U.S Army Sergeant 1st Class Ofren Arrechaga

Sgt. Arrechaga

U.S Army Sergeant 1st Class Ofren Arrechaga, aged 28, from Hialeah, Florida, was killed in action on 29th March 2011 after his unit was attacked by enemy forces in Konar province.

Sgt. Arrechaga was serving with the 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), based at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

His awards and decorations include: Bronze Star Medal; Army Commendation Medal; Army Achievement Medal; Valorous Unit Award; Meritorious Unit Citation; Army Good Conduct Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Afghanistan Campaign Medal; Iraq Campaign Medal; Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon; Army Service Ribbon; Overseas Service Ribbon; NATO Medal; Ranger Tab; Expert Infantryman Badge; Parachutist Badge; Air Assault Badge and Combat Infantryman Badge.

Sgt. Arrechaga is survived by his wife, Seana Arrechaga and son, Alston Arrechaga of Clarksville; daughter, Tristian Arrechaga of Benton, Kentucky and parents Ofren and Marta Alvarez of Clarksville.

U.S Army Staff Sergeant Frank E. Adamski III

Staff Sgt. Adamski

U.S Army Staff Sergeant Frank E. Adamski III, aged 26, from Moosup, Conn., was killed in action on 29th March 2011 after his unit was attacked by enemy forces in Konar province.

Staff Sgt. Adamski was serving with the 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), based at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

His awards and decorations include: Bronze Star Medal; Army Commendation Medal; Army Achievement Medal; Army Good Conduct Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Afghanistan Campaign Medal; Iraq Campaign Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon; Army Service Ribbon; Overseas Service Ribbon; NATO Medal; Parachutist Badge; Air Assault Badge and Combat Infantryman Badge.

Staff Sgt. Adamski is survived by his wife, Danielle Adamski and daughter, Victoria Adamski of Clarksville; father, Frank Adamski of Volutown, Conn.; and mother, Susan Adamski of Westbury, N.Y.

U.S Army Specialist Jameson Lindskog

Spc. Lindskog

U.S Army Specialist Jameson Lindskog, aged 23, from Pleasanton, California, was killed Tuesday 29th March 2011 in an attack on his patrol by enemy forces. 

Spc. Lindskog was a Combat Medic assigned to Headquarters Company. He was serving with the 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), based at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

His awards and decorations include: Army Commendation Medal; Army Achievement Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Afghanistan Campaign Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Army Service Ribbon; Overseas Service Ribbon and NATO Medal.

Spc. Lindskog is survived by his father, Curtis Lindskog of Livermore, California and mother, Donna Walker of Pleasanton, California.

U.S Army Pfc. Jeremy Faulkner

Pfc. Faulkener

U.S Army Private first-class Jeremy Faulkner, aged 23 from Stockbridge, Georgia was killed on 29th March 2011 in eastern Afghanistan after being ambushed by enemy forces.

Pfc. Faulkner was serving with the 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), based at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

More details to follow.

U.S Army Staff Sgt. Bryan A. Burgess

Staff Sgt. Burgess

U.S Army Staff Sergeant Bryan A. Burgess, aged 29 from Cleburne, Texas was killed on 29th March 2011 during a battle with enemy forces in Konar. He died at Bagram Airfield.

Staff Sgt. Burgess was serving with the 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), based at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

His Platoon were ambushed while on patrol and an intensive battle followed. Six soldiers were killed in the exchange and several others wounded.

Staff Sgt. Burgess had completed two tours of duty in Iraq before being deployed to Afghanistan. He had 26 days of his deployment remaining. He leaves his wife and two children aged 3 and 4.

U.S Army Pfc. Dustin J. Feldhaus

Pfc. Feldhaus

U.S Army Private first-class Dustin J. Feldhaus, aged 20 from Glendale, Arizona was killed on 29th March 2011 during a battle with enemy forces in Konar. Pfc. Feldhaus died at Bagram Airfield.

He was serving with the 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), based at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

Pfc. Feldhaus joined the Army in September 2009 and transferred to Fort Campbell in January 2010.

His awards and decorations include National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, NATO Medal and Combat Infantryman Badge.

U.S Security Contractor, Adam M. Carney

U.S private security contractor, Adam Carney, died of a suspected heart attack on Monday 28th March 2011 at a German Military Hospital in Afghanistan. He was employed in the country to train Afghan police personnel.

Carney, who is survived by two young children, his parents and two brothers, had worked in Afghanistan for a private security contractor for 18 months. A former Navy firefighter and Atlanta police officer, he had woken feeling ill, according to his mother.

“He went to the (Army) base hospital and was later airlifted to a German hospital (in Afghanistan) where he was pronounced dead,” Wanda Carney said.

Canadian Corporal Yannick Scherrer

Cpl. Scherrer

Canadian Army Corporal, Yannick Scherrer, aged 24, from Montreal, was killed 27th March 2011 by a roadside bomb while he was on foot patrol near Nakhonay, Kandahar.

Cpl. Scherrer served with the 1st Battalion, Royal 22nd Regiment based in Quebec.

This was his first tour of duty in Afghanistan.

Click here to view all Canadian fallen in Afghanistan

U.S Army Spc. Justin D. Ross

Spc. Justin Ross

U.S Army Specialist Justin D. Ross, aged 22, from Green Bay, Wisconsin, died on 26 March 2011 in Helmand province, Afghanistan, from wounds suffered when his unit was attacked by small arms fire.  

Spc. Ross was assigned to the 863rd Engineer Battalion, Wausau, Wisconsin.

His father, Ron Ross, is pastor of New Freedom Church, Green Bay.

More details to follow.

British Army Major Matthew Collins

Major Collins

Major Matthew Collins, aged 38, was killed on 23rd March 2011 by an improvised explosive device after returning from an operation supporting the Afghan National Army. The incident happened in Nahr-e Saraj, Helmand.

 

Major Collins, aged 38 came from Backwell in Somerset. He commissioned into the 1st Battalion Irish Guards in August 1996, and travelled all over the world with the Battalion, serving operationally in Kosovo, Sierra Leone, Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as on exercise in Belize, Kenya, Oman and the Falkland Islands.

He was serving with the 1st Battalion Irish Guards.

British soldier, Lance Sergeant Mark Terence Burgan

L-Sgt. Burgan

Lance Sergeant Mark Terence Burgan, aged 28, was killed on 23rd March 2011 by an improvised explosive device after returning from an operation supporting the Afghan National Army. The incident happened in Nahr-e Saraj, Helmand.

Lance Sergeant Burgan came from Liverpool, and joined the 1st Battalion Irish Guards in 1999. He served on Operations in Northern Ireland, Iraq, and Afghanistan. He rose to the rank of Lance Sergeant, joined the Battalion Signals Platoon, becoming a Signals Detachment Commander.

He was serving with the 1st Battalion Irish Guards.

U.S Army Pfc. Michael C. Mahr

Pfc. Michael Mahr

U.S Army Pfc. Michael C. Mahr, aged 26, from Homosassa, Florida, was killed on 22nd March 2011 in Logar province, Afghanistan. His patrol unit was hit by the blast of a roadside bomb and small arms fire by insurgents.

Pfc. Mahr served with the 54th Engineer Battalion, 18th Engineer Brigade, based in Bamberg, Germany.

In the same incident, his colleague Staff Sergeant Joshua Gire also died.

Two British soldiers killed in Afghanistan

Two British soldiers from the 1st Battalion Irish Guards were killed in Afghanistan on Wednesday 23rd March 2011.

The soldiers were killed by an improvised explosive device after returning from an operation in support of an Afghan National Army Company, alongside C Company of the Danish Battle Group, to disrupt insurgent activity and search compounds of interest in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province.

Updated: Major Matthew Collins and Sgt. Mark Burgan

U.S Army Staff Sergeant Joshua Gire

Joshua Gire

A U.S soldier from Ross County, Columbus, Ohio was killed in combat on 22nd March 2011 in Logar province, Afghanistan. His patrol unit was hit by the blast of a roadside bomb and small arms fire by insurgents.

Family members said that Army officials have informed them of the death of Staff Sergeant Joshua S. Gire, aged 28, during his second tour of duty in Afghanistan.

He joined the Army in 2001. He was third-generation Army, following the service of his father and grandfather, and had recently been promoted to Staff Sergeant.

Staff Sgt. Gire was based in Bamberg, Germany and served with 54th Engineer Battalion, 18th Engineer Brigade. He had previously served in Kosovo and Iraq.

He is survived by his wife and two children, who live in Germany.

His colleague, Pfc. Michael C. Mahr, died in the same incident.

U.S Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Vincent A. Filpi

Vincent Filpi

U.S Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Vincent A. Filpi III, aged 41, from Fort Walton Beach, Florida, died on 23rd March as a result of a non-combat related incident.  PO1 Filpi was assigned to USS Enterprise as an aviation ordnanceman.  

Enterprise is currently deployed to the Fifth Fleet area of responsibility conducting operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

He leaves behind a wife and six children.

“Vince loved his country and paid the ultimate price to ensure our continued freedom,” said his wife, Erica Bruder-Filpi. “While our grief is immense we will forever thank him and all other Military Members.”

He and his wife had a son, Tony. He also had five stepchildren: Aleksandra, Nicholai, Brianna, Davan and Taelin.

U.S Marine Staff Sergeant James M. Malachowski

Staff Sgt. Malachowski

U.S Marine Staff Sergeant James M. Malachowski, aged 25, from Westminster, Md., died 20th March 2011 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.  

He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

He joined the U.S Marines in June 2003 and was promoted to Staff Sergeant in April 2010.

Staff Sgt. Malachowski had previously deployed to Iraqi three times and deployed to Afghanistan in January 2011.

His awards include two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, two Marine Corps Good Conduct Medals, a National Defense Service Medal, two Iraq Campaign Medals, a Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal and Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.

He is survived by his wife and two children.

U.S Army Staff Sergeant Mecolus C. McDaniel

Staff Sgt. McDaniel

U.S Army Staff Sergeant Mecolus C. McDaniel, aged 33, from Fort Hood, Texas, died 19th March 2011 in Khowst province, Afghanistan, from wounds suffered when insurgents detonated an improvised explosive device and attacked his unit with small arms fire.  

He was assigned to the 6th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Knox, Kentucky.

Staff Sgt. McDaniel joined the army in July 1996 and was posted to Fort Knox in October 2009. It was his second deployment to Afghanistan as part of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division.

He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart.

U.S Army Corporal Donald R. Mickler Jr

Cpl. Mickler

U.S Army Corporal Donald R. Mickler Jr., aged 29, from Bucyrus, Ohio, died 19th March 2011 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, from wounds suffered when he was allegedly shot with small arms fire by an individual from a military security group. 

He was assigned to the 4th Squadron, 2nd Stryker Calvary Regiment, Vilseck, Germany.

The incident is under investigation. More to follow.

U.S Army Pfc Rudy A. Acosta

Pfc. Rudy Acosta

Pfc. Rudy A. Acosta, aged 19, from Santa Clarita, California, died 19th March 2011 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, from wounds suffered when he was allegedly shot with small arms fire by an individual from a military security group. 

He was a Combat Medic, assigned to the 4th Squadron, 2nd Stryker Calvary Regiment, Vilseck, Germany.He deployed to Afghanistan in June 2010.

The incident is under investigation. More to follow.

British Army Private Daniel Steven Prior

Pvt. Daniel Prior

Private Daniel Steven Prior, of 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment, was wounded by an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan on 17th March 2011 and died of his wounds in the UK the following day.

Private Prior deployed to Afghanistan with D Company, 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment on 13 October 2010 where he was based at Patrol Base 1 in the Nahr-e-Saraj District of Helmand Province. 

On 17th March 2011, he was tasked to provide fire support for his fellow paratroopers and the Afghan National Army during a reassurance patrol in a small village in Nahr-e-Saraj.

At 1242 hours Private Prior was wounded by an improvised explosive device and, despite medical care in Afghanistan and in the UK, he died of his wounds on 18th March 2011 in the Royal College of Defence Medicine Queen Elizabeth NHS Hospital, Birmingham. 

Private Prior had flown back from Afghanistan four weeks ago just in time to be present for the birth of his son, Logan and spent two weeks with his wife and baby before his return to active duty.

U.S Army Master Sergeant Jamal H. Bowers

M-Sgt. Bowers

U.S Army Master Sergeant Jamal H. Bowers, aged 41, from Raleigh, North Carolina, died 18th March 2011 at Camp Lemonier, Djibouti, as a result of a non-combat related incident.  

He was assigned to the 6th Battalion, 4th Military Information Support Group, U.S. Army Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, N.C., and was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

He has more than 20 years of service and has a son serving with the 7th Special Forces Group.

M-Sgt. Bowers' awards include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, a posthumous Meritorious Service Medal, a Navy Achievement Medal with Valor, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal and Global War on Terrorism Medal.

U.S Marine, Lance-Corporal Christopher S. Meis

L-Cpl. Meis

U.S Marine, Lance Cpl. Christopher S. Meis, aged 20, from Bennett, Colorado, died 17th March 2011 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.  

He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

L-Cpl. Meis joined the Marines in January 2010 and was deployed to Afghanistan with Operation Enduring Freedom in January of this year.

His awards include the National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.

U.S Marine dies in flying accident

Sgt. Fontalvo

U.S Marine Sergeant Alexis Fontalvo, aged 24, from Houston, Texas, died in a training flight accident in California on 17th March 2011.

Sgt. Fontalvo had previously served in Afghanistan twice and Iraq twice.

Marine Corps officials said the left main landing gear of the aircraft apparently collapsed prior to takeoff on a training flight as Sgt. Fontalvo pulled the landing gear pin. When the landing gear collapsed, he was pinned underneath the left sponson, a projection from the side of an aircraft often used to house fuel or landing gear.

Rescue crews managed to lift the aircraft off Fontalvo, but he did not survive his injuries.

U.S Army Sergeant Travis M. Tompkins

Sgt. Tompkins

U.S Army Sergeant Travis M. Tompkins, aged 31, from Lawton, Oklahoma, died 16th March 2011 in Logar province, Afghanistan, from injuries he sustained the previous day, when enemy forces attacked his unit with a rocket-propelled grenade.

Sgt. Tompkins was a Military Policeman, assigned to the Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Polk, Louisiana.

He joined the Army in January 2000 and had served in the Netherlands and Saudi Arabia. He deployed to Afghanistan in October 2010.

His awards and medals include Bronze Star, Purple Heart, NATO Medal, Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, among others.

Sgt. Tompkins leaves a wife and two children.

U.S Army Pfc. Arturo E. Rodriguez

Pfc. Arturo Rodriguez

U.S Army Pfc. Arturo E. Rodriguez, aged 19, from Bellflower, California, was killed in action on 12th March 2011 in the Giyan district of Paktika province, Afghanistan. He died from wounds received when Taliban insurgents attacked his foot patrol with small arms fire.  

Pfc. Rodriguez joined the Army in February 2010. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, North Atlantic Treaty Organization Medal, Parachutist Badge and Combat Infantryman Badge.

Rodriguez is survived by his father, Arturo Rodriguez Segura, and mother, Rosa Jimenez Davila, both from Mexico, and his aunt, Maria Lopez of Bellflower, California.

Georgian soldier, Corporal Valeri Verskiani

Georgian Army Corporal Valeri Verskiani died on 14th March 2011 in a German Military Hospital.

Cpl. Verskiani had suffered a severe neck wound from the blast of a land mine in Helmand province on 5th March 2011.

He, and two other Georgian soldiers, were airlifted to the German hospital, where he was undergoing specialist treatment for the neck and throat wound. Sadly he died from his injuries.

Cpl. Verskiani served in the Georgian Army's 32nd Battalion, Light Infantry. He joined the Army in 2007.

U.S Army Sergeant 1st Class, Daehan Park

Dae Han Park

U.S Army Sergeant 1st Class Dae Han Park, aged 36, from Watertown, Conn., was killed on 12th March 2011, in Wardak province. He died from injuries received when the vehicle he was in hit an improvised explosive device.  

He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group.

Sgt. Park joined the Army in 1998 as an infantryman and qualified as a ranger in 2000. In 2003 he served in Iraq as a rifle squad leader. In 2006, he completed the Army's Special Forces course and was assigned to 1st Special Forces Group. 

He served in numerous overseas regions and this was his first deployment in Afghanistan. Sgt. Park was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart.

Dannel P. Malloy, Governor of Connecticut, said that Sgt. Park "is a hero who died serving his country and he will be honored and remembered as such.” 

He is survived by his wife, Mi Kyong Park, and two daughters, Niya and Sadie.

U.S Marine Corporal Ian M. Muller

Cpl. Ian Muller

U.S Marine Corporal Ian M. Muller, aged 22, from Danville, Vt., died on 11th March 2011 while conducting combat operations around Sangin in Helmand province, Afghanistan. 

He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force.

Cpl. Muller joined the Marine Corps in December 2007, was promoted to Corporal in June 2010 and deployed to Afghanistan in January this year.  

He was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.

U.S Army Pfc. Andrew M. Harper

Pfc. Andrew Harper

U.S Army Pfc. Andrew M. Harper, aged 19, from Maidsville, West Virginia, died 11th March 2011 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained in an accident involving the roll-over of a vehicle he was in. 

Pfc. Harper was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, Vilseck, Germany, as a vehicle gunner, one of the Army's most dangerous jobs.

His company commander, Captain Daniel Bourke, recalled him as “one of the finest infantrymen” in his company.

The young soldier is survived by his mother, father, and sister.

U.S soldier, Staff Sergeant Eric Trueblood

Staff-Sgt. Eric Trueblood

U.S Army Staff Sergeant Eric S. Trueblood, aged 27, from Alameda, California, was killed on 10th March when his unit was hit by the blast from an improvised explosive device (IED) in Kandahar.

He was assigned to the 391st Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 16th Sustainment Brigade, Spinelli Barracks, Mannheim, Germany.

Staff Sgt. Trueblood downplayed the dangers of being an Army explosives technician, telling his parents that he had received the best training in the world after graduating at the top of his class at a military bomb-disposal school.

Perhaps the comments he wrote on his MySpace page sum Eric Trueblood up. He wrote, "My job is pretty cool. I can't see why they would actually pay someone to play with explosives. It should probably be the other way around, but I've never argued with a paycheck."

British soldier, Lance Corporal Stephen McKee

Stephen McKee

Lance Corporal Stephen McKee, of the Royal Irish Regiment, was killed on 9th March 2011, during an operation to disrupt insurgent activity in the northern Dashte area of Nad-e Ali district. His vehicle struck an improvised explosive device. 

Lance Corporal McKee, aged 27, came from Banbridge in County Down, Northern Ireland. In 2003 he joined 3rd Battalion, The Royal Irish Regiment as a part-time soldier. When the Home Service were disbanded he decided to transfer to 1st Battalion, The Royal Irish Regiment and he joined them at Tern Hill, Shropshire, in April 2007.

He was posted to B Company, where he served with distinction for 3 years before moving to the Machine Gun Platoon in D Company in 2010. He first deployed on Op HERRICK 8 in March 2008 and was quickly recognised as a fine soldier, trustworthy and courageous.

He leaves behind his wife Carley, his two parents, three brothers and two sisters.

U.S soldier, Corporal Loren Buffalo

Loren M. Buffalo

U.S Army Corporal Loren M. Buffalo, aged 20, from Mountain Pine, Arkansas. died 9th March 2011 in Kandahar province of wounds suffered when insurgents detonated improvised explosive device close to his unit patrol.  

Cpl. Buffalo served with the 1st Squadron, 75th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), based at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. He joined the army in May 2009.

His decorations include, the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star Medal, among others.

U.S Army Spc. Andrew P. Wade

Andrew P. Wade

U.S Army Specialist Andrew P. Wade, aged 22, died on 9th March 2011 at Bagram, Afghanistan. He was injured in a non-combat related incident on 7th March in Kunduz, Afghanistan. 

Spc. Wade was with the 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division. 

He joined the U.S. Army in September 2008 and was deployed to Afghanistan with Operation Enduring Freedom in spring 2010. 

Wade's awards and decorations include the NATO medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon and the Combat Infantryman Badge.

U.S soldier, Kalin C. Johnson

Pfc. Kalin C. Johnson

U.S soldier, Pfc. Kalin C. Johnson, aged 19, from Lexington, South Carolina, died 8th March 2011 from injuries sustained in a non-combat incident near Rangrizan village in Kandahar.

Pfc. Johnson joined the Army in August 2009 as an infantryman, assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, headquartered at Vilseck, Germany. His unit deployed to Afghanistan in May 2010. He was expected to return to Germany by early April, about three weeks ahead of schedule.

He is survived by his parents, Brent and Kay Johnson, a sister Brittany, a brother, Noah, and his son, Logan, who will be one year old in June.

Staff Sgt. Mark C. Wells

Mark C Wells

U.S Army Staff Sergeant, Mark C Wells, aged 31, from San Jose, California was killed 5th March 2011 in Helmand province. He was attempting to disarm an improvised explosive device (IED) and stepped on a hidden bomb.

Wells died Saturday in the Helmand province of Afghanistan, as the San Jose native was trying to disarm an improvised explosive device and stepped on a hidden bomb,

Staff Sgt. Wells was assigned to the 45th Sustainment Brigade, 8th Theater Sustainment Command, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. He had been in Afghanistan since August 2010. Prior to that, he had spent 14 months in Iraq.

U.S Marine, Corporal Jordan R. Stanton

Jordan R. Stanton

U.S Marine Corporal Jordan R. Stanton, aged 20, from Rancho Santa Margarita, California, was killed 4th March 2011 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. 

He was assigned to the 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C. He joined the Marine Corps in October 2008 and was promoted to corporal July 1, 2010.

Cpl. Stanton deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in November 2010.

His awards include the National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.

US Army MP, Spc. Jason M. Weaver

Jason M. Weaver

Specialist Jason M. Weaver, aged 22, from Anaheim, California was killed on 3rd March 2011 in  Kandahar province, Afghanistan, from wounds suffered when insurgents detonated an improvised explosive device against his patrol unit.

Spc. Weaver was assigned to the 504th Military Police Battalion, 42nd Military Police Brigade, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.

Spc. Weaver enlisted in the Army in January 2008, in Los Angeles. His unit deployed to Afghanistan in June 2010.

U.S Airman, Nicholas J. Alden

Nicholas J. Alden

USAF Senior Airman Nicholas J. Alden, aged 25, from Williamston, S.C., was shot dead on 2nd March 2011 at Frankfurt Airport, Germany.

He was assigned to the 48th Security Forces Squadron, RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom, and was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

The gunman, who is now in custody, was apparently a 21 year old Kosovo national, police said.

Read full story

French soldier, CWO Bruno Fauquembergue

Bruno Fauquembergue

French soldier, CWO Bruno Fauquembergue, died in Kabul on 24th February 2011.

The 42 year old Chief Warrant Officer was attached to the French Land Forces Command (LFC) in Kabul. His death is not combat related.

In a career spanning 24 years with the French Military, CWO Fauquembergue served in many of the world's hot spots, including Cote d'Ivoire, Kosovo, Bosnia and Iraq.

The exact cause of his death is still being investigated.

He leaves a wife and two children.

British Army L-Corporal Liam Richard Tasker

Liam Tasker and his dog, Theo

Lance Corporal Liam Richard Tasker, from the Royal Army Veterinary Corps, was killed in Afghanistan on Tuesday 1st March 2011.

L-Cpl. Tasker deployed to Afghanistan on 8 September 2010 as part of 1st Military Working Dog Regiment. Having trained as an Arms and Explosives Search dog handler, he was attached to 1st Battalion Irish Guards on 19 February 2011. 

On 1 March 2011, L-Cpl Tasker was taking part in a patrol with his dog, Theo, when they were engaged by small arms fire, during which LCpl Tasker was struck and died from the injuries he sustained. 

Sadly on return to Camp Bastion, Theo suffered a seizure and died.

U.S Army Spc. Christopher Stark

Spc. Christopher G. Stark

Army Specialist, Christopher G. Stark, aged 22, from Monett, Montana, was killed by the blast from an imporovised explosive devise (IED). He died 28th February 2011. The incident happened in Wardak province, Afghanistan.

He was assigned to the 63rd Explosive Ordnance Disposal Battalion, 20th Support Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md.

In the same incident, his colleague, Staff Sgt. Chauncy Mays also died.

U.S Army Staff Sgt. Chauncy Mays

Staff Sgt. Chauncy Mays

Staff Sgt. Chauncy R. Mays, aged 25, from Cookville, Texas, was killed on 28th February 2011, in Wardak province, Afghanistan. He died from wounds suffered from an enemy detonated bomb (IED).

He was assigned to the 63rd Explosive Ordnance Disposal Battalion, 20th Support Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md.

Staff Sgt. Mays leaves a wife and two children.

In the same incident, Spc. Christopher Stark also lost his life.

US Infantry Spc. Rudolph Hizon

Spc. Rudolph R. Hizon

Spc. Rudolph R. Hizon, aged 22, from Los Angeles, California was killed on 28th February 2011 in Logar province, Afghanistan, from wounds suffered by an improvised explosive device (IED) which was detonated as his unit was on patrol. 

He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Polk, La.

Spc. Hizon joined the Army in January 2009. After completing training at Fort Benning, Ga. he was stationed at Fort Polk in November 2009. He deployed with his unit to Afghanistan in October 2010.

His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the NATO Medal and the Combat Infantryman Badge.

Spc. Hizon is survived by his mother, father and brother.

Funeral for a hero, L-Cpl Kyle Marshall (2 PARA)

L-Cpl. Kyle Marshall

The funeral of fallen British para, L-Cpl Kyle Marshall (2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment) will be held early this afternoon (2nd March) at Colchester, Essex.

L-Cpl Marshall was killed by the blast of a roadside bomb in Helmand on 14th February. He will be buried with full military honours.

Speaking after L/Cpl Marshall's death, Lt Col Andrew Harrison, commanding officer of the 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment, said: "He died as he lived, at the front, guiding his men, surrounded by friends and at the very tip of the battalion spear."

He said that, shortly before his death, L/Cpl Marshall had led his team in the discovery of a huge bomb-making factory, where 35 devices were found.

"This discovery will undoubtedly save numerous colleagues and locals falling prey to the most insidious of insurgent threats," he said.

U.S Army Military Police PFC David R. Fahey Jr.

Pfc. David R. Fahey Jr

Pfc. David R. Fahey Jr., aged 23, of Norwalk, Conn., was killed on 28th February 2011 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using an improvised explosive device.  

He was assigned to the 504th Military Police Battalion, 42nd Military Police Brigade, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.

Pfc. Fahey enlisted in the army in August 2007 and deployed to Afghanistan in June 2010.


He previously spent 12 months based in Korea.

U.S Army Sergeant Kristopher J. Gould

Sgt. Kristopher J. Gould

Sgt. Kristopher J. Gould, aged 25, from Saginaw, Michigan, was killed on 27th February 2011, in Ghazni province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using an improvised explosive device.  

He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Knox, Ky.

Sergeant Gould had deployed previously to Afghanistan as part of the 22nd Infantry. He also served in Iraq as part of the Michigan Army National Guard in 2005, according to Times archives.

He joined the Army in 2007.

U.S soldier, Brian Tabada

Specialist Brian Tabada

Specialist Brian Tabada, aged 21, from Las Vegas, Nevada was killed on 27th February in Konar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms fire and a rocket propelled grenade.  

Spc. Tabada was a Fire Support Specialist known as a "Fister", assigned to the 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.

He is the sixth Fort Campbell based casualty this year.

US Military fatalities, Afghanistan - February 2011

List of U.S Military fatalities for February 2011 in Afghanistan

28-Feb	Stark, Christopher G.	Specialist	22	63rd Explosive Ordnance Disposal Battalion
28-Feb	Mays, Chauncy R.	Staff Sgt	25	63rd Explosive Ordnance Disposal Battalion
28-Feb	Hizon Rudolph R.	Specialist	22	2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment
28-Feb	Fahey, David R.	Pfc.	23	504th Military Police Btn, 42nd Military Police Bgd.
27-Feb	Gould, Kristopher J.	Sergeant	25	2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment
27-Feb	Tabada, Brian	Specialist	21	1st Btn, 327th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne
27-Feb	Wilfahrt, Andrew C.	Specialist	31	504th Military Police Btn, 8th Military Police Bgd.
24-Feb	Firtamag, Jerome	Staff Sgt	29	96th Combat Support Battalion
22-Feb	Taylor, Johnathan	Corporal	23	8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division
21-Feb	Sisson Jr., Robert	Sergeant	29	1st Btn. 22nd Infantry Regiment
20-Feb	Hidalgo, Daren	Lieutenant	24	2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment
19-Feb	Carpenter, Andrew	L-Cpl	27	8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division
18-Feb	Deyoung, Mathew	Sergeant	26	2nd Reconn. Btn, 2nd Marine Division
17-Feb	Pilgeram, Jonathan	Specialist	22	327th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division
17-Feb	Hart, Bradley	Staff Sgt	25	Special Operations Command
08-Feb	Carse, Nathan	Specialist	32	2nd Engineer Btn, 176th Engineer Brigade
07-Feb	Swanson, Aaron	L-Cpl	21	25th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division
07-Feb	Carroll, Patrick	Sergeant	25	319th Military Intelligence Battalion
05-Feb	Pyeatt, Lucas	Corporal	24	2nd Radio Battalion, 2 Marine EFHQ
02-Feb	Gartner, Ryan	Specialist	23	201st Military Intelligence Battalion

United States military fatalities 2011

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