In Memoriam

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18 January 2012

US Army Specialist Keith D. Benson, aged 27, died on 18th January 2012 in Paktika province, Afghanistan. The circumstances surrounding his death are being investigated.

Spc. Benson, a combat medic, served with the 2nd Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment, 172nd Infantry Brigade, based at Grafenwoehr, Germany.

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France
20 January 2012

27-year-old French Army Sergeant Geoffrey Baumel was one of four French soldiers killed on 20th January 2012 by an Afghan National Army soldier in Kapisa. 15 other French soldiers were injured in the attack.

Sgt. Baumel joined the Army in September 2006 and served with the 93rd Regiment of Mountain Artillery (93e RAM) as a mechanic. He was born in Echirolles in November 1984. During his service, he deployed to Guyana in 2008 and was promoted to Brigadier (Sergeant) on 1st October 2010.

He deployed to Afghanistan in September 2011 as part of a Mentoring and Advisory team involved in training the Afghan Army. He and his colleagues were killed while they were participating in a physical training workout at Gwan Base in southern Kapisa.

He leaves his partner and one child.

34-year-old French Foreign Legion Staff Sergeant Svilen Simeonov was one of four French soldiers killed on 20th January 2012 by an Afghan National Army soldier. He and his colleagues were killed while they were participating in a physical training workout at Gwan Base in southern Kapisa. 15 other French soldiers were injured in the attack.

SSgt Simeonov, a Bulgarian national, joined the Foreign Legion in September 2001 and completed his intial training with the 4th Foreign Regiment at Castelnaudary. At the time of his death he was serving with the 2nd Foreign Engineers Regiment. He was trained as a Firefighter, a combat Engineer and Minesweeper.

Promoted to Corporal in 2004, he quickly rose through the ranks becoming a Sergeant in 2005 and Staff Sergeant in 2009. He served in French Guiana in 2004, Cote d'Ivoire and Afghanistan in 2007 and also served in Djibouti three times. He deployed to Afghanistan on this mission in September 2011.

He leaves his wife and one child.

45-year-old French Army Chief Warrant Officer Denis Estin was one of four French soldiers killed on 20th January 2012 by an Afghan National Army soldier. He and his colleagues were killed while they were participating in a physical training workout at Gwan Base in southern Kapisa. 15 other French soldiers were injured in the attack.

CWO Estin had served with the French Army for over 28 years. Born in December 1966, he joined the Parachute Artillery Regiment in November 1984. He quickly distinguished himself as a natural leader with highly professional qualities. he was promoted to Sergeant in May 1987. He attended the national school for non-commissioned officers and was appointed Sergeant 1st Class in July 1988.

In 1993 he was posted to 68 Artiller Regiment of Africa as a Warrant Officer.

August 2009 he joined the elite 93rd Mountain Artillery Regiment as a communications specialist. During his long career he served in Central African Republic in 1986 and 1994, Chad in 1996, Martinique in 1999, Bosnia in 2005 and Afghanistan in 2004 and 2009. He deployed on this mission to Afghanistan in September 2011.

He was married with two children.

43-year-old French Army Chief Warrant Officer Fabien Willm was one of four French soldiers killed on 20th January 2012 by an Afghan National Army soldier. He and his colleagues were killed while they were participating in a physical training workout at Gwan Base in southern Kapisa. 15 other French soldiers were injured in the attack.

CWO Willm joined the French Army in 1986 as a student NCO, he was assigned the following year at 93rd Mountain Artillery Regiment (93e RAM) where he began his career as a gunner.

Since August 2009, he served as Senior Technician in the same regiment. He was married with one child.

These men were killed by an Afghan soldier, someone we were trying to help. Why are we still fighting?

[Grace]

21 January 2012

23-year-old US Marine Corporal Christopher G. Singer, from California, was killed during combat operations in Helmand province on 21st January 2012.

Cpl. Singer, a combat engineer, served with the 3rd Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division, based at Twentynine Palms, California. He joined the Marine Corps in September 2007. This was his first deployment to Afghanistan.

His personal awards include the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and Afghanistan Campaign Medal.

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Regarding post #1823 - I now have access to photos of some of the troops, that were not available prior to this. For some unknown reason, I am not allowed to post this one photo.

US Marine Corporal Joseph Logan -

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England

British Army Signaller Ian Sartorius-Jones from 20th Armoured Brigade Headquarters and 200 Signal Squadron died on 24th January 2012 at Forward Operating Base Khar Nikah in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand Province.

21-year-old Signaller Sartorius-Jones, from Cheshire, joined the Royal Corps of Signals in February 2007. Following basic training, he attended the Royal School of Signals, Blandford, and began a career as a Communications Systems Operator.

The former British national Taekwondo champion had previously served in Iraq and had volunteered to extend his time in Afghanistan.

Signaller Sartorius-Jones leaves behind his wife Kellyanne and young son Dylan as well as his parents Robert and Amanda Sartorius-Jones and brother, Alan.

[Grace]

25 January 2012

JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash. – According to the Dept. of Defense, 1st Lt. David A. Johnson, 24, of Horicon, Wis., died Jan. 25, in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered after encountering an improvised explosive device (IED) while conducting a dismounted patrol. 1st Lt. Johnson was a platoon leader assigned to 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.

According to unit records, Johnson was commissioned in 2010 through the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC), and he is a graduate of Evangel University, Springfield, Mo. In 2011 he attended the Infantry Basic Officer Leadership Course at Fort Benning, Ga. He arrived at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in August 2011, and was assigned to 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team. The unit deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in December. This was 1st Lt. Johnson’s first deployment.

Article from local paper

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22 January 2012

US Marine Captain Joshua C. Pairsh, who was supporting Afghanistan's Operation Enduring Freedom, died in the United States on 22nd January 2012 from a non-combat related illness.


29-year-old Captain Pairsh, from Illinois, was assigned to 4th Civil Affairs Group, Marine Forces Reserve, based in Washington, D.C.

Joshua Pairsh was from the small village of Equality in southeastern Illinois. A 2004 Cum Laude graduate of Murray State University in Kentucky, Pairsh earned a Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. He had been deployed to Iraq in 2007-2008.

Pairsh was assigned to the Marine Forces Reserve. He was a ground supply officer with 4th Civil Affairs Group, based out of Washington, D.C. He had been promoted to a Marine Corps captain in the fall of 2010.

Captain Joshua C. Pairsh died January 22nd after returning to the US from Afghanistan on January 3rd. He was 29 years old and had come down with what was reported to be a “non-combat related illness.” According to the Evansville Courier & Press site:

Capt. Joshua C. Pairsh, 29, of Equality died Sunday at a hospital in Washington, D.C.

Family members said Pairsh contracted pneumonia while serving in Afghanistan and was transferred to a hospital in Germany where he was diagnosed with lymphoma and was later transferred to the Washington, D.C., hospital…

His remains were cremated, according to a spokesperson with the Vickery Funeral Home in Equality, and will be interred in Arlington National Cemetery with a graveside service set for 3 p.m. Feb. 15. A local memorial service is also planned.


Captain Pairsh is survived by his wife, Tanya, and two children, Avery and Lawson.