U.S. Military Deaths in Afghanistan

As of Sunday, February 5, 2012, at least 1,892 members of the U.S. military had died in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Uzbekistan as a result of the invasion of Afghanistan in late 2001, according to iCasualties.org.

Since the start of U.S. military operations in Afghanistan, 15,344 U.S. service members have been wounded as of Jan. 31, 2012, according to iCasualties.org.

Latest identifications:

Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Chad R. Regelin, 24, Cottonwood, Calif., died Jan. 2, 2012 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned as an explosive ordnance disposal technician to Marine Special Operations Company Bravo and stationed at Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 3, San Diego, Calif.

Air Force Senior Airman Bryan R. Bell, 23, Erie, Pa., died Jan. 5, 2012 in Shir ghazi, Helmand province, Afghanistan, when his vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 2nd Civil Engineer Squadron, Barksdale Air Force Base, La.

Air Force Tech. Sgt. Matthew S. Schwartz, 34, Traverse City, Mich., died Jan. 5, 2012 in Shir ghazi, Helmand province, Afghanistan, when his vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device. He was an explosive ordnance disposal specialist assigned to the 90th Civil Engineer Squadron, F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo.

Air Force Airman 1st Class Matthew R. Seidler, 24, Westminster, Md., died Jan. 5, 2012 in Shir Ghazi, Helmand province, Afghanistan, when his vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 21st Civil Engineer Squadron, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo.

Army National Guard Spc. Brian J. Leonhardt, 21, Merrillville, Ind., died Jan. 6, 2012 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 81st Troop Command, Indiana National Guard, Indianapolis, Ind.

Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Jonathan M. Metzger, 32, Indianapolis, Ind., died Jan. 6, 2012 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 81st Troop Command, Indiana National Guard, Indianapolis, Ind.

Army National Guard Spc. Christopher A. Patterson, 20, Aurora, Ill., died Jan. 6, 2012 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 81st Troop Command, Indiana National Guard, Indianapolis, Ind.

Army National Guard Spc. Robert J. Tauteris Jr., 44, Hamlet, Ind., died Jan. 6, 2012 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 81st Troop Command, Indiana National Guard, Indianapolis, Ind.

Army Pfc. Dustin P. Napier, 20, London, Ky., died Jan. 8, 2012 in Zabul province, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained from enemy small-arms fire. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Fort Wainwright, Alaska.

Army Reserve Pfc. Michael W. Pyron, 30, Hopewell, Va., died Jan. 10, 2012 in Parwan province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 25th Signal Battalion, 160th Signal Brigade, 335th Signal Command Theater, U.S. Army Reserve, East Point, Ga.

Army Pfc. Neil I. Turner, 21, Tacoma, Wash., died Jan. 11, 2012 in Logar province, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained in a non-combat incident [see news report below]. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 41st Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Fort Bliss, Texas.

Marine Corps Cpl. Jon-Luke Bateman, 22, Tulsa, Okla., died Jan. 15, 2012 conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was an infantryman assigned to 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.

Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Kenneth E. Cochran, 20, Wilder, Idaho., died Jan. 15, 2012 conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was a water support technician assigned to 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Okinawa, Japan.

Army Sgt. 1st Class Benjamin B. Wise, 34, Little Rock, Ark., died Jan. 15, 2012 in Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Germany, of injuries sustained Jan. 9 in Balkh province, Afghanistan, when enemy forces attacked his unit with small-arms fire. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. [See update below.]

Army Spc. Keith D. Benson, 27, Brockton, Mass., died Jan. 18, 2012 in Paktika province, Afghanistan, of unspecified causes. The circumstances surrounding his death are currently under investigation. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment, 172nd Infantry Brigade, Grafenwoehr, Germany.

Marine Corps Cpl. Phillip D. McGeath, 25, Glendale, Ariz., died Jan. 18, 2012 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Marine Corps Capt. Daniel B. Bartle, 27, Ferndale, Wash., died Jan. 19, 2012 in Helmand province, Afghanistan, when the CH-53D helicopter he was riding in crashed. He was assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 363, Marine Aircraft Group 24, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.

Marine Corps Cpl. Joseph D. Logan, 22, Willis, Texas, died Jan. 19, 2012 in Helmand province, Afghanistan, when the CH-53D helicopter he was riding in crashed. He was assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 363, Marine Aircraft Group 24, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.

Marine Corps Capt. Nathan R. McHone, 29, Crystal Lake, Ill., died Jan. 19, 2012 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 363, Marine Aircraft Group 24, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.

Marine Corps Cpl. Kevin J. Reinhard, 25, Colonia, N.J., died Jan. 19, 2012 in Helmand province, Afghanistan, when the CH-53D helicopter he was riding in crashed. He was assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 363, Marine Aircraft Group 24, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.

Marine Corps Master Sgt. Travis W. Riddick, 40, Centerville, Iowa, died Jan. 19, 2012 in Helmand province, Afghanistan, when the CH-53D helicopter he was riding in crashed. He was assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 363, Marine Aircraft Group 24, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.

Marine Corps Cpl. Jesse W. Stites, 23, North Beach, Md., died Jan. 19, 2012 in Helmand province, Afghanistan, when the CH-53D helicopter he was riding in crashed. He was assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 363, Marine Aircraft Group 24, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.

Marine Corps Cpl. Christopher G. Singer, 23, Temecula, Calif., died Jan. 21, 2012 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 3rd Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, Calif.

Marine Corps Reserve Capt. Joshua C. Pairsh, 29, Equality, Ill., died Jan. 22, 2012 in the United States of a noncombat-related illness after returning Jan. 3 from Afghanistan. He was assigned to 4th Civil Affairs Group, Marine Forces Reserve, based out of Washington, D.C.

Army 1st Lt. David A. Johnson, 24, Horicon, Wis., died Jan. 25, 2012 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered after encountering an improvised explosive device while conducting a dismounted patrol. He was assigned to the 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.

Marine Corps Sgt. William C. Stacey, 23, Redding, Calif., died Jan. 31, 2012 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.

Remember Their Sacrifice

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Related reports

Afghan Blasts Kill 9 NATO Troops in 1st Week of 2012

By Slobodan Lekic

January 6, 2012

KABUL, Afghanistan — Explosives hidden in a trash heap killed six children in southern Afghanistan Friday, police said, and five NATO troops were killed in roadside bombings in the volatile region. …

Elsewhere in the south, four NATO troops died in one of Friday’s bombings, and one was killed in a separate blast. The alliance said both incidents occurred in southern Afghanistan but provided no further details. …

The deaths bring to nine the number of international troops killed in the first week of the year. At least 544 NATO troops died in Afghanistan in 2011, the second-deadliest year for the coalition in the decade-old war. …

U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan have been significantly increased since 2009 and the government’s army and police have rapidly expanded, resulting in the capture and killing of thousands of Taliban insurgents. Nonetheless, the guerrillas have retained their capability to inflict losses on coalition forces.

Faced with overwhelming allied superiority in numbers and firepower, the Taliban largely avoid direct combat, relying instead on roadside bombs, small ambushes and hit-and-run tactics to harass NATO and government forces. …

The steady flow of casualties and the high costs of the operation have undermined support for the war, particularly among European allies who make up about a third of the approximately 130,000-member NATO-led force. They come at a time when defense budgets are being slashed as part of public spending cuts and other austerity measures designed to deal with the worsening economic crisis. …

Full story

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Arkansas Family Loses Second Son in Afghanistan

Sgt. 1st Class Benjamin Wise, 34, of Little Rock, Ark. (Photo credit: U.S. Army)

By Tim Talley

January 19, 2012

The war in Afghanistan has claimed the lives of two sons of an Arkansas couple who also have a third son in the military.

Sgt. 1st Class Benjamin Wise, 34, of Little Rock, was on his fourth deployment overseas when he was injured during an insurgent attack on his unit last week. He died from his wounds Sunday at a hospital in Germany, the Department of Defense said in a statement Tuesday.

His brother, 35-year-old Jeremy Wise, was killed in a terrorist attack on a CIA outpost in Afghanistan in December 2009. He was a former Navy Seal working as a security contractor.

Their brother, Marine Corps Cpl. Matthew Wise, is based in Hawaii but was in Germany to be with his brother, his wife Amber said. She said she was at Benjamin’s home in Washington state watching his children, but she declined further comment.

The Army Special Forces soldier is survived by his wife, two sons and a daughter.

The men’s parents, Dr. Jean and Mary Wise of Hope, Ark., and their sister did not return telephone messages seeking comment from The Associated Press. But the family released a statement thanking friends and Benjamin’s fellow soldiers “for their sincere expressions of sympathy during this very difficult time.”

His family described him as a loving husband, devoted father, caring son and selfless soldier. …

He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group, Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington.

The Hope Star newspaper reports that Wise was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart and Meritorious Service Medal.

Sen. Mark Pryor, D-Ark., said Wise served in Iraq as well as Afghanistan.

“While Arkansas has lost a great patriot, the Wise family has paid an extraordinary price in service to our country,” Pryor said.

Full story

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Update

The late Sgt. 1st Class Ben Wise and his son Luke … “I found my son sitting having a moment with his daddy the other day. We lost him January 15 in Afghanistan.”

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6 Marines Killed in Afghanistan Helicopter Crash Were Hawaii-Based

Video

Chopper crash in Afghanistan kills 6 Marines (NBC Today, Jan. 20, 2012) — Six United States Marines were killed when their helicopter went down in Southern Afghanistan. An investigation is under way, but U.S. military officials say there was no evidence of enemy activity in the area. NBC’s Jim Miklaszewski reports. (01:29)

The Associated Press and MSNBC.com
January 20, 2012

HONOLULU — All six Marines killed in the crash of a U.S. helicopter in Afghanistan were based in Hawaii, a Hawaii congresswoman [U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa] said Friday.

The CH-53D Sea Stallion helicopter crashed Thursday in Afghanistan’s southern province of Helmand.

U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, said Friday she’s saddened to hear of the deaths. Her spokeswoman, Ashley Nagaoka Boylan, said the congresswoman was notified Thursday evening that all six Marines were Hawaii-based. …

The commander of Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 363, Lt. Col. Mark Revor, said on the unit’s Facebook page that all six killed were from the Kaneohe-based unit, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported.

Family members identified one of those killed as Marine Cpl. Kevin Reinhard, 25, of the Colonia section of Woodbridge, the Newark Star-Ledger reported. Reinhard was a 2005 graduate of St. Joseph High School in Metuchen. …

Reinhard joined the Marine Corps in 2008 and was with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 363, the Lucky Red Lions.

The unit deployed in late August to southern Afghanistan and is scheduled to return home in March, Hawaii News Now reportedThe unit’s mission is to provide assault support, transport Marines and critical supplies, as well as equipment during expeditionary operations. …

The defense official said there is no indication that the helicopter in Afghanistan was hit by enemy fire. …

CH-53D Sea Stallion helicopters were first used in the 1960s, and the Marine Corps used them in the Vietnam War.

All Sea Stallions still used operationally are stationed at Marine Corps Base Hawaii in Kaneohe Bay. The military plans to replace them with the MV-22 Osprey. …

In 2005, the same base lost 27 Marines when a CH-53E Super Stallion deployed to Iraq crashed during a desert sandstorm. Altogether, 30 Marines and a Navy medic were killed in that crash. …

Thursday’s crash was the deadliest in Afghanistan since August, when 30 American troops died after a Chinook helicopter was apparently shot down in Wardak province in the center of the country. …

Full story

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Comrade Killed Soldier with Rocket Launcher, Victim’s Mother Says

By Jeff Black

September 18, 2012

The Army is pursing manslaughter charges against a soldier in connection with the January death of a comrade in Afghanistan.

The Army initially said Pfc. Neil Turner, 21, of Tacoma, Wash., was killed in a “training accident.”

But according to Turner’s mother, who obtained investigative reports from witnesses, her son was killed when Spc. Francisco Perez fired an armor-penetrating rocket inside Combat Outpost Kherwar in Afghanistan’s Logar province on Jan. 11. The rocket did not detonate but pierced Turner’s chest, she said.

Charlotte Cox-Turner told The News Tribune of Tacoma that Perez had been chastised in the past for “horseplay” with weapons that he was in charge of storing at the base.

Perez, who is accused of negligent homicide and failing to obey an order to separate loaded weapons from unloaded ones, is expected to appear at court-martial proceedings next month, according to the newspaper.

Two other soldiers were injured in the incident, Cox-Turner said. …

Full story