| Operation Iraqi Freedom |
April 02, 2003
Capt. Aaron J. Contreras, 31, of Sherwood, Ore., was killed on March 30 in a UH-1N Huey helicopter
crash in Southern Iraq. He was assigned to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA)-169,
Marine Aircraft Group-39, Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton, Calif.
Cpl. Robert M. Rodriguez, 21, of Queens, N.Y., was killed in action on March 27 when the tank he was
riding in fell into the Euphrates River during combat operations northwest of An Nasiriyah. His remains
were recovered on March 30. He was assigned to the 1st Tank Battalion, 1st Marine Division,
Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif.
The Department of Defense also announced today it has changed the status of Lance Cpl. Patrick R.
Nixon, 21, of Nashville, Tenn., from Duty Status Whereabouts Unknown to killed in action. He was
assigned to the 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, Camp Lejeune, N.
C. His unit was engaged in operations on March 23 on the outskirts of An Nasiriyah in Iraq. His remains
were recovered on March 30.
===================================================================
GOOD NEWS!
Pfc. Jessica D. Lynch, 19, of Palestine, W.Va., was recovered and returned to U.S. control as the result
of a successful rescue mission.
Lynch had been listed as Duty Status Whereabouts Unknown following an ambush of her convoy by
enemy forces on March 23.
Lynch is assigned to the 507th Ordnance Maintenance Company, Fort Bliss, Texas.
Pfc Lynch has two broken legs and a broken arm. She is in stable condition and will soon be taken to
Ramstein, Germany to the military hospital, the biggest military hospital outside the United States of
America. Her hometown of Palestine WV is celebrating today and her mother, father, siblings, family and
friends are euphoric, to say the least.
Eleven sets of remains were also recovered and are now being identified. It is not known at this time if they
are some of the 17 who are listed DSWU.
Thank you Special OPs. They leave no one behind.
April 12, 2003
Pfc. Jessica Lynch was flown back to the US today. She was one of 47 wounded that were transported to
Walter Reed Hospital. Her doctors say she will be in the hospital for at least a few more weeks.
====================================================================
The Department of Defense announced today the identity of a soldier who died on March 26, 2003, in
Rota, Spain. Spc. William A. Jeffries, 39, was assigned to D Company, 1st Battalion, 152nd Infantry
Regiment, Illinois Army National Guard. Jeffries' unit is currently in Kuwait supporting Operation Iraqi
Freedom. He was evacuated from Kuwait and died as a result of a sudden illness. Jeffries was from
Evansville, Ill.
Sgt. Jacob L. Butler, 24, was assigned to Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 41st Infantry Regiment,
Fort Riley, Kan. He was killed in action on April 1, 2003, in Assamawah, Iraq, when a rocket-propelled
grenade hit his vehicle. Butler was from Wellsville, Kan.
Spc. Brandon J. Rowe, 20, was assigned to C Company, 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment,
101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky. He was killed in action on March 31, 2003, in
Ayyub, Iraq, by enemy artillery. Rowe was from Roscoe, Ill.
The Department of Defense announced today that Lance Cpl. Joseph B. Maglione, 22, of Lansdale, Pa.,
was killed yesterday by a non-combat weapon discharge at Camp Coyote, Kuwait. Maglione was
assigned to Bridge Company B, 6th Engineer Support Battalion, 4th Force Service Support Group,
based in Folsom, Pa. His death is under investigation.
April 03, 2003
Marine Sgt. Brian D. McGinnis, 23, of St. George, Del., was killed on March 30 in a UH-1N Huey
helicopter crash in Southern Iraq. He was assigned to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA)
-169, Marine Aircraft Group-39, Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton, Calif.
Lance Cpl. Brian E. Anderson, 26, of Durham, N.C., was killed April 2 in a non-hostile accident west of
An Nasiriyah, Iraq. Anderson was manning a .50 caliber rifle on top of a 7-ton truck when the vehicle
passed under and apparently snagged low hanging power lines. He was assigned to the 2nd Light Armored
Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, Camp Lejeune, N.C. The incident is under investigation.
Pfc. Christian D. Gurtner, 19, of Ohio City, Ohio, was killed April 2 by a non-combat weapons discharge
in Southern Iraq. He was assigned to the 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine
Division, Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif. The incident is under
investigation.
April 04, 2003
Pfc. Jessica Lynch is recovering from back surgery performed yesterday and surgery on her legs that was
performed today. She is doing good and is in stable condition.
Lynch was not shot or stabbed, said Army Col. David A. Rubenstein, commander at the Landstuhl medical
center. Her injuries include fractures to her right arm, both legs, right foot and ankle, and lumbar spine. She
also suffered a head laceration.
The Department of Defense announced today the identification of the following three soldiers who were
killed in action on April 3, 2003, in Iraq. They are:
Spc. Donald S. Oaks Jr., 20, was assigned to C Battery, 3rd Battalion, 13th Field Artillery Regiment
(Multiple Launch Rocket System), Fort Sill, Okla. Oaks was from Erie, Pa.
Sgt. 1st Class Randall S. Rehn, 36, was assigned to C Battery, 3rd Battalion, 13th Field Artillery
Regiment (Multiple Launch Rocket System), Fort Sill, Okla. Rehn was from Longmont, Colo.
Sgt. Todd J. Robbins, 33, was assigned to C Battery, 3rd Battalion, 13th Field Artillery Regiment
(Multiple Launch Rocket System), Fort Sill, Okla. Robbins was from Pentwater, Mich.
An investigation is ongoing.
The Department of Defense also announced today the identity of a soldier who died on April 2, 2003, after
being shot in Northern Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Master Sgt. George A. Fernandez, 36, was assigned to Headquarters, U.S. Army Special Operations
Command, Fort Bragg, N.C. Fernandez was from El Paso, Texas.
Washington Post journalist Michael Kelly was killed in a humvee accident. Mr. Kelly was 46 years old,
married, and had three sons. His military driver was also killed.
April 05, 2003
The family of Pfc. Jessica Lynch were flown to Germany earlier today. They are very thankful their
daughter is alive and in good hands and feel great sadness for the families of those who lost there lives on
March 23, 2003.
Seven of the bodies retrieved when Pfc. Lynch was retrieved have proven to be members of her 507th
Maintenance Squadron.
On a local note, Pfc. Howard Johnson Jr., a member of the 507th was buried today in his home town of
Mobile, AL. His father , a Baptist minister, officiated his son's funeral and many paid their respects to the
fallen soldier and his family.
The Department of Defense announced today the changed status of eight soldiers from Duty Status
Whereabouts Unknown (DUSTWUN) to killed in action. The eight soldiers were in a convoy that was
ambushed March 23 in Iraq. They are:
Sgt. George E. Buggs, 31, of Barnwell, S.C.
Master Sgt. Robert J. Dowdy, 38, of Cleveland, Ohio.
Pvt. Ruben Estrella-Soto, 18, of El Paso, Texas.
Spc. James M. Kiehl, 22, of Comfort, Texas.
Chief Warrant Officer Johnny Villareal Mata, 35, of Amarillo, Texas.
Pfc. Lori Ann Piestewa, 23, of Tuba City, Ariz.
Pvt. Brandon U. Sloan, 19, of Cleveland, Ohio.
Sgt. Donald R. Walters, 33, of Kansas City, Mo.
Buggs was with the 3rd Division Support Battalion, Fort Stewart, Ga. The remainder were with the
507th Maintenance Company, Fort Bliss, Texas. The incident remains under investigation.
Pfc. Lori Ann Piestewa, 23, of Tuba City, AZ, has been the only woman killed in battle and the first
Native American. Her home state announced recently they will rename a mountain after her. Pfc. Piestewa
was a single mother with two children.
April 11, 2003
A moving memorial service was held at Ft Bliss, TX today. Family members gathered to remember their
fallen loved ones and fellow soldiers were present to honor them all. The nine helmets, boots, and weapons
representing the fallen were below the pictures of the soldiers. They truly represented the vacant feeling I
am sure all the family members felt at the time. They are gone but will never be forgotten.
Their names were called three times, symbolizing their absence when the nine were not there to answer.
Tears flowed as Taps was played followed by Amazing Grace done with bagpipes. The players slowly
moved around the auditorium while the families, the nation, and their fellow soldiers watched the procession.
Pfc. James Kheil's mother said " We give our sons, our sons give all."
Rest in Peace and thank you for the greatest sacrifice of all.
President and Mrs. Bush visited Walter Reed Military Hospital, Friday before he left for Camp David. He
spoke a few words afterward saying he was proud of the tough Marines who only wanted to get well fast
and go back with their units still in Iraq.
God bless them all.
The Department of Defense announced today the identification of the following three soldiers who died as a
result of severe injuries on April 3, 2003, in Iraq. They are:
Staff Sgt. Nino D. Livaudais, 23, was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Benning,
Ga. Livaudais was from Utah.
Spc. Ryan P. Long, 21, was assigned to A Company, 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Benning,
Ga. Long was from Seaford, Del.
Capt. Russell B. Rippetoe, 27, was assigned to A Company, 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort
Benning, Ga. Rippetoe was from Colorado.
April 7, 2003
SOLDIERS KILLED, WOUNDED IN ENEMY ROCKET ATTACK
CAMP VIRGINIA, KUWAIT (Apr. 7, 2003) – Two soldiers and two civilian news media were killed
and 15 soldiers injured in an enemy rocket attack south of Baghdad today (April 7). The attack, against a
3rd Infantry Division unit, occurred at approximately 11:30 a.m. local time.The wounded were evacuated
to a military medical treatment facility in Iraq. Conditions of the wounded are unknown at this time.The
identities of those killed and wounded are being withheld pending notification of next of kin.
Six soldiers killed when their UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crashed in central Iraq on Wednesday.
The soldiers are:
Capt. James F. Adamouski, 29, of Springfield, Va.
Spc. Mathew G. Boule, 22, of Dracut, Mass.
Chief Warrant Officer Erik A. Halvorsen, 40, of Bennington, Vt.
Chief Warrant Officer Scott Jamar, 32, of Granbury, Texas.
Sgt. Michael F. Pedersen, 26, of Flint, Mich.
Chief Warrant Officer Eric A. Smith, 41, of Calif.
All were assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Aviation Regiment, Hunter Army Airfield, Ga.
The incident remains under investigation.
Capt. Tristan N. Aitken, 31, of State College, Pa., was killed in action Friday in Iraq.
Aitken was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 41st Field Artillery, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.
The Department of Defense announced today the name of a soldier killed Thursday as he investigated the
wreckage of an Iraqi T-72 tank destroyed by his unit in central Iraq. Capt. Edward J. Korn, 31, of
Savannah, Ga., was assigned to the 64th Armor, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga. The incident
remains under investigation.
The Department of Defense announced today the name of a soldier who died Thursday when his vehicle
ran off the road into a canal in Iraq. Staff Sgt. Wilbert Davis, 40, of Alaska, was assigned to the 3rd
Battalion, 69th Armor, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga. The incident is under investigation.
Capt. Travis A. Ford, 30, of Ogallala, Neb., was killed in action on April 4 when his AH-1W Super
Cobra helicopter crashed during combat operations near Ali Aziziyal, Iraq. He was assigned to Marine
Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) - 267, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing,
Camp Pendleton, Calif.
Three Marines were killed in action April 4 during Operation Iraqi Freedom. They are:
Cpl. Bernard G. Gooden, 22, of Mt. Vernon, N.Y., who was killed during a firefight in Central Iraq. He
was assigned to the 2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, based at Camp Lejeune, N.C.
1st Lt. Brian M. McPhillips, 25, of Pembroke, Mass., who was killed during a firefight in Central Iraq. He
was assigned to the 2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, based at Camp Lejeune, N.C.
Sgt. Duane R. Rios, 25, of Hammond, Ind., who was killed during a firefight in Central Iraq. He was
assigned to the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division, based at Camp Pendleton, Calif.
April 7, 2003
DOD ANNOUNCES ARMY CASUALTIES
The Department of Defense announced today the identification of the following three soldiers who were
killed when their vehicle fell into a ravine on April 4, 2003, in Iraq. They are:
Pfc. Wilfred D. Bellard, 20, 41st Field Artillery Regiment, Fort Stewart, Ga., of Lake Charles, La.
Spc. Daniel Francis J. Cunningham, 33, 41st Field Artillery Regiment, Fort Stewart, Ga., of Lewiston,
Maine.
Pvt. Devon D. Jones, 19, 41st Field Artillery Regiment, Fort Stewart, Ga., of San Diego, Calif.
The incident is under investigation.
The Department of Defense also announced today that Sgt. 1st Class Paul R. Smith, 33, of Tampa, Fla.,
was killed in action on April 4, 2003, in Iraq. Smith was assigned to the 11th Engineer Battalion, Fort
Stewart, Ga.
Capt. Aaron J. Contreras, 31, of Sherwood, Ore., was killed on March 30 in a UH-1N Huey helicopter
crash in Southern Iraq. He was assigned to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA)-169,
Marine Aircraft Group-39, Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton, Calif.
Cpl. Robert M. Rodriguez, 21, of Queens, N.Y., was killed in action on March 27 when the tank he was
riding in fell into the Euphrates River during combat operations northwest of An Nasiriyah. His remains
were recovered on March 30. He was assigned to the 1st Tank Battalion, 1st Marine Division,
Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif.
The Department of Defense also announced today it has changed the status of Lance Cpl. Patrick R.
Nixon, 21, of Nashville, Tenn., from Duty Status Whereabouts Unknown to killed in action. He was
assigned to the 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, Camp Lejeune, N.
C. His unit was engaged in operations on March 23 on the outskirts of An Nasiriyah in Iraq. His remains
were recovered on March 30.
===================================================================
GOOD NEWS!
Pfc. Jessica D. Lynch, 19, of Palestine, W.Va., was recovered and returned to U.S. control as the result
of a successful rescue mission.
Lynch had been listed as Duty Status Whereabouts Unknown following an ambush of her convoy by
enemy forces on March 23.
Lynch is assigned to the 507th Ordnance Maintenance Company, Fort Bliss, Texas.
Pfc Lynch has two broken legs and a broken arm. She is in stable condition and will soon be taken to
Ramstein, Germany to the military hospital, the biggest military hospital outside the United States of
America. Her hometown of Palestine WV is celebrating today and her mother, father, siblings, family and
friends are euphoric, to say the least.
Eleven sets of remains were also recovered and are now being identified. It is not known at this time if they
are some of the 17 who are listed DSWU.
Thank you Special OPs. They leave no one behind.
April 12, 2003
Pfc. Jessica Lynch was flown back to the US today. She was one of 47 wounded that were transported to
Walter Reed Hospital. Her doctors say she will be in the hospital for at least a few more weeks.
====================================================================
The Department of Defense announced today the identity of a soldier who died on March 26, 2003, in
Rota, Spain. Spc. William A. Jeffries, 39, was assigned to D Company, 1st Battalion, 152nd Infantry
Regiment, Illinois Army National Guard. Jeffries' unit is currently in Kuwait supporting Operation Iraqi
Freedom. He was evacuated from Kuwait and died as a result of a sudden illness. Jeffries was from
Evansville, Ill.
Sgt. Jacob L. Butler, 24, was assigned to Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 41st Infantry Regiment,
Fort Riley, Kan. He was killed in action on April 1, 2003, in Assamawah, Iraq, when a rocket-propelled
grenade hit his vehicle. Butler was from Wellsville, Kan.
Spc. Brandon J. Rowe, 20, was assigned to C Company, 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment,
101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky. He was killed in action on March 31, 2003, in
Ayyub, Iraq, by enemy artillery. Rowe was from Roscoe, Ill.
The Department of Defense announced today that Lance Cpl. Joseph B. Maglione, 22, of Lansdale, Pa.,
was killed yesterday by a non-combat weapon discharge at Camp Coyote, Kuwait. Maglione was
assigned to Bridge Company B, 6th Engineer Support Battalion, 4th Force Service Support Group,
based in Folsom, Pa. His death is under investigation.
April 03, 2003
Marine Sgt. Brian D. McGinnis, 23, of St. George, Del., was killed on March 30 in a UH-1N Huey
helicopter crash in Southern Iraq. He was assigned to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA)
-169, Marine Aircraft Group-39, Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton, Calif.
Lance Cpl. Brian E. Anderson, 26, of Durham, N.C., was killed April 2 in a non-hostile accident west of
An Nasiriyah, Iraq. Anderson was manning a .50 caliber rifle on top of a 7-ton truck when the vehicle
passed under and apparently snagged low hanging power lines. He was assigned to the 2nd Light Armored
Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, Camp Lejeune, N.C. The incident is under investigation.
Pfc. Christian D. Gurtner, 19, of Ohio City, Ohio, was killed April 2 by a non-combat weapons discharge
in Southern Iraq. He was assigned to the 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine
Division, Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif. The incident is under
investigation.
April 04, 2003
Pfc. Jessica Lynch is recovering from back surgery performed yesterday and surgery on her legs that was
performed today. She is doing good and is in stable condition.
Lynch was not shot or stabbed, said Army Col. David A. Rubenstein, commander at the Landstuhl medical
center. Her injuries include fractures to her right arm, both legs, right foot and ankle, and lumbar spine. She
also suffered a head laceration.
The Department of Defense announced today the identification of the following three soldiers who were
killed in action on April 3, 2003, in Iraq. They are:
Spc. Donald S. Oaks Jr., 20, was assigned to C Battery, 3rd Battalion, 13th Field Artillery Regiment
(Multiple Launch Rocket System), Fort Sill, Okla. Oaks was from Erie, Pa.
Sgt. 1st Class Randall S. Rehn, 36, was assigned to C Battery, 3rd Battalion, 13th Field Artillery
Regiment (Multiple Launch Rocket System), Fort Sill, Okla. Rehn was from Longmont, Colo.
Sgt. Todd J. Robbins, 33, was assigned to C Battery, 3rd Battalion, 13th Field Artillery Regiment
(Multiple Launch Rocket System), Fort Sill, Okla. Robbins was from Pentwater, Mich.
An investigation is ongoing.
The Department of Defense also announced today the identity of a soldier who died on April 2, 2003, after
being shot in Northern Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Master Sgt. George A. Fernandez, 36, was assigned to Headquarters, U.S. Army Special Operations
Command, Fort Bragg, N.C. Fernandez was from El Paso, Texas.
Washington Post journalist Michael Kelly was killed in a humvee accident. Mr. Kelly was 46 years old,
married, and had three sons. His military driver was also killed.
April 05, 2003
The family of Pfc. Jessica Lynch were flown to Germany earlier today. They are very thankful their
daughter is alive and in good hands and feel great sadness for the families of those who lost there lives on
March 23, 2003.
Seven of the bodies retrieved when Pfc. Lynch was retrieved have proven to be members of her 507th
Maintenance Squadron.
On a local note, Pfc. Howard Johnson Jr., a member of the 507th was buried today in his home town of
Mobile, AL. His father , a Baptist minister, officiated his son's funeral and many paid their respects to the
fallen soldier and his family.
The Department of Defense announced today the changed status of eight soldiers from Duty Status
Whereabouts Unknown (DUSTWUN) to killed in action. The eight soldiers were in a convoy that was
ambushed March 23 in Iraq. They are:
Sgt. George E. Buggs, 31, of Barnwell, S.C.
Master Sgt. Robert J. Dowdy, 38, of Cleveland, Ohio.
Pvt. Ruben Estrella-Soto, 18, of El Paso, Texas.
Spc. James M. Kiehl, 22, of Comfort, Texas.
Chief Warrant Officer Johnny Villareal Mata, 35, of Amarillo, Texas.
Pfc. Lori Ann Piestewa, 23, of Tuba City, Ariz.
Pvt. Brandon U. Sloan, 19, of Cleveland, Ohio.
Sgt. Donald R. Walters, 33, of Kansas City, Mo.
Buggs was with the 3rd Division Support Battalion, Fort Stewart, Ga. The remainder were with the
507th Maintenance Company, Fort Bliss, Texas. The incident remains under investigation.
Pfc. Lori Ann Piestewa, 23, of Tuba City, AZ, has been the only woman killed in battle and the first
Native American. Her home state announced recently they will rename a mountain after her. Pfc. Piestewa
was a single mother with two children.
April 11, 2003
A moving memorial service was held at Ft Bliss, TX today. Family members gathered to remember their
fallen loved ones and fellow soldiers were present to honor them all. The nine helmets, boots, and weapons
representing the fallen were below the pictures of the soldiers. They truly represented the vacant feeling I
am sure all the family members felt at the time. They are gone but will never be forgotten.
Their names were called three times, symbolizing their absence when the nine were not there to answer.
Tears flowed as Taps was played followed by Amazing Grace done with bagpipes. The players slowly
moved around the auditorium while the families, the nation, and their fellow soldiers watched the procession.
Pfc. James Kheil's mother said " We give our sons, our sons give all."
Rest in Peace and thank you for the greatest sacrifice of all.
President and Mrs. Bush visited Walter Reed Military Hospital, Friday before he left for Camp David. He
spoke a few words afterward saying he was proud of the tough Marines who only wanted to get well fast
and go back with their units still in Iraq.
God bless them all.
The Department of Defense announced today the identification of the following three soldiers who died as a
result of severe injuries on April 3, 2003, in Iraq. They are:
Staff Sgt. Nino D. Livaudais, 23, was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Benning,
Ga. Livaudais was from Utah.
Spc. Ryan P. Long, 21, was assigned to A Company, 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Benning,
Ga. Long was from Seaford, Del.
Capt. Russell B. Rippetoe, 27, was assigned to A Company, 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort
Benning, Ga. Rippetoe was from Colorado.
April 7, 2003
SOLDIERS KILLED, WOUNDED IN ENEMY ROCKET ATTACK
CAMP VIRGINIA, KUWAIT (Apr. 7, 2003) – Two soldiers and two civilian news media were killed
and 15 soldiers injured in an enemy rocket attack south of Baghdad today (April 7). The attack, against a
3rd Infantry Division unit, occurred at approximately 11:30 a.m. local time.The wounded were evacuated
to a military medical treatment facility in Iraq. Conditions of the wounded are unknown at this time.The
identities of those killed and wounded are being withheld pending notification of next of kin.
Six soldiers killed when their UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crashed in central Iraq on Wednesday.
The soldiers are:
Capt. James F. Adamouski, 29, of Springfield, Va.
Spc. Mathew G. Boule, 22, of Dracut, Mass.
Chief Warrant Officer Erik A. Halvorsen, 40, of Bennington, Vt.
Chief Warrant Officer Scott Jamar, 32, of Granbury, Texas.
Sgt. Michael F. Pedersen, 26, of Flint, Mich.
Chief Warrant Officer Eric A. Smith, 41, of Calif.
All were assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Aviation Regiment, Hunter Army Airfield, Ga.
The incident remains under investigation.
Capt. Tristan N. Aitken, 31, of State College, Pa., was killed in action Friday in Iraq.
Aitken was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 41st Field Artillery, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.
The Department of Defense announced today the name of a soldier killed Thursday as he investigated the
wreckage of an Iraqi T-72 tank destroyed by his unit in central Iraq. Capt. Edward J. Korn, 31, of
Savannah, Ga., was assigned to the 64th Armor, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga. The incident
remains under investigation.
The Department of Defense announced today the name of a soldier who died Thursday when his vehicle
ran off the road into a canal in Iraq. Staff Sgt. Wilbert Davis, 40, of Alaska, was assigned to the 3rd
Battalion, 69th Armor, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga. The incident is under investigation.
Capt. Travis A. Ford, 30, of Ogallala, Neb., was killed in action on April 4 when his AH-1W Super
Cobra helicopter crashed during combat operations near Ali Aziziyal, Iraq. He was assigned to Marine
Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) - 267, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing,
Camp Pendleton, Calif.
Three Marines were killed in action April 4 during Operation Iraqi Freedom. They are:
Cpl. Bernard G. Gooden, 22, of Mt. Vernon, N.Y., who was killed during a firefight in Central Iraq. He
was assigned to the 2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, based at Camp Lejeune, N.C.
1st Lt. Brian M. McPhillips, 25, of Pembroke, Mass., who was killed during a firefight in Central Iraq. He
was assigned to the 2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, based at Camp Lejeune, N.C.
Sgt. Duane R. Rios, 25, of Hammond, Ind., who was killed during a firefight in Central Iraq. He was
assigned to the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division, based at Camp Pendleton, Calif.
April 7, 2003
DOD ANNOUNCES ARMY CASUALTIES
The Department of Defense announced today the identification of the following three soldiers who were
killed when their vehicle fell into a ravine on April 4, 2003, in Iraq. They are:
Pfc. Wilfred D. Bellard, 20, 41st Field Artillery Regiment, Fort Stewart, Ga., of Lake Charles, La.
Spc. Daniel Francis J. Cunningham, 33, 41st Field Artillery Regiment, Fort Stewart, Ga., of Lewiston,
Maine.
Pvt. Devon D. Jones, 19, 41st Field Artillery Regiment, Fort Stewart, Ga., of San Diego, Calif.
The incident is under investigation.
The Department of Defense also announced today that Sgt. 1st Class Paul R. Smith, 33, of Tampa, Fla.,
was killed in action on April 4, 2003, in Iraq. Smith was assigned to the 11th Engineer Battalion, Fort
Stewart, Ga.
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