In Memoriam

[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.

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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."

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30 June 2011

US Marine Sergeant Chad D. Frokjer, died in Helmand province, Afghanistan on 30th June 2010 while conducting combat operations.

The 27-year-old Marine, from Maplewood, Minnesota, served with the 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, based at Camp Pendleton, California.

Sgt. Frokjer was a convoy commander of a Mobile Assault Team for the Battalion's Alpha Company - dubbed a "quick reaction force and combat logistics unit."

He leaves his wife, Leslie, and their child.

[Grace]

29 June 2011

Army Capt. David Van Camp died while serving in Iraq.

WHEELING -- As our nation prepares to celebrate our nation's independence, the Ohio Valley says goodbye to one of their own.

Army Capt. David Van Camp was killed in action this week while serving a tour of duty in Iraq.

Van Camp was a 2000 graduate of Wheeling Park High School and a member of the Patriot Baseball team.

Before joining the army, Van Camp studied at Marshall University.

David's dad said he was killed by either a mortar round or missile that hit the vehicle he was riding in with two other soldiers - assigned to 2nd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Hood, Texas.

Services are now being planned.

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29 June 2011


[QUOTE]Captain Matthew Nielsen, 27, of Jefferson, Iowa; died 29 June in Badrah, Iraq, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with indirect fire. He was assigned to 2nd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Hood, Texas. He received his commission in May 2008 as an armor officer and was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 2nd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, since November 2010.

He was deployed in support of Operation New Dawn. His awards and decorations include an Army Achievement Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Army Service Medal, Overseas Service Medal and Air Assault Badge.[/QUOTE

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29 June 2011

The Department of Defense is reporting that 29 year old Specialist Robert Tenney, Jr. of Warner Robins, Georgia was killed in Iraq while supporting Operation New Dawn.

According to a Department of Defense news release, Tenney died June 29th in Badrah, Iraq when enemy forces attacked his unit with indirect fire.

He was assigned to the 2nd Squadron, 3rd Armored Regiment in Fort Hood, Texas.

Tenney's awards and decorations include an Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal with combat service star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon and an Overseas Service Ribbon.

[Grace]

Italy

29-year-old Italian Army Caporal Maggiore Gaetano Tuccillo was killed in Afghanistan on 2nd July 2011 when a roadside bomb detonated as his mounted unit returned from a reconnaissance patrol.

The incident happened near the village of Caghaz, 16 kilometers west of Bakwa in eastern Farah. An Italian paratrooper was injured by the explosion.

Caporal Tuccillo served with the Logistics Battalion of the Maniago Aries Brigade. He was born near Naples and married to a Dutch woman.