Hero Stories for August 2009

Staff Sgt. Jason S. Dahlke, 29, of Orlando, Florida, died August 29, 2009, in Paktika province, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when he was shot by enemy forces August 28 while conducting combat operations. Staff Sgt. Dahlke was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia. </d

Sgt. Earl D. Werner, 38, of Mondovi, Wisconsin, died August 28, 2009, in Rashid, Iraq, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his vehicle with an explosively formed penetrator. Sgt. Werner was assigned to the 41st Special Troops Battalion, 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team of the Oregon Army National Guard, Portland, Oregon. </d

Spc. Abraham S. Wheeler III, 22, of Columbia, South Carolina, died August 28, 2009, in Logar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device. Spc. Wheeler was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, New York. </d

Pvt. Taylor D. Marks, 19, of Monmouth, Oregon, died August 28, 2009, in Rashid, Iraq, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked their vehicle with an explosively formed penetrator. Pvt. Marks was assigned to the 41st Special Troops Battalion, 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team of the Oregon Army National Guard, Portland, Oregon. </d

Pfc. Matthew E. Wildes, 18, of Hammond, Louisiana, died August 27, 2009, in Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device. Pfc. Wildes was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colorado. </d

The commander of U.S. Central Command said tough fighting lies ahead in Afghanistan, where the Taliban and other extremists have expanded their strength and influence, but he cautioned that success there demands more than battlefield victorie

Soldiers handed out humanitarian aid packages of food and supplies to the citizens of Faddaqhryah and Bahar in southern Iraq, Aug.

Lance Cpl. Donald J. Hogan, 20, of San Clemente, California, died August 26, 2009, while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Lance Cpl. Hogan was assigned to 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, California. </d

Staff Sgt. Kurt R. Curtiss, 27, of Murray, Utah, died August 26, 2009, in Paktika Province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when he was shot while his unit was supporting Afghan security forces during an enemy attack. Staff Sgt. Curtiss was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, Fort Richardson, Alaska. </d

As Multi-National Corps - Iraq moves into the second phase of the drawdown of troops and equipment from Iraq, it faces challenges ranging from the withdrawal of people and material ranging from roughly 80,000 servicemembers to a connex filled with pink roller skat