Heavy Casualties in Afghanistan and Iraq

Unusual in this report, are the names of two female soldiers who died in Iraq. One, a NW soldier, died when her base was attacked by rocket fire. The second female soldier died from injuries suffered during a vehicle crash.

Salem-News.com

(SALEM, Ore.) - The fighting in both Afghanistan and Iraq continues to claim many American lives. This report includes the names of seventeen members of the U.S. military who paid the ultimate price. Their deaths occurred between 5 March and 24 March 2010.

Of the seventeen, 11 were U.S. Army soldiers, 5 were U.S. Marines, and one Navy SEAL was also lost.

The Navy SEALs are an elite military group that is highly specialized, and part of the overall special forces role of the U.S. military. Two others lost were part of a Marine Recon Battalion. The Recon Marines, Robert Cottle and Rick Centanni, were both from Southern California. As in the case of the Navy SEAL, Marine Recon are the elite of that military force.

In addition to the two California Marines, Florida lost two, as did both Arkansas and New York. Other states that suffered a loss are Tennessee, Washington, Texas, Alaska, Wisconsin, Georgia, South Carolina, Virginia and Montana.

Unusual in this report, are the names of two female soldiers who died in Iraq. One, a NW soldier who is the subject of a separate report, Erin McLyman, died when her base was attacked by rocket fire. The second female soldier killed, Lakeshia M. Bailey, died from injuries suffered during a vehicle crash, which is anything but uncommon in Iraq.

The average age of the servicemembers killed in this report is 26 years.

A Recon Marine Sergeant Major, Robert J. Cottle, 45, of Whittier, California died 24 March in Afghanistan, while supporting combat operations in Helmand province. Sergeant Major represents the highest attainable rank for an enlisted Marine.

Robert Cottle was assigned to 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 4th Marine Division, Marine Forces Reserve, based out of Camp Pendleton, California.

Marine Lance Corporal Rick J. Centanni, 19, of Yorba Linda, California, also died 24 March while supporting Marine combat operations in the Helmand Province of Afghanistan.

Rick Centanni was assigned to 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 4th Marine Division, Marine Forces Reserve, based out of Camp Pendleton, California.

Army Sergeant first class Carlos M. Santos-Silva, 32, of Clarksville, Tennessee, died 22 March in Kandahar province, Afghanistan of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device.

Carlos Cantos-Silva was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Marine Lance Corporal Justin J. Wilson, 24, of Palm City, Florida, died 22 March while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

Justin Wilson was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

Army Specialist Robert M. Rieckhoff, 26, of Kenosha, Wisconsin, died 18 March in Baghdad, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with rocket-propelled grenade fire.

Robert Rieckhoff was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 15th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, New York.

Navy Chief Petty Officer Adam Brown, 36, of Hot Springs, Arkansas, died 18 March in Afghanistan. The U.S. Navy did not disclose any details about how he lost his life.

Adam Brown was assigned to an East Coast-based SEAL Team.

Army Sergeant Joel D. Clarkson, 23, of Fairbanks, Alaska, died 16 March at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Germany, of wounds sustained March 13 during combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

Joel Clarkson was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.

Army Specialist Steven J. Bishop, 29, of Christiansburg, Virginia, died 13 March in Tikrit, Iraq, while supporting combat operations.

Steven Bishop was assigned to the 422nd Civil Affairs Battalion, 352nd Civil Affairs Command, U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Army Private first class Erin L. McLyman, 26, of Federal Way, Washington, died 13 March in Balad, Iraq, of wounds sustained when enemy forces attacked her base with mortar fire.

Erin McLyman was assigned to the 296th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Joint Base Lews-McChord, Washington.

Marine Corporal Jonathan D. Porto, 26, of Largo, Florida, died 14 March while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

Jonathan Porto was assigned to 1st Battalion 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

Marine Lance Corporal Garrett W. Gamble, 20, of Sugarland, Texas, died March 11 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

Garret Gamble was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

Army Sergeant Jonathan J. Richardson, 24, of Bald Knob, Arkansas died 9 March in Khowst province, Afghanistan, from wounds suffered when insurgents attacked their unit using small-arms, indirect and rocket-propelled grenade fires.

Jonathan Richardson was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

Army Private Jason M. Kropat, 25, of White Lake, New York died 9 March in Khowst province, Afghanistan, from wounds suffered when insurgents attacked their unit using small-arms, indirect and rocket-propelled grenade fires.

Jason Kropat was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

Army Private Nicholas S. Cook, 19, of Hungry Horse, Montana, died 7 March in Konar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms fire.

Nicholas Cook was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, Camp Ederle, Italy.

Army Sergeant Aaron M. Arthur, 25, of Lake City, South Carolina, died 8 March north of Al Kut, Iraq, of injuries sustained during a vehicle roll-over.

Aaron Arthur was assigned to the 203rd Brigade Support Battalion, attached to the 1st Battalion, 10th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Benning, Georgia.

Army Specialist Lakeshia M. Bailey, 23, of Columbus, Georgia, also died 8 March north of Al Kut, Iraq, from injuries sustained during a vehicle roll-over.

Lakeshia Bailey was assigned to the 203rd Brigade Support Battalion, attached to the 1st Battalion, 10th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Benning, Ga.

Army Specialist Alan N. Dikcis, 21, of Niagara Falls, New York, died 5 March in Kandahar, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device.

Alan Dikcis was assigned to the 630th Engineer Company (Clearance), 7th Engineer Battalion (Combat Effects), 20th Engineer Brigade (Combat) (Airborne), Fort Drum, New York.