The Department of Defense announced today
the death of a soldier who was supporting
Operation Iraqi Freedom.
SSgt. Wentz Jerome Henry Shanaberger
III, 33, of Naples, Fla., died March 24 in
Iraq when he was investigating a suspicious
vehicle and came under attack by individuals
using small arms and an improvised explosive
device (IED). SSgt. Shanaberger was
assigned to the Army’s 21st Military
Police Company, 16th Military Police
Brigade, XVIIIth Airborne Corps, Fort
Bragg, N.C.
March 29, 2004
The Department of Defense announced today
the death of two Marines who were
supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Pfc. Leroy Sandoval Jr., 21, of Houston,
Texas, died March 26, due to hostile fire in
the Al Anbar Province, Iraq. He was
assigned to 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine
Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine
Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton,
Calif.
For further information related to Sandoval,
contact the Marine Corps Base Camp
Pendleton Public Affairs Office at (760) 725-
5044.
Master Sgt. Timothy Toney, 37, of
Manhattan, N.Y., died March 27, due to a
non-combat related incident at Camp
Wolverine, Kuwait. He was assigned to
Headquarters Battalion, 1st Marine
Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force,
Camp Pendleton, Calif.
His death is under investigation.
March 29, 2004
Release Number: 04-03-22C
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
IED Kills One Soldier
Balad, Iraq - A 13th COSCOM soldier is
dead and one is injured as the result of an
improvised explosive device attack near Al-
Habbaniya at approximately 10:30 a.m.
They were part of a convoy when their
vehicle struck the IED.
The injured soldier was evacuated by air to
the 31st Combat Support Hospital, Baghdad.
The names of the dead and injured are being
withheld pending next of kin notification.
The incident is under investigation.
HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES
CENTRAL COMMAND
7115 South Boundary Boulevard
MacDill AFB, Fla. 33621-5101
Phone: (813) 827-5894; FAX: (813) 827-
2211; DSN 651-5894
March 29, 2004
Release Number: 04-03-51
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
A-10 Friendly Fire Investigation
Completed
MacDill AFB – The investigation into a
March 23, 2003 friendly fire incident
between U.S. forces is complete. The
investigation was thorough and deliberate,
and has the concurrence of the CENTCOM
leadership.
A full copy of the report is available at www.
centcom.mil/CENTCOMNews/newsfeatures.
asp
The investigation, ordered by U.S. Central
Command and conducted by U.S. Air
Forces, Central Command, thoroughly
examined the circumstances surrounding
an incident involving a U.S. A-10 aircraft
firing on a company of U.S. Marines in
An Nasiriyah, Iraq.
The investigation revealed that several
factors contributed to this tragic event,
including problematic communications links
between U.S. forces and a battle plan that,
due to unforeseen circumstances, changed as
the situation unfolded.
The investigation determined that the pilots
involved acted appropriately based on the
information they possessed at the time of the
incident.
The decision on possible administrative or
disciplinary action, if any, with respect to any
Marines involved, was deferred to
Commander, Marine Corps Central
Command.
A total of 18 Marines were killed and 17
were wounded. Eight of the deaths were
verified as the result of enemy fire; of the
remaining 10 Marines killed,
investigators were unable to determine
the cause of death as the Marines were
also engaged in heavy fighting with the
enemy at the time of the incident.
Of the 17 wounded, only one was
conclusively determined to have been hit
by friendly fire.
Three Marines were wounded while
inside vehicles that received both friendly
and hostile fire, and the exact sequence and
source of their injuries could not be
determined.
U.S. Central Command mourns the loss of
life and regrets the injury of our
servicemembers resulting from this tragic
event.
March 31, 2004
The Department of Defense announced today
the death of a soldier who was supporting
Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Pfc. Sean M. Schneider, 22, of Janesville,
Wis., died March 29 as the result of a
vehicle accident near Baghdad. Pfc.
Schneider was assigned to the 115th
Forward Support Battalion, Fort Hood,
Texas
The Department of Defense announced today
the death of a Marine who was supporting
Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Lance Cpl. William J. Wiscowiche, 20, of
Victorville, Calif., died March 30, due to
enemy action in Al Anbar Province, Iraq.
He was assigned to 1st Combat Engineer
Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine
Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton,
Calif.
Army
Spc. Jeremiah J. Holmes, 27, of North
Berwick, Maine, died March 29, near
Balad, Iraq, when his vehicle hit an
improvised explosive device and fell from
a bridge. Holmes was assigned to the Army
National Guard’s 744th Transportation
Company, Hillsboro, N.H.
The Department of Defense announced today
the death of a soldier who was supporting
Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Master Sgt. Richard L. Ferguson, 45, of
Conway, N.H., died March 30, in Somara,
Iraq, when the military vehicle he was
riding in rolled over. Ferguson was
assigned to the Army’s 10th Special Forces
Group, Fort Carson, Colo.
The Department of Defense announced today
the death of five Soldiers supporting
Operation Iraqi Freedom. They died on
March 31, in Habbaniyah, Iraq, when an
improvised explosive device hit their armored
personnel carrier. All of the soldiers were
assigned to the Army’s 1st Engineer
Battalion, 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry
Division, Fort Riley, Kan. Killed were:
1st Lt. Doyle M. Hufstedler, 25, of
Abilene, Texas.
Spc. Sean R. Mitchell, 24, of Youngsville,
Pa.
Spc. Michael G. Karr Jr., 23, of San
Antonio, Texas.
Pfc. Cleston C. Raney, 20, of Rupert,
Idaho.
Pvt. Brandon L. Davis, 20, of Cumberland,
Md.
By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, April 2, 2004 – The four
civilian security specialists killed in a March 31
insurgent attack in Fallujah, Iraq, are being
mourned by their company.
"We grieve today for the loss of our colleagues
and we pray for their families," their firm,
Blackwater Security Counseling, said in an April
1 statement on its Web site.
According to news reports, three of the
contractors were Scott Helvenston, Jerko
"Jerry" Zovko and Michael Teague. All are
reportedly U.S. military veterans. The name of
the fourth victim has not been made public.
Blackwater spokesman Steve Capace
acknowledged today that that company would
not release the victims' names and noted that the
media had obtained information from families
and other sources.
Capace pointed out that Blackwater has
established a memorial fund for the deceased
contractors.
During an April 1 Coalition Provisional Authority
press conference in Baghdad, CPA chief
spokesman Dan Senor told reporters that
Blackwater had a government contract to
provide security for CPA administrator
Ambassador L. Paul Bremer III.
"They are involved with protecting Ambassador
Bremer," Senor remarked, adding, "They are,
obviously, not the only institution that is involved
with his security."
The four contractors were attacked by
insurgents while escorting a food convoy driving
through the restive town of Fallujah. After being
killed, the contractors' bodies were horrifically
debased by an irate Iraqi crowd.
Although U.S. forces didn't immediately respond
to what Army Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt
cited as "bestial" treatment of the
contractors, the general told reporters at
the April 1 briefing that "we will be back in
Fallujah."
"The graphic images of the unprovoked attack
and subsequent heinous mistreatment of our
friends exhibits the extraordinary conditions
under which we voluntarily work to bring
freedom and democracy to the Iraqi people,"
the Blackwater Web statement read.
"Coalition forces and civilian contractors and
administrators work side by side every day with
the Iraqi people to provide essential goods and
services like food, water, electricity and vital
security to the Iraqi citizens and coalition
members. Our tasks are dangerous and while
we feel sadness for our fallen colleagues, we
also feel pride and satisfaction that we are
making a difference for the people of Iraq."
On the same day a few miles from where the
contractors were killed, five U.S. Army 1st
Infantry Division soldiers died when their M-113
personnel carrier ran over an improvised
explosive device.
At the end of March the casualty list rose
to 603.
April 05, 2004
It was a particularly bloody weekend in Iraq.
The casualty count has risen to 613.
April 2, 2004
The Department of Defense announced today
the death of a Marine who was supporting
Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Pfc. Dustin M. Sekula, 18, of Edinburg,
Texas, died April 1, due to injuries sustained
from enemy fire in Al Anbar Province, Iraq.
He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 7th
Marines, 1st Marine Division, I Marine
Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, Calif.
For further information related to this release,
contact Marine Corps Air Ground Combat
Center Twentynine Pa
The Department of Defense announced today
the death of a soldier who was supporting
Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Pfc. William R. Strange, 19, of Adrian, Ga.,
died April 2, in Baghdad, Iraq, when an
improvised explosive device detonated where
he was setting up an observation point. Pfc.
Strange was assigned to the Army’s 91st
Engineer battalion, 1st Cavalry Division,
Fort Hood, Texas.
April 5, 2004
The Department of Defense announced today
the deaths of two Marines who were supporting
Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Lance Cpl. Aric J. Barr, 22, of Allegheny, Pa,
died April 3, due to injuries received from
enemy action in Al Anbar Province, Iraq. He
was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines,
1st Marine Division, I Marine
Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms,
Calif. For further information related to Barr,
contact Marine Corps Air Ground Combat
Center Twentynine Palms Public Affairs Office
at (760) 830-5472.
Pfc. Geoffery S. Morris, 19, of Gurnee, Ill,
died April 4, due to injuries received from
hostile fire in Al Anbar Province, Iraq. He was
assigned to 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, 1st
Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary
Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif. For further
information related to Morris, contact the
Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton Public
Affairs Office at (760) 725-5044.
The Department of Defense announced today
the death of a U.S. Department of the Army
civilian who was supporting Operation Iraqi
Freedom.
Emad Mikha, 44, of Sterling Heights, Mich.,
died April 3, in Muqdadiyah, Iraq. At this time,
the cause of his death is unknown.
The Department of Defense announced today
the death of a Soldier who was supporting
Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Pfc. John D. Amos, II, 22, of Valparaiso, Ind.,
died April 4, in Kirkuk, Iraq, when an
improvised explosive device hit his military
vehicle. Pfc. Amos was assigned to the Army’s
1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 25th
Infantry Division (Light), Schofield Barracks,
Hawaii.
Spc. Philip G. Rogers, 23, of Gresham, Ore.,
died April 4, in Mosul, Iraq, when an
improvised explosive device hit his military
vehicle. Spc. Rogers was assigned to the Army’
s 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort
Lewis, Wash.
April 6, 2004
The Department of Defense announced today
the death of a Marine who was supporting
Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Cpl. Tyler R. Fey, 22, of Eden Prarie, Minn.,
died April 4 due to injuries received from hostile
fire in Al Anbar Province, Iraq. He was
assigned to 1st Combat Engineer Battalion,
1st Marine Division, I Marine
Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.
For further information related to this release,
contact the Marine Corps Base Camp
Pendleton Public Affairs Office at (760) 725-
5044.