In Memoriam

[Grace]

Spain

Spanish Infantry soldier Niyireth Pineda Marin was one of two troops killed in action on 26th June when a roadside bomb exploded beside the armoured reconnaissance patrol she was with.

The incident happened some 20km from the northern Afghanistan town of Qala-i-Naw.

Three other Spanish soldiers were injured in the blast and evacuated by helicopter to Bala Murghab military hospital.

All of the troops belonged to the 9th Infantry Regiment based in Fuerteventura.

[Grace]

25 June 2011

25-year-old US Marine Sergeant Marlon E. Myrie died in Helmand province on 25th June 2011 while conducting combat operations.

Sgt. Myrie, from Oakland Park, Florida, served with the 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, based at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

He joined the Marines in 2004 and served two tours of duty in Iraq (2005 and 2007). He deployed to Afghanistan in January this year.

[Grace]

26 June 2011

US Marine Gunnery Sergeant Ralph E. Pate Jr., age 29, from Mullins, S.C., died on 26th June 2011 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

He was assigned to 2nd Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company, 8th Engineer Support Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Gunnery Sgt. Pate joined the Marines in 1998, served four tours of duty in Iraq and deployed to Afghanistan in 2009 and 2011. He holds a Bronze Star Medal among other awards and decorations.

[Grace]

26 June 2011

US Air Force Tech. Sgt. Daniel L. Douville, from Harvey, Louisiana, was killed in action on 26th June 2011 when a bomb exploded in the Nad-e-Ali district of Helmand province. He was 33 years old.

He was assigned to the 96th Civil Engineer Squadron, based at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.

Tech. Sgt. Douville had been in the USAF since 1997. He was a bomb-disposal technician who his former EOD instructors described as having "a quiet presence."

Married for 14 years, he leaves his wife LaShana, son Daniel Jr., and daughters Jadelynn and Ayjah.

[Grace]

26 June 2011

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

Spc. Matthew R. Gallagher, 22, of North Falmouth, Mass., died June 26 in Wasit province, Iraq, of injuries suffered from a non-combat related incident. He was assigned to the 6th Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation.

[Grace]

26 June 2011

The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of two soldiers who were supporting Operation New Dawn.

They died June 26, in Diyala province, Iraq, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked their unit with an improvised explosive device. They were assigned to the 4th Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

Killed were:

Staff Sgt. Russell J. Proctor, 25, of Oroville, Calif.; and

Pfc. Dylan J. Johnson, 20, of Tulsa, Okla.

[Grace]

26 June 2011

US Army Specialist Kevin J. Hilaman, from Albany, California, was killed in action on 26th June 2011 in Kunar province, Afghanistan, during a battle with enemy forces who attacked his unit with small arms fire.

Spc. Hilaman, age 28, served with the 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, based in Hawaii.