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Military personnel killed in Iraq war: October 2003

05:34 PM CST on Thursday, March 17, 2005

From Staff Reports


KILLED IN OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM

Note: U.S. military casualties in Operation Iraqi Freedom are listed in chronological order. Contact us with questions.
• 2003 casualties:
March April May June July August September October November December
• 2004 casualties:
January February March April May June July August September October November December
• 2005 casualties:
January February March April May June July August September October November December
• 2006 casualties:
January February March April May June July August September October November December
• 2007 casualties:
January February March April May June July
• U.S. military casualties in Afghanistan:
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Command Sgt. Maj. James D. Blankenbecler
Age: 40
Hometown: Alexandria, Va.
Unit: Army's 1st Battalion, 44th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, Fort Hood, Texas.
Circumstances: Died Oct. 1 in Samarra, Iraq, when his convoy was hit by an improvised explosive device and rocket-propelled grenades.

Pfc. Analaura Esparza Gutierrez
Age: 21
Hometown: Houston, Texas
Unit: Army's A Company, 4th Forward Support Battalion, Fort Hood, Texas.
Circumstances: Died Oct. 1 in Tikrit, Iraq, when her convoy was hit by an improvised explosive device and rocket-propelled grenades.

Spc. Simeon Hunte
Age: 23
Hometown: Essex, N.J.
Unit: Army's 1st Battalion, 13th Armored Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Fort Riley, Kan.
Circumstances: Died Oct. 1 while on patrol in Al Khadra, Iraq, when an Iraqi citizen approached and shot him.

Pfc. Charles M. Sims
Age: 18
Hometown: Miami, Fla.
Unit: Army's 549th Military Police Company, Fort Stewart, Ga.
Circumstances: Drowned Oct. 3 in Baghdad, Iraq.

Spc. James H. Pirtle
Age: 27
Hometown: La Mesa, N.M.
Unit: Army's C Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, Fort Hood, Texas.
Circumstances: Died Oct. 4 in Assadah, Iraq, when a rocket-propelled grenade struck his Bradley Fighting Vehicle.

Spc. Spencer T. Karol
Age: 20
Hometown: Woodruff, Ariz.
Unit: Army's 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y.
Circumstances: Died Oct. 6 in Ar Ramadi, Iraq. Karol was on a mission to observe enemy activity when a command-detonated device exploded and overturned his vehicle.

2nd Lt. Richard Torres
Age: 25
Hometown: Clarksville, Tenn.
Unit: Army's 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y.
Circumstances: Died Oct. 6 in Baghdad, Iraq. While on combat patrol, Torres' convoy was hit by an improvised explosive device.

Pfc. Kerry D. Scott
Age: 21
Hometown: Mount Vernon, Wash.
Unit: Army's 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y.
Circumstances: Died Oct. 6 while on a comat patrol in Iskandariyah, Iraq, when his convoy was hit by an improvised explosive device.

Spc. Joseph C. Norquist
Age: 26
Hometown: San Antonio, Texas
Unit: Army's 588th Engineer Battalion, Fort Hood, Texas.
Circumstances: Died Oct. 9 in Baqubah. Norquist was in a convoy that came under attack from rocket-propelled grenades and small arms fire.

Staff Sgt. Christopher W. Swisher
Age: 26
Hometown: Lincoln, Neb.
Unit: Army's 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Polk, La.
Circumstances: Died Oct. 9 in Baghdad, Iraq. Swisher was on patrol when his unit was ambushed by individuals using small arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades.

Pvt. Sean A. Silva
Age: 23
Hometown: Roseville, Calif.
Unit: Army's 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Polk, La.
Circumstances: Died Oct. 9 in Baghdad, Iraq. Silva was on patrol when his unit was ambushed by individuals using small arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades.

Spc. James E. Powell
Age: 26
Hometown: Radcliff, Ky.
Unit: Army's B Company, 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, based in Fort Hood, Texas.
Circumstances: Died Oct. 12 in Baji, Iraq, when his Bradley Fighting Vehicle struck an enemy antitank mine.

Pfc. Stephen E. Wyatt
Age: 19
Hometown: Kilgore, Texas
Unit: Army's C Battery, 1st Battalion, 17th Field Artillery Regiment, Fort Sill, Okla.
Circumstances: Died Oct. 13 in Balad, Iraq. Wyatt was in a convoy that was hit by an improvised explosive device and small arms fire.

Spc. Donald L. Wheeler
Age: 22
Hometown: Concord, Mich.
Unit: Army's A Company, 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.
Circumstances: Died Oct. 13 in Tikrit, Iraq. Wheeler was searching for a possible improvised explosive device when his unit came under attack from a rocket-propelled grenade.

Pvt. Benjamin L. Freeman
Age: 19
Hometown: Valdosta, Ga.
Unit: Army's K Troop, 3rd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, based in Fort Carson, Colo.
Circumstances: Drowned Oct. 13 near Al Asad, Iraq. Soldiers from his unit had been searching for Freeman when they discovered him floating on the surface of the water near Haditha dam. Attempts made to resuscitate him were unsuccessful.

Spc. Douglas J. Weismantle
Age: 28
Hometown: Pittsburgh, Pa.
Unit: Army's Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne, Fort Bragg, N.C.
Circumstances: Died Oct. 13 in Baghdad, Iraq. Weismantle was driving a high mobility multi-purpose wheeled vehicle (HMMWV) when an Iraqi dump truck swerved and rolled over on top of his vehicle.

Pfc. Jose Casanova
Age: 23
Hometown: El Monte, Calif.
Unit: Army's Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, based in Fort Bragg, N.C.
Circumstances: Died Oct. 13 in Baghdad, Iraq. Casanova was in a high mobility multi-purpose wheeled vehicle (HMMWV) when an Iraqi dump truck swerved and rolled over on top of his vehicle.

Staff Sgt. Joseph P. Bellavia
Age: 28
Hometown: Wakefield, Mass.
Unit: Army's 716th Military Police Battalion, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), based in Fort Campbell, Ky.
Circumstances: Died Oct. 16 in Karbala, Iraq. The soldiers were attempting to negotiate with armed men who were congregating on a road near a mosque after curfew. The Iraqis opened fire, killing three soldiers and wounding seven others.

Lt. Col. Kim S. Orlando
Age: 43
Hometown: Tennessee
Unit: Commanding officer of the Army's 716th Military Police Battalion, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), based in Fort Campbell, Ky.
Circumstances: Died Oct. 16 in Karbala, Iraq. The soldiers were attempting to negotiate with armed men who were congregating on a road near a mosque after curfew. The Iraqis opened fire, killing three soldiers and wounding seven others.

Cpl. Sean R. Grilley
Age: 24
Hometown: San Bernardino, Calif.
Unit: Army's 716th Military Police Battalion, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), based in Fort Campbell, Ky.
Circumstances: Died Oct. 16 in Karbala, Iraq. The soldiers were attempting to negotiate with armed men who were congregating on a road near a mosque after curfew. The Iraqis opened fire, killing three soldiers and wounding seven others.

Spc. Michael L. Williams
Age: 46
Hometown: Buffalo, N.Y.
Unit: Army's 105th Military Police Company, Army National Guard, based in New York.
Circumstances: Died Oct. 17 along MSR (Main Supply Road) Jackson, near Baghdad, Iraq, when his vehicle ran over an improvised explosive device.

1st Lt. David R. Bernstein
Age: 24
Hometown: Phoenixville, Pa.
Unit: Army's 1st Battalion (Airborne), 508th Infantry Regiment, 173rd Infantry Brigade, Camp Ederle, Italy.
Circumstances: Died Oct. 18 in Taza, Iraq, when enemy forces ambushed a patrol using rocket-propelled grenades and small arms fire.

Pfc. John D. Hart
Age: 20
Hometown: Bedford, Mass.
Unit: Army 1st Battalion (Airborne), 508th Infantry Regiment, 173rd Infantry Brigade, Camp Ederle, Italy.
Circumstances: Died Oct. 18 in Taza, Iraq, when enemy forces ambushed a patrol using rocket-propelled grenades and small arms fire.

Staff Sgt. Paul J. Johnson
Age: 29
Hometown: Calumet, Mich.
Unit: Army's 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.
Circumstances: Died Oct. 20 in Al Fallujah, Iraq. Johnson was on a mounted patrol when the vehicle he was riding in hit an improvised explosive device and later came under small arms fire by enemy forces.

Pfc. Paul J. Bueche
Age: 19
Hometown: Daphne, Ala.
Unit: Army's 131st Aviation Regiment, Army National Guard, Birmingham, Ala.
Circumstances: Died Oct. 21 in Balad, Iraq. Bueche was changing a tire on a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter when the tire exploded.

Pvt. Jason M. Ward
Age: 25
Hometown: Tulsa, Okla.
Unit: Army's 2nd Battalion, 70th Armored Regiment, 1st Armored Division, Fort Riley, Kan.
Circumstances: Died Oct. 22 in Baghdad, Iraq, of non-combat-related injuries.

Spc. John P. Johnson
Age: 24
Hometown: Houston, Texas
Unit: Army's 2nd Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, 1st Armored Division, Baumholder, Germany.
Circumstances: Died Oct. 22 in Baghdad, Iraq, of non-combat-related injuries.

Capt. John R. Teal
Age: 31
Hometown: Mechanicsville, Va.
Unit: Army's 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.
Circumstances: Died Oct. 23 in a convoy in Baqubah, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device exploded.

Sgt. Michael S. Hancock
Age: 29
Hometown: Yreka, Calif.
Unit: Army's 1st Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment, Fort Campbell, Ky.
Circumstances: Died Oct. 24 in Mosul, Iraq. Hancock was on guard duty when he was shot.

Spc. Artimus D. Brassfield
Age: 22
Hometown: Flint, Mich.
Unit: Army's B Company, 1st Battalion, 66th Armored Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, based in Ft. Hood, Texas.
Circumstances: Died Oct. 24 in Samaria, Iraq, during an enemy mortar attack.

Spc. Jose L. Mora
Age: 26
Hometown: Bell Gardens, Calif.
Unit: Army's C Company, 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, based in Ft. Carson, Colo.
Circumstances: Died Oct. 24 in Samaria, Iraq, during an enemy mortar attack.

Pfc. Steven Acosta
Age: 19
Hometown: Calexico, Calif.
Unit: Army's C Company, 3rd Battalion, 67th Armored Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.
Circumstances: Died Oct. 26 in Baqubah, Iraq, from a non-hostile gunshot wound.

Lt. Col. Charles H. Buehring
Age: 40
Hometown: Fayetteville, N.C.
Unit: Army's Army Central Command Headquarters (Forward), Fort McPherson, Ga.
Circumstances: Died Oct. 26 in Baghdad, Iraq, during a rocket-propelled grenade attack on the Al-Rasheed Hotel.

Pvt. Joseph R. Guerrera
Age: 20
Hometown: Dunn, N.C.
Unit: Army's C Company, 2nd Battalion, 325th Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.
Circumstances: Died Oct. 26 on patrol in Baghdad, Iraq, when his vehicle was hit by an improvised explosive device.

Staff Sgt. Jamie L. Huggins
Age: 26
Hometown: Hume, Mo.
Unit: Army's C Company, 2nd Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.
Circumstances: Died Oct. 26 on patrol in Baghdad, Iraq, when his vehicle was hit by an improvised explosive device.

Pfc. Rachel K. Bosveld
Age: 19
Hometown: Waupun, Wis.
Unit: Army's 527th Military Police Company, V Corps, Giesen, Germany
Circumstances: Died Oct. 26 in Abu Ghraib, Iraq, during a mortar attack on the Abu Ghraib police station.

Pvt. Jonathan I. Falaniko
Age: 20
Hometown: Pago Pago, American Samoa
Unit: Army's A Company, 70th Engineer Battalion, 1st Armored Division, Fort Riley, Kan.
Circumstances: Died Oct. 27 near the Al Khadra police station in downtown Baghdad, Iraq, when a vehicle containing an improvised explosive device detonated.

Sgt. Aubrey D. Bell
Age: 33
Hometown: Tuskegee, Ala.
Unit: Army's 214th Military Police Company, Alabama National Guard.
Circumstances: Died Oct. 27 at the Al Bayra Police Station in Baghdad, Iraq, when his unit came under small arms fire and an improvised explosive device detonated.

Sgt. Michael Paul Barrera
Age: 26
Hometown: Von Ormy, Texas
Unit: Army's 3rd Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, Fort Hood, Texas
Circumstances: Died Oct. 28 in Baqubah, Iraq, when his tank was hit with an improvised explosive device.

Spc. Isaac Campoy
Age: 21
Hometown: Douglas, Ariz.
Unit: Army's 3rd Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, Fort Hood, Texas
Circumstances: Died Oct. 28 in Baqubah, Iraq, when his tank was hit with an improvised explosive device.

Pvt. Algernon Adams
Age: 36
Hometown: Aiken, S.C.
Unit: Army's 122nd Engineer Battalion, Army National Guard, Edgefield, S.C.
Circumstances: Died Oct. 28 of non-combat-related injuries at Forward Operating Base St. Mere, Iraq.

2nd Lt. Todd J. Bryant
Age: 23
Hometown: Riverside, Calif.
Unit: Army's 1st Battalion, 34th Armor Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan.
Circumstances: Died Oct. 31 on patrol in Al Fallujah, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device exploded.