dib's List of U.S. Casualties in Afghanistan and Iraq

We mourn the loss of service personnel killed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan) and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Our prayers are with their families and loved ones.

The following is a list of casualties in Afghanistan and Iraq as reported by the Department of Defense for February 2004.

February 2004

Feb 25

U.S. ARMY

Helicopter Crashes in Iraq Killing Two Soldiers

Two soldiers died on February 25 in Habbinayah, Iraq when the OH-58 helicopter in which they were flying crashed. Both soldiers were assigned to the 4th Squadron, Outlaw Troop, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Carson, Colorado. Killed were:

Chief Warrant Officer Matthew C. Laskowski, 32, of Phoenix Arizona.

Chief Warrant Officer Stephen M. Wells, 29, of Massachusetts.

Afghanistan

U.S. ARMY

Accident Kills Soldier in Afghanistan

Spc. David E. Hall, 21 Uniontown, Kansas, died February 25 in Kabul, Afghanistan, in a non-hostile accident. Hall was assigned to 805th Military Police Company, 16th Military Police Brigade, U.S. Army Reserve, Raleigh, North Carolina.

Feb 20

U.S. ARMY

Soldier Killed in Roadside Accident

Sgt. 1st Class Henry A. Bacon, 45, of Wagram, North Carolina, died February 20 in Ad Dujayl, Iraq, when he was struck by a recovery vehicle. He was assisting a disabled vehicle when the accident occurred. Bacon was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 1st Squadron, 10th Armored Cavalry Regiment, 4th Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

Feb 19

U.S. ARMY

Two Soldiers Killed Near Khalidiyah, Iraq

One soldier was wounded and two were killed in an attack involving small arms fire and an improvised explosive devise. According to a Combined Joint Task Force 7 news release, the unit was on patrol northwest of Khalidiyah, Iraq when a roadside bomb exploded. Also killed were two Iraqis, a translator and a policeman.

Both soldiers killed in the attack were assigned to Company C, 1st Battalion, 34th Armor Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, based at Fort Riley, Kansas. Killed were:

2nd Lt. Jeffrey C. Graham, 24 of Elizabethtown, Kentucky.

Spc. Roger G. Ling, 20, of Douglaston, New York.

Feb 16

U.S. ARMY

Soldier Killed in IED Attack in Talifar

Spc. Michael M. Merila, 23, of Sierra Vista, Arizona, died February 16 in Talifar, Iraq, when his convoy was hit by an improvised explosive device (IED). Merila was assigned to the Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 1st Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, Fort Lewis, Washington.

U.S. ARMY RESERVE

IED Kills Reservist in Baqubah

Pfc. Nichole M. Frye, 19, of Lena Wisconsin, died February 16 in Baqubah, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device struck her convoy. Frye was assigned to Company A, 415th Civil Affairs Battalion, U.S. Army Reserve, Kalamazoo, Michigan.

ARMY NATIONAL GUARD

IED Claims Soldier in Baghdad

Spc. Christopher M. Taylor, 25, of Daphne, Alabama, died February 16 in Baghdad, Iraq, when an improvised device struck his convoy. Taylor was assigned to the 1165th Military Police Company, Army National Guard, Fairhope, Alabama. His unit was attached to the 18th Military Police Brigade operating in theater.

Feb 13

U.S. ARMY

Soldier Killed After Vehicle Rolls into Ditch

Pvt. Bryan N. Spry, 19, Chestertown, Maryland, died February 13 in Baghdad, Iraq, when his vehicle rolled into a water-filled ditch. Spry was assigned to Company D, 1st Battalion, 504th Infantry, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Afghanistan

U.S. ARMY

Soldier Killed and 9 Wounded in Afghanistan Mine Explosion

A U.S. solder was killed and nine were wounded by a mine explosion near Ghazni, Afghanistan. Four of the wounded soldiers were treated on the scene and the others were taken by helicopter to the 452nd Combat Support Hospital at Bagram Air Base. The names of the wounded soldiers were withheld until their families were notified. Killed was:

Sgt. Nicholes D. Golding, 24, of Addison, Maine, Golding was assigned to Company C, 2/87th Infantry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, New York.

Feb 12

ARMY NATIONAL GUARD

MP Brigade Soldier Killed in Attack in Baghdad

A member of the 16th Military Police Brigade was killed and two others were wounded late February 12 in Baghdad, in an attack involving an improvised explosive device and small-arms fire. The wounded soldiers were evacuated to the 31st Combat Support Hospital for treatment. Killed was:

Spc. Eric U. Ramirez, 31, of San Diego, California. A subsequent DoD report noted that Ramirez died February 12 in Abu Gireb, Iraq, when he was attacked by small arms fire, a rocket propelled grenade and an improvised explosive device. Ramirez was assigned to the 670th Military Police Company, Army National Guard, National City, California.

Feb 11

U.S. ARMY

IED Kills Two Soldiers While on Patrol

An improvised explosive device killed two soldiers on February 11 while they were on a mounted patrol in Baghdad, Iraq. The soldiers were assigned to Troop E, 2nd Squadron, 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Polk, Louisiana. Killed were:

Sgt. Patrick S. Tainsh, 33, of Oceanside, California.

Pfc. William C. Ramirez, 19 of Portland, Oregon.

Feb 10

Qatar

U.S. AIR FORCE

Airman Killed in Vehicle Accident

Master Sgt. Jude C. Mariano, 39, of Vallejo, California, died February 10 in Doha, Qatar, from injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident. Mariano was assigned to the 615th Air Mobility Operations Squadron, Travis Air Force Base, California.

Feb 9

U.S. ARMY & ARMY NATIONAL GUARD

Two Soldiers Killed When Ordinance was Moved

Two soldiers were killed on February 9 in Sinjar, Iraq, when a collection of unexploded ordinance, rocket-propelled grenades and mortar rounds detonated while being moved to a demolition point. Killed were:

Sgt. Thomas D. Robbins, 27, Schenectady, New York. Robbins was assigned to Troop A, 1st Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment (Stryker), Fort Lewis, Washington.

Sgt. Elijah Tai Wah Wong, 42, of Mesa, Arizona. Wong was assigned to the 363rd Explosive Ordnance Company, Army National Guard, Casa Grande, Arizona.

Feb 8

U.S. ARMY

IED Attack Kills Member of 82nd Airborne

Staff Sgt. Richard P. Ramey, 27, of Canton, Ohio, died February 8 in Mahmudiyah, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device detonated. Ramey was assigned to the 703rd Ordinance Company, Fort Knox, Kentucky, and he was supporting the 82nd Airborne Division.

Feb 5

ARMY NATIONAL GUARD

Mortar Round Kills Soldier at Baghdad Checkpoint

Spc. Joshua L. Knowles, 23, of Sheffield, Iowa, died February 5 in Baghdad, Iraq, when he was hit by a mortar round at a Baghdad International Airport checkpoint. Knowles was assigned to the 1133rd Transportation Company, Army National Guard, Mason City, Iowa.

Feb 3

U.S. ARMY

IED Attack Kills One Soldier, Wounds Another

One soldier was killed and another was wounded on February 3 during an improvised explosive device attack near Haswah, Iraq.

The soldiers, from Task Force "All American," were conducting counter-IED operations along a supply route in Iskandariyah, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device (IED) exploded, according to a U.S. Central Command news release. The wounded soldier was taken to the 31st Combat Support Hospital. Killed in the incident was:

2nd Lt. Seth J. Dvorin, 24, of New Jersey. Dvorin died February 3rd, in Iskandariyah, Iraq and was assigned to Battery B, 3rd Battalion, 62nd Air Defense Artillery Regiment, based at Fort Drum, New York.

Feb 1

U.S. ARMY

Rocket Attack Kills Soldier, Wounds Twelve

On February 1, one 4th Infantry Division soldier was killed and 12 others were wounded during a rocket attack on Logistics Support Area Anaconda near Balad, Iraq.

The injured soldiers were taken to the 31st Combat Support Hospital for treatment. A Combined Joint Task Force 7 news release said two of the soldiers were in serious condition, six were in stable condition and four were treated for superficial wounds and returned to duty.

Later, the Department of Defense announced that Staff Sgt. Roger C. Turner Jr., 37, of Parkersburg, West Virginia, died February 1 in Anaconda, Iraq. Turner was in his sleeping quarters when the logistical support area came under mortar attack. He died as a result of his injuries. Turner was assigned to the Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

Vehicle Rollover Kills Soldier, Injures Two

One soldier was killed and two others were injured February 1 when their humvee rolled over near the town of Haditha. The injured soldiers were evacuated to area military facilities, a news release said. No report was available on their condition.

Later the DoD announced that Pfc. Armando Soriano, 20, of Houston, Texas, had died on February 1 in Haditha, Iraq. Soriano was traveling in a two-vehicle convoy on a supply route when weather conditions caused his vehicle to slide off the road and roll over. He died as a result of his injuries. Soriano was assigned to the howitzer battery, 3rd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Carson, Colorado. At the time of this release, the unit was attached to the 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

See this month's report of casualties.

See archived reports for: 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

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