In Memoriam

[Grace]

12 September 2009

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

Sgt. 1st Class Duane A. Thornsbury, 30, of Bridgeport, W. Va., died Sept.12 in Baghdad, Iraq, of injuries sustained during a vehicle roll-over. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group, Fort Carson, Colo.

The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation.

[Grace]

11 September 2009

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

Pfc. Matthew M. Martinek, 20, of DeKalb, Ill., died Sept. 11 at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Landstuhl, Germany, of wounds suffered in Paktika province, Afghanistan, Sept. 4 when enemy attacked his vehicle with an improvised-explosive device followed by a rocket-propelled grenade and small arms fire. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, Fort Richardson, Alaska.

[Grace]

13 September 2009

Pvt. Patrick Lormand, age 21, 2nd Battalion, Royal 22e Régiment. Killed when a roadside bomb detonated near his armored vehicle in Kandahar province 6.2 miles (10 km) southwest of Kandahar, Afghanistan.

[Grace]

12 September 2009

The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. They died Sept. 12 in Wardak province, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when enemy forces attacked their vehicle with an improvised-explosive device and small arms fire. The soldiers were assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, N.Y.

Killed were:

Staff Sgt. Nekl B. Allen, 29, of Rochester N.Y.

Spc. Daniel L. Cox, 23, of Parsons, Kan.

[Daisy and Delilah]

[Grace]

United Kingdom

13 September 2009

It is with great sadness that the Ministry of Defence must confirm that a soldier from 2nd Battalion The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, operating with The Light Dragoons Battle Group, has been killed in Afghanistan.

The soldier was killed as a result of a gunshot wound whilst on a foot patrol in the Babaji district, central Helmand province, on the evening of 13 September 2009.

Spokesman for Task Force Helmand, Lieutenant Colonel Nick Richardson, said:

"This brave British soldier has paid the ultimate sacrifice and his memory will live with us forever. We all mourn his loss and our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends at this very sad time."

Next of kin have been informed and have asked for a period of grace before further details are released.

[Grace]

The soldier from the UK has been identified - Jason Dunn-Bridgeman, age 20.