In Memoriam

[Grace]

COLUMBIA

1 February 2010

Pvt. John Felipe Romero Meneses, 21.

Killed when an anti-tank mine detonated near his Spanish Army armored vehicle north of Qala-i-Naw in Badghis province, Afghanistan, on February 1, 2010

[Grace]

Wonder where he is?

The Department of Defense today announced the identity of a civilian employee listed as Excused Absence Whereabouts Unknown (EAWUN) while supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Issa T. Salomi, 60, of El Cajon, Calif., has been unaccounted for since Jan. 23. He was last seen in Baghdad, Iraq, where he is assigned to U.S. Forces – Iraq.

Search and recovery efforts are ongoing.

[Daisy and Delilah]

Just wanted to say thanks again, Gretchen. I've been without my computer for several weeks. So glad you're still keeping this thread going.

[Grace]

5 February 2010

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

Sgt. Dillon B. Foxx, 22, of Traverse City, Mich., died Feb. 5 in Bala Murghab, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.

[Grace]

Referring back to post #436 - from the Washington Post . . . .

Baghdad -- An American contractor working for the U.S. military in Baghdad has been kidnapped by a Shiite militant group, U.S. officials said this weekend in response to a statement and video issued by the group.

The abduction of contractor Issa T. Salomi, 60, of El Cajon, Calif., marks the first reported kidnapping of an American in Iraq since the summer of 2008.

[Grace]

SWEDEN

7 February 2010

Lt. Gunnar Andersson, 31, Stockholm, Sweden

Capt. John Palmlov, 28, Sundbyberg, Sweden

Both men from Livgardet (The Life Guards), killed in a firefight west of Mazar-e Sharif in northern Afghanistan on February 7, 2010

[MonicanHonda]

I would like to mention a good friend of my husbands. We all went to high school together and they were in Boyscouts together when they were younger.

Don Kaspar, a Boy Scout leader, remembers meeting Airman 1st Class Eric M. Barnes as a 15-year old.

“Even then, he showed signs of leading the boys. He was a natural-born leader,” Kaspar said. “He always took care of the boys. The ones that needed to be pushed a little bit, he pushed them along and helped them through things.”

Barnes, 20, of Lorain, Ohio, was killed June 10 by a bomb about 100 miles south of Baghdad. He was on his second tour and was assigned to F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo.

He grew his blond hair long in high school to donate to Locks of Love, an organization that provides wigs for those with hair loss.

He enjoyed the music and psychedelic styles of the 1970s, posing in a brightly colored tie-dyed shirt for his 2004 high school graduation photo.

“He was one of those kids who you hope your son grows up to be like,” Kaspar said.

Eric was a catcher and outfielder on his high school baseball team and earned an Eagle Scout for building a ramp for the disabled. He also was an avid bowler who played a 300 game at age 18 in an adult league.

He is survived by his parents, Tom and Shary.

June 10, 2007.

[Grace]

I would like to mention a good friend of my husbands. We all went to high school together and they were in Boyscouts together when they were younger.

Don Kaspar, a Boy Scout leader, remembers meeting Airman 1st Class Eric M. Barnes as a 15-year old.

Barnes, 20, of Lorain, Ohio, was killed June 10 by a bomb about 100 miles south of Baghdad. He was on his second tour and was assigned to F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo.

June 10, 2007.

Thank you.

[Grace]

SCOTLAND

7 February 2010

Pvt. Sean McDonald, 26, Edinburgh, Scotland

Cpl. Johnathan Moore, 22, Lanarkshire, Scotland

Company B, The Royal Scots Borderers, 1st Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland

Killed when a roadside bomb detonated during a routine night patrol south of Patrol Base Wishtan in the Sangin area of Helmand province, Afghanistan, on February 7, 2010

[Grace]

Charlie Wilson died yesterday at the age of 76.