Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Journalist, Michelle Lang

Michelle Lang
Canadian journalist, Michelle Lang, 34, was killed by an improvised explosive devise (IED) in Afghanistan on 30th December 2009, while covering the war for the Canwest News Service. 

Four Canadian soldiers also died in the blast.

Jordanian officer killed

The Jordanian Army announced 30th December 2009 that one of its ranking officers was killed earlier in the day in Afghanistan. 

'Captain Ali bin Zeid was martyred this evening as he performed his humanitarian duty along with other Jordanian troops operating in Afghanistan,' the official Petra news agency quoted an army spokesman as saying. 

The statement gave no details as to the circumstances of bin Zeid's death, but said that he held the title of 'Sherif,' an indication that he was close to the ruling family. He is the first Jordanian soldier to be killed in Afghanistan. 

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Polish soldier, Michał Kołek

On 19th December 2009, Private 2nd Class Michał Kołek serving as part of the Quick Reaction Forces,  died in an insurgent attack on a Polish patrol around 1 pm local time (9.30 CET).

The incident occurred about 3,5 km away from the Four Courners base when the patrol was attacked by Taliban insurgents with machine gun fire and RPG grenade launchers. Immediately, Close Air Support and Quick Reaction Forces were directed to the site. After several minutes, a joint American-Afghani patrol provided support to Polish troops. In the exchange of fire PSC Michał Kołek was hit and died.

Two “Rosomak” vehicles were destroyed and six insurgents were killed in the battle.

Aged 22, Private 2nd Class Michał Kołek was a  bachelor. In Poland, he served with the Polish-Ukrainian Battalion in Przemysl. It was his first mission abroad.

He was buried on 24th December on a Christmas Eve, in his hometown Stalowa Wola. 

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Latvia military fatalities

LATVIA
Full list of military fatalities since 2002

Date Name Rank Age Unit Cause
11-Aug-09 Ozolins, Edgars Private 1st 23 Latvian Army Bomb
05-Aug-09 Baltābols, Dāvis Corporal 30 Latvian Army Gunfight
01-May-09 Merkusevs, Andrejs Private 1st 29 Latvian Army RPG attack
01-May-09 Ansevics, Voldemars Sergeant 38 Latvian Army RPG attack

Turkish military fatalities since 2002

List of Turkish military fatalities in Afghanistan since 2002

Date Name Rank Age Unit Cause
16-Mar-12 Çolak, Mithat Major

Air crash
16-Mar-12 Bağdatlı, Şükür Major

Air crash
16-Mar-12 Dogan, Serkan Major

Air crash
16-Mar-12 Cem, Ismail Major

Air crash
16-Mar-12 Erdogan, Adil Captain

Air crash
16-Mar-12 Aydin, Ilker Captain

Air crash
16-Mar-12 Yildiz, Murat 1 Lt

Air crash
16-Mar-12 Barutçu, Tahsin 1 Lt

Air crash
16-Mar-12 Melikoğlu, Okan 1 Lt

Air crash
16-Mar-12 Helvacı, Salih Sgt. Mjr.

Air crash
16-Mar-12 Akbas, Mehmet Sgt. Mjr.

Air crash
16-Mar-12 Vurucu, Onay Sergeant

Air crash
14-Jul-09 Sungur, Faruk Colonel 51 Turkish Army Accident
14-Jul-09 Mevlüt, Baydur Sergeant 39 Turkish Army Accident

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

IED blast kills Danish Hussar

Pvt. Kenneth Nielsen
Danish soldier, Kenneth Patrick Nielsen, a 23 year old Private with the Danish Hussar Guard regiment, was killed 25th November 2009 by an improvised explosive device (IED) while patrolling with his unit in Helmand province.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Danish soldier dies from severe injuries

Pvt. Rune Nielsen
Danish soldier, Private Rune Westy Zacharias Nielsen of The Royal Danish Guard Hussar Regiment died 17th November 2009 after being severely wounded by an explosive device on October 31.He was 22 years old.

He belonged to 2 Recce Platoon, 2 Light Recce Squadron, part of the The Royal Danish Guard Hussar Regiment, based on the island of Bornholm.

Conducting a foot patrol near Patrol Base Barakzai on October 31, he was heavily wounded by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED). His comrades immediately initiated first aid and he was quickly evacuated to the field hospital in Camp Bastion.
 
He was later airlifted to a hospital in Copenhagen, where he died from his injuries.

Monday, October 26, 2009

Danish sergeant dies in combat

Sergeant Michael Ebert becomes the 26th soldier to die in combat while serving in Afghanistan. A Danish soldier has been shot and killed while on foot patrol in Southern Afghanistan.
Sergeant Michael Ebert, 23, was flown to a field hospital for treatment but was pronounced dead on arrival on Friday.




Danish Army Operational Command -- Head of the Danish battlegroup, the ISAF team 8, Col. Karsten Eiholm Kjaer writes:

Sergeant Michael Ebert untimely death fills us all in the Danish Battlegroup with great sadness. His nearest lost a girlfriend, a son and a good comrade. We in the battle group has lost an exemplary officer, a good colleague and a good and loyal friend, as Sergeant Michael Ebert, 23 October died of injuries he suffered during a shoot fight in the bazaar area north of Gereshk.

Sergeant Michael Ebert was flying for the 2nd group in the 3rd Mechanized Infanterikompagnis 2nd division deployed with his unit during a patrol in the green zone.
He always led his group with great authority and confident belief in his own professionalism, since the device fell into an ambush.

The other units in the division engaged the enemy immediately while sick helpers gave first aid to Michael Ebert. Unfortunately the injuries after the shoot so severe that he later died from them, despite a laudable efforts of his comrades.

Michael Ebert was in the Company known as a deeply professional, purposeful and serious officer who was well liked and highly respected for his efforts here in Afghanistan, both his soldiers, colleagues as superiors.

Fighting Group and especially 3rd Infantry companies are burdened by Michal Ebert died, but our thoughts and deepest sympathy goes primarily to Michael's closest relatives and friends.

Yesterday the sun went down after a sad day. Today, the sun got up again, and we continue to solve the tasks. We do this because we still believe that we are making a difference.

We do not let Michael's sacrifice be in vain.

Been honored Sergeant Michael Ebert memorial.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Italian Paratrooper, Cpl. Rosario Ponsiano

Cpl. Rosario Ponsiano
15th October 2009. Italian paratrooper, Corporal Rosario Ponsiano, was killed in an accident when a Lynx armoured personnel carrier crashed into a ravine at night on the road between Herat and Shindad.

Cpl. Ponsiano, aged 25, suffered serious injuries in the accident and died shortly after.

He served with the 4th Alpine Parachute Regiment (Matterhorn). He had been with the regiment since 2003 and had arrived in Afghanistan in August 2009.

Two other Italian soldiers were injured in the accident.

Friday, October 9, 2009

Polish soldier, Szymon Graczyk

Szymon Graczyk
Corporal Szymon Graczyk was killed along with his colleague, Corporal Radoslaw Szyszkiewicz when their MRAP vehicle hit a road mine (IED) while they were travelling in a convoy along Higway 1 in the Wardak province, Afghanistan, on 9th October 2009. 

Four other soldiers who were wounded in the incident were rushed by helicopter to a base in Ghazni province for medical treatment. 

The funeral ceremony took place on 14th October in his home-town Szczecin.

Both killed soldiers served in 5th Engineering Regiment in Szczecin.

Polish soldier, Radoslaw Szyszkiewicz

Radoslaw Szyszkiewicz
“A soldier does not die, a soldier goes away to stand on an eternal sentry”, said Polish Chief of GS Gen. Franciszek Gągor during th funeral ceremony of Corporal Radosław Szyszkiewicz on 15th October in Iwanowice, Wielkopolska province. 

Cpl Radoslaw Szyszkiewicz and Cpl Szymon Graczyk both died, 9th October 2009, when their MRAP vehicle ran into an IED road mine while they were travelling in a convoy along Higway 1 in the Wardak province, Afghanistan. 

Four other soldiers who were wounded in the incident were airlifted by helicopter to a base in Ghazni province for medical treatment. 

The funeral ceremony of Cpl Szymon Graczyk took place, the day earlier, on 14th October in his home-town Szczecin.

Both soldiers served in 5th Engineering Regiment in Szczecin.

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Spanish soldier killed by road mine

Cristo Ancor Cabello Santana
A Spanish soldier has died in Afghanistan after his army vehicle drove over a mine near Syah Washan, on the outskirts of Herat, at around 9.30 local time on 7th October. The Defence Ministry names him as Corporal Cristo Ancor Cabello Santana from the Soria 9th Infantry Regiment.

He was on patrol with a convoy of the Fuerteventura Task Force to dismantle illegal checkpoints in the Pashtun Zarghun district, to the east of Herat, when the explosion happened, and it’s understood that five other soldiers who were in the vehicle with him were also hurt by the blast.

Sunday, October 4, 2009

German Army Corporal Patric Sauer

German Army Corporal Patric Sauer, age 24, serving with the German 263 Parachute Regiment, died on 4th October 2009 in Mainz from injuries received from a suicide bomb attack in Afghanistan on 6th August.

Cpl. Sauer had been evacuated to a military field hospital in Afghanistan, then later air evacuated to Germany where he died.

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Danish soldier killed in gun battle

23-year-old soldier Steffen Bloch Larsen, serving with the Danish Royal Lifeguards, Saturday was shot and killed in Afghanistan, was married last summer, telling his comrades from the 3rd division in a tribute.

Our friend Steffen was a very positive, empathetic and helpful person who always 
drew the care of others before themselves. A person who always gave more than what he 
demanded of others. A very cheerful person with his happy, humorous and 
always smiling creature affected all around him.




How to tell fellow soldiers from the 3rd Division on Steffen Bloch Larsen, who was killed Saturday during a foot patrol Saturday in Helmand province.

The defense announced Sunday the name of the 23-year-old soldier, along with tribute from Steffen Bloch Larsen s fellow soldiers from his company commander and from Col. Karsten Kjaer Eiholm

- It was a great pleasure for me because after the summer he asked me a map 
interview, where he proudly told me that he had married his girlfriend. It 
was fantastic to hear and see his pride in this regard. It was 
clearly understand how his love was, says his company commander in the memory word that sends his thoughts to Steffen Bloch Larsen's surviving spouse.

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Italian paratrooper, Lt. Antonio Fortunato

Lt. Antonio Fortunato
Italian paratrooper, Lieutenant Antonio Fortunato, aged 29, was one of six Italian soldiers killed 17th September 2009, when a suicide car bomb blew up a convoy of Italian military vehicles in central Kabul.

The blast was so huge that nearby buildings shook.

Lt. Fortunato served with the Italian 186th Parachute Regiment.

The soldier was posthumously promoted to the rank of Captain.

Italian Paratrooper, Sgt. Roberto Valente

Sgt. Roberto Valente
Italian paratrooper, Sergeant Roberto Valente, aged 31, was one of six Italian soldiers killed 17th September 2009, when a suicide car bomb blew up a convoy of Italian military vehicles in central Kabul.

The blast was so huge that nearby buildings shook.

Sgt. Valente served with the Italian 187th Parachute Regiment.

The soldier was posthumously promoted to the rank of Lieutenant.

Italian Paratrooper, Cpl. Matteo Mureddu

Cpl. Matteo Mureddu
Italian paratrooper, Corporal Matteo Mureddu, aged 26, was one of six Italian soldiers killed 17th September 2009, when a suicide car bomb blew up a convoy of Italian military vehicles in central Kabul.

The blast was so huge that nearby buildings shook.

Cpl. Mureddu served with the Italian 186th Parachute Regiment.

The soldier was posthumously promoted to the rank of Sergeant.

Italian Paratrooper, Cpl. Giandomenico Pistonami

Cpl. Giandomenico Pistonami
Italian paratrooper, Corporal Giandomenico Pistonami, aged 26, was one of six Italian soldiers killed 17th September 2009, when a suicide car bomb blew up a convoy of Italian military vehicles in central Kabul.

The blast was so huge that nearby buildings shook.

Cpl. Pistonami served with the Italian 186th Parachute Regiment.

The soldier was posthumously promoted to the rank of Sergeant.

Italian paratrooper, Cpl. Massimiliano Randino

Massimiliano Randino
Italian paratrooper, Corporal Massimiliano Randino, aged 32, was one of six Italian soldiers killed 17th September 2009, when a suicide car bomb blew up a convoy of Italian military vehicles in central Kabul.

The blast was so huge that nearby buildings shook.

Cpl. Randino served with the Italian 183rd Parachute Regiment.

The soldier was posthumously promoted to the rank of Sergeant. 

Italian Paratrooper, Cpl. Davide Ricchiuto

Cpl. Davide Ricchiuto
Italian paratrooper, Corporal Davide Ricchiuto, aged 26, was one of six Italian soldiers killed 17th September 2009, when a suicide car bomb blew up a convoy of Italian military vehicles in central Kabul.

The blast was so huge that nearby buildings shook.

Cpl. Ricchiuto served with the Italian 186th Parachute Regiment.

The soldier was posthumously promoted to the rank of Sergeant.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Six Italian soldiers killed in Kabul suicide bomb attack

A suicide car bomb blew up a convoy of Italian military vehicles from the NATO-led force in the Afghan capital Kabul on 17th September 2009. Six Italian soldiers and ten Afghan civlians were killed in the huge blast.

The explosion struck just after midday on a road to Kabul airport, about 1.5 kilometres from the gates of the United States embassy. It destroyed one vehicle used by the NATO-led International Security Assistance Forces (ISAF).

The explosion was so big that buildings in the immediate area shook from the blast. In addition to the dead, another four Italian soldiers were wounded in the attack. The Taliban were quick to claim responsibility.

Defense Minister of Italy, Ignazio La Russa said. “It was a cowardly attack on those who have saved many lives.”

The six soldiers killed, all serving with the Italian Parachute Regiment, were:

Monday, September 14, 2009

Italian paratrooper, Cpl. Alessandro Di Lisio

Cpl. Alessandro Di Lisio
Italian paratrooper, Corporal Alessandro Di Lisio, aged 25, was killed 14th September 2009 by a bomb blast from a land mine placed beside a road about 50 miles northeast of Farah.

A patrol of armoured vehicles was targeted by Taliban insurgents, who detonated the bomb as the vehicle which Cpl. Di Lisio was travelling in, passed by.

He died in a military Field Hospital in Farah.

Cpl. Di Lisio served with the Italian 187th Parachute Regiment.

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Polish soldier, Piotr Marciniak, killed in gun battle with Taliban

Pfc. Piotr Marciniak
Polish Private 1st Class, Piotr Marciniak, was killed 11th September 2009 in a fierce gun battle between coalition troops and Taliban militants.

He served with the Polish 6th Airborne Cavalry Brigade. His unit had been sent to support a joint US-Afghan force who were fighting the Taliban, in Ghazni province.

Pfc Marciniak, aged 30, was killed by gunfire.

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Journalist Sultan Munadi killed

Afghan journalist, Sultan Munadi has been killed during an operation by British Commandos to rescue hum and British journalist, Stephen Farrell. Both men had been kidnapped and were being held hostage when the rescue mission happened.

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Polish Private 1st Class, Artur Pyc

Artur Pyc
Private 1st Class, Artur Pyc, with the Polish 18th Air Assault Brigade died 9th September 2009 in a military hospital at Lublin, where he had been since May.

Pfc Pyc was seriously injured in eastern Ghazni province a when a roadside bomb exploded under the mine-resistant armored vehicle he was driving.

Reporter, Sultan Munadi

Sultan Munadi
Early morning on 9th September 2009, journalist Sultan Munadi died in a predawn raid by British commandos trying to rescue him and Stephen Farrell, a correspondent for The Times, from Taliban captivity. 

The two men had been kidnapped in northern Afghanistan the previous Saturday while reporting on a NATO bombing that killed scores of people, possibly including many civilians.

Mr. Munadi was killed as he tried to lead Mr. Farrell to safety. 

Sunday, September 6, 2009

Dutch soldier killed by IED

Sgt-Major Mark Leijsen
Mark Leijsen
Sergeant-Major, 101 Engineer Battalion (101 Geniebataljon)
He was deployed with the approximately 1,770 troops from the Netherlands serving with NATO forces in Afghanistan.

Sgt-Maj Leijsen, aged 44, was killed 7 September 2009 by an improvised explosive device near outpost Tabar in Uruzgan province. Three other soldiers and an Afghan translator were wounded when their vehicle struck the roadside bomb about 9 kilometres northwest of the main Dutch base, Camp Holland.

Saturday, September 5, 2009

Dutch soldier killed in gunbattle

Kevin van de Rijdt
A Dutch soldier has been killed in a gunbattle in the southern Afghanistan province Uruzgan on Sunday, the defence ministry said.

Kevin van de Rijdt, a 26-year-old corporal, died on 6th September 2009 of gunshot wounds during a skirmish with fighters near Deh Rawood.

Van de Rijdt is the 20th Dutch soldier to be killed in Afghanistan since the Netherlands began its deployment in Uruzgan province in August 2006.

Friday, September 4, 2009

Two French soldiers killed by bomb attack

Sergeant Thomas Rousselle
Nicolas Sarkozy was Friday morning in Winnow in the Morbihan, for the homage ceremony of two French soldiers killed in Afghanistan.

Sergeant Thomas Rousselle, and Corporal Johann Naguin, both of them members of the 3rd Infantry Regiment, Navy Marines were killed by a bomb during a patrol to the northeast of Kabul, September 4th, 2009.

The honor Legion was awared to them posthumously during this homage. The two soldiers were equally promoted to a superior rank.


Corporal Johann Naguin

Polish soldier, Marcin Poreba

Sgt Marcin Poręba
Sergeant Marcin Poręba was killed by a home-made IED that went off under an armoured troop carrier as a military convoy was travelling  about two kilometres from the Polish base of Giro on 4th September 2009. 

Five other soldiers were wounded during the explosion. They were immediately treated and taken to a Field Hospital.

Sgt. Marcin Poręba was posthumously awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Order of the Military Cross, the Star of Afghanistan and the Star of Iraq.
It was his second mission abroad. He served in 5 Engineering Regiment in Szczecin. He leaves a wife and a son.

Sgt. Poręba was buried in his home town of Szczecyn.

Monday, August 24, 2009

Two Estonian soldiers killed

Two Estonian soldiers were killed in Afghanistan on 23rd August while carrying out their duties.
The soldiers were Sgt. Maj. Eerik Salmus (26) and Sgt. Raivis Kang (26), pioneers of the Estonian Estcoy-8 infantry company.

Eerik Salmus. Sgt-Major
Raivis Kang. Sergeant
 Click to read Estonian Embassy release

Friday, August 14, 2009

Belgium - list of military fatalities

This is the list of all Belgian military fatalities since 2001.

Date Name Age Rank Unit Cause
13-Aug-09 Alexandre Carraro 31 CAM Belgian Army Non-hostile: illness, meningitis
           

Monday, August 10, 2009

Polish officer, Captain Daniel Ambroziński

Capt. Daniel Ambroziński
The body of Captain Daniel Ambroziński, declared missing in action (MIA) during a shootout 10th August 2009, was found the following day after an intensive all-night search by Polish and Afghani forces. 

Captain Ambroziński died of a gunshot wound during the operation code-named “Over the Top” in the Ajiristan district of Ghazni province. A joint Polish and Afghani foot patrol was attacked by a group of Taliban. During an intensive exchange of fire Captain Ambrozinski was killed and four others were injured. 

Aged 32, he served in the Operational Mentor and Liaison Team (OMLT). At home he served in the 1st Air Cavalry Battalion in Leznica Wielka. 

He left a wife and a daughter.

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Latvian Army Corporal, Dāvis Baltābols

Cpl. Dāvis Baltābols
Corporal Dāvis Baltābols, aged 30, was severely wounded during a battle with Taliban insurgents on 25th July 2009. He was evacuated by helicopter to a German Field Hospital in Afghanistan. He was then flown to a German Armed Forces Hospital in Koblenz, Germany.

He died there on 5th August 2009.

Corporal Baltābols had served with the Latvian Land Forces 1st Kajnieku Battalion. He was posthumously awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of Viesturs.

Saturday, August 1, 2009

French Marine killed by bomb

Anthony Bodin
Corporal Anthony Bodin, 22, from the French 3rd Marine Infantry, was killed 1st August 2009 north-east of Kabul in an ambush by Afghan rebels.

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Australian soldier killed by IED

Australian Private Benjamin Ranaudo was killed by an anti-personnel explosive device in Afghanistan on 18 July, 2009.

Private Ranaudo was a member of the Townsville-based 1st Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment. He was a member of the Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force in Afghanistan and was killed while on operations north of Tarin Kot.

Private Benjamin Ranaudo
He enlisted into the Australian Regular Army on the 19th of May 2006. After completing his Recruit Training he was allocated to the Royal Australian Infantry Corps and commenced his Initial Employment Training at Singleton, New South Wales. 

At the completion of his Initial Employment Training in Nov 2006, Private Ranaudo was posted to the 1st Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment. During his service with 1 RAR, Private Ranaudo deployed to East Timor as part of Operation Astute, and to Afghanistan as part of Operation Slipper. 

After returning from East Timor in October 2007, Private Ranaudo completed the 1 RAR Basic Reconnaissance course and was posted to Reconnaissance Platoon in May 2008. As part of lead up training for Afghanistan in late 2008, Private Ranaudo completed a Combat First Aider course and a Protected Mobility Vehicle Drivers course. He deployed as a Rifleman with 2 Platoon, Combat Team A for Operation Slipper. 

For his service in East Timor and Afghanistan, Private Ranaudo was awarded the Australian Active Service Medal with International Coalition Against Terrorism clasp, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Australian Service Medal with Timor-Leste clasp, Australian Defence Medal, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation - International Security Assistance Force Medal, the East Timor Solidarity Medal, the Infantry Combat Badge and the Return from Active Service Badge.

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Turkish Army Sergeant, Mevlut Baydur

Mevlut Baydur
Turkish Army Sergeant, Mevlut Baydur, aged 39, was one of two Turkish military personnel killed 14th July 2009, in a road traffic accident.

The two men, part of the Turkish Army delegation in Afghanistan, were there to provide security during local elections in Mazar-i-Sharif.

Exact details of the accident are unclear, but it has been classed as "suspicious".

Turkish Army Colonel, Faruk Sungur

Col. Faruk Sungur
Turkish Army Colonel, Faruk Sungur, aged 51, was one of two Turkish military personnel killed 14th July 2009, in a road traffic accident.

The two men, part of the Turkish Army delegation in Afghanistan, were there to provide security during local elections in Mazar-i-Sharif.

Exact details of the accident are unclear, but it has been classed as "suspicious". 

Two other soldiers in the same vehicle were injured in the accident.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

German Army Corporal Oleg Meiling

German Army Corporal Oleg Meiling, age 21, was one of three soldiers killed when their unit was attacked by Taliban forces on 23rd June 2009 in Kunduz, Afghanistan.

Cpl. Meiling, serving with 391 Mechanised Infantry, died from gunshot wounds.

German paratrooper, Corporal Alex Schleiernick

German Army Corporal Alex Schleiernick, age 23, was one of three soldiers killed when their unit was attacked by Taliban forces on 23rd June 2009 in Kunduz, Afghanistan.

Cpl. Schleiernick, serving with 263 Parachute Regiment, died from gunshot wounds.

German Army Corporal Martin Brunn

German Army Corporal Martin Brunn, age 23, was one of three soldiers killed when their unit was attacked by Taliban forces on 23rd June 2009 in Kunduz, Afghanistan.

Cpl. Brunn, serving with a Panzer Grenadier battalion, died from gunshot wounds.

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Danish Hussar guard dies from IED blast


The Acting Head of the Danish Battle Group, Lieutenant Colonel Jens Ole Rossen-Jørgensen, writes: 



Wednesday 17 June was a very sad day for the Danish battalion in Helmand since the course of the morning was incontrovertibly clear to us that we had suffered our first loss to Team 7 Three talented soldiers, friends and colleagues were with a torn from us and their loved ones in the most relentless and brutal fashion after being hit by a vejsidebombe.

We sit back down here, thoughtful and deeply concerned at having lost three of our comrades and all our thoughts go in this tragedy home to our fallen comrades' families and friends whose loss is irreplaceable, and whose sorrow we feel and share.

Andreas Søgaard Brohus was a dedicated and experienced scout. Dedicated and professionally performed his tasks, he was confronted. He was good to adapt to any situation and always took it calmly. Andreas was very hard to stress, regardless of the events or tasks that may arise or be resolved.

He was a quiet and honest man who was easy to talk to about everything and nothing - a good friend and a great companion. He was in the section known to talk to himself when he should be sure to remember something specific.

On the home front gave Andreas the small challenges in the house and getting together with Linda and dog Charlie. Andreas married his beloved Linda, shortly before departing for Afghanistan, and together they went on honeymoon to Bali during Andreas' leave.

Andreas was called as a conscript to the Jutland Dragoon Regiment, 1 February 2005. Here Andreas reported after 4 months of service to the Army Response Training as konstabelelev.

Andreas was appointed konstabel 1 February 2006 and was then released with Team 7 running / signal man Scouting squadron in Iraq. In practice, Andreas all-possible-husband and also contested positions gunner and observer of others' absences.

After deployment to Iraq was transferred to Andreas Gardehusarregimentet where he contested the different functions in 1 Armored Infantry Battalion, in January 2008 he joined the team in February 2009 was to facilitate investigations under Section Staff and Logistics Company at Team 7 in Helmand, Afghanistan .

Andreas was 26 years. He leaves parents, brother and sister and his beloved wife Linda.

Hussar from Denmark dies in IED explosion

Mads Rasmussen, Danish Hussar Regt.
The Acting Head of the Danish Battle Group, Lieutenant Colonel Jens Ole Rossen-Jørgensen, writes: 



Wednesday 17 June was a very sad day for the Danish battalion in Helmand since the course of the morning was incontrovertibly clear to us that we had suffered our first loss to Team 7 Three talented soldiers, friends and colleagues were with a torn from us and their loved ones in the most relentless and brutal fashion after being hit by a vejsidebombe.


We sit back down here, thoughtful and deeply concerned at having lost three of our comrades and all our thoughts go in this tragedy home to our fallen comrades' families and friends whose loss is irreplaceable, and whose sorrow we feel and share.

Mads Lerche Rasmussen was outgoing and frank, and could charm through to everyone he spoke with. He was also temperamental, but as fast as he was up in the red box, just as quickly he was back in his usual sociable and charming style. He was incredibly vellidt among his friends and colleagues and highly respected for his skills as a soldier, especially as jet shuttle.

Over all the earth Mads loved his car, which he spent much time and money on, so it could be just as he wanted it. Mads was pronounced B-man, big fan of Manchester and forgudede his sister, whose picture he had hanging beside his bed.

Mads resigned as konstabelelev by Gardehusarregimentet and began by Stab company in 1 Armored Infantry Battalion, 1 November 2006. He was appointed konstabel 1 August 2007 and then transferred to 1 Mechanized infantry company in the same battalion. From June to August 2008 was Mads released for the first time when he came in and filled a hole in the Fenris-company on hold 5 in Afghanistan.

1 October 2008 tilgik Mads scout section of the company and staff were deployed in February 2009 with Team 7 to Helmand in Afghanistan in the light detecting section under Staff and Logistics Company.

Mads was 21 years. He leaves his parents and sister.

Danish soldier killed by IED


Wednesday 17 June was a very sad day for the Danish battalion in Helmand since the course of the morning was incontrovertibly clear to us that we had suffered our first loss to Team 7 
Three talented soldiers, friends and colleagues were with a torn from us and their loved ones in the most relentless and brutal fashion after being hit by a vejsidebombe.

We sit back down here, thoughtful and deeply concerned at having lost three of our comrades and all our thoughts go in this tragedy home to our fallen comrades' families and friends whose loss is irreplaceable, and whose sorrow we feel and share.

Martin Abildgaard was a good, professional and proud soldier. He was, among other things, known as a skilled machine gunner, and he was a good friend who was always there for others.

He was always loyal to his friends and his helpfulness, joy and humor, he was helping to keep the mood up in the section. Martin had two great passions in his life, one was his old, beloved Mercedes, the other was candy, which often led to your friends may see candy bags shrink.

He was known in the section to listen to the same tunes again and again when "Hotel California" by Eagles were among the favorites. Martin had medical services and took great satisfaction in helping others. Among other things, helped Martin a local boy with the cleaning and linking a wound under a section of the patrols, which reinforced his desire for a future as Falck-rescuer.

Martin resigned as konstabelelev by Gardehusarregimentet and began by Stab company in 1 Armored Infantry Battalion, 1 May 2007. He was appointed konstabel 1 February 2008. Then Martin was running and the signal man in the same company, in January 2008 he joined the team in February 2009 was to facilitate investigations under Section Staff and Logistics Company at Team 7 in Helmand, Afghanistan.

Martin was 23 years. He leaves his parents and brother and girlfriend.

Recon forever!

We will always remember you.

Honorable be your memory.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Estonian soldier killed in ambush

Estonia's Defense Ministry says an Estonian soldier has been killed in southern Afghanistan.
The ministry says Master Sgt. Allain Tikko, 30, was killed 15th June after his unit was ambushed by insurgents in Helmand province. Estonia has now lost four soldiers in Afghanistan.
The death comes just days after Estonia pledged to send an additional 140 troops to Afghanistan, doubling the Baltic country's presence there.



Master Sgt. Allain Tikko

In recent weeks insurgents have gained a stronghold in Helmand province, which is now considered to be the most violent in Afghanistan.

Friday, May 1, 2009

Latvian Army Pfc Andrejs Merkuševs

Andrejs Merkuševs
Private First Class Andrejs Merkuševs, aged 31, was among a Latvian Army convoy on patrol in the Kunar province of Afghanistan when Taliban insurgents opened fire with Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPG) and small arms fire.

Merkuševs was hit and was killed. He died on 1st May 2009.

Pfc Andrejs Merkuševs served with the Latvian Land Forces 1st Kajnieku Battalion. He was posthumously awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of Viesturs.

Latvian Army Sergeant Voldemārs Anševics

Voldemārs Anševics
Sergeant Voldemārs Anševics, aged 32, was among a Latvian Army convoy on patrol in the Kunar province of Afghanistan when Taliban insurgents opened fire with Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPG) and small arms fire.

In the fierce battle, Sgt. Anševics was hit and was killed. He died on 1st May 2009.

Sgt. Anševicsserved with the Latvian Land Forces 1st Kajnieku Battalion. He was posthumously awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of Viesturs.

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

German Army Corporal Sergey Motz

German Army Corporal Sergey Motz, age 21, was killed in Kunduz, Afghanistan on 29th April 2009 when insurgent forces attacked his unit.

Cpl. Motz, serving with 292 Military Police died from a rocket propelled grenade blast.

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Norwegian Captain, Trond Petter Kolset

Captain Trond Petter Kolset
Norwegian officer, Captain Trond Petter Kolset, aged 30 and serving with Military Intelligence, was killed 17th April 2009 in Maymana, Afghanistan.

Captain Kolset, who had been in Afghanistan only one month, was riding in a car on his way to camp when a suicide bomber drove a car packed with explosives straight at the column of Norwegian vehicles.

He was airlifted by helicopter to a German Field Hospital at Mazar-i-Sharif.