In Memoriam

[Grace]

27 June 2011

US Marine Corporal Michael C. Nolen died in Helmand province on 27th June 2011 while on combat operations in the area.

The 22-year-old Marine, from Spring Valley, Wisconsin, served with the 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division based at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

[Grace]

28 June 2011

23-year-old US Parachute Regiment Staff Sgt. Donald V. Stacy, from Avondale, Arizona, was killed in Kandahar, Afghanistan on 28th June 2011 from injuries sustained when a bomb detonated beside his combat unit.

SSgt. Stacy served in the 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

This was his first deployment to Afghanistan. He had previously served in Iraq in 2006 and 2008.

He holds a Bronze Star and Purple Heart among other awards he has received since joining the Army in 2005

[Grace]

28 June 2011

20-year-old US Marine Lance Cpl. John F. Farias, from New Braunfels, Texas, died on 28th June 2011 in Helmand province while conducting combat operations.

L-Cpl. Farias serving in the 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, based at Camp Pendleton, California.

He joined the Marines in August 2009 and this was his first combat deployment.

He was awarded a Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and Afghanistan Campaign Medal.

[Grace]

28 June 2011

22-year-old US Marine Lance Cpl. Mark R. Goyet, from Sinton, Texas, died on 28th June 2011 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

L-Cpl. Goyet was a mortar operator serving in the 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, based at Twentynine Palms, California.

L-Cpl. Goyet joined the Marines in February 2008. This tour was his third deployment in three years. He was due to leave the Marines in February but volunteered to go to Afghanistan out of loyalty to friends who died there.

He holds a Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal and Afghanistan Campaign Medal.

[Grace]

25 June 2011

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

Spc. Nicholas P. Bernier, 21, of East Kingston, N.H., died June 25 at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Landstuhl, Germany, of injuries suffered June 22 when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms fire in Kherwar, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Polk, La.

[Grace]

Spain

Spanish airline pilot, Antonio Planas, was one of the victims murdered by Taliban suicide bombers at the Intercontinental Hotel in Kabul on 28th June 2011.

Mr. Planas, from Mallorca, was employed by Istanbul-based Saga Airlines and was in Kabul to pilot an aircraft that had been hired from Afghan airline Ariana. He was staying at the Intercontinental.

He was in the lobby checking out of the hotel at the time. He was wounded in the attack and died later from his injuries.

The attack began at around 10pm Tuesday, when a group of seven insurgents armed with grenades, rifles and jackets full of explosives, entered the hotel and started shooting at guests and employees.

[Grace]

30 June 2011

US Marine Corporal Kyle R. Schneider, died on 30th June 2011 in Helmand province, Afghanistan, while conducting combat operations.

23-year-old Cpl. Schneider, from Pheonix, NY, joined the Marines in March 2008 and served with the 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment based at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. He deployed to Afghanistan in January this year and was scheduled to return home in August. It was his first tour of combat duty.

Cpl. Schneider's younger brother, Kevin, described him as "an American Hero."