Monday, July 02, 2012

15 Heroes Fighting in the Afghanistan War Who Died June18 to 27, 2012

June 18 - Pfc. Jarrod A. Lallier, 20, of Spokane, Wash., died in Zharay, Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when individuals in Afghan Police uniforms turned their weapons against his unit.

June 19 - Sgt. Jose Rodriguez, 22, of Gustine, Calif., died in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered from enemy, small arms fire.

June 20 - They died in Khowst province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked their unit with small arms fire and an improvised explosive device. Killed were:
- 1st Lt. Ryan D. Rawl, 30, Lexington, S.C.,
- Sgt. 1st Class Matthew B. Thomas, 30, Travelers Rest, S.C., and
- Spc. John D. Meador II, 36, Columbia, S.C.

June 22 - Lance Cpl. Eugene C. Mills III, 21, of Laurel, Md., died while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
- The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Maj. Paul C. Voelke, 36, of Monroe, N.Y., died in Mazar E. Sharif, Afghanistan.
- Pfc. Steven P. Stevens II, 23, of Tallahassee, Fla., died while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

June 23 - Lance Cpl. Hunter D. Hogan, 21, of Norman, Ind., died while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
- Lance Cpl. Niall W. Coti-Sears, 23, of Arlington, Va., died while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

June 24 - The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. They died in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Killed were:
- Staff Sgt. Robert A. Massarelli, 32, of Hamilton, Ohio, and
- Sgt. Michael J. Strachota, 28, of White Hall, Ark.

June 26 - The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Staff Sgt. Matthew J. Leach, 29, of Ferndale, Mich., died in Kandahar, Afghanistan.

June 27 - They died in Maidan Shahr, Wardak province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked their vehicle with an improvised explosive device. Killed were:
- 1st Lt. Stephen C. Prasnicki, 24, of Lexington, Va. and
- Sgt. James L. Skalberg Jr., 25, of Cullman, Ala.

5 comments:

Ten Mile Island said...

Thanks, again.

It hurts. But, it seems, just for us and for the parents and families of these kids.

One thing I wish we would all remember; there's a reason why they died. We may not express that reason, teachers may not teach the reason in our public schools. The reason is, there is no greater public service than the soldier putting his life on the line, that we may remain free.

Liberty. Free to choose for ourselves.

If we lose the ideal of liberty, can we continue to ask our young to fight our wars?

If we no longer fight for liberty, then do we have any cause for opposition to any other idea?

What idea, what cause is greater than liberty? Freedom to think for ourselves, freedom to act on our own intitiative. Without any guidance beyond that of Our Creator?

Are you afraid to be a good man, or woman, who believes in the image that we were created in? Have you been cowed into thinking that adherence to religion marks you as a nut? Anti-science, or anti-education?

These children were unafraid. They were too committed to America to worry about those who would tell you, to not serve.

These are American dead. Who served us. Thank you for reminding us of this simple fact; when we refuse to defend America, we end America.

God Bless America.
.

Unknown said...

Sincere condolences to their families and friends and comrades-in-arms. May they all find comfort in loving memories. Someone should create a memorial page for them on Evertalk within Facebook.

Anonymous said...

May these brave men rest in peace and may their family and friends find comfort in memories. Thanks for the heads up on the Evertalk page Jacklyn.

T. D. said...

TMI, what a beautiful statement of what these young men have given us and their country.

Jacklyn and Christina, anything we can do to honor these men and their families is a step forward and a thousand times more than the nation's journalists are doing.

The hypocrisy of the same media which used to have moments of silence for each of those who died in Iraq (only when Bush was President) and haven't had a word for the brave men who are dying in Afghanistan (and died in Iraq after Bush's surge success and before the US withdrawal) is despicable.

If I didn't check the Department of Defense press releases, I would have no idea of the sacrifice of these brave men and their families or of the danger so many more of our heroes in the military face every day.

Thanks to the three of you for caring and taking the time to comment.

MAX Redline said...

Reaffirm that commitment tomorrow.