In Memoriam

[Grace]

16 March 2011

The Department of Defense announced today the death of an airman who was supporting Operation New Dawn.

Senior Airman Michael J. Hinkle II, 24, of Corona, Calif., died March 16 due to a non-combat related incident in Southwest Asia. He was assigned to the 28th Communications Squadron, Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D.

[Grace]

17 March 2011

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

Lance Cpl. Christopher S. Meis, 20, of Bennett, Colo., died March 17 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

[Grace]

Army Released February Suicide Data

The Army released suicide data today for the month of February. Among active-duty soldiers, there were eight potential suicides: none have been confirmed as suicide, and eight remain under investigation. For January 2011, the Army reported 15 potential suicides among active-duty soldiers. Since the release of that report, five cases have been confirmed as suicide, and 10 cases remain under investigation.

During February 2011, among reserve component soldiers who were not on active duty, there were eight potential suicides: one has been confirmed as a suicide, and seven remain under investigation. For January 2011, among that same group, there were eight total suicides. Of those, two were confirmed as suicides and six are pending determination of the manner of death.

“Efforts to mitigate risk and improve the health of the force demand decisive engagement at every echelon. The complexity of suicide demands the need for a coordinated effort by every member across the Army to reduce the negative outcomes of high-risk behavior, risk-related deaths and suicides,” said Col. Chris Philbrick, deputy director, Army Health Promotion, Risk Reduction Task Force.

Soldiers and families in need of crisis assistance can contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Trained consultants are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year and can be contacted by dialing 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or by visiting their website at www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org .

[Grace]

Country of Georgia

Cpl. Valeri Verskiani

From: Kutaisi, Georgia
Age:
Unit: 32nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Brigade
Died: March 14, 2011

Died on March 14, 2011, at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany of wounds sustained in an explosion in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

[Grace]

19 March 2011

The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. They died March 19 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when they were allegedly shot with small arms fire by an individual from a military security group. The incident is under investigation. They were assigned to the 4th Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, Vilseck, Germany.

Killed were:

Cpl. Donald R. Mickler Jr., 29, of Bucyrus, Ohio;

Pfc. Rudy A. Acosta, 19, of Canyon Country, Calif.

Cpl. Mickler -

Pfc. Acosta -

[Grace]

19 March 2011

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

Staff Sgt. Mecolus C. McDaniel, 33, of Fort Hood, Texas, died March 19 in Khowst province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device and small arms fire. He was assigned to the 6th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Knox, Ky.

[Grace]

England

Pvt. Daniel Steven Prior

From: Peacehaven, Sussex
Age: 27
Unit: Company D, 2nd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment
Died: March 18, 2011

Died on March 18, 2011, at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, England, of wounds sustained on March 16, 2011, when a roadside bomb detonated near his patrol in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province.