DOD Identifies Units for Upcoming Afghanistan Rotation

DOD Identifies Units for Upcoming Afghanistan Rotation

            The Department of Defense today identified two major units to deploy as part of the upcoming rotation of forces operating in Afghanistan.  The scheduled rotation involves one armored brigade combat team with roughly 1,390 personnel -- and one combat aviation brigade with roughly 1,700 personnel to rotate in winter 2012.  The deploying units include:

            Brigade Combat Team:

            4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

            Combat Aviation Brigade:

            1st Armored Division Combat Aviation Brigade, Fort Bliss, Texas.

            DoD will continue to announce major deployments as they are approved.  For information on the respective deployments, contact the 1st Cavalry Division public affairs office at 254-287-9400 and the 1st Armored Division public affairs office at 915-744-8406.

Combat Aviation Brigade,1st Armored Division, Fort Bliss

English: 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Shoulder Sleeve Insignia (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

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R.I.P. - Staff Sgt. Roberto Loeza

DOD Identifies Army Casualty

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

            Staff Sgt. Roberto Loeza, 28, of El Paso, Texas, died May 25 in Charkh, Logar province, Afghanistan, when enemy forces attacked his unit with indirect fire.  He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 41st Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Fort Bliss, Texas.

            For more information please contact 1st Armored Division Public Affairs Office at 915-203-3769.

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from kfoxtv.com:

FORT BLISS, Texas — The Department of Defense announced the death of a Fort Bliss soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. 

Staff Sgt. Roberto Loeza, 28, of El Paso, died May 25 in Charkh, Logar province, Afghanistan. The department said enemy forces attacked his unit with indirect fire. 

Loeza was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 41st Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Fort Bliss, Texas. 

“1st Armored Division and Team Bliss lost an outstanding Soldier this past weekend; we are keeping Staff Sgt. Loeza’s Family, friends and fellow Soldiers in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time," stated Maj. Gen. Dana J.H. Pittard, commanding general, 1st Armored Division and Fort Bliss.  "Keep all of our Servicemembers in your prayers and remember freedom is definitely not free," he added.

Loeza, was an Infantryman (MOS 11B) who entered the Army in June 2002.  He was previously stationed at Fort Benning, Ga., Fort Bragg, NC, and Los Angeles Recruiting Battalion.  His military education includes Airborne, Combat Lifesaver’s Course, Warrior Leader Course, Army Recruiter, Advance Leader Course, Combatives Level II, Airload Planners, Unit Movement Officers Course, and the Air Assault Course.

Eden’s awards and decorations include the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Medal, Purple Heart, Bronze Star, Army Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Achievement Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Valorous Unit Award, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Army Good Conduct Medal with two Awards, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two Campaign Stars, Iraq Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, two Overseas Service Ribbons, six Certificates of Achievement, US Army Basic Recruiter Badge-Silver with three Gold Achievement Stars, US Army Basic Recruiter Badge-Gold with three Sapphire Achievement Stars, Combat Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, Driver and Mechanic Badge-Driver for Wheeled Vehicles, and the Marksmanship Qualification Badge-Expert with Rifle.

 He is survived by his wife and two children.

A memorial ceremony in honor of this fallen Soldier will be coordinated and announced at a later date.

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R.I.P. - Spc. Jason K. Edens

DOD Identifies Army Casualty

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

            Spc. Jason K. Edens, 22, of Franklin, Tenn., died April 26, in Bethesda, Md., of wounds sustained April 15, in Laghman province, Afghanistan, when the enemy attacked his unit with small arms fire.

            Edens was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 13th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Fort Bliss, Texas.

            For more information related to this release, media may contact the First Armored Division public affairs office at 915- 744-8406 or 915-744-8492, or via blackberry at 915- 203-3769 or 915-781-3143.

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NASHVILLE – Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Department of Veterans Affairs Commissioner Many-Bears Grinder respectfully announce the loss of Tennessee soldier, Specialist Jason K. Edens of Franklin.

Edens died on April 26, in Bethesda, Maryland from wounds he sustained during an enemy attack on his unit in Laghman province in Afghanistan on April 15.  The 22-year old Williamson County native was an Infantryman assigned to 1^st Squadron, 13^th Calvary Regiment, 3^rd Brigade Combat Team, 1^st Armored Division, Fort Bliss, Texas.

“The state of Tennessee joins the Edens family in mourning the loss of Jason,” Haslam said.  “We also offer our condolences to all who knew Jason, grew up with him in Franklin and served with him in the United States Army.”

Edens graduated from Franklin High School in 2007 and enlisted in the Army in January 2009.
Edens is survived by his wife Ashley Edens of Elizabethton, his mother Janet Crane of Phoenix City, Alabama and his father James Edens of Franklin.

“He was a hero,” Ashley Edens said while describing her husband.
“Our sympathy goes out to the family of Specialist Jason Edens as they mourn during this difficult time of loss,” Grinder said.  “I join Tennesseans in remembering the ultimate sacrifice of Specialist Edens and we are committed to honor our fallen Tennessee heroes.”

Edens will posthumously receive the Tennessee Fallen Heroes Medal during a private service.  Arrangements are pending; however, the Edens family expressed a desire for privacy for Spc. Edens’ funeral and burial.

Spc. Edens previously received the Purple Heart, North Atlantic Treaty Organization Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with a Campaign Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Combat Infantryman Badge.

from bluecollarmuse

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Hood soldier dies of gunshot wound

Image via Wikipedia

MISSOULA, Mont. — The name of a soldier who died of a gunshot wound while stationed at Ford Hood in Texas has been released.

Sgt. 1st Class Christopher David Atkinson, 33, of Lakeside died Thursday in Temple, Texas, after sustaining the gunshot wound Monday at Fort Hood, post officials said.

Officials say the shooting remains under investigation.

Atkinson deployed for Operation Iraqi Freedom from December 2005 to November 2006 and from June 2008 to May 2009, according to The Missoulian of Missoula.

Atkinson received numerous awards and decorations, including a Bronze Star.

Atkinson joined the Army in 1998. Since September 2009, he had been assigned to 1st Battalion, 393rd Infantry Regiment, 479th Field Artillery Brigade.

from ARMYTimes

 

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