The Department of Defense announced today the death of three soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom:

• Pfc. David Jefferson, 23, of Philadelphia, died July 2 in Kandahar, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when insurgents attacked his unit using an improvised explosive device.  He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.
• Spc. Clayton D. McGarrah, 20, of Harrison, Ark., died July 4 at Arghandab, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when insurgents attacked his unit using an improvised explosive device and rocket-propelled grenade fire.  He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.
• Spc. Louis R. Fastuca, 24, of West Chester, Pa., died July 5 at Abdulhamid Kalay, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device.  He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, Camp Ederle, Italy.

In addition, The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom: 

• Sgt. Jordan E. Tuttle , 22,  of West Monroe, La., died July 2 at Baghdad, Iraq, of injuries suffered in a non-combat related incident.  He was a member of the 156th Army Band in Bossier City, La., and was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 141st Field Artillery Regiment, 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, New Orleans, La. 

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a sailor who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom:

• Seaman William Ortega, 23, of Miami, Fla., died June 18 in Helmand  Province, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained from an improvised explosive device blast while conducting combat operations against enemy forces.  Ortega was assigned as a hospital corpsman to Third Battalion, First Marine Regiment, First Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force.

In addition, the Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom:

• Capt. Michael P. Cassidy, 41, of Simpsonville, S.C., died June 17 in Mosul, Iraq, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident.  He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 9th Field Artillery, 2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom:

• Spc. Christopher W. Opat, 29, of Spencer, Iowa, died June 15 in Baquah, Iraq of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident.  He was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.

The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation.

In addition, the Department of Defense announced today the deaths of four soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.  They died of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked their vehicle with an improvised explosive device June 7 in Konar, Afghanistan.  They were assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky. Killed were:

• Sgt. Joshua A. Lukeala, 23, of Yigo, Guam;
• Spc. Matthew R. Catlett, 23, of Houston, Texas;
• Spc. Charles S. Jirtle, 29, of Lawton, Okla.
• Spc. Blaine E. Redding, 22, of Plattsmouth, Neb.

The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.  They died June 11 at Forward Operating Base Bullard, Afghanistan, from wounds sustained when insurgents attacked their unit using an improvised explosive device.  They were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 110th Infantry Regiment, Connellsville, Pa.

Killed were:

• Sgt. 1st Class Robert J. Fike, 38, of Conneautville, Pa.
• Staff Sgt. Bryan A. Hoover, 29, of West Elizabeth, Pa.
• Spc. Christian M. Adams, 26, of Sierra Vista, Ariz., died June 11 in Kandahar, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained from a non-combat related incident.  He was assigned to the 20th Engineer Battalion, 36th Engineer Brigade, Fort Hood, Texas.

In addition, the Department of Defense announced today the deaths of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.  

They died June 11 in Jalula, Iraq, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked their unit with a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device.  They were assigned to the 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.

Killed were:

• Sgt. Israel P. Obryan, 24, of Newbern, Tenn.
• Spc. William C. Yauch, 23, of Batesville, Ark.

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom:

• Maj. Ronald W. Culver Jr., 44, of Shreveport, La., died May 24 in Numaniyah, Iraq, when insurgents attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device.  He was assigned to the 2nd Squadron, 108th Cavalry Regiment, Shreveport, La.

In addition, the Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom:

• Sgt. Edwin Rivera, 28, of Waterford, Conn., died May 25 at National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Md., of wounds sustained May 20 when his unit was attacked by enemy forces using indirect fire at Contingency Outpost Xio Haq, Afghanistan.  He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 102nd Infantry, Norwalk, Conn.
• Pfc. Christopher R. Barton, 22, of Concord, N.C., died May 24 in Khowst province, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms fire.  He was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 33rd Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.

The Department of Defense announced today the alert of replacement forces scheduled to deploy in support of Operation New Dawn. Effective Sept. 1, 2010, the U.S. mission in Iraq is renamed from Operation Iraqi Freedom to Operation New Dawn to coincide with U.S. forces’ shift to an advisory, assistance, training, and equipping role. The alert announcement involves one infantry brigade from the Army National Guard consisting of approximately 2,700 personnel. Specific unit alerted for Operation New Dawn is:

• 1st Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division, Minnesota Army National Guard

The unit will replace a redeploying unit, with no increase in overall force levels. They are currently scheduled to begin their deployment in the summer of 2011 and are receiving alert orders now in order to provide the maximum time to complete preparations. It also provides a greater measure of predictability for family members and flexibility for employers to plan for military service of their employees.

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom:

• Staff Sgt. Christopher D. Worrell, 35, of Virginia Beach, Va., died April 22 in Baghdad, Iraq, of injuries sustained during a non-combat related incident. He was assigned to the 702nd Combat Support Battalion, 4th Stryker Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.

In addition, the Department of Defense announced today the deaths of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. They died April 23 in Logar province, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained while conducting combat operations. Both soldiers were assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Benning, Ga. Killed were:

• Sgt. Ronald A. Kubik, 21, of Brielle, N.J.
• Sgt. Jason A. Santora, 25, of Farmingville, N.Y.