Three Servicemembers Killed; DoD Identifies 10 Previous Casualties

American Forces Press Service

May 11, 2007 – Three U.S. servicemembers died and two were wounded yesterday during operations in Iraq, military officials said, and the Defense Department has identified 10 previous casualties.

-- A Multinational Corps Iraq soldier was severely wounded by enemy small-arms fire yesterday during a patrol in Diwaniyah, Iraq. The soldier was evacuated for treatment, but later died of his wounds.

-- A Multinational Division Baghdad soldier was killed by enemy small-arms fire yesterday during a patrol in the southern section of the city.

-- One Multinational Division Baghdad soldier was killed and two others were wounded yesterday when their patrol encountered an improvised explosive device in eastern Baghdad. One of the wounded soldiers later returned to duty.

The servicemembers' names are being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

Meanwhile, the Defense Department released the identities of nine soldiers and one Marine killed recently supporting U.S. operations abroad.

-- Marine Lance Cpl. Walter K. O'Haire, 20, of Lynn, Mass., died May 9 from wounds suffered while conducting combat operations in Anbar province, Iraq. O'Haire was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

-- Army Sgt. Timothy P. Padgett, 28, of Defuniak Springs, Fla., died May 8 in Tarin Kwot, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when his unit was attacked by enemy forces during combat patrol operations. Padgett was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, N.C.

-- Army Spc. Dan H. Nguyen, 24, of Sugar Land, Texas, died May 8 in Tahrir, Iraq, when his unit came under enemy small-arms fire. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

-- Army Staff Sgt. Vincenzo Romeo, 23, of Lodi, N.J.; Army Sgt. Jason R. Harkins, 25, of Clarkesville, Ga.; Army Sgt. Joel W. Lewis, 28, of Sandia Park, N.M.; Army Cpl. Matthew L. Alexander, 21, of Gretna, Neb.; Army Cpl. Anthony M. Bradshaw, 21, of San Antonio, Texas; and Army Cpl. Michael A. Pursel, 19, of Clinton, Utah, died May 6 in Baqubah, Iraq, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near their vehicle during combat operations. They were assigned to 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.

-- Army Staff Sgt. Virgil C. Martinez, 33, of West Valley, Utah, died May 6 in Kadhimiyah, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his unit came in contact with enemy forces using an improvised explosive device and small-arms fire in Baghdad. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 7th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Schweinfurt, Germany.

(Compiled from Multinational Corps Iraq, Combined Joint Task Force 82 and Defense Department news releases.)