In Memoriam

[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

[Grace]

10 April 2011

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

Staff Sgt. Jose M. Caraballo Pietri, 32, of Yauco, Puerto Rico, died April 10 in Badghis province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with small arms fire. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 84th Field Artillery Regiment, 170th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Baumholder, Germany.

[Grace]

10 April 2011

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation New Dawn.

Sgt. Vorasack T. Xaysana, 30, of Westminster, Colo., died April 10 in Kirkuk, Iraq, of injuries sustained April 9 in a non-combat related incident. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, Fort Hood, Texas.

[cassiesmom]

Grace, I'm going to hijack your thread for just a moment. I heard this story on the news last evening.

WASHINGTON (WBBM) – A wounded U.S. Marine hopes to come home to Antioch next month, one year after losing both arms and legs in Afghanistan.

As WBBM Newsradio 780′s Regine Schlesinger reports, Marine Cpl. John Peck, 25, is now at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, learning to live as a quadruple amputee.

Peck suffered a head wound when he fought in Iraq, but when he recovered, he re-enlisted and went to Afghanistan.

A year ago while on patrol, he volunteered as his unit’s minesweeper to look for IEDs.

“I took a step forward; the next thing I know, I’m being flung through the air. Dirt’s in my eyes; I can barely see anything at all,” Peck said.

When he woke from a drug-induced coma two months later, Peck had lost both arms and both legs. He says it’s a struggle, but he has no regrets about his service.

“If I still had my arms, and I was missing a leg or even both my legs, I’d still probably go back,” he said.

Peck says he hopes Americans appreciate the sacrifices of so many soldiers.

His message to them is: “Care about someone besides yourself. Stop bickering. There’s guys out there every day fighting for your freedom.”

Through 27 operations, Peck has had 81 transfusions of blood products. On May 9, LifeSource and the VFW will hold a blood drive for Peck at the VFW Hall in Antioch.


So-- not only in memoriam but also a prayer for wounded soldiers too.
Thank you, and I now return you to your regularly scheduled topic--
elyse