U.S. Military Casualties Reported in Iraq, Afghanistan and Kuwait

The deaths of ten U.S. servicemen are announced by the Department of Defense.

Salem-News.com

(SALEM, Ore.) - The Department of Defense has announced several deaths over the past two days in Iraq, servicemembers were also lost in Afghanistan and in Kuwait in one non combat related incident.

Staff Sergeant Bryan E. Bolander, 26 years old, of Bakersfield, California, died April 29th in Baghdad from wounds suffered when his vehicle struck an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

Staff Sergeant Clay A. Craig, 22 years old, of Mesquite, Texas, died April 29th in Baghdad, Iraq, from wounds suffered when he received small arms fire during combat operations. He was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 75th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

The death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom was also announced. Sergeant 1st Class David L. McDowell, 30 years old, of Ramona, California, died April 29th in Bastion, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked using small arms fire. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Lewis, Washington.

Another American in Afghanistan who died this week was an airman who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Senior Airman Jonathan A. V. Yelner, 24 years old, of Lafayette, Calif., died April 29th near Bagram, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 28th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota.

Three soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom died April 28th in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked their forward operating base with indirect fire.

Killed in that attack was Private first class Adam L. Marion who was 26 years old, of Mount Airy, North Carolina. He was assigned to the 171st Engineer Company, North Carolina Army National Guard, Saint Pauls, North Carolina.

Sergeant Marcus C. Mathes, who was 26 years old, of Zephyrhills, Florida, is another soldier killed in the attack. He was assigned to the 94th Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), located at Fort Polk, Louisiana.

The third soldier who died in the attack was Sergeant Mark A. Stone, 22 years old, of Buchanan Dam, Texas. He was assigned to the 94th Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), located at Fort Polk, Louisiana.

In another announcement out of Iraq, the death of Specialist David P. McCormick was announced. He was 26 years old and was from Fresno, Texas. He died April 28th in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his forward operating base came under rocket attack. He was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 75th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

One soldier who also died in recent days was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Private first class William T. Dix, 32 years old, of Culver City, Calif., died April 27th at Camp Buehring, Kuwait, of injuries suffered in a non-combat related incident. He was assigned to the 14th Engineer Battalion, 555th Engineer Brigade, I Corps, Fort Lewis, Washington.

Officials with the Department of Defense say the incident is under investigation.

Sergeant Merlin German, 22 years old, of Manhattan, New York, died April 11th at Brooke Army Medical Center, San Antonio, Texas, from wounds he suffered while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq, on February 22nd, 2005. He was assigned to the 5th Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, California, while deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Sergeant German's parent unit was the 2nd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif. He was medically retired September 28th 2007, as a result of his injuries.