R.I.P. - Sgt. David J. Chambers

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

            Sgt. David J. Chambers, 25, of Hampton, Va., died Jan. 16, in Panjwai District, Kandahar Province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when he encountered an enemy improvised explosive device while on dismounted patrol.  He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, under control of the 7th Infantry Division, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.

            For more information, media may contact the 7th Infantry Division public affairs office at 253-477-0173 or 253-477-0174/5602.  After 5 p.m. PST, call 253-477-5543, and ask for the 7th Infantry Division public affairs officer on call.

---

from puyallup.patch.com:

By Brent Champaco
January 17, 2013

The 25-year-old from Hampton, VA was assigned to 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division. He died Wednesday in the Panjwai district, Kandahar province. According to the Department of Defense, Sgt. David J. Chambers, 25, of Hampton, VA, died Jan. 16, in Panjwai district, Kandahar province, Afghanistan, while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

He encountered an enemy improvised explosive device while on dismounted patrol.

He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division. His unit is assigned to Headquarters, 7th Infantry Division when at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

According to unit records, Sgt. Chambers entered the Army in May 2009 and reported to Fort Benning, GA for Army Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training MOS 11B (Infantryman). Upon graduation from AIT, he was assigned to 2nd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, Rose Barracks, Vilseck, Germany and was deployed to Afghanistan with that unit from June 2010 to May 2011. He arrived at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, in Oct. 2011 and was assigned to 1-38 Inf. He deployed to Afghanistan in November 2012.

Sgt. Chambers’ civilian and military education includes completion of 2 years of college credit (2008), Military Occupational Specialty: 11B – Infantryman (2009), and the Warrior Leader Course (2012).

His awards and decorations include the Purple Heart, Army Achievement Medal with 3rd oak leaf cluster, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with 1 campaign star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, and Driver’s Badge.

On behalf of the 7th Infantry Division and the entire Joint Base Lewis-McChord military and civilian community, we extend our sincere condolences to the family and friends of Sgt. Chambers.

-7th Infantry Division, Joint Base Lewis-McChord

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1 civilian killed, 5 injured in Nangarhar clash

Batikot District is located in the center of Nangarhar Province. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

JALALABAD (PAN): One civilian was killed and five others were wounded during a clash between police and militants in the eastern province of Nangarhar, officials said on Friday.

The predawn clash erupted when the insurgents attacked a police patrol in the Seh Pai area of Batikot district, the town’s administrative head, Mirza Mohammad Nasrat, told Pajhwok Afghan News.

One resident was killed and five others were wounded by in rebel fire. The victim was identified as a son of Ghalib. The injured included two women and three children from one family, said resident Sher Alam

One woman and a child were in critical condition, said a doctor on duty at the Nangarhar Civil Hospital, where the injured are under treatment.

from Pajhwok
By Mahbob Shah Mahbob Jan 18, 2013 - 17:10

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R.I.P. - Kingsman David Robert Shaw

Kingsman David Shaw dies from wounds sustained in Afghanistan
It is with great sadness that the Ministry of Defence must confirm that Kingsman David Robert Shaw from 1st Battalion The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment died in Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham on Wednesday 16 January 2013 from wounds sustained in Afghanistan.

Kingsman Shaw sustained a gunshot wound when his checkpoint came under attack from insurgents in the Lashkar Gah district of Helmand province on Monday 14 January 2013.

Kingsman David Shaw, from Barrow-in-Furness, was born on 13 October 1989 and joined the Army in February 2008. He successfully completed the Combat Infantryman’s Course at the Infantry Training Centre in Catterick and was posted to 1st Battalion The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment.

Following this, Kingsman Shaw deployed to British Army Training Unit Suffield, Canada, in the summer of 2009 with Corunna Company where he was employed as a rifleman in a mechanised platoon. He then conducted pre-deployment training for Operation Herrick 12 and deployed with Corunna Company in March 2010 to Nad ‘Ali district in southern Helmand.

Kingsman Shaw performed strongly with 10 Platoon working out of Patrol Base Silab. Upon returning to the UK, Kingsman Shaw remained with Corunna Company and successfully qualified as an Assault Pioneer.

As the battalion prepared to deploy back to Afghanistan on Operation Herrick 17 in October 2012, Kingsman Shaw was the voice of experience for the junior soldiers, deploying not only as an Assault Pioneer but also as a qualified sharpshooter. All new soldiers in Corunna Company looked up to Kingsman Shaw and followed the excellent example that he set.

This was demonstrated when he was involved in an incident in Afghanistan where 4 local children had fallen into a canal following a vehicle accident. The children were taken by local nationals to the nearest security forces checkpoint where Kingsman Shaw did not hesitate to administer first aid to the children; his swift actions and assistance to the medics were of the highest calibre.

Faultless in his motivation and resolve, Kingsman Shaw was usually at the centre of any outbreak of morale and could be guaranteed to put a smile on the face of any Kingsman.

Read more from GOV/MOD.UK

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Malian Army Re-Takes Central City From Rebels

The Malian army says it has re-taken control of the central town of Konna, as French and regional forces continue to pour into the country to fight a rebel offensive.

The army says it has gained "total control" of the city after inflicting "heavy losses" on the Islamist rebels there. The militant takeover of the town last week prompted France to intervene in its former colony.

The Malian army has previously reported military successes in Konna, but the claims are difficult to verify, since journalists have had difficulty accessing the city.

The one-week-old counter-offensive by French and West African regional troops appears to have stopped the southward advance of the al-Qaida-linked fighters, but has encountered heavier than expected resistance.

Heavy fighting between French soldiers and militants was reported Thursday in the town Diabaly, which was seized this week by the rebels.

French officials say 1,400 troops are now in Mali. A total of 2,500 soldiers are expected to deploy in the coming days. France says they will stay until the situation is stable.

On Thursday, the United States agreed to help France airlift troops and equipment into the country, though the Defense Department says it has no plans to send troops to the conflict.

Meanwhile, West African military chiefs say 2,000 troops from Nigeria, Niger, Chad, Burkina Faso and Togo will soon arrive in Mali as part of a U.N. authorized force.

As the foreign intervention entered its second week, new signs of a worsening humanitarian condition have emerged.

Doctors Without Borders Friday said civilians are in danger and that it is not able to deliver supplies to the battle-torn town of Konna. The French aid agency said all roads leading to the central town have been closed by the Malian military, despite "repeated requests" for access.

The U.N. refugee agency says it expects an increased wave of Malians to flee their homes in the coming months. An agency spokesperson said Friday it is preparing for 300,000 to be displaced inside the country and for 400,000 to leave for neighboring countries.

Al-Qaida-linked Islamic extremists seized control of northern Mali after renegade soldiers toppled the government in March, leaving a temporary power vacuum.  The militants have imposed harsh conservative Islamic law across the north.

from VOA News
January 18, 2013

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Jan. 18., 2013. - RC-East operational update

BAGRAM, Afghanistan - Afghan and coalition forces killed two insurgents, detained three, located one weapons cache and cleared five improvised explosive devices during operations in eastern Afghanistan throughout the past 24 hours, Jan. 17.

Ghazni province

Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces found and safely cleared three IEDs in Gelan district.

Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces discovered a weapons cache in Ghazni district. The cache contained small arms ammunition, weapons components and a small arms rifle.

Khowst province

Afghan Uniform Police found and safely cleared an IED in Nadir Shah Kot district.

Kunar province

Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces killed two insurgents during an engagement in Narang district.

Logar province

Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces detained one insurgent in Pul-E-Alam district. The detained suspect was transferred to a base for questioning.

Paktika province

Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces detained two insurgents during an operation in Bermel district. The insurgents were captured while in the process of wiring together suicide vests. The detained suspects were transferred to a base for questioning.

Wardak province

Afghan National Army soldiers found and safely cleared an IED in Sayed Abad district.

Operations in RC-East are ongoing.

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Foreign govts voice alarm over Algerian hostage raid

A bloody Algerian military raid on a gas field seized by Islamist militants has resulted in the death of at least several foreign nationals. Foreign governments have expressed concern at being kept in the dark over the operation.

Algerian security forces stormed a gas plant seized by Islamist militants in eastern Algeria on January 17, but several hostages were killed along with the captors in what appears to have been a highly questionable and chaotic rescue attempt.

At least seven foreign nationals were killed after Algerian forces launched the operation, according to a security source quoted by Reuters. However, the kidnappers report that 34 captives died in the assault.

There are no official figures as yet, and several conflicting reports on the number of dead, injured and missing.

Local and foreign sources said the site was still surrounded early Friday by Algerian special forces and some hostages remained inside.

Militants originally stated they were holding 41 foreign nationals and more than 150 Algerians after they seized control before dawn on Wednesday. The hostage-takers demanded Algeria close its airspace to French fighter jets bombing Islamist targets in northern Mali and on France to end its military intervention there.

Several Algerian sources said security forces were given the green light to attack the Islamists after the heavily armed kidnappers asked for safe passage to leave the country with the hostages.

the report continues here, read more from FR24
Latest update: 18/01/2013

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