In Memoriam

[Grace]

17 February 2012

COLUMBUS, Ga. -- A Navy sailor from Columbus has died in Dubai.

The Department of Defense said Petty Officer First Class Paris S. Pough died Friday during a port visit to Jebel Ali in the United Arab Emirates.

Pough was assigned to the USS Carl Vinson, which is based in San Diego. According to the ship's Facebook page, the 40-year-old hull technician died as a result of a noncombat-related incident in the port city.

Officials did not release the cause of death.

He was described as a "hard-working, trustworthy shipmate."

The Defense Department lists Pough as being from Columbus, but he has an address listed in Kingsland, S.C.

A woman who answered the phone at that number said he has four children, ages 12 to 1. She declined comment.

[Grace]

Albania

Albanian Army Captain Feti Vogli, age 30, was killed in southern Afghanistan on 20th February 2012 while escorting a USAID team to a meeting with local Afghan officials.

Afghan police officers, who were accompanying the group, opened fire on the NATO troops. Captain Vogli died later at a hospital in Kandahar whilst a second Albanian soldier was in a coma at the hospital.

Captain Vogli was born in Baldushk, near Tirana. He graduated from the Albanian Military Academy specializing in Army Artillery. He completed the Special Forces Course in 2005 and joined the Special Forces Battalion as Group Commander.

He leaves his wife Alva and their 2-year-old daughter Egi.

[Grace]

21 February 2012

28-year-old US Army Sergeant Allen R. McKenna Jr., from Noble, Oklahoma, died on 21st February 2012 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan.

Sgt. McKenna joined the US Army in September 2004 and served with the 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, based at Fort Carson, Colorado. This was his second deployment to Afghanistan.

His decorations included the Army Commendation Medal twice and the Army Achievement Medal.

[Grace]

Italy

Three Italian soldiers were killed on 20th February 2012 when the Lynx VTLM vehicle they were in overturned while crossing a river, trapping three of the crew inside.

The incident happened about 20km south-west of Shindand during a recovery and rescue operation of another unit that was stranded by bad weather.

The three soldiers, all serving with 66 Military Aircraft Regiment were named as:
Chief Corporal Francesco Currò, 1st Corporal Luca Valente and 1st Corporal Francesco Paolo Messineo.

A fourth soldier was injured in the accident and is currently in a stable condition in hospital.

From left to right: Messineo, Curro, Valente.

[Grace]

18 February 2012

NAIROBI, Kenya

An American reconnaissance plane crashed 6 miles (10 kilometers) from the only U.S. base in Africa, killing four service members on board, after returning from a mission in support of the war in Afghanistan, the military said Monday.

The statement said that the crash occurred at about 8 p.m. Saturday in Djibouti. U.S. personnel from Camp Lemonnier in the tiny Horn of Africa nation responded to the scene.

Specialist Ryan Whitney of the 1st Special Operations Wing said that initial indications are that the plane did not crash because of hostile fire. The plane was conducting an intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance mission, he said. A statement from U.S. Africa Command called it a "routine" flight.

Amy Oliver, public affairs director of the Air Force 1st Special Operations Wing, said the single-engine, fixed-wing U-28A was returning from a mission in support of the Afghanistan war.

The cause of the crash is under investigation. Camp Lemonnier lies only miles from the border with Somalia.

The four killed in the crash included: Capt. Ryan P. Hall, 30, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, with the 319th Special Operations Squadron; Capt. Nicholas S. Whitlock, 29, of Newnan, Georgia, with the 34th Special Operations Squadron; 1st Lt. Justin J. Wilkens, 26, of Bend, Oregon, with the 34th Special Operations Squadron; and Senior Airman Julian S. Scholten, 26, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, with the 25th Intelligence Squadron.

Hall was a U-28 pilot with more than 1,300 combat flight hours. He was assigned to the 319th Special Operations Squadron at Hurlburt Field, Fla.

[Grace]

Georgia

Three soldiers from Georgia were killed in action on 21st February 2012 during a combat mission in Helmand province.

The three servicemen were named as Corporal Beraia Valiko, Corporal Meladze Ruslan and Corporal Kacharava Paata. They were killed when their combat vehicle exploded following an insurgent attack.

All three served in the 31st Light Infantry Battalion of the 3rd Infantry Brigade.

[Grace]

Army Releases January Suicide Data

The Army released suicide data today for the month of January. During January, among active-duty soldiers, there were 16 potential suicides: five have been confirmed as suicide and 11 remain under investigation. For December, the Army reported 11 potential suicides among active-duty soldiers. Since the release of that report, eight have been confirmed as a suicide and three remain under investigation.

During January, among reserve component soldiers who were not on active duty, there were six potential suicides (five Army National Guard and one Army Reserve): none have been confirmed as suicide and six remain under investigation. For December, among that same group, the Army reported five potential suicides. Since the release of that report, one case has been added for a total of six cases (four Army National Guard and two Army Reserve). Six were confirmed as suicides and none remain under investigation.

“With our Army in significant transition, our leadership at all levels is engaged to synchronize our efforts to improve the health and discipline of the force and the well-being of our Army families,” said Lt. Gen. Thomas P. Bostick, the Army deputy chief of staff, G-1. “I am encouraged by the 2011 Army suicide data that reflects a slight decrease in suicides from the record year experienced in 2010 and a halting of the dramatic increases experienced between 2006 and 2009; however, many challenges lie ahead, which we must tackle together.” Bostick urges leaders and soldiers to read, digest and apply the principles and lessons learned reflected in the “Gold Book” as it continues and expands the dialogue on health promotion and risk reduction. “The ‘Gold Book’ will help leaders at all levels continue the face to face conversations that are focused on reducing the stigma associated with help-seeking behavior. Our Army family deserves our very best effort and that is what they will receive!”