American Casualties Reported from Afghanistan and Iraq

The average age among this group of fallen servicemen is 25.11.

Flags of Afghanistan and Iraq. Salem-News.com photos by Tim King

(SALEM, Ore.) - Many names are being added to future memorials for American servicemen. In this report, Four Marines and 13 Army soldiers have lost their lives in the fighting overseas. The casualties listed here did not all die in Afghanistan; four men died from injuries suffered in Iraq.

Two U.S. Army officers from Tennessee died when their OH-58D experienced a hard landing. A soldier in Iraq died during a rollover accident, and one died after being transported to Germany for the treatment of combat wounds.

In Afghanistan, one soldier died in a rollover crash, the remaining soldiers and Marines all died in combat related circumstances. Two Marines were with the 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 4th Marine Division.

Utah, California, Tennessee, North Carolina and Washington states each lost two soldiers. Maryland, Arkansas, Kentucky, Georgia, Mississippi, New Jersey and Hawaii lost one each.

The average age among this group of fallen servicemen is 25.11.

Army Specialist Anthony A. Paci, 30, of Rockville, Maryland, died March 4 at Gereshk, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered during a vehicle rollover. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry, 5th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.

Marine Lance Corporal Nigel K. Olsen, 21, of Orem, Utah, died March 4 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 4th Marine Division, Marine Forces Reserve, based out of Camp Pendleton, California.

Army Sergeant Vincent L.C. Owens, 21, of Fort Smith, Ark., died March 1 at Forward Operating Base Sharana, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered earlier that day when enemy forces attacked his vehicle using direct fire in Yosuf Khel. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

Marine Lance Corporal Carlos A. Aragon, 19, of Orem, Utah, died March 1 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 4th Marine Division, Marine Forces Reserve, based out of Camp Pendleton, California.

Army Specialist Ian T.D. Gelig, 25, of Stevenson Ranch, California, died March 1 in Kandahar, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 782nd Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Army Specialist Josiah D. Crumpler, 27, of Hillsborough, North Carolina, died March 1 in Bala Murghab, Afghanistan, when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades. Specialist Matthew D. Husto died in the same attack. Josiah D. Crumpler was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Army Specialist Matthew D. Huston, 24, of Athens, Georgia also lost his life to insurgents March 1 in Bala Murghab, Afghanistan, after they attacked his unit with small arms and rocket-propelled grenade fire. Specialist Josiah D. Crumpler died in the same attack. Matthew Huston was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Army Staff Sergeant William S. Ricketts, 27, of Corinth, Mississippi, died February 27 at Bala Murghab, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with small arms fire. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Army Sergeant William C. Spencer, 40, of Tacoma, Washington, died February 25 at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Landstuhl, Germany, of wounds sustained Feb. 20 while supporting combat operations at Combat Outpost Marez, Iraq. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 146th Field Artillery Regiment, Olympia, Washington.

Army Corporal Daniel T. O’Leary, 23, of Youngsville, North Carolina, died February 23 in Fallujah, Iraq, of injuries sustained during a vehicle roll-over. He was assigned to the 307th Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Army Sergeant Marcos Gorra, 22, of North Bergen, New Jersey, died February 21 at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained while supporting combat operations. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Army Captain Marcus R. Alford, 28, of Knoxville, Tennessee lost his life February 21 in Qayyarah, Iraq, from injuries sustained during the hard landing crash of his OH-58D Kiowa Warrior. Chief Warrant Officer Billie J. Grinder died in the same crash. Marcus R. Alford was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 230th Cavalry Regiment, Louisville, Tennessee.

Army Chief Warrant Officer Billie J. Grinder, 25, of Gallatin, Tennessee, died February 21 in Qayyarah, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopter experienced a hard landing. Captain Marcus R. Alford who was in the same aircraft, also died from injuries. Billie Grinder was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 230th Cavalry Regiment, Louisville, Tennessee.

Army Private first class JR Salvacion, 27, of Ewa Beach, Hawaii, died February 21 at Senjaray, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colorado.

Marine Lance Corporal Eric L. Ward, 19, of Redmond, Washington, died February 21 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

Marine Lance Corporal Matthias N. Hanson, 20, of Buffalo, Kentucky, died February 21 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Army Staff Sergeant Michael David P. Cardenaz, 29, of Corona, California, died February 20 in Kunar, Afghanistan, when enemy forces attacked his unit with rocket-propelled grenades. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colorado.