In Memoriam

[Grace]

31 December 2011

The Department of Defense announced the non-combat death of a Soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom-Afghanistan.

Spc. Pernell J. Herrera, 33, of Espanola, New Mexico, died Dec. 31, 2011,in Helmand province, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered in a non-combat incident.

Spc. Herrera was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 171st Aviation Regiment, Santa Fe, New Mexico.

[Grace]

31 December 2011

A soldier who returned to the UK from Afghanistan for Christmas has been killed after being in collision with a taxi.

Lee Foley, 26, had been on a night out in Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales, with his parents and girlfriend when he was struck by the car and later died in hospital.

The accident happened at 10.30pm on New Year's Eve when the family were in the town centre to enjoy the celebrations.

His parents, Paul and Sian, and sister Lyndsey, 23, were today too upset to speak but a family friend said: 'It is so tragic. He has been dodging bullets in Afghanistan on two tours of duty out there.

'It is unbelievable that he then gets killed on a night out back home with his family. Everyone is heartbroken - he was a smashing lad.

'A lot of tears are being shed.'

'They were so proud of him. Naturally, like the parents of all squaddies in Afghanistan, they were worried about him and glad to have him home.

'He was going to rejoin his regiment on January 10 and then due to go back out to Afghanistan later this year.

'It is a tragic way to start the New Year - everyone is heartbroken.'

Mr Foley joined the Army as a teenager and was a member of 39 Squadron of the Royal Engineers.

In 2008 he completed the Three Peaks Challenge as part of his squadron’s team, the Ponderoza Plodders.

He was fifth to cross the finishing line out of the 185 competitors who scaled Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon.

His father Paul, said at the time: 'He trained really hard for it and it was lovely to see him crossing the line at the bottom of Snowdon. He has done very, very well.'

Floral tributes were left at the scene of the crash yesterday, with one card reading: 'RIP Lee, a lovely person. So, so sad. A pleasure to know you.'

Tributes were also paid on Facebook where friend Iain Jones, 26, of Merthyr Tydfil, said: 'RIP Lee. You were a good guy. This tragedy will touch many people. Thoughts go out to the family and friends.'

A South Wales Police spokeswoman said: 'At approximately 10.10pm on Saturday, December 31, a fatal road traffic collision occurred in Merthyr Tydfil town centre.

'A 26-year-old local male pedestrian was in collision with a black Vauxhall Astra estate taxi and later died of his injuries at hospital.

'A police family liaison officer has been appointed to support the next of kin.'

[Grace]

2 January 2012

24-year-old US Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Chad R. Regelin, from California, was killed in action during a combat operation in Helmand on 2nd January 2012. He died after being caught in the blast of an insurgent bomb.

PO Regelin served as a bomb disposal technician with Marine Special Operations Company Bravo. He was stationed at the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 3, San Diego, California.

PO Regelin's family told local news that he was killed just an hour after he’d spoken to his family by telephone. His parents, Shirene and Scott Regelin of Anderson, were notified of his death shortly after 2 p.m.

"He called us while he was on watch," PO Regelin's brother, Justin, said. "He was really upbeat because he had just gotten his orders to come back stateside on Feb. 15. He told us that he had about a week to go (in Kandahar) before they could helicopter in the replacement team."

[Grace]

United Kingdom

It is with sadness that the Ministry of Defence must confirm the death of Rifleman Sachin Limbu, from 1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles, at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham on Monday 2 January 2012.

He died from wounds sustained while serving in Afghanistan in June 2010.

Minstry of Defense statement

[Grace]

Lance Sergeant Dan Collins: The Afghanistan hero who could bear the horrors of war no longer

Entire article with photo

[phesina]

How very sad. Rest in peace, Sergeant Collins.

[Grace]

5 and 6 January 2012

Eight NATO troops have been killed in action in a series of bombings targeting troops in southern Afghanistan, ISAF has announced.

The first attack happened on Thursday 5th January when an insurgent bomb killed three troops. A fourth soldier died early Friday 6th January in a separate insurgent attack.

Later Friday 6th January, four more troops were killed in another bombing in southern Afghanistan.

ISAF did not release the nationalities of the eight troops. Details about the incidents and identities will be released by the troops' home countries.

More information to follow.

More details when available.

[Grace]

Three USAF servicemen were killed while on patrol in Helmand province on 5th January 2012. Killed were:

34-year-old Technical Sgt. Matthew S. Schwartz

23-year-old Senior Airman Bryan Bell

24-year-old Airman 1st Class Matthew R. Seidler

34-year-old USAF Tech. Sgt. Matthew S. Schwartz, from Michigan, was one of three Air Force servicemen killed in action on 5th January 2012 when their vehicle struck an insurgent bomb in Shir Ghazi, Helmand.

Sgt. Schwartz was a bomb-disposal technician serving with the 90th Civil Engineer Squadron, FE Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming. His family told local news that this was his sixth combat mission and that he had also served in Iraq. He had served in the US Air Force for 12 years.

Sgt. Schwartz leaves his wife, Jenny, and three daughters.

24-year-old USAF Airman 1st Class Matthew R. Seidler, from Westminster, Maryland was one of three Air Force servicemen killed in action on 5th January 2012 when their vehicle struck an insurgent bomb in Shir Ghazi, Helmand.

Afc Seidler was serving with the 21st Civil Engineer Squadron, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado.

23-year-old USAF Senior Airman Bryan R. Bell, from Erie, Pennsylvania, was one of three Air Force servicemen killed in action on 5th January 2012 when their vehicle struck an insurgent bomb in Shir Ghazi, Helmand.

Sr. Airman Bell, a bomb-disposal technician serving with the 2nd Civil Engineer Squadron, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, was a volunteer firefighter. He graduated from Harbor Creek High School in 2006 and joined the Air Force the same year.

He leaves behind his father, mother, wife and sister.

[Grace]

5 January 2012

From FoxNews

Four Indiana National Guardsmen Killed in Afghanistan

Four soldiers with an Indiana-based National Guard unit were killed in Afghanistan and a fifth was injured when their vehicle struck a roadside bomb as they were working to clear a supply route of the improvised bombs, guard officials said Saturday.

Indiana Adjutant General Martin Umbarger said the four members of the Valparaiso-based 713th Engineer Company died Thursday morning in southern Afghanistan. He said all of the men were combat engineers who specialized in clearing major supply routes.

The blast occurred as their vehicle traveled along a road, scouting for signs of roadside bombs and other potential problems convoys might encounter as the move supplies in the decade-long war in Afghanistan, Umbarger said.

"Their mission is to keep the major supply routes clear of all obstacles for the convoys. And what that means is they're the first ones to go out to make sure the route can be used, so it's a very important mission -- but it's also extremely dangerous," he told The Associated Press.

The four men killed were identified as: Staff Sgt. Jonathan M. Metzger, 32, of Indianapolis, Spc. Brian J. Leonhardt, 21, of Merrillville, Ind., Spc. Robert J. Tauteris Jr., 44, of Hamlet, Ind., and Spc. Christopher A. Patterson, 20, of Aurora, Ill.

A fifth soldier injured in the blast, Pvt. Douglas Rachowicz, 29, of Hammond, Ind., was initially treated at a military base hospital in Kandahar before being airlifted to the U.S. military hospital in Landstuhl, Germany, Umbarger said.

He said the four soldiers' deaths were the greatest number of Indiana guards since March 2005, when four members of the Indianapolis-based 76th Infantry Brigade died when a land mine exploded under their military vehicle about 30 miles south of the Afghan capital of Kabul.

Gov. Mitch Daniels said in a statement that Umbarger called him Saturday morning to tell him of the deaths. The governor said he's praying for the soldiers' families.

"I received from the adjutant general the news a person in my job dreads the most, that we have lost soldiers in combat. I had begun to hope that I had received the last such phone call, and cannot convey the sadness which it instantly brought," Daniels said.

"My prayers are joined with those of millions of Hoosiers who will hear this terrible news with deep grief but also with gratitude for the courage of those we have lost, and pride that we come from a state that produces men such as these," he said.

Umbarger said the four soldiers' families were informed Friday of the deaths, and the last family members were told the news Friday night. He said he's "humbled and honored" by the courage of the nation's service members and said the sacrifices of the four men won't be forgotten.

"I would like to extend my deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of these brave citizen-soldiers," he said in a statement. "We will honor their sacrifice and always remember them."

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/01/07...#ixzz1ipmdSANq

[Grace]

Georgia

Georgian Army Corporal Shalva Pailodze from the 31st Infantry Battalion of the 3rd Brigade, was killed in action on 6th January 2012 during an enemy attack on his patrol unit in Helmand province. A Georgian Ministry of Defense statement said he "was killed as a result of a fatal injury during an attack by Taliban insurgents."

Corporal Pailodze, who joined the Georgian armed force in 2008, had the Medal for Participation in International Operations, according to the MoD.

This is the second Georgian Army fatality in a week and the twelfth one since Georgia joined the NATO-led operation in November 2009.

The 31st infantry battalion is now in Helmand province for its second, six-month deployment.

[Grace]

Regarding post #1809 - Indiana National Guard deaths -

Article and pictures from local CBS affiliate

[Grace]

8 January 2012

20-year-old US Army Private 1st Class Dustin P. Napier, from Kentucky died on 8th January 2012 after being shot by an Afghan Army soldier at a military base in Zabul province.

Pfc. Napier graduated from South Laurel High School in London, Kentucky two years ago and joined the Army shortly afterwards. He married in October 2011.

Pfc. Napier served with the Alaska-based 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team.

[Bonny]

Yesterday the Army Reserve Troops from my area arrived home safely after a years duty in Afghanistan. The U.S. Flags were up flying along the streets on their return , yellow ribbons were tied everywhere, & they were greeted with honor. It is a good feeling to have them all home.

[Grace]

10 January 2012

30-year-old US Army Pfc. Michael W. Pyron, from Hopewell, Virginia, died in Parwan province on 10th January 2012. The circumstances surrounding his death are under investigation, said Major Carla Debro, an Army spokeswoman. She could not elaborate, but did say that he was not killed in combat.

Pfc. Pyron, who joined the Army in May 2010, was a radio and communications security specialist serving with the Georgia-based 25th Signal Battalion, 160th Signal Brigade, 335th Signal Command Theater.

[Grace]

11 January 2012

US Army Pfc. Neil Turner

Article and picture from local paper.