Thursday, June 21, 2007 1:39 PM - UPDATE - The British Ministry of Defense has identified the soldier who died in an indirect fire attack in Basra on Wednesday, June 20th: Major Paul Harding, 48, of Winchester in Hampshire in the south of England. With his death, the British Army would seem to have a lost a truly extraordinary individual, one much loved and highly regarded in the service. Harding had served for 30 years ... and had risen from the lowest rank of Rifleman, through Regimental Sergeant Major, to his current rank of Major. His skills honed in the tough school of Northern Ireland in the 70's and 80's, he was considered the perfect candidate for Chief of Staff at the small, very isolated outpost in central Basra called the Provisional Joint Coordination Center. There he was responsible for the security, resupply and overall day-to-day operations of the place. His commanding officer told the story of how the building was nearly overrun by 200 armed insurgents on one of Harding's first days at the outpost ... and that his men fought them off for 4 hours, expending over 9,000 rounds of ammunition. On the night of his death, he had gone to a watchtower to help secure the route for a resupply convoy when the tower took a direct hit by a mortar round. He had only been in Iraq for a little less than a month. Harding leaves behind a wife and two sons.

Friday, June 22, 2007 8:41 PM - 1 INCOMING - The British Ministry of Defense has announced the death of another soldier from 4th Battalion, The Rifles Regiment. The soldier died in a roadside bomb attack in Basra City on Friday, June 22nd.

Saturday, June 23, 2007 7:30 AM - UPDATES -
Raymond N. Spencer Jr., 23, of Carmichael, California	(1) The DoD has identified the soldier who died in southwest Baghdad on Thursday, June 21st, when his unit was struck by an IED followed by small arms fire: Private 1st Class Raymond N. Spencer Jr., 23, of Carmichael, California. His unit, the 2nd Battalion of the 12th Cavalry Regiment (1st Cavalry Division out of Fort Bliss, TX) has been operating in the western part of Baghdad.
Karen N. Clifton, 22, of Lehigh Acres, Florida	(2) The DoD has also identified the Multi-National Corps - Iraq soldier who died when her vehicle was struck by an RPG in a northern part of Baghdad on Thursday, June 21st: Specialist Karen N. Clifton, 22, of Lehigh Acres, Florida. She was a military policeman assigned to the 554th Military Police Company based in Kaiserslautern, Germany.

Sunday, June 24, 2007 5:47 AM - UPDATE -

John Rigby, 24, of Rye in East Sussex, England

The British Ministry of Defense has identified the soldier who died in a roadside bombing in Basra City on Friday, June 22nd: Corporal John Rigby, 24, of Rye in East Sussex in the southeast of England. According to his commanding officer, Rigby was the most promising corporal of his generation ... and had recently been selected for promotion to sergeant, scoring higher than any other corporal across all five battalions of his regiment, including men 5 years older than he was. "He had a dignity, modesty and maturity that went way beyond his years." His twin brother Will also serves in the same regiment as a corporal and was at Rigby's side when he died. It was their 24th birthday. He is also survived by his parents and two older sisters.

Sunday, June 24, 2007 6:34 AM - UPDATE -

Anthony "Tony" Hebert, 19, of Lake City, Minnesota

The Rochester (Minnesota) Post-Bulletin is reporting the death on Thursday, June 21st, of a young soldier from Lake City, Minnesota: 19-year-old Anthony "Tony" Hebert. The circumstances of his death are not known at this point. However, friends made the statement in the article that "he was passionate about becoming a part of the Airborne unit in Iraq." As it happens, the 82nd Airborne Division is in charge of the northeastern sector of Baghdad in which five soldiers were killed in a roadside bombing on the 21st (described in this CENTCOM release). Hebert could be one of the five. In high school, Hebert played golf with great skill and was the team leader on the school's golf team. His coach remembers him not just for his playing skills but for his keen interest in mentoring younger players. Hebert graduated in 2005.

Sunday, June 24, 2007 7:54 AM - UPDATE -

Darren Hubbell, 38, of Jacksonville, Florida

The Jacksonville Beach (Florida) Leader is reporting the death of a Jacksonville native in Iraq in a roadside bombing on Wednesday, June 20th: Army Sergeant Darren Hubbell, 38. Hubbell was a medic serving with the 3rd Infantry Division out of Fort Stewart, GA. According to the article, he was one of four soldiers who died together as described in this CENTCOM release. Hubbell graduated from high school in Jacksonville in 1986. Initially, he served a six year term in the army and got out. But he re-upped in 2000 at the chance to become a medic and was re-instated at his old rank. Hubbell was in Iraq for the initial invasion in 2003 ... and was in one of the first units to reach Baghdad. This present tour of duty was his third in that country. Hubbell has a 19-year-old son who is also serving in Iraq, only with the 82nd Airborne Division. He also has a 13-year-old daughter.

Sunday, June 24, 2007 11:26 AM - UPDATE -
Jason D. Nathan, 22, of Macon, Georgia	Sunday, June 24, 2007 11:26 AM - UPDATE - The DoD has identified the airman who died in a roadside bomb attack near Tikrit on Saturday, June 23rd: Airman 1st Class Jason D. Nathan, 22, of Macon, Georgia. He was assigned to the 48th Security Forces Squadron out of RAF Lakenheath in England.

Sunday, June 24, 2007 4:08 PM - 1 INCOMING - Yesterday, MNF-Iraq issued a press release stating that two soldiers were killed and three injured in an attack involving a roadside bomb followed by small arms fire in eastern Baghdad on Saturday, June 23rd. Today MNF-Iraq has issued a statement that would seem to indicate that one of the injured soldiers died later of his wounds. We will list this death on the 23rd for now, pending the DoD's publication of the actual date of death.

Monday, June 25, 2007 4:00 AM - UPDATE - Oklahoma City station News9 is reporting the death of an Oklahoma City man in Iraq. Sergeant Ryan M. Wood, 22, was one of five soldiers who died in a roadside bomb blast in northeastern Baghdad on Thursday, June 21st. His unit, the 1st Battalion of the 26th Infantry Regiment (1st Infantry Division) has been known to be operating in the northeastern Baghdad neighborhood of Adhamiya. Wood was on his second tour of duty in Iraq. According to his stepfather, "During his first tour of duty he was extremely proud to be there." But "he did not have a good feeling about this tour." A talented artist, Wood had received an acceptance letter from the University of Central Oklahoma just days before his death. He was also featured in this article in Stars & Stripes from last November.

Monday, June 25, 2007 6:18 PM - UPDATES -
	The DoD has identified the five soldiers who died in a roadside bomb blast in a northeastern part of Baghdad on Thursday, June 21st:
		Sergeant Alphonso J. Montenegro II, 22, of Far Rockaway, New York
		Sergeant Ryan M. Wood, 22, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
	Daniel J. Agami, 25, of Coconut Creek, Florida	Private 1st Class Daniel J. Agami, 25, of Coconut Creek, Florida
		Private 1st Class Anthony D. Hebert, 19, of Lake City, Minnesota
		Private 1st Class Thomas R. Leemhuis, 23, of Binger, Oklahoma

Monday, June 25, 2007 7:09 PM - 1 INCOMING & UPDATE -
Jerimiah J. Veitch, 21, of Dibble, Oklahoma	(1) The DoD has announced a new death, not previously reported by CENTCOM. Private 1st Class Jerimiah J. Veitch, 21, of Dibble, Oklahoma, died on Thursday, June 21st, in Baghdad of wounds he received when his vehicle was hit by a rocket propelled grenade. The NewsOK.com website is carrying an interview with Veitch's sister who states that he moved to Oklahoma from San Jose, California, before high school with his mother when she remarried. In fact, Veitch was in the process of changing his last name to that of his stepfather, Sanchez. He had been home on leave to visit his family in Dibble about two months before his death.
	(2) The DoD has identified the Task Force Lightning soldier who died of a non-hostile, unspecified cause on Saturday, June 23rd. Specialist Joseph P. Kenny, 20, of Veneta, Oregon, died in Mosul in northern Iraq. Portland (Oregon) station KOIN reports that he was a Special Electronics Devices Repairer who enlisted in the Army in May of 2005. According to a brief article in the Oregonian, Kenny was a member of the Tolerance and Diversity Club in high school and also ran cross country.

Monday, June 25, 2007 7:44 PM - UPDATE - The DoD has identified a Task Force Marne soldier who died in a small arms fire attack on Sunday, June 24th: Specialist Carter A. Gamble Jr., 24, of Brownstown, Indiana. We believe that this is the death described in this CENTCOM release ... which was likely written when "today" was the 24th, but not published until the 25th. According to the DoD release, Gamble died in Duraiya which we suspect is in the vicinity of Salman Pak in southern Diyala Province where his unit, the 1st Battalion of the 15th Infantry Regiment (3rd Infantry Division), was based.

Tuesday, June 26, 2007 6:43 AM - UPDATES -
	(1) The DoD has identified the three soldiers who died in eastern Baghdad on Saturday, June 23rd, when they were attack by insurgents using an improvised explosive device and small arms fire:
		Staff Sergeant Michael D. Moody Jr., 31, of Richmond, Virginia
		Sergeant Chris Davis, 35, of Lubbock, Texas
		Private Shane M. Stinson, 23, of Fullerton, California
		Their unit, the 2nd Battalion of the 69th Armor Regiment (3rd Infantry Division, Fort Benning, GA), is indeed based in east Baghdad at FOB Rustamiya.
	(2) The DoD has also identified the four soldiers who died in the vicinity of Taji just northwest of Baghdad when their vehicle was struck by a roadside bomb on Saturday, June 23rd:
		1st Lieutenant Daniel P. Riordan, 24, of St. Louis, Missouri
		Sergeant Joel A. House, 22, of Lee, Maine
		Sergeant Jimy M. Malone, 23, of Wills Point, Texas
	Derek A. Calhoun, 23, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma	Specialist Derek A. Calhoun, 23, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
		The Bangor (Maine) Daily News is carrying a feature on House ... an interview with his parents. House grew up in Lee, Maine, and planned to settle there when his stint in the service was over, helping his father with his outdoor guide business and pursuing a career as a game warden. He and his father frequently went hunting and fishing together ... in fact, House had bagged a bear on their last expedition. A master of the one-liner, House was known for his snappy sense of humor. He had actually been involved in a barracks bombing in March of this year ... and sent his friends a picture of his sleeping bag buried in the rubble with a caption that said "My sleeping bag got dirty". He is survived by his parents and a brother and sister.
		The website NewsOK.com has published an article on Calhoun, stating that he, too, had been involved in the barracks bombing with House ... and had taken shrapnel in his wrist, shoulder and abdomen. According to his family, he was still unable to use his right hand, but was not sent home. Calhoun loved to fish ... and all kinds of sports. Before joining the army he had graduated from Wright Business School as a certified medical assistant, and had hoped to continue in the medical field when his time in the service was over.

Tuesday, June 26, 2007 8:01 AM - UPDATE -

Anthony Dahl, 21, of Los Lunas, New Mexico

The Albuquerque (New Mexico) station KRQE is reporting the death of a young soldier from Los Lunas, New Mexico, in a small arms fire attack south of Baghdad on Saturday, June 23rd: Corporal Joel Anthony Dahl, 21. Dahl joined the army when he was 18, right out of high school, hoping to use the military to jump-start a career in law enforcement. He had been in Iraq on his first tour there since April and was scheduled to return home on leave in one week, July 2nd, to see his newborn son for the first time. His wife is scheduled to have labor induced on that day.

Tuesday, June 26, 2007 11:03 AM - 1 INCOMING - Reuters is reporting the death of a U.S. soldier in Ad Diwaniyah south of Baghdad in Qadisiyah Province on Tuesday, June 26th. His patrol was apparently hit with roadside bombs and rocket propelled grenades by elements of the Mahdi Army.

Tuesday, June 26, 2007 12:49 PM - UPDATE -

Dominic N. Rodriguez, 23, of Klamath Falls, Oregon

The DoD has identified a soldier who died on Friday, June 22nd, in Baghdad from a non-hostile, unspecified cause: Specialist Dominic N. Rodriguez, 23, of Klamath Falls, Oregon. We believe that this is likely the death described in this CENTCOM release, despite CENTCOM's reporting of the death date as June 23rd. Sports were of huge interest to Rodriguez. He was captain of his high school football team in Klamath Falls ... and went on to play college ball at the College of the Siskiyous in Weed, California. Rodriguez had been in Iraq since October of 2006. He is survived by his wife, two stepchildren, and his parents.

Tuesday, June 26, 2007 3:23 PM - 3 INCOMINGS & UPDATE -
	(1) The DoD has announced a new death, not previously reported by CENTCOM. Sergeant Michael J. Montpetit, 31, of Honolulu, Hawaii, died of a non-hostile, unspecified cause in Baghdad on Friday, June 22nd. He was assigned to the 15th Forward Support Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division out of Fort Hood, TX.
William E. Brown, 25, of Phil Campbell, Alabama	(2) The DoD has identified the soldier who died in the vicinity of Taji northwest of Baghdad from hostile fire on Saturday, June 23rd: Sergeant William E. Brown, 25, of Phil Campbell, Alabama. According to the Colorado Springs Gazette, Brown was killed when his unit was mortared. The article goes on to say that he was assigned to Fort Carson's 571st Air Ambulance Medical Company which deployed to Iraq last fall with the 1st Cavalry Division. That particular unit has saved literally thousands of lives, evacuating battlefield casualties with UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters. "During 2005 alone, the unit was credited with picking up more than 3,000 wounded soldiers and Marines."
	(3) The Dod has announced a second new death today, not previously reported by CENTCOM: Private Henry G. Byrd III, 20, of Veguita, New Mexico. Byrd contracted or sustained some kind of illness on June 18th while in Iraq. He was medically evacuated to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany where he died on Sunday, June 24th.
	(4) Lastly, the DoD has announced a third new death, also not previously reported by CENTCOM: Specialist Eric C. Palmer, 21, of Maize, Kansas. Palmer was severly injured in a small arms fire attack in Bayji, Iraq, on June 21st. He died on Sunday, June 24th, at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany. Kansas station KAKE is reporting that Palmer was shot in the head while on a foot patrol. He was stabilized at the scene, then evacuated to Landstuhl and placed on life support, to no avail. Palmer was better known to his family and friends as "Eeker". He enlisted in the army after high school graduation in 2004.

Tuesday, June 26, 2007 5:22 PM - 1 INCOMING - MNF-Iraq is reporting the death of a Marine from enemy action in Al Anbar Province on Tuesday, June 26th.

Wednesday, June 27, 2007 5:23 AM - UPDATES -
Andre Craig, 24, of New Haven, Connecticut	(1) The Hartford (Connecticut) Courant is reporting the death of a New Haven, Connecticut, native in Iraq: Army Specialist Andre Craig, 24. Craig was the gunner on a vehicle that was hit by a roadside bomb in Baghdad. Although the Courant article doesn't give an exact date of death, and other media articles give it as Sunday the 24th, the only previously reported death that is a possible match is the one described in this CENTCOM release on Monday the 25th. Known as "Dre" to his friends, Craig had been home on leave within the past month to see his months-old baby daughter for the first time. He is one of six siblings.
	(2) The Associated Press is providing more information on the death of Army Private 1st Class Henry G. Byrd III, 20, of Veguita, New Mexico. He died at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany on Sunday, April 24th. According to his family, some time last week his unit was forced to stop a patrol when a track came off a tank. While repairs were being made, Craig and other soldiers were detailed to watch the perimeter for enemy activity. At some point, his fellow soldiers found Craig lying on the ground, unconscious, with a fever of 109 degrees, a victim of apparent heatstroke. He was evacuated to Landstuhl ... and his parents were flown out to be with him as he was given last rites by a priest.
Carter A. Gamble, Jr., 24, of Brownstone, Indiana	(3) The Indianapolis (Indiana) Star is reporting that although the DoD initially reported the hometown of Army Specialist Carter A. Gamble, Jr. as Brownstone, Indiana, they have now changed it to Seymour in Jackson County. Gamble's uncle, who is Jackson County's sheriff, said that the young man actually was raised in southern Georgia, but that his mother was from Jackson County and his wife was from Seymour. Indianapolis station WISH quotes Gamble's uncle as saying that Gamble's unit was going door to door checking a group of buildings to make sure they were vacant on Sunday, June 24th. "He was the first guy through the door of a building that wasn't empty, and he got shot in the head." Gamble has a 2-year-old daughter and another child on the way.

Wednesday, June 27, 2007 8:12 AM - 1 INCOMING -

Trista L. Moretti, 27, of South Plainfield, New Jersey

The DoD has announced a new death, not previously reported by CENTCOM. Army Sergeant Trista L. Moretti, 27, of South Plainfield, New Jersey, was killed in an indirect fire attack in the vicinity of the village of Nasir Laftah southeast of Iskandariyah in Babil Province on Monday, June 25th. She was assigned to the 4th Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, elements of which are currently stationed in Iskandariyah. A friend of Moretti's has written a brief blog entry on the death, saying that she died in her sleep when a rocket hit her trailer. Her friend described Moretti as "military intelligence" and went on to say that she "was hilarious and beautiful and had this great Jersey accent."

Wednesday, June 27, 2007 10:41 AM - UPDATE - The DoD has identified the Marine who died from enemy action in Al Anbar Province on Tuesday, June 26th: Corporal Derek C. Dixon, 20, of Riverside, Ohio. He was assigned to the 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 2nd Marine Division out of Camp Lejeune, NC.

Wednesday, June 27, 2007 1:03 AM - UPDATE - The DoD has confirmed the death of Private 1st Class Andre Craig Jr., 24, of New Haven, Connecticut, from an IED attack in Baghdad on Monday, June 25th. His unit, the 2nd Battalion of the 16th Infantry Regiment (1st Infantry Division out of Fort Riley, KS), has been stationed in far eastern Baghdad in Fedaliyah.

MNF-Iraq is reporting the death of a Multi-National Division - Baghdad soldier in a roadside bombing in an eastern neighborhood of Baghdad on Wednesday, June 27th. Four other soldiers were wounded in the attack.

Wednesday, June 27, 2007 2:52 PM - 1 INCOMING - MNF-Iraq is reporting the death of a Multi-National Division - Baghdad soldier in a roadside bombing in an eastern neighborhood of Baghdad on Wednesday, June 27th. Four other soldiers were wounded in the attack.

Wednesday, June 27, 2007 4:16 AM - UPDATE - The DoD has confirmed the death of Sergeant Joel A. Dahl, 21, of Los Lunas, New Mexico, in a small arms fire attack in Baghdad on Saturday, June 23rd.

Wednesday, June 27, 2007 6:27 PM - 3 INCOMING - The British Ministry of Defense has announced the deaths of three of its soldiers in a roadside bombing in the southeast Basra City district of Al Amtahiya on Thursday, June 28th. They were on dismounted patrol at the time of the blast. One other British soldier is reported to be in very serious condition. Two of the dead were from the Black Watch, 3rd Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland. The third death was from the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Welsh (The Royal Regiment of Wales).

Thursday, June 28, 2007 8:56 AM - 1 INCOMING - MNF-Iraq is reporting the death of a Multi-National Division - Baghdad soldier in a roadside bombing in an eastern neighborhood of Baghdad on Thursday, June 28th. One other soldier was wounded in the attack.

Thursday, June 28, 2007 10:36 AM - UPDATES -
	The British Ministry of Defense has identified the three soldiers killed in a roadside bomb blast in Basra City on Thursday, June 28th:
		Corporal Paul Joszko, 28, of Mountain Ash, Wales - 2nd Battalion, The Royal Welsh (The Royal Regiment of Wales)
		Private Scott Kennedy, 20, of Oakley near Dunfermline, Scotland - The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland
		Private James "Jamie" Kerr, 20, of Cowdenbeath, Scotland - The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland
	Further biographical details are not available at this point.

Thursday, June 28, 2007 1:07 PM - UPDATE -

Nathan L. Winder, 32, of Blanding, Utah

The DoD has identified the soldier who died in Ad Diwaniyah in Qadisiyah Province in a small arms fire attack on Tuesday, June 26th: Sergeant 1st Class Nathan L. Winder, 32, of Blanding, Utah. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group based at Fort Lewis, WA. According to a write-up in the Salt Lake City (Utah) Tribune, Winder was born in Seoul, Korea, but was adopted by the Winder family at the age of two and raised in Blanding where his adopted parents still reside. In all, the Winders have adopted eight children, some with special needs. Two of Sergeant Winder's brothers have previously served in Iraq. Winder himself enlisted in the army right out of high school. He was currently serving as a medic with a Special Forces Quick Reaction Force in Ad Diwaniyah. According to his mother, he was shot in the neck. Winder is survived by his wife, an 11-year-old son by a previous marriage, his parents and his siblings.

Friday, June 29, 2007 6:06 AM - 5 INCOMINGS - MNF-Iraq is reporting the deaths of five Multi-National Division - Baghdad soldiers in a roadside bomb attack that was followed by small arms fire and rocket propelled grenades. The attack occurred in a southern neighborhood of Baghdad on Thursday, June 28th. Seven other soldiers were wounded in the attack.

Friday, June 29, 2007 6:22 AM - UPDATE - The DoD has identified the Multi-National Division - Baghdad soldier who died in a roadside bombing in eastern Baghdad on Wednesday, June 27th: Staff Sergeant Daniel A. Newsome, 27, of Chicopee, Massachusetts. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division out of Fort Hood, TX.