Friday, April 06, 2007

Five Soldiers Killed in Iraq, Officials Identify Previous Casualties

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, April 5, 2007 – Five soldiers from Multinational Division Baghdad were killed during separate operations in Baghdad yesterday, military officials reported. While providing escort security north of capital city, two soldiers died and another was wounded when an improvised explosive device detonated near their convoy.

In a separate incident, a soldier died when a patrol was attacked with small-arms fire in an eastern section of Baghdad. Military officials said the unit was conducting an area reconnaissance mission when the attack occurred. Also yesterday, two soldiers died and three were wounded when an improvised explosive device detonated in a southern section of the city. The servicemembers' are being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

Meanwhile, the Defense Department has released the names of 11 soldiers and two Marines who died recently during U.S. operations abroad.

-- Army Pfc. Gabriel J. Figueroa, 20, of Baldwin Park, Calif., died April 3 in Baghdad when his unit came in contact with enemy forces using small-arms fire. Figueroa was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

-- Army Staff Sgt. Shane R. Becker, 35, of Helena, Mont., died April 3 in Baghdad when his unit came in contact with enemy forces using small-arms fire. Becker was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 40th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Fort Richardson, Alaska.

-- Army Spc. Curtis R. Spivey, 25, of Chula Vista, Calif., died April 2 in San Diego of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle during combat operations on Sept. 16 in Baghdad. Spivey was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

-- Army Spc. Brian E. Ritzberg, 24, of Long Island, New York, died April 2 in Balad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his unit during combat operations in Kirkuk, Iraq. Ritzberg was assigned to the 977th Military Police Company, 97th Military Police Battalion, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan.

-- Army Staff Sgt. Bradley D. King, 28, of Marion, Ind., died April 2 in Amiriyah, Iraq, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle during combat operations. King was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 152nd Infantry Regiment, 76th Infantry Brigade, Marion, Ind.

-- Army Staff Sgt. David A. Mejias, 26, of San Juan, Puerto Rico; Army Staff Sgt. Eric R. Vick, 25, of Spring Hope, N.C.; Army Sgt. Robert M. McDowell, 30, of Deer Park, Texas; and Army Spc. William G. Bowling, 24, of Beattyville, Ky., died April 1 in Baghdad when an improvised explosive device detonated near their vehicle during combat operations. They were assigned to the 2nd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y.

-- Marine Lance Cpl. Daniel R. Olsen, 20, of Eagan, Minn., died April 2 while conducting combat operations in Iraq's Anbar province. Olsen was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, Calif.

-- Marine Pfc. Miguel A. Marcial III, 19, of Secaucus, N.J., died April 1 in Anbar province. His death is under investigation. Marcial was assigned to 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

-- Army 1st Lt. Neale M. Shank, 25, of Fort Wayne, Ind., died March 31 in Baghdad in a non-combat-related incident. His death is under investigation. Shank was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 89th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y.

-- Army Sgt. Joe Polo, 24, of Opalocka, Fla., died March 29 in Baghdad of wounds suffered when his unit was attacked by enemy forces using an improvised explosive device and small-arms fire. Polo was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.

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