I Got the News Today: 02/14/2007 Edition
Wed Feb 14, 2007 at 08:06:22 AM PDT
Just a side note before I write IGTNT, today marks 100 killed since January 22, 2007. 100 killed in 23 days. The escalation, or surge as Bush calls it, is only bringing out an escalation of casualties. We need peace.
Yesterday, the Department of Defense announced the names of 3 Soldiers and 1 Marine killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom. According to the Iraq Coalition Casualty Count the number of names released by the DoD is now 3125 and there two more names of the deceased awaiting notification of the next of kin before being publicly released.
More below.
DoD Identifies Army Casualty
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Spc. Dennis L. Sellen Jr., 20, of Newhall, Calif., died Feb. 11 in Umm Qasr, Iraq, of non-combat related injuries. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 185th Infantry Regiment, Fresno, Calif.
The incident is under investigation.
According to the Santa Clarita Signal Sellen had been in Iraq since September, 2006. This was his first tour of duty. His unit provided convoy security throughout Iraq. His parents were notified on Sunday, but did not comment.
DoD Identifies Army Casualty
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Sgt. Robert B. Thrasher, 23, of Folsom, Calif., died Feb. 11 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his unit came in contact with the enemy using small arms fire during combat patrol. Thrasher was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Bliss, Texas.
Thrasher's grandmother spoke to the Sacramento Bee and told them how her grandson understood the "perils of war" and that "he might not return". Here is more:
"He told everyone that if he came back, it would be great. But if not, that would be OK, too," said Thrasher's grandmother, Elsie Pfister of Orangevale, holding back tears Monday as she spoke beside framed photos of her 23-year-old grandson, who died Sunday in Iraq.
"He joined," she said, "so he could protect us."
Sgt. Thrasher was just 23. He leaves behind a wife of four years, who is also serving in the Army and stationed in Texas.
DoD Identifies Marine Casualty
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Lance Cpl. Matthew P. Pathenos, 21, of Ballwin, Mo., died Feb. 7 while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq. Pathenos was assigned to Marine Forces Reserve’s 3rd Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, Bridgeton, Mo.
The Pathenos family issued the following statement to the local television station in St. Louis, Mo.
The Pathenos & Erney families wishes to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers on behalf of their son Matthew, a U.S. Marine who was killed in Fallujah, Iraq on February 7, 2007. Matthew, a graduate of Parkway South High School class of 2003 in Ballwin, was serving his first tour in Iraq. Like his brother, Christopher, he was proud to be a Marine and volunteered to serve his country. Matthew paid the ultimate sacrfice for our freedom and the future generation's of this country. He loved his country and family and we will miss him terribly. The family asks that their privacy be respected during their time of grief.
Pathenos was killed in Fallujah. Rest in peace.
DoD Identifies Army Casualty
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Capt. Donnie R. Belser Jr., 28, of Anniston, Ala., died Feb. 10 in Baqubah, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his unit came in contact with the enemy using small arms fire during combat operations. He was assigned to the 1st Infantry Division and attached to the 3rd Brigade Combat Team with the 1st Cavalry Division. Belser was a member of the 524th Transition Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kansas.
All of the U.S. fatalities can be seen here. They all had loved ones, families and friends. The DoD news releases are here.
I Got the News Today is maintained by i-dunno with Monkeybiz, and Silver Cedes and me helping out for awhile. I Got the News Today is intended to honor, respect and remind. Click the IGTNT tags below for previous diaries.
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