R.I.P. - Staff Sgt. Jonathan D. Davis

DOD Identifies Marine Casualty

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

            Staff Sgt. Jonathan D. Davis, 34, of Kayenta, Ariz., died Feb. 22 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to Headquarters Battalion, 32nd Georgian Liaison Team, Regimental Combat Team 7, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.

            For more information media may contact the 1st Marine Division Public Affairs Office at 760-725-8766.

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from utsandiego:
By Nathan Max
12:46 p.m.Feb. 25, 2013

 A Camp Pendleton-based Marine has been killed while conducting combat operations in Afghanistan, the Defense Department announced Monday.

Staff Sgt. Jonathan D. Davis, 34, of Kayenta, Ariz., died Friday in Helmand Province. He was assigned to Headquarters Battalion, 32nd Georgian Liaison Team, Regimental Combat Team 7, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force.

Davis enlisted in the Marine Corps on Oct. 21, 1997, and he served as a motor transport operations chief.

During his more than 15 years in the Marine Corps, he was awarded a Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the NATA Medal-ISAF Afghanistan, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the Global War on Terror Expeditionary Medal.

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R.I.P. - Capt. Matthew P. Manoukian, Gunnery Sgt. Ryan Jeschke, Staff Sgt. Sky R. Mote

DOD Identifies Marine Casualties
            The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of three Marines who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

            They died Aug. 10 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.  These Marines were assigned to 1st Marine Special Operations Battalion, Camp Pendleton, Calif.

            Killed were:

            Capt. Matthew P. Manoukian, 29, of Los Altos Hills, Calif.,

            Gunnery Sgt. Ryan Jeschke, 31, of Herndon, Va., and

            Staff Sgt. Sky R. Mote, 27, of El Dorado, Calif.

            This incident is under investigation.

            For additional information on these Marines, news media representatives may contact Marine Corps Special Operations Command public affairs office at 910-440-0770.

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Capt. Matthew P. Manoukian

from PanARMENIAN.Net
August 11, 2012 - 14:04 AMT

- A Camp Pendleton-based special operations captain was one of three Marines fatally shot before dawn Friday, August 10 in Helmand province by an Afghan police officer who had just shared a meal with them, UT San Diego said.

It was the third attack on coalition forces by their Afghan counterparts in a week.

Capt. Matt Manoukian, 29, of Los Altos Hills was killed along with two other yet-to-be-identified special operations troops after an Afghan police commander invited them to a meeting to discuss security issues. The meeting followed the meal, which took place early because of daytime fasting restrictions during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

The “green-on-blue” attack occurred in the volatile Sangin district of Helmand province, said U.S. military spokeswoman Maj. Lori Hodge. Sangin was a Taliban stronghold for years and has one of the highest concentrations of improvised explosive devices in Afghanistan.

Manoukian, the son of two judges, joined the Marine Corps about seven years ago. He was on his fourth combat deployment — including his second in Afghanistan.

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from washington.cbslocal:
August 13, 2012 6:45 PM

Gunnery Sgt. Ryan Jeschke

WASHINGTON (CBSDC/AP) — The Pentagon says a 31-year-old from northern Virginia was one of three marines killed in Afghanistan last week.

Gunnery Sgt. Ryan Jeschke of Herndon, Va., died Friday while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

Jeschke was assigned to 1st Marine Special Operations Battalion, Camp Pendleton, Calif.

Twenty-nine year-old Matthew P. Manoukian of Los Altos Hills, Calif. and 27-year-old Staff Sgt. Sky R. Mote of El Dorado, Calif. were also killed.

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Staff Sgt. Sky R. Mote

from eldoradohills.news10
Submitted by Paul Janes, News 10 Web Producer
Monday, August 13th, 2012, 1:56pm

EL DORADO, CA -
On Monday, the U.S. Department of Defense announced the death of Staff Sgt. Sky R. Mote of El Dorado.

Mote, 27, was killed Aug. 10 during combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 1st Marine Special Operations Battalion out of Camp Pendleton, California, and served in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

A nine-year veteran, Mote joined the Corps in July 2003.

Following boot camp, Mote became a bulk fuel specialist before advancing to an explosive ordinance disposal technician in 2007.

He joined the United States Marine Corps Special Operations Command in August 2009.

Mote's military achievements included a Purple Heart, a Navy-Marine Corps Commendation Medal, a Navy-Marine Corps Achievement Medal, two Combat Action Ribbons and three Good Conduct Medals.

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R.I.P. - Gunnery Sgt. Jonathan W. Gifford, Gunnery Sgt. Daniel J. Price

DOD Identifies Marine Casualties

             The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of two Marines who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

             They died July 29 while conducting combat operations in Badghis province, Afghanistan.

             Killed were:

             Gunnery Sgt. Jonathan W. Gifford, 34, of Palm Bay, Fla.  He was assigned to 2nd Marine Special Operations Battalion, Camp Lejeune, N.C.; also,

             Gunnery Sgt. Daniel J. Price, 27, of Holland, Mich.  He was assigned to 1st Marine Special Operations Battalion, Camp Pendleton, Calif.

             For more information media may contact the Marine Special Operations Command Public Affairs Office at 910-440-0770.

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Gunnery Sgt. Daniel J. Price

from marinecorpstimes:

By Andrew deGrandpré - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Jul 30, 2012 20:49:42 EDT

Two elite special operations Marines were killed in combat Sunday in northwestern Afghanistan.

Gunnery Sgt. Daniel J. Price, 27, of Holland, Mich., and Gunnery Sgt. Jonathan W. Gifford, 34, of Palm Bay, Fla., died during a morning patrol in Badghis province, a Marine official told Marine Corps Times on Monday.

Both were critical skills operators assigned to Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command. Price belonged to 1st Marine Special Operations Battalion out Camp Pendleton, Calif. Gifford was from 2nd MSOB out of Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Although they came from separate commands within MARSOC, Price and Gifford were assigned to the same special operations task force in Afghanistan, the Marine official said.

A Purple Heart recipient, Price experienced ample combat over the last several years. He deployed three times each in support of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, according to a Marine Corps news release.

On Nov. 10, the Marine Corps’ birthday, Price was awarded a Bronze Star with “V” device for his actions during a 2009, battle in Afghanistan’s Farah province. When the remote weapon on his vehicle was destroyed, he climbed on top to man its MK19 grenade launcher, according to his medal citation. As enemy rounds whipped by, Price stayed put — holding his position for four hours and killing “numerous” insurgents in the process.

Price enlisted in 2003 and attended the Marine Corps’ Basic Reconnaissance Course a year later, according to the Marine Corps’ news release. He was a member of Camp Pendleton’s 1st Recon Battalion before joining MAROC in 2008.

Gifford was just shy of 15 years in the service. A member of the Corps’ force reconnaissance community prior to joining MARSOC, he also completed multiple combat deployments and earned a Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with combat “V,” the Marine official said.

It’s not immediately clear how Price and Gifford died. Parts of Badghis province, which borders Turkmenistan, have been marked by violence for the past several years, according to a report published late last year by the Naval Postgraduate School.

Sgt. Justin M. Hansen, also a member of 2nd MSOB, was shot and killed during a house sweep in Badghis province only one week ago. He was on his second deployment to Afghanistan.

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R.I.P. - Cpl. Keaton G. Coffey

(Photo from Keaton Coffey's Facebook page)

DOD Identifies Marine Casualty

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

            Cpl. Keaton G. Coffey, 22, of Boring, Ore., died May 24 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.  He was assigned to 1st Law Enforcement Battalion, 1st Marine Headquarters Group, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.

            For additional background information on this Marine, news media representatives may contact the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force public affairs office at 760-763-4675.

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from katu.com:

BORING, Ore. - A local soldier from Boring was killed in Afghanistan this past week.

Cpl. Keaton G. Coffey, 22, died on May 24 during combat operations in the Helmand province, according to the Department of Defense.

Coffey was assigned to the 1st Law Enforcement Battalion, 1st Marine Headquarters Group, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force out of Camp Pendleton, California.
Coffey, who was an only child, was engaged to be married in July. He went to Damascus Christian School before entering the service.

Photo from Keaton Coffey's Facebook page

Related articles

• DOD Identifies Marine Casualty (defense.gov)
• http://www.katu.com/news/Local-soldier-killed-in-Afghanistan-154534305.html
• more photos: http://www.katu.com/news/local/Local-soldier-killed-in-Afghanistan-154534305.html?tab=gallery&c=y&img=0

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R.I.P. - Sgt. Wade D. Wilson

DOD Identifies Marine Casualty

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

            Sgt. Wade D. Wilson, 22, of Normangee, Texas, died May 11 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.  He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.

            For additional background information on this Marine, news media representatives may contact the 1st Marine Division public affairs office at 760-725-8766.

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from nctimes.com:

A Camp Pendleton sergeant on his second combat deployment in Afghanistan has been killed, the Defense Department said Monday.

The department said Sgt. Wade D. Wilson "died while conducting combat operations in the Helmand province." No further details were provided.

Wilson, 22, was listed as a native of Normangee, Texas, whose family resides in Leona, Texas.
He was killed Friday, the Pentagon said.

Wilson was an anti-tank missileman assigned to 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force based at Camp Pendleton.

CBS television affiliate KBTX.com in Bryan-College Station, Texas, quoted his high school football coach, Kyle Hardee, saying he remembers the fallen Marine's toughness and character.

"He was just one of those kids with heart, and he would be willing to do anything to get the job done," Hardee told the station.

A friend, Corey Boudiette, was quoted on the station's website saying he spoke with Wilson last Wednesday.

"He said that it was getting really hot over there and that he had been blown up by three IEDs in a week. But he said, 'It's OK, I'm having fun and I'm with people I care about,'" Boudiette said.

Wilson enlisted in the Marine Corps in June 2007 after graduating from Centerville High School where he played football, ran track and showed livestock at the county fair, according to base officials and an obituary from his hometown.

His decorations include the Purple Heart medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two bronze star devices, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with bronze star device, and the NATO Medal-ISAF Afghanistan.

Survivors include his parents, his stepfather, three brothers, a sister and three stepsisters.
Wilson's funeral services in Centerville are pending.

About 10,000 locally based Marines and sailors are serving in Afghanistan in this, the 11th year of the war.

They are being led by Camp Pendleton's Maj. Gen. Charles "Mark" Gurganus, who will brief local reporters later this week on his view of the war's progress.

Since the war began ---- after the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 ---- 1,971 American troops have died in Afghanistan, including 107 this year.

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R.I.P. - Master Sgt. Scott E. Pruitt

DOD Identifies Marine Casualty

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

            Master Sgt. Scott E. Pruitt, 38, of Gautier, Miss., died April 28 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.  He was assigned to I Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.

            For additional background information on this Marine, news media representatives may contact the I Marine Expeditionary Force public affairs office at 760-763-7795.

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GAUTIER, Mississippi -- Marine Master Sgt. Scott E. Pruitt, 38, of Gautier was killed Saturday by an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan, just two months after he volunteered to return to that country to lead his troops, according to his older brother.

"I think what makes the story even more tragic is that he was set to retire in a year and had earned rank over an entire platoon," 40-year-old Paul Pruitt said about his brother in a phone interview from Santa Monica, Calif., where he lives.

"But he volunteered to go back into combat because he thought it was the right thing to do."
The Department of Defense said that Scott Pruitt died in Helmand province on Saturday in combat maneuvers.

He had been assigned to I Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, based at Camp Pendleton, Calif. He lived in Murietta, Calif.
Scott Pruitt is the second soldier from Gautier to die serving in Afghanistan.
Army Maj. Michael Green, a 36-year-old Special Forces officer, was killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan on Jan. 7, 2008.

Scott Pruitt graduated from Pascagoula High School in 1992, according to his brother, who graduated two years earlier.
Paul Pruitt described his brother as "just a great human being, an amazing brother, son, and father.
"I can say, without bias, that he was a very decent, dependable, hard-working, good person. He was as good of a person as you could find."
He is survived by two daughters, ages 9 and 4, who also live in California, and his fiancée, Tricia Anderson-Lane of Virginia.

After graduating from Pascagoula High, Scott Pruitt earned a BA in criminal justice from American Military University.

Master Sgt. Pruitt earned his rank on Jan. 1, 2010, and was specialized as a financial management resource analyst, according to the Marines' public information office.
He was set to end active service on June 23, 2013.

His awards include:

• Purple Heart Medal.
• Three Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals.
•  Five Marine Corps Good Conduct Medals.
•  Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal.
•  Two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals.
•  Afghanistan Campaign Medal.
•  Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.
•  Four Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbons.
•  Two National Defense Service Medals.
•  North Atlantic Treaty Organization Medal.
•  Three Navy Meritorious Unit Commendations.

Funeral arrangements for Pruitt are pending. 

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Female Engagement Team Deploys, Says Goodbye to Family & Friends

Video by Lance Cpl. Joshua Young
From Marine Expeditionary Force

--
Female Engagement Team 12-1 members say goodbye to their friends and family at Camp Pendleton, Calif. The FET is trained to engage the people of Afghanistan, primarily the females, and build a trusting relationship by providing medical aid, supplies, education and other opportunities that will benefit families.

from DODLive

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