Casualties

May 08, 2008 -- 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, Mississippi.

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

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

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

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, 1st Marine Logistics Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.

Source: DOD

May 08, 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, Kentucky, 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, New Mexico, who was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.    » read more »

May 8, 2008 -- By the authority vested in the Governor of the State of Colorado, under Article IV, Section 2 of the Colorado Constitution, Governor Bill Ritter today has ordered that flags be lowered to half-staff to mark the following occasions on the following dates:

1. Gov. Ritter has granted a request from the City of Colorado Springs to lower U.S. and Colorado flags on state buildings within the City of Colorado Springs on Friday, May 9, 2008, in observance of the funeral of former Mayor Bob Isaac. Isaac, 80, passed away Friday, May 2. He served as mayor from 1979 to 1997.    » read more »

05/08/2008 -- California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today released the following statement regarding the deaths of Lance Cpl. Casey L. Casanova of McComb, MS; Cpl. Miguel A. Guzman of Norwalk, CA; Lance Cpl. James F. Kimple of Carroll, OH; and Sgt. Glen E. Martinez of Boulder, CO:

"The sacrifices made by these four extraordinary patriots will be remembered forever by the people of California. They served our country with honor, loyalty and an unwavering commitment to the cause of liberty for all. Maria and I extend our deepest condolences to the families and friends of these brave American heroes during this time of mourning."    » read more »

May 7, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Johnny Isakson (R-GA) today introduced a bipartisan bill to help prevent injured veterans from losing their homes while awaiting adjudication on their disability claims.

The Disabled Veterans Homeownership Preservation Act would help disabled veterans who are caught up in the extensive backlog of claims pending in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Wounded Iraq veterans: Photo by soldiersmediacenter (CC)    » read more »

May 7, 2008 -- PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota Governor Mike Rounds asks that all flags in the state be flown at half staff on Thursday, May 8, 2008, from 8 a.m. until sunset, in honor of Senior Airman Jonathan A.V. Yelner, 24, of Lafayette, California.

Airman Yelner was assigned to the 28th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota. He died April 29 near Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device.

A memorial ceremony will be held at 9 a.m. (MDT) on Thursday, May 8, 2008, at the Black Hills Chapel on Ellsworth Air Force Base. A memorial service was held on May 6 in California.

Source: South Dakota Governor

5/7/2008 -- (HELENA) – Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer has ordered that the National flag and State flag be flown at half-staff beginning on Friday morning, May 9th until sundown Saturday, May 10th to honor the memory of U.S. Army Captain Andrew R. Pearson, killed while serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom on April 30th, 2008.

Source: Montana Governor

May 2, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Barack Obama today joined Senators Kit Bond and Barbara Boxer, and a bipartisan coalition of senators, to introduce the Honoring Our Nation's Obligations to Returning Warriors Act (HONOR Act). This legislation will improve treatment for our service members and veterans suffering with mental injuries, better prepare service members for the stress associated with combat, and increase care for military families.

Senator Barack Obama: Photo by Barack Obama campaign (CC)

Senators Ted Stevens, Pete Domenici, Lisa Murkowski, and Elizabeth Dole are also cosponsoring this legislation.    » read more »

May 05, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Pvt. Corey L. Hicks, 22, of Glendale, Arizona, died May 2 in Baghdad, Iraq, of 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.

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May 04, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Spc. Jeffrey F. Nichols, 21, of Granite Shoals, Texas, died May 1 in Baghdad from wounds suffered when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device.

He was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 89th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Polk, La.

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May 03, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was 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.

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May 03, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Staff Sgt. Chad A. Caldwell, 24, of Spokane, Washington, 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.

   » read more »

May 03, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Sgt. Jerry L. DeLoach, 45, of Jackson, Georgia, died July 7, 2007, in Riverside, Ga., of a non-combat related injury, while assigned to Fort Knox, Ky.

He had been medically evacuated from theater. He was assigned to the Warrior Transition Unit at Fort Knox.

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May 02, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

They died 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, Montana.
Spc. Ronald J. Tucker, 21, of Fountain, Colorado.    » read more »

May 01, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Staff Sgt. Bryan E. Bolander, 26, of Bakersfield, California, died April 29 in Baghdad from wounds suffered when his vehicle struck an improvised explosive device.

He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.    » read more »