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US Army Captain Aaron Blanchard

US Army Captain Aaron R. Blanchard, serving with the 2nd Aviation Battalion, was one of two American soldiers killed on 23rd April 2013 in Pul-e-Alam.

32-year-old Capt. Blanchard, from Selah, Washington, was commissioned in the US Army in June 2009, having previously served with the US Marine Corps. He trained as an Apache helicopter pilot and transferred to the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum, New York, in 2011. He deployed with his unit to Afghanistan in April this year.

His awards include the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, NATO Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Combat Action Badge and the Army Achievement Medal, among many other decorations.

Captain Blanchard leaves his wife, two children, mother, father and two brothers.

Captain Blanchard and his colleague, 1st Lt. Robert J. Hess, died from "wounds suffered from enemy indirect fire," according to a statement by the US department of Defense.

US Army Pfc. Barrett Austin

20-year-old US Army Pfc. Barrett L. Austin, serving with the 4th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, died on 21st April 2013 at a hospital in Landstuhl, Germany.

Pfc. Austin, from Easley, South Carolina, had been severely injured on 17th April when his vehicle was hit by a homemade bomb in Wardak province.

He was based at Fort Stewart, Georgia, as part of the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division.

Pfc. Austin leaves his wife, Heather, his parents and a sister.

US Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 Matthew Ruffner killed in helicopter crash

US Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 Matthew Ruffner, serving with the Pennsylvania Army National Guard’s Company B, 1-104th Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, was one of two soldiers killed on 9th April 2013 when their helicopter crashed during a reconnaissance mission in Nangarhar province.

34-year-old CWO3 Ruffner graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 2003 with a bachelor’s degree in criminology. He joined the military in 1997, serving initially as a mechanic in the Army Reserve’s 705th Transportation Company in Dayton, Ohio, before transferring to the Army National Guard’s 110th Infantry.

He went on to complete warrant officer training and transferred to the aviation career field in 2005 serving as an aviation life support equipment officer, tactical operations officer and instructor pilot. More recently, he was employed as a full-time Apache instructor pilot for the Pennsylvania National Guard’s Army Aviation Support Facility.

His awards and decorations include the Army Achievement Medal, three Army Reserve Component Achievement Medals and the Parachutist Badge.

The other Pennsylvania National Guardsman killed in the crash was Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jarett Yoder.

The cause of the crash is being investigated.

US Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jarett Yoder killed in helicopter crash

US Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jarett Yoder, serving with the Pennsylvania Army National Guard’s Company B, 1-104th Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, was one of two soldiers killed on 9th April 2013 when their helicopter crashed during a reconnaissance mission in Nangarhar province.

27-year-old CWO2 Yoder joined the military in 2005 after graduating from High School the same year. He served as an infantryman and deployed to Iraq in 2008 with the 56th Stryker Brigade. In 2010, he became an Apache Helicopter pilot. His awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge and Driver and Mechanic Badge.

As reported on the Pennsylvania National Guard website, CWO2 Yoder’s wife Heather Garay-Yoder released the following statement: "Jarett is my American Hero. He always dreamed of being an Apache pilot and he followed those dreams to continue to fight for our country. Jarett died doing what he loved and dreamed of doing, a true hero. There are so many people who love him and we will never forget. I love you, always and forever. Your loving wife, Heather."

The other Pennsylvania National Guardsman killed in the crash was Chief Warrant Officer 3 Matthew Ruffner.

The cause of the crash is being investigated.

Three American soldiers killed by suicide bomber in Zabul

Three US soldiers were named as victims of a suicide bomber who struck their convoy with a car on 6th April 2013.

The soldiers were part of a convoy of officials travelling to a school in Qalot, the provincial capital of Zabul province, to donate books for the students there. The suicide bomber drove a car packed with explosives into the convoy, killing six people and injuring at least ten more.

The soldiers, all serving with the 5th Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, based at Fort Stewart, Georgia, were named by the US Department of Defense as:

24-year-old Staff Sgt. Christopher M. Ward, 25-year-old Spc. Wilbel Robles-Santa and 24-year-old Spc. Deflin M. Santos Jr.

Also among the victims was US Diplomat Anne Smedinghoff aged 25.

More information to follow.

US Diplomat Anne Smedinghoff

25-year-old US diplomat Anne Smedinghoff, was among a group of six killed on 6th April 2013 by a suicide bomber who drove a car into a convoy of American military and civilian personnel. The attack happened in Zabul province.

Ms Smedinghoff, from Chicago, Illinois, joined the US Foreign Service after she graduated from University in 2009. She had previously served in Venezuela.

She was an Assistant Information Officer and had volunteered for the Afghanistan posting. At the time of the attack, her group were on their way to deliver a consignment of books to a local school in Qalot, the provincial capital.

Six Americans killed in separate attacks in Afghanistan

Six American citizens lost their lives today (6th April 2013) in a day of violence across Afghanistan.

Five were killed by a suicide car-bomber in Qalat, Zabul province. They were in a convoy of vehicles heading for a local school to give books to students, when the bomber struck. Three American military personnel, a female officer with the State Foreign Service Department and a civilian with the Department of Defense were killed. 10 people were injured by the blast, one State Department employee critically.

In a separate incident, an American civilian was killed in eastern Afghanistan during an insurgent attack.

More information to follow.

USAF F16 pilot killed in crash near Bagram

US Air Force Captain James Michael Steel was killed on 3rd April 2013 in an air crash near Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan.

29-year-old Captain Steel, from Tampa, Florida, was an F-16 pilot with 77th Fighter Squadron based at Shaw AFB, South Carolina. He was on approach to land at Bagram after a mission late in the evening, when his wingman and air-traffic control lost contact with him. The incident happened approximately 10 miles south of the runway.

Officials later said there was no enemy action in the area at the time of the incident.

He graduated from the US Air Force Academy in 2006 and transferred to Shaw AFB in 2010.

More information to follow.

US Army CWO Curtis Reagan

43-year-old US Army Chief Warrant Officer Curtis S. Reagan, from Summerville, South Carolina, died in Kandahar on 29th March 2013 from a non-combat related illness.

CWO Reagan served with the 603rd Aviation Support Battalion, 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade, based at Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia.

No further details are available at this time. More to follow.

US Army Sergeant Michael Cable

26-year-old US Army Sergeant Michael C. Cable died on 27th March after being stabbed by a teenager in Nangarhar province.

Sgt. Cable, from Kentucky, was part of a unit tasked with securing an area for a joint US-Afghan meeting in Shinwar district of the province. At the time of the attack, he was outside the security cordon talking with a group of Afghan children. A teenager approached him from behind and stabbed him in the neck with a knife.

Sgt. Cable was serving with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division, based at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

His body was repatriated to Dover Air Force Base last week.

British Army Lance Corporal Jamie Webb dies in hospital after being wounded in enemy attack

British Army Lance Corporal Jamie Webb, of 1st Battalion The Mercian Regiment (Cheshire), died in an ISAF Hospital in Afghanistan on 26th March 2013. He had been wounded during an enemy attack on his base at Nad 'Ali the previous day.

Born in October 1988, he joined the British Army when he was 18-years-old. He joined The Cheshire Regiment in 2006 and deployed to Northern Ireland. On his return, he deployed to Iraq for three months. In 2010, he deployed to Afghanistan with The Mercian Regiment, serving with the Danish Battle Group in Helmand as a rifle section second-in-command.

He deployed on this tour to Afghanistan in October last year. During his time in the Army, he proudly served on four operational missions and was described as being "outgoing, upbeat and a popular member of C Company who will be sorely missed by his brothers-in-arms."

Lieutenant Colonel Phil Kimber MBE, Commanding Officer 1 MERCIAN, described Lance Corporal Webb as being "A real character, a totally professional soldier and a great friend to many." He went on to say that "Lance Corporal Webb was exactly the type of man you wanted around. Always with a smile on his face, always willing to engage in some witty and mischievous banter, he really did lift the morale of all around him."

Lance Corporal Jamie Webb leaves behind his much loved parents Dave and Sue, and his close family.

British soldier dies in hospital after being wounded during enemy action in Helmand

A British soldier from 1st Battalion The Mercian Regiment has died in hospital from injuries received on 25th March.

The soldier was wounded during enemy action in the Nad 'Ali district of Helmand. The soldier was evacuated to a military hospital at Camp Bastion but died before being flown to the UK.

Ten other soldiers were injured in the attack, suspected to be a suicide bomb.

The soldier has been named as Lance Corporal Jamie Webb.

US Army Sgt. Tristan Wade killed by IED in Ghazni

US Army Sergeant Tristan M. Wade, from Indianapolis, was killed on 22nd March when a bomb exploded during an operation in Qarah Bagh, Ghazni.

23-year-old Sgt. Wade served as a combat engineer with the 573rd Clearance Company, 2nd Engineer Battalion which is based in New Mexico.

More information to follow.

US Army Special Forces NCO dies in hospital in Germany

31-year-old US Army Special Forces Sgt. 1st Class James F. Grissom died on 21st March 2013 at the US Military Hospital, in Landstuhl, Germany.

Sfc. Grissom, from Hayward, California, had been transferred to the hospital after being wounded by small-arms fire during an operation in Paktika province on 18th March. This was his fifth deployment to Afghanistan.

He joined the US Army in June 2003 after attending the Art Institute of Of San Francisco, from where he earned a degree. At the time of his death, he was serving with the 4th Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne), based in Washington.

Sfc. Grissom, who leaves his wife, parents and sister, has been posthumously awarded the Bronze Star.

Polish soldier, Pawel Ordynski, killed in bomb blast

Polish Army Senior Private Pawel Ordynski was killed on 20th March 2013 during a mounted patrol in Ghazni.

He was part of a routine patrol north-west of the city when his vehicle struck a road mine.

29-year-old S/Pvt. Ordynski had previously deployed to the Balkans and to Afghanistan. He served with the 12th Mechanised Brigade as a driver, having joined the Army in 2004. This was his fourth mission to Afghanistan.

Another Polish soldier was seriously injured in the blast and was evacuated by helicopter to the Polish base in Ghazni.

More information to follow.

US Army Specialist Derek McConnell

23-year-old US Army Specialist Derek McConnell, severely injured in Afghanistan in 2011, was found dead at his home on 18th March 2013.

In July 2011, while serving in Afghanistan, he was caught in the blasts from two bombs during a patrol in Kandahar province. As a result, he lost both his legs and suffered a fractured skull, among other injuries.

Spc. McConnell, from New Jersey, joined the US Army in 2009. After he was wounded in action, he spent a year in a Maryland hospital and returned home to Parsippany in late 2012.

The incident happened as he brought his unit in to support fellow soldiers who had been injured by a hidden mine. McConnell had unknowingly walked into a minefield and, subsequently, two of the devices exploded. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal With Valor Device.

Six civilian contractors KIA in Afghanistan posthumously awarded bravery medals

Six civilian contractors, who were killed while serving in Afghanistan, were recently posthumously awarded Medals for the Defense of Freedom (see photo left).

The medal is the civilian equivalent to the Purple Heart. It is the highest honour the US Department of Defense can award civilians injured or killed in the line of duty.

The contractors were all working under the Logistics Civil Augmentation Program (LOGCAP), which provides contingency support for the US Armed Forces.

The families of five of the contractors killed solemnly accepted the medals, presented by Brigadier John Wharton, Commanding General, U.S. Army Sustainment Command during a ceremony at Greenville. Killed were:

Jarod Cravens (32), Onaje Hilliard (33), Matthew Lemmon (45) and Julius Wright (31): all died 29th October 2011 in Kabul when a suicide car bomber attacked the armored personnel carrier they were travelling in.

Bryan Farr, 22, was shot and killed in May 2010.

In a separate ceremony in Arizona, Santa Gracia Ramirez - who worked for Pacific Architects and Engineers - was posthumously awarded the medal. She was killed by a suicide bomber in 2007 while mentoring, training and advising Afghan prison officials.

US Army Chief Warrant Officer James Groves III

US Army helicopter pilot Chief Warrant Officer James E. Groves III was killed in a helicopter crash on 16th March 2013 at Kandahar.

37-year-old CWO Groves, from Kettering, Ohio, served with the Georgia-based 17th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade, assigned to 3rd Squadron.

The cause of the crash is being investigated. There was no reported enemy action in the vicinity at the time of the incident.

CWO Groves was on his fourth deployment to Afghanistan.

US Army CWO Bryan Henderson

US Army Chief Warrant Officer Bryan J. Henderson was one of five American soldiers killed on 11th March 2013 when their helicopter crashed in Kandahar province.

CWO Henderson, aged 27, served with the Georgia-based 4th Battalion, 3rd Aviation Regiment, part of the 3rd Infantry Division.

The helicopter, a UH-60 Black Hawk, came down in heavy rain during a routine flight and crashed in the Daman district of Kandahar. All five crew members on board were killed. There was no reported enemy action in the area at the time of the accident.

The other crew members killed were: Captain Sara Cullen (nee Knutson); Staff Sgt. Marc A. Scialdo; Staff Sgt. Steven P. Blass and Spc. Zachary L. Shannon.

More information to follow.

US Army Staff Sergeant Marc Scialdo

31-year-old US Army Staff Sgt. Marc A. Scialdo was one of five American soldiers killed on 11th March 2013 when their helicopter crashed in Kandahar province.

SSgt Scialdo, from Naples, Florida, served with the Georgia-based 603rd Aviation Support Battalion, 3rd Aviation Regiment, part of the 3rd Infantry Division.

The helicopter, a UH-60 Black Hawk, came down in heavy rain during a routine flight and crashed in the Daman district of Kandahar. All five crew members on board were killed. There was no reported enemy action in the area at the time of the accident.

The other crew members killed were: Captain Sara Cullen (nee Knutson); Chief Warrant Officer Bryan Henderson; Staff Sgt. Steven P. Blass and Spc. Zachary L. Shannon.

More information to follow.

US Army Staff Sergeant Steven Blass

27-year-old US Army Staff Sgt. Steven P. Blass was one of five American soldiers killed on 11th March 2013 when their helicopter crashed in Kandahar province.

SSgt Blass, from Iowa, served with the Georgia-based 4th Battalion, 3rd Aviation Regiment, part of the 3rd Infantry Division.

The helicopter, a UH-60 Black Hawk, came down in heavy rain during a routine flight and crashed in the Daman district of Kandahar. All five crew members on board were killed. There was no reported enemy action in the area at the time of the accident.

The other crew members killed were: Captain Sara Cullen (nee Knutson); Chief Warrant Officer Bryan Henderson; Staff Sgt. Marc Scialdo and Spc. Zachary L. Shannon.

More information to follow.

British soldier killed in Afghanistan awarded Victoria Cross

British Army Lance Corporal James Ashworth, aged 23, was killed in action during a fierce battle with Taliban fighters last year, on 13th June.

During the battle, L-Cpl Ashworth, who was leading a platoon of soldiers fighting their way through compounds in Nahr-e Saraj, Helmand, was cut off from his unit. Killing three enemy fighters, L-Cpl Ashworth had put himself in the front line of fire to draw the enemy from other soldiers in his unit.

He died when a grenade was launched and exploded next to him.

His actions, and an incredible last stand that followed, persuaded senior officers to recommend him for the Victoria Cross.

The Victoria Cross - the highest military award in the UK - is given for 'most conspicuous bravery'. Only ten have been awarded since World War Two and only one other awarded during the Afghanistan War.

Read the full story at The Daily Mail

Second helicopter crash in a week kills one soldier

A NATO helicopter crashed in southern Afghanistan on Saturday 16th March killing one of the crew members.

There was no reported enemy action in the area at the time of the crash.

On Monday 11th March, a US Army UH-60 Blackhawk crashed in Kandahar province killing five American crew members.

More information to follow.

US Army Captain Sara Cullen killed in helicopter crash

US Army Captain Sara M. Cullen was among those killed on 11th March 2013 in a helicopter crash over Kandahar.

Capt. Cullen was one of the crew of a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter flying above the Daman district of Kandahar during a heavy rainstorm when the aircraft crashed, killing all five US soldiers on board.

According to an announcement on the West Point website, Capt. Cullen (nee Knutson) had previously been based at Fort Wainwright in Alaska and had also deployed to Pakistan on a humanitarian mission. She deployed to Afghanistan in January.

She married a former Blackhawk pilot in November last year and he deployed to Afghanistan in February this year with a private contracting company.

More information to follow.

US Navy SEAL CPO Christian Pike

US Navy Chief Petty Officer Christian Michael Pike, died on 13th March 2013 from injuries he received during combat operations in Maiwand, Afghanistan.

CPO Pike, aged 31, was evacuated to Landstuhl in Germany after being wounded on 10th March. Sadly, he died while being treated at Landstuhl.

CPO Pike, from Arizona, served with a West Coast-based Naval Special Warfare unit. He joined the US Navy in August 2001. After completing cryptologic training at Corry Station in April 2003, he served aboard the USS Cleveland from May 2003 to July 2007, followed by a tour at the Navy Information Operations Command San Diego from July 2007 to July 2011. He joined the Naval Special Warfare unit in July 2011.

His awards and decorations include the Purple Heart Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (3), Navy Good Conduct Medal, Navy Unit Commendation, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Service Medal, GWOT Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, and NATO Medal.

He is survived by his mother Diana, sister Denise and fiancée Morgan. His mother paid this tribute: "Christian was so proud to be a Navy Chief with the Special Warfare community, and he was living honorably, a life he chose. "He wouldn't have it any other way, and neither would I."

US Army Spc. David Proctor

26-year-old US Army Specialist David T. Proctor died at Walter Reed Medical Center, Maryland, on 13th March 2013.

Spc. Proctor, from Greensboro, North Carolina, had been evacuated from Afghanistan where he had been injured in a non-combat incident in Kandahar province on 3rd March. He served with the Georgia-based 7th Infantry Regiment and was assigned to the 2nd Battalion.

His family were with him at the hospital when he died.

US Army helicopter mechanic Zack Shannon

21-year-old US Army helicopter technician Zack Shannon, was one of the crew members killed on 11th March 2013, when their UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter crashed in Kandahar province.

Read story at Tampa Bay Online

More information to follow.

US Special Forces Captain Andrew Pedersen-Keel

US Army Captain Andrew M. Pedersen-Keel was one of two American soldiers killed on Monday 11th March by an Afghan policeman in Jalrez, Wardak province.

Capt. Pedersen-Keel and US Army Staff Sgt. Rex Schad were attending a joint-services meeting when an Afghan policeman opened fire on the group. Three Afghans were killed and several troops injured in the attack.

28-year-old Capt. Pedersen-Keel served with the 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He graduated from the US Military Academy in 2006. In 2008, he served in Afghanistan and, at the end of that 12-month deployment, he completed the Special Forces Assessment and Selection Course and joined the 3rd Special Forces Group in 2012. He deployed to Afghanistan on this current tour late last year.

Capt. Pedersen-Keel's awards and decorations include two Bronze Star Medals, Army Commendation Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two Campaign Stars, among others.

He was repatriated to Dover Air Force Base on 12th March 2013.

US Army Staff Sergeant Rex Schad victim of 'insider attack'

US Army Staff Sgt. Rex Schad was one of the US service personnel killed on Monday 11th March by an Afghan policeman in Wardak province.

His grandfather, Mr. Harold Whipple told news reporters that two Chaplains and an Army Sergeant visited the family on Monday afternoon with the bad news.

25-year-old Sgt. Schad had been in Afghanistan since November. This was his second tour of duty to the country.

More information to follow.

USAF Tech. Sgt. Larry Bunn

USAF Tech. Sgt. Larry D. Bunn, died from a heart attack on 7th March 2013 while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom from an undisclosed base in southwest Asia.

43-year-old Sgt. Bunn, from Bossier City, Louisiana, served with the 307th Maintenance Squadron at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana.

He was repatriated to the United States on 9th March 2013 when he was honored in a dignified transfer at Dover Air Force Base.

Photo courtesy of USAF 917th Wing Public Affairs

Five killed in Kandahar helicopter crash

Five NATO troops were killed when a helicopter crashed in southern Kandahar province on Monday 11th March 2013.

An Afghan government spokesman told press that the aircraft crashed during heavy rain in the Daman district. An ISAF spokesman said that there was no enemy action in the area at the time of the crash.

More information to follow.

UPDATE: Two US Special Forces soldiers killed during insider attack, Wardak

Video News Update on two US Special Forces soldiers killed at Police Training facility in Wardak province

US Private Contractor Inez Baker killed in attack in Kapisa province

51-year-old Inez 'Renee' Baker was killed on Friday 8th March 2013 during an attack at Forward Operating Base Tagab, in Kapisa province. The attack happened early afternoon when three men, dressed as Afghan soldiers, drove a vehicle into the gate of the base, before opening fire and killing Ms. Baker.

Two Afghan soldiers also died and four coalition soldiers were injured in the attack. The three attackers were also killed.

Ms. Baker had served in the US Army for 26 years. She retired last year and began working as a private contractor.

More information to follow.

Two American service personnel killed in insider attack, Wardak province

Two American service personnel were killed on Monday 11th March when an Afghan National Army soldier opened fire during a joint briefing at a Special Forces operating base in Wardak province. Several others were injured in the attack. Three Afghans were also killed.

The incident comes at a time when the US-Afghan relationship becomes more tense following allegations by Afghan President Karzai accusing US Special Forces of using torture in Wardak province; an allegation that the US strongly denies.

The victims in the latest insider attack are yet to be identified.

More information to follow.

US Army Spc. Cody Suggs dies at Kandahar Airfield

22-year-old US Army Spc. Cody D. Suggs from West Alexandria, Ohio, died at Kandahar Airfield on Thursday 7th March 2013 as a result of a non-combat related incident which is currently being investigated.

Spc. Suggs was serving with the Ohio National Guard's 1487th Transportation Company at the time of his death.

More information to follow.

Civilian contractor killed in Kapisa province

A civilian contractor was killed on Friday 8th March 2013 when three Afghan National Army soldiers opened fire at the gate of Forward Operating Base Tagab, in Kapisa province.

The attack happened early afternoon as the three men drove an Afghan Army vehicle into the gate of the base. They then opened fire, killing the contractor, two Afghan soldiers and wounding four coalition soldiers. The three Afghan attackers were killed.

The contractor killed in the attack was Ms. Inez Baker.

French Para Veteran of Afghanistan Killed in Action in Mali

26-year-old French Paratroop Corporal Cédric Charenton was killed in action during operations in Mali on 2nd March 2013. Cpl. Charenton had previously served in Afghanistan. He is the third French soldier to die in Mali during the current operation.

The incident happened as French and Chadian troops assaulted enemy positions in the Ametettai Valley - about 50 miles from Tessalit. During the assault, 12 insurgents were killed, several vehicles destroyed and three large caches of weapons and explosives were discovered and seized by French Forces.

Cpl. Charenton, who served with the elite Airborne Infantry 1st Regiment, was hit by small-arms fire. He had previously served in New Caledonia and Gabon, as well as Afghanistan.

17 Dyncorp employees posthumously awarded Defense of Freedom medals

In February, DynCorp held a ceremony to honour 17 employees who were killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Their families received the Defense of Freedom medal, the civilian equivalent of the Purple Heart, at the ceremony near Washington DC. Lt. Gen. William N. Phillips made the presentations.

The DynCorp employees were killed between 2004 and 2011, while providing police training in the two countries.

The medals were awarded to the families of the following: Roland Carroll Barvels, Brett Patrick Benton, Brian Morgan, Michael Wayne Butler, Mike Dawes, Arsenio Ducusin Domingo, Richard Thomas Hickman, Leon Vincent Kimbrell, Deborah Dawn Klecker, Rudy Guerrero Mesa, William Lawrence Juneau, Douglas Stephen Thomas, Robert McDonald Timmann, Donald Bruce Tow, Darrell Leroy Wetherbee, Gary Wayne Willard, and Ronald Austin Zimmerman.

US Marine Staff Sergeant Jonathan Davis killed in Helmand

34-year-old US Marine Staff Sgt. Jonathan D. Davis, from Kayenta, Arizona, was killed during operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan, on 22nd February 2013. Sgt. Davis served with Headquarters Battalion, 32nd Georgian Liaison Team, part of the 1st Marine Division based at Camp Pendleton, California.

Sgt. Davis, of the Navajo Nation, joined the US Marine Corps in October 1997. His awards and medals include the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the NATO Medal-ISAF Afghanistan, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the Global War on Terror Expeditionary Medal.

He is the first reported foreign military fatality in Afghanistan for over a month.

More information to follow.

Bomb kills NATO soldier in southern Afghanistan

A US soldier was killed in a bomb explosion in southern Afghanistan on Friday 22nd February, according to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).

The serviceman was identified as US Marine Staff Sergeant Jonathan Davis.

British towns name streets after soldiers killed in Afghanistan

The east London suburb of Barking and Dagenham has recently renamed two streets after military personnel who died in Afghanistan, with a third street to be dedicated soon.

Jim Murphy, shadow Defence Secretary, told the Daily Telegraph that the plan would allow local people to show their “solidarity and sympathy” with grieving families. He said: "A lasting personal memorial would demonstrate the value we place on individuals who have served but been lost in the defence of our country."

Now the scheme is to be offered to councils throughout the country offering families of soldiers killed in Afghanistan the chance to have a local street named after their loved ones.

Read the full story at Daily Telegraph

French Foreign Legion veteran of Afghanistan killed in action in Mali

French Foreign Legion Sergeant Harold Vormezeele, a veteran of three tours in Afghanistan, was killed in action during an operation in Mali on 19th February 2013.

Sgt. Vormezeele, born in Belgium in 1979, had served with the Foreign Legion for almost 14 years.

His unit, 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment (2REP), parachuted in to Timbuktu on 27th January this year. On 19th February, Sgt. Vormezeele was part of an armoured patrol, 50km south of Tessalit, when his unit was attacked by enemy forces. During this engagement, he was fatally wounded.

He served in Afghanistan in 2008, 2010 and 2011. He had also previously served in Bosnia, Gabon, Djibouti, Cote d'Ivoire and the Central African Republic and had been awarded four Cross of Military Valour medals during his career.

US Army Sergeant Aaron Wittman buried at Arlington National Cemetery

US Army Sergeant Aaron X. Wittman was buried at Arlington National Cemetery yesterday, 8th February 2013. More than 100 family members, friends and colleagues attended. His coffin was draped with an American flag and carried on a horse-drawn caisson. He was buried with full military honors.

Sgt. Wittman, from Chester, Virginia, was the first American fatality of the year in Afghanistan. He was killed during a mounted patrol in Nangahar province on 10th January, when enemy forces opened fire with assault weapons and rocket-propelled grenades. 28-year-old Sgt. Wittman was serving with the 3rd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment. This was his second deployment.

Sgt. Wittman was awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star, among others.

Read more at Washington Post

Fallen soldier saves four lives with his donated organs

British Army Kingsman Dave Shaw, who died at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham on Wednesday 16th January 2013 from wounds sustained after being shot in Afghanistan on 14th January, has saved the lives of four seriously ill patients in Birmingham.

Following the 23-year-old soldier's death, his parents donated his organs in the hope that his death would save the lives of others.

Kingsman Shaw was serving with the 1st Battalion The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment when he was shot by enemy forces near Lashkar Gah in Helmand Province. He was on his second deployment to Afghanistan.

Read the full story at the Daily Mail

Funeral for Sapper Richard Walker held in Washington

The funeral of British Army Sapper Richard Walker took place earlier today (30th January) at Our Blessed Lady Immaculate Church, in Washington, Tyne and Wear. Sapper Walker was shot dead on 7th January by an Afghan soldier.

23-year-old Sapper Walker was killed at Patrol Base Hazrat, in Helmand province after the gunman shot several Afghan Army troops. The gunman was killed during the incident.

Hundreds of mourners attended the funeral, held in Sapper Walker's hometown. In a tribute to the fallen soldier, Lieutenant Colonel Chas Story, Commanding Officer, 28 Engineer Regiment, said: "He was an amazing soldier, someone who worked hard and was a great friend and put his friends above everyone else."

US Army Sergeant Mark H. Schoonhoven

US Army Sergeant Mark H. Schoonhoven died on 20th January 2013 at Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas. He had been critically injured when a bomb exploded while he was serving in Kabul on 15th December last year.

38-year-old Sgt. Schoonhoven, from Plainwell, Michigan, was assigned to the Colorado-based 32nd Transportation Company, 43rd Sustainment Brigade.

This was his third tour in Afghanistan, having previously deployed there in 2007-2008 and in 2009-2010. He joined the Army in 2006.

Polish Special Forces Captain Krzysztof Woźniak killed in action

Polish Commando Captain Krzysztof Woźniak was killed in action on 23rd January 2013 during an anti-terrorist operation in Ghazni province.

The 36-year-old father of three was part of a unit supporting Afghan security forces in the province. During the operation, the units came under heavy fire from enemy forces. Several Polish soldiers were wounded in the attack including Capt. Woźniak.

He was evacuated by helicopter to the Polish military hospital in Ghazni but could not be saved.

Capt. Woźniak, a member of Poland's Armed Forces since 1996, had deployed on several overseas operations during his career. This was his fourth deployment to Afghanistan. was serving with Poland’s Elite Special Forces Unit (GROM).

Soldier killed during enemy attack in eastern Afghanistan

KABUL: A NATO/ISAF soldier was killed in eastern Afghanistan earlier today - 23rd January 2013 - after an enemy attack on a joint patrol.

The soldier was named as Polish Commando Captain Krzysztof Woźniak.

US Army Sergeant David Chambers killed on patrol in Panjwai

25-year-old US Army Sergeant David J. Chambers was killed in action on 16th January 2013 during a foot patrol in Panjwai, Kandahar.

His unit was struck by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and Sgt. Chambers died from injuries sustained in the blast.

Sgt. Chambers, from Hampton, Virginia, served with the 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, based at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington.

He joined the Army in May 2009 and on completion of training in Georgia, he served with the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, based in Germany. He deployed to Afghanistan with 2nd Stryker in June 2010 to May 2011. He arrived at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in October 2011 and deployed to Afghanistan on his second tour in November of 2012.

Sgt. Chambers leaves his parents Julie and Michael among many friends and relatives.

British Army Kingsman Dave Shaw dies from injuries sustained in Lashkar Gah

23-year-old British Army Kingsman David Robert Shaw, from Cumbria, England, died at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham on Wednesday 16th January 2013.

Kingsman Shaw, serving with the 1st Battalion The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment, was shot by enemy forces near Lashkar Gah in Helmand Province on Monday. He underwent two emergency operations in Afghanistan before being evacuated to the UK. He had been in Afghanistan since October last year. This was his second deployment to the country.

Acting Sergeant Mark Stevens, 2 Platoon, Corunna Company, 1st Battalion The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment, said: "To Kingsman Shaw, a missed brother-in-arms; you were an inspiration who helped me guide the rest of the platoon through adversity and danger. You showed true courage, exceptional bravery and demonstrated genuine leadership, even when it was clear your own life was in danger."

Soldier killed by IED in southern Afghanistan

A soldier serving with the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) was killed in a bomb blast in southern Afghanistan today, Wednesday 16th January 2013.

The soldier was identified as US Army Sergeant David Chambers

British soldier dies in UK hospital from injuries received in Helmand

A British soldier from 1st Battalion The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment died at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham today, Wednesday 16th January, from wounds sustained in Afghanistan.

The soldier was injured as a result of enemy action in the Lashkar Gah district of Helmand province on 14th January 2013. He was flown back to the UK for treatment.

Spokesman for Task Force Helmand, Major Chris Boryer, said: "It is my solemn duty to report the death of a soldier from 1st Battalion The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment who has died as a result of wounds sustained whilst on duty in the Lashkar Gah district of Helmand province."

Update: according to the Cumbria News and Star, the soldier is Kingsman Dave Shaw.

Sergeant David Fernández Ureña buried with full military honours

The funeral of Spanish Army Bomb-disposal technician, Sergeant David Fernández Ureña, killed by a bomb in northwest Afghanistan on 11th January, was held on Sunday morning at the parade ground of the "San Genís" barracks in Monzalbarba (Zaragoza), Spain, base of the Bridge-Builders and Engineering Specialists Regiment Nº 12.

The ceremony was presided over by His Royal Highness the Prince of Asturias, together with the Minister for Defence, Pedro Morenés, and the President of the Region of Aragon, Maria Fernanda Rudi, as well as the Chief of Defence Staff, the Chief of Army Staff and other civilian and military authorities.

Read full report at the Leader

Repatriation notice - Sapper Richard Walker

The Repatriation of British Army Sapper Richard Walker from 28 Engineer Regiment, will take place on Thursday 17th January 2013 at RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire.

The aircraft carrying his body is scheduled to land around 13.30 with the cortege due to pass the Memorial Garden at 16.15 before travelling to the John Radcliffe Hospital.

Sapper Walker was shot and killed on Monday 7th January 2013 by a member of the Afghan National Army (ANA) at Patrol Base Hazrat in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province, Afghanistan.

Spanish Army Sergeant killed by bomb blast in western Afghanistan

Spanish Army Sergeant David Fernandez Ureña was killed in a bomb blast earlier today - 11th January 2013 - in northwestern Afghanistan.

35-year-old Sgt. Ureña and his unit were investigating a reported IED on a road between Qala i Naw and Darra i Bun. He was killed while carrying out reconnaissance work on the device and was preparing to defuse it.

Sgt. Ureña had previously deployed to Afghanistan in 2009.

More information to follow.

US Army Sergeant Aaron Wittman

US Army Sergeant Aaron X. Wittman, from Chester, Virginia, was killed during a mounted patrol in eastern Afghanistan on 10th January 2013. Enemy forces fired on his unit using small arms in Khogyani District, Nangarhar Province.

28-year-old Sgt. Wittman served with the Georgia-based 3rd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment.

More information to follow.

US soldier killed in eastern Afghanistan

An American military service member was killed today - 10th January 2013 - during an insurgent attack in eastern Afghanistan.

The soldier has been named by the US Department of Defense as Sergeant Aaron X. Wittman from 3rd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment.

British Army Sapper Richard Walker killed by Afghan soldier

23-year-old British Army Sapper Richard Reginald Walker from 28 Engineer Regiment, attached to 21 Engineer Regiment, was shot and killed on Monday 7th January 2013 by a member of the Afghan National Army (ANA) at Patrol Base Hazrat in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province.

Born in Leeds, Sapper Walker worked as a technician for Vauxhall before joining the Army in July 2008. On completion of his training, he joined 28 Engineer Regiment in Hameln, Germany, in September 2009, and deployed to Canada and Kenya on major exercises. He deployed to Afghanistan in September last year.

Sapper Walker represented his Regiment at football and spent endless hours in the gym. His family said in a tribute to Sapper Walker: "Richard held two things close to his heart – his daughter and his colleagues in the Army. A proud, patriotic man, he died doing a job he loved, supporting his friends."

Lieutenant Brad Southall RE, Support Troop Commander, 42 Field Squadron, 28 Engineer Regiment, said: "Sapper Walker was a shining star. When I took command of my troop I was struck by his charisma, his devotion to duty and his immense capability."

Staff Sergeant Sean Eaton, 8 Troop, 42 Field Squadron, 28 Engineer Regiment, said: "Sapper Walker has a young daughter, Lilly-Faith, who was never far from his mind. He would often speak about her with everyone. I only knew Richie for a short time, but he has left a lasting impression on me and will never be forgotten."

Polish soldiers face second trial over Afghanistan killings

Four Polish soldiers previously acquitted of killing Afghan civilians in a war crimes trial in 2011 have gone on trial in Warsaw for a second time.

Eight people were killed in the Afghan village of Nangar Khel when Polish troops opened fire on a wedding party in August 2007.

Military prosecutors appealed after seven soldiers were cleared of war crimes in the 2011 trial for lack of evidence. The court upheld the acquittal of three but ordered a re-trial for the others, who insist they are innocent.

Click here for the full story at BBC.co.uk

British soldier shot and killed by Afghan soldier

A British soldier has been shot dead by a man wearing an Afghan army uniform on Monday 7th January 2013.

The soldier, from 28 Engineer Regiment, was killed at Patrol Base Hazrat in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province.

Major Martyn Crighton, a spokesman for International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), said that the soldier died after "an individual wearing an Afghan National Army uniform turned his weapon against both Afghan National Army soldiers and ISAF troops".

He added: "During the engagement the attacker was killed and there were some other folks who were wounded. They were subsequently taken to an ISAF medical facility to be treated."

UPDATE: The soldier has been named as 23-year-old Sapper Richard Walker.

British soldier found hanged at his Swansea home

24-year-old British Army Trooper Robert Llewellyn Griffiths, of 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards, also known as the Welsh Cavalry, has been found hanged at his home in Swansea, South Wales.

Trooper Griffiths, who had served on the front line in Afghanistan, was discovered at the property in Oldway, Bishopston, on the evening of Saturday 29th December.

Click here to read full story at Walesonline

Georgian Army Sergeant Giorgi Kikadze repatriated

The body of Georgian Army Sergeant Giorgi Kikadze arrived back in Georgia late on Wednesday 2nd January.

A transfer ceremony was held at Tbilisi International Airport and attended by Defence Minister of Georgia Irakli Alasania and other dignitaries, including US Ambassador to Georgia Richard Norland.

Sergeant Kikadze went missing in Afghanistan on 19th December 2012. Following a 10-day search and rescue mission, his body was found on 29th December.

Sergeant Giorgi Kikadze was born in Borjomi on January 16, 1988. He joined the Georgian Armed Forces in 2009. After attending the basic combat training course in National Training Center “Krtsanisi”, Sergeant Kikadze was enlisted in the Artillery Battalion of II Infantry Brigade of GAF. He underwent a six-month pre-deployment training for the ISAF mission. He deployed to Afghanistan in October, 2012. This was his second deployment in Afghanistan.

Danish Special Forces Commando Rene Brink Jakobsen killed in Helmand

39-year-old Danish Army Oversergent (Warrant Officer) René Brink Jakobsen was killed late Wednesday 2nd January 2013 when a bomb exploded while he was on a foot patrol in the Upper Gereshk Valley in Helmand province.

WO Jakobsen, a member of an elite Danish Special Forces Ranger unit had been in the Army for several years, according to a statement from the Danish Army.

He leaves his wife and three children.

Danish soldier killed by IED in southern Afghanistan

A Danish soldier was killed in southern Afghanistan late yesterday (2nd January 2013).

The soldier, serving with Task Force 7 - a Special Forces unit from Aalborg - died when a bomb exploded  during a joint foot patrol with the Afghan Police. The incident happened in the Upper Gereshk Valley, northeast of Gereshk in Helmand province.

He was evacuated by helicopter to a military hospital but died from his injuries. 43 Danish military personnel have died in Afghanistan since 2002.

The soldier has been named as Oversergent René Brink Jakobsen

Civilian contractor dies in southern Afghanistan

A civilian contractor, employed by the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) died in southern Afghanistan on 1st January 2013.

The cause of death has not been published but it has been confirmed that the contractor died as a result of a non-battle related injury.

More information to follow.

More than 1,000 Afghan soldiers killed in 2012

Afghanistan's Defence Ministry announced on Sunday that during 2012, nearly 1,050 military personnel serving with the Afghan National Army (ANA) had lost their lives.

"Up to 1,050 Afghan National Army (ANA) personnel including officers and soldiers had been martyred in fight against insurgents and security incidents all over the country in 2012," General Zahir Azimi told a press briefing.

About 85 percent of army casualties were caused by the Taliban home-made Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), he said.

Read full story at Sina

US Military fatalities, Afghanistan - December 2012

US Military fatalities, Afghanistan - December 2012

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

Date	Name	Rank	Age	Unit
DEC
29-Dec	Sims, Markie T.	Pfc.	20	38th Engineer Company, 4th Stryker Brigade
24-Dec	Mondragon, Enrique	Sergeant	23	173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team
22-Dec	Price, Job W.	Cmdr.	42	Naval Special Warfare
14-Dec	Lipari, Kevin E.	Sgt. 1st	39	173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team
14-Dec	Guillory, Michael J.	Sergeant	28	1st Marine Special Operations Battalion.
13-Dec	Trent, Nelson D.	Staff Sgt.	37	56th Infantry Brigade Combat Team
13-Dec	Reid, Nicholas J.	Staff Sgt.	26	53rd Ordnance Company (EOD)
10-Dec	Williams, Wesley R.	Staff Sgt.	25	1st Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment
08-Dec	Checque, Nicolas D.	PO1	28	Naval Special Warfare
03-Dec	Linde, Darren M.	Sgt. 1st	41	North Dakota National Guard
03-Dec	Orgaard, Tyler J.	Spc.	20	North Dakota National Guard
01-Dec	Denier, Anthony	L-Cpl.	26	USMC