14 Heroes Who Died July 15 to July 21, 2011, Fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq

July 15 - Spc. Daniel L. Elliott, 21, of Youngsville, N.C., died in Basra, Iraq, when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.
- Lance Cpl. Christopher L. Camero, 19, of Kailua Kona, Hawaii, died of wounds suffered July 6 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

July 16 -
Cpl. Raphael R. Arruda, 21, of Ogden, Utah, died in Kunar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.

July 17 - Died in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked their unit with an improvised explosive device. Killed were:
- Master Sgt. Kenneth B. Elwell, 33, of Holland, Pa.; and
- Pfc. Tyler M. Springmann, 19, of Hartland, Maine.
- Lance Cpl. Jabari N. Thompson, 22, of Brooklyn, N.Y., died of wounds sustained July 13 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
- Sgt. Mark A. Cofield, 25, of Colorado Springs, Colo., died in Baghdad, Iraq, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident.

July 18 - Died in Ghazni province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked their convoy with an improvised explosive device. Killed were:
- Staff Sgt. Kenneth R. Vangiesen, 30, of Erie, Pa.
- Sgt. Edward W. Koehler, 47, of Lebanon, Pa.
- Staff Sgt. Brian K. Mowery, 49, of Halifax, Pa.
- Sgt. Omar A. Jones, 28, of Crook, Colo., died in Balkh province, Afghanistan.

July 19 - Died in Kunar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked their vehicle with an improvised explosive device. Killed were:
- Staff Sgt. James M. Christen, 29, of Loomis, Calif.
- Sgt. Jacob Molina, 27, of Houston, Texas.

July 21 - Master Sgt. Benjamin A. Stevenson, 36, of Canyon Lake, Texas, died in Paktika province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms fire.