Unidentified US war casualty lay dead on the floor of an Afghan compound. Shot multiple times this soldier will never return home again alive.
On January 7, 2014 Senator Barbara Boxer of California asked for and was granted permission to address the United States Senate regarding eight more service members who were killed in Operation Enduring Freedom.
Operation Enduring Freedom” (OEF) is the official name used by the U.S. government for the War in Afghanistan. It is the longest and most expensive military campaign in the history of war.
“Mr. President, I wish to pay tribute to eight servicemembers from California or based in California who have died while serving our country in Operation Enduring Freedom since I last entered names into the record on July 10, 2013. This brings to 410 the number of servicemembers either from California or based in California who have been killed while serving our country in Afghanistan. This represents 18 percent of all U.S. deaths in Afghanistan:
LCpl Benjamin W. Tuttle, 19, of Gentry, AR, died July 14, 2013, at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center following a medical evacuation from the aircraft carrier the USS Nimitz,CVN 68, during a scheduled port visit in the 5th Fleet Area of Responsibility. Lance Corporal Tuttle was assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 323, Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, CA.
SPC Nicholas B. Burley, 22, of Red Bluff, CA, died July 30, 2013, in Pul-E-Alam, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when enemy forces attacked his unit with indirect fire. Specialist Burley was assigned to the 6th Squadron, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, GA.
SPC Kenneth Clifford Alvarez, 23, of Santa Maria, CA, died August 23, 2013, in Haft Asiab, Afghanistan, from wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device during combat operations. Specialist Alvarez was assigned to 2nd Engineer Battalion, 36th Engineer Brigade, White Sands Missile Range, NM.
SSG Robert E. Thomas Jr., 24, of Fontana, CA, died September 13, 2013, at Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, TX, of wounds suffered during a non-combat related incident on April 21, 2013, in Maiwand, Afghanistan. Staff Sergeant Thomas was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 36th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, Fort Bliss, TX.
LCDR Landon L. Jones, 35, of Lompoc, CA, died September 22, 2013, as a result of an MH-60S Knighthawk helicopter crash while operating in the central Red Sea. Lieutenant Commander Jones was assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron Six at Naval Air Station North Island, San Diego, CA.
CWO Jonathon S. Gibson, 32, of Aurora, OR, died September 22, 2013, as a result of an MH-60S Knighthawk helicopter crash while operating in the central Red Sea. Chief Warrant Officer Gibson was assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron Six at Naval Air Station North Island, San Diego, CA.
CPT Jennifer M. Moreno, 25, of San Diego, CA, died October 6, 2013, in Zhari District, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when enemy forces attacked her unit with an improvised explosive device. Captain Moreno was assigned to Madigan Army Medical Center, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA.
LCpl Matthew R. Rodriguez, 19, of Fairhaven, MA, died December 11, 2013, while conducting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Lance Corporal Rodriguez was assigned to 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, CA.” (source: Congressional Record http://thomas.loc.gov).
Senator Boxer currently is the Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and the Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Ethics. She is also a senior member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (source: http://www.boxer.senate.gov/en/senator/committees/index.cfm).