DoD Identifies U.S. Soldier, Marine Casualties in Iraq

Nov. 19, 2006 – The Defense Department released the identities of 10 U.S. soldiers and two U.S. Marines who were killed recently supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

-- Army Capt. Rhett W. Schiller, 26, of Wisconsin, died Nov. 16 in Balad Ruz, Iraq, of injuries suffered when his unit came in contact with enemy forces using small-arms fire. He was assigned to the 5th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.

-- Army Sgt. 1st Class Schuyler B. Haynes, 40, of New York, and Army Spc. Mitchel T. Mutz, 23, of Falls City, Texas, died Nov. 15 in Baquba, Iraq, of injuries suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near their vehicle during combat operations. They were assigned to 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

Army Cpl. John R. Dennison, 24, of Ijamsville, MD, died on Nov. 15 in Balad, Iraq, as a result of small-arms fire. Dennison was assigned to 5th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.

Army Col. Thomas H. Felts Sr., 45, of Sandston, Va., and Army Spc. Justin R. Garcia, 26, of Elmhurst, N.Y., died Nov. 14 in Baghdad of injuries suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near their vehicle during combat operations. Felts was assigned to the Command and General Staff College, School of Advanced Military Studies, Fort Leavenworth, Kan. Garcia was assigned to 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.

Army Spc. Eric G. Palacios Rivera, 21, of Atlantic City, N.J., died Nov. 14 in Ramadi, Iraq, of injuries suffered when his unit came in contact with enemy forces using small-arms fire. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Schweinfurt, Germany.

Army Sgt. 1st Class Tung M. Nguyen, 38, of Tracy, Calif., died Nov. 14 in Baghdad of injuries suffered when his unit came in contact with enemy forces using small-arms fire. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, N.C.

Marine Lance Cpl. Mario D. Gonzalez, 21, of La Puente, Calif., died Nov. 14 while conducting combat operations in Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.

Marine Lance Cpl. Michael D. Scholl, 21, of Lincoln, Neb., died Nov. 14 from wounds suffered while conducting combat operations in Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. -- Army Pfc. Daniel J. Allman II, 20, of Canon, Ga.,

Army Pfc. Jang H. Kim, 20, of Placentia, Calif., died Nov. 13 in Baghdad of injuries suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near their vehicle during combat operations. Both soldiers were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Schweinfurt, Germany.