18 July 2011

Pennsylvania TV station WHTM has reported that three soldiers with the Pennsylvania Army National Guard's 131st Transportation Company were killed in Afghanistan on Monday, according to friends and relatives.
US Army National Guard Staff-Sgt. Kenneth R. VanGiesen, from Kane, Pennsylvania, was killed along with two fellow soldiers on Monday 18th July when his patrol vehicle struck a roadside bomb in Afghanistan. He was serving with the 131st Transportation Company.

According to a report in Kanerepublican.com, SSgt VanGiesen, a mechanic, was pulled from his "home" base to go to Afghanistan with another National Guard unit that needed someone with his expertise.

The 30-year-old soldier is the son of Tom and Sue VanGiesen from Kane. He and his longtime girlfriend, Erin Sirianni of Kane, have been living in a house they purchased in Erie where SSgt. VanGiesen had been working with the National Guard.

SSgt. VanGiesen had previously deployed to Iraq twice.


US Army Sergeant Brian K. Mowery from Halifax, Pennsylvania, was one of three soldiers killed on 18th July 2011 in Ghazni province, when his patrol vehicle struck a road mine.

The 49-year-old served with the 131st Transportation Company, 213th Area Support Group, based at Williamstown, Pennsylvania.




US Army Sergeant Edward W. Koehler, age 47, from Lebanon, Pennsylvania, was one of three soldiers killed on 18th July 2011 in Ghazni province, when his patrol vehicle struck a road mine.

Sgt. Koehler served with the 131st Transportation Company, 213th Area Support Group, based at Williamstown, Pennsylvania.

After serving with the Marine Corps from 1982 to 1988, he took a 10-year break from the service. He enlisted in the Pennsylvania National Guard in 1997 as a motor transport operator, serving his entire Guard career in the 131st Transportation Company.

This was Sgt. Koehler's first tour of duty in Afghanistan. He had also served with the 131st in Kuwait and Iraq from 2003 to 2004.

His awards include the Combat Action Badge, three Army Reserve Component Achievement Medals, Army Achievement Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary and Service Medals, Driver and Mechanic Badge, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon and the Governor's Unit Citation.