Casualties thus far for April is 117
Casualties since beginning of OIF has reached
726
The Department of Defense announced today the
death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi
Freedom.
Pfc. Shawn C. Edwards, 20, of Bensenville, Ill., died
April 23, in Samarra, Iraq, when his convoy vehicle hit
an improvised explosive device. Pfc. Edwards was
assigned to the Army’s 121st Signal Battalion, 1st
Infantry Division, from Kitzingen, Germany.
DoD Announces Change-in-Status of an Army
Soldier Casualty
The Department of Defense announced today the
death of a soldier previously listed as Duty Status
Whereabouts Unknown who was supporting
Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Sgt. Elmer C. Krause, 40, of Greensboro, N.C., has
been unaccounted for since April 9, in Iraq, when
his convoy came under attack by individuals using
rocket-propelled grenades and small arms fire.
On April 23 his remains were identified. Sgt.
Krause was assigned to the Army Reserve’s 724th
Transportation Company, Bartonville, Ill.
For further information related to this release, contact
Army Public Affairs at (703) 692-2000.
April 26, 2004
The Department of Defense announced today the
death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi
Freedom.
Staff Sgt. Cory W. Brooks, 32, of Philip, S.D., died
April 24, in Baghdad, Iraq, of non-combat related
injuries. Brooks was assigned to the Army National
Guard’s 153rd Engineer Battalion, from Wagner,
S.D.
The Department of Defense announced today the
death of two sailors and one coast guardsman who
were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. They died
April 24 in the Northern Persian Gulf as a result of a
waterborne attack. They were assigned to the USS
Firebolt, forward deployed to Manama, Bahrain
Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Michael J.
Pernaselli, 27, of Monroe, N.Y
Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Christopher E.
Watts, 28, of Knoxville, Tenn
Coast Guard Petty Officer 3rd Class Nathan B.
Bruckenthal, 24, of Smithtown, N.Y. Bruckenthal
was assigned to Tactical Law Enforcement Team
South Detachment 403.
For further information on the U.S. Navy, please
contact COMUSNAVCENT Public Affairs at 011-
973-17-85-4027 or via e-mail to pao@cusnc.navy.mil
. For more information about the U. S. Coast Guard
please contact Coast Guard Lt. Buddy Dye at the
Coast Guard Atlantic Area Public Affairs Office at
(757) 398-6272.
(The first Coast Guard deaths since the Vietnam War.
LAC)
The Department of Defense announced today the
death of two Marines who were supporting Operation
Iraqi Freedom.
Cpl. Jason L. Dunham, 22, of Allegany, N.Y.
Cpl. Christopher A. Gibson, 23, of Simi Valley,
Calif.
Gibson died April 18 and Dunham died April 22 due
to injuries received from enemy action in Al Anbar
Province, Iraq. They were assigned to 3rd
Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine
Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, at
Twentynine Palms, Calif.
The Department of Defense announced today the
death of four soldiers supporting Operation Iraqi
Freedom. They died on April 24, in Taji, Iraq, when
mortar rounds hit their camp. The four Soldiers were
assigned to the Army National Guard’s 39th
Support Battalion, 39th Brigade Combat Team,
1st Cavalry Division, Hazen, Ark. Killed were:
Capt. Arthur L. Felder, 36, of Lewisville, Ark.
Chief Warrant Patrick W. Kordsmeier, 49, of
North Little Rock, Ark.
Staff Sgt. Billy J. Orton, 41, of Humnoke, Ark.
Staff Sgt. Stacey C. Brandon, 35, of Hazen, Ark.
April 27, 2004
The Department of Defense announced today the
death of two Soldiers supporting Operation Iraqi
Freedom. They died on April 26, in Baghdad, Iraq,
by a large explosion while performing site security.
The two Soldiers were assigned to the Army
National Guard and Army Reserve. Killed were:
Sgt. Sherwood R. Baker, 30, of Plymouth, Penn.,
assigned to the Army National Guard’s Company B,
2nd Battalion, 103rd Armor Regiment, Tamaqua,
Penn.
Sgt. Lawrence A. Roukey, 33, of Westbrook,
Maine, assigned to the Army Reserve’s Detachment
1, 3rd Battalion, 304th Regiment, 98th Division,
Lewiston, Maine.
April 28, 2004
Spc. Kenneth A. Melton, 30, of Westplains, Mo.,
died April 25 in Iraq when his military vehicle was hit
an improvised explosive device and small arms
fire while traveling in a convoy from Baghdad.
Melton was assigned to the Arkansas Army National
Guard, Company B, 3rd Battalion, 153rd Infantry
Regiment, 39th Brigade Combat Team, Fordyce,
Ark.
Staff Sgt. Abraham D. Penamedina, 32, of Los
Angeles, Calif., died 27 April in Baghdad, Iraq, when
his patrol came under sniper fire. Penamedina was
assigned to Company B, 20th Engineer Battalion,
1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.
Lance Cpl. Aaron C. Austin, 21, of Sunray, Texas,
died April 26 due to hostile fire in Al Anbar
Province, Iraq. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion,
1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I
Marine Expeditionary Force, at Camp Pendleton,
Calif.
Release Number: 04-04-30
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MARINE DEFENSES ATTACKED DURING THE
NIGHT IN FALLUJAH
CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq -- Anti-Coalition forces
attacked Marines in defensive positions in Fallujah
shortly after 10 p.m. yesterday (April 27), again
violating the current cease-fire. After receiving rocket-
propelled grenades and direct fire in their defensive
positions, Marines called in close air support.
Two vehicles were observed transporting weapons and
anti-Coalition forces. When Coalition aircraft engaged
the vehicles, large secondary explosions erupted.
Insurgents fled the immediate area and occupied a nearby
building. Coalition aircraft fired on the structure in
continued support of Marines on the ground. When the
rounds impacted the structure, large secondary
explosions were also produced. Such explosions often
indicate the presence of large amounts of ordnance at the
target site.
At this time, there are no reports of any Coalition
casualties and no available information on the number of
insurgents killed or wounded.
April 28, 2004
Release Number: 04-04-46C
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TF OLYMPIA SOLDIER DIES FROM INJURIES
FOLLOWING GRENADE ATTACK
MOSUL, Iraq - One Soldier assigned to Task Force
Olympia died April 28 from wounds following a hand
grenade attack west of Mosul just before 7 p.m. April
27. Three other soldiers were wounded in the attack.
Three Soldiers were transported to the 67th Combat
Support Hospital in Mosul. One of these Soldiers later
succumbed to wounds and died in the hospital on April
28. A fourth Soldier was provided with medical
treatment and has been returned to duty.
The identity of the Soldier who died is withheld pending
next-of-kin notification.
Staff Sgt. Kendall Thomas, 36, of St. Thomas, Virgin
Islands, died April 28 in Baghdad, Iraq, as the result of
a vehicle accident. Thomas was assigned to Battery C,
3rd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery, 1st Cavalry
Division, Fort Hood, Texas.
April 29, 2004
Pfc. Marquis A. Whitaker, 20, of Columbus, Ga., died
April 27 in Scania, Iraq, after falling from a bridge. His
vehicle was hit from behind by a civilian truck and left
hanging off the side of the bridge. Whitaker attempted to
climb out of the vehicle but fell. Whitaker was assigned
to the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Polk, La.
Spc. Jacob R. Herring, 21, of Kirkland, Wash., died
April 28, in Mosul, Iraq, from injuries sustained when an
improvised explosive device in Talafar, Iraq struck his
vehicle. Spc. Herring was assigned to the Army’s 5th
Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade
Combat Team, 2nd Infantry DivisionFort Lewis,
Wash.
The Department of Defense announced today the death
of eight Soldiers supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
They died on April 29, in Baghdad, Iraq, while part of a
dismounted improvised explosive device sweep patrol,
when a vehicle approached their unit, and the driver
detonated a bomb. All Soldiers were and assigned to the
Army’s 4th Battalion, 27th Field Artillery
Regiment, 1st Armored Division, Baumholder,
Germany. Killed were:
Staff Sgt. Esau G. Patterson, Jr., 25, of Ridgeland, S.
C.
Staff Sgt. Jeffrey F. Dayton, 27, of Caledonia, Miss.
Sgt. Ryan M. Campbell, 25, of Kirksville, Mo.
Spc. James L. Beckstrand, 27, of Escondido, Calif.
Spc. Justin B. Schmidt, 23, of Bradenton, Fla.
Pfc. Ryan E. Reed, 20, of Colorado Springs, Colo.
Pfc. Norman Darling, 29, of Middleboro, Mass.
Pfc. Jeremy Ricardo Ewing, 22, of Miami, Fla.
For further information related to this release, contact
Army Public Affairs at (703) 692-2000.
April 30, 2004
Sgt. Adam W. Estep, 23, of Campbell, Calif., died
April 29, in Baghdad, Iraq, when a rocket-propelled
grenade hit his patrol. Sgt. Estep was assigned to the
Army’s 2nd Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, 1st
Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.
Pfc. Martin W. Kondor, 20, of York, Penn., died April
29, in Baqubah, Iraq when an apparent improvised
explosive device exploded near his vehicle. Pfc.
Kondor was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 63rd Armor
Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, Vilseck, Germany.
Sgt. Landis W. Garrison, 23, of Rapids City, Ill., died
April 29, in Abu Gharb, Iraq, of non-combat related
injuries. Sgt. Garrison was assigned to the 333rd
Military Police Company, Illinois National Guard,
Freeport, Ill.
The Department of Defense announced today the death
of two sailors who were supporting Operation Iraqi
Freedom.
The sailors died April 30 in Al Anbar province, Iraq,
when their military vehicle hit an improvised
explosive device while traveling in a convoy.
Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Jason B. Dwelley, 31,
of Apopka, Fla and Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class
Christopher M. Dickerson, 33, of Eastman, Ga, were
both members of Naval Mobile Construction
Battalion 14, based in Jacksonville, Fla.
Marines
Cpl. Scott M. Vincent, 21, of Bokoshe, Okla.
Cpl. Joshua S. Wilfong, 22, of Walker, W.Va.
Both Marines died April 30 due to hostile action in Al
Anbar Province, Iraq. Vincent was assigned to 2nd
Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd
Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, at
Camp Lejeune, N.C. Wilfong was assigned to 2nd
Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Division,
II Marine Expeditionary Force, at Camp Lejeune, N.
C.
May 02, 2004
Mississippi truck driver, Thomas Hamill, escaped
from his captors and was found by the US military about
100 miles from where he was captured on April 09,
2004.
Mr Hamil is doing good but does have an infected gun
shot wound on his right arm.
Mrs Hamil was overjoyed to hear her husband was
alive and safe. There is no word yet as to when Mr Hamil
will return to the US.
Casualties for April 2004 reached 136.