In Memoriam

[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.

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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.

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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.

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7 August 2011

US Marine Sergeant Joshua J. Robinson was killed in action during combat operations in Helmand province on 7th August 2011.

The 29-year-old, from Omaha, Nebraska served with the 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division based at Camp Pendleton, California.

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8 August 2011

US Army Sergeant Alessandro "Sandrino" Plutino, a Rifle Team Leader in B Company, 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment was killed in action in Afghanistan on 8th August 2011 by enemy gunfire while leading his Rangers in an assault.

According to news reports, Sgt. Plutino was on his third tour in Afghanistan after completing three tours in Iraq. He was due to return home to Pitman, New Jersey in 15 days and looked forward to seeing his mother Dianne, father Sandro, sister Brenna and fiancée Natalie Layton.

Article from his hometown paper

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#7

6 August 2011

36-year-old US Navy SEAL Kevin Houston was among the Special Forces fatalities when a Chinook helicopter crashed in Wardak province, Afghanistan on 6th August 2011.

Friends and family have recalled how Houston overcame many hurdles in his life to realise his childhood dream to be a Navy SEAL. At high school, he broke his back in a motorcycle accident. His parents divorced when he was young and he lost his sister, Miranda, to cancer. Despite it all, he joined the Navy as a teenager and became a SEAL in 1999.

He leaves his wife, Meiling, and their three children - two boys and a girl, ages 3, 11 and 17.

Article from hometown radio station.

[Grace]

#8

6 August 2011

28-year-old USAF Airman Daniel Zerbe was killed in action on 6th August 2011 in Wardak province, Afghanistan, when the Chinook helicopter he was in crashed, killing all on board.

Airman Zerbe was a Special Ops Para-rescue jumper, a position that is reserved for an elite few, who was trained to save the lives of injured soldiers.

The helicopter with 30 American Special Forces troops and 7 Afghan Commandos on board, was tasked with helping Army Rangers who were engaged in a battle with enemy forces. As the helicopter was landing, it reportedly took a direct hit from a rocket-propelled grenade.

Airman Zerbe, from Philadelphia, was living his dream military career according to family and friends.

Article from hometown paper.