US Army Sergeant Aaron Wittman buried at Arlington National Cemetery

US Army Sergeant Aaron X. Wittman was buried at Arlington National Cemetery yesterday, 8th February 2013. More than 100 family members, friends and colleagues attended. His coffin was draped with an American flag and carried on a horse-drawn caisson. He was buried with full military honors.

Sgt. Wittman, from Chester, Virginia, was the first American fatality of the year in Afghanistan. He was killed during a mounted patrol in Nangahar province on 10th January, when enemy forces opened fire with assault weapons and rocket-propelled grenades. 28-year-old Sgt. Wittman was serving with the 3rd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment. This was his second deployment.

Sgt. Wittman was awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star, among others.

Read more at Washington Post

Funeral for Sapper Richard Walker held in Washington

The funeral of British Army Sapper Richard Walker took place earlier today (30th January) at Our Blessed Lady Immaculate Church, in Washington, Tyne and Wear. Sapper Walker was shot dead on 7th January by an Afghan soldier.

23-year-old Sapper Walker was killed at Patrol Base Hazrat, in Helmand province after the gunman shot several Afghan Army troops. The gunman was killed during the incident.

Hundreds of mourners attended the funeral, held in Sapper Walker's hometown. In a tribute to the fallen soldier, Lieutenant Colonel Chas Story, Commanding Officer, 28 Engineer Regiment, said: "He was an amazing soldier, someone who worked hard and was a great friend and put his friends above everyone else."

Sergeant David Fernández Ureña buried with full military honours

The funeral of Spanish Army Bomb-disposal technician, Sergeant David Fernández Ureña, killed by a bomb in northwest Afghanistan on 11th January, was held on Sunday morning at the parade ground of the "San Genís" barracks in Monzalbarba (Zaragoza), Spain, base of the Bridge-Builders and Engineering Specialists Regiment Nº 12.

The ceremony was presided over by His Royal Highness the Prince of Asturias, together with the Minister for Defence, Pedro Morenés, and the President of the Region of Aragon, Maria Fernanda Rudi, as well as the Chief of Defence Staff, the Chief of Army Staff and other civilian and military authorities.

Read full report at the Leader

Funeral of British Army Captain Walter Barrie

The funeral of British Army Captain Walter Barrie, who was shot and killed by a rogue Afghan Army soldier on 11th November in Helmand province, was held at Glencorse Kirk in Penicuik, Midlothian, Scotland yesterday (29th November).

Captain Barrie's 15-year-old son Callum, described his dad as "caring, funny and kind" in a moving tribute at his funeral, where around 1,000 people gathered. During the tribute, Callum said: "Today I don't just say goodbye to an amazing father, but also a best friend. Thank you, dad, for all the memories."

Captain Barrie had served for 25 years, including tours of Iraq, Bosnia, Kosovo, Northern Ireland and Afghanistan in 2008. He was most recently deployed to Afghanistan in August this year.

Serving with The Royal Scots Borderers, 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland (1 Scots), he had been mentoring a brigade of the Afghan National Army.

The service was followed by a private burial at Glencorse Cemetery.

Click here for full report and photo slide show at the Daily Record

Funeral of fallen British SAC Ryan Tomlin

The funeral of an RAF airman who was killed in Afghanistan has taken place today.

21-year-old Senior Aircraftman Ryan Tomlin of 2 Squadron RAF Regiment was shot while on patrol in Nade Ali last month.

His family described him as a 'true hero and a shining star'. The funeral took place at St Mary's Church in Hemel Hempstead.

Funeral of fallen Gurkha Lance Corporal Gajbahadur Gurung

More than a thousand people have gathered in Aldershot for the funeral of a Gurkha soldier killed in Afghanistan. Lance Corporal Gajbahadur Gurung, from 1st Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, was on his third tour of Afghanistan when he was shot in January.

Gaj had joined the Gurkhas in 2004 and this was his third tour of Afghanistan. He had been on foot patrol in the Khar Nikah region of the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province working with the Afghan police. More than a thousand people gathered for his service, which took place at Princes Hall in Aldershot.

Funeral of US Army Specialist Pernell J. Herrera

Funeral of Queen's Dragoons Guards officer Lt. David Boyce

The funeral of fallen hero Lieutenant David Boyce from 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards took place at Bath Abbey. Lt. Boyce was killed in Helmand province by an insurgent bomb on 17th November 2011. The service was followed by a private cremation at Haycombe Cemetery.

NZ Paratroop Private John Howard

The family of Private John "Jack" Howard, from Wellington, New Zealand, had his ashes interred in Karori cemetery in Wellington on Friday 9th December 2011.

Private Howard was killed while on patrol in Nad-e Ali District, Helmand province on 5th December 2010. He was serving with the British Army's 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment (3PARA) at the time.

Private Howard's body was flown back to England where his family was waiting, before being flown to Wellington for his funeral last year. His ashes were marked with a white marble headstone bearing the Parachute Regiment seal, the New Zealand Sunday Star Times reported.

New Zealand's Channel 3 News reported that notebooks kept by Private Howard were returned to his family after his death, and revealed a number of close calls on the battlefield. A week before his death, he was shot through his backpack. The bullet narrowly missed him.

Private Howard's death in Afghanistan is believed to have been caused by 'friendly-fire' during a U.S. airstrike by a jet on a ‘strafing run'.

His funeral last year, at Wellington's Cathedral of St Paul, included an honour guard of traditional Maori warriors while comrades from his regiment carried his Union Jack draped coffin.

Funeral details for Leeds soldier killed in Afghanistan

The Yorkshire Evening Post reports that the funeral of British soldier Rifleman Sheldon Steel, who was killed in action during a patrol in Afghanistan on 27th November 2011, will be held next week.

The service for the 20-year-old will take place on Thursday, 15th December, at St Peter’s Church in Bramley, close to where he grew up.

The funeral will be held at 10am at St Peter’s Church, followed by a burial at Armley Hill Top Cemetery at 11.30am.

Only family are asked to give flowers but guests are welcome to make donations to the Army Benevolent Fund (ABF) and the Battalion’s own charity.

Funeral for US Army Staff Sgt. Jorge M. Oliveira

Newark: With heavy hearts and solemn salutes, more than 2,500 service members and police watched pallbearers carry Staff Sgt. Jorge M. Oliveira's casket, draped with an American flag, into the Cathedral Basilica today.

Oliveira, 33, of Newark, was killed last week in Afghanistan's Paktika Province when his unit was attacked by insurgents using an improvised explosive device, the Department of Defense said. Oliveira, who friends called George, was also an Essex County sheriff's officer for 11 years.

Click here to read full story at nj.com

US Army Staff Sgt. Ergin Osman funeral

Friday 3rd June: The body of Staff Sgt. Ergin V. Osman arrived at Bishop International Airport this morning. His casket was taken from the plane by uniformed soldiers and placed in a hearse.

Before departing the airport under police escort, SSgt. Osman's mother walked to the casket with an imam and said prayers.

35yo SSgt. Osman was on his second tour of duty in Afghanistan when he was killed on 26th May in an insurgent attack in Kandahar province, Afghanistan.

His funeral is Sunday 5th June at Holly's Great Lakes National Cemetery.

Funeral for a hero, L-Cpl Kyle Marshall (2 PARA)

L-Cpl. Kyle Marshall

The funeral of fallen British para, L-Cpl Kyle Marshall (2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment) will be held early this afternoon (2nd March) at Colchester, Essex.

L-Cpl Marshall was killed by the blast of a roadside bomb in Helmand on 14th February. He will be buried with full military honours.

Speaking after L/Cpl Marshall's death, Lt Col Andrew Harrison, commanding officer of the 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment, said: "He died as he lived, at the front, guiding his men, surrounded by friends and at the very tip of the battalion spear."

He said that, shortly before his death, L/Cpl Marshall had led his team in the discovery of a huge bomb-making factory, where 35 devices were found.

"This discovery will undoubtedly save numerous colleagues and locals falling prey to the most insidious of insurgent threats," he said.