In Memoriam

[Grace]

31 December 2011

A soldier who returned to the UK from Afghanistan for Christmas has been killed after being in collision with a taxi.

Lee Foley, 26, had been on a night out in Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales, with his parents and girlfriend when he was struck by the car and later died in hospital.

The accident happened at 10.30pm on New Year's Eve when the family were in the town centre to enjoy the celebrations.

His parents, Paul and Sian, and sister Lyndsey, 23, were today too upset to speak but a family friend said: 'It is so tragic. He has been dodging bullets in Afghanistan on two tours of duty out there.

'It is unbelievable that he then gets killed on a night out back home with his family. Everyone is heartbroken - he was a smashing lad.

'A lot of tears are being shed.'

'They were so proud of him. Naturally, like the parents of all squaddies in Afghanistan, they were worried about him and glad to have him home.

'He was going to rejoin his regiment on January 10 and then due to go back out to Afghanistan later this year.

'It is a tragic way to start the New Year - everyone is heartbroken.'

Mr Foley joined the Army as a teenager and was a member of 39 Squadron of the Royal Engineers.

In 2008 he completed the Three Peaks Challenge as part of his squadron’s team, the Ponderoza Plodders.

He was fifth to cross the finishing line out of the 185 competitors who scaled Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon.

His father Paul, said at the time: 'He trained really hard for it and it was lovely to see him crossing the line at the bottom of Snowdon. He has done very, very well.'

Floral tributes were left at the scene of the crash yesterday, with one card reading: 'RIP Lee, a lovely person. So, so sad. A pleasure to know you.'

Tributes were also paid on Facebook where friend Iain Jones, 26, of Merthyr Tydfil, said: 'RIP Lee. You were a good guy. This tragedy will touch many people. Thoughts go out to the family and friends.'

A South Wales Police spokeswoman said: 'At approximately 10.10pm on Saturday, December 31, a fatal road traffic collision occurred in Merthyr Tydfil town centre.

'A 26-year-old local male pedestrian was in collision with a black Vauxhall Astra estate taxi and later died of his injuries at hospital.

'A police family liaison officer has been appointed to support the next of kin.'

[Grace]

2 January 2012

24-year-old US Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Chad R. Regelin, from California, was killed in action during a combat operation in Helmand on 2nd January 2012. He died after being caught in the blast of an insurgent bomb.

PO Regelin served as a bomb disposal technician with Marine Special Operations Company Bravo. He was stationed at the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 3, San Diego, California.

PO Regelin's family told local news that he was killed just an hour after he’d spoken to his family by telephone. His parents, Shirene and Scott Regelin of Anderson, were notified of his death shortly after 2 p.m.

"He called us while he was on watch," PO Regelin's brother, Justin, said. "He was really upbeat because he had just gotten his orders to come back stateside on Feb. 15. He told us that he had about a week to go (in Kandahar) before they could helicopter in the replacement team."

[Grace]

United Kingdom

It is with sadness that the Ministry of Defence must confirm the death of Rifleman Sachin Limbu, from 1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles, at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham on Monday 2 January 2012.

He died from wounds sustained while serving in Afghanistan in June 2010.

Minstry of Defense statement

[Grace]

Lance Sergeant Dan Collins: The Afghanistan hero who could bear the horrors of war no longer

Entire article with photo

[phesina]

How very sad. Rest in peace, Sergeant Collins.

[Grace]

5 and 6 January 2012

Eight NATO troops have been killed in action in a series of bombings targeting troops in southern Afghanistan, ISAF has announced.

The first attack happened on Thursday 5th January when an insurgent bomb killed three troops. A fourth soldier died early Friday 6th January in a separate insurgent attack.

Later Friday 6th January, four more troops were killed in another bombing in southern Afghanistan.

ISAF did not release the nationalities of the eight troops. Details about the incidents and identities will be released by the troops' home countries.

More information to follow.

More details when available.

[Grace]

Three USAF servicemen were killed while on patrol in Helmand province on 5th January 2012. Killed were:

34-year-old Technical Sgt. Matthew S. Schwartz

23-year-old Senior Airman Bryan Bell

24-year-old Airman 1st Class Matthew R. Seidler

34-year-old USAF Tech. Sgt. Matthew S. Schwartz, from Michigan, was one of three Air Force servicemen killed in action on 5th January 2012 when their vehicle struck an insurgent bomb in Shir Ghazi, Helmand.

Sgt. Schwartz was a bomb-disposal technician serving with the 90th Civil Engineer Squadron, FE Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming. His family told local news that this was his sixth combat mission and that he had also served in Iraq. He had served in the US Air Force for 12 years.

Sgt. Schwartz leaves his wife, Jenny, and three daughters.

24-year-old USAF Airman 1st Class Matthew R. Seidler, from Westminster, Maryland was one of three Air Force servicemen killed in action on 5th January 2012 when their vehicle struck an insurgent bomb in Shir Ghazi, Helmand.

Afc Seidler was serving with the 21st Civil Engineer Squadron, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado.

23-year-old USAF Senior Airman Bryan R. Bell, from Erie, Pennsylvania, was one of three Air Force servicemen killed in action on 5th January 2012 when their vehicle struck an insurgent bomb in Shir Ghazi, Helmand.

Sr. Airman Bell, a bomb-disposal technician serving with the 2nd Civil Engineer Squadron, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, was a volunteer firefighter. He graduated from Harbor Creek High School in 2006 and joined the Air Force the same year.

He leaves behind his father, mother, wife and sister.