Six American Soldiers and One Marine Die in Afghanistan

The U.S. government reports several deaths from two incidents in increasingly hostile Afghanistan. A Marine was also killed in the same area.

Salem-News.com

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - The Department of Defense has announced the death of six soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.

Five died of wounds sustained when their patrol was attacked by direct fire from enemy forces in Aranus, Afghanistan, on November 9th.

The Department of Defense also announced the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Sergeant Phillip A. Bocks, 28, of Troy, Michigan, died Nov. 9th while conducting combat operations in Aranus, Afghanistan. He was assigned to Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center, Bridgeport, California.

The five soldiers were assigned to 2nd Battalion, 503rd Airborne Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, Vicenza, Italy.

1st Lieutenant Matthew C. Ferrara, 24, of Torrance, California, who died November 9th in Aranus.

Sergeant Jeffery S. Mersman, 23, of Parker, Kansas, who died November 10th in Aranus.

Specialist Sean K. A. Langevin, 23, of Walnut Creek, California, who died November 9th in Aranus.

Specialist Lester G. Roque, 23, of Torrance, Calif., who died November 10th in Aranus.

Private First Class Joseph M. Lancour, 21, of Swartz Creek, Michigan, who died November 10th in Aranus.

Another soldier died in Afghanistan this week in a separate incident. Staff Sergeant Patrick F. Kutschbach, 25, of McKees Rocks, Pa., died November 10th in Bagram, Afghanistan, from wounds suffered in Tagab, Afghanistan, when his vehicle was struck by a rocket propelled grenade and small arms fire. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group, Stuttgart, Germany.