Funeral of British Army Captain Walter Barrie

The funeral of British Army Captain Walter Barrie, who was shot and killed by a rogue Afghan Army soldier on 11th November in Helmand province, was held at Glencorse Kirk in Penicuik, Midlothian, Scotland yesterday (29th November).

Captain Barrie's 15-year-old son Callum, described his dad as "caring, funny and kind" in a moving tribute at his funeral, where around 1,000 people gathered. During the tribute, Callum said: "Today I don't just say goodbye to an amazing father, but also a best friend. Thank you, dad, for all the memories."

Captain Barrie had served for 25 years, including tours of Iraq, Bosnia, Kosovo, Northern Ireland and Afghanistan in 2008. He was most recently deployed to Afghanistan in August this year.

Serving with The Royal Scots Borderers, 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland (1 Scots), he had been mentoring a brigade of the Afghan National Army.

The service was followed by a private burial at Glencorse Cemetery.

Click here for full report and photo slide show at the Daily Record

Report from a front-line field hospital in Afghanistan

British medics on Afghanistan's front lines give a behind the scenes look at the world-class life-saving field hospital at Camp Bastion.

British Army nurse, Sergeant Malcolm Dick, swapped private medicine for a job on the Afghanistan front line.

Malcolm, 42, decided to join up after being touched by the experiences of troops in Iraq.

He is now a vital part of Camp Bastion’s field hospital – the most advanced and most effective trauma unit in the world.

The survival rate for wounded soldiers who reach the hospital is an astonishing 98 per cent, despite the horrifying injuries caused by the insurgents’ explosive devices.

The skills of the 250 hospital staff have been honed by caring for 2000 patients every month. Of these, 200 come via medevacs in superfast helicopters.

The survival rate is boosted by the lightning response of the helicopters, which get the average patient to hospital within 35 minutes of them being wounded.

Read the full report and view more pictures at The Daily Record

US Marine Corporal Christopher Monahan Jr.

A US Marine from Island Heights, New Jersey, becomes the latest casualty in Afghanistan.

26-year-old Corporal Christopher M. Monahan Jr., died in Helmand province on 26th November 2012 during combat operations in the area.

Cpl. Monahan served with Combat Logistics Battalion 2, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, based at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

More information to follow.

US Army Spc. Zachary Shanafelt

24-year-old US Army medic, Spc. Zachary Shanafelt from Michigan died on 21st November 2012 at Walter Reed Hospital, Washington.

Spc. Shanafelt was injured in an accident while he was in Afghanistan. He was evacuated first to a hospital in Germany and later to Washington.

He was serving as a field medic with a unit based in Fariyab province.

Spc. Shanafelt leaves behind his wife Marina, 13-month-old son Daniel, parents Patrick and Gloria, and brothers Christopher and Silas.

US Navy SEAL, Kevin Ebbert, killed in Uruzgan province

32-year-old US Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Kevin R. Ebbert, from California, was killed during an operation in Uruzgan province on 24th November 2012.

PO Ebbert, a Special Warfare Operator, served with a Virginia-based Navy SEAL team.

More information to follow.

US soldier killed during attack in southern Afghanistan

An American soldier was killed during an insurgent attack in southern Afghanistan today, Saturday 24th November 2012.

Update: US Navy PO1 Kevin Ebbert was named by the US Department of Defense as the casualty.

US Marine Lance Corporal Dale Means

US Marine Lance Corporal Dale Means, from New Prague, Minnesota, was killed in Helmand province on Sunday 18th November 2012.

The 23-year-old gunner died when the vehicle he was in struck a roadside bomb.

He deployed to Afghanistan in July on his first combat tour.

More information to follow.

US Army Sergeant Channing Hicks

24-year-old US Army Sergeant Channing B. Hicks was one of two soldiers killed in action on 16th November 2012 in Paktika province.

A statement issued by the US Department of Defense said they died "from injuries suffered when enemy forces attacked their unit with an improvised explosive device and small arms fire."

Sgt. Hicks served with the Kansas-based 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team.

The other soldier killed was 23-year-old Spc. Joseph A. Richardson.

More information to follow.

US Army Specialist Joseph Richardson

23-year-old US Army Specialist Joseph A. Richardson was one of two soldiers killed in action on 16th November 2012 in Paktika province.

A statement issued by the US Department of Defense said they died "from injuries suffered when enemy forces attacked their unit with an improvised explosive device and small arms fire."

Spc. Richardson served with the Kansas-based 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team.

The other soldier killed was 24-year-old Sergeant Channing B. Hicks.

More information to follow.

US Army Staff Sergeant Rayvon Battle

25-year-old US Army Staff Sgt. Rayvon Battle Jr., of the 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, died in Kandahar province on 13th November 2012. Serving with the 38th Engineer Company, his unit is tasked with mine and bomb clearance operations.

SSgt. Battle, from Rocky Mount, North Carolina, had served two tours in Iraq. The first was with the 1st Special Forces Group Support Battalion, as a gunner in May 2008. His second tour was with the 38th Engineer Company in 2009. He deployed to Afghanistan in November this year as a squad leader.

His awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal with 2nd Oak Leaf Cluster, Meritorious Unit Commendation Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal (2nd award), National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal with 3 campaign stars, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon with Numeral “2”, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon with Numeral “2”, Combat Action Badge, Parachutist Badge and Driver’s Badge.

Bomb kills two troops in eastern Afghanistan

Afghanistan, 16 November 2012: two ISAF troops were killed today from a bomb blast in eastern Afghanistan.

No further details have yet been released. More information to follow.

US Army Sergeant Matthew Stiltz

US Army Sergeant Matthew H. Stiltz, from Washington, was killed on 12th November 2012 by enemy artillery fire at the town of Zerok, close to the Pakistan border.

26-year-old Sgt. Stiltz served with the 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, based at Fort Riley, Kansas.

He had served two tours in Iraq and had been in Afghanistan on this current deployment since June.

He joined the Army in 2005 after graduating from Shadle Park High School, Spokane. He was repatriated to Dover Air Force Base on 13th November.

Repatriation of Captain Walter Barrie scheduled

We have been advised by RAF Brize Norton - in Oxfordshire UK - that the Repatriation of British Army Captain Walter Barrie from The Royal Scots Borderers, 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, will take place on Thursday 15th November 2012.

The aircraft will land at approx 1.30pm and the cortege will pass the Memorial Garden between 4.00-4.30pm, reaching the John Radcliffe Hospital between 5.00-5.30pm 

Captain Barrie was killed on 11th November in Helmand by a member of the Afghan National Army.

US Army Captain James Nehl killed on patrol in Ghazni

37-year-old US Army Captain James D. Nehl, from Gardiner, Oregon, was killed by small-arms fire on 9th November 2012 during a patrol in Ghazni Province.

Captain Nehl served with the 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, part of the 1st Infantry Division based at Fort Riley, Kansas.

More information to follow.

US Army Staff Sgt. Kenneth Bennett killed by bomb in Kandahar

26-year-old US Army Staff Sgt. Kenneth W. Bennett, from California, was killed by an insurgent bomb on 10th November 2012 during an operation in the Sperwan Gar area of Kandahar province.

Staff Sgt. Bennett was an EOD Technician serving with the 53rd Ordnance Company based at Lewis-McChord, Washington with the 3rd Explosive Ordnance Battalion. This was his third deployment to Afghanistan.

He joined the Army in 2004 and trained as a bomb-disposal technician in 2006, moving to Joint Base Lewis-McChord in 2009.

His awards and decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, an Army Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, Army Good Conduct Medal with 3 bronze loops, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with 1 campaign star, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, as well as other awards and ribbons.

British Army Captain Walter Barrie killed in Helmand

41-year-old British Army Captain Walter Reid Barrie from The Royal Scots Borderers, 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland (1 SCOTS) was shot and killed by a man wearing an Afghan Army uniform in the Nad-e Ali district of Helmand Province on Sunday 11th November 2012.

The incident happened while Captain Barrie was playing in a football match between British soldiers and members of the Afghan National Army at his base. His death is the latest in a string of attacks by members of the Afghan Army and Afghan Police against coalition troops.

Captain Barrie, from Glasgow, had served for 25 years and had previously served in Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan. He deployed on this tour in August.

He joined the Army in October 1987. He was promoted to Warrant Officer Class One in 2007 and became the Regimental Sergeant Major of 2 SCOTS. The talented NCO instructed at the Army Training Regiment Glencorse and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.

Lieutenant Colonel Jim Archibald MBE, Royal Regiment of Scotland, Quartermaster Main Operating Base Price, said: "Walter’s cutting, self deprecating wit, easy-going manner and endearing personality will never be forgotten by all those who had the privilege and pleasure to have met and worked with him. Walter’s loss will be mourned across the Royal Regiment of Scotland. He was exceptional and I am immensely proud to have had the privilege of serving alongside him."

Captain Barrie leaves his wife Sonia and 15-year-old son Callum (pictured with him, above).

British Soldier Killed In 'Insider Attack'

Kabul, 11th November: A British soldier has been killed in Helmand province in an apparent "insider attack", by a man wearing an Afghan Army uniform.

Major Laurence Roche, the spokesman for Task Force Helmand, said: "I am very sorry to report the death of a soldier from The Royal Scots Borderers, 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland who was shot by an individual wearing an Afghan National Army uniform at his base in the Nad-e Ali district of Helmand Province."

Update: the soldier has been named as Captain Walter Reid Barrie from The Royal Scots Borderers.

Remembrance Day on the front line

Under the hot Afghan winter sun, a bugler sounded the Last Post, ahead of a profound two-minute silence at the British headquarters in Lashkar Gah.

The servicemen and women here stood lost in thought, before the bugler sounded the reveille.

For those working and fighting here, this Remembrance Day is a very personal act of remembering the sacrifices made in war.

Though many of those gathered here are only in their twenties, many have already lost friends and comrades in Afghanistan, and before that in Iraq, giving the silence here a deeper resonance.

Lieutenant Colonel Matt Jackson, Commanding Officer of 40 Commando Royal Marines, says that for himself and his men, this Sunday is both a personal and a collective act of remembrance.

"Overall, the Royal Marines have taken a number of fatalities in Afghanistan: 61 since the campaign began, a number of friends among them," he said.

Read full story at BBC News

US Army Spc. Daniel Carlson

21-year-old US Army Specialist Daniel L. Carlson, from Running Springs, California, died in Kandahar on 9th November 2012.

Spc. Carlson served with the 3rd Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, based at Wheeler Army Airfield, Hawaii.

More information to follow.

Digital Fallen Heroes memorial unveiled at Prospect Hill Cemetery

In a ceremony Saturday morning, Prospect Hill Cemetery at York PA, unveiled a new Fallen Heroes Memorial which features information and photos of more than 6,600 US soldiers lost in Iraq and Afghanistan.

11 tolls of a bell rang across the cemetery to represent the number of years the nation has been at war in Afghanistan.

The Memorial features a 46-inch touch screen encased in black granite which displays a rotation of photos from a database of fallen US military personnel. Visitors can search for soldiers by name, state and date of death.

Full story and pictures at York Daily Record

Memorial honours Canadian soldiers killed in Afghanistan

A memorial honouring Canadian troops killed in Afghanistan was unveiled Saturday in a quiet section of a park located near Canadian Forces Base Trenton.

The Afghanistan Repatriation Memorial — the silhouette of a soldier standing in front of a two large granite maple leaves —stands near the north shore of Ontario's Bay of Quinte.

One of the granite leaves is red, inscribed with the Canadian Armed Forces emblem and provincial shields; the other is black and etched with the names of the 158 fallen service members who have died in Afghanistan since 2001.

Read full story at CBC News Canada

Repatriation notice of fallen Gurkha soldiers

We have been advised by RAF Brize Norton that the Repatriations of Lt Edward Drummond-Baxter and L/Cpl Siddhanta Kunwar, both of 1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles, attached to 40 Commando Royal Marines will take place on Thursday 8th November 2012. 

The aircraft will land at approx 1.30pm and the cortege will pass the Memorial Garden between 4.00-4.30pm, reaching the John Radcliffe Hospital between 5.00-5.30pm 

Norton Way will be closed from approx 1.30pm, whilst Station Road, Brize Norton, will be closed for approximately 10 minutes once the cortege leaves Britannia Gate at RAF Brize Norton. 

There will be road closures in place at the Marston Ferry Road / Cherwell Drive Junction, Marston Road / Cherwell Drive Junction, and at the mini roundabout by the entrance to the John Radcliffe Hospital.

19-year-old US Army Pfc. Brandon Buttry

19-year-old US Army Pfc. Brandon L. Buttry, from Shenandoah, died on 5th November in Kandahar. According to a family spokesman, the young soldier was manning a watch tower when he died. 

Pfc. Brandon deployed to Afghanistan in August. He joined the Army in January this year and completed Boot camp at Fort Benning, Georgia. He served with the 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, based at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.

He was adopted at the age of three by Don and Pam Buttry. He leaves his parents, eight sisters and five brothers, along with other relatives and friends.

More information to follow.

US Army Specialist Ryan P. Jayne

US Army Specialist Ryan P. Jayne, from Campbell, New York was one of three soldiers killed when a roadside bomb exploded in Paktia province, eastern Afghanistan.

22-year-old Spc. Jayne was a combat engineer serving with the 178th Engineer Battalion, 412th Theater Engineer Command, based at Oswego, New York.

Spc. Jayne had just returned to Afghanistan after 10 days leave at home.

The other two soldiers killed in the blast were: Staff Sergeant Dain Venne and Spc. Brett Gornewicz

More information to follow.

US Army Specialist Brett E. Gornewicz

US Army Specialist Brett E. Gornewicz from Alden, New York was one of three soldiers killed when a roadside bomb exploded in Paktia province, eastern Afghanistan.

27-year-old Spc. Gornewicz was a combat engineer serving with the 178th Engineer Battalion, 412th Theater Engineer Command, based at Oswego, New York.

A local TV channel reported that Spc. Gornewicz graduated in 2003 from Alden High School, about 20 miles east of Buffalo, and graduated last year from Buffalo State College with a bachelor's degree in industrial technology.

More information to follow.

The other two soldiers killed in the blast were: Staff Sergeant Dain Venne and Spc. Ryan Jayne

Service held for fallen US Army Sergeant Clinton Ruiz

A memorial service for US Army Sergeant Clinton Keith Ruiz was held on Saturday 3rd November 2012. Family and friends gathered to view his flag-draped casket and to remember a soldier, father, husband and son. The 22-year-old soldier was killed in action on 25th October during a battle with enemy forces in Oruzgan province.

A photo montage of Sergeant Clinton Ruiz’s life was shown on stage as his father, Tony Ruiz, told the congregation: "Our son died doing something he truly believed in.”

Sergeant Ruiz was a decorated soldier serving with the 9th Military Information Support Battalion (Airborne) based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

US Army Reservist Dain Venne killed by IED

29-year-old US Army Staff Sergeant Dain Venne was one of three soldiers killed by a roadside bomb on 3rd November 2012 during operations in Paktia province, eastern Afghanistan.

He was serving in Afghanistan with the 178th Engineer Battalion, 412th Theater Engineer Command, based at Oswego, New York. Staff Sergeant Venne, from Port Henry, Essex County, New York, had previously served in Iraq.

According to local press reports, he was a graduate of Moriah Central School and was a student at St. Lawrence University in Canton before joining the US Army. It is also reported that he received the Firefighter Commendation Medal this year from Port Henry Fire Department for his life-saving actions in rescuing several stranded victims during August 2011 floods.

The other two soldiers killed were: Spc. Ryan Jayne and Spc. Brett Gornewicz, both from New York.

US Navy SEAL Petty Officer Matthew Kantor

22-year-old US Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Matthew G. Kantor, from Gillette, New Jersey, died on 1st November 2012 during operations in Zabul, Afghanistan.

PO2 Kantor was serving with an East Coast-based Naval Special Warfare unit, based in Virginia Beach.

More information to follow.

NATO service member killed in southern Afghanistan

A NATO service member was killed during an insurgent attack in southern Afghanistan on 1st November 2012.

Update: the service member has been named as US Navy SEAL Matthew Kantor

US Military fatalities, Afghanistan - October 2012

US Military fatalities, Afghanistan - October 2012

The following is a list of known United States Military fatalities in Afghanistan - October 2012:

Date	Name	Rank	Age	Unit
31-Oct	Domion, Alex F.	Corporal	21	2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Div.
25-Oct	Memon, Kashif  M.	Staff Sgt.	31	96th Civil Affairs Battalion (Airborne)
25-Oct	Ruiz, Clinton K.	Sergeant	22	9th Military Information Support Btn (Airborne)
23-Oct	Duskin, Michael S.	CWO	42	1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group
18-Oct	Wilson, Shane G.	Pfc.	20	3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment
13-Oct	Billings, Robert J.	Sergeant	30	5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment
13-Oct	Gordon, Brittany B.	Spc.	24	572 Military Intelligence Coy, 2nd Stryker Brigade
13-Oct	Savard, Ryan J.	Sgt. 1st	29	HQ Company, Army Special Operations
12-Oct	Del Mundo Tiu, Joel	Cmdr.	49	Logistics Forces, U.S. Navy Command, Bahrain
12-Oct	Macpherson, Thomas R.	Sergeant	26	75th Ranger Regiment
6-Oct	Schiro, Joseph L.	WO	27	1st Btn, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne)
6-Oct	Marquez, Justin C.	Staff Sgt.	25	1st Btn, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne)
3-Oct	Steedley, Camella M.	Sergeant	31	1st Marine Logistics Group
2-Oct	Henderson, Aaron A.	Sgt. 1st	33	2nd Btn, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne)
1-Oct	Butler IV, Thomas J.	Sergeant	25	514th Military Police Coy, 60th Troop Cmd
1-Oct	Hardison, Jeremy F.	Sergeant	23	514th Military Police Coy, 60th Troop Cmd
1-Oct	Johnson, Donna R.	Sergeant	29	514th Military Police Coy, 60th Troop Cmd

US Marine Corporal Alex Domion

21-year-old US Marine Corporal Alex F. Domion, from Richfield Springs, New York, died in Helmand province on 31st October 2012. The cause of his non-combat related death is being investigated. 

Cpl. Domion served with the 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, based at Camp Lejeune. 

He joined the Marine Corps in 2009 and was 2 weeks into his second tour of Afghanistan when he died.

More information to follow.

NATO service member dies in southern Afghanistan

A NATO service member died in southern Afghanistan on 31st October 2012. The death is non-combat related.

The serviceman has been identified as US Marine Corporal Alex F. Domion