In Memoriam

[cassiesmom]

2 more from Illinois past few days

From Fox News Chicago - A soldier from Plainfield has died in Afghanistan. The Department of Defense said Private First Class Andrew Meari died when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. A 24-year-old army specialist from Massachussetts also died in the attack.

From the St. Louis news: Springfield, IL (KSDK) -- A 25-year-old soldier from Rochester, Illinois was killed earlier this week while in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, the US Department of Defense said Friday. Spc. James Young died November 3 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan from wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device (IED).

Specialist Young was assigned to the 863rd Engineer Battalion out of Darien, Illinois. His job was to travel ahead of other vehicles and convoys to clear the road of any explosives. Family members said Young went to Afghanistan earlier this year and had been home on leave less than two weeks ago.

Rochester is located about seven miles south-southeast of Springfield, Illinois.



Thank you, Grace for keeping this thread going.

[Grace]

7 November 2010

The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. They died Nov. 7 in Kunar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked their unit with small arms fire.

Killed were:

Sgt. Aaron B. Cruttenden, 25, of Mesa, Ariz.

Spc. Dale J. Kridlo, 33, Hughestown, Pa.

They were assigned to the 27th Engineer Battalion, 20th Engineer Brigade, XVIII Airborne Corps, Fort Bragg, N.C.

[Grace]

4 November 2010

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

Sgt. Jason J. McCluskey, 26, of McAlester, Okla., died Nov. 4 at Zarghun Shahr, Mohammad Agha district, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with small arms fire. He was assigned to the 27th Engineer Battalion, 20th Engineer Brigade, XVIII Airborne Corps, Fort Bragg, N.C.

[Grace]

England

It is with sadness that the Ministry of Defence must confirm that Senior Aircraftman Scott 'Scotty' Hughes serving with Number 1 Squadron Royal Air Force Regiment died in Cyprus on Sunday 7 November 2010 following injuries sustained in an accident.

Ministry of Defence statement

[Grace]

8 November 2010

Soldier With Maine Ties Killed In Afghanistan
Spc. Andrew Hutchins Was 20

POSTED: 9:26 am EST November 9, 2010
UPDATED: 5:17 pm EST November 9, 2010

AUGUSTA, Maine -- Another soldier with ties to Maine has been killed in Afghanistan.

Spc. Andrew Hutchins, 20, was killed Monday.

Hutchins was a military policeman serving with the 101st Airborne Division from Fort Campbell, Ky.

“As Veterans Day approaches, we are painfully reminded that our country remains at war, and that our men and women in uniform are still called to duty for their country,” Gov. John Baldacci said.

Baldacci said he spoke with Hutchins' father, who said his son had been wounded previously, but that he wanted to return to Afghanistan to be with his buddies.

Hutchins’ mother lives in Waltham and his father lives in Leeds. His wife plans to stay in Maine with her mother until Hutchins’ funeral.

Hutchins is the second person this month with Maine ties killed in Afghanistan. Marine First Lt. James R. Zimmerman, 25, died Nov. 2.

source

[Grace]

8 November 2010

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

Spc. Anthony Vargas, 27, of Reading, Pa., died Nov. 8 in Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to 1st Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.

[Grace]

9 November 2010

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

2nd Lt. Robert M. Kelly, 29, of Tallahassee, Fla., died Nov. 9 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.