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 Spc. James Dutton

US Army Spc. James E. Dutton, from Checotah, Oklahoma, died on 31st March 2012 in Logar province, Afghanistan.

25-year-old Spc. Dutton served with the 125th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, based at Fort Bliss, Texas. The circumstances surrounding his death have not yet been released.

According to Dutton's Facebook page, he is married to Ellen Marie Dutton who also serves in the US Army. They frequently exchanged messages with each other on site. In one message to Ellen, he posted a quote by Winnie the Pooh: "If you live to be 100, I hope I live to be 100 minus one day, so I never have to be without you," the quote reads.

Spc. Dutton leaves his wife Ellen, his parents James K. Dutton and Trina Dutton, and his sister, Roxanne Gibson.

82nd Airborne Spc. David Taylor

US Army Spc. David W. Taylor, serving with the 82nd Airborne Division, was killed on 29th March 2012 in Kandahar province as a result of an accident at an ammunition supply point.

20-year-old Spc. Taylor was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. This was his first deployment to Afghanistan. A news release stated that he was helping to move ammunition when some of the rounds exploded.

He enlisted in the Army in March 2010 and joined the 508th in October the same year. More information to follow.

US Army Pfc. Johnathon Davis killed in action in Kandahar

US 82nd Airborne Pfc. Johnathon F. Davis, from Griffin, Georgia, was killed in action on 29th March 2012 from enemy small arms fire in Kandahar province.

20-year-old Pfc. Davis, serving with the 4th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, deployed to Afghanistan in February. He joined the Army in August 2010 as a Cavalry scout.

Relatives of the fallen soldier told news reporters that Pfc. Davis had been shot by a sniper while clearing a rooftop. His widow, Kristen Davis is eight months pregnant with their son Benjamin.

US Army Sergeant William Wilson III killed in Paktika

27-year-old US Army Sergeant William R. Wilson III, from Getzville, New York, was killed in Paktika province on 26th March 2012 by an Afghan policeman who shot Sgt. Wilson at a checkpoint.

Sgt. Wilson served with the Germany-based 2nd Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment, 172nd Infantry Brigade. He joined the Army in 2005.

According to his facebook page, Sgt. Wilson attended Williamsville North High School and had recently been home on leave from Afghanistan. He leaves his parents, William and Kim and brothers, Wesley and Jeremy along with many friends and relatives.

US Army Captain Aaron Istre

US Army Captain Aaron D. Istre, aged 37, died in Kabul on 24th March 2012. The circumstances of his death are being investigated.

Capt. Istre deployed to Afghanistan in December 2011. He had previously served in Iraq.

His awards and decorations include two Meritorious Service Medals, Joint Service Commendation Medal, two Army Commendation Medals, five Army Achievement Medals, Army Good Conduct Medal, two National Defense Service Medals, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal with campaign star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, Non-commissioned Officers Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, two Overseas Service Ribbon, and NATO Medal.

He joined the military in November 1998 and was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), at Fort Hood since June 2009.

US Army Sgt. Daniel Brown killed by bomb blast in Kandahar

27-year-old US Army Sergeant Daniel J. Brown, from Idaho, was killed in action on 24th March 2012 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan. He died from injuries suffered by a bomb blast.

Sgt. Brown served with the 2nd Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, based at Fort Carson, Colorado. He deployed to Afghanistan in May 2011. He also served in Iraq from March 2005 to February 2006.

He leaves behind his wife Jordan Brown and their 3-month old twin daughters Mattie and Marlee, his brother Matt, his parents Becky and Jerry Brown and his grandparents Lee and Barbara Urie.

US Army Specialist Dennis Weichel Jr.

29-year-old Rhode Island National Guard Specialist Dennis P. Weichel Jr., from Providence, was killed on 22nd March in a vehicle accident in Laghman province.

Spc. Weichel joined the National Guard in 2001. He served with the East Greenwich-based 1st Battalion, 143rd Infantry Regiment, 56th Troop Command which deployed earlier this month. He had also served in Iraq in 2005.

A Pawtucket resident, Spc. Weichel is survived by three children and his parents.

US Army Sergeant Jamie Jarboe dies from injuries received in Afghanistan

US Army Sergeant Jamie Jarboe, age 27, died on 21st March 2012 from wounds he received in Afghanistan last year.


Sgt. Jarboe was on a foot patrol in Afghanistan in April 2011 when he was shot by a sniper. The bullet penetrated his spine and he was left paralyzed from the chest down.


He was serving with the 4th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team of the 1st Infantry Division at the time.


The married father of two had more than 100 surgical operations since being shot. He arrived home in Topeka, Kansas, five weeks ago to a hero's welcome and was due for more surgery.

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 Spc. Daquane Rivers

21-year-old US Army Specialist Daquane D. Rivers, from Florida, died in Paktika province on 14th March 2012 from non-combat related injuries.

Spc. Rivers served with the 2nd Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment, 172nd Infantry Brigade, based at Grafenwoehr, Germany.

More information to follow.

US Army Staff Sergeant Jesse Grindey

30-year-old US Army Staff Sgt. Jesse J. Grindey, serving with the 287th Military Police Company, 97th Military Police Battalion, 89th Military Police Brigade, died on 12th March 2012 in Kandahar province.

SSgt Grindey, from Hazel Green, Wisconsin, joined the Army in 2002 and served in Iraq, Korea and Japan. He deployed to Afghanistan last December. The circumstances of his death in Afghanistan have not yet been officially released.

His awards include the Army Commendation Medal with five oak leaf clusters, the Army Good Conduct Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Iraqi Campaign Medal with two campaign stars, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon with three stars, the Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon and the Army Service Ribbon.

SSgt Grindey leaves his father Richard, mother Sara, his wife Mary, 3-year-old son Jesse Jr. and 2-year-old daughter Joanna.

US Army Spc. Edward Acosta dies from bomb injuries

21-year-old US Army combat medic Edward J. Acosta, who was critically wounded last December when his patrol vehicle hit a roadside bomb in Wardak province, died on 5th March 2012 at a Southern California veterans hospital.

Spc. Acosta, from Hesperia, California, served with the Texas-based 2nd Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, 1st Armored Division.

His grandmother told the Ventura County Star that Spc. Acosta was "a fan of snowboarding and skiing," and that he had been "fascinated by the military from an early age." He joined the Army in 2008, served in Korea in 2009 and deployed to Afghanistan in October 2011.

He leaves his wife Lindsay and their young daughter Emmalyn who was born while he was in Afghanistan.

US Paratroop Staff Sgt. Jordan Bear

US Army Staff Sergeant Jordan Bear, from Denver, Colorado, was one of two 82nd Airborne Division troops killed in action on 1st March 2012 during an enemy attack at their base in Kandahar province.

SSgt. Bear and Pfc. Payton Jones, both serving with the 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, died when two Afghan National Army soldiers and an Afghan civilian shot them.

SSgt. Bear joined the Army in September 2004 and had deployed twice to Afghanistan prior to this mission. His awards include the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the NATO Medal, the Army Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster, the Army Good Conduct Medal with one oak leaf cluster, among others.

He leaves his wife, Sarah Bear, his 4-year-old daughter, Kailee Holbrook, and his 2-month-old son, Kayden Bear.

US Paratroop Pfc. Payton Jones

US Army Private 1st Class Payton A. Jones from Texas was one of two 82nd Airborne Division troops killed in action on 1st March 2012 during an enemy attack at their base in Kandahar province.

Pfc. Jones and Staff Sgt. Jordan Bear, both serving with the 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, died when two Afghan National Army soldiers and an Afghan civilian shot them.

Pfc. Jones joined the Army in July 2010. This was his first overseas combat deployment. His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the Combat Infantryman's Badge and the Parachutist Badge.

He leaves his father Buell Jones and mother Tami Sims, among other relatives.

Maryland National Guard Major Robert Marchanti

US Army Major Robert J. Marchanti II of the Maryland Army National Guard was killed on 25th February 2012 at the Afghan Interior Ministry in Kabul.

48-year-old Major Marchanti served with the 1st Battalion, 29th Infantry Division Security Partnering Team. He had been working since September as a mentor to the Afghan National Police. This was his first deployment to Afghanistan.

He joined the Army in 1984 and the Maryland National Guard in 1986. He leaves his wife, four children and a grandson.

US Army Sergeant Joshua Born

25-year-old US Army Sergeant Joshua A. Born, from Niceville, Florida, was killed on 23rd February 2012, in Nangarhar province, by an individual dressed as an Afghan Army soldier who turned his weapon on Sgt. Born and his colleague, Sgt. Timothy Conrad Jr.

Sgt. Born served with the Fort Stewart, Georgia-based 385th Military Police Battalion, 16th Military Police Brigade (Airborne), XVIII Airborne Corps. He joined the Army in March 2007 and deployed to Afghanistan in January this year.

Sgt. Born was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, Bronze Star Medal, Combat Action Badge and NATO Medal. He leaves his wife Megan, his parents and other family members.

US Army Sergeant Timothy Conrad

22-year-old US Army Sergeant Timothy J. Conrad Jr., from Roanoke, Virginia, was killed on 23rd February 2012, in Nangarhar province, by an individual dressed as an Afghan Army soldier who turned his weapon on Sgt. Conrad and his colleague, Sgt. Joshua Born.

Sgt. Conrad (who was posthumously promoted), served with the Fort Stewart, Georgia-based 385th Military Police Battalion, 16th Military Police Brigade (Airborne), XVIII Airborne Corps.

Sgt. Conrad was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, Bronze Star Medal, Combat Action Badge and NATO Medal. He leaves his wife, Holly and their 7 month old son, Bentley, his mother, Mikki Wray, father Tim Conrad Sr., sisters Alex Conrad and Amanda Meland and brother, Austin Wray.

Two US Military Policemen killed in Nangahar

Two US Army Military Policemen were killed on 23rd February 2012 from small-arms fire in Nangahar province.

25-year-old Sergeant Joshua Born from Florida and Sergeant Timothy Conrad Jr from Virginia both served with the 385th Military Police Battalion, 16th Military Police Brigade (Airborne), XVIII Airborne Corps, based at Fort Stewart, Georgia.

US Army Sergeant Allen R. McKenna Jr

28-year-old US Army Sergeant Allen R. McKenna Jr., from Noble, Oklahoma, died on 21st February 2012 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan.

Sgt. McKenna joined the US Army in September 2004 and served with the 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, based at Fort Carson, Colorado. This was his second deployment to Afghanistan.

His decorations included the Army Commendation Medal twice and the Army Achievement Medal.