US Army Sgt. 1st Class Kevin Lipari

39-year-old US Army Sgt. 1st Class Kevin E. Lipari, from Baldwin, New York, died in Logar province on 14th December 2012.

Sgt. Lipari served with the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, based in Germany.

The circumstances surrounding his death are currently being investigated. More information to follow.

US Army Staff Sergeant Michael Garcia

27-year-old US Army Staff Sgt. Michael J. Garcia, died on 4th July 2011 from injuries he received from a bomb blast in Logar province, Afghanistan.

SSgt. had one of the most dangerous jobs in the military. He served with the 705th Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company, which supported the 2/4 Infantry Battalion's Task Force Warrior, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, based at Fort Polk.

Captain Aaron Teller, commander of 705th, said its soldiers looked up to Garcia because of his tenure and his extensive EOD knowledge base. "You could always count on his rock-solid judgment and his common-sense approach to all challenges," Teller said. "Staff Sergeant Garcia simply drove on to get the mission done."

SSgt. Garcia's awards and decorations include the Bronze Star with Valor device and a second award of that medal; three Purple Hearts; the NATO Medal; the Army Commendation Medal; three awards of the Army Achievement Medal; and the Navy Achievement Medal.

US Army Spc. Richard Emmons

22 year old US Army Spc. Richard C. Emmons III, from North Granby, Conn., was killed by an enemy fired rocket propelled grenade on 31st May 2011 in Logar province, Afghanistan.

Spc. Emmons served with the 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, based at Fort Polk.

Spc. Emmons joined the US Army in September 2009 and transferred to Fort Polk in May 2010. He leaves his mother and step-father.

Jordanian Army officer killed by bomb blast

Jordanian Army officer, 1st Lieutenant Majid Amir Abu Qdairi, was killed 22nd May 2011 by a roadside bomb that was detonated as the humanitarian aid convoy he was escorting passed.

Three Jordanian soldiers were injured in the blast.

The incident happened in Logar province, eastern Afghanistan, a Jordanian military spokesman said.

The three injured troops have been evacuated to hospital in Amman, Jordan.

U.S Army Spc. Keith T. Buzinski

Spc. Buzinski

U.S Army Specialist Keith T. Buzinski, aged 26, from Daytona Beach, Florida, was killed on 7th April 2011 in the Charkh district of Logar province, Afghanistan from wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with small arms fire. 

He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, New York.

Spc. Buzinski had been on leave in Florida and returned to his unit in Afghanistan recently.

The 10th Mountain Division was in Charkh along with Afghan forces, constricting insurgents and searching for hidden weapons during "Operation Charkh Resolution." For several days, the Third Army reported soldiers were "attacked regularly" by fighters using a nearby river for cover. 
 
His funeral service will be in Trenton, New Jersey, where he was born.

U.S Army Pfc. Michael C. Mahr

Pfc. Michael Mahr

U.S Army Pfc. Michael C. Mahr, aged 26, from Homosassa, Florida, was killed on 22nd March 2011 in Logar province, Afghanistan. His patrol unit was hit by the blast of a roadside bomb and small arms fire by insurgents.

Pfc. Mahr served with the 54th Engineer Battalion, 18th Engineer Brigade, based in Bamberg, Germany.

In the same incident, his colleague Staff Sergeant Joshua Gire also died.

U.S Army Staff Sergeant Joshua Gire

Joshua Gire

A U.S soldier from Ross County, Columbus, Ohio was killed in combat on 22nd March 2011 in Logar province, Afghanistan. His patrol unit was hit by the blast of a roadside bomb and small arms fire by insurgents.

Family members said that Army officials have informed them of the death of Staff Sergeant Joshua S. Gire, aged 28, during his second tour of duty in Afghanistan.

He joined the Army in 2001. He was third-generation Army, following the service of his father and grandfather, and had recently been promoted to Staff Sergeant.

Staff Sgt. Gire was based in Bamberg, Germany and served with 54th Engineer Battalion, 18th Engineer Brigade. He had previously served in Kosovo and Iraq.

He is survived by his wife and two children, who live in Germany.

His colleague, Pfc. Michael C. Mahr, died in the same incident.

U.S Army Sergeant Travis M. Tompkins

Sgt. Tompkins

U.S Army Sergeant Travis M. Tompkins, aged 31, from Lawton, Oklahoma, died 16th March 2011 in Logar province, Afghanistan, from injuries he sustained the previous day, when enemy forces attacked his unit with a rocket-propelled grenade.

Sgt. Tompkins was a Military Policeman, assigned to the Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Polk, Louisiana.

He joined the Army in January 2000 and had served in the Netherlands and Saudi Arabia. He deployed to Afghanistan in October 2010.

His awards and medals include Bronze Star, Purple Heart, NATO Medal, Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, among others.

Sgt. Tompkins leaves a wife and two children.

US Infantry Spc. Rudolph Hizon

Spc. Rudolph R. Hizon

Spc. Rudolph R. Hizon, aged 22, from Los Angeles, California was killed on 28th February 2011 in Logar province, Afghanistan, from wounds suffered by an improvised explosive device (IED) which was detonated as his unit was on patrol. 

He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Polk, La.

Spc. Hizon joined the Army in January 2009. After completing training at Fort Benning, Ga. he was stationed at Fort Polk in November 2009. He deployed with his unit to Afghanistan in October 2010.

His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the NATO Medal and the Combat Infantryman Badge.

Spc. Hizon is survived by his mother, father and brother.

U.S Army Sergeant Ethan C. Hardin

Sgt. Ethan Hardin

U.S Army Sergeant Ethan C. Hardin, aged 25 from Fayetteville was posthumously promoted from the rank of Specialist to Sergeant after he was killed on 7th January 2011 in Logar province.

He died from wounds received from the blast of a bomb and small arms fire from Taliban insurgents. 

Sgt. Hardin was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Polk.

He joined the Army in January 2006 and after completing training was stationed at Fort Irwin, California and in Germany before transferring to Fort Polk in March 2010. He had previously served in Iraq.