In Memoriam

[Grace]

Poland

Cpl. Jaroslaw Mackowiak

From: Poland
Age: 27
Unit: 2. Kompanii Piechoty Zmotoryzowanej, 17. Wielkopolska Brygada Zmechanizowana (2nd Motorized Infantry Company, 17th Wielkopolska Mechanized Brigade)
Died: June 2, 2011

Killed when insurgents attacked his unit with small-arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades while on patrol near Giru in Ghazni province, Afghanistan.

[Grace]

2 June 2011

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

Sgt. Jeffrey C. S. Sherer, 29, of Four Oaks, N.C. died June 2, in Zabul province, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Fort Wainwright, Alaska.

[Grace]

Czech Republic

Sgt. Roberta Vyroubala

From: Praslavice, Czech Republic
Age: 31
Unit: 73. Tankového Praporu (73rd Tank Battalion)
Died: May 31, 2011

Killed when his vehicle struck a roadside bomb in Wardak province, Afghanistan.

[Grace]

Germany

Cpl. Alexej K.

From: Augustdof, Germany
Age: 23
Unit: Panzerbrigade 21 (21st Panzer Brigade)
Died: June 2, 2011

Killed when a roadside bomb detonated near his Marder armored vehicle 22 miles (36 kilometers) south of Kunduz in Baghlan province, Afghanistan.

[Grace]

Scotland

Cpl. Michael John Pike

From: Huntly, Scotland
Age: 26
Unit: The Highlanders, Company A, 4th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland
Died: June 3, 2011

Killed during a contact with a group of insurgents while leading a patrol in the vicinity of Popalzai along Highway 601 in the Lashkar Gah district of Helmand province, Afghanistan.

[Grace]

Come June 29th, I will have been posting these obituaries for two years. And there seems to be no end in sight. Just this morning comes the news that FIVE troops were killed in Iraq - while they were sleeping.

I will post details when they are available.

I'm not sure I can continue with this. It is so very depressing, with no end in sight, and for what purpose?

Really good article http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/07/us...7jones.html?hp

[Grace]

England

It is with sadness that the Ministry of Defence must confirm that Lance Corporal Martin Joseph Gill from 42 Commando Royal Marines was killed in Afghanistan on Sunday 5 June 2011.

Ministry of Defence statement -

[phesina]

Come June 29th, I will have been posting these obituaries for two years. And there seems to be no end in sight. Just this morning comes the news that FIVE troops were killed in Iraq - while they were sleeping.

I will post details when they are available.

I'm not sure I can continue with this. It is so very depressing, with no end in sight, and for what purpose?

Really good article http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/07/us...7jones.html?hp

Oh, Gretchen, thank you so much for doing this and for all this time now too. I read every one of them, see the names, ages, homes, maybe pictures, and causes of death. You've made it all much more real: So much loss, so much heartbreak. And for what purpose, as you asked.

God bless you, Gretchen, whether or not you are up to continuing for much longer.