Jim's Military News: Fort Stewart

Showing posts with label Fort Stewart. Show all posts

Saturday, May 18, 2013

5/17/13: R.I.P. - Sgt. 1st Class Jeffrey C. Baker, Spc. Mitchell K. Daehling, Spc. William J. Gilbert

5/18/2013 02:34:00 PM SgtJim No Comments yet, your thoughts are welcome

DOD Identifies Army Casualties

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

            They died May 14, in Sanjaray, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked their unit with an improvised explosive device.

            Killed were:

            Sgt. 1st Class Jeffrey C. Baker, 29, of Hesperia, Calif., assigned to 766th Ordnance Company, 63rd Ordnance Battalion, 52nd Ordnance Group, Fort Stewart, Ga.

            Spc. Mitchell K. Daehling, 24, of Dalton, Mass., and

            Spc. William J. Gilbert, 24, of Hacienda Heights, Calif., both assigned to 3rd Battalion, 41st Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Fort Bliss, Texas.

            For more information pertaining to Sgt 1st Class Baker media may contact the Fort Stewart public affairs office at 912-210-9375.

            For more information pertaining to Spc. Daehling and Spc. Gilbert media may contact the Fort Bliss public affairs office at 915-472-0287.

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Sgt. 1st Class Jeffrey C. Baker, 29, of Hesperia, Calif., assigned to 766th Ordnance Company, 63rd Ordnance Battalion, 52nd Ordnance Group, Fort Stewart, Ga. He died May 14, in Sanjaray, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked their unit with an improvised explosive device. Baker joined the Army in October 2004. He was on his second deployment. His awards include the Bronze Star and Purple Heart medals, both posthumous.

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Spc. William J. Gilbert, 24, of Hacienda Heights, Calif., assigned to 3rd Battalion, 41st Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Fort Bliss, Texas. He died May 14, in Sanjaray, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. Will was a student/athlete at La Serna High School where he graduated in 2007. He was a pitcher on the varsity baseball team for four years and also played football. Spc Gilbert was an Infantryman who entered the Army from Los Angeles, August 2010. He received Basic Combat Training and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Benning, Georgia. He arrived at Fort Bliss, his first permanent duty station, in January 2011. His awards and decorations include the National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with a Campaign Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, North Atlantic Treaty Organization Medal, and the Combat Infantryman Badge. He is survived by his spouse. This was his first combat tour.

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Spc. Mitchell K. Daehling, 24, of Dalton, Mass., assigned to 3rd Battalion, 41st Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Fort Bliss, Texas. He died May 14, in Sanjaray, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. Spc Daehling was an Infantryman who entered the Army from Boston, September 2010. He received Basic Combat Training and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Benning, Georgia. He arrived at Fort Bliss, his first duty station, in January 2011. Daehling’ awards and decorations include the National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with a Campaign Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Medal. He is survived by his spouse. This was his first combat tour.

R.I.P. - Pfc. Barrett L. Austin

4/23/2013 10:16:00 AM SgtJim 3 comments, check it!

DOD Identifies Army Casualty

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

            Pfc. Barrett L. Austin, 20, of Easley, S.C., died April 21 in Landstuhl, Germany, of injuries sustained when his vehicle was attacked by an enemy improvised explosive device in Wardak Province, Afghanistan, April 17. He was assigned to the 4th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.

            For more information media may contact the Fort Stewart public affairs office at 912-435-9874 during duty hours. After duty hours call 912-767-8666 and ask for the on-call public affairs officer.

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from foxcarolina:

Posted: Apr 22, 2013 3:32 AM Updated: Apr 22, 2013 10:18 PM
By Dal Kalsi

DACUSVILLE, SC (FOX Carolina) - An Upstate soldier serving in Afghanistan died after his vehicle was attacked by an enemy improvised explosive device.

Pfc. Barrett Austin, 20, of Easley, died from injuries he sustained last Thursday, according to his grandfather, Donald Austin.
Family said Barrett Austin was driving a military vehicle when he ran over an explosive device. The device detonated, leaving Barrett Austin severely injured.
According to the military, the attack happened in the Wardak Province on April 17. He was assigned to the 4th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, GA.
According to Donald Austin, his grandson was flown to an Army hospital in Germany. His parents and his wife, Heather, were at his bedside when Barrett Austin passed away Sunday afternoon, according to family.
The family is expected to return with Barrett Austin's remains on Wednesday.

Funeral plans have not yet been announced.

According to a memorial Facebook group set up in Barrett Austin's memory, he attended Dacusville and Pickens high schools, where flags were flown at half-staff on Monday.

R.I.P. - Staff Sgt. Christopher M. Ward, Spc. Wilbel A. Robles-Santa, Spc. Deflin M. Santos Jr.

4/10/2013 12:48:00 PM SgtJim No Comments yet, your thoughts are welcome

DOD Identifies Army Casualties
            The Department of Defense announced today the death of three soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

            They died April 6 in Kandahar, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked their unit in Zabul, Afghanistan with a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device. They were assigned to the 5th Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Armor Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.

            Killed were:

            Staff Sgt. Christopher M. Ward, 24, of Oak Ridge, Tenn., Spc. Wilbel A. Robles-Santa, 25, of Juncos, Puerto Rico, and Spc. Deflin M. Santos Jr., 24, of San Jose, Calif.

            For more information, media may contact the Fort Stewart public affairs office at 912-210-9375.

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Staff Sgt. Christopher M. Ward, 24, of Oak Ridge, Tenn., died April 6 in Kandahar, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked their unit in Zabul, Afghanistan with a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device.
He was assigned to the 5th Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Armor Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga. A chaplain and another military representative knocked on her door at about 10:35 p.m. Saturday. Joyce Ward of Oak Ridge knew why there were there.
She learned that her son, Staff Sgt. Christopher M. Ward, 24, had died in southern Afghanistan on Saturday morning helping a diplomat and two other soldiers deliver books to children in Zabul province when their vehicle was hit by an explosion.
“He is a hero,” Joyce Ward said. “He gave his life. He put himself in the line of fire to protect others.” Nancy Ward, Christopher’s grandmother in Arcadia, Fla., said Christopher Ward was part of the convoy that included diplomat Anne Smedinghoff, 25, of Chicago.
She was the first American diplomat to be killed on the job since Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and three others were killed last Sept. 11 in an attack on a United States diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya. The five Americans who died Saturday—the three soldiers, the diplomat, and a U.S. Department of Defense civilian—were delivering textbooks to children at a new school in Afghanistan.
They were traveling in a convoy of vehicles when a suicide bomb set off by the Taliban exploded, the Chicago Tribune reported.
Christopher Ward grew up in Arcadia, Fla. He was in Junior ROTC and stayed in Arcadia, which is east of Sarasota and north of Fort Myers, to finish high school when Joyce moved to Oak Ridge about 10 years ago. He came to Oak Ridge in July 2004 and attended Oak Ridge High School before getting a GED later, Joyce Ward said. He enlisted in the Army in 2006 at 17 and had been in Iraq twice.
His mother said this was his first tour in Afghanistan. Joyce Ward was at Dover Air Force Base in Dover, Del., on Monday for a “dignified transfer” procedure. Her son’s body was the first off the plane. “I wouldn’t want no one else to have to experience it,” she said.
Ward also is survived by his two younger brothers, Matthew, 22, and Travis, 20, and his paternal grandfather. Officials have not been able to locate his father.
“He never said he worked for the Army,” Joyce Ward said of her son. “He said he worked for the people.”
Another U.S. service member was killed in a separate attack Saturday. It was reported to be the deadliest day in the country for the United States in eight months.
Ward, 24, was a native of Oak Ridge, Tenn. Ward joined the Army in November of 2005.
This was his third deployment.

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Spc. Wilbel A. RoblesSanta, 25, of Juncos, Puerto Rico, died April 6 in Kandahar, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked their unit in Zabul, Afghanistan with a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device.
He was assigned to the 5th Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Armor Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.
He joined the Army in October of 2010.
This was his second deployment.

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Spc. Deflin M. Santos Jr., 24, of San Jose, Calif., died April 6 in Kandahar, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked their unit in Zabul, Afghanistan with a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device.
He was assigned to the 5th Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Armor Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.
He joined the Army in February 2007, arriving at the unit in May 2011. He was on his second deployment. Santos is the youngest of 17 children. His father was a POW in World War II and was part of the Bataan Death March. His father was buried in the Philippines. Delfin's family said his body will be flown to the Philippines as well so that he can be buried next to his father.

R.I.P. - Chief Warrant Officer Curtis S. Reagan

4/02/2013 04:29:00 PM SgtJim No Comments yet, your thoughts are welcome

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

            Chief Warrant Officer Curtis S. Reagan, 43, of Summerville, S.C., died March 29 in Kandahar, Afghanistan, from a non-combat related illness. He was assigned to the 603rd Aviation Support Battalion, 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield, Ga.

            For more information please contact Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield public affairs office at 912-767-8666.

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from fortstewart.patch.com:

By Ryan Smith

A 3rd Infantry Division soldier has died in Afghanistan, according to a Department of Defense release.

Chief Warrant Officer Curtis S. Reagan, 43, died March 29 in Kandahar from a non-combat-related illness. Reagan, a native of Summerville, S.C., was assigned to the 603rd Aviation Support Battalion, 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade, 3rd ID.

Reagan was the 3rd Infantry Division's ninth Afghanistan-related death in March and the seventh from 3rd CAB.

On March 11, a Fort Stewart soldier was killed in a firefight and five 3rd CAB soldiers were killed in a helicopter crash. On March 13, a Fort Stewart soldier died in Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., from wounds suffered in Afghanistan. And on March 16, a 3rd CAB soldier was killed in Kandahar.

Col. Allan Pepin, commander of Task Force Falcon in Afghanistan, paid tribute to Reagan and the other fallen 3rd CAB soldiers in a Monday post on 3rd CAB's Facebook page.

"(Reagan) will join our recent Heroes in peace, and we will stand tall through this hardship and honor our seven fallen warriors by continuing the mission, as they would demand," Pepin wrote. "Our mission here must continue as we pave the way for Afghan independence, and support our partners for a better future in Afghanistan. Their sacrifices in a time of war only strengthen our resolve."

R.I.P. - Spc. David T. Proctor

3/15/2013 02:05:00 PM SgtJim No Comments yet, your thoughts are welcome

DOD Identifies Army Casualty

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

            Spc. David T. Proctor, 26, of Greensboro, N.C., died March 13, at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Md., from injuries sustained during a non-combat incident on March 3, in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 1st Armor Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.

            For more information media may contact Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield Public Affairs Office at 912-210-9375 or after-hours at 912-767-8666.

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from fortstewart.patch.com:

By Ryan Smith
March 14, 2013

Spc. David T. Proctor, who died Wednesday at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, was one of several 3rd ID casualties this week.

A 3rd Infantry Division soldier died Wednesday from wounds sustained early in March, according to a Fort Stewart press release. The death is the latest of several 3rd ID casualties this week.

Spc. David T. Proctor, 26, died Wednesday at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., from wounds suffered during a non-combat incident March 3 in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan.

Proctor, an infantryman, was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 1st Armor Brigade Combat Team, 3rd ID. He joined the Army in August of 2011 and arrived at his unit in November of that year, according to the release. This was his first deployment.

Proctor's death was one of several this week for 3rd ID. On Monday, Staff Sgt. Rex L. Schad, 26, died from injuries suffered when he was attacked by small-arms fire. Schad was also a member of Fort Stewart's 1st Armor Brigade Combat Team.

Also killed Monday were five soldiers assigned to Hunter Army Airfield, according to Fort Stewart spokesman Kevin Larson. The soldiers died in a helicopter crash outside Kandahar. The Department of Defense has not yet released their names.

R.I.P. - Capt. Andrew M. Pedersen-Keel, Staff Sgt. Rex L. Schad

3/13/2013 11:35:00 PM SgtJim No Comments yet, your thoughts are welcome

DOD Identifies Army Casualties

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

            They died March 11, in Jalrez District, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when they were attacked by small arms fire. Killed were:

            Capt. Andrew M. Pedersen-Keel, 28, of South Miami, Fla. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Bragg, N.C.

            Staff Sgt. Rex L. Schad, 26, of Edmond, Okla. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 1st Armor Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.

            For more information on Capt. Pedersen-Keel, media may contact the U.S. Army Special Forces Command (Airborne) public affairs office at 910- 689-6187.

            For more information on Staff Sgt. Schad, media may contact the Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield public affairs office at 912- 210-9375.

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from WOTC:

SSgt. Rex Schad

HINESVILLE, GA (WTOC) - A Fort Stewart soldier was one of two killed March 11 in Afghanistan, the Department of Defense announced Wednesday.

Staff Sgt. Rex L. Schad, 26, of Edmond, Okla. and Capt. Andrew M. Pedersen-Keel, 28, of South Miami, Fla. died in Jalrez District, Afghanistan, of injuries they suffered when they were attacked by small arms fire.

Schad was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 1st Armor Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga. Pedersen-Keel was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Bragg, N.C.

On Wednesday, Schad's family talked about the moment his mother found out about his death.

"She had the trunk opened on her car when they walked up and she fell over on the ground," said Harold Whipple, Schad's grandfather.

Wednesday at 11 a.m., Maj. Gen. Robert "Abe" Abrams, the commanding Regional Command South in Afghanistan, will be briefing the media on the current operations in Afghanistan.

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from ctpost:

Capt. Andrew Pedersen-Keel

A soldier from Madison has been killed in the line of duty in Afghanistan.

Army Captain Andrew Michael Pedersen-Keel, 28, was killed in Afghanistan on Monday. Governor Dannel P. Malloy today ordered U.S. and Connecticut flags to fly at half-staff to honor Pedersen-Keel.

"Captain Pedersen-Keel made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our state and our nation," Malloy said. "Our thoughts are with his family, his friends, and his unit during this very difficult time. We pray for a safe homecoming for our troops who are stationed around the world, and thank them for their bravery and service."

"This is a tragic and sad reminder that even as the conflict in Afghanistan is winding down there are still hundreds of Connecticut soldiers in harm's way," said Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman. "Captain Pedersen-Keel and every one of the other 63 brave men and women from our state lost in Afghanistan and Iraq died defending us and our freedom, and that sacrifice must never be forgotten."

Capt. Pedersen-Keel, 28, was a member of Company B, 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He was killed by a member of the Afghan National Police while conducting a patrol brief in the Jalrez District.

Flags will remain at half-staff until burial or memorial, Malloy's spokeswoman said.

Pedersen-Keel's parents got the news when military officials visited their Madison home on Monday.

"It is with deep regret and great sadness that we found out about Captain Andrew Pedersen-Keel, that he died in Afghanistan. ...it's very sad when something like this happens, especially sad when you have a local connection," said First Selectman Fillmore McPherson.

It is believed Pedersen-Keel was one of two American soldiers killed in a so-called insider attack. There are reports a person dressed as an Afghan Police Officer shot at U.S. and Afghan forces.

U.S. officials said have said two special forces soldiers were killed Monday when a policeman fired at people leaving a meeting at district police headquarters in Wardak province. The Pentagon has not released their names.

"It's always a tragedy when anyone dies. I think the expression is, `all gave some and some gave all,' and he certainly did. Very sad day," said Patrick Edenbun.

Pedersen-Keel graduated from Avon Old Farms School in 2002 and from the prestigious U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 2006. His parents moved to Madison a few years ago, WTNH reported.

On Tuesday, flags flew at half staff in Madison and nearby Guilford, where Pedersen-Keel's parents attend St. George's church. McPherson said the town of Madison "stands ready" to offer what honors or special services the family desires.

DOD Identifies Units for Upcoming Afghanistan Rotation

2/01/2013 03:51:00 PM SgtJim No Comments yet, your thoughts are welcome

DOD Identifies Units for Upcoming Afghanistan Rotation
            The Department of Defense today identified three major units to deploy as part of the upcoming rotation of forces operating in Afghanistan. The scheduled rotation involves one Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT) with roughly 2,250 personnel; a Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB) with roughly 2,200 personnel; and a corps headquarters with roughly 500 personnel to rotate in spring 2013. The deploying units include:

            Brigade Combat Teams:

                        4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.

                        10th Combat Aviation Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y.

            Corps Headquarters:

                        III Corps Headquarters, Fort Hood, Texas.

            DoD will continue to announce major deployments as they are approved. For information on the respective deployments, contact the following: 4th IBCT, 3rd Inf. Div., contact the Fort Stewart, Ga., public affairs office at 912-435-9879 or 912-435-9870; 10th CAB, 10th Mtn. Div., contact the 10thMtn. Div. public affairs officer at 315-772-7634; and III Corps Hq., contact the Fort Hood public affairs office at 254-286-5139.
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On the Web: http://www.defense.gov/Releases/Release.aspx?ReleaseID=15794
Media contact: +1 (703) 697-5131/697-5132
Public contact: http://www.defense.gov/landing/comment.aspx or +1 (703) 571-3343
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
No. 052-13
January 31, 2013

R.I.P. - Sgt. Aaron X. Wittman

1/12/2013 12:56:00 PM SgtJim No Comments yet, your thoughts are welcome

DOD Identifies Army Casualty

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

            Sgt. Aaron X. Wittman, 28, of Chester, Va., died Jan. 10, in Khogyani District, Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan, from injuries sustained when his unit was attacked by small arms fire while on mounted patrol. He was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.

            For more information, media may contact the Fort Stewart public affairs office at 912-210-9375.

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from wtoc:
Posted: Jan 12, 2013 12:27 AM
Updated: Jan 12, 2013 12:29 AM

HINESVILLE, GA (WTOC) - Sgt. Aaron X. Wittman, 28, of Chester, Va., died Jan. 10 in Khogyani District, Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan, from the injuries he sustained after his unit was attacked by small arms fire while on mounted patrol.

Wittman was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 3rd ID. He joined the Army in Oct. 2008 and arrived at Fort Stewart in February 2012. This was Wittman's second deployment. His awards include the Purple Heart and Bronze Star medals.

R.I.P. - Sgt. Jason M. Swindle

9/22/2012 09:21:00 AM SgtJim No Comments yet, your thoughts are welcome

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

            Sgt. Jason M. Swindle, 24, of Cabot, Ark., died Sept. 20, in Panjwa’l, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered when he encountered enemy, small arms fire.

            Swindle was assigned to 1st Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, 2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.

            For more information pertaining to this release, media may contact the 3rd Infantry Division public affairs office at 912-210-9375.

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FORT STEWART, Ga. -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

24 year old Sgt. Jason M. Swindle of Cabot, Ark., died September 20th in Panjwa’l, Afghanistan
He died of injuries sustained when he encountered enemy, small arms fire.

Swindle was assigned to 1st Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, 2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart. He was an infantryman who joined the Army in July 2005.

Swindle had four deployments and posthumously earned the Bronze Star and Purple Heart medals.

The thoughts and prayers of Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield and the 3rd ID are with Swindle’s family; the installation is providing support to the family.

By: Jamison Dowd | Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield Public Affairs Office
Published: September 22, 2012

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

6/26/2012 12:05:00 AM SgtJim No Comments yet, your thoughts are welcome

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.

R.I.P. - Spc. Bryant J. Luxmore

6/13/2012 12:01:00 AM SgtJim No Comments yet, your thoughts are welcome

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

            Spc. Bryant J. Luxmore, 25, New Windsor, Ill., died June 10, in Panjwai, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered when he encountered enemy, small arms fire.

            Luxmore was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.

            For more information related to this release, the media may contact the 3rd Infantry Division public affairs at 912-435-9869 or 912-435-9876.

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from savannahnow.com:

The Third Infantry Division has confirmed the death of Spc. Bryant J. Luxmore from New Windsor, Ill., during combat operations supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Luxmore, 25, was assigned to Bravo Company, 1-64th Armor Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team and deployed in March 2012 for a nine-month deployment. Sunday, Luxmore and his fellow Soldiers were on a dismounted patrol with Afghan National Security Forces near Panjwai, Afghanistan when they came under enemy fire and he sustained a fatal gunshot wound, according to a 3rd ID spokesman.

Luxmore, an infantryman, had been in the Army for 14 months and is survived by his wife and stepson. This was Luxmore’s first deployment. Luxmore is posthumously promoted to corporal, awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart and Combat Infantryman Badge.

The 1st Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, consisting of approximately 700 soldiers is conducting counter-insurgency operations and training Afghanistan National Security Forces in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Chaplain support and family assistance have been extended to the soldier’s family.

R.I.P. - Sgt. Joshua A. Born, R.I.P. - Cpl. Timothy J. Conrad Jr.

2/25/2012 05:01:00 PM SgtJim 1 comment, your thoughts are welcome too

DOD Identifies Army Casualties

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

They died Feb. 23, in Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when their unit came under small arms fire. They were assigned to the 385th Military Police Battalion, 16th Military Police Brigade (Airborne), XVIII Airborne Corps, Fort Stewart, Ga.

   Killed were:

   Sgt. Joshua A. Born, 25, of Niceville, Fla., and

       Cpl. Timothy J. Conrad Jr., 22, of Roanoke, Va.

For more information media may contact the Fort Stewart public affairs office at 912-435-9879.

Sgt. Joshua A. Born, 25, of Niceville, Fla., died Feb. 23,
in Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered
when his unit came under small arms fire.

He was assigned to the 385th Military Police Battalion,
16th Military Police Brigade (Airborne),
XVIII Airborne Corps, Fort Stewart, Ga.

Sgt. Born was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, Bronze Star Medal, Combat Action Badge and NATO Medal. He leaves his wife Megan, his parents and other family members.

Cpl. Timothy J. Conrad Jr., 22, of Roanoke, Va., died Feb. 23,
in Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered
when his unit came under small arms fire.

He was assigned to the 385th Military Police Battalion,
16th Military Police Brigade (Airborne),
XVIII Airborne Corps, Fort Stewart, Ga.

Sgt. Conrad was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, Bronze Star Medal, Combat Action Badge and NATO Medal. He leaves his wife, Holly and their 7 month old son, Bentley, his mother, Mikki Wray, father Tim Conrad Sr., sisters Alex Conrad and Amanda Meland and brother, Austin Wray.

Units for Upcoming Afghanistan Rotation

1/19/2012 11:49:00 PM SgtJim No Comments yet, your thoughts are welcome

DOD Identifies Units for Upcoming Afghanistan Rotation

            The Department of Defense today identified three major units to deploy as part of the upcoming rotation of forces operating in Afghanistan. The scheduled rotation will begin in Spring 2012.

            This announcement involves one division headquarters totaling approximately 1,000 personnel and two brigade combat teams totaling approximately 5,800 personnel.

            Headquarters units:

            • 3rd Infantry Division HQ, Fort Stewart, Ga.

            Brigade Combat Teams:

            • 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82d Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C. (to deploy as a partial BCT).

            • 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82d Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.

            DoD will continue to announce major deployments as they are approved. For information on the respective deployments contact 3rd Infantry Division HQ, public affairs office, 912-435-9876, and the 82d Airborne Division Rear Detachment, public affairs office, 910-432-0661.