R.I.P. - Maj. Paul C. Voelke

DOD Identifies Army Casualty

            The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

            Maj. Paul C. Voelke, 36, of Monroe, N.Y., died Jun. 22 in Mazar E. Sharif, Afghanistan.  He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.

            For more information please contact the 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs at 912-435-9869 or 912-435-9876.

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from nydailynews:

Gov. Cuomo has directed that flags on state government buildings be flown at half-staff on Wednesday, June 27 in honor of a New York soldier who died in Afghanistan on June 22.

Major Paul C. Voelke died in Mazar-i-Sharif while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, based at Fort Stewart, Georgia.

Major Voelke was from the Town of Monroe.

"I join with all New Yorkers in mourning the loss of Major Voelke and I send my deepest sympathies to his family, friends, and fellow soldiers," Cuomo said. "We will be forever grateful for his service and his dedication to our nation."

Gov. Cuomo has directed that the flags on all state buildings be lowered to half-staff in honor of and in tribute to our state's service members and those stationed in New York who are killed in action or die in a combat zone.
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Voelke had served in the Army for 14 years. This was his second deployment to Afghanistan, and he had been deployed twice to Iraq. He was the recipient of the Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Afghanistan Campaign Medal.

Posted in: 3rd Infantry Division, Afghanistan, fallen heros, Fort Stewart, Operation Enduring Freedom