US Army Staff Sgt. Christopher Brown

US Army Staff Sgt. Christopher L. Brown was killed in Kunar province on 3rd April 2012 from a bomb explosion while he was conducting a foot patrol.

26-year-old SSgt. Brown, from Columbus, Ohio, was serving with the 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, based at Fort Carson, Colorado.

More information to follow.

US Army 2nd Lieutenant Clovis Ray

US Army Second Lt. Clovis T. Ray was killed in action on 15th March 2012 when a bomb exploded during a patrol in Kunar province. He leaves behind his wife Shannon and 5-year-old son Dean Aaron.

2Lt. Ray served with the Hawaii-based 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment. This was his first tour of duty in Afghanistan and he was due home next month. He joined the Army in April 2010 and deployed in December last year.

2Lt. Ray's awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal (posthumous), Purple Heart (posthumous), two Army Commendation Medals, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal (posthumous), Combat Infantry Badge and Parachutist Badge.

His father, Bob Ray, told MySanAntonio, that his son had given up a lucrative career as an investment banker to join the Army. He had worked for Wells Fargo in San Antonio, where he lived for many years. "I had no idea until he called and said, ‘Dad, I've joined the Army, I want to serve my country," his father said.

US Army Sergeant Christopher Muniz killed in action in Kunar

US Army 25th Infantry Sergeant Christopher L. Muniz was killed in action in Kunar province on 11th December 2011 when an insurgent bomb exploded while he was on patrol with his unit.

24-year-old Sgt. Muniz, from New Cuyama, California, served with the Hawaii-based 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team. He joined the Army in November 2008 as a Signal Intelligence Analyst and was on his first overseas deployment.

Sgt. Muniz’s awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Star, Global War on Terrorism Medal and the Army Service Ribbon. Posthumous Awards include: Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, NATO Medal and the Combat Action Badge.

Also killed in the same incident was Spc. Ronald H. Wildrick Jr, also of the 25th Infantry.

US Army Specialist Ronald Wildrick Jr killed in action in Kunar

US Army 25th Infantry Specialist Ronald H. Wildrick Jr. was killed in action in Kunar province on 11th December 2011 when an insurgent bomb exploded while he was on patrol with his unit.

30-year-old Spc. Wildrick, from Blairstown, New Jersey, served with the Hawaii-based 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team. He joined the Army in June 2008 as an Infantryman. This was his first overseas deployment. He was married with two daughters.

Spc. Wildrick’s awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Star, Global War on Terrorism Medal, Army Service Ribbon and the Basic Parachutist Badge. Posthumous awards include Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, NATO Medal and the Combat Infantryman Badge.

Also killed in the same incident was Sgt. Christopher L. Muniz, also of the 25th Infantry.

US Army Staff Sgt. Robert Cowdrey

39-year-old US Army Staff Sergeant Robert B. Cowdrey, from Atwater, Ohio, was killed in action during combat operations in Kunar province on 13th October 2011. He was a flight medic assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division, based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. This was his third deployment to Afghanistan.

SSgt. Cowdrey joined the Army in June 2003. He served in Iraq from July 2004 to July 2005 and served in Afghanistan three times, from January 2007 to February 2008 and from April 2009 to March 2010. He deployed on his third tour in August this year.

According to news reports, he lived in Stanford, North Carolina with his wife Jill and three sons.

SSgt. Cowdrey was decorated multiple times. He held the Bronze Star Medal, three Air Medals, two Army Commendation Medals for valor, three Army Commendation Medals, two Army Achievement Medals, two Army Good Conduct Medals, the National Defense Service medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the NATO Medal, the Combat Medic Badge, the Combat Action Badge and the Aviator Badge.

US Army Sergeant William GrossPaniagua

Hawaii-based US Army Sergeant William B. GrossPaniagua, from Daly City, California, was killed in action on 31st July 2011 in Kunar province, Afghanistan, when an insurgent bomb detonated against his patrol vehicle.

28-year-old Sgt. GrossPaniagua served with the 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, based at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.

Sgt. GrossPaniagua enlisted in the U.S. Army in September 2005 as a Combat Engineer. He previously served in Iraq in 2008 and this was his first deployment to Afghanistan.

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.

US Army Spc. Levi Nuncio

Hawaii-based US Army Specialist Levi E. Nuncio, 24, from Harrisonburg, Virginia, was killed in action on 22nd June 2011 during an engagement with enemy forces in Kunar province, Afghanistan. Spc. Nuncio died after being hit with small arms fire. 

Spc. Nuncio served with the 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division. 

He joined the army in 2009. This was his first deployment to Afghanistan. 

Staff Sergeant Kristofferson Lorenzo

US Army Staff Sergeant Kristofferson B. Lorenzo, age 33, from Chula Vista, California, was one of four soldiers killed by an improvised explosive device (homemade bomb) on Monday 23rd May 2011. The incident happened in Kunar province, eastern Afghanistan.

All four soldiers were serving with the 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, based at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.

US Army Private Andrew Krippner

US Army Private Andrew M. Krippner, age 20, from Garland, Texas, was one of four soldiers killed by an improvised explosive device (homemade bomb) on Monday 23rd May 2011. The incident happened in Kunar province, eastern Afghanistan.

All four soldiers were serving with the 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, based at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.

US Army Private Thomas Allers

US Army Private Thomas C. Allers, age 23, from Plainwell, Michigan, was one of four soldiers killed by an improvised explosive device (homemade bomb) on Monday 23rd May 2011. The incident happened in Kunar province, eastern Afghanistan.

All four soldiers were serving with the 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, based at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.

US Army Spc. Brian Riley

US Army Specialist Brian D. Riley Jr., aged 24, from Longwood, Florida, died on 15th May 2011, in Kunar province, Afghanistan. Spc. Riley served with the 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, based at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.

More information to follow.

U.S Army Pfc, Zachary S. Salmon

Pfc. Zachary Salmon

U.S Army Private 1st Class Zachary S. Salmon, aged 21, from Harrison, Ohio, was killed on 12th January 2011 in Kunar province, Afghanistan, when  insurgents attacked his unit with small arms fire. 

He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 32nd Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Kentucky. 

Pfc. Salmon grew up in Ohio, but he moved to Tennessee as a teenager and graduated from Pigeon Forge High School in 2008. 

He enlisted in the Army in March 2010 and was deployed to Afghanistan in September.

Latvian Army Pfc Andrejs Merkuševs

Andrejs Merkuševs

Private First Class Andrejs Merkuševs, aged 31, was among a Latvian Army convoy on patrol in the Kunar province of Afghanistan when Taliban insurgents opened fire with Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPG) and small arms fire.

Merkuševs was hit and was killed. He died on 1st May 2009.

Pfc Andrejs Merkuševs served with the Latvian Land Forces 1st Kajnieku Battalion. He was posthumously awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of Viesturs.

Latvian Army Sergeant Voldemārs Anševics

Voldemārs Anševics

Sergeant Voldemārs Anševics, aged 32, was among a Latvian Army convoy on patrol in the Kunar province of Afghanistan when Taliban insurgents opened fire with Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPG) and small arms fire.

In the fierce battle, Sgt. Anševics was hit and was killed. He died on 1st May 2009.

Sgt. Anševicsserved with the Latvian Land Forces 1st Kajnieku Battalion. He was posthumously awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of Viesturs.

German Paratrooper, Roman Schmidt

Roman Schmidt

Stabsgefreiter (Staff Corporal) Roman Schmidt was 22 years old when he was  killed during a suicide bomb blast on 20th October 2008. At the time, he and a colleague were searching for a hidden weapons cache in Kunar province, Afghanistan.

He joined the German Army on New Years Day 2005 and was assigned to the 2nd Company, 263rd Paratrooper Battalion.

He had previously in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

German Paratrooper, Patrick Behlke

Patrick Behlke

Stabsunteroffizier (Staff Sergeant) Patrick Behlke was one of two German Paratroopers killed, 20th October 2008, during a suicide bomb blast as they searched for a hidden weapons cache in Kunar province, Afghanistan.

The 25 year old belonged to the 2nd Company, 263rd Paratrooper Battalion. He joined the German Army on New Years Day 2004 and was assigned to the unit after initial training. He had been in Afghanistan since September 2008.

This was his second overseas deployment. He previously served with EUFOR in the Democratic Republic of Congo.