In Memoriam

[Grace]

World War I

Marine Missing in Action From World War I Identified

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office announced today that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from World War I, have been identified and returned to his family for burial with full military honors.

U.S. Marine First Sergeant George H. Humphrey of Utica, N.Y., will be buried on Wednesday at Arlington National Cemetery. On Sept. 15, 1918, Humphrey participated in the first U.S.-led offensive of the war under the command of Gen. John J. Pershing. The battle with the Germans became known as the St. Mihiel Offensive. There were 7,000 Allied losses during this offensive and it was the first use of the American use of the term “D-Day” and the first use of tanks by American units.

Humphrey, a member of the U.S. 6th Marine Regiment, attached to the Army’s 2nd Infantry Division, was killed in action during the battle and his remains were buried by fellow Marines the next day. In October 1919, a Marine who witnessed the death wrote a letter to Humphrey’s brother recounting the attack near the village of Rembercourt. He included a map of his recollection of the burial site.

Attempts to locate Humphrey’s remains by U.S. Army Graves Registration personnel following the war were unsuccessful. In September 2009, French nationals hunting for war relics found artifacts near Rembercourt-sur-Mad they believed to be those of a World War I American soldier. A month later, a team from the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command excavated the area, recovering human remains and military-related items including a marksman’s badge with Humphrey’s name engraved on the back.

Among other forensic identification tools and circumstantial evidence, scientists from JPAC laboratory also used dental comparisons in the identification of the remains.

[Grace]

21 June 2010

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

Spc. Scott A. Andrews, 21, of Fall River, Mass., died June 21 at Forward Operating Base Lagman, Zabul province, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 618th Engineer Support Company, 27th Engineer Battalion, 20th Engineers Brigade, Fort Bragg, N.C.

[Grace]

21 June 2010

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

Lance Cpl. Timothy G. Serwinowski, 21, of North Tonawanda, N.Y., died June 21 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

[Grace]

21 June 2010

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

Spc. Jacob P. Dohrenwend, 20, of Milford, Ohio, died June 21 at Balad, Iraq, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan.

[Grace]

England

It is with regret that the Ministry of Defence must confirm that Marine Paul Warren from Charlie Company, 40 Commando Royal Marines, was killed in Afghanistan on Monday 21 June 2010.

Marine Warren was injured in an explosion when Patrol Base Airport Lounge was attacked by insurgents. Despite being given immediate first aid by his comrades, Marine Warren's injuries proved to be fatal.

Marine Paul Warren was born in Preston and lived with his family in Leyland, Lancashire. He was 23 years old.

[Grace]

Great Britain

It is with sadness that the Ministry of Defence must confirm that Lance Corporal Michael Taylor from Charlie Company, 40 Commando Royal Marines, serving as part of Combined Force Sangin, was killed in Afghanistan on Tuesday 22 June 2010.

Lance Corporal Michael Taylor was killed during an exchange of fire with insurgent forces in the Sangin district of Helmand province. He was manning one of the sangars in the patrol base when the incident occurred.

Lance Corporal Michael Taylor was 30 years old and lived in Rhyl with his partner Sonia and their three children; Ethan, Wesley and Charlton. A former British Army soldier, he joined the Royal Marines on the 26 April 2004. After passing for duty as a Royal Marines Commando he joined 45 Commando, based in Arbroath, Scotland.

[Grace]

June 2010 - the deadliest month of the war in Afghanistan - with 6 days still to come.

June deadliest month for NATO troops since Afghan war began

By Ernesto Londoño
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, June 24, 2010; 10:17 AM

KABUL -- Four British troops were killed in a vehicle accident Wednesday in southern Afghanistan, making June the deadliest month for the U.S.-led NATO force since it began deploying in Afghanistan in 2002.

At least 79 NATO troops have died in Afghanistan so far this month, surpassing the previous record reached last August, when 76 troops were killed, according to a tally by icasualties.org. At least 46 of the service members killed this month were American.

Last October was the deadliest month for U.S. troops, with 59 casualties.

Thursday's grim milestone was reached on the day the top U.S. general in Afghanistan was relieved of command as a result of a magazine profile that portrayed him and his aides as dismissive of senior Obama administration officials.

President Obama on Wednesday nominated Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander of the U.S. Central Command, to replace ousted Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal.

In addition to the British soldiers killed in the vehicle accident Wednesday -- the British Defense Ministry said the four were members of a police training team in Helmand Province-- six other NATO troops were killed in bombings and a shooting earlier in the day. They included one American, two Romanians, one Briton and two service members whose nationalities were not immediately disclosed.

The spike in casualties comes as the U.S. military is deploying an additional 30,000 troops to Afghanistan. The U.S.-led coalition has met stiff resistance in the Taliban strongholds that it is trying to secure.

link