In Memoriam

[Grace]

2 August 2011

Oklahoma National Guard Staff Sgt. Kirk Owen, age 37, was killed in Afghanistan on Tuesday 2nd August 2011 from the blast of a roadside bomb that struck his vehicle during a mine-sweeping operation, according to a family spokesman.

Staff Sgt. Owen, from Sapulpa, Oklahoma, was on his second combat tour in Afghanistan, serving with the 45th Infantry. He leaves behind a wife and two daughters.

[Grace]

England

It is with sadness that the Ministry of Defence must confirm that Marine James Robert Wright, from Juliet Company, 42 Commando Royal Marines, serving as part of Combined Force Nad 'Ali (North), was killed in Helmand province, southern Afghanistan on Friday 5 August 2011.

Ministry of Defence statement

[Grace]

About time -

Army Announces Nine Month Deployment Period

The Secretary of the Army John McHugh announced today a change in the length of future unit operational deployments from 12 months to nine months. This change will be fully implemented by April 2012, and applies to division-level-and-below units. This policy will not affect personnel or units currently deployed or deploying prior to Jan. 1, 2012. The deployment period for high demand and low density units and individual deployers will remain one year.

The reduced deployment length will improve soldier and family quality of life while continuing to meet operational requirements and is an important step in sustaining the all-volunteer-force. This policy change is consistent with secretary of defense policies for utilization of the total force. Implementation of this change is based on the projected demand for Army forces, and is contingent on global security conditions and combatant commander requirements.

[Grace]

3 August 2011

24-year-old US Army Specialist Barun Rai, from Silver Spring, Maryland, died on 3rd August 2011 from injuries received when a patrol vehicle overturned in Logar province, Afghanistan.

Spc. Rai, originally from Nepal, served with the 54th Engineer Battalion, 18th Engineer Brigade, 21st Theater Sustainment Command, based at Warner Barracks, Bamberg, Germany.

[Grace]

3 August 2011

10th Mountain Division Private 1st Class Gil I. Morales Del Valle was one of two US Army soldiers killed from the blast of an insurgent bomb that detonated against their patrol vehicle in Wardak province. He died on 3rd August 2011.

21-year-old Pfc. Morales Del Valle, from Jacksonville, Florida, served with the 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment based at Fort Polk, Louisiana. He joined the Army in February 2010 and deployed to Afghanistan in October 2010.

10th Mountain Division Private 1st Class Cody G. Baker was one of two US Army soldiers killed from the blast of an insurgent bomb that detonated against their patrol vehicle in Wardak province. He died on 3rd August 2011.

19-year-old Pfc. Baker, from Holton, Kansas, served with the 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment based at Fort Polk, Louisiana. He joined the Army in June 2010 and deployed to Afghanistan in November 2010.

His awards include the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart, among others. Army officials said Pfc. Baker is survived by his mother and stepfather.

[Grace]

4 August 2011

Oklahoma National Guard Sergeant Anthony Del Mar Peterson, from Chelsea, Oklahoma, was killed in action on 4th August 2011 during a battle with enemy forces in Paktia province, Afghanistan. He was wounded by small arms fire and died from his injuries.

Sgt. Peterson, age 24, was serving with the 1st Battalion, 279th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. This was his third operational tour in Afghanistan.

"Oklahoma has lost another brave son," Major General Myles Deering, Oklahoma's adjutant general, said on Friday. "Sergeant Peterson was an exceptional soldier who worked tirelessly to protect the values that we as Americans hold close to our hearts."

[Grace]

4 August 2011

Alabama National Guard officer, Captain Waid C. Ramsey, was killed in action on 4th August 2011 in Paktika province during a contact with enemy forces who attacked his patrol with small arms fire.

41-year-old Capt. Ramsey, from Red Bay, Alabama, deployed to Afghanistan in November 2010 with the Guard's 20th Special Forces Group of Birmingham. He is the second soldier from the 20th Special Forces Group to die in combat in Afghanistan in the last two years.