Category Archives: Fallen Warriors

Our condolences to the families and units of these fallen warriors:

• Spc. Daniel L. Elliott, 21, of Youngsville, North Carolina, died July 15 in Basra, Iraq, when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.
• Master Sgt. Kenneth B. Elwell, 33, of Holland, Pennsylvania, died July 17, in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.
• Pfc. Tyler M. Springmann, 19, of Hartland, Maine, died July 17, in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.
• Lance Cpl. Jabari N. Thompson, 22, of Brooklyn, New York, died July 17 of wounds sustained July 13 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
• Sgt. Mark A. Cofield, 25, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, died July 17 in Baghdad, Iraq, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident.
• Lance Cpl. Christopher L. Camero, 19, of Kailua Kona, Hawaii, died July 15 of wounds suffered July 6 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
• Staff Sgt. Kenneth R. Vangiesen, 30, of Erie, Pennsylvania, died July 18 in Ghazni province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his convoy with an improvised explosive device.
• Sgt. Edward W. Koehler, 47, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, died July 18 in Ghazni province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his convoy with an improvised explosive device.
• Staff Sgt. Brian K. Mowery, 49, of Halifax, Pennsylvania, died July 18 in Ghazni province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his convoy with an improvised explosive device.
• Cpl. Raphael R. Arruda, 21, of Ogden, Utah, died July 16 in Kunar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.
• Staff Sgt. James M. Christen, 29, of Loomis, California, died July 19 in Kunar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device.
• Sgt. Jacob Molina, 27, of Houston, Texas, died July 19 in Kunar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device.
• Sgt. Omar A. Jones, 28, of Crook, Colorado, died July 18, in Balkh province, Afghanistan.
• Master Sgt. Benjamin A. Stevenson, 36, of Canyon Lake, Texas, died July 21 in Paktika province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms fire.

Every week, I open the pages on the DoD website, hoping that there have been no casualties since my last report. That’s still not happening. Our deepest condolences to the families and units of these fallen warriors:

• Sgt. Steven L. Talamantez, 34, of Laredo, Texas, died July 10, in Al Amarah, Iraq, of injuries suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with indirect fire.
• Spc. Rafael A. Nieves Jr., 22, of Albany, New York, died July 10 in Paktika province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with small-arms and rocket-propelled grenade fires.
• Sgt. Christopher P. Soderlund, 23, of Pineville, Louisiana, died July 9 in Logar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with rocket-propelled grenade fire.
• Lance Cpl. Norberto Mendez Hernandez, 22, of Logan, Utah, died July 10 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
• Lance Cpl. Robert S. Greniger, 21, of Greenfield, Minnesota, died July 12 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
• Seaman Aaron D. Ullom, 20, of Midland, Michigan, died while conducting a dismounted patrol in the Now Zad district, Helmand province, Afghanistan, on July 12.
• Sgt. Jeremy R. Summers, 27, of Mount Olivet, Kentucky, died Jul. 14 in Paktika province, Afghanistan, after enemy forces attacked his unit with small arms fire on Jul. 13.
• Staff Sgt. Wyatt A. Goldsmith, 28, of Colville, Washington, died July 15 at Camp Bastion Hospital, Afghanistan of injuries suffered July 15 when insurgents attacked his unit with rocket-propelled grenade fire in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
• Sgt. Lex L. Lewis, 40, of Rapid City, South Dakota, died July 15 after injuries suffered July 15 when insurgents attacked his unit with small arms fire in Farah province, Afghanistan.
• Spc. Frank R. Gross, 25, of Oldsmar, Florida, died July 16 at Kandahar province, Afghanistan of wounds sustained at Khowst province, Afghanistan when an improvised explosive device caused a military vehicle roll-over.

Argh! Argh! I failed on Sunday, my humble apologies! Had I managed to post, I would have spent the Fourth of July mourning these fallen warriors (reported by DoD June 27 through July 3). Our condolences to the families and units of these fine men:

• Sgt. Marlon E. Myrie, 25, of Oakland Park, Florida, died June 25 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
• Gunnery Sgt. Ralph E. Pate Jr., 29, of Mullins, South Carolina, died June 26 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
• Tech. Sgt. Daniel L. Douville, 33, of Harvey, Louisiana, died June 26 as a result of injuries suffered from an improvised explosive device on the border of the Nad ‘Ali district of Helmand province, Afghanistan.
• Spc. Matthew R. Gallagher, 22, of North Falmouth, Massachusetts, died June 26 in Wasit province, Iraq, of injuries suffered from a non-combat related incident.
• Staff Sgt. Russell J. Proctor, 25, of Oroville, California, died June 26, in Diyala province, Iraq, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.
• Pfc. Dylan J. Johnson, 20, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, died June 26, in Diyala province, Iraq, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.
• Spc. Kevin J. Hilaman, 28, of Albany, California, died June 26, in Kunar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms fire.
• 1st Lt. Dimitri A. Del Castillo, 24, of Tampa, Florida, died June 25, at Kunar province, Afghanistan of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with small arms fire.
• Staff Sgt. Nigel D. Kelly, 26, Menifee, California, died June 25, at Kunar province, Afghanistan of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with small arms fire.
• Cpl. Michael C. Nolen, 22, of Spring Valley, Wisconsin, died June 27 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
• Staff Sgt. Donald V. Stacy, 23, of Avondale, Arizona, died June 28 in Kandahar, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.
• Lance Cpl. John F. Farias, 20, of New Braunfels, Texas, died June 28 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
• Lance Cpl. Mark R. Goyet, 22, of Sinton, Texas, died June 28 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
• Spc. Nicholas P. Bernier, 21, of East Kingston, New Hampshire, died June 25 at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Landstuhl, Germany, of injuries suffered June 22 when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms fire in Kherwar, Afghanistan.
• Cpl. Kyle R. Schneider, 23, of Phoenix, New York, died June 30 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
• Sgt. Chad D. Frokjer, 27, of Maplewood, Minnesota, died June 30 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
• Capt. David E. Van Camp, 29, of Wheeling, West Virginia, died June 29 in Badrah, Iraq, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with indirect fire.
• Spc. Robert G. Tenney Jr., 29, Warner Robins, Georgia, died June 29 in Badrah, Iraq, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with indirect fire.
• Spc. James A. Waters, 21, of Cloverdale, Indiana, died July 1 at Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using an improvised explosive device.

Our condolences to the families and units of these fallen warriors:

• Spc. Scott D. Smith, 36, of Indianapolis, Indiana, died June 17 at Khowst province, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered in a non-combat related incident.
• Pfc. Brian J. Backus, 21, of Saginaw Township, Michigan, died June 18, in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with small arms fire.
• Pfc. Gustavo A. Rios-Ordonez, 25, of Englewood, Ohio, died June 20 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.
• Sgt. James W. Harvey II, 23, of Toms River, New Jersey, died June 20 in Ghazni province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with small arms fire.
• Sgt. 1st Class Alvin A. Boatwright, 33, of Lodge, South Carolina, died June 18 in Uruzgan province, Afghanistan of injuries suffered during a vehicle roll-over.
• Sgt. Edward F. Dixon III, 37, of Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, died June 18 in Uruzgan province, Afghanistan of injuries suffered during a vehicle roll-over.
• Staff Sgt. Alan L. Snyder, 28, from Blackstone, Massachusetts, died June 18 in Uruzgan province, Afghanistan of injuries suffered during a vehicle roll-over.
• Spc. Tyler R. Kreinz, 21, of Beloit, Wisconsin, died June 18 in Uruzgan province, Afghanistan of injuries suffered during a vehicle roll-over.
• Lance Cpl. Jared C. Verbeek, 22, of Visalia, California, died June 21 from wounds received while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
• Pfc. Joshua L. Jetton, 21, of Sebring, Florida, died June 20 in Kunar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with small arms fire.
• Spc. Levi E. Nuncio, 24, of Harrisonburg, Virginia, died June 22 in Kunar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with small arms fire.
• Cpl. Gurpreet Singh, 21, of Antelope, California, died June 22 from wounds received while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
• Spc. Nicholas C. D. Hensley, 28, of Prattville, Alabama, died June 24, in Landstuhl, Germany from injuries sustained in Kandahar, Afghanistan, on June 15 when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.

Our condolences to the families and units of these fallen warriors:

• Capt. Michael W. Newton, 30, of Newport News, Virginia,died June 11 at Faryab province, Afghanistan,of injuries suffered in a non-combat related incident.
• Lance Cpl. Joshua B. McDaniels, 21, of Dublin, Ohio, died June 12 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
• Lance Cpl. Sean M. N. O’Connor, 22, of Douglas, Wyoming, died June 12 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
• Lance Cpl. Jason D. Hill, 20, of Poway, California, died June 11 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
• Staff Sgt. Nicholas P. Bellard, 26, of El Paso, Texas, died June 13 in Wasit province, Iraq, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.
• Sgt. Glenn M. Sewell, 23, of Live Oak, Texas, died June 13 in Wasit province, Iraq, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.
• Staff Sgt. Jeremy A. Katzenberger, 26, of Weatherby Lake, Missouri, died June 14 in Paktika province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with small arms fire.
• Pfc. Eric D. Soufrine, 20, of Woodbridge, Connecticut, died June 14 in Farah province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using an improvised explosive device.
• Pvt. Ryan J. Larson, 19, of Friendship, Wisconsin, died June 15 at Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.
• Sgt. Mark A. Bradley, 25, of Cuba, New York, died June 16 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
• Spc. Marcos A. Cintron, 32, of Orlando, Florida, died June 16 at a medical facility in Boston, Mass., of wounds suffered June 6 at Baghdad, Iraq, when insurgents attacked his unit with indirect fire.

Our condolences to the families and units of these fallen warriors:

• Cpl. Paul W. Zanowick II, 23, of Miamisburg, Ohio, died June 3 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
• Sgt. Christopher R. Bell, 21, of Golden, Mississippi, died of wounds suffered June 4, in Laghman province, Afghanistan, when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.
• Sgt. Joshua D. Powell, 28, of Quitman, Texas, died of wounds suffered June 4, in Laghman province, Afghanistan, when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.
• Spc. Devin A. Snyder, 20, of Cohocton, New York, died of wounds suffered June 4, in Laghman province, Afghanistan, when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.
• Spc. Robert L. Voakes Jr., 21, of L’Anse, Michigan, died of wounds suffered June 4, in Laghman province, Afghanistan, when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.
• Chief Warrant Officer Kenneth R. White, 35, of Fort Collins, Colorado, died June 5, in Khost province, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered as the result of a helicopter crash.
• Chief Warrant Officer Bradley J. Gaudet, 31, of Gladewater, Texas, died June 5, in Khost province, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered as the result of a helicopter crash.
• Sgt. Joseph M. Garrison, 27, of New Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, died June 6 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
• Cpl. William J. Woitowicz, 23, of Middlesex, Massachusetts, died June 7 while conducting combat operations in Badghis province, Afghanistan.
• Spc. Emilio J. Campo Jr., 20, of Madelia, Minnesota, died June 6 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with indirect fire.
• Spc. Michael B. Cook Jr., 27, of Middletown, Ohio, died June 6 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with indirect fire.
• Spc. Christopher B. Fishbeck, 24, of Victorville, California, died June 6 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with indirect fire.
• Spc. Robert P. Hartwick, 20, of Rockbridge, Ohio, died June 6 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with indirect fire.
• Pfc. Michael C. Olivieri, 26, Chicago, Illinois, died June 6 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with indirect fire.
• Cpl. Matthew T. Richard, 21, of Acadia, Louisiana, died June 9 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
• Pfc. Matthew J. England, 22, of Gainesville, Missouri, died June 8, in An Najaf province, Iraq, when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.
• Lance Cpl. Nicholas S. O’Brien, 21, of Stanley, North Carolina, died June 9 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

The day winds down, and I have my obligation to fulfill. Our condolences to these fallen warriors:

• Lance Cpl. Peter J. Clore, 23, of New Philadelphia, Ohio, died May 28 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
• Pfc. Anthony M. Nunn, 19, of Burnet, Texas, died May 30, in Paktika province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using an improvised explosive device.
• Capt. Joseph W. Schultz, 36, of Port Angeles, Washington, died May 29, in Wardak province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.
• Staff Sgt. Martin R. Apolinar, 28, of Glendale, Arizona, died May 29, in Wardak province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.
• Sgt. Aaron J. Blasjo, 25, of Riverside, California, died May 29, in Wardak province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.
• Spc. Richard C. Emmons III, 22, of North Granby, Connecticut, died May, 31, in Logar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with a rocket propelled grenade.
• Sgt. Jeffrey C. S. Sherer, 29, of Four Oaks, North Carolina, died June 2, in Zabul province, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.