U.S. ARMY

Roadside Bomb Kills Three Soldiers

Afghanistan

U.S. ARMY & ARMY RESERVE

Seven Soldiers Killed in Afghanistan Near Weapons Cache

The Department of Defense announced the deaths of seven soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom on January 29, 2004, west of Ghazni, Afghanistan. The seven soldiers and an additional soldier, whose status was listed as Duty Status Whereabouts Unknown, were working around a weapons cache when there was an explosion.  Three other soldiers and an interpreter were injured and evacuated to the 452nd Combat Support Hospital at Bagram Air Base.

Killed were four soldiers from Ft. Drum, including three members of the 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division, based at Fort Drum, New York.  They were: Staff Sgt. Shawn M. Clemens, 28, of Allegany, New York. Spc. Robert J. Cook, 24, of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. Spc. Justin A. Scott, 22, of Bellevue, Kentucky. Also killed was: Sgt. Benjamin L. Gilman, 28, of Meriden, Connecticut. Gilman was assigned to the 41st Engineer Battalion, 10th Mountain Division, based at Fort Drum, N.Y.  Gilman had been listed as Duty Status Whereabouts Unknown. On February 2, his remains were recovered.

Four reservists were also killed in the incident.  They were:

Spc. Adam G. Kinser, 21, of Sacramento, California. Kinser was assigned to the 304th Psychological Operations Company, U.S. Army Reserve, based in Sacramento, California.

Sgt. 1st Class Curtis Mancini, 43, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Mancini was assigned to the 486th Civil Affairs Battalion, U.S. Army Reserve, based in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.

Staff Sgt. James D. Mowris, 37, of Aurora, Missouri. Mowris was assigned to the 805th Military Police Company, U.S. Army Reserve, based in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Sgt. Danton K. Seitsinger, 29, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Seitsinger was assigned to the 486th Civil Affairs Battalion, U.S. Army Reserve, based in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.

U.S. ARMY

Watercraft Capsizes and Rescue Helicopter Goes Down During Search

On January 25th a US patrol boat capsized during a patrol on the Tigris River with local police.  Four soldiers fell into the river in Mosul, Iraq.  Two OH-58 Kiowa Warrior helicopters conducted a search, and one of the search helicopters crashed into the river. Killed were:

Staff Sgt. Christopher Bunda, 29, of Washington State, died January 25.  Bunda was originally listed as Duty Status Whereabouts Unknown (DUSTWUN) when his patrol boat capsized on the Tigris River. His remains were recovered on February 10. Bunda was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry, based at Fort Lewis, Washington.

Chief Warrant Officer Patrick Dorff, 32, of Minnesota.  Dorff’s helicopter went down in the Tigris River while conducing a search on January 25 after four soldiers’ watercraft capsized. On January 29, his remains were recovered.  Dorff was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 10th Aviation (Fort Drum); however, in support of mission requirements, he was attached to the 3rd Squadron, 17th Cavalry, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, New York.

1st Lt. Adam G. Mooney, 28, of Cambridge, Maryland.; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 10th Aviation, Fort Drum, New York, was killed January 25 when his helicopter went down in the Tigris River during a search for a missing soldier in Mosul, Iraq. Mooney was attached to 3rd Squadron, 17th Cavalry, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum. Mooney was listed as duty status whereabouts unknown after the crash. His remains were recovered February 14.

U.S. ARMY

Three "All American" Soldiers Die in a Vehicle-Based IED Attack

Three Task Force "All American" soldiers were killed when a vehicle-based improvised explosive device detonated in Khalidiyah, Iraq on January 24th.  The soldiers were assigned to Company B, 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry, Fort Hood, Texas.  Killed were:

Spc. Jason K. Chappell, 22, of Hemet, California

Sgt. Randy S. Rosenberg, 23, of Berlin, New Hampshire

Spc. William R. Sturges, Jr., 24, of Spring Church, Pennsylvania

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U.S. ARMY

Helicopter Crew Killed in Crash

An OH-58 Kiowa Warrior helicopter crashed on January 23 on its way back from a combat mission near Mosul in northern Iraq.  Killed were:

	Chief Warrant Officer (CW2) Michael T. Blaise, 29, from Tennessee.  Blaise was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 101st Aviation based at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
	Chief Warrant Officer (CW2) Brian D. Hazelgrove., 29, of Fort Rucker, Alabama.  Hazelgrove was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 10th Aviation Brigade, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) based at Fort Drum, New York.

U.S. MARINES

Marine Pilot from Illinois Dies

Capt. Adam Miller, of Midlothian, Illinois reported died January 22 while in support of the War Against Terror according to the Illinois National Guard web site.  The Department of Defense did not issue a press release regarding Miller's death.

U.S. ARMY

Two Soldiers Killed in Mortar Attack

Two soldiers of the 4th Infantry Division were killed in a mortar attack on the forward operating base near Ba'qubah, Iraq the evening of January 21.  Both solders were assigned to the 588th Engineer Battalion (Heavy), 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas. Killed were:

Spc. Gabriel T. Palacios, 22, of Lynn, Massachusetts

Pfc. James D. Parker, 20, of Bryan, Texas

U.S. ARMY

Soldier Dies From Injuries Received on Jan 16th

Master Sgt. Kelly L. Hornbeck, 36, of Fort Worth, Texas, died of wounds January 18 at 28th Combat Support Hospital (CSH) in Iraq.  On January 16th, an improvised explosive device hit Hornbeck's vehicle, south of Samarra, Iraq.  Hornbeck was initially evacuated to the 21st CSH and then moved to the 28th CSH for further treatment where he later died.  He was assigned to Company C, 3rd Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group, based at Fort Carson, Colorado.

U.S. ARMY

Three Soldiers Killed During Surveillance Sweep

Three soldiers were killed on January 17 while conducting a surveillance sweep of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) north of Taji, Iraq when their Bradley Fighting Vehicle struck an IED and overturned. Killed were:

Pfc. Cody J. Orr, 21, of Ruskin, Florida.  Orr was assigned to Battery B, 1st Battalion, 44th Air Defense Artillery, in support of 4th Infantry Division, based at Fort Hood, Texas

Spc. Larry E. Polley, Jr. of Center, Texas. Polley was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 20th Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

Sgt. Edmond L. Randle, 26, of Miami, Florida.  Randle was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 20th Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

U.S. ARMY

Soldier Dies From Non-Hostile Gunshot Wound

Staff Sgt. Roland L. Castro, 26, of San Antonio, Texas, died January 16 in Camp Cedar II, in Iraq, of a non-hostile gunshot wound.  Castro was assigned to Battery A, 1st Battalion, 12th Field Artillery, based at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

U.S. ARMY

Soldier Killed in a Vehicle Accident

Sgt Keicia M. Hines, 27, of Citrus Heights, California, died on January 14th when she was struck by a vehicle on Mosul Airfield in Mosul, Iraq.  Hines was assigned to the 108th Military Police, Combat Support Company, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

U.S. ARMY

IED Kills Soldier While on Patrol

Staff Sgt. Ricky L. Crockett, 37, of Broxton, Georgia was killed on January 12th in Baghdad, Iraq.  He was struck by an improvised explosive device (IED) while on a mounted patrol.  Crockett was assigned to Company D, 51st Signal Battalion, XVIII Airborne Corps, based in Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Afghanistan

ARMY NATIONAL GUARD

Vehicles Collide Killing Army Guard Soldier

Sgt. Roy A. Wood, 47, of Alva, Florida was killed on January 9th in Kabul, Afghanistan.  He was fatally injured when the vehicle he was traveling in near Kabul hit another vehicle.  Wood was assigned to Company C, 3rd Battalion, 20th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Army National Guard based in Starke, Florida.

U.S. ARMY

Nine Soldiers Killed in MEDEVEC Crash

A UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter crashed on January 8th while on a MEDEVAC mission in Fallujah, Iraq.  Nine soldiers were killed in the incident.  Killed were:

Staff Sgt. Craig Davis, 37, of Opelousas, Louisiana.  Davis was assigned to the 603rd Transportation Company, 142nd Corps Support Battalion, Fort Polk, Louisiana.

Sgt. 1st Class Gregory B. Hicks, 35, of Duff, Tennessee.  Hicks was assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, based in Fort Hood, Texas.

Four of the soldiers killed were members of the 571st Medical Company (Air Ambulance), Fort Carson, Colorado.  They were: Spc. Christopher A. Golby, 26, of Johnstown, Pennsylvania.  Spc. Michael A. Diraimondo, 22, of Simi Valley, California. Chief Warrant Officer Philip A. Johnson, Jr., 31, of Alabama.  Chief Warrant Officer Ian D. Manuel, 23, of Florida.

Three of the soldiers killed were members of the 82nd Airborne Division.  They were: Spc. Nathaniel H. Johnson, 22, of Augusta, Georgia.  Johnson was assigned to Company D (Aviation), 82nd Support Battalion, 82nd Airborne Division based in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Sgt. Jeffrey C. Walker, 33, of Havre de Grace, Maryland. Walker was was assigned to Company C, 782nd Main Support Battalion, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina Chief Warrant Officer Aaron A. Weaver, 32, of Florida.  Weaver was assigned to C Troop, 1st Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

U.S. ARMY

Soldier Killed in Mortar Attack

Pfc. Jesse D. Mizener, 24, of Auburn, California was killed on January 7th in Baghdad, Iraq when a mortar round hit the Logistics Base.  Mizener was assigned to the 542nd Maintenance Company, 44th Corps Support Battalion, 593rd Corps Support Group, Fort Lewis, Washington.

U.S. ARMY RESERVE

Soldier Killed in IED Attack in Baghdad

Spc. Luke P. Frist, 20, of West Lafayette, Indiana, died of wounds on January 5 at Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas.  Frist was part of a convoy that was struck with an improvised explosive device in Baghdad, Iraq.  Frist was assigned to the 209th Quartermaster Company, U.S. Army Reserve, based in Lafayette, Indiana.

U.S. ARMY

Soldier Killed in Mortar Attack in Balad, Iraq

Captain Eric T. Paliwoda, 28, of Texas, was killed on January 2 in Balad, Iraq.  Paliwoda was in his command post when it came under mortar attack.  He died of injuries sustained in the attack.  Paliwoda was assigned to the 4th Engineer Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th infantry Division (Mechanized), based in Fort Carson, Colorado.

U.S. ARMY

Vehicle Rolls Over Killing One Soldier

Sgt. Dennis A Corral, 33, of Kearney, Nebraska, died on January 1 in Baghdad, Iraq. He was in a convoy going to the Baghdad International Airport when his vehicle went out of control and rolled over.  Corral was assigned to the 1st Engineer Battalion, 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kansas.