In Memoriam

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France

French Special Forces Commando Benjamin Bourdet was killed in action on 14th July 2011 in the Alasay Valley, Kapisa province, Afghanistan during a battle with enemy forces.

The 30-year-old Commando was born in Cherbourg and joined the French Marines in 2003. Between 2004 and 2007 he deployed four times to New Caledonia. He was promoted to Petty Officer rank in September 2007 and assigned to a Marine unit guarding nuclear submarines. He deployed twice to Djibouti on operations against maritime piracy.

Second-Master Bourdet was on his first deployment to Afghanistan. He holds the Gold and Silver National Defense Medals.

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Canada

Canadian Army Trooper Stefan Jankowski, age 25, died in Canada from a prescription drug overdose on Saturday 9th July 2011. He had been suffering from Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) since returning from combat duties in Afghanistan.

Dodging bullets, seeing a boy with his face blown off and holding a dead friend in his arms was more than Trooper Jankowski could bear. He suffered anxiety, depression and insomnia as well as the horrors of war.

He served with the Royal Canadian Dragoons.

Note: Trooper Jankowski is one of thousands of troops from all nations who suffered from PTSD after serving in Afghanistan. We have included him on this website as a tribute to his service in Afghanistan.

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14 July 2011

US Army Sergeant Jeremy R. Summers, died on 14th July 2011 from wounds he received during a battle with enemy forces the previous day. The incident, involving small-arms fire, happened in Paktika province, Afghanistan.

27-year-old Sgt. Summers, from Mount Olivet, Kentucky, served with the 2nd Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, based at Fort Campbell.

Sgt. Summers joined the Army in March 2005 and transferred to Fort Campbell in August 2009. He leaves behind his parents.

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It's over for Canada -

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan — It's official. After six years at war, the packers and movers have taken over.

In a ceremony staged in front of the memorial to the 157 Canadian soldiers and four civilians killed in this war, Brig.-Gen. Dean Milner handed command over all Canadian military operations in Kandahar to the people responsible for packing up the exhausted remains of Canada's most recent combat history.

Entire Article . . . .

We should be so lucky.

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15 July 2011

US Green Beret, Staff Sergeant Wyatt A. Goldsmith, died on 15th July 2011 at Camp Bastion Hospital, Afghanistan after he was injured when enemy forces attacked his unit with rocket-propelled grenade fire in Helmand province, Afghanistan. SSgt. Goldsmith, age 28, from Colville, Washington, served with 3rd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group, based at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.

SSgt. Goldsmith joined the Army in June 2004 as a Special Forces recruit. In October 2004, on completion of basic training, advanced individual training and the basic airborne course at Fort Benning, he was assigned to the 1st Special Warfare Training Group (Airborne) at Fort Bragg.

Goldsmith attended Special Forces Assessment and Selection in 2005 and was selected to continue his training as medical sergeant in the Special Forces Qualification Course. He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, and the Meritorious Service Medal.

He is survived by his parents John and Lorie Goldsmith of Colville, Washington and his sister Nicole.

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15 July 2011

US Army Sergeant Lex L. Lewis, died on 15th July 2011 from injuries he received in Farah province when enemy forces attacked his unit with small arms fire.

40-year-old Sgt. Lewis, from Rapid City, was a cavalry scout serving with 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, based at Fort Carson, Colorado.

Sgt. Lewis joined the Army in 1999 and joined his current unit in 2008. He had previously deployed to Iraq twice. His decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, NATO Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, South West Asia Service Medal and National Defense Service Medal.

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16 July 2011

US Army Specialist Frank R. Gross, died in Kandahar on 16th July 2011 from injuries he received when a roadside bomb caused his vehicle to roll over in Khowst province.

25-year-old Spc. Gross, from Oldsmar, Florida, served with the 2nd Battalion, 38th Cavalry Regiment, 504th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade, based at Fort Hood, Texas.

Spc. Gross was born in Virginia Beach and enlisted in the Army in May 2010, said Chris Haug, chief of media relations for Fort Hood public affairs.

His mother, Antonia, said in a phone interview that Spc. Gross had deployed to Afghanistan on 28th June this year. Her last correspondence with him was via a Skype call a week before he died.

Spc. Gross leaves his parents Antonia and Craig and his sister Natalie.