Two soldiers based at Fort Eustis in Newport News were killed and two others injured in Iraq this week, the Pentagon announced Friday.
Another soldier also was killed in the same incident, in which the non-tactical vehicle the five were in was hit by “indirect fire,” during a mortar attack Wednesday, the Pentagon said.
Their deaths come less than a week before the 5th anniversary of the start of the Iraq war, which has claimed the lives of at least 3,987 American service members. The figure includes eight military civilians.
The Department of Defense identified the three killed Wednesday as:
- Staff Sgt. Juantrea T. Bradley, 28, of Greenville, N.C., who was assigned to the 7th Special Troops Battalion, 7th Sustainment Brigade, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), based at Fort Eustis.
He is survived by his wife and four children.
- Pfc. Tenzin L. Samten, 33, of Prescott, Ariz., who was assigned to the same unit as Bradley.
He is survived by his wife and two children.
- Spc. Dustin C. Jackson, 21, of Arlington, Tex., who was assigned to the 350th Adjutant General Company, based at Grand Prairie, Tex.
The Fort Eustis unit deployed to Tallil Air Base in Iraq in October 2007 on a 15-month mission to provide logistical support to more than 20,000 U.S. and coalition military forces, said Monica K. Miller, a Fort Eustis spokeswoman.
The unit assumed responsibilities at Camp Adder on Tallil Airbase, about 200 miles southeast of Baghdad, in November.
Its tasks include resupplying ammunition and fuel, purifying water and distributing supplies for field troops.
The unit has deployed twice before, in 2003 and 2004, as the 7th Transportation Group.
More than 300 soldiers are on the latest deployment.
Two others from the same unit were injured in Wednesday’s incident, Miller said. Their names and conditions were not released Friday.
Bradley’s wife has a MySpace page which, in addition to pictures of her husband, includes a countdown clock titled “Until daddy returns from Iraq.”
It was still running Friday evening, showing 9 months and 22 days.
Bradley attended D.H. Conley High School in Greenville, N.C.
He was a cargo specialist and joined the Army in February 2002. He completed basic training at Fort Jackson, S.C., and advanced individual training at Fort Benning, Ga.
His first assignment was with 23rd Ordnance Company based at Miesau Army Depot in Germany, Miller said. In November 2001, he was reassigned to 1st Battalion, 3rd Aviation Regiment at Hunter Army Airfield, Ga.
Bradley was reassigned to Fort Eustis in March 2004, where he served with the 149th Transportation Company and 155th Transportation Company. He joined the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 7th Special Troops Battalion, in June 2007.
He had previously served in Iraq from January to July 2003 and in Kuwait from February to August 2002.
Bradley is a graduate of the Warrior Leader Course and the Cargo Officer Course.
His awards and decorations include the Purple Heart, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, numerous campaign medals and service ribbons. Samten was a motor transport operator. He enlisted in the Army in July 2006 and completed basic training at Fort Jackson, S.C., and advanced individual training at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.
Samten was assigned to the 7th Special Troops Battalion in May 2007.
His awards and decorations include the Purple Heart, the National Defense Service Medal and the Iraq Campaign Medal.
A memorial service is being planned for next week at Fort Eustis, but details were not immediately available.
Two other soldiers from Fort Eustis have died in Iraq.
- Spec. Jeremy Dimaranan, a 29-year old from Virginia Beach was killed in a mortar attack north of Baghdad in June 2004. He served with the 302nd Transportation Company.
- Spec. Raymond J. Faulstich, a 24-year old native of Maryland with the 89th Transportation Company, was killed when his convoy came under attack in Najaf in August, 2004.
Steve Stone, (757) 446-2309/2319, steve.stone@pilotonline.com
Louis Hansen, (757) 446-2322, louis.hansen@pilotonline.com
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Re Rookery & Al-Sifr
"Rookery" you may consider the article a tribute, but the fact is the story was posted to 3 categories...Iraq, Military, Newport News, & should be considered open to any war related or political comment in those categories, look under the title of the story at the 3 little gray boxes that say posted to..they do not say obituary, tribute, or anything of the like..
Mr Al-Sifr.. While everyone is not sitting in the comfort of their own home, they go to work & pay Federal Income Tax, which means we all are helping to send combatants to Iraq. With that in mind, even YOU are helping to sending the combatants as well, because if you are not, that would bring into question if you even have a say in the matter, to those of use who Do pay Federal taxes. I will warn you that not paying the tax is considered a violation by the IRS. They are not that understanding in these matters.
Support our troops - bring them home
If you are sitting in the comfort of your own home and helping send these young men and women to Iraq, with all we now know about Bush's deceptions and incompetence, please spare us your moral outrage.
As the economy worsens and people start once again to turn inward, our military is being forgotten. That's where our outrage should be directed.
If those who oppose the war don't speak out when two soldiers die to support a presidency that is slinking towards infamy, the public's indifference will only get worse.
I can support these brave men without supporting the criminal actions of bush and his republican cronies. You pro-war types can go to ... Iraq.
Re;True Authorship
"However, the username you choose is governed by the same standards as other content submissions." From Va Pilot Posting Guidelines....... and so basically no matter what screen name you use, you are still responsible for the contents. The pilot knows who you are, & the alias holders probably don't feel it's prudent considering the nutjobs in today's society. Why do you need to know their name anyway? Sensitivity or good taste are not necessarily mandatory, & rightfully so since they are a matter of opinion. It is a comment or opinion option.. If you feel the submission is in violation of any of the guidelines, you can flag it & it will be reviewed to determine if you are correct in your analysis. How do you know their names aren't W F Buckley or Roy Hobbs anyway, or that mine isn't legally Contractorva. It's improbable, but, far from impossible, legally. I know 3 John Smiths & 1 Jack Daniels & no one believes them either. There are people named Dweezil & Moonunit out there, would you believe those are not screen names?
Honoring two young men who chose to serve their country
This article was written as a tribute to two young men who chose to serve their country. The comments made concerning this article should be confined to honoring their memory and thanking them and their families for their sacrifices.
Those who choose to make political statements on this board do so with the protection of a Constitution that these two brave soldiers defended with their lives.
To the families of Staff Sgt. Bradley and Pvt. Samten I am so sorry for you loss but so thankful for their service.
W.F. BUCKLEY, ROY HOBBS, VBBADBOY757
The spewing of political diatribes on a board announcing the deaths of American soldiers is despicable and pathetic to say the least.
To the above said individuals who refuse to stand behind their writings with true authorship indicated, I say hide behind your phony sign on names and continue living the lives of weak, irrelevant arm chair quarterbacks who have no respect for those who are no longer among us.
Honor
God bless the families of these young men. You served your country with honor and distinction. The battle of tody is not for today, but for tomorrow. History is on our side.
Thankyou
To both families who lost a loved one. When a person dies there should be no political rant, just a thankyou and God Bless your loved ones. Because it is they who have to handle this tragic event in their lives.
Thankyou again.
What to do about terrorists & the Iraq war
Saddam Hussein and his Iraqi government actively supported terrorism. Just to name a few examples, Abu Abbas (the leader of the Palestinian guerrillas that hijacked the cruise ship "Achille Lauro" in 1985, horribly and brutally beat a wheel chair bound disabled American, then threw him into the sea to drown) was sheltered in Baghdad until the U.S. invaded Iraq. Hussein also paid the family of each suicide bomber $25,000.00 after each bombing. The invasion of Iraq stopped these activities and many more. Americans must decide if we are to root out terrorists that murder our citizens or allow their wholesale murder by these criminals. I thank God our military has engaged terrorists in THEIR territory so we don't have to fight them in here.
Support our troops
Elect new leaders who will bring them home.
100 percent
I believe you can still be behind the troops 100% and not support this bogus war at the same time!!
Re: Here's What I Don't Get
I think it's important for us all to remember that it isn't just those in combat areas who put their lives at risk while serving in the military.
Service members are killed constantly in all branches of the armed forces but rarely do they get any publicity. We forget there are spouses and children, family members and friends mourning the loss of their loved ones in uniform around the world on a daily basis.
To focus our sympathy and regret on only those who lose their lives in Iraq or Afghanistan isn't fair to the others who were just as dedicated and selfless in their commitment to their country.
And to second guess our involvement in the Middle East this late in the game only makes the loss of these precious lives a senseless tragedy.
They wouldn't want to be remembered that way...nor do those who are now serving in the Middle East need nor do they want to hear the dissention from us here at home.
I know...my own son is now "over there." He, as the others who are serving in our armed forces need to know that we are behind them and their mission 100 percent.
Here's what I don't get
If the surge is working, how come we keep reading these stories?
Apparently, "The surge is working" means different things to those who are actually in Iraq and those who are back home in their easy chairs.
My condolences to the family. I hope you can take some measure of comfort in the fact that these men died doing their duty in service to their country.
I wish we had the courageous leadership needed to end this colossal blunder sooner. Perhaps we will after November.