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.

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.

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).

Lance-Corporal Paweł Poświat

Polish Army Lance-Corporal Paweł Poświat was killed in Ghazni province on 28th July 2011 when a road mine detonated beneath his armored patrol vehicle. L-Cpl. Poświat, age 29, was driving the vehicle at the time of the explosion.

Seriously injured, he was evacuated by helicopter to the Polish military base hospital in Ghazni. Sadly, doctors were unable to save his life.

L-Cpl. Poświat, a bachelor, joined the Polish Army in 2003 and served with the 17th Wielkopolska Mechanized Brigade.

US Army Sergeant Edward Koehler

Sgt. Koehler served in
the Marines
1982-1988

US Army Sergeant Edward W. Koehler, age 47, from Lebanon, Pennsylvania, was one of three soldiers killed on 18th July 2011 in Ghazni province, when his patrol vehicle struck a road mine.

Sgt. Koehler served with the 131st Transportation Company, 213th Area Support Group, based at Williamstown, Pennsylvania.

After serving with the Marine Corps from 1982 to 1988, he took a 10-year break from the service. He enlisted in the Pennsylvania National Guard in 1997 as a motor transport operator, serving his entire Guard career in the 131st Transportation Company.

This was Sgt. Koehler's first tour of duty in Afghanistan. He had also served with the 131st in Kuwait and Iraq from 2003 to 2004.

His awards include the Combat Action Badge, three Army Reserve Component Achievement Medals, Army Achievement Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary and Service Medals, Driver and Mechanic Badge, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon and the Governor's Unit Citation.

The other soldiers who died were: Staff Sgt. Kenneth R. VanGiesen and Sgt. Brian K. Mowery.

US Army Sergeant Brian Mowery

US Army Sergeant Brian K. Mowery from Halifax, Pennsylvania, was one of three soldiers killed on 18th July 2011 in Ghazni province, when his patrol vehicle struck a road mine.

The 49-year-old served with the 131st Transportation Company, 213th Area Support Group, based at Williamstown, Pennsylvania.

The other soldiers who died were: Staff Sgt. Kenneth R. VanGiesen and Sergeant Edward W. Koehler.

More information to follow.

US Army Sergeant James Harvey

US Army Sergeant James W. Harvey II was killed in action on 20th June whilst engaging enemy forces in Ghazni province, Afghanistan. He was wounded by small arms fire and subsequently died from his injuries.

Sgt. Harvey, age 23, from Toms River, New Jersey, served with the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, based at Fort Knox, Kentucky.

Sgt. Harvey, known to has family and friends as "Jimmy", leaves his parents James and Susan and three sisters, Tracey, Robin and Christine.

Polish Army L-Cpl. Jaroslaw Mackowiak

27 year-old Senior Corporal Jaroslaw Mackowiak was killed and two other soldiers wounded during an insurgent attack on a Polish patrol on Thursday 2nd June 2011, in Ghazni province, southeast Afghanistan.

Polish armed forces spokesman, Major Szczepan Głuszczak, said the attack took place in the morning north-west of Giro base where the Polish Bravo battle group is situated. The soldiers were attacked with small arms fire and anti-tank grenade launchers.

L-Cpl. Mackowiak joined the Polish Army in 2006 and was on his second deployment to Afghanistan. He served with 17th Wielkopolska Mechanized Brigade in Międzyrzecz.

The wounded were transported to a field hospital in Ghazni where their condition is said to be "stable".

Polish Commando, Warrant Officer Bartosz Spychała

WO Spychala

Warrant Officer Bartosz Spychała of the Polish 1st Special Commando Regiment died on Sunday at the military base in Ghazni, south east Afghanistan.

"The circumstances of the death of our colleague are currently subject to clarification by medical staff and military police,” says a statement on the web site of the Polish armed forces.

The 39 year-old officer leaves behind a wife and 15 year-old daughter.

WO Spychała began his military career in 1992 at the military unit in Bialystok and served with the 1st Special Commando Regiment based in Lubliniec since 1994.

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.

Polish soldier, Pfc Marcin Pastusiak

Pfc. Marcin Pastusiak

A Polish soldier was killed on 23rd January 2011, as a result of a mine blast during a routine patrol in Afghanistan’s Ghazni province. 

The explosion occured as a Rosomak armoured vehicle he was travelling in drove over a mine in the south-eastern region of the Ghazni province during a joint patrol with Polish soldiers and Afghan police forces.

Private First Class Marcin Pastusiak, age 26, was a member of the Military Police’s Special Unit in Minsk Mazowiecki. He had previously served a tour of duty in Lebanon in 2008. He was unmarried.

U.S Army Specialist Benjamin G. Moore

Spc. Benjamin Moore

U.S Army Specialist Benjamin G. Moore, aged 23, from Robbinsville, New Jersey, was killed 12th January 2011 in Ghazni province, Afghanistan. He died from wounds received from the blast of improvised explosive device detonated by insurgents in the area.

He was assigned to the 7th Engineer Battalion, 10th Sustainment Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y. 

At his funeral, Spc. Moore received the customary military bugle requiem followed by an honourary three volley rifle salute and the folding of the flag, which was offered on behalf of the United States of America, and was presented to and accepted by his family.

U.S Army Corporal Jarrid L. King

Cpl. Jarrid King

U.S Army Corporal Jarrid L. King, aged 20, was killed 12th January 2011 by the blast from a bomb detonated by Taliban insurgents in Ghazni province.

He was assigned to the 7th Engineer Battalion, 10th Sustainment Brigade, 10th Mountain Division. 

He joined the Army in March 2009. His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Combat Action Badge, the Good Conduct Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, and the NATO Medal.

U.S Army Staff Sgt. Omar Aceves

Omar Aceves

U.S Army Staff Sergeant Omar Aceves, aged 30, from El Paso, Texas, was killed on 12th January 2011, in Ghazni Province. He died from the blast of an improvised explosive device. 

He was a combat engineer with the 693rd Engineer Company, 7th Engineer Battalion, and had been in Afghanistan since May 2010.

Staff Sergeant Aceves joined the Army in February 2005 and had previously served in Iraq from October 2006 to January 2008.

A highly decorated soldier, his awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Combat Action Badge, two Army Commendation Medals, six Army Achievement Medals, three Army Good Conduct Medals, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, the NATO Medal, the Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the Air Assault Badge and the Marksman Qualification Badge.

Polish soldier, Kazimierz Kasprzak

Sgt. Kazimierz Kasprzak

In the early hours of 27th September 2010, Sergeant Kazimierz Kasprzak died from wounds sustained in the explosion of the roadside bomb. 

The incident happened in the eastern part of Ghazni province. Troops of the Bravo Combat Team were attacked while performing a combat patrol. Sgt. Kasprzak was injured in the attack. 

Despite immediate  medical aid provided, he died from his injuries.

Sgt. Kazimierz Kasprzak served in the 15th Goldap Anti-aircraft Regiment. He was 32, and leaves a wife and two children. 

He becomes the 21st Polish fatality in Afghanistan.

Polish Army soldier, Private Dariusz Tyleda

Private Dariusz Tyleda

Polish Army soldier, Private Dariusz Tyleda, was killed on 6th August 2010 from the blast of an imporovised explosive device (IED).

Pvt. Tyleda, aged 31, served with the Goldap Ant-aircraft Battalion. Whilst on patrol with his unit in Ghazni province, a bomb was detonated by insurgents and then the unit came under enemy fire.

Five other soldiers were wounded in the attack.

Pvt. Tyleda leaves a wife and child.

Polish sapper, Corporal Pawel Stypula

Corporal Paweł Stypuła

On 26th June 2010 at about 19.45 (local time) in the southern part of Ghazni province, Polish sapper, Corporal Paweł Stypuła, was killed while defusing a land mine.

His team had been called by a Polish patrol who had narrowly escaped the blast from another IED.

Corporal Stypula, aged 26, was serving with the 2nd Masovian Sappers Brigade.

Polish soldier, Corporal Milosz Gorka

Corporal Milosz Gorka

A Polish convoy of Rosomak APC vehicles was ambushed near the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Warrior in Ghazni province 12th June 2010.

Taliban insurgents detonated a roadside bomb which killed Polish gunner, Corporal Milosz Gorka, aged 25. He served with the 25th Air Cavalry Brigade.

Three other soldiers suffered minor injuries in the attack.

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

Pfc. Piotr Marciniak

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

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

Pfc Marciniak, aged 30, was killed by gunfire.

Polish Private 1st Class, Artur Pyc

Artur Pyc

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

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