In Memoriam

[phesina]

I look at this thread every day, and I also want to say: Thank you, Gretchen.

[Daisy and Delilah]

I have not said thank you enough, Gretchen. Thanks a million for doing this. It's an incredible thing to keep this thread going. Awesome job!!

[Grace]

10 July 2010

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

Sgt. Shaun M. Mittler, 32, of Austin, Texas, died July 10 in Konar, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when enemy forces attacked his unit using rocket-propelled grenade and small arms fires. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.

[Grace]

Great Britain

It is with sadness that the Ministry of Defence must confirm that Major James Joshua Bowman, Lieutenant Neal Turkington and Corporal Arjun Purja Pun from 1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles who were killed in Afghanistan on Tuesday 13 July 2010.

The three soldiers, serving as part of Combined Force Nahr-e Saraj (South), were killed in a suspected premeditated attack by a member of the Afghan National Army.



Major Josh Bowman was 34 years old and from Salisbury. He started his career in the British Army as a rifle platoon commander in B Company 1st Battalion The Light Infantry having commissioned from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in 1999.



Lieutenant Neal Turkington was born in Craigavon in Northern Ireland and was soon to celebrate his 27th birthday.

After graduating from Imperial College London he attended the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst from 2007.


Corporal Arjun Purja Pun was 33 years old and was raised and recruited from Khibang village in the Magdi District in Nepal.

He passed the notoriously gruelling Gurkha selection process and was enlisted into the British Army on 30 January 1995.

His career was varied and successful and he was a hugely popular soldier wherever he served

[Grace]

Australia

Pvt. Nathan Bewes

From: Kogarah, New South Wales
Age: 23
Unit: 6th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment
Died: July 9, 2010

Died of wounds sustained in a roadside bomb attack in the Chora Valley region of Uruzgan province, Afghanistan.

[Grace]

For all the mothers out there -

http://abcnews.go.com/International/...ry?id=11149916

[Grace]

Great Britain

It is with regret that the Ministry of Defence must confirm that Marine Matthew Harrison from 40 Commando Royal Marines, serving as part of Combined Force Sangin, was killed in Afghanistan on Tuesday 13 July 2010, the day before his 24th birthday.

During the early evening of Tuesday 13 July 2010, Marine Harrison's unit, Charlie Company, was conducting a joint reassurance patrol with the local Afghan National Army, south of Patrol Base Seylab Doo.

At 1805 hrs local time, the patrol was engaged with small arms fire. Marine Harrison was mortally wounded in the attack. He was evacuated to Camp Bastion Role Three Hospital where he died of his wounds.