Soldier Dies in Non-Combat Incident; Earlier Casualties Identified

American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, April 26, 2007 – A Multinational Corps Iraq soldier died April 24 in a non-combat-related incident, military officials reported, and the Defense Department has identified 13 servicemembers killed while serving in Iraq or Afghanistan in recent days.

The Multinational Corps Iraq soldier's name and home unit are being withheld pending next-of-kin notification, and the incident is under investigation, officials said.

Meanwhile, the Defense Department has identified the following servicemembers who were killed in action in recent days:

-- Marine Lance Cpl. Dale G. Peterson, 20, of Redmond, Ore., died April 23 while conducting combat operations in Iraq's Anbar province. Peterson was assigned to 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

-- Army Staff Sgt. Steven R. Tudor, 36, of Dunmore, Pa., died April 21 in Baghdad of wounds suffered when his unit came in contact with enemy forces using indirect fire during combat operations. Tudor was assigned to the 210th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y.

-- Army Pfc. Jeffrey A. Avery, 19, of Colorado Springs, Colo., died April 23 in Muqudadiyah, Iraq, from wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated during checkpoint operations. He was assigned to the 571st Military Police Company, 504th Military Police Battalion, 42nd Military Police Brigade, Fort Lewis, Wash.

-- Army Cpl. Ray M. Bevel, 22, of Andrews, Texas, died April 21 in Yusifiyah, Iraq, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his unit during combat patrol operations. Bevel was assigned to the 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y.

-- Army Staff Sgt. Marlon B. Harper, 34, of Baltimore, died April 21 in Baghdad of wounds suffered when he came in contact with enemy forces using a rocket-propelled grenade and small-arms fire during combat operations. Harper was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

-- Army Sgt. William W. Bushnell, 24, of Jasper, Ark., died April 21 in Baghdad of wounds suffered when his vehicle was struck by a rocket-propelled grenade during combat operations. Bushnell was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Bliss, Texas.

-- Pfc. Christopher M. North, 21, of Sarasota, Fla., died April 21 in Baghdad of wounds suffered when his unit came in contact with enemy forces using an improvised explosive device and small-arms fire during combat operations. North was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan.

-- Pfc. Michael J. Slater, 19, of Scott Depot, W.Va., died April 21 in Taji, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his vehicle rolled over during combat operations. Slater was assigned to the 407th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.

-- Army Chief Warrant Officer Dwayne L. Moore, 31, of Williamsburg, Va., died April 19 in Mahmudiyah, Iraq, of wounds suffered when he came in contact with enemy forces using indirect fire. Moore was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 15th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y.

-- Army Cpl. Wade J. Oglesby, 27, of Grand Junction, Colo., and Army Cpl. Michael M. Rojas, 21, of Fresno, Calif., died April 18 in Taji, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device detonated near their vehicle during combat operations. They were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 37th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.

-- Marine Lance Cpl. Jeffery A. Bishop, 23, of Dickson, Tenn., died April 20 from wounds suffered while conducting combat operations in Anbar province. Bishop was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

-- Army Sgt. Alexander Van Aalten, 21, of Monterey, Tenn., died April 20 in Sangin, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when a land mine detonated near his unit during combat operations. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.

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