when a road mine detonated beneath his armored patrol vehicle. L-Cpl. Poświat, age 29, was driving the vehicle at the time of the explosion.
Seriously injured, he was evacuated by helicopter to the Polish military base hospital in Ghazni. Sadly, doctors were unable to save his life.
L-Cpl. Poświat, a bachelor, joined the Polish Army in 2003 and served with the 17th Wielkopolska Mechanized Brigade.
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29 July 2011
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22-year-old Oklahoma Army National Guardsman, Augustus 'Augy' Vicari was killed in action on Friday 29th July 2011 when his patrol vehicle struck a roadside bomb. He had deployed to Afghanistan in June.
The soldier, who graduated from Lowell High School, Indiana, in 2008 was married and lived in Oklahoma. He joined the Oklahoma National Guard in 2009. He and his wife, Holly, would have celebrated their first wedding anniversary in September.
A "quick wit and ready smile" is how family and friends are remembering Augustus Vicari, one of five children.
29 July 2011
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US Army officer 2nd Lieutenant Jered W. Ewy was one of two Oklahoma National Guardsmen killed in action on 29th July 2011 when a bomb detonated as they were on patrol in Paktia, Afghanistan.
2nd Lt. Ewy, age 33, was serving with the 1st Battalion, 279th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.
Also killed in the same incident was Spc. Augustus Vicari
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"The Last of the First"
The first offensive action of the United States during World War II was on Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands by the United States Marine Corps.
August 7, 1942.The First Marine Division fought on Guadalcanal, Tulagi, Cape Gloucester,New Britian, New Guinea, Peleliu, Okinawa.
There is a bottle of 1st Grand Cru Cognac, (circa 1920-25) that is to be opened by the last survivor among the Marines and sailors who served in combat with the division during WW II. It was estimated that it would be opened by 2010. It is in the Marines' Memorial Club in San Francisco and is in the custody of the First Marine Division Association.
Navy Pharmacist Mates served side by side with the Marines. Wore out uniforms but with their insignia. They were our beloved "Corpsman".
136 KIA with the 1st Division.
Who knows? Maybe I will be the one to raise the glass in a toast to a truly great Division.
Fideli Certa Merces - To the faithful there is just reward
Semper Fidelis -Always Faithful
To be a Marine is enough
Pfc. Thomas C. Reedy, Jr.
566495Company C, 1st Battalion,
7th Regiment First Marine Division
United States Marine Corps 1944-46
31 July 2011
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Hawaii-based US Army Sergeant William B. GrossPaniagua, from Daly City, California, was killed in action on 31st July 2011 in Kunar province, Afghanistan, when an insurgent bomb detonated against his patrol vehicle.
28-year-old Sgt. GrossPaniagua served with the 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, based at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.
Sgt. GrossPaniagua enlisted in the U.S. Army in September 2005 as a Combat Engineer. He previously served in Iraq in 2008 and this was his first deployment to Afghanistan.
31 July 2011
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US Army Pfc. Brice M. Scott, age 22, was killed in action on Sunday 31st July 2011 near Kandahar, Afghanistan, during a contact with enemy forces involving small-arms fire.
Pfc. Scott, on his first deployment to Afghanistan, was a father and former North Eugene High School student in Oregon. On joining the Army, he continued a family tradition of military service going back generations.
His family told local news that "he sought out the action of the front line and died doing the job he loved."
Pfc. Scott served with the 4th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, based at Fort Riley, Kansas.
1 August 2011
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32-year-old US Marine Staff Sergeant Leon H. Lucas Jr., from Wilson, North Carolina, died while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan on 1st August 2011.
Staff Sgt. Lucas served with the 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, based at Twentynine Palms, California.
Vietnam
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Soldier Missing from Vietnam War Identified
The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office announced today that the remains of a serviceman, missing in action from the Vietnam War, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors.
Army Chief Warrant Officer George A. Howes, of Knox, Ind., will be buried Aug. 5 in Arlington National Cemetery. On Jan. 10, 1970, Howes and three aircrew members were returning to their base at Chu Lai, South Vietnam aboard a UH-1C Huey helicopter. Due to bad weather, their helicopter went down over Quang Nam Province, Socialist Republic of Vietnam (S.R.V.). A search was initiated for the crew, but no sign of the helicopter or crew was spotted.
In 1989, the S.R.V. gave to U.S. specialists 25 boxes that reportedly contained the remains of U.S. servicemen related to this incident. Later that year, additional remains and a military identification tag from one of the other missing servicemen were obtained from a Vietnamese refugee.
Between 1993 and 1999, joint U.S./S.R.V. teams, led by the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC), conducted three investigations in Ho Chi Minh City and two investigations in Quang Nam-Da Nang Province (formerly Quang Nam Province). A Vietnamese citizen in Ho Chi Minh City turned over a military identification tag bearing Howes’ name and told the team he knew where the remains of as many as nine American servicemen were buried. He agreed to lead the team to the burial site. In 1994, the team excavated the site and recovered a metal box and several bags containing human remains. In 2006, the remains of three of the four men were identified and buried. No remains could be attributed to Howes given the technology of the time. In 2008, given advances in DNA technology, the remains were reanalyzed.
Among other forensic identification tools and circumstantial evidence, scientists from JPAC and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory also used dental comparisons and mitochondrial DNA – which matched that of Howes’ sister and brother—in the identification of the remains.
31 July 2011
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US Marine Sergeant Christopher M. Wrinkle, age 27, from Stewartstown, Pennsylvania, died in Afghanistan on Sunday 31st July 2011. Sgt. Wrinkle, who holds two Purple Hearts, was engaged to be married to Elizabeth Cunnings.
He graduated from Dallastown Area Senior High in 2001 and had spent almost ten years serving with the U.S. Marine Corps Special Operations Command based at Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, North Carolina, Major Jeffrey Landis, public affairs officer of the special operations command, told local news reporters.
31 July 2011
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US Marine Staff Sergeant Patrick R. Dolphin, from Moscow, Pennsylvania, died in Afghanistan on Sunday 31st July 2011.
The 29-year-old graduated from North Pocono High School in 2000 and joined the Marine Corps just before his 18th birthday, completing his basic training in 2001.
Staff Sgt. Dolphin had previously served two tours of duty in Iraq. This was his second deployment to Afghanistan.
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2 August 2011
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Oklahoma National Guard Staff Sgt. Kirk Owen, age 37, was killed in Afghanistan on Tuesday 2nd August 2011 from the blast of a roadside bomb that struck his vehicle during a mine-sweeping operation, according to a family spokesman.
Staff Sgt. Owen, from Sapulpa, Oklahoma, was on his second combat tour in Afghanistan, serving with the 45th Infantry. He leaves behind a wife and two daughters.
England
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It is with sadness that the Ministry of Defence must confirm that Marine James Robert Wright, from Juliet Company, 42 Commando Royal Marines, serving as part of Combined Force Nad 'Ali (North), was killed in Helmand province, southern Afghanistan on Friday 5 August 2011.
Ministry of Defence statement
About time -
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Army Announces Nine Month Deployment Period
The Secretary of the Army John McHugh announced today a change in the length of future unit operational deployments from 12 months to nine months. This change will be fully implemented by April 2012, and applies to division-level-and-below units. This policy will not affect personnel or units currently deployed or deploying prior to Jan. 1, 2012. The deployment period for high demand and low density units and individual deployers will remain one year.
The reduced deployment length will improve soldier and family quality of life while continuing to meet operational requirements and is an important step in sustaining the all-volunteer-force. This policy change is consistent with secretary of defense policies for utilization of the total force. Implementation of this change is based on the projected demand for Army forces, and is contingent on global security conditions and combatant commander requirements.
3 August 2011
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24-year-old US Army Specialist Barun Rai, from Silver Spring, Maryland, died on 3rd August 2011 from injuries received when a patrol vehicle overturned in Logar province, Afghanistan.
Spc. Rai, originally from Nepal, served with the 54th Engineer Battalion, 18th Engineer Brigade, 21st Theater Sustainment Command, based at Warner Barracks, Bamberg, Germany.
3 August 2011
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10th Mountain Division Private 1st Class Gil I. Morales Del Valle was one of two US Army soldiers killed from the blast of an insurgent bomb that detonated against their patrol vehicle in Wardak province. He died on 3rd August 2011.
21-year-old Pfc. Morales Del Valle, from Jacksonville, Florida, served with the 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment based at Fort Polk, Louisiana. He joined the Army in February 2010 and deployed to Afghanistan in October 2010.
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10th Mountain Division Private 1st Class Cody G. Baker was one of two US Army soldiers killed from the blast of an insurgent bomb that detonated against their patrol vehicle in Wardak province. He died on 3rd August 2011.
19-year-old Pfc. Baker, from Holton, Kansas, served with the 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment based at Fort Polk, Louisiana. He joined the Army in June 2010 and deployed to Afghanistan in November 2010.
His awards include the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart, among others. Army officials said Pfc. Baker is survived by his mother and stepfather.
4 August 2011
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Oklahoma National Guard Sergeant Anthony Del Mar Peterson, from Chelsea, Oklahoma, was killed in action on 4th August 2011 during a battle with enemy forces in Paktia province, Afghanistan. He was wounded by small arms fire and died from his injuries.
Sgt. Peterson, age 24, was serving with the 1st Battalion, 279th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. This was his third operational tour in Afghanistan.
"Oklahoma has lost another brave son," Major General Myles Deering, Oklahoma's adjutant general, said on Friday. "Sergeant Peterson was an exceptional soldier who worked tirelessly to protect the values that we as Americans hold close to our hearts."
4 August 2011
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Alabama National Guard officer, Captain Waid C. Ramsey, was killed in action on 4th August 2011 in Paktika province during a contact with enemy forces who attacked his patrol with small arms fire.
41-year-old Capt. Ramsey, from Red Bay, Alabama, deployed to Afghanistan in November 2010 with the Guard's 20th Special Forces Group of Birmingham. He is the second soldier from the 20th Special Forces Group to die in combat in Afghanistan in the last two years.
5 August 2011
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A US Marine Corps press officer has confirmed that 21-year-old Marine Sergeant Daniel D. Gurr was shot and killed in action by enemy forces during a patrol in Sangin district on Friday 5th August 2011.
Sgt. Gurr, from Vernal, Utah, served with the 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward), based at Okinawa, Japan.
He graduated from Uinta High School in 2008 and joined the Marine Corps shortly afterwards. He was single.
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5 August 2011
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10th Mountain Specialist Mark J. Downer was killed in action in Kandahar on 5th August 2011 when enemy forces fired a rocket-propelled grenade at his unit. He died from injuries received from the blast.
23-year-old Spc. Downer, from Warner Robins, Georgia, was a combat medic serving with the 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, based at Fort Drum, New York. He joined the Army in December 2009 and deployed to Afghanistan in March this year.
Spc. Downer leaves his parents and a child.
5 August 2011
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US Army Specialist Jinsu Lee died in Kunar province on 5th August 2011. The military are investigating the circumstances of his death.
Spc. Lee, age 34, from Chatsworth, California, was a Unit Supply Specialist serving with the 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, based at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.
His service awards and decorations include the National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal, Army Service Ribbon and Combat Action Badge. He was posthumously awarded the Afghanistan Campaign Service Medal with Star, Army Good Conduct Medal and Army Overseas Service Ribbon.
Spc. Lee joined the Army in August 2009 and this was his first overseas deployment. He leaves his wife and three daughters.
And so it begins -
#1
6 August 2011
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US Navy Petty Officer First Class Michael Strange, a Philadelphia-area native, was one of the US troops killed in Afghanistan on 6th August 2011 when a Chinook helicopter he was in was reportedly shot down by enemy forces, killing all on board.
The 25-year-old joined the Navy in 2004 after graduating from High School, and embarked on the career of his dreams. His family told news reporters this was his third combat deployment to Afghanistan.
Fron the Daily Sentinel, Colorado -
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If someone was sad, Michael Strange tried to make them smile. He loved snowboarding, surfing, scuba diving, running, and shooting guns on the range.
"He loved his friends, his family, his country; he loved making people laugh. He was one of a kind," Strange's brother, Charles Strange III, said outside the family's Philadelphia home, where American flags were planted throughout the neighborhood.
Strange, 25, decided to join the military when he was still in high school, and had been in the Navy for about six years, first stationed in Hawaii and for the last two in Virginia Beach, where he became a SEAL about two years ago, his mother, Elizabeth Strange, told The Associated Press.
But he always told his family not to worry.
"He wasn't supposed to die this young. He was supposed to be safe," Elizabeth Strange said. "And he told me that, and I believed him. I shouldn't have believed him because I know better. He would say, 'Mom, don't be ridiculous and worry so much. I'm safe.'"
Charles Strange said his brother loved the SEALS, especially "the competitiveness, getting in shape and running and swimming and all of that."
He also had two sisters and recently became an uncle. The family last saw him in June, when he came for a weeklong visit for his birthday, his mother said. He was supposed to be back for Thanksgiving.
"It was going to be such a good time," his mother said.
His grandmother Bernice Strange remembered him as a young man who loved cheesesteaks and the Philadelphia Eagles and always brought her flowers.
"He was a wonderful grandson to have," she said Monday night. "God truly blessed me with him."
#2
6 August 2011
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US Navy SEAL Aaron Carson Vaughn was killed in action on 6th August 2011 when the Chinook helicopter he was in was reportedly shot down by enemy forces and crashed in Wardak province, Afghanistan, killing all on board.
He was based in Virginia Beach and had served in Guam, Germany, Iraq and Afghanistan.
Aaron Vaughn's grandmother, Geneva Vaughn of Union City, Tennessee, said on Saturday that her grandson, a Tennessee native, had returned to combat just two weeks after his 2-month-old daughter was born this summer.
He leaves behind his wife, Kimberly, and two children, 2-year-old son Reagan and 2-month-old daughter Chamberlyn.
#3
6 August 2011
From the Daily Sentinel, Colorado -Quote:
US Navy SEAL Tommy Ratzlaff, age 34, from Arkansas was one of the Special Forces troops killed on 6th August 2011 when a Chinook helicopter crashed in Wardak province, Afghanistan, killing all on board.
Local news stations are reporting that Ratzlaff leaves behind a pregnant wife and two young sons.
He joined the US Navy in 1995 after graduating from high school and started training in the SEAL program the following year.
Ratzlaff’s family told local news that they’re "proud of him and his accomplishments," adding "he would have been grateful for all the support he’s getting. He died defending everyone he loved."
Quote:
Thomas Ratzlaff wanted to be a Navy SEAL ever since he was a young boy growing up in Green Forest, Ark.
"He did what he loved and died defending those he loved and those who loved him," his nephew, Jeff Adams, said as he read a statement from the family.
When Ratzlaff visited his hometown in northwest Arkansas, his late father would bring him by the log cabin restaurant where he ordered an egg, sausage and wheat toast every morning.
"The whole town was proud of him," said Loree Blackburn, who runs that restaurant.
Now, the community of 2,700 remembers Ratzlaff with flags flying at half-staff.
Ratzlaff, 34, would have been grateful for the outpouring of support for his family, his nephew said. But he "would want the focus to remain on the cause for which he made the sacrifice, not the sacrifice itself."
He had two sons and a wife expecting their third child — a girl — in November. He also leaves behind a sister and mother.
"As a Navy SEAL team member, my uncle was trained to keep a low profile and to do his job," Adams said.
#4
6 August 2011
From the Daily Sentinel, Colorado -Quote:
Nebraska Army Air Guardsman Sergeant Patrick Hamburger was killed on 6th August 2011 in the Chinook helicopter crash in Wardak province, Afghanistan. The 30-year-old father had only been in Afghanistan for about a week before the incident.
http://www.omaha.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/...w=490&maxh=275
Sgt. Hamburger's stepfather, DeLayne Peck, told local news that his stepson had joined the Air Guard when he was 18, and that he planned to propose to the mother of his 2-year-old daughter when he returned from Afghanistan.
Quote:
Patrick Hamburger planned to propose to his girlfriend, but had a job to do first: a mission in Afghanistan.
The 30-year-old sergeant from Grand Island, Neb., joined the Nebraska National Guard when he was a senior at Lincoln Southeast High School, but this was his first deployment, his brother Chris Hamburger told The Associated Press.
"He didn't have to go, and he wanted to go because his group was getting deployed. He wanted to be there for them. That's him for you," Chris Hamburger said, adding that Patrick always looked out for his two younger brothers and friends.
He was also the kind of guy who helped his girlfriend raise her 13-year-old daughter from another relationship, as well as the couple's own 2-year-old daughter, and planned to propose marriage when he got home, Chris Hamburger said.
Patrick Hamburger had been in Afghanistan less than two weeks and had arrived at Forward Operating Base Shank a few days before climbing aboard the helicopter to rush to the aid of an Army Ranger unit under fire from insurgents.
"It doesn't come as a total surprise that he was trying to help people and that's how it all ended up happening," Chris Hamburger said.
France
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French Foreign Legion Corporal Kisan Bahadur Thapa was one of two French Legionnaires killed in action on 7th August 2011 in a battle with enemy forces near the Tagab Valley, Kapisa. He served with 2nd Parachute Regiment Etranger (REP), based at Calvi, Corsica.
Cpl. Thapa joined the Foreign Legion in March 2008 and was assigned to the 2nd REP after his initial training with the 4th Foreign Regiment of Castelnaudary. He was promoted to Legionnaire 1st Class in November 2008, and promoted to Corporal in May this year. He previously served in New Caledonia and Afghanistan.
Described by his superiors as "thorough, calm, a good comrade, and remaining calm and cool in the face of adversity," Cpl. Thapa was destined for further promotion. He held the Bronze Medal of National Defence with staples "Foreign Legion" and "Mission of external assistance," the French commemorative medal with clasp "Afghanistan" and the NATO Medal.
Aged 30, Cpl. Thapa was married with a baby boy.
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vMexYsy4dC...-gerhardus.jpgQuote:
French Foreign Legionnaire 1st Class Gerhardus Jansen was one of two French Legionnaires killed in action on 7th August 2011 in a battle with enemy forces near the Tagab Valley, Kapisa. He served with 2nd Parachute Regiment Etranger (REP), based at Calvi, Corsica. He joined the 2nd REP in August 2008.
In January 2009, he was promoted to Legionnaire 1st Class. After a mission in Djibouti, Jansen deployed to Afghanistan.
The 24-year-old was awarded the Bronze Medal of National Defence clip "Foreign Legion" and "Mission of external assistance," the French Commemorative Medal clasp "Afghanistan" and the NATO Medal.
#5
6 August 2011
Article from his local paper.Quote:
US Navy SEAL, Jason Workman, age 33 from Utah was one of the US troops killed on 6th August 2011 when a Chinook helicopter crashed in Wardak province. Married with a young son, he had been a Navy SEAL for eight years.
#6
6 August 2011
Local article about CPO Mills.Quote:
35-year-old US Navy SEAL Matt Mills was killed in action on 6th August 2011 when the Chinook helicopter he was in, crashed in Wardak province. The father of three, from Texas, leaves his wife Keri and their one-year-old son. He also leaves a 13-year-old daughter and 18-year-old son from a previous marriage.
Chief Petty Officer Mills had been in the Navy for almost 14 years and had served on USS Kinkaid. He joined the Navy SEALs around 10 years ago. He had deployed many times to Iraq and Afghanistan prior to this tour.
World War II
Quote:
Soldier Missing in Action from WWII Identified
The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of a serviceman, missing in action from World War II, have been identified and are being buried with full military honors.
Army Pfc. William F. Stehlin of Dayton, Ky., will be buried on Aug. 11 in Arlington National Cemetery. On Nov. 20, 1944, Stehlin, as part of the 333rd Infantry Regiment, 84th Infantry Division, went missing near Süggerath while his unit conducted a largely successful offensive to capture towns in Western Germany. In 1951, after an extensive search, his remains were determined unrecoverable by U.S. Army Graves Registration personnel.
In 2009, a German citizen digging in a wooded area near Süggerath, discovered a grave with the remains of two individuals, military-related equipment and identification tags.
Among other forensic identification tools and circumstantial evidence, scientists from the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command laboratory also used dental comparisons in the identification of the remains. The other individual, Pfc. Edward L. O’Toole, was identified and buried on July 15 in San Bruno, Calif.
Today, more than 73,000 are unaccounted-for from the conflict.
6 August 2011
Quote:
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
Sgt. Daniel J. Patron, 26, of Canton, Ohio, died Aug. 6 while conducting 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.
Article from hometown paper.
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7 August 2011
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Mzm2x7Mtxa...gonzales-a.jpgQuote:
US Marine Sergeant Adan Gonzales Jr was killed in action during combat operations in Helmand province on 7th August 2011.
The 28-year-old, from Bakersfield, California served with the 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division based at Camp Pendleton, California.
Sgt. Gonzales Jr had served in the US Marine Corps for five years. He leaves his wife Catalina and their three children - two daughters ages five and three and a one-year-old son.