Military Deaths Nearly Every Day in March; Almost a Third are Californians

20 dead in Afghanistan.

Image: einhornpress.com

(SALEM, Ore.) - I realized something tonight while looking at the astonishing numbers of U.S. war dead in casualty reports issued by the Dept. of Defense; I have as the editor of this news group, fallen into the trap of complacency that seems to be taking place everywhere with regard to our fallen service members. I used to cover the casualties regularly and will again try to stay on track with this important information.

As you read through these events that claimed the lives of Americans overseas, you will note that two soldiers killed in Afghanistan were allegedly shot with small arms fire by an individual from a military security group. Military security group means private contractor, like the group formerly known as Blackwater.

One death reported by the Air Force was the result of a shooting that happened at the Frankfurt Airport, Germany.

You will also see that Americans are still dying in Iraq. The name of the Iraq conflict is officially now 'Operation New Dawn' by the way. The war in Afghanistan is still called 'Operation Enduring Freedom' and considering that it began nearly a decade ago, the first half of the name has proven to be very accurate, while in many ways it remains to be seen how much freedom the occupational war will lead to.

Of 25 individuals killed, between 2 March and 26 March 2011:

• 18 were soldiers in the U.S. Army
• 5 were U.S. Marines
• 2 were members of the U.S. Air Force
• One was a U.S. Navy sailor

U.S. Army- Afghanistan - combat related

Staff Sergeant Bryan A. Burgess, 29, of Cleburne, Texas is one of two soldiers who died during a small arms fire attack that happened in Afghanistan's Kunar Province. He died from his wounds 29 March at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. Private first class Dustin J. Feldhaus also died in the attack.

Bryan Burgess was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

U.S. Army- Afghanistan - combat related

Private first class Dustin J. Feldhaus, 20, of Glendale, Arizona died March 29 at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan from wounds suffered in an attack that took place in the Kunar Province. He died after enemy forces attacked his unit with small arms fire. The attack also claimed the life of Staff Sergeant Bryan A. Burgess.

Dustin Feldhaus was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

U.S. Army- Afghanistan - combat related

Corporal Justin D. Ross, 22, of Green Bay, Wisconsin, died 26 March in Helmand province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when his unit was attacked by small arms fire. Justin Ross was assigned to the 863rd Engineer Battalion, Wausau, Wisconsin.

In an update issued 30 March 2011 -- Justin Ross was posthumously promoted from specialist to corporal.

U.S. Navy - Afghanistan - - not combat related

Petty Officer 1st Class Vincent A. Filpi III, 41, of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, died 24 March as a result of a non-combat related incident. Vincent Filpi was assigned to USS Enterprise as an aviation ordnanceman. The Enterprise is currently deployed to the Fifth Fleet area of responsibility conducting operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

U.S. Army- Iraq - combat related

Corporal Brandon S. Hocking, 24, of Seattle, Washington, died 21 March in As Samawah, Iraq, when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. Brandon Hocking was assigned to the 87th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 3rd Sustainment Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Georgia.

U.S. Army- Djibouti - not combat related

Master Sgt. Jamal H. Bowers, 41, of Raleigh, North Carolina, died 18 March at Camp Lemonier, Djibouti, as a result of a non-combat related incident. Jamal Bowers was assigned to the 6th Battalion, 4th Military Information Support Group, U.S. Army Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

U.S. Marines- Afghanistan - combat related

Staff Sergeant James M. Malachowski, 25, of Westminster, Maryland, died 20 March while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. James Malachowski was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

U.S. Army- Afghanistan - combat related

Staff Sgt. Mecolus C. McDaniel, 33, of Fort Hood, Texas, died 19 March in Khowst province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device and small arms fire. Mecolus McDaniel was assigned to the 6th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Knox, Kentucky.

U.S. Army- Afghanistan - Possible friendly fire

Two soldiers died 19 March in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when they were allegedly shot with small arms fire by an individual from a military security group. The incident that led to the death of Corporal Donald R. Mickler Jr., 29, of Bucyrus, Ohio is under investigation according to the DoD. The attack also claimed the life of Private first class Rudy A. Acosta, 19, of Canyon Country, California.

Donald Mickler was assigned to the 4th Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, Vilseck, Germany.

U.S. Army- Afghanistan - Possible friendly fire

Private first class Rudy A. Acosta, 19, of Canyon Country, California, is one of two soldiers who died 19 March in Afghanistan's Kandahar province, from wounds sustained by small arms fire from a military security group or contractor. The incident that led to the death of Rudy Acosta is under investigation according to the DoD. Corporal Donald R. Mickler Jr., 29, of Bucyrus, Ohio also died in the attack.

Rudy Acosta was assigned to the 4th Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, Vilseck, Germany.

U.S. Marines- Afghanistan - combat related

Lance Corporal Christopher S. Meis, 20, of Bennett, Colorado, died 17 March while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Chris Meis was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

U.S. Air Force - SW Asia - - not combat related

Senior Airman Michael J. Hinkle II, 24, of Corona, California, died 16 March due to a non-combat related incident in "Southwest Asia". The DoD did not list what country the death took place in. Michael Hinkle was assigned to the 28th Communications Squadron, Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota.

U.S. Army- Afghanistan - combat related

Staff Sergeant Travis M. Tompkins, 31, of Lawton, Oklahoma, died 16 March in Logar province, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained on 15 March, when enemy forces attacked his unit with a rocket propelled grenade. Travis Tompkins was assigned to the Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Polk, Louisiana.

U.S. Army- Afghanistan - combat related

Private first class Arturo E. Rodriguez, 19, of Bellflower, California, died 12 March in Paktika province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms fire. Arturo Rodriguez was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

U.S. Marines- Afghanistan - combat related

Corporal Ian M. Muller, 22, of Danville, Vermont, died 11 March while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Ian Muller was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

U.S. Army- Afghanistan - combat related

Sergeant 1st Class Dae Han Park, 36, of Watertown, Connecticut. died 12 March in Wardak province, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. Dae Park was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.

U.S. Army - Afghanistan - - not combat related

Private first class Andrew M. Harper, 19, of Maidsville, West Virginia, died 11 March, in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained in a non-combat incident. Andrew Harper was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, Vilseck, Germany.

U.S. Army- Afghanistan - combat related

Staff Sergeant Eric S. Trueblood, 27, of Alameda, California, died 10 March in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. Eric Trueblood was assigned to the 391st Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 16th Sustainment Brigade, Spinelli Barracks, Mannheim, Germany.

U.S. Army- Afghanistan - combat related

Corporal Loren M. Buffalo, 20, of Mountain Pine, Arkansas, died 9 March in Kandahar province of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. Loren Buffalo was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 75th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

U.S. Army - Afghanistan - - not combat related

Specialist Andrew P. Wade, 22, of Antioch, Illinois, died 9 March in Kunduz province, Afghanistan, as a result of a non-combat related incident. Andrew Wade was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, New York.

U.S. Army - Afghanistan - - not combat related

Private first class Kalin C. Johnson, 19, of Lexington, South Carolina, died 8 March in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained in a non-combat incident. Kalin Johnson was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, Vilseck, Germany.

U.S. Army- Afghanistan - combat related

Staff Sergeant Mark C. Wells, 31, of San Jose, California, died 5 March in Helmand province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. Mark Wells was assigned to the 45th Sustainment Brigade, 8th Theater Sustainment Command, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.

U.S. Marines- Afghanistan - combat related

Corporal Jordan R. Stanton, 20, of Rancho Santa Margarita, California, died 4 March while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Jordan Stanton was assigned to the 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

U.S. Army- Afghanistan - combat related

Specialist Jason M. Weaver, 22, of Anaheim, California, died 3 March in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using an improvised explosive device. Jason Weaver was assigned to the 504th Military Police Battalion, 42nd Military Police Brigade, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.

U.S. Air Force- Germany - died in the line of duty

Senior Airman Nicholas J. Alden, 25, of Williamston, South Carolina, died as a result of the 2 March shooting at Frankfurt Airport, Germany. Nicholas Alden was assigned to the 48th Security Forces Squadron, RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom.