In Memoriam

[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]

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]

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.

[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.

[cassiesmom]

From the Washington Post, the fallen at Fort Hood.

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.