Five Soldiers Killed in Iraq; DoD Identifies Previous Casualties

American Forces Press Service

April 15, 2007 – Two coalition forces troops were killed and five injured earlier today when two helicopters crashed in a rural area southwest of Taji, Iraq, coalition officials reported.
An investigation is under way to determine the cause of the incident; however, officials said initial reports indicate it appears to be from mid-air collision and not the result of enemy fire. The names of the soldiers killed or wounded are being withheld until their families are notified.

Three Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers were killed April 12 in Iraq, U.S. military officials reported. A Multinational Division Baghdad soldier died and another was wounded when their vehicle was struck by a makeshift south of Baghdad. The unit was conducting a security patrol in the area when the attack occurred, officials reported. Elements of the unit have conducted multiple road clearing operations in the past few weeks, resulting in finding more than a dozen makeshift bombs.

Also on April 12, two Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers were killed and seven others were wounded when their patrol base came under attack by anti-Iraqi forces south of Baghdad. Two Iraqi interpreters were also killed in the attack, officials said. A quick reaction force was sent to the scene along with attack aviation helicopters, which quickly repelled the attack.

In the past few weeks, the unit has conducted several clearing operations south of the capital resulting in the capture of 22 insurgents and the seizure of five weapons caches. Iraqi and coalition forces continue to work toward a stable, secure and self-reliant Iraq in the support of Operation Fardh Al-Qanoon, officials said.

Meanwhile, the Defense Department has released the names of a 10 soldiers who died recently supporting operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

-Army Cpl. Jason J. Beadles, 22, of La Porte, Ind., died April 12 in Baghdad, Iraq, of a non-combat related injury. The incident is under investigation. He was assigned to the 887th Engineer Company, 326th Engineer Battalion, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.

-Army 1st Lt. Gwilym J. Newman, 24, of Waldorf, Md., died April 12 in Tarmiyah, Iraq, of wounds sustained from enemy small arms fire while on dismounted patrol. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

-Army Spc. James T. Lindsey, 20, of Florence, Ala., died April 12 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds sustained when his vehicle struck a makeshift bomb. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 509th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Fort Richardson, Alaska.

-Army Staff Sgt. Casey D. Combs, 28, of Auburn, Wash.; and Army Sgt. David A. Stephens, 28, of Tullahoma, Tenn., died April 12 in Miri, Afghanistan, when makeshift bomb struck their vehicle during combat operations. They were assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.

-Army Sgt. Edelman L. Hernandez, 23, of Hyattsville, Md., died April 11 in Korengal Valley, Afghanistan, while on combat patrol. The incident is under investigation. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, N.Y.

-Army Sgt. Raymond S. Sevaaetasi, 29, of Pago Pago, American Samoa, died April 11 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his vehicle struck a makeshift bomb. He was assigned to the 15th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

-Army Spc. Ismael G. Solorio, 21, of San Luis, Ariz.; Army Pfc. Brian L. Holden, 20, of Claremont, N.C.; Army Pvt. Brett A. Walton, 37, of Hillsboro, Ore., died Apr. 9 in Baghdad, Iraq, when a makeshift bomb detonated near their vehicle. They were assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 17th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.

(Compiled from Multinational Corps Iraq and Defense Department news releases.)