In Memoriam

[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.

[Grace]

UNITED KINGDOM

7 November 2009

Rifleman Philip Allen, 20, of Dorset, England. Company B, 2nd Battalion, The Rifles.

Killed when a roadside bomb detonated near Sangin in central Helmand province, Afghanistan.

[Grace]

4 November 2009

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

Spc. Tony Carrasco Jr., 25, of Berino, N.M., died Nov. 4 in Ad Dawr, Iraq, of a gunshot wound suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 32nd Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan.

[Grace]

5 November 2009

The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

They died Nov. 5 in Jelewar, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked their vehicle with an improvised explosive device. The soldiers were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.

Killed were:

Spc. Aaron S. Aamot, 22, of Custer, Wash.

Spc. Gary L. Gooch Jr., 22, of Ocala, Fla.

[Daisy and Delilah]

Let's say an extra Pet Talk prayer today for all these unfortunate soldiers. I feel like I can not give them enough recognition and respect, no matter what I do.

Thank you again, Gretchen.

[Grace]

UNITED KINGDOM

8 November 2009

Rifleman Samuel John Bassett, 20, Plymouth, England.
Company A, 4th Battalion, The Rifles

Died of wounds suffered when a roadside bomb exploded during a patrol near Sangin in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

[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.

[Grace]

7 November 2009

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

Sgt. Charles I. Cartwright, 26, of Union Bridge, Md., died Nov. 7 while supporting combat operations in Farah province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 1st Marine Special Operations Battalion, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command, Camp Pendleton, Calif.

[Grace]

8 November 2009

The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. They died Nov. 8 in Tikrit, Iraq, of injuries sustained when their OH-58D helicopter crashed. They were assigned to the 2nd Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment, 25th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.

Killed were:

Chief Warrant Officer Mathew C. Heffelfinger, 29, of Kimberly, Idaho; and

Chief Warrant Officer Earl R. Scott III, 24, of Jacksonville, Fla.



The circumstances of the incident are under investigation.

[Grace]

10 November 2009

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

Lance Cpl. Justin J. Swanson, 21, of Anaheim, Calif., died Nov. 10 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.

[Grace]

From the DoD website -

Army Releases October Suicide Data

The Army today released suicide data for the month of October. Among active-duty soldiers, there were 16 potential suicides, all of which are pending determination of the manner of death. For September, the Army reported seven potential suicides among active-duty soldiers. Since the release of that report, three have been confirmed as suicides, and four remain under investigation.

There were 133 reported active-duty Army suicides from January 2009 through October 2009. Of those, 90 have been confirmed, and 43 are pending determination of manner of death. For the same period in 2008, there were 115 suicides among active-duty soldiers.

During October 2009, among reserve component soldiers who were not on active duty, there were eight potential suicides. Among that same group, from January 2009 through October 2009, there were 69 reported suicides. Of those, 41 were confirmed as suicides, and 28 remain under investigation to determine the manner of death. For the same period in 2008, there were 47 suicides among reserve soldiers who were not on active duty.