Five Coalition Troops, One U.S. Soldier Killed; Previous Casualties Identified

American Forces Press Service
June 17, 2007 – Four coalition servicemembers were killed today in Afghanistan, military officials reported. In addition, on June 15, a coalition servicemember was killed in Afghanistan and a U.S. soldier was killed in Iraq.

-- Three coalition servicemembers and an Afghan interpreter were killed today around 1:30 p.m. when an improvised explosive device detonated near their vehicle in Kandahar province, Afghanistan.

-- A coalition soldier was killed by a rocket-propelled grenade while conducting combat operations in Uruzgan province in southern Afghanistan today around 3 p.m. Three Afghan National Army soldiers were injured in the attack and are being treated at a nearby coalition medical facility.

-- A coalition forces servicemember died of wounds suffered during a combat operation June 15 in Paktika province.

-- One Multinational Division Baghdad soldier was killed when a roadside bomb detonated near a patrol during combat operations in a southern section of Baghdad June 15. Three other soldiers were wounded in the attack. The names and nationalities of the deceased servicemembers are being withheld pending notification of next of kin. Meanwhile, the Defense Department released the identities of one airman and three soldiers killed recently supporting the war on terror.

-- Air Force Maj. Kevin H. Sonnenberg, 42, of McClure, Ohio, died June 15 when his jet crashed five miles north of Balad Air Base, Iraq. He was assigned to the 112th Fighter Squadron, Toledo, Ohio. The cause of the crash is under investigation.

-- Army Master Sgt. Arthur L. Lilley, 35, of Smithfield, Pa., died June 15 in Shkin, Afghanistan, from wounds suffered from enemy small-arms fire. He was assigned to Company B, 2nd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, N.C.

-- Army Spc. Josiah W. Hollopeter, 27, of San Diego, Calif., died June 14 in Balad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his unit was attacked by insurgents using small-arms fire in Muqdadiyah, Iraq. He was assigned to the 6th Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

-- Army Pfc. Casey S. Carriker, 20, of Hoquiam, Wash., died June 13 in Kirkuk, Iraq, from injuries suffered from a non-combat related incident. His death is under investigation. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.

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