In Memoriam

[Grace]

#4

6 August 2011

Nebraska Army Air Guardsman Sergeant Patrick Hamburger was killed on 6th August 2011 in the Chinook helicopter crash in Wardak province, Afghanistan. The 30-year-old father had only been in Afghanistan for about a week before the incident.


Sgt. Hamburger's stepfather, DeLayne Peck, told local news that his stepson had joined the Air Guard when he was 18, and that he planned to propose to the mother of his 2-year-old daughter when he returned from Afghanistan.

From the Daily Sentinel, Colorado -

Patrick Hamburger planned to propose to his girlfriend, but had a job to do first: a mission in Afghanistan.

The 30-year-old sergeant from Grand Island, Neb., joined the Nebraska National Guard when he was a senior at Lincoln Southeast High School, but this was his first deployment, his brother Chris Hamburger told The Associated Press.

"He didn't have to go, and he wanted to go because his group was getting deployed. He wanted to be there for them. That's him for you," Chris Hamburger said, adding that Patrick always looked out for his two younger brothers and friends.

He was also the kind of guy who helped his girlfriend raise her 13-year-old daughter from another relationship, as well as the couple's own 2-year-old daughter, and planned to propose marriage when he got home, Chris Hamburger said.

Patrick Hamburger had been in Afghanistan less than two weeks and had arrived at Forward Operating Base Shank a few days before climbing aboard the helicopter to rush to the aid of an Army Ranger unit under fire from insurgents.

"It doesn't come as a total surprise that he was trying to help people and that's how it all ended up happening," Chris Hamburger said.

[Grace]

France

French Foreign Legion Corporal Kisan Bahadur Thapa was one of two French Legionnaires killed in action on 7th August 2011 in a battle with enemy forces near the Tagab Valley, Kapisa. He served with 2nd Parachute Regiment Etranger (REP), based at Calvi, Corsica.

Cpl. Thapa joined the Foreign Legion in March 2008 and was assigned to the 2nd REP after his initial training with the 4th Foreign Regiment of Castelnaudary. He was promoted to Legionnaire 1st Class in November 2008, and promoted to Corporal in May this year. He previously served in New Caledonia and Afghanistan.

Described by his superiors as "thorough, calm, a good comrade, and remaining calm and cool in the face of adversity," Cpl. Thapa was destined for further promotion. He held the Bronze Medal of National Defence with staples "Foreign Legion" and "Mission of external assistance," the French commemorative medal with clasp "Afghanistan" and the NATO Medal.

Aged 30, Cpl. Thapa was married with a baby boy.

French Foreign Legionnaire 1st Class Gerhardus Jansen was one of two French Legionnaires killed in action on 7th August 2011 in a battle with enemy forces near the Tagab Valley, Kapisa. He served with 2nd Parachute Regiment Etranger (REP), based at Calvi, Corsica. He joined the 2nd REP in August 2008.

In January 2009, he was promoted to Legionnaire 1st Class. After a mission in Djibouti, Jansen deployed to Afghanistan.

The 24-year-old was awarded the Bronze Medal of National Defence clip "Foreign Legion" and "Mission of external assistance," the French Commemorative Medal clasp "Afghanistan" and the NATO Medal.

[Grace]

#5

6 August 2011

US Navy SEAL, Jason Workman, age 33 from Utah was one of the US troops killed on 6th August 2011 when a Chinook helicopter crashed in Wardak province. Married with a young son, he had been a Navy SEAL for eight years.

Article from his local paper.

[Grace]

#6

6 August 2011

35-year-old US Navy SEAL Matt Mills was killed in action on 6th August 2011 when the Chinook helicopter he was in, crashed in Wardak province. The father of three, from Texas, leaves his wife Keri and their one-year-old son. He also leaves a 13-year-old daughter and 18-year-old son from a previous marriage.

Chief Petty Officer Mills had been in the Navy for almost 14 years and had served on USS Kinkaid. He joined the Navy SEALs around 10 years ago. He had deployed many times to Iraq and Afghanistan prior to this tour.

Local article about CPO Mills.

[Grace]

World War II

Soldier Missing in Action from WWII Identified

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of a serviceman, missing in action from World War II, have been identified and are being buried with full military honors.

Army Pfc. William F. Stehlin of Dayton, Ky., will be buried on Aug. 11 in Arlington National Cemetery. On Nov. 20, 1944, Stehlin, as part of the 333rd Infantry Regiment, 84th Infantry Division, went missing near Süggerath while his unit conducted a largely successful offensive to capture towns in Western Germany. In 1951, after an extensive search, his remains were determined unrecoverable by U.S. Army Graves Registration personnel.

In 2009, a German citizen digging in a wooded area near Süggerath, discovered a grave with the remains of two individuals, military-related equipment and identification tags.

Among other forensic identification tools and circumstantial evidence, scientists from the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command laboratory also used dental comparisons in the identification of the remains. The other individual, Pfc. Edward L. O’Toole, was identified and buried on July 15 in San Bruno, Calif.

Today, more than 73,000 are unaccounted-for from the conflict.

[Grace]

6 August 2011

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

Sgt. Daniel J. Patron, 26, of Canton, Ohio, died Aug. 6 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 8th Engineer Support Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Article from hometown paper.

[Grace]

7 August 2011

US Marine Sergeant Adan Gonzales Jr was killed in action during combat operations in Helmand province on 7th August 2011.

The 28-year-old, from Bakersfield, California served with the 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division based at Camp Pendleton, California.

Sgt. Gonzales Jr had served in the US Marine Corps for five years. He leaves his wife Catalina and their three children - two daughters ages five and three and a one-year-old son.