In Memoriam

[Grace]

1 November 2011

19-year-old US Army Private 1st Class Sarina N. Butcher was killed in action on 1st November 2011 in Paktia province. She was in a vehicle when it hit a homemade roadside bomb.

Pfc. Butcher, from Checotah, Oklahoma, was a member of the Oklahoma National Guard based at Tulsa serving with the 700th Brigade Support Battalion, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.

Pfc. Butcher joined the Guard in April 2010 after attending Checotah High School. She is the first female Oklahoma National Guard soldier to be killed in action. Her awards include National Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon and the Oklahoma Good Conduct Medal.

Pfc. Butcher will be posthumously promoted to the rank of Specialist.

Killed in the same incident was Spc. Christopher D. Gailey.

[Grace]

1 November 2011

26-year-old US Army Specialist Christopher D. Gailey was killed in action on 1st November 2011 in Paktia province. He was in a vehicle when it hit a homemade roadside bomb.

Spc. Gailey, a motor vehicle operator from Ochelata, Oklahoma, was a member of the Oklahoma National Guard based at Tulsa serving with the 700th Brigade Support Battalion, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.

Spc. Gailey joined the National Guard in June 2004 and deployed to Iraq in 2007-08. His awards include the National Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with “M” Device, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal and the Oklahoma Long Service Ribbon.

Killed in the same incident was Pfc. Sarina N. Butcher.

[Grace]

30 October 2011

Staff Sgt. Ari R. Cullers, 28, of New London, Conn., died when a rocket-propelled grenade fired by insurgents exploded near him on October 30, 2011, in Kandahar Province, the Pentagon said.

Cullers was a wheeled vehicle mechanic with 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, based at Fort Drum in northern New York.

He joined the Army in October 2004, served in Korea and Oklahoma, and arrived at Fort Drum in December 2008, according to the military.

Cullers had previously served in Afghanistan from December 2008 to December 2009 and returned there with his unit in March 2011, according to Fort Drum public affairs.

Among his many awards and decorations are the Army Commendation Medal, four Army Achievement Medals, the Meritorious Unit Commendation, three Afghanistan Campaign Medals, the NATO Medal, the Combat Action Badge, and the Driver and Mechanic Badge, the Army said.

Cullers is survived by his mother and father.

[Grace]

29 October 2011

32-year-old American citizen Jarod Keith Cravens, from Texas, was killed in Kabul on 29th October 2011 when a suicide bomber drove a car packed with explosives into a NATO armored bus in which he was traveling.

Jarod Keith Cravens had served eight years in the Marine Corps but returned to work as a contractor, his wife Stephanie said.

The couple has a 12-year-old son and a 9-year-old daughter.

Cravens had most recently been in North Texas just a few weeks ago on leave, where he was able to attend Game 4 of the World Series with family members, and the State Fair of Texas with his children.

[Grace]

Scotland
29 October 2011

Father-of-one David Quinn, from Airdrie in North Lanarkshire, was one of two Britons killed in the attack which claimed the lives of 17 people.

The Taliban suicide bomber targeted an armoured Nato vehicle as the convoy was passing the American University in Kabul, killing five coalition troops and eight civilian contractors.

Three Afghan civilians and one police officer also died in the attack. Eight other Afghans, including two children, were wounded, officials said.

Mr Quinn's family said they were "heartbroken" by his death and were too upset to speak about it.

The 34-year-old electrician was a keen flautist and his friends have paid tribute to him on a music website.

Whistling Willie, a contributor to Chiff & Fipple, an internet forum dedicated to flute and whistle playing, said: "David was a friend of mine, who was a true gentleman and a friend to all who knew him.

"So sad that he leaves behind a young family. RIP Davy."

Another post left by Fourstep said: "David was one of the contractors killed in Afghanistan. A sad, sad loss not only to the flute band scene in the UK but a true gent who would help anyone out when they came asking."

Other users told how they contacted their local folk music radio stations to ask for a piece of flute music to be played in Mr Quinn's honour.

Mr Quinn and Stephen Brown, who also died, were employed by US engineering and construction company Fluor Corp.

A spokesman for the Texas-based company said: "Our thoughts and prayers are with the families, friends and loved ones of our co-workers.

"Right now our focus is on helping them deal with the situation."

Fluor is contracted by the US army to provide coalition forces with non-combat support services ranging from security to base-camp construction, housing, transportation, fuel and meals.

The company is building, as well as managing the expansion of, eight base camps in southern Afghanistan, including one to accommodate 20,000 US military personnel.

The UK is scheduled to withdraw combat troops from Afghanistan in 2014.

[Grace]

3 November 2011 in Iraq

First Lt. Dustin Vincent, 25, of Mesquite, Texas, was killed Thursday by small arms fire while leaving his vehicle. Vincent was on patrol in the Kirkuk Province.

Vincent was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 5th Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, currently deployed as an advise and assist force in support of Operation New Dawn.

Vincent joined the Army in June 2009 as an artillery officer. This was his first deployment. Vincent’s awards include the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal with one Campaign Star, the Global War on Terror-Service Medal, and the Army Service Ribbon.

[Grace]

England

British Army Private Matthew Haseldin from 2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiment (2 MERCIAN) was killed in action in Nahr-e Saraj, Helmand province 3rd November 2011. His patrol was attacked by enemy forces and Pvt. Haseldin was hit by small arms fire.

21-year-old Pvt. Haseldin, from Yorkshire, had only been in the Army since February this year and completed his training in August. He deployed to Afghanistan in September.

Warrant Officer Class 1 (WO1) Martyn Chatterley, Regimental Sergeant Major, 2 MERCIAN and Coalition Force Burma, said: "Private Matthew Haseldin was only 21 years old, still young, enthusiastic and eager to further his career. He was proud and enthusiastic with his fellow soldiers and his mates. For the short time I knew Matthew he made an instant impression. He will be sorely missed but we should be proud to have known him and to have fought alongside him. My most sincere condolences and thoughts are with his family and friends at this difficult time. He will be sorely missed by all in 2 MERCIAN but never forgotten. Stand FIRM, Strike Hard."

Matthew's parents Alan and Jill said: "Matthew was a loving son and we are very proud of him. He had only been in the Army for a few months. Friends and family will miss him greatly. Rest in Peace."