US Army Spc. Kevin Hilaman

US Army Specialist Kevin J. Hilaman, from Albany, California, was killed in action on 26th June 2011 in Kunar province, Afghanistan, during a battle with enemy forces who attacked his unit with small arms fire.

Spc. Hilaman, age 28, served with the 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, based in Hawaii.

Spc. Hilaman joined the Army in March 2003. He had previously served in Iraq and Afghanistan. This was his third overseas deployment. He holds the Bronze Star and Purple Heart among other awards.

US Army Staff Sgt. Nigel Kelly

US Army Staff Sergeant Nigel D. Kelly, age 26, from Menifee, California, was killed in action on 25th June 2011 in Kunar province, Afghanistan, during a battle with enemy forces who attacked his unit with small arms fire.

SSgt. Kelly served with the 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, based at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.

SSgt. Kelly had previously completed two tours of duty in Iraq. He holds two Bronze Stars among other awards. He joined the Army in 2003 as a combat engineer.

US Army 1st. Lieutenant Dimitri Del Castillo

US Army First Lieutenant Dimitri A. Del Castillo was killed in action on 25th June 2011 in Kunar, Afghanistan during an engagement with enemy forces who attacked his unit with small arms fire.

1Lt. Del Castillo, age 24, served with the 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, based at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. He graduated from West Point in 2009.

1Lt. Castillo earned his Airborne patch at the Academy and Ranger School in May 2011. His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Combat Infantry Badge, Expert Infantry Badge, Parachutist Badge, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Overseas Ribbon, Army Good Conduct Medal and the NATO Medal.

He leaves his wife Katie, a fellow graduate of the Military Academy at West Point.
He is also survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Carlos E. Del Castillo, his brother, Carlos Andres and sister Anna.

French Para, Cyrille Hugodot

Para 1st Class Cyrille Hugodot, serving with the French 1st Parachute Regiment, was killed in action on Saturday 25th June 2011 during a battle with enemy forces in Tagab, Kapisa province.

His unit was protecting engineers deployed to find and destroy bombs and other explosive devices in the area, when they were attacked.

Paratrooper Hugodot, age 24, joined the RCP (Paras) in March 2009. He had previously deployed to Gabon and arrived in Afghanistan on 15th May this year. He leaves a wife and young daughter.

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.

US Marine Pfc. Josue Ibarra

US Marine Pfc. Josue Ibarra, age 21, from Midland, Texas, died on 19th June 2011 from wounds received while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

Pfc. Ibarra served with the 1st Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, based at Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. He joined the Marines in June 2010 and deployed to Afghanistan in April this year.

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

US Army Pfc. Brian Backus

U.S Army Pfc. Brian J. Backus, age 21, from Saginaw Township, Michigan, was killed in action on 18th June from enemy fire during a battle with insurgents. The incident happened in Kandahar province, Afghanistan.

Pfc. Backus served with the 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, based at Fort Drum, New York. He joined the army in June 2010 and deployed to Afghanistan in March this year.

Reverend Paula M. Timm, pastor of Harbor Beach United Methodist Church, where Pfc. Backus and his family were regular worshipers, said of him: “He had that twinkle in his eye and he was just a sweetheart. This is just breaking our hearts.”

Pfc. Backus leaves his two-year-old son Jack, his parents Alan and Anne, and brother Paul.

Australian helicopter pilot, Captain Mark Burdorf

45-year-old Australian helicopter pilot Captain Mark Burdorf, from Adelaide, was killed in an attack in southern Afghanistan when a helicopter he was operating for US construction company Louis Berger Group came under fire from Taliban insurgents on the ground.

The incident occurred in Panjway, about 50km from Kandahar.

Two passengers on the helicopter were also believed to have been injured.