In Memoriam

[Grace]

I was thinking, hoping, maybe even praying, with the possibility of a government shutdown, that just maybe that would mean the soldiers would stop these idiotic wars. No such luck - they'll keep doing - they just won't get paid until the government is up and running again.

[Grace]

6 April 2011

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

Staff Sgt. Jeremy D. Smith, 26, of Arlington, Texas, died April 6 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, Marine Forces Reserve, based out of Houston, Texas.

This incident is under investigation.

[Grace]

6 April 2011

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

Seaman Benjamin D. Rast, 23, of Niles, Mich., died April 6 while conducting a dismounted patrol northeast of Patrol Base Alcatraz, Helmand province, Afghanistan. Rast was assigned as a hospitalman to the 1st Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division. Rast was stationed at Naval Medical Center, Expeditionary Medical Force Detachment, San Diego, Calif.

The incident is under investigation.

[Grace]

Norway

This is an update for #1289

Lt. Col. Siri Skare

From: Oslo, Norway
Age: 52
Unit: Norwegian Air Force officer working as a military adviser to the United Nations
Died: April 1, 2011

Skare, the first female military pilot in the Norwegian Air Force, was killed during an attack on a United Nations office in Mazar-e Sharif, Afghanistan, on April 1, 2011. The attack followed a demonstration against the reported burning of a Quran by a Florida pastor in March 2011.

[Grace]

7 April 2011

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

Staff Sgt. Jason A. Rogers, 28, of Brandon, Miss., died April 7 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

[Grace]

7 April 2011

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

Spc. Keith T. Buzinski, 26, of Daytona Beach, Fla., died April 7 in Logar province, Afghanistan of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with small arms fire. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y.

[Grace]

Scotland

It is with regret that the Ministry of Defence must confirm that Colour Sergeant Alan Cameron from 1st Battalion Scots Guards died on 31 March 2011 as a result of wounds he received in Afghanistan on 13 April 2010.

Ministry of Defence statement