Australian Commando Sergeant Todd Langley

Sergeant Todd Matthew Langley, age 35, from the Sydney-based 2nd Commando regiment, was killed in action during a battle with enemy forces in southern Afghanistan on 4th July 2011. He died on the battlefield from gun shot wounds to the head.

Sgt. Langley was on his fifth deployment to Afghanistan and had previously deployed twice to East Timor. He had been awarded two Commendations for Distinguished Service in 2002 and again in 2008. In 2006 he was awarded a Unit Citation for Gallantry

Sgt. Langley was born in Western Australia in 1976. He joined the Army in 1993 and served with 1 RAR. In 2004, he completed the Commando selection course and was posted to the 4th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (Commando), now 2nd Commando Regiment.

He leaves his wife Reigan, three daughters, one son and his parents Val and Neville.

British Paratrooper, Corporal Lloyd Newell

British Army Corporal Lloyd Newell, from the Parachute Regiment, was killed in a gun battle with insurgent forces during an operation in Helmand province, Afghanistan on Thursday 16th June 2011.

British newspaper, The Sun, claims that Cpl. Newell was serving with the Special Air Service (SAS). However, the British MoD are remaining tight-lipped about his unit and his mission.

Cpl. Newell was married with a nine-week-old daughter.

Australian Sapper Rowan Robinson

Sapper Rowan Robinson, a combat engineer with the Australian Army was killed in action overnight during an operation in Helmand province, Afghanistan, involving the destruction of a weapons cache including guns, RPGs and explosives.

The extensive arms cache had been discovered earlier by the joint Australian-Afghan patrol. During the operation, the unit came under heavy fire from insurgent forces which resulted in the 23-year-old soldier being shot and killed.

Sapper Robinson, on his second deployment to Afghanistan, was evacuated to a field hospital but died of his wounds.

Marine Commando Lance Corporal Martin Gill

British Marine, Lance Corporal Martin Joseph Gill from 42 Commando Royal Marines died in Helmand province, Afghanistan on Sunday 5th June 2011.

L-Cpl Gill was on patrol in the Nahr-e-Saraj district of Helmand. His unit was attacked by enemy forces with small-arms fire from a compound. L-Cpl Gill was hit and despite receiving immediate first aid, died of gunshot wounds.

L-Cpl Gill joined the Royal Marines in April 2008 and was appointed to the Fleet Protection Group Royal Marines. Within a year, he was promoted to Lance Corporal and took responsibility for a four-man team, guarding the UK's nuclear deterrent. He moved to 42 Commando Royal Marines in September 2010.

He leaves behind his brother John, sister Rebecca, and girlfriend Lauren, who said:

"Martin Joseph Gill was proud to be a Royal Marine. He was always up for a challenge and unfortunately died doing what he had always wanted to do. He was the life and soul of every party, beloved and cherished by everyone. Martin will be deeply loved and missed forever."

U.S Army Staff Sergeant Mecolus C. McDaniel

Staff Sgt. McDaniel

U.S Army Staff Sergeant Mecolus C. McDaniel, aged 33, from Fort Hood, Texas, died 19th March 2011 in Khowst province, Afghanistan, from wounds suffered when insurgents detonated an improvised explosive device and attacked his unit with small arms fire.  

He was assigned to the 6th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Knox, Kentucky.

Staff Sgt. McDaniel joined the army in July 1996 and was posted to Fort Knox in October 2009. It was his second deployment to Afghanistan as part of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division.

He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart.

U.S Army Pfc. Arturo E. Rodriguez

Pfc. Arturo Rodriguez

U.S Army Pfc. Arturo E. Rodriguez, aged 19, from Bellflower, California, was killed in action on 12th March 2011 in the Giyan district of Paktika province, Afghanistan. He died from wounds received when Taliban insurgents attacked his foot patrol with small arms fire.  

Pfc. Rodriguez joined the Army in February 2010. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

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

Rodriguez is survived by his father, Arturo Rodriguez Segura, and mother, Rosa Jimenez Davila, both from Mexico, and his aunt, Maria Lopez of Bellflower, California.

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.

U.S Army Pfc. Ira B. Laningham

Ira B. Laningham

U.S Army Pfc. Ira B. Laningham, aged 22 from Zapata, Texas, died 7th January 2011 from wounds received when Taliban insurgents detonated a bomb beside his patrol unit, then opened fire with rifles and machine-guns.

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

"Ben", as everyone who knew him, called him, joined the Army in November 2009 and transferred to Fort Polk in June 2010 on completion of his training.

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

He is survived by his wife, Pfc Stephanie Armendariz-Laningham.

Hungarian Army Lieutenant, Judit Abraham

Lt. Judit Ábrahám

Hungarian Army Lieutenant, Judit Ábrahám, aged 32, was killed in action against armed Afghan insurgents on 23rd August 2010.

She was in an armoured convoy travelling to Mazar-e-Sharif from the Hungarian base in Pol-e-Khumri when they came under heavy fire.

During the battle that followed, Lt. Abraham was killed and two other soldiers injured. One of them, Warrant Officer György Kolozsvári, died later in a Hungarian hospital from his wounds.

Judit was posthumously promoted from Warrant Officer to Lieutenant.

German Army Corporal Oleg Meiling

German Army Corporal Oleg Meiling, age 21, was one of three soldiers killed when their unit was attacked by Taliban forces on 23rd June 2009 in Kunduz, Afghanistan.

Cpl. Meiling, serving with 391 Mechanised Infantry, died from gunshot wounds.

German paratrooper, Corporal Alex Schleiernick

German Army Corporal Alex Schleiernick, age 23, was one of three soldiers killed when their unit was attacked by Taliban forces on 23rd June 2009 in Kunduz, Afghanistan.

Cpl. Schleiernick, serving with 263 Parachute Regiment, died from gunshot wounds.

German Army Lieutenant Alexander Janelt

German Army Lieutenant Alexander Janelt was killed on 11th February 2009 in Mazar-e-Sharif, Afghanistan.

Lt. Janelt, serving with 32 Medical Regiment, died from gunshot wounds when his unit was attacked by insurgent forces.

Italian Army Warrant Officer Giovanni Pezzulo

WO Pezzulo

Italian Army Warrant Officer Giovanni Pezzulo, aged 44, was killed on 13th February 2008 in a gun battle with Taliban insurgents at Rudbar, about sixty kilometres from Kabul.

WO Pezzulo's unit was distributing food and medicine to civilians when they came under attack. He had been in the army since 1980. Originally from Carinola in the province of Caserta, WO Pezzulo was resident at Oderzo in the province of Treviso and was serving with the Cimic Group South based at Motta di Livenza.

He had been in Afghanistan since December 2007 and was due to return to Italy in April.

He leaves a wife, Maria D’Agostino, and an 18-year-old daughter, Giusi, who live at Oderzo.

Dutch Army Private Tim Hoogland

Dutch Army Private Tim Hoogland, aged 20, was killed in a gun battle with Taliban insurgents on 20th September 2007 in Uruzgan province, Afghanistan.

The battle raged for some hours until reinforcements arrived.

Pvt. Hoogland served with the 13th Infantry Airmobile.

Dutch Army Sgt. Major Jos Leunissen

Dutch Army Sergeant-Major Jos Leunissen, aged 44, was killed in action on 18th June 2007 in a fierce gun battle with Taliban insurgents. The battle took place near the town of Chora in Uruzgan province, Afghanistan.

Sgt. Major Leunissen served with the elite 11th Airmobile Brigade.