In Memoriam

[Grace]

14 November 2011

A Fort Bragg-based soldier has been killed in Iraq, the Department of Defense announced Wednesday night.

Spc. David E. Hickman, 23, of Greensboro, was killed by a roadside bomb on Monday in Baghdad, the Pentagon said.

He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg.

Veronica Hickman, Spc. Hickman's mother, told the News & Record of Greensboro that her son was a good student and star athlete at Northeast Guilford High School in Greensboro, where he played football and ran track. He also did Taekwondo and rock climbing, Veronica Hickman said.

"David was always an adventurous person," she told the News & Record. "He was never afraid to try things. He always tried dangerous things. It would make me so mad."

Hickman enlisted in the Army in 2009, going to basic training around Thanksgiving of that year, Veronica Hickman told the newspaper. He deployed to Iraq around Memorial Day this year.

David Eugene Hickman, Spc. Hickman's father, told the newspaper that he tried to persuade his son to be in the Air Force, like him, in air traffic control.

"But he wanted to do the crazy stuff," the elder Hickman said. "He wanted to be in the air, shooting and stuff."

On Friday - Veterans Day - Veronica Hickman told her son and other veterans that she was proud of their service.

"I was telling him, 'Good job,' " she told the News & Record.

[Grace]

11 November 2011

US Army Specialist James Edward "Jimmy" Hall Jr died in his sleep in Miamisburg, Ohio on 11th November 2011. He had been severely injured by a bomb blast in Afghanistan in May 2011 and was evacuated to the USA to recover.

27-year-old Spc. Hall had suffered facial burns, chest injuries and a traumatic brain injury and was evacuated first to Germany and then to the US. Four days before he was injured, his wife Laura gave birth to the couple's son, Aiden James Hall.

He joined the Army about five years ago and served in Iraq for a year.

[Grace]

England

British Army Lance Corporal Peter Eustace from 2nd Battalion The Rifles (2 RIFLES) was killed in action in Helmand province 16th November 2011 when an insurgent bomb detonated while he was on patrol.

L-Cpl. Eustace joined the Army in 2004. He flourished on operations and showed the dependability, courage and quickness of mind for which he became known. His rich qualities made him a natural choice to undertake a Junior Non Commissioned Officer (JNCO) selection cadre, which he passed with ease in March 2009.

He deployed to Afghanistan in April 2011 and had previously served in Iraq.

Lieutenant Colonel Bill Wright MBE, Commanding Officer 2 RIFLES, paid tribute to L-Cpl. Eustace: "After two very demanding operational tours, the first fighting on the streets of Basra on Operation TELIC 9 and the latter showing nerves of steel and huge courage in the IED laden alleyways around FOB Wishtan on Operation HERRICK 10, he had nothing left to prove as a warrior. He was one of those men you can completely rely on when things get tough."

[Grace]

16 November 2011

US Army Specialist James Burnett Jr., age 21, was killed in action on 16th November 2011 in Kandahar when an insurgent bomb blast hit the patrol vehicle he was in.

Spc. Burnett, from Missouri, had joined the army at the age of 17 and was serving with an Alaska-based Infantry regiment. He deployed to Afghanistan in April 2011.

He had returned to the US in July for two weeks leave and became engaged to his girlfriend. On his return to Afghanistan he had spoken with his father and step-mother a few weeks ago and had told them: "I'm in a bad place. Pray for me."

Spc. Burnett leaves behind his father and stepmother, James and Cheri Burnett, his mother and stepfather, John and Rebecca Rogers, his grandparents, Neil and Sally Rogers, fiancee Amy Keeler and eight siblings.

[Grace]

16 November 2011

US Army Pfc. Matthew C. Colin, from Navarre, Florida was one of two soldiers killed in action on 16th November 2011 when an insurgent bomb detonated beside their patrol vehicle. The incident occurred in Kandahar province.

22-year-old Pfc. Colin served with the Alaska-based 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team. The 2007 graduate of Navarre High School joined the Army in February 2010. This was his first deployment.

He leaves his father Ken, mother Kathy and his older brother, Michael.

[Grace]

16 November 2011

US Army Specialist Sean M. Walsh was killed in Khowst province on 16th November 2011 from what the US Department of Defense describes as "injuries sustained after encountering indirect fire."

21-year-old Spc. Walsh, from San Jose, California, served with the 185th Military Police Battalion, 49th Military Police Brigade, based at Pittsburg, California.

Local link with picture.

[Grace]

England

British Army Lance Corporal Richard Scanlon was one of two British Cavalry soldiers killed in action on 17th November 2011 when their armoured patrol vehicle hit an insurgent roadside bomb. The incident occurred in the Yakchal region of Nahr-e-Saraj, Helmand province.

31-year-old L-Cpl. Scanlon served with the elite 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards. He joined the Army in November 1998 and had served in Bosnia in 2001 and Iraq in 2003 and 2005 before deciding to leave the Army in July 2006. After being dissatisfied in a number of civilian jobs he rejoined the Army and the Regiment in September 2009 and was promoted to Lance Corporal in October 2010. He deployed to Afghanistan last month.

Lieutenant Colonel Jasper de Quincey Adams, Commanding Officer, 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards said: "Lance Corporal Richard Scanlon was one of life's great characters, always with an infectious smile and a tangible love of life. An experienced soldier, calm under pressure, he was hand picked as the Troop Leader's gunner on a demanding operational tour. He was a fighting soldier, cracking in the field or on operations, and in camp, his flamboyant character meant he could find fun in any situation. His appetite for the finer things in life was prodigious and had earned him one of the more memorable nicknames - nothing was ever half hearted for Lance Corporal Scanlon."

L-Cpl. Scanlon leaves behind his mother Cherry, step-father Robert, father Raymond and sisters Lisa and Emma.

The other soldier killed in the same incident was Lieutenant David Boyce

[Grace]

England

British Army Lieutenant David Alexander Grant Boyce was one of two British Cavalry soldiers killed in action on 17th November 2011 when their armoured patrol vehicle hit an insurgent roadside bomb. The incident occurred in the Yakchal region of Nahr-e-Saraj, Helmand province.

25-year-old Lt. Boyce joined the Army in September 2009 and commissioned from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst into 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards in August 2010. He deployed to Afghanistan last month.

Lieutenant Colonel Jasper de Quincey Adams, Commanding Officer, 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards said: "Lieutenant David Boyce was a charming young officer who, quite simply, represented everything that is great about the Regiment and British Army. He died while commanding his soldiers on operations in a complex and demanding environment. He led from the front, setting the very highest standards, and inspired his men and peers alike. Tall, powerful and with an infectious smile he, like so many officers of his generation, was committed to his men and determined to succeed on the operations."

Lt. Boyce leaves his father Martin, mother Andrea, sister Charlotte and girlfriend Jodie.

The other soldier killed in the same incident was Lance-Corporal Richard Scanlon

[Grace]

18 November 2011

US Army Private 1st Class Adam E. Dobereiner, from Molin, Illinois, was killed in action on Friday 18th November 2011 after an improvised explosive device struck his vehicle, according to the US Army's 8th Engineer Battalion Facebook page.

The incident occurred in the Arghandab Valley, Kandahar province. 21-year-old Pfc. Dobereiner was a member of the 8th Engineer Battalion, 36th Engineer Brigade, based at Fort Hood, Texas. Two other soldiers were injured by the blast.

The Battalion's Facebook page quoted: "Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines (American and foreign) gathered in Kandahar to hold a ramp ceremony in honor of PFC Adam Dobereiner. Please keep all of the Soldiers, their Families, and the 937th Clearance Company in your thoughts and prayers as they finish up the deployment and begin their journey home."

[Scooter's Mom]

9 November 2011

Several of my friends in Houston knew this young man. They buried him today.

[Grace]

18 November 2011

US Marine Lance Corporal Joshua D. Corral was killed in action during combat operations in Helmand on 18th November 2011.

19-year-old L-Cpl. Corral, from Danville, California, was a machine-gunner serving with the 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, based at Twentynine Palms, California.

He joined the Marine Corps in July 2010 and deployed to Sangin, Afghanistan with the 3rd Battalion on his first overseas tour of duty. His awards include the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.

[Grace]

England

British Army Private Thomas Christopher Lake, from 1st Battalion The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment, was killed in action during a patrol in the Jamal Kowi area of Nahr-e Saraj, Helmand on Sunday 20th November 2011. He was caught in the blast of an insurgent bomb and was airlifted to a field hospital. Sadly, he was declared killed in action.

29-year-old Private Lake, from Watford, joined the Army in November 2009 and passed out of training in May 2010, joining 1st Battalion The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment (1 PWRR), known as 'The Tigers', in Germany shortly afterwards.

He deployed to Canada with B Company, 4 Platoon in July 2010 and stayed with that platoon for the rest of his training and deployment to Afghanistan.

Lieutenant Colonel James Coote, Commanding Officer, 1st Battalion The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment, said: "Private Tom Lake epitomised the very best qualities of the British infantryman; he was a true Tiger - ever professional and totally committed to his mates and his battalion, he had an irrepressible smile and an understated manner that together made him hugely respected by all those that had the privilege to serve with him."

Private Lake leaves behind his mother Carol among other family and friends.

[Grace]

21 November 2011

US Marine Corporal Zachary C. Reiff died on Monday 21st November 2011 at a German hospital from injuries he received in a bomb explosion while on patrol in Helmand province three days previously.

22-year-old Cpl. Reiff, from Preston, Iowa, served with the 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, based at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, in California. He joined the Marine Corps in December 2008. This was his second deployment to Afghanistan.

His personal service awards include the Purple Heart with gold star device, Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with bronze star device.

[Grace]

21 November 2011

20-year-old US Army 10th Mountain Division Private Jackie L. Diener II, was killed in action on 21st November 2011 in Kandahar province during an exchange of fire with enemy forces.

Pvt. Diener, from Boyne City, Michigan, served with the 3rd Squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment. He joined the Army in March this year and transferred to the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum, New York, in July. He deployed to Afghanistan in September.

Pvt. Diener's grandmother, Donna Diener, told reporters that he was eager to join the military. "This is something he chose. He wanted to do it. He wanted to serve his country."

His awards and decorations include the Purple Heart, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the NATO Medal and the Army Combat Action Badge.

[Grace]

26 November 2011

US Marine Corporal Adam J. Buyes died on 26th November 2011 in Helmand province during combat operations.

21-year-old Cpl Buyes, from Salem, Oregon, was serving with the 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, based at Okinawa, Japan. The US Department of Defense announced that the incident leading to his death is being investigated.

Article from local paper.