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.

British soldier, Highlander Scott McLaren

A British soldier who went missing in southern Afghanistan, prompting an extensive search, was found dead from gunshot wounds on Monday 4th July 2011.

Scott McLaren, age 20, was a Rifleman from The Highlanders, 4th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland (4 SCOTS). He deployed to Afghanistan on 5th April 2011 and was attached to 1 RIFLES battlegroup.

His unit was helping secure a bridgehead in Nahr-e-Saraj. In the morning of 4th July, he was reported missing.

Highlander McClaren leaves behind his parents James and Ann, sister Kirsty and brothers James and Ross.

Four NATO troops killed in eastern Afghanistan

Four NATO/ISAF troops were killed today, 5th July 2011, in eastern Afghanistan. Three were killed by a bomb blast and the fourth was killed in a separate incident.

No further details are available at present. More information to follow.

Missing British soldier found dead from gunshot wounds

A British soldier who went missing in southern Afghanistan, prompting an extensive search, was found dead from gunshot wounds on Monday 4th July 2011.

Update: soldier named as Scott McLaren from 4 SCOTS.

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.

US Army Pfc. James Waters

10th Mountain Division Private First Class James A. Waters was killed on 1st July 2011 in Kandahar province when a bomb exploded near his unit. He died from injuries received from the blast.

21-year-old Pfc. Waters, from Cloverdale, Indiana served with 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, based at Fort Drum, New York.

On completion of his training Fort Benning, Georgia, he transferred to Fort Drum in January 2010. He deployed with his unit to Afghanistan in March 2011.

Pfc. Waters leaves his mother and father.

Italian Army Caporal Maggiore Gaetano Tuccillo

29-year-old Italian Army Caporal Maggiore Gaetano Tuccillo was killed in Afghanistan on 2nd July 2011 when a roadside bomb detonated as his mounted unit returned from a reconnaissance patrol.

The incident happened near the village of Caghaz, 16 kilometers west of Bakwa in eastern Farah. An Italian paratrooper was injured by the explosion.

Caporal Tuccillo served with the Logistics Battalion of the Maniago Aries Brigade. He was born near Naples and married to a Dutch woman.

US Marine Sergeant Chad Frokjer

US Marine Sergeant Chad D. Frokjer, died in Helmand province, Afghanistan on 30th June 2010 while conducting combat operations.

The 27-year-old Marine, from Maplewood, Minnesota, served with the 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, based at Camp Pendleton, California.

Sgt. Frokjer was a convoy commander of a Mobile Assault Team for the Battalion's Alpha Company - dubbed a "quick reaction force and combat logistics unit."

He leaves his wife, Leslie, and their unborn child due in September.

NATO soldier killed in southern Afghanistan - 1 July 2011

KABUL: A NATO/ISAF force member was killed today (1st July 2011) in southern Afghanistan from the blast of an improvised explosive device. 

More information to follow as we get it.

US Military fatalities, Afghanistan - June 2011

List of U.S Military fatalities for June 2011 in Afghanistan

30-Jun	Frokjer, Chad D.	Sergeant	27	1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment
30-Jun	Schneider, Kyle R.	Corporal	23	2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment
28-Jun	Goyet, Mark R.	L-Cpl.	22	3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment
28-Jun	Farias, John F.	L-Cpl.	20	1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment
28-Jun	Stacy, Donald V.	Staff  Sgt.	23	1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment
27-Jun	Nolen, Michael C.	Corporal	22	3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment
26-Jun	Hilaman, Kevin J.	Spc.	28	2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment
26-Jun	Douville, Daniel L.	T-Sgt	33	96th Civil Engineer Squadron, USAF
26-Jun	Pate, Ralph E. Jr.	G-Sgt	29	2nd EODC, 2nd Marine Logistics Group
25-Jun	Del Castillo, Dimitri A.	1st. Lt.	24	2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment
25-Jun	Bernier, Nicholas P.	Spc.	21	2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment
25-Jun	Kelly, Nigel D.	Staff  Sgt.	26	3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion
25-Jun	Myrie, Marlon E.	Sergeant	25	2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment
24-Jun	Hensley, Nicholas C.D.	Spc.	28	4th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment
22-Jun	Nuncio, Levi E.	Spc.	24	2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment
22-Jun	Singh, Gurpreet	Corporal	21	1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment
21-Jun	Verbeek, Jared C.	L-Cpl.	22	1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment
20-Jun	Jetton, Joshua L.	Pfc.	21	2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment
20-Jun	Rios-Ordonez, Gustavo A.	Pfc.	25	4th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment
20-Jun	Harvey, James W.	Sergeant	23	2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment
19-Jun	Ibarra, Josue	Pfc.	21	1st Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment
18-Jun	Backus, Brian J.	Pfc.	21	2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment
18-Jun	Boatwright, Alvin A.	Sgt. 1st	33	4th Battalion, 70th Armor Regiment
18-Jun	Dixon, Edward F.	Sergeant	37	4th Battalion, 70th Armor Regiment
18-Jun	Snyder, Alan L.	Sergeant	28	4th Battalion, 70th Armor Regiment
18-Jun	Kreinz, Tyler R.	Spc.	21	4th Battalion, 70th Armor Regiment
17-Jun	Smith, Scott D.	Spc.	36	81st Troop Command, Indiana National Guard
16-Jun	Bradley, Mark A.	Sergeant	25	3rd Battalion, 2nd Marines Division
15-Jun	Larson, Ryan J.	Private	19	1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment
14-Jun	Katzenberger, Jeremy A.	Staff  Sgt.	26	1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment
14-Jun	Soufrine, Eric D.	Pfc.	20	4th Battalion, 42nd Field Artillery
12-Jun	O'Connor, Sean M. N.	L-Cpl.	22	1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment
12-Jun	McDaniels, Joshua B.	L-Cpl.	21	2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Div.
11-Jun	Hill, Jason D.	L-Cpl.	20	3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment
11-Jun	Newton, Michael W.	Captain	30	1st Battalion, 84th Field Artillery Regiment
09-Jun	O'Brien, Nicholas S.	L-Cpl.	21	1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment
09-Jun	Richard, Matthew T.	Corporal	21	2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment
07-Jun	Woitowicz, William J.	Corporal	23	2nd Marine Special Operations Battalion
06-Jun	Garrison, Joseph M.	Sergeant	27	2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment
05-Jun	White, Kenneth R.	CWO3	35	10th Aviation Regt., 10th Mountain Div.
05-Jun	Gaudet, Bradley J.	CWO2	31	10th Aviation Regt., 10th Mountain Div.
04-Jun	Powell, Joshua D.	Sergeant	28	793rd Military Police Battalion
04-Jun	Voakes, Robert L., Jr.	Pfc.	21	793rd Military Police Battalion
04-Jun	Snyder, Devin	Spc.	20	793rd Military Police Battalion
04-Jun	Bell, Christopher R.	Sergeant	21	793rd Military Police Battalion
03-Jun	Zanowick, Paul Jr.	Corporal	23	3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment
02-Jun	Sherer, Jeffrey C. S.	Sergeant	29	1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment

United States military fatalities 2011

January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October |

November | December

US Marine Corporal Kyle Schneider

US Marine Corporal Kyle R. Schneider, died on 30th June 2011 in Helmand province, Afghanistan, while conducting combat operations.

23-year-old Cpl. Schneider, from Pheonix, NY, joined the Marines in March 2008 and served with the 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment based at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. He deployed to Afghanistan in January this year and was scheduled to return home in August. It was his first tour of combat duty.

Cpl. Schneider's younger brother, Kevin, described him as "an American Hero."

Spanish airline pilot, Antonio Planas

Spanish airline pilot, Antonio Planas, was one of the victims murdered by Taliban suicide bombers at the Intercontinental Hotel in Kabul on 28th June 2011.

Mr. Planas, from Mallorca, was employed by Istanbul-based Saga Airlines and was in Kabul to pilot an aircraft that had been hired from Afghan airline Ariana. He was staying at the Intercontinental.

He was in the lobby checking out of the hotel at the time. He was wounded in the attack and died later from his injuries.

The attack began at around 10pm Tuesday, when a group of seven insurgents armed with grenades, rifles and jackets full of explosives, entered the hotel and started shooting at guests and employees.

US Marine Lance Corporal John Farias

20-year-old US Marine Lance Cpl. John F. Farias, from New Braunfels, Texas, died on 28th June 2011 in Helmand province while conducting combat operations.

L-Cpl. Farias serving in the 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, based at Camp Pendleton, California.

He joined the Marines in August 2009 and this was his first combat deployment.

He was awarded a Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and Afghanistan Campaign Medal.

US Marine Lance Corporal Mark Goyet

22-year-old US Marine Lance Cpl. Mark R. Goyet, from Sinton, Texas, died on 28th June 2011 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

L-Cpl. Goyet was a mortar operator serving in the 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, based at Twentynine Palms, California.

L-Cpl. Goyet joined the Marines in February 2008. This tour was his third deployment in three years. He was due to leave the Marines in February but volunteered to go to Afghanistan out of loyalty to friends who died there.

He holds a Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal and Afghanistan Campaign Medal.

US Army Staff Sergeant Donald Stacy

23-year-old US Parachute Regiment Staff Sgt. Donald V. Stacy, from Avondale, Arizona, was killed in Kandahar, Afghanistan on 28th June 2011 from injuries sustained when a bomb detonated beside his combat unit. 

SSgt. Stacy served in the 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

This was his first deployment to Afghanistan. He had previously served in Iraq in 2006 and 2008. 

He holds a Bronze Star and Purple Heart among other awards he has received since joining the Army in 2005.