In Memoriam

[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.