R.I.P. - 1Lt. Brandon J. Landrum, SSgt. Francis G. Phillips IV, Spc. Kevin Cardoza, Spc. Thomas P. Murach, Spc. Brandon J. Prescott

DOD Identifies Army Casualties

            The Department of Defense announced today the death of five soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

            They died May 4, in Maiwand, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when their vehicle was attacked by an enemy improvised explosive device.  The soldiers were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 36thInfantry, 1stBrigade Combat Team, 1stArmored Division, Fort Bliss, Texas.

            Killed were:

                        1stLt. Brandon J. Landrum, 26, of Lawton, Okla.,

                        Staff Sgt. Francis G. Phillips IV, 28, of Meridian, N.Y.,

                         Spc. Kevin Cardoza, 19, of Mercedes, Texas,

                         Spc. Thomas P. Murach, 22, of Meridian, Idaho, and

                         Spc. Brandon J. Prescott, 24, of Bend, Ore.

             For more information please contact the Fort Bliss public affairs office at 915-472-0287.

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1st Lt. Brandon J. Landrum, 26, of Lawton, Okla., died May 4, in Maiwand, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when his vehicle was attacked by an enemy improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 36th Infantry, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Fort Bliss, Texas. After graduating from Cameron University with a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Infantry Branch. He enlisted in the Army on 10 November 2005 and deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from December 2008 through August 2009. Upon receiving his commission on May 2011, he graduated the Infantry Basic Officer Leaders Course and Airborne School. First Lt Landrum arrived to Fort Bliss, Texas, in January 2012, where he assumed the leadership of a Rifle Platoon in Company A, 1st Battalion, 36th Infantry Regiment until September 2012. In September 2012, he was selected above his peers to be the Reconnaissance Platoon Leader and in December 2012, he deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. His awards include the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal with a Campaign Star, the Afghan Campaign Medal with a Campaign Star, the NATO Medal, and the Combat Infantryman Badge.
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Staff Sgt. Francis G. Phillips IV, 28, of Meridian, N.Y., died May 4, in Maiwand, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when his vehicle was attacked by an enemy improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 36th Infantry, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Fort Bliss, Texas. Frankie enlisted in the Army on 29 April 2004 in Syracuse, New York. He attended the fourteen-week long Infantry Training Course and Airborne Course at Fort Benning, Georgia. Staff Sergeant Phillips’ first duty assignment was to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where on 16 August 2004, he was assigned to 3/504 Infantry Battalion as a Gunner. In September 2005, he deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In January 2007, he served in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom for fifteen months. In August 2009, he returned to Afghanistan as a Section Leader for twelve months. Staff Sergeant Phillips completed Ranger School in January 2011 prior to arriving at Fort Bliss, Texas. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 36th Infantry Regiment and was immediately selected to be a Team Leader in the Reconnaissance Platoon. He deployed in December 2012 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. His awards include the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Army Commendation Medal with Valor, the Army Commendation Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Army Achievement Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Good Conduct Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal with a Campaign Star, the Afghan Campaign Medal with a Campaign Star, the NATO Medal, Expert Infantry Badge, Parachutist Badge and the Combat Infantryman Badge.
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Spc. Kevin Cardoza, 19, of Mercedes, Texas died May 4, in Maiwand, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when his vehicle was attacked by an enemy improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 36th Infantry, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Fort Bliss, Texas. He graduated from Edinburg High School in June 2011. Specialist Cardoza enlisted in the Army on 12 July 2011. He attended the fourteen-week long Infantry Training Course at Fort Benning, Georgia. Specialist Cardoza’s first duty assignment was Fort Bliss, Texas where he was assigned to Company C, 1st Battalion, 36th Infantry Regiment. One month later he was selected to be a member of the Reconnaissance Platoon. He deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom as the driver for his Platoon Leader. Specialist Cardoza’s awards include the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghan Campaign Medal with a Campaign Star, the NATO Medal, and the Combat Infantryman Badge.
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Spc. Thomas P. Murach, 22, of Meridian, Idaho died May 4, in Maiwand, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when his vehicle was attacked by an enemy improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 36th Infantry, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Fort Bliss, Texas. He graduated from High School in Meridian, Idaho, in 2008. Specialist Murach enlisted in the Army on 24 August 2010. He attended the fourteen-week long Infantry Training Course at Fort Benning, Georgia. Specialist Murach’s first duty assignment was Fort Bliss, Texas, where he was assigned to 1st Battalion, 36th Infantry Regiment and was selected to be a member of the Reconnaissance Platoon as a Sniper. He deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom as the Senior Sniper for his Platoon. Specialist Murach’s awards include the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghan Campaign Medal with a Campaign Star, the NATO Medal, and the Combat Infantryman Badge. Specialist Murach is survived by his mother, and his brother.
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Spc. Brandon J. Prescott, 24, of Bend, Ore., died May 4, in Maiwand, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when his vehicle was attacked by an enemy improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 36th Infantry, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Fort Bliss, Texas. He attended the fourteen-week long Infantry Training Course at Fort Benning, Georgia. Specialist Prescott’s first duty assignment was Fort Bliss, Texas, where he was assigned to 1st Battalion, 36th Infantry Regiment as a member of the Reconnaissance Platoon. Shortly after arriving to Fort Bliss, he set himself apart from his peers in the platoon and was assigned as the Assistant Team Leader. He deployed to Afghanistan on 12 December 2012 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. His awards include the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Army Commendation Medal with Valor, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghan Campaign Medal with a Campaign Star, the NATO Medal, and the Combat Infantryman Badge.

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Posted in: Afghanistan, fallen heros, Fort Bliss, Maiwand, Operation Enduring Freedom