In Memoriam

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

Entire article with photo

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How very sad. Rest in peace, Sergeant Collins.

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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.

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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.

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5 January 2012

From FoxNews

Four Indiana National Guardsmen Killed in Afghanistan

Four soldiers with an Indiana-based National Guard unit were killed in Afghanistan and a fifth was injured when their vehicle struck a roadside bomb as they were working to clear a supply route of the improvised bombs, guard officials said Saturday.

Indiana Adjutant General Martin Umbarger said the four members of the Valparaiso-based 713th Engineer Company died Thursday morning in southern Afghanistan. He said all of the men were combat engineers who specialized in clearing major supply routes.

The blast occurred as their vehicle traveled along a road, scouting for signs of roadside bombs and other potential problems convoys might encounter as the move supplies in the decade-long war in Afghanistan, Umbarger said.

"Their mission is to keep the major supply routes clear of all obstacles for the convoys. And what that means is they're the first ones to go out to make sure the route can be used, so it's a very important mission -- but it's also extremely dangerous," he told The Associated Press.

The four men killed were identified as: Staff Sgt. Jonathan M. Metzger, 32, of Indianapolis, Spc. Brian J. Leonhardt, 21, of Merrillville, Ind., Spc. Robert J. Tauteris Jr., 44, of Hamlet, Ind., and Spc. Christopher A. Patterson, 20, of Aurora, Ill.

A fifth soldier injured in the blast, Pvt. Douglas Rachowicz, 29, of Hammond, Ind., was initially treated at a military base hospital in Kandahar before being airlifted to the U.S. military hospital in Landstuhl, Germany, Umbarger said.

He said the four soldiers' deaths were the greatest number of Indiana guards since March 2005, when four members of the Indianapolis-based 76th Infantry Brigade died when a land mine exploded under their military vehicle about 30 miles south of the Afghan capital of Kabul.

Gov. Mitch Daniels said in a statement that Umbarger called him Saturday morning to tell him of the deaths. The governor said he's praying for the soldiers' families.

"I received from the adjutant general the news a person in my job dreads the most, that we have lost soldiers in combat. I had begun to hope that I had received the last such phone call, and cannot convey the sadness which it instantly brought," Daniels said.

"My prayers are joined with those of millions of Hoosiers who will hear this terrible news with deep grief but also with gratitude for the courage of those we have lost, and pride that we come from a state that produces men such as these," he said.

Umbarger said the four soldiers' families were informed Friday of the deaths, and the last family members were told the news Friday night. He said he's "humbled and honored" by the courage of the nation's service members and said the sacrifices of the four men won't be forgotten.

"I would like to extend my deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of these brave citizen-soldiers," he said in a statement. "We will honor their sacrifice and always remember them."

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/01/07...#ixzz1ipmdSANq

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Georgia

Georgian Army Corporal Shalva Pailodze from the 31st Infantry Battalion of the 3rd Brigade, was killed in action on 6th January 2012 during an enemy attack on his patrol unit in Helmand province. A Georgian Ministry of Defense statement said he "was killed as a result of a fatal injury during an attack by Taliban insurgents."

Corporal Pailodze, who joined the Georgian armed force in 2008, had the Medal for Participation in International Operations, according to the MoD.

This is the second Georgian Army fatality in a week and the twelfth one since Georgia joined the NATO-led operation in November 2009.

The 31st infantry battalion is now in Helmand province for its second, six-month deployment.

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Regarding post #1809 - Indiana National Guard deaths -

Article and pictures from local CBS affiliate