Posts Tagged ‘war dead in Afghanistan’

Again the full moon throws shadows across funeral wreaths around the world. More and more young men laid to rest in their dress uniforms, and flags put into the hands of sorrowful women, parents, and friends. When will it be enough?

US Marine Cpl. Joe L. Wrightsman, 23, of Jonesboro, La., died July 18 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

US Army Staff Sgt. Brian F. Piercy, 27, of Clovis, Calif., died July 19 in , Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when an insurgent planted IED exploded.

US Marine Cpl. Paul J. Miller, 22, of Traverse City, Mich., died July 19 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

US Marine Cpl. Julio Vargas, 23, of Sylmar, Calif., died July 20 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

US Army 1st Lt. Michael L. Runyan, 24, of Newark, Ohio, died July 21 in Iraq, of injuries sustained when his convoy vehicle encountered an IED.

Two US Marine pilots died in Afghanistan on July 22 when their helicopter crashed as they supported combat operations:

Maj James M. Weis, 37, of Toms River, New Jersey
LTC Mario D. Carazo, 41, of Springfield, Ohio

US Army PFC James J. Oquin, 20, of El Paso, Texas, died July 23 in Afghanistan, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident when he was swept away by the current when a levee broke near his military vehicle.

On July 24, four soldiers from our local Ft. Lewis died in Afghanistan as a result of IED attack:

Spc. Andrew Hand, 25,of Enterprise, Alabama
Sgt Daniel Lim, 23, of Cypress, California,
Spc. Joseph A. Bauer, 27, of Cincinnati, Ohio
SSG Conrad A. Mora, 24, of San Diego, California

US Marine Lance Cpl. Frederik E. Vazquez, 20, of Melrose Park, Ill., died July 24 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

And with especial sorrow, I must note that the body of Navy non-commissioned officer PO2 Justin McNeley , of Wheatridge Colorado has been found in Afghanistan. McNeley and another sailor left their compound last week and went missing. The Taliban announced that they had killed one and captured the other. PO3 Jarod Newlove, of Renton, Washington is apparently still a prisoner of the Taliban.

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Flags of All Countries used with permission.



Lt. Jonas P. PlØger, 26, of Denmark (home town undisclosed), died on July 21 in Afghanistan in an IED explosion.

Cpl Matthew J. Stenton, 23, of Wakefield, England died in Afghanistan on July 21 of wounds from hostile small arms fire, while working to evacuate a wounded comrade.

LCpl Stephen D. Monkhouse, 28, of Greenoch, Scotland died while serving in the British Army in Afghanistan on 21 July of wounds from hostile small arms fire, while working with Cpl Stenton to evacuate a wounded comrade.

Sapper Brian Collier, 24, of Ontario, Canada, died in Afghanistan on July 20 as a result of an IED explosion.

The moon is half full in the sky, and it seems the flights of flag draped caskets must be at least that full.
My sincere sympathy to the families and loved ones of the fallen troops.

US Army PFC Nathaniel D. Garvin, 20, of Radcliff, Ky., died July 12 at Forward Operating Base Frontenac, Afghanistan (Kandahar, Afghanistan), of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident.

US Army Spc. Christopher J. Moon, 20, of Tucson, Ariz., died July 13 at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Landstuhl, Germany, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device on July 6 in Afghanistan.

Three US Army men died July 13 in Kandahar City, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked their unit with rifle, rocket propelled grenade, and small arms fire.

1st Lt. Christopher S. Goeke, 23, of Minn.
SSG. Christopher T. Stout, 34, of Worthville, Ky.
SSG. Sheldon L. Tate, 27, of Hinesville, Ga.

US Army Pvt. Brandon M. King, 23, of Tallahassee, Fla., died July 14 in Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit with small arms fire.

On July 14, in Afghanistan, four US Army men were killed when their military vehicle encountered an IED:

Spc. Chase Stanley, 21, of Napa, Calif.
Spc. Jesse D. Reed, 26, of Orefield, Penn.
Spc. Matthew J. Johnson, 21, of Maplewood, Minn.
Sgt. Zachary M. Fisher, 24, of Ballwin, Mo.

On July 15, two US Army men were killed in Afghanistan by the explosion of an IED:

SFC Class John H. Jarrell, 32, of Brunson, S.C.
SGT Leston M. Winters, 30, of Sour Lake, Texas.

US Marine Staff Sgt. Justus S. Bartelt, 27, of Polo, Ill., died July 16 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

US Army Sgt. Jesse R. Tilton, 23, of Decatur, Ill., died July 16 at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Germany, of wounds sustained July 13 when insurgents attacked his unit in Afghanistan, with rifle, rocket propelled grenade, and small arms fire.

US Marine Cpl. Dave M. Santos, 21, of Rota, Marianas Islands of the Pacific, died July 16 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. (Possibly killed by a fellow Marine.)

US Army Sgt. Matthew W. Weikert, 29, of Jacksonville, Ill., died July 17 in Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when an improvised explosive device (IED) detonated.

US Army Sgt. Justin B. Allen, 23, of Coal Grove, Ohio, died July 18 in Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when he was shot by insurgents while conducting combat operations.

US Marine Gunnery Sgt. Christopher L. Eastman, 28, of Moose Pass, Ark., died July 18 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

US Army Sgt. Anibal Santiago, 37, of Belvidere, Ill., died July 18 in Afghanistan, of injuries sustained July 17 in a non-combat related incident.

US Army 1st Lt. Robert N. Bennedsen, 25, of Vashon, Wash., died July 18 in Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when an improvised explosive device exploded.

Flags courtesy of ITA’s
Flags of All Countries used with permission.

On July 13, in Afghanistan, three members of the British Royal Gurkha Rifles were murdered in an RPG attack by a brother soldier in the Afghan military, he had apparently been turned by the Taliban. Killed were:
Major James J. Bowman, 34 of Salisbury, England
Lt. Neal Turkington, 26 of Craigavon, N. Ireland
Cpl Arjun Purja Pun, 33, of Khibang village, Nepal

A British Royal Marine was likewise killed on July 13 in Afghanistan when his unit was hit with small arms fire:
Marine Matthew Harrison, 23, of Herfordshire, England

Sr. Aircraftsman Kinikki Griffiths, 24, of England (hometown unreported) died in Afghanistan on 16 July as the result of a vehicular accident.

Marine David T. Crooks, 26, of Birmingham, England was killed in Afghanistan on July 16 by an IED explosion.

SSG Brett G. Linley, 29, of Birmingham, England was killed in Afghanistan on July 17 by an IED explosion.

SGT David T. Monkhouse (age unknown) of Carlisle, England, was killed in Afghanistan on July 17 by an IED explosion.

In my continuing search for names of military suicides,
as found in a story in the Washington Post, Marine Maj. Jeff Hackett,on June 5, 2010, died a suicide when he shot himself, leaving a note saying “I deserve Hell.” In my opinion, he had already been there.

The dark of the moon is here again. It scarcely seems a month since I last typed those words. The wars take no break, casualties accrue—500,000 if you count injuries and illnesses (even those the military refuses to include like traumatic brain injury and PTSD!) and there is no peace in sight. What will it take to staunch the flow of blood and money in distant sands?

And as any of you who read routinely know, I am driven half mad by the impossibility of finding the names of veterans and service members who have died by their own hands following their war service. I only find names by chance in newspaper articles, but here are a few found recently:

Timothy Juneman
Tim Nelson
Orrin McClellan
All three of these men were from Washington state, all suffered from PTSD and were apparently failed by the VA. Juneman and Nelson died in 2008, McClellan died this year. My sympathies to their loved ones.

Adam Wehinger, of Oregon, died this year in an apparent suicide-by-cop in Oregon. He had been very distressed and drinking heavily for some time. Again, my sympathy to his family and loved ones; suicide is traumatic enough without it being a shooting in the streets.

And active duty deaths in the war zones:

US Army Sgt Jordan E. Tuttle, 22, of West Monroe, Louisiana, died in Iraq on July 2 in a non-hostile incident.

US Army PFC. David Jefferson, 23, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, died July 2 in Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when an improvised explosive device exploded.

US Army PFC Jacob A. Dennis, 22, of Powder Springs, Ga., died July 3 at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Landstuhl, Germany, of injuries sustained June 30 in a weapons system accident in Afghanistan.

US Army Spc. Clayton D. McGarrah, 20, of Harrison, Ark., died July 4 in Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when insurgents attacked his unit using an improvised explosive device and rocket-propelled grenade fire.

US Army Special Forces Sgt. Andrew J. Creighton, 23, of Laurel, Del., died July 4 in Afghanistan, of injuries sustained on July 1 while conducting combat operations .

US Army Spc. Louis R. Fastuca, 24, of West Chester, Pa., died July 5 in Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when his vehicle hit an improvised explosive device.

On July 5th, in Afghanistan, insurgents attacked an Army vehicle with an improvised explosive device killing two soldiers:

PFC. Edwin C. Wood, 18, of Omaha, Neb.
SSG. Christopher F. Cabacoy, 30, of Virginia Beach, Va.

On July 5, in Afghanistan, two US Army soldiers died of wounds from an IED:

Spc. Keenan A. Cooper, 19, of Wahpeton, N.D.
Spc. Jerod H. Osborne, 20, of Royse City, Texas.

On July 6, three soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
died July 6 at Qalat, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked their vehicle with an improvised explosive device:

Staff Sgt. Marc A. Arizmendez, 30, of Anaheim, Calif.
Spc. Roger Lee, 26, of Monterey, Calif.
Pfc. Michael S. Pridham, 19, of Louisville, Ky.

US Army PFC. Anthony W. Simmons, 25, of Tallahassee, Fla., died July 8 in Afghanistan, when insurgents attacked his unit with indirect fire.

US Marine Lance Cpl. Daniel G. Raney, 21, of Pleasant View, Tenn., died July 9 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

US Army Spc. Robert W. Crow, 42, of Kansas City, Mo., died July 10 in Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device.

US Army Spc. Carlos J. Negron, 40, of Fort Meyers, Fla., died July 10 in Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with rifle and small arms fire.

US Army Sgt. Donald R. Edgerton, 33, of Murphy, N.C., died July 10 in Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when insurgents attacked his unit using an improvised explosive device.

US Army Staff Sgt. Jesse W. Ainsworth, 24, of Dayton, Texas, died July 10 in Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when insurgents attacked his unit using an improvised explosive device.

US Army Spc. Joseph W. Dimock II, 21, of Wildwood, Ill, died July 10 in Afghanistan, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident when an explosion occurred in an ammunition holding facility during an inventory.

US Marine Lance Cpl. Tyler A. Roads, 20, of Burney, Calif., died July 10 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

US Army Sgt. Shaun M. Mittler, 32, of Austin, Texas, died July 10 in Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when enemy forces attacked his unit using rocket-propelled grenade and small arms fires

US Marine Staff Sgt. Christopher J. Antonik, 29, of Crystal Lake, Ill., died July 11 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

Flags courtesy of ITA’s
Flags of All Countries used with permission.

British Trooper James A. Leverett, 20, of Sheffield, England was killed on July 5 in Afghanistan by an IED explosion.

British Pvt. Thomas Sephton, 20, of Warrington, England, died in Queen Elizabeth Hospital on July 5 from wounds received in Afghanistan in an IED explosion.

British Bombardier Samuel J. Robinson, 31, of Camarthen, Wales, was killed in Afghanistan on July 8 by an IED explosion.

British Marine David C. Hart, 23, of North Yorkshire, England, was killed in Afghanistan on July 8 by an IED explosion.

Australian Pvt. Nathan Bewes, 23, of Kogarah, New South Wales, was killed in Afghanistan on July 9 by an IED explosion.

French Sgt. Laurent Mosic, 38(home town unreported) died in Afghanistan on July 6 of wounds from an IED explosion.

(Blue Star Banners)

Newspapers round the globe this morning announced the deaths of six unnamed American troops in Afghanistan. Every parent with a son or daughter in country tightened up, and every one will jump at every telephone ring. Every spouse bit a lip, pounded a desk, grabbed a smoke—-or some other tell of extreme dread and fear, present for anyone watching to recognize.

The news accounts named the provinces where the deaths occurred. So, those loved ones who know where their missing beloved is located knew instantly if they had yet more to fear or not.

Not all provinces are equal in risk. Some provinces are the special hellish reserves of Canadians, or Brits, or the French, for instance. So, some people will look at a map and visibly relax.

I don’t know where my son is, he is in constant movement right now. So, yes, my jaw clenched and my heart leapt into my throat, where it will stay for a while. I will not be telling my husband and son of these deaths—one of us walking around with breath suspended is sufficient. I will wait, with thousands of other parents, for the names to be released, after six unfortunates receive a heart-breaking personal visit from representatives of the US military.

The moon is waning, thinning in the night sky; but the war does not wane.
There is grief to go ’round as America celebrates Independence Day. Please scroll to the end, since it is Independence Day—for a musical addition.

Aside from this American flag, courtesy of Pickled Jester Photography, all other
Flags courtesy of ITA’s
Flags of All Countries used with permission.

US Marine Sgt. Joseph D. Caskey, 24, of Pittsburgh, Pa., died June 26 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan, in an IED explosion.

US Marine Lance Cpl. William T. Richards, 20, of Trenton, Ga., died June 26 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

US Army Spc. David A. Holmes, 34, of Tennille, Ga., died June 26 in Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated.

US Army PFC. Bryant J. Haynes, 21, of Epps, La., died June 26 in Iraq, of injuries sustained during a vehicle roll-over.

US Army Sgt. John M. Rogers, 26, of Scottsdale, Ariz., died June 27 in Afghanistan, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident.

On June 27th, two US Army soldiers died in Afghanistan after being attacked with small arms fire:

Staff Sgt. Eric B. Shaw, 31, of Exeter, Maine; and
Spc. David W. Thomas, 40, of St. Petersburg, Fla.

US Army Spc. Matthew R. Hennigan, 20, of Las Vegas, Nev., died June 30 in Afghanistan, of wounds suffered earlier in Tangi Valley, Afghanistan when enemy forces attacked his unit with machine gun fire.

US Army SFC Kristopher D. Chapleau, 33, of LaGrange, Ky., died June 30 in Afghanistan, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident.

Cpl. Larry D. Harris Jr., 24, of Thornton, Colo., died July 1 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

US Army Spc. Morganne M. McBeth, 19, of Fredricksburg, Va., died July 2 in Iraq, of wounds sustained July 1 in a non-combat related incident .

US Army Sgt. Johnny W. Lumpkin, 38, of Columbus, Ga., died July 2 inIraq, of wounds sustained July 1 in a non-combat related equipment incident.

US Army PFC. Ryan J. Grady, 25, of Bristow, Okla., died July 1 at Bagram, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when an improvised-explosive device exploded.

US Air Force Capt David A. Wisniewski, 31, of Moville, Iowa, died July 2 of wounds sustained June 9 in a helicopter crash near Forward Operating Base Jackson, Afghanistan.

British Army Bombadier Stephen Gilbert, 36, of North Yorkshire, England, died of IED wounds in Afghanistan on June 26.

British Army Cpl Jamie Kirkpatrick,32, of Llanelli, Wales was killed in Afghanistan on June 27 when he was shot and killed by the enemy.

Cpl Pawel Stypula, 26, of Krazuniu, Poland died in Afghanistan on June 26 in when the IED he was attempting to disarm exploded.

Canadian soldiers, both medics, were killed in an IED explosion on June 26:
Cpl Kristal Giesebrecht, 34, Ontario, Canada
Pvt Andrew Miller, 21, Ontario Canada

On June 27, an explosion in Afghanistan killed four Norwegian Naval Commandos when their vehicle hit the roadside IED:

Lt Christian Liam, 31 of Kristiansand, Norway
Lt Simen Tokle, 24 of Ballangen, Norway
PO1 Andreas Eldjarn, 21 of Tromso, Norway
Lt Cmdr Trond A. Bolle, 41 of Vestby, Norway

And Happy Birthday, America—-please remember why and how we began!

The moon tonight will be full and bright and will light up the summer night, casting shadows across the lawn….and across cemeteries across the nation and around the world. With this list came the stringing of another strand of 200 prayer counting beads….to mark the roll call carried into the Labyrinth in past weeks. My count is now over 6,600 for U.S. and Coalition dead in Afghanistan and Iraq.
My profoundest condolences to the families and friends left behind.

British Marine Richard Hollingston, 23, of Hampshire, England, died on June 20 in Afghanistan due to wounds from an IED detonation.

US Army Spc. Scott A. Andrews, 21, of Fall River, Mass., died June 21 in Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated.

US Marine Lance Cpl. Timothy G. Serwinowski, 21, of North Tonawanda, N.Y., died June 21 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

US Army Spc. Jacob P. Dohrenwend, 20, of Milford, Ohio, died June 21 in Iraq, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident.

On 21 June, in Afghanistan, two US Army men died from wounds suffered when a suicide bomber attacked their unit:

PFC. David T. Miller, 19, of Wilton, N.Y.
Spc. Andrew R. Looney, 22, of Owasso, Okla.

On June 21, a helicopter crashed in Afghanistan, killing five men aboard:

US Army Sgt. Brandon Silk, 25, of Orono, Maine.
Canadian Sgt James P. McNeil, 28, of Nova Scotia, Canada
Australian Pvt. Benjamin A. Chuck, 27, of Queensland Australia
Australian Pvt. Timothy J. Aplin, 30
Australian Pvt. Scott T. Palmer, 27

British Marine Paul Warren, 23, of Preston, England died in Afghanistan as a result of hostile small arms fire on June 21.

British LCpl Michael Taylor, 30, of Rhyl, Wales died in Afghanistan on June 22 as a result of hostile small arms fire.

US Army 1st SGT. Eddie Turner, 41, of Fort Belvoir, Va., died June 22 in Afghanistan, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident.

US Marine Cpl. Claudio Patino IV, 22, of Yorba Linda, Calif., died June 22 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, when an IED exploded in Afghanistan.

US Marine Cpl. Kevin A. Cueto, 23, of San Jose, Calif., died June 22 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, when an IED exploded in Afghanistan.

US Marine Cpl. Joshua R. Dumaw, 23, of Spokane Valley, Wash., died June 22 while supporting combat operations , when an IED exploded in Afghanistan.

US Army PFC. Anthony T. Justesen, 22, of Wilsonville, Ore., died June 23 in Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated.

US Army Pfc. Russell E. Madden, 29, of Dayton, Ky., died June 23 in Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his vehicle with rocket fire.

British Army Sgt. Steven W. Darbyshire, 35, of Wigan, England, died on June 23 in Afghanistan in a firefight.

Two Romanian soldiers died June 23 in Afghanistan in an IED explosion . I do not have complete information on them yet:

Cpl. Paul Caracuda, 36
Sgt Maj. Dan Ciobotaru, 28

US Army Staff Sgt. Edwardo Loredo, 34, of Houston, Texas, died June 24 in Afghanistan, when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.

US Army Pfc. Robert K. L. Repkie, 20, of Knoxville, Tenn., died June 24 in Afghanistan, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident.

Two US Army soldiers died on June 25 in Afghanistan as a result of attack with RPG and small arms fire:
Spc. Blair D. Thompson, 19, of Rome, N.Y.
Spc. Jared C. Plunk, 27, of Stillwater, Okla.

US Marine Cpl. Daane A. Deboer, 24, of Ludington, Mich., died June 25 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

Four British Army men died on June 23 when their vehicle overturned:

Pvt Alex Isaac, 20 of Wirral, England
Pvt Douglas Halliday, 20 of Wallasey, England
LCpl David Ramsden, 26 of Leeds, England
Colour Sgt Martyn Horton, 34, of Runcorn, England

The moon grows, as does the list of the dead. Soon, more counting prayer beads will be strung and carried to the heart of the Labyrinth. A cup, a prayer, a teardrop for the fallen and their families, please?

Airman Martin Kristiansen, 33, of Denmark, died in an IED explosion in Afghanistan on June 13. His explosives detection dog died with him.

British Army Marine Steven J. Birdsall, 20, of Warrington, England, died in Afghanistan on June 14 of wounds from an attack with small arms fire.

Cpl. Grzegorz Bukowski, 29, of Warsaw, Poland, died in an IED explosion in Afghanistan on June 15.

US Army Spc. Christopher W. Opat, 29, of Spencer, Iowa, died June 15 in Iraq of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident.

US Marine Cpl. Jeffrey R. Standfest, 23, of St. Clair, Mich., died June 16 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

US Army Spc. Benjamin D. Osborn, 27, of Queensbury, N.Y., died June 15 in Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms and rocket-propelled grenade fire.

British Army Kingsman Ponipate Tagitaginimoce, 29, of Nausori, Fiji, died on June 15 in Queen Elizabeth Hospital of wounds from small arms fire in Afghanistan.

British Army Cpl. Taniela Tolevu Rogoiruwai, 32, of Nausori, Fiji, died on June 16 in Afghanistan of wounds from hostile small arms fire.

US Lance Cpl. Michael C. Bailey, 29, of Park Hills, Mo., died June 16 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

US Army Capt. Michael P. Cassidy, 41, of Simpsonville, S.C., died June 17 inIraq, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident.

US Navy Seaman William Ortega, 23, of Miami, Fla., died June 18 in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained from an improvised explosive device blast. Ortega was assigned as a hospital corpsman to a Marine regiment conducting combat operations against enemy forces.

US Army Spc. Nathan W. Cox, 21, of Fremont, Calif., died June 16 at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Landstuhl, Germany, of injuries sustained June 14 when insurgents attacked his unit with small arms fire in Afghanistan.

Two US Army men died June 16 in Afghanistan, of wounds suffered from the explosion of an improvised explosive device.

Spc. Joseph D. Johnson, 24, of Flint, Mich., and
PFC Gunnar R. Hotchkin, 31, of Naperville, Ill.

US Army PFC Benjamin J. Park, 25, of Fairfax Station, Va., died June 18 in Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when an improvised explosive device exploded.

US Army Staff Sgt. James P. Hunter, 25, of South Amherst, Ohio, died June 18 in Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated.

British Army Trooper Ashley Smith, 21, of York, England, died on June 18 in Afghanistan of wounds from hostile small arms fire.

French Army Cpl Steeve Cocol, 29 of Sainte Rose, Guadeloupe, Lesser Antilles died in Afghanistan on June 18 of wounds from hostile small arms fire.

The moon is dark, and far away at war that is scarcely mentioned on the nightly news, lives blow out like candles. My count of the dead for Iraq and Afghanistan, for the US and other Coalition countries stands at 6,549 — 13 more than the “official” counts, because I count the men and women who died in the Ft. Hood massacre. I just finished reading a book called “The Unforgiving Minute” by a West Point graduate about his experiences as an infantry officer in Afghanistan early in the war. He mourned the loss of a single soldier from his unit. He ended his book relating the graduation of his baby brother from West Point, and his fear for him. How many young lieutenants have left West Point since and wrote letters to the loved ones of men under their command?

My own veteran son will greet his baby brother this coming week: my youngest is coming home on leave. We four will be a military household for three days, putting on confident faces, drinking beer, eating favorite foods, telling military jokes. I will give my youngest child the book by the onetime Lt. Mullaney and hide my white knuckles. And then he, the baby of the house, will leave for Afghanistan. The moon is dark indeed.

LCpl Alan Cockran, 23, of St. Asaph, Wales and
Cpl Terry Webster, 24 of Chester England died in Afghanistan in a firefight, on June 4.

1st Lt. Joseph J. Theinert, 24, of Sag Harbor, N.Y., died June 4 in Kandahar, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit using a rocket propelled grenade and an improvised explosive device.

The following Marines died June 6 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan:

Sgt. Brandon C. Bury, 26, of Kingwood, Texas.
LCpl. Derek Hernandez, 20, of Edinburg, Texas.
Cpl. Donald M. Marler, 22, of St. Louis, Mo.

Sgt Konrad P. Rygiel, 28, of Poland, died June 6 in Afghanistan in a rocket attack while serving with a French Foreign Legion unit giving medical aid to an Afghani village.

US Army 2nd Lt. Michael E. McGahan, 23, of Orlando, Fla., died June 6 in Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when enemy forces attacked his unit using small arms fire.

US Army Spc. Brendan P. Neenan, 21, of Enterprise, Ala., died June 7 in Afghanistan, of wounds sustained whenan improvised explosive device ecxploded near his unit.

Sgt. Martin Goudreault, 35, Ontario, Canada died in Afghanistan on June 6, when an IED detonated .

Two Australian soldiers died in Afghanistan on June 7, while on patrol. Their explosives detection dog died with them when an IED detonated:

Sapper Darren Smith, 26, from Adelaide, Australia
Sapper Jacob Moerland, 21 of Queensland, Australia

US Marine Sgt. John K. Rankel, 23, of Speedway, Ind., died June 7 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

US Army Sgt. Steve M. Theobald, 53, of Goose Creek, S.C., died June 4 near Kuwait City, Kuwait, of injuries sustained in a military vehicle roll-over. He was in Kuwait supporting the war in Iraq.

On June 7 in Afghanistan, at least ten NATO troops died as a result of IED detonations, including five Americans:

Spc. Matthew Catlett, of Houston,Texas
Spc. Blaine Redding, of Plattsmouth, Nebraska
Spc Charles S. Jirtle, of Lawton, Oklahoma
Sgt. Joshua A. Lukeala, 23, of Yigo, Guam;
1stSgt Robert N. Barton, 35, of Roxie, Mississippi (confirmed as of 25 June)

The following US Marines died June 8 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan:

Sgt. Derek L. Shanfield, 22, of Hastings, Pa.
Sgt. Zachary J. Walters, 24, of Palm Coast, Fla.

US Army Sgt. Erick J. Klusacek, 22, of Calcium, N.Y., died June 8 in Afghanistan, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident.

Lance Bombadier Mark Chandler, 32, of Gloucestershire, England died in Afghanistan on June 8 in a firefight.

Four US Air Force men died June 9, in Afghanistan, in a helicopter crash. Killed were:

SSG Michael P. Flores, 31, of San Antonio, Texas
Lt. Joel C. Gentz, 25, of Grass Lake, Mich.
SSG David C. Smith, 26, of Eight Mile, Ala.
Sr. Airman Benjamin D. White, 24, of Erwin, Tenn.

US Marine Lance Cpl. Michael G. Plank, 25, of Cameron Mills, N.Y., died June 9 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

Pvt Jonathan M. Monk, 25, of Surrey England, died in Afghanistan on June 9 due to injuries received in an IED explosion.

US Marine Lance Cpl. Gavin R. Brummund, 22, of Arnold, Calif., died June 10 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

US Army Spc. Christian M. Adams, 26, of Sierra Vista, Ariz., died June 11 in Afghanistan, of wounds sustained from a non-combat related incident.

US Army Sgt. Mario Rodriguez, 24, of Smithville, Texas, died June 11 in Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms and rocket-propelled grenade fire.

Two US Army soldiers died June 11 in Iraq, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked their unit with a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device:

Sgt. Israel P. O’ Bryan, 24, of Newbern, Tenn., and
Spc. William C. Yauch, 23, of Batesville, Ark.

Two US Army soldiers died June 11 in Afghanistan, from wounds sustained when insurgents attacked their unit using an improvised explosive device:

SFC Robert J. Fike, 38, of Conneautville, Pa.
SSG Bryan A. Hoover, 29, of West Elizabeth, Pa.

Cpl Akeksander Gorka-Milosz, 25 of Warsawa Poland, died in Afghanistan on June 12, of wounds from hostile fire.

LCpl Andrew Breeze, 31 of Manchester, England died in Afghanistan on June 12, of wounds from hostile fire.

US Army Spc. Brian M. Anderson, 24, of Harrisonburg, Va., died June 12 in Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his vehicle using an improvised explosive device.

This post has been edited and bumped to add names only found belatedly as CNN lists were restructured. (Names marked “*” are the new ones)

The moon wanes, the wars do not. The death count continues to rise, but news site interest seems to be waning, like the moon. Now, on some sites, you must KNOW the name to find the name. How’s that for a catch-22?

First, let me say I despise the changes in the CNN sites—all shiny and splashy and a piss poor version of the Google Maps version, but one cannot easily find the new names of the dead anymore; so it will become much more difficult for me to ascertain all the names are actually here week to week. (Edit: lists have been restored….as of June 7th…so I am updating with names I could not find before)

Especially the Coalition members, since the US DOD does not email those names to me. Please forgive my inaccuracies in the days ahead as I strive to find sources that will work. I also may not have ages and home place of the foreign troops….as I cannot always access them in a timely fashion by the search on the new fubar’d CNN sites. I am so sorry.

Second, word has come to me of a veteran’s suicide: on May 25, in San Antonio, Texas, Jeremy Ruiz shot himself to death, reportedly despondent over losing his civilian job. I do not know what his rank or service was, but he did two tours in Iraq.

Two Italian troops died in Afghanistan on 17 May, killed by an IED explosion:
*Sgt Massimiliano Ramadu, 33, Velletri Italy
*Cpl Luigi Pascazio, 27, Gruma Appule, italy

*Cpl Stephen Walker, 42, of Lisburn N. Ireland died in Afghanistan on May 21 when an IED exploded.

*Cpt. Crhistophe Barek-Deligny, 38 of Paris France died in Afghanistan on May 22 when his vehicle hit an IED, an unnamed interpreter died with him as did
*Cpl Luc Janzen, 25, of the Netherlands.

Trooper John Zuidema Rudd, 26, of Ontario, Canada died in Afghanistan on May 24 due to an IED explosion.

*Cpl Stephen P. Curley, 26 of Devon England died in Afghanistan on May 26 in an IED explosion.

*Gunner Zak Cusack, 20, of Stoke-on-Trent, England died in a firefight in Afghanistan on 26 May.

US Marine PFC Jake W. Suter, 18, of Los Angeles, Calif., died May 29 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan

US Marine Lance Cpl. Anthony A. Dilisio, 20, of Macomb, Mich., died May 30 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

US Army PFC Alvaro R. Regalado Sessarego, 37, of Virginia Beach, Va., died May 30 at Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, of injuries sustained April 18 from a non-combat related incident at Dahuk, Iraq.

US Army Spc. Jonathan K. Peney, 22, of Marietta, Ga., died June 1 in Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when he was shot by enemy forces.

Danish Konstabel Sophia Brunn died in Afghanistan on June 1, while on patrol, when her vehicle hit an IED.

British Marine Scott Gregory Taylor, 20, of Buxton England, died in Afghanistan on June 1, while on foot patrol due to the explosion of an IED.

British Marine Anthony Dean Hotine died in Afghanistan on June 2 while on patrol as a result of an explosion, probably an IED.

US Army Pvt. Francisco J. Guardado-Ramirez, 21, of Sunland Park, N.M., died June 2 in Iraq, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident.

The moon is full; the May moon is often referred to as the “Flower Moon” and gardens are in full glorious display. Unfortunately, so are funeral wreaths. Memorial Day is upon us; remember these newest of the fallen, and their families in mourning.

US Army PFC. Jason D. Fingar, 24, of Columbia, Mo., died May 22 in Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when his military vehicle struck an improvised explosive device.

US Army Spc. Stanley J. Sokolowski, III, 26, of Ocean, N.J. died May 20 in Iraq, in a non-combat related incident.

US Army Staff Sgt. Amilcar H. Gonzalez, 26, of Miami, Fla., died May 21 in Iraq, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with small arms fire.

US Army PFC. Christopher R. Barton, 22, of Concord, N.C., died May 24 in , Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms fire.

US Army Maj. Ronald W. Culver Jr., 44, of Shreveport, La., died May 24 in Iraq, when his vehicle struck an improvised explosive device.

US Army Sgt. Edwin Rivera, 28, of Waterford, Conn., died May 25 at National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Md., of wounds sustained May 20 when his unit was attacked by enemy forces using indirect fire in Afghanistan.

US Marine Cpl. Jacob C. Leicht, 24, of College Station, Texas, died May 27 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan