In Memoriam

Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom

    As of Thursday, May  24, 2007,
20 U.S. service members from North Dakota
or serving on Active Duty with North Dakota National Guard units
have been reported killed while on duty in Iraq or Afghanistan.
The list of those killed includes:

• Staff Sergeant David C. Kuehl, 27, of Wahpeton. Died May 22, 2007, in Taji, Iraq of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his unit . Assigned to the Army's 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team).
   

• Major Alan R. Johnson, 44, of Montpelier. Killed January 26, 2007, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Humvee near Muqdadiyah, Iraq. Assigned to the US Army Reserve's 402nd Civil Affairs Battalion.  Johnson is a former member of the North Dakota National Guard's 141st Engineer Combat Battalion.
   

• Corporal Christopher K. Kleinwachter, 29, of Wahpeton.  Killed November 30, 2006 while participating in military convoy operations in the Ghanzi province, Afghanistan, when the vehicle he was riding in was involved in a roll-over.  Assigned to the North Dakota National Guard's 1st Battalion, 188th Air Defense Artillery Security Forces.
   

• Corporal Nathan J. Goodiron, 25, of Mandree.  Killed November 23, 2006, in an attack on his vehicle in Afghanistan.  Assigned to the North Dakota National Guard's 1st Battalion, 188th Air Defense Artillery Security Forces.
   

• Private First Class Paul A. Beyer, 21, of Jamestown.  Killed June 23, 2006, when a roadside bomb detonated near his Humvee in Baghdad.  Assigned to the Army's C Company, 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault).
   

• Specialist Jeremiah S. Santos, 21 of Devils Lake.  Killed June 15, 2006, when a roadside bomb detonated near his Humvee in Baghdad.  Assigned to the Army's 2nd Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division.
   

• Sergeant Travis A. Van Zoest, 21 of Bismarck.  Killed June 6, 2006, in an attack on his vehicle near Khogyani, Afghanistan.  Assigned to the North Dakota National Guard's 1st Battalion, 188th Air Defense Artillery Security Forces.
   

• Specialist Curtis R. Mehrer, 21, of Bismarck.  Killed June 6, 2006, in an attack on his vehicle near Khogyani, Afghanistan.  Assigned to the North Dakota National Guard's 1st Battalion, 188th Air Defense Artillery Security Forces.
   

• Specialist Michael Hermanson, 21, of Fargo.  Killed May 23, 2006, in an attack on his vehicle near Al Abayachi, north of Baghdad.  Assigned to the North Dakota National Guard's Company A, 164th Engineer Combat Battalion.
   

• Specialist Cody Wentz, 21, of Williston.  Killed November 4, 2004, in an attack on a Humvee near Balad.  Assigned to the North Dakota National Guard's 141st Engineer Combat Battalion.
   

• Specialist Dennis Ferderer Jr., 20, of New Salem. Killed November 2, 2005, in an attack on a Humvee near Ad Duluiyah, north of Baghdad.  Assigned to the Army's 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division.
   

• Private First Class Anthony Monroe, 21, of Bismarck.  Died October 11, 2004, when two rockets impacted his camp.  Assigned to the Army's Division Artillery, 1st Cavalry Division.
   

• Staff Sergeant Lance Koenig, 33, of Fargo.  Died September 22, 2004, near Tikrit when a bomb exploded while he was inspecting a suspicious roadside object.  Assigned to the North Dakota National Guard's 141st Engineer Combat Battalion.
   

• Specialist Philip Brown, 21, of Jamestown.  Died May, 8, 2004, after being wounded by an explosive while on foot patrol.  Assigned to the North Dakota National Guard's 141st Engineer Combat Battalion.
   

• Specialist James Holmes, 28, East Grand Forks, MN.  Died May 8, 2004, in Landstuhl, Germany, from wounds suffered May 3 when a roadside bomb exploded while he was on vehicle patrol.  Assigned to the North Dakota National Guard's 141st Engineer Combat Battalion.
   

• Staff Sergeant Ken Hendrickson, 41, of Bismarck.  Killed January 24, 2004, when a bomb struck a four-vehicle convoy north of Fallujah.  Assigned to the North Dakota National Guard's 957th Multi-Role Bridge Company.
   

• Sergeant Keith Smette, 25, of Makoti.  Killed January 24, 2004, when a bomb struck a four-vehicle convoy north of Fallujah.  Assigned to the North Dakota National Guard's 957th Multi-Role Bridge Company.
   

• Specialist Thomas Sweet II, 23, of Bismarck.  Died November 27, 2003, in Junction City from a noncombat-related gunshot wound.  Assigned to the Army's 1st Battalion, 5th Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Infantry Division.
   

• Private First Class Sheldon Hawk Eagle, 21, of Grand Forks.  Among 17 Americans killed on November 15, 2003, when two Blackhawk helicopters crashed in Mosul.  Assigned to the Army's 1st Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment, 101st Airborne Division.
   

• Specialist Jon Fettig, 30, of Dickinson.  Killed July 22, 2003, in an attack on a convoy near Ar Ramadi.  Assigned to the North Dakota National Guard's 957th Multi-Role Bridge Company.

The North Dakota National Guard
and The Bismarck Tribune
As of May 24, 2007