In Memoriam

[Grace]

Denmark

Airman Martin Kristiansen


From: Denmark
Age: 33
Unit: Danske Flyvevåbnet, som tildeles Ingeniørregimentet, Danske Kampgruppe (Danish Air Force, assigned to Engineering Regiment, Danish Battlegroup)
Died: June 13, 2010

Killed when his armored personnel carrier was hit by a roadside bomb near a Danish forward camp in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Kristiansen's explosive ordnance dog, Loki, also was killed.

[Grace]

11 June 2010

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

Sgt. Mario Rodriguez, 24, of Smithville, Texas, died June 11 in Powrak, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms and rocket-propelled grenade fires. He was assigned to the 264th Clearance Company, 27th Engineer Battalion (Combat) (Airborne), 20th Engineer Brigade, Fort Bragg, N.C.

[Grace]

12 June 2010

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

Spc. Brian M. Anderson, 24, of Harrisonburg, Va., died June 12 in Za Khel, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his vehicle using an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, N.Y.

[Grace]

15 June 2010

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

Spc. Christopher W. Opat, 29, of Spencer, Iowa, died June 15 in Baquah, Iraq of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident. He was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.

The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation.

[Grace]

7 June 2010

The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of four soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. They died of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked their vehicle with an improvised explosive device June 7 in Konar, Afghanistan. They were assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.

Killed were:

Sgt. Joshua A. Lukeala, 23, of Yigo, Guam;

Spc. Matthew R. Catlett, 23, of Houston, Texas;

Spc. Charles S. Jirtle, 29, of Lawton, Okla.;

Spc. Blaine E. Redding, 22, of Plattsmouth, Neb.

[Grace]

England

It is with regret that the Ministry of Defence must confirm that Marine Steven James Birdsall, 20, from Bravo Company, 40 Commando Royal Marines, died in Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, on 14 June 2010, as a result of a gunshot wound he suffered in Afghanistan.

During the late afternoon of Sunday 13 June 2010, Bravo Company was providing security to Royal Engineers who were reinforcing the defences at one of the UK Check Points in Sangin.

At approximately 1629hrs local time, Marine Birdsall received a gunshot wound and was immediately evacuated to Camp Bastion's Role 3 Hospital where his condition was listed as critical.

On 14 June 2010, he was transferred to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital where, at 1229hrs on 14 June 2010, Marine Birdsall sadly died of his wounds.

[Grace]

Poland

Pfc. Grzegorz Bukowski


From: Poland
Age: 29
Unit: Oddzial Specjalny Zandarmerii Wojskowej (Military Police Special Branch)
Died: June 15, 2010

Died of shrapnel wounds sustained during a missile attack on a Forward Operating Base Warrior in Ghazni province, Afghanistan.