ClearysNoteBook

Town honors fallen Marine

source www.courierpostonline.com

And when the applause waned, it was replaced by song.

Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the USA," playing in the background  during the salute, took root in their voices.

Nearly all of the more than 100 people who turned out to memorialize  Hicks, Atco's most recent fallen soldier, sang.

The Marine lance corporal was killed in combat in Iraq on Sept.  10. He was 20 years old.

For those who don't live here, Saturday's memorial illustrated something the locals consider part of the community's fabric -- this town cares about those who serve this country.

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Department of Defense Media Release: Eight Soldiers Die Between May 2 and May 7

DoD Identifies Army Casualties

May 8^th, 2008

The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. They died May 7 in the Sabari District, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when their vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device.

             Killed were:

 

            Spc. Jeremy R. Gullett, 22, of Greenup, Ky., who was assigned to the 4th Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.

 

            Staff Sgt. Kevin C. Roberts, 25, of Farmington, N. M., who was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.

 

May 8^th, 2008

DoD Identifies Marine Casualties

 

            The Department of Defense announced today the death of four Marines who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

 

            Lance Cpl. Casey L. Casanova, 22, of McComb, Miss.

 

            Cpl. Miguel A. Guzman, 21, of Norwalk, Calif.

 

            Lance Cpl. James F. Kimple, 21, of Carroll, Ohio

 

            Sgt. Glen E. Martinez, 31, of Boulder, Colo.

 

            All four Marines died May 2 in Al Anbar province, Iraq, supporting combat operations.  They were assigned to the Combat Logistics Battalion 1, Combat Logistics Regiment 1, 1^st Marine Logistics Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.

 

DoD Identifies Army Casualties

 

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

 

            Spc. Alex D. Gonzalez, 21, of Mission, Texas, died May 6 in Mosul, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his vehicle encountered small arms fire and a rocket-propelled grenade attack. He was assigned to the 43rd Combat Engineer Company, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Hood, Texas.

 

            Pfc. Aaron J. Ward, 19, of San Jacinto, Calif., died May 6 in Al Anbar, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his unit came under small arms fire while conducting cordon and search operations. He was assigned to the 170th Military Police Company, 504th Military Police Battalion, 42nd Military Police Brigade, Fort Lewis, Wash.

Related: Our Men and Women in the Military

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DoD Announces Casualties:Sgt. Ezell, age 30, Sgt. Caldwell, age 24, Captain Pearson, age 32, Spc Tucker age 21

DoD Media release May 3, 2008

  The Department of Defense announced today the names of the following military personnel who died on April 30^th supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Sgt. 1st Class Lawrence D. Ezell, 30, of Portland, Texas, died April 30 in Baghdad of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his unit during combat operations. He was assigned to the 71st Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group, Fort Carson, Colo.

 

Staff Sgt. Chad A. Caldwell, 24, of Spokane, Wash., died April 30 in Mosul, Iraq, of injuries sustained while conducting dismounted combat operations. He was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Hood, Texas.

 The last two soldiers died on April 30 in Baghdad, Iraq, from wounds suffered when their vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device.  They were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

Killed were:
Cpt. Andrew. R. Pearson, 32, of Billings, Mont.

Spc. Ronald J. Tucker, 21, of Fountain, Colo.

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DoD Announces Casualties:PFC Wm Dix., 32, Sgt David McDowell, 30 and Senior Airman Jonathan A. V. Yelner, 24

Media Release April 30, 2008

The Department of Defense announced today the death of the following military personnel

 

 Pfc. William T. Dix, 32, of Culver City, Calif., died April 27 at Camp Buehring, Kuwait, of injuries suffered in a non-combat related incident.  He was assigned to the 14th Engineer Battalion, 555th Engineer Brigade, I Corps, Fort Lewis, Wash.

          The incident is under investigation.

           Sgt. 1st Class David L. McDowell, 30, of Ramona, Calif., died April 29 in Bastion, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked using small arms fire. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Lewis, Wash.

           Senior Airman Jonathan A. V. Yelner, 24, of Lafayette, Calif., died April 29 near Bagram, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device.  He was assigned to the 28th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D.

 

Soldiers Missing from the Korean War are Identified

Media Release April 30

           The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office announced today that the remains of two U.S. servicemen, missing from the Korean War, have been identified and will be returned to their families for burial with full military honors.

 

            They are Cpl. Robert L. Mason of Parkersburg, W.Va.; and Pfc. Joseph K. Meyer Jr., of Wahpeton, N.D., both U.S. Army. Both men will be buried Saturday. Mason will be buried in Belpre, Ohio, and Meyer will be buried in Wahpeton.

 

            Representatives from the Army met with the next-of-kin of these men to explain the recovery and identification process, and to coordinate interment with military honors on behalf of the Secretary of the Army.

 

            Mason was assigned to B Company, 32^nd Infantry Regiment, and Meyer was assigned to K Company, 31^st Infantry Regiment. Both were attached to the 31^st Regimental Combat Team (RCT), 7^th Infantry Division. The team was engaged against the Chinese People’s Volunteer Forces near the Chosin Reservoir, North Korea, from late November to early December, 1950. Both men died as result of intense enemy fire, and their bodies were not recovered at the time.

 

            Between 2001 and 2005, joint U.S. and Democratic People’s Republic of Korea teams, led by the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC), conducted excavations of several burial sites near the Chosin Reservoir. The sites correlate closely with defensive positions held by the 31st RCT at the time of the Chinese attacks. The teams recovered remains there believed to be those of U.S. servicemen. Analysis of the remains recovered from the sites led to the identification of several individuals, including Mason and Meyer.

 

            Among other forensic identification tools and circumstantial evidence, scientists from the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory and JPAC also used mitochondrial DNA and dental comparisons in both Meyer’s and Mason’s identification.

 

            For additional information on the Defense Department’s mission to account for missing Americans, visit the DPMO Web site at http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo or call (703) 699-1420.

 

DoD Identifies Army Casualty:Spc David McCormick, 26, of Fresno, Texas

 

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Spc. David P. McCormick, 26, of Fresno, Texas, died April 28 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his forward operating base came under rocket attack. He was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 75th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.

The Ultimate Sacrifice

 

The Ultimate Sacrifice: Missing WWII Airmen are Identified

DoD Media Release April 25,  2008

           The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of 11 U.S. servicemen, missing in action from World War II, have been identified and will be returned to their families for burial with full military honors.

 

            They are Capt. Robert L. Coleman, of Wilmington, Del.; 1st Lt. George E. Wallinder, of San Antonio, Texas; 2nd Lt. Kenneth L. Cassidy, of Worcester, Mass.; 2nd Lt. Irving Schechner, of Brooklyn, N.Y.; 2nd Lt. Ronald F. Ward, of Cambridge, Mass.; Tech. Sgt. William L. Fraser, of Maplewood, Mo.; Tech. Sgt. Paul Miecias, of Piscataway, N.J.; Tech. Sgt. Robert C. Morgan, of Flint, Mich.; Staff Sgt. Albert J. Caruso, of Kearny, N.J.; Staff Sgt. Robert E. Frank, of Plainfield, N.J.; and Pvt. Joseph Thompson, of Compton, Calif; all U.S. Army Air Forces. The dates and locations of the funerals are being set by their families.

 

            Representatives from the Army met with the next-of-kin of these men in their hometowns to explain the recovery and identification process and to coordinate interment with military honors on behalf of the secretary of the Army.

 

 On Dec. 3, 1943, these men crewed a B-24D Liberator that departed Dobodura, New Guinea, on an armed-reconnaissance mission over New Hanover Island in the Bismarck Sea. The crew reported dropping their bombs on target, but in spite of several radio contacts with their base, they never returned to Dobodura. Subsequent searches failed to locate the aircraft.

 

            In 2000, three Papua New Guineans were hunting in the forest when they came across aircraft wreckage near Iwaia village. The Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) was notified and began planning an investigation. In 2002, a JPAC team traveled to Deboin Village to interview two individuals who said they knew where the crash site was. However, the witnesses could not relocate the site.

 

            In 2004, the site was found about four miles from Iwaia village in Papua New Guinea where a JPAC team found an aircraft data plate that correlated to the 1943 crash.

 

            Between 2004 and 2007, JPAC teams conducted two excavations of the site and recovered human remains and non-biological material including some crew-related artifacts such as identification tags.

 

            Among dental records, other forensic identification tools and circumstantial evidence, scientists from JPAC and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory also used mitochondrial DNA and dental comparisons in the identification of the remains.

 

God Bless Every Veteran: Before You Go.....slideshow & song

The elderly parking lot attendant wasn't in a good mood! Neither was Sam Bierstock. It was around 1 a.m., and Bierstock, a Delray Beach, Fla., eye doctor, business consultant, corporate speaker and musician, was bone tired after appearing at an event. He pulled up in his car, and the parking attendant began to speak. "I took two bullets for this country and look what I'm doing," he said bitterly. At first, Bierstock didn't know what to say to the World War II veteran. But he rolled down his window and told the man, "Really, from the bottom of my heart, I want to thank you." Then the old soldier began to cry. "That really got to me," Bierstock says. Cut to today… Bierstock, 58, and John Melnick, 54, of Pompano Beach - a member of Bierstock's band, Dr. Sam and the Managed Care Band - have written a song inspired by that old soldier in the airport parking lot. The mournful "Before You Go" does more than salute those who fought in WWII. It encourages people to go out of their way to thank the aging warriors before they die. "If we had lost that particular war, our whole way of life would have been shot," says Bierstock, who plays harmonica. "The WW II soldiers are now dying at the rate of about 2,000 every day. I thought we needed to thank them." The song is striking a chord. Within four days of Bierstock placing it on the Web, the song and accompanying photo essay have bounced around nine countries, producing tears and heartfelt thanks from veterans, their sons and daughters and grandchildren. "It made me cry," wrote one veteran's son. Another sent an e-mail saying that only after his father consumed several glasses of wine would he discuss "the unspeakable horrors" he and other soldiers had witnessed in places such as Anzio, Iwo Jima, Bataan and Omaha Beach. "I can never thank them enough," the son wrote. "Thank you for thinking about them." Bierstock and Melnick thought about shipping it off to a professional singer, maybe a Lee Greenwood type, but because time was running out for so many veterans, they decided it was best to release it quickly, for free, on the Web. They've sent the song to Sen. John McCain and others in Washington. Already they have been invited to perform it in Houston for a Veterans Day tribute - this after just a few days on the Web. They hope every veteran in America gets a chance to hear it. GOD BLESS EVERY VETERAN   CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO HEAR THE SONG AND SEE THE PICTURES:   Before You Go <http://www.managedmusic.com/Music/PlayBeforeYouGo.php> submitted by Tom Moody Related: Gloucester City War Memorial Related: The Ultimate Sacrifice Related: Our Men & Women in the Military

 

DoD Identifies Iraq War Casualties

April 25, 2008

 

            The Department of Defense announced today the death of the following soldiers killed supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Staff Sgt. Shaun J. Whitehead, 24, of Commerce, Ga., died April 24 in Iskandariyah, Iraq, of wounds suffered when he encountered an improvised explosive device while on a dismounted patrol. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.

            Staff Sgt. Ronald C. Blystone, 34, of Springfield, Mo., died April 23 in Baghdad, Iraq, from wounds suffered when he encountered small arms fire during a dismounted patrol. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas

 

The following soldiers died April 23 in Golden Hills, Iraq, of injuries suffered in a vehicle incident. They were assigned to the 1st Squadron, 32nd Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.

 

            Killed were:

 

            Pfc. John T. Bishop, 22, of Gaylord, Mich.

 

            1st Lt. Timothy W. Cunningham, 26, of College Station, Texas.

 

            The incident is under investigation.

DoD Identifies Marine Casualties

 

            The Department of Defense announced today the death of two Marines who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

 

            Lance Cpl. Jordan C. Haerter, 19, of Sag Harbor, N.Y.

 

            Cpl. Jonathan T. Yale, 21, of Burkeville, Va.

 

            Both Marines died April 22 from wounds suffered while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq. Haerter was assigned to the 1^st Battalion, 9^th Marine Regiment, 2^nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force; Camp Lejeune, N.C. Yale was assigned to the 2^nd Battalion, 8^th Marine Regiment, 2^nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

 

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Iraq Casualties: Pvt. Ronald Harrison, 25, of NJ, Spc. Steven Christofferson, 20, of Cudahy, Wis. Sgt. Adam Kohlhaas, 26, of Perryville, Mo, 1st Lt Matthew Vandergrift, 28, of Littleton, Colo

April 23, 2008

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a three soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Pvt. Ronald R. Harrison, 25, of Morris Plains, N.J., died April 22 at Forward Operating Base Falcon near Baghdad, Iraq, of a non-combat related injury. He was assigned to the 703rd Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.

The incident is under investigation.

The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. They died April 21 in Bayji, Iraq, of wounds suffered when their vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device. They were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.

 

Killed were:

 

Spc. Steven J. Christofferson, 20, of Cudahy, Wis.

 

Sgt. Adam J. Kohlhaas, 26, of Perryville, Mo.

 

April 24, 2008

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

  1st Lt. Matthew R. Vandergrift, 28 of Littleton, Colo., died April 21 from wounds he suffered while conducting combat operations in Basrah, Iraq.  He was assigned to 2^nd Battalion, 10^th Marine Regiment, 2^nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

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DoD Announces Naval Casualities: Petty Officer Cherie Morton, 40,of Bakersfield, Calif. & Airman Apprentice Adrian Campos 22,of El Paso, Texas

The Department of Defense announced today the death of  two sailors who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Petty Officer 1^st Class Cherie L. Morton, 40, of Bakersfield, Calif., died April 20 in Galali, Muharraq, Bahrain.

She was assigned to Naval Security Force, Naval Support Activity Bahrain.

The cause of death is under investigation.

  Airman Apprentice Adrian M. Campos, 22, of El Paso, Texas, was found dead in Dubai on April 21 due to a non-combat related incident.

He was assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Support Squadron 22, which was attached to the USNS Arctic.

           The incident is under investigation.

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Gloucester City: THANK YOU SGT. JOE!

Army Staff Sgt. Joe Farley, formerly of Gloucester City, was home recently after spending his second tour of duty in Iraq.

During his time in the war zone children from Gloucester City (names are listed below) sent him items that could be handed out to the kids in Iraq along with presents and other essentials for Sgt. Joe and the soldiers in his unit.

In appreciation for the kids kindness Sgt. Joe in February took them to the Westbrook Bowling Alley for a party and treated them all to pizza and drinks.

Photo: top left, Catherine Driscoll, Kathy Hall, and Sgt Farley. Second row, Jack Driscoll, Luke Driscoll, Madison Long. Bottom: Kieran Kidd, Nathaniel Kidd, Sammy Driscoll, Liam Driscoll, Olivia Driscoll, Genevieve Driscoll, Brian Long and Alexa Long.

Not pictured-Emily Hall, Christopher Hall, Liz Glassman, Jimmy Glassman Eric Glassman, Bridget Hall and Ryle Hall

Photo on right Ron Hall with SSGT. Joe Farley .

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DoD Identifies Army Casualties:Spc. Benjamin Brosh, 22, Colorado Springs, Colo. and Spc. Lance Eakes, 25, of Apex, N.C.

MEDIA RELEASE, April 21

           The Department of Defense announced today the death of two  soldiers who were  supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

           Spc. Benjamin K. Brosh, 22, of Colorado Springs, Colo., died April 18 at Forward Operating Base Anaconda in Balad, Iraq, of wounds suffered in Paliwoda, Iraq, when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.

           Spc. Lance O. Eakes, 25, of Apex, N.C., died April 18 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 1132nd Military Police Company, North Carolina Army National Guard, Rocky Mount, N.C.

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Good friends are like stars..........You don't always see them, but you know they are always there

 

Note: Hank Miller, former resident of Gloucester City has two sons serving in the military. He sent this message asking everyone for their prayers

As I reflect on this photograph, I see once again that not all the brave leave the "home of the brave" to enter battle; some are required now to be the brave of the home   

It is said a picture is worth a thousand words but it leaves me speechless and  tears in my eyes. Would You Send This Please to others and ask them for their prayers.

We have a long list of good friends whose husbands are deploying to Iraq next month. One of the wives sent me this. We feel compelled

to send it on. Your prayers are deeply appreciated. These guys deserve our love, our hugs and most powerfully, our prayers.
 

Prayer Request:

I understand that life in Iraq is very difficult to bear right now. Our troops need our prayers for strength, endurance and safety.

Send this on after a short prayer; please don't break it:

"Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need... Amen."

When you receive this, please stop for a moment and say a prayer for our troops around the world. There's nothing attached; just send this to all in your address book. Do not let it stop with you, please -- of all the gifts you could give a US Soldier, Sailor, Airman, or Marine deployed in harm's way, prayer is the very best!!!   

Sincerely, Hank Miller

DoD Identifies Marine Casualties:Sgt. Luke Mercardante, 35, of Athens, Ga. & Cpl. Kyle Wilks, 24, of Rogers, Ark.

Media release, April 18, 2008

 
           The Department of Defense announced today the death of two Marines who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

           1st Sgt. Luke J. Mercardante, 35, of Athens, Ga.

           Cpl. Kyle W. Wilks, 24, of Rogers, Ark.

           Both Marines died April 15 while conducting combat operations in Kandahar province, Afghanistan. They were both assigned to Combat Logistics Battalion 24, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejuene, N.C.

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DoD Announces Military Casualities: Spc Arturo Huerta-Cruz, 23, of Clearwater, Fla., Sgt. Joseph A. Richard III, 27, of Lafayette, La

The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers  who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

 

           Spc. Arturo Huerta-Cruz, 23, of Clearwater, Fla., died April 14 in Tuz, Iraq, of wounds sustained when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 10th Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, N.Y.

           Sgt. Joseph A. Richard III, 27, of Lafayette, La., died April 14 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds sustained when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 4th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), located at Fort Polk, La.

 

DoD Identifies Marine Casualities: Cpl Richard Nelson, age 23, of Racine, Wis. and Lance Cpl. Dean Opicka, 29, of Waukesha, Wis

The Department of Defense announced today the death of two Marines who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

 

           Cpl. Richard J. Nelson, 23, of Racine, Wis.

 

           Lance Cpl. Dean D. Opicka, 29, of Waukesha, Wis.

 

           Both Marines died April 14 while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq. They were both assigned to Marine Forces Reserve’s 2nd Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, Milwaukee, Wis.

 

 

DoD Announces Military Casualities: Spc. William E. Allmon, 25, of Ardmore, Okla.

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
 
Spc. William E. Allmon, 25, of Ardmore, Okla., died April 12 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device.  He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.

 

DoD Announces Military Casualities: Sgt. Tousha, a, ge 30, Sgt. Ault, age 28, Spc. Fairbanks, age 22, Tech Sgt. Capra, age 31

The Department of Defense announced today the following deaths of military personnel  who were killed supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

             Sgt. Shaun P. Tousha, 30, of Hull, Texas, died April 9 in Baghdad, Iraq, from wounds suffered when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

           Sgt. Jesse A. Ault, 28, of Dublin, Va., died April 9 in Baghdad, Iraq, from wounds suffered in Tunnis, Iraq, when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 429th Brigade Support Battalion, Virginia Army National Guard, Roanoke, Va.

           Spc. Jacob J. Fairbanks, 22, of Saint Paul, Minn., died April 9 in Baghdad, Iraq, of injuries suffered in a non-combat related incident. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.

             The incident is under investigation.

           Tech. Sgt Anthony L. Capra, 31, of Hanford, Calif., died April 9 near Golden Hills, Iraq, of wounds suffered when he encountered an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to Detachment 63, 688 Armament Systems Squadron, Indian Head City, Md.

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Soldier Missing in Action from The Korean War is Identified

Media release

            The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from the Korean War, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors.

 

            He is Sgt. Virgil L. Phillips, U.S. Army, of Columbus, Ind. He will be buried on April 19 in Loogootee, Ind.

 

Representatives from the Army met with Phillips' next-of-kin to explain the recovery and identification process, and to coordinate interment with military honors on behalf of the secretary of the Army.

 

            In November 1950, Phillips was assigned to Company K, 3^rd Battalion, 8^th Cavalry Regiment, 1^st Cavalry Division then operating in Unsan, North Korea, near a bend in the Kuryong River known as the Camel's Head. On Nov. 1, parts of two Chinese Communist divisions struck the 1^st Cavalry Division's lines, collapsing the perimeter and forcing a withdrawal. In the process, the 3^rd Battalion was surrounded and effectively ceased to exist as a fighting unit. Phillips was one of the more than 350 servicemen unaccounted-for from the battle at Unsan.

 

            In 2003, a joint U.S.-Democratic People's Republic of Korea team (D.P.R.K.), led by the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC), excavated a burial site near the Camel's Head. The team recovered human remains and other material evidence. Information from the D.P.R.K. indicated that the remains were initially buried near the battle site, but were later moved to a location nearby because of construction in the area.

 

            Among other forensic identification tools and circumstantial evidence, scientists from JPAC and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory also used mitochondrial DNA and dental comparisons in the identification of Phillips' remains.

 

DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Staff Sgt. Jeffrey Hartley, 25 and Spc. Jeremiah C. Hughes, 26

The Department of Defense announced today the death of two  soldiers  who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

They Are: 

           Staff Sgt. Jeffery L. Hartley, 25, of Hempstead, Texas, died April 8 in Kharguliah, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device.  He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 10th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Benning, Ga.

           Spc. Jeremiah C. Hughes, 26, of Jacksonville, Fla., died April 9 in Balad Iraq, of injuries sustained in a non-combat related incident in Abu Gharab, Iraq.  He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team (Stryker), 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.

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DoD Identifies Army Casualties: The number of deaths increases by six

           The Department of Defense announced today the death of six soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Two died soldiers died April 7 in Sadr City, Iraq, when enemy forces attacked using a rocket propelled grenade. They were assigned to the 1st Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, Vilseck, Germany. 

           Killed were:

 

           Spc. Jason C. Kazarick, 30, of Oakmont, Pa.

 

           Sgt. Michael T. Lilly, 23, of Boise, Idaho.

 

Sgt. Richard A. Vaughn, 22, of San Diego, Calif., died April 7 in Baghdad, Iraq from wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked using a rocket propelled grenade, improvised explosive device and small arms fire. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.
 

Staff Sgt. Jeremiah E. McNeal, 23, of Norfolk, Va., died April 6 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 237th Engineer Company, 276th Engineer Battalion, 91st Troop Command, Virginia Army National Guard, West Point, Va.
 

Sgt. Timothy M. Smith, 25, of South Lake Tahoe, Calif., died April 7 in Baghdad, Iraq of wounds suffered when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 4th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), located at Fort Polk, La.

Maj. Mark E. Rosenberg, 32, of Miami Lakes, Fla., died April 8 in Baghdad, Iraq of wounds suffered when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device.  He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 29th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.

Related Sites:
 
The Ultimate Sacrifice

Our Men and Women in the Military

DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Col. Stephen Scott, age 54, Maj. Stuart Wolfer, age 36 and Staff Sgt. Emauel Pickett, age 34

The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. They died April 6 in Baghdad, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked their unit with indirect fire.

 
           Killed were:

             Col. Stephen K. Scott, 54, of New Market, Ala. He was assigned to the 356^th Quartermaster Battalion, Laurel, Miss., and

 
           Maj. Stuart A. Wolfer, 36, of Coral Springs, Fla. He was assigned to the 11^th Battalion, 104^th Division, Boise, Idaho.

Staff Sgt. Emanuel Pickett, 34, of Teachey, N.C., died April 6 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked with indirect fire.

He was assigned to the 1132nd Military Police Company, North Carolina Army National Guard, Rocky Mount, N.C.

 

DoD Identifies Army Casualties: Capt. Ulises Burgos-Cruz, 29, of Puerto Rico & Spc. Matthew T. Morris, 23

The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. They died April 6 in Balad, Iraq, when their vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device. 

Killed were:

  Capt. Ulises Burgos-Cruz, 29, of Puerto Rico, who was assigned to the 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan.

 

Spc. Matthew T. Morris, 23, of Cedar Park, Texas, who was assigned to the 2nd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Hood, Texas