Remembering Minnesota's fallen troops in Afghanistan, Iraq and beyond

The opening salvo of the Iraq War began early on March 19, 2003, with a U.S. bombing raid on the Dora Farms community on the outskirts of Baghdad, where the U.S. military believed Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein was visiting family. The following morning, March 20, Operation Iraqi Freedom began with a massive bomb attack on Baghdad and other Iraqi cities. By April 9, Baghdad had fallen, and on May 1, President George W. Bush declared the end of major combat operations. Combat operations didn't formally end, however, until 2010.

The following is a brief account of the almost 100 military personnel with Minnesota connections who have died in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan since the onset of hostilities that followed the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Non-combat deaths and non-military deaths related to the wars are also listed below in separate categories.

Army Maj. Curtis D. Feistner, 34, of White Bear Lake, Minn., was the first casualty. He died on Feb. 22, 2002 in the Philippines during a training. Feistner was assigned to E Co, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, based at Fort Campbell, Ky.

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2003

Army Pfc. Edward Herrgott, 20, of Shakopee, died on July 3, 2003, in Baghdad, Iraq, from a gunshot wound while on patrol. Herrgott was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 36th Infantry Regiment, 1st Armored Division, Wiesbaden, Germany.

Army Staff Sgt. Brian Hellermann, 35, formerly of Freeport, was fatally injured Aug. 6, 2003, during an ambush in Baghdad, Iraq. Hellermann was assigned to C Company, 2nd Battalion, 325th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.

Army Staff Sgt. Dale Panchot, 26, of Northome, Minn., was killed Nov. 1, 2003, by enemy fire while on patrol south of Balad, Iraq. Panchot was assigned to B Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division (Mech), based in Fort Carson, Colo.

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2004

Chief Warrant Officer Patrick Dorff, 32, Dorff, 32, apparently drowned in Iraq on Jan. 25, 2004, after the helicopter he copiloted crashed into the Tigris River. Dorff was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 10th Aviation (Fort Drum); attached to the 3rd Squadron, 17th Cavalry, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y.

Army Pfc. Matthew Milczark, 18, of Kettle River, Minn., died March 8 in a non-combat related incident at Camp Victory, Kuwait. Milczark was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, 1st Marine Division, Camp Pendleton, Calif.

Marine Corps Cpl. Tyler R. Fey, 22, of Eden Prairie, was killed April 4, 2004, by hostile fire in Anbar province, Iraq. Fey was assigned to 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.

Marine Corps Pfc. Moises Langhorst, 19, of Moose Lake, was killed April 5, 2004, by hostile fire in Anbar province, Iraq. Langhorst was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.

Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Levi Angell, 20, of Cloquet, Minn., was killed April 8, 2004, by hostile fire in Anbar province, Iraq. Angell was assigned to Combat Service Support Group 11, 1st Force Service Support Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.

Army Spc. James J. Holmes, 28, of Grand Forks, Minn., died May 8 from injuries sustained on May 3 when an improvised explosive device detonated near his military vehicle in Iraq. Holmes was assigned to C Company, 141st Engineer Combat Battalion, North Dakota National Guard, Hettinger, N.D.

Army Cpl. Demetrius Rice, 24, of Ortonville, Minn., was killed July 14, 2004, when his vehicle rolled over as the driver tried to avoid another vehicle in Talafar, Iraq. Rice was assigned to 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.

Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class David A. Cedergren, 25, of Zimmerman, died Sept. 11 in a non-combat-related incident near Iskandariayah, Iraq. Cedergren was assigned to the 2nd Marine Division Fleet Marine Forces Atlantic.

Army Spc. Daniel James McConnell, 27, of Duluth, Minn. was, killed Nov. 16 in a vehicle accident while on patrol in the northern Iraq city of Kirkuk. McConnell was assigned to the 27th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.

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2005

Army Spc. Dwayne J. McFarlane Jr., 20, of Cass Lake, Minn., was killed Jan. 9, 2005, when his dismounted patrol was hit by an improvised explosive device in Baghdad, Iraq.McFarlane was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 15th Field Artillery Regiment, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, N.Y.

Sgt. Michael C. Carlson, 22, of St. Paul., Minn., was killed Jan. 24, 2005 when his Bradley fighting vehicle overturned in Mohammed Sacran, Iraq. Carlson was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry, 1st Infantry Division, Vilseck, Germany.

Army Sgt. 1st Class Mickey E. Zaun, 27, Army, Brooklyn Park, Minn., died Jan. 28, 2005, of injuries sustained in a collision between two armored vehicles in Mosul, Iraq. Zaun was assigned to the U.S. Army Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, N.C.

Army 1st. Lt. Jason Timmerman, 24, was killed Feb. 21, 2005, when an improvised explosive device detonated as he was assisting injured soldiers in his unit in Baghdad. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 151st Field Artillery, 34th Infantry Division, Minnesota Army National Guard, Montevideo, Minn. Army Staff Sgt. David F. Day and Army Sgt. Jesse M. Lhotka, noted below, were also killed.

Army Staff Sgt. David F. Day, 25, was killed Feb. 21 when an improvised explosive device detonated as he was assisting injured soldiers in his unit in Baghdad. Day was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 151st Field Artillery, 34th Infantry Division, Minnesota Army National Guard, Montevideo, Minn.

Army Sgt. Jesse Lhotka, 24, of Alexandria, Minn., was killed Feb. 21, 2005, when an improvised explosive device detonated as he was assisting injured soldiers in his unit in Baghdad. Lhotka was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 151st Field Artillery, 34th Infantry Division, Minnesota Army National Guard, Montevideo, Minn.

Army Spec. Travis Bruce, 22, of Rochester, Minn., was killed March 23 when an enemy mortar round detonated near his guard position in Baghdad. Bruce was assigned to the 170th Military Police Company, 504th Military Police Battalion, Fort Lewis, Wash.

Marine Capt. Kelly C. Hinz, 30, of Woodbury, Minn., died May 2, 2005, when the F/A-18 Hornet aircraft he was piloting crashed in Iraq. Hinz was assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 323, Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif.; embarked aboard the aircraft carrier Carl Vinson.

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Army Chief Warrant Officer Matthew Scott Lourey, 41, of East Bethel, Minn., died May 27 of injuries sustained on May 26, 2005, when his OH-58 Kiowa Warrior helicopter came under attack from small-arms fire and crashed in Buhriz, Iraq. Lourey was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C. Also killed was Chief Warrant Officer 2 Joshua Michael Scott, of Sun Prairie, Wis.

Army 1st Lt. Michael J. Fasnacht, 25, of Mankato, Minn., was killed June 8, 2005, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Bradley fighting vehicle in Tikrit, Iraq. Fasnacht was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Benning, Ga.

23. Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 Corey J. Goodnature, 35, of Clarks Grove, Minn., died June 28, 2005, when an MH-47 Chinook helicopter crashed while ferrying personnel to a battle against militants in eastern Afghanistan. Goodnature was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), Hunter Army Airfield, Ga.

Marine Sgt. Bryan J. Opskar, 32, of Moorhead, Minn., was killed July 23, 2005, when his vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device while he was conducting combat operations near Rutbah, Iraq. Ipskar was assigned to the 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael A. Benson, 40, of Winona, Minn., died Aug. 10, 2005, of injuries sustained Aug. 2 when a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device struck his convoy in Baghdad. Benson was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 314th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 78th Division, Fort Drum, N.Y.; died Aug. 10 at the National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Md.

Army Pfc. Elden D. Arcand, 22, of White Bear Lake, Minn., was killed Aug. 21, 2005, was killed August 21 when his M915A1 tractor pulling a 7,500-gallon tanker accidentally rolled over in Mosul, Iraq. Arcand was assigned to the 360th Transportation Company, 68th Corps Support Battalion, 43rd Area Support Group, Fort Carson, Colo.

Army Spc. Jacob Vanderbosch, 21, of Vadnais Heights, Minn., was killed Oct. 3, 2005 when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Humvee during combat operations in Haqlaniyah, Iraq. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.

Marine Master Sgt. Brett E. Angus, 40, of St. Paul, Minn., was killed Nov. 26, 2005, by an improvised explosive device while conducting combat operations against enemy forces in the vicinity of Camp Taqaddum, Iraq. Angus was assigned to Marine Wing Support Squadron-372, Marine Wing Support Group-37, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.; attached to 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward).

Marine Lance Cpl. Scott Modeen, 24, of New Hope, Minn., was killed Dec. 1, 2005, by an improvised explosive device while conducting combat operations against enemy forces in Fallujah, Iraq. Modeen was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, Calif.; attached to 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward). He was one of 10 Marines killed on the blast, including Cpl. Anthony McElveen, 21, Little Falls, Minn., noted below.

Marine Cpl. Anthony T. McElveen, 21, of Little Falls, Minn., was killed Dec. 1, 2005, by an improvised explosive device while conducting combat operations against enemy forces in Fallujah, Iraq. Modeen was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, Calif.; attached to 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward). He was one of 10 Marines killed in the blast, including Marine Lance Cpl. Scott Modeen, 24, of New Hope, Minn., noted above.

Marine Staff Sgt. Kenneth Pospisil, 35, of Andover, Minn., was killed Dec. 14, 2005, by an improvised explosive device while conducting combat operations against enemy forces in the vicinity of Ramadi, Iraq. He was assigned to the 8th Engineer Support Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

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2006

Army Maj. Stuart Anderson, 44, originally of Benson, Minn., was killed Jan. 7, 2006, was killed with eight others when a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crashed near Tal Afar, Iraq. Anderson was assigned to the 3rd Corps Support Command, Army Reserve, Des Moines, Iowa.

Marine Lance Cpl. Adam VanAlstine, 21, of Superior, Wis., who moved to the Twin Cities area after graduating from Superior High School in 2003, was killed Feb. 25, 2006, by a roadside bomb near Baghdad, Iraq. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, Calif.; attached to the 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward).

Army Cpl. Andrew Kemple, 23, of Cambridge, Minn., was killed on Feb. 12, 2006, when his Humvee came under small-arms fire during combat operations in Tikrit, Iraq. Kemple was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Ky.

Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 Eric W. Totten, 34, originally from St. Paul, Minn., was among 10 who died May 5, 2006, when the CH-47 Chinook helicopter in which he and the others were traveling crashed during combat operations east of Abad, Afghanistan, in Kunar province. Totten was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 10th Aviation Regiment, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum N.Y.

Marine Lance Cpl. Robert Posivio,III, 22, of Sherburn, Minn., was killed May 23, 2006, while conducting combat operations against enemy forces in Karmah, Iraq. Posivio was assigned to 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.

Marine Capt. Nate J. Doring, 31, of Apple Valley, Minn., died May 30 following a non-hostile helicopter accident May 27 near Taqaddum, Iraq. He was assigned to Marine Light/Attack Helicopter Squadron-169, Marine Aircraft Group-39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.; Also killed was Cpl. Richard A. Bennett.

Army Sgt. Brent W. Koch, 22, of Morton, Minn., was killed June 16, 2006, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Humvee in Diwaniyah, Iraq. Koch was assigned to Company E, 2nd Battalion, 136th Infantry Combined Arms Battalion, Hutchinson, Minn.

Army Sgt. Kyle Miller, 19, of Willmar, Minn., was killed June 29, 2006, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his convoy in Mosul, Iraq. Miller was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 1st Battalion, 125th Field Artillery Regiment, Minnesota Army National Guard, New Ulm, Minn.

Army Cpl. Troy Carlin Linden, 22, of Rochert, Minn., was among four who died July 8, 2006, when an improvised explosive device detonated near their vehicle during combat operations in Ramadi, Iraq. Linden was assigned to 54th Engineer Battalion, 130th Engineer Brigade, Warner Barracks, Bamberg, Germany.

Army Spc. Qixing Lee, 20, of Minneapolis, was among four killed Aug. 27, 2006, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his M2A3 Bradley Vehicle during combat operations in Taji, Iraq. Lee was assigned to 1st Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment, 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

Army Sgt. Joshua Hanson, 30, of West St. Paul, Minn., died Aug. 30, 2006, of injuries sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle during combat operations in Khalidiyah, Iraq. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 136th Infantry, Minnesota National Guard, Detroit Lakes, Minn.

Marine Cpl. Johnathan Benson, 21, of North Branch, Minn., died Sept. 9, 2006, from wounds sustained June 17 while conducting combat operations in Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.

Army Staff Sgt. Kevin Witte, 27, of Beardsley, Minn., died Oct. 20, 2006, in Baghdad from injuries sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle during a combat patrol. Witte was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Baumholder, Germany.

Army Sgt. Bryan T. McDonough, 22, of Maplewood, Minn., died Dec. 2, 2006, in Fallujah, Iraq, of injuries suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle during security operations. McDonough was assigned to the National Guard's 2nd Combined Arms Battalion, 136th Infantry, Crookston, Minn. Sgt. Corey J. Rystad, of the Minnesota National Guard, was also killed in the blast, as noted below.

Army Sgt. Corey J. Rystad, 20, of Red Lake Falls, Minn., died Dec. 2, 2006, in Fallujah, Iraq, of injuries suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle during security operations. He was assigned to the National Guard's 2nd Combined Arms Battalion, 136th Infantry, Crookston, Minn. Sgt. Bryan T. McDonough of the Minnesota National Guard also died in the blast.

Army Pfc. Nicholas Turcotte, 23, of Maple Grove, Minn., died Dec. 4, 2006, in Nasiriyah, Iraq, from injuries sustained in a vehicle accident. He was assigned to the Minnesota National Guard's 2nd Battalion, 135th Infantry, West St. Paul, Minn.

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2007

Army Sgt. James M. Wosika Jr., 24, of St. Paul, died Jan. 9, 2007, in Fallujah, Iraq, of wounds sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his unit while on combat patrol. He was assigned to the Minnesota National Guard's 2nd Combined Arms Battalion, 136th Infantry, Crookston, Minn.

Army Sgt. William J. Beardsley, 25, 25, of Coon Rapids, Minn., died Feb. 26, 2007, in Diwaniyah, Iraq, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. Beardsley was assigned to the 260th Quartermaster Battalion, 3rd Sustainment Troop Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.

Marine Sgt. Chad M. Allen, 25, of Maple Lake, Minn., died Feb. 28, 2007, while conducting combat operations in Anbar province, Iraq. Allen was assigned to 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Army Staff Sgt. Greg N. Riewer, 28, of Frazee, Minn., died March 23, 2007, in Habbaniyah, Iraq, of wounds sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle during combat operations. Riewer was assigned to the Minnesota National Guard's 2nd Combined Arms Battalion, 136th Infantry, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division, Bemidji, Minn.

Army Spc. Sean K. McDonald, 21, of Rosemount, Minn., died March 25, 2007, in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. McDonald was assigned to the 9th Engineer Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Wiesbaden, Germany.

Marine Lance Cpl. Daniel Olsen, 20, of Eagan, Minn., died April 2, 2007, while conducting combat operations in Anbar province, Iraq. Olsen was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, Calif.

Army Spc. Conor Masterson, 21, of Woodbury, Minn., died April 8, 2007, in eastern Afghanistan of wounds sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. Masterson was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, Hohenfels, Germany.

Army Sgt. Joshua Schmit, 26, of Willmar, Minn., died April 14, 2007, in Fallujah, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. He was assigned to the 1451st Transportation Company, 13th Support Command, Iraq.

Army Pfc. Robert Dixon, 28, of Minneapolis, died May 6, 2007, in Baghdad of wounds sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. Dixon was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan.

Army Sgt. Jason Schumann, 23, of Hawley, Minn., died May 19, 2007, in Diwaniyah, Iraq, of wounds sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. He was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 89th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Polk, La.

Army Pfc. Tony Hebert, 19, of Lake City, Minn., 19, of Lake City, Minn., was among five who died June 21, 2007, in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near their vehicle. Herbert was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Schweinfurt, Germany.

Army Staff Sgt. Jacob Thompson, 26, of North Mankato, Minn., was among three who died Aug. 6, 2007, in Baqubah, Iraq, of wounds sustained from an improvised explosive device blast. Thompson was assigned to 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team), Fort Lewis, Wash.

Army Sgt. Andrew Nelson, 22, of Moorhead, Minn., died Aug. 29, 2007, in Muqdadiyah, Iraq, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit. Nelson was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.

Army Sgt. 1st Class John J. Tobiason, 42, of Bloomington, Minn., died Nov. 28 in Baghdad of injuries sustained in an incident that is currently under investigation. Tobiason was assigned to the 847th Adjutant General Battalion, 89th Regional Readiness Command, Wichita, Kan.

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2008

Army Pfc. Joshua R. Anderson, 24, of Jordan, Minn., died Jan. 3, 2008, in Kamasiyah, Iraq, of wounds sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. Anderson was assigned to the 6th Squadron, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.

Army Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Pionk, of Eveleth, Minn., was among six who died Jan. 9, 2008, in Sinsil, Iraq, of wounds sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated during combat operations. Pionk was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, 1st Armored Division, Vilseck, Germany.

Army Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Ryan Kahler, 29, of Granite Falls, Minn., died Jan. 26, 2008, at Forward Operating Base Fenty, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained from small-arms fire in Waygul, Afghanistan. Kahler was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment (Airborne), 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, Vicenza, Italy.

Army Spc. Gregory B. Rundell, 21, of North St. Paul, Minn., died March 26, 2008, in Taji, Iraq, of wounds sustained from small arms fire. Rundell was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.

Army Staff Sgt. Brian E. Studer, 28, of Ramsey, Minn., died Aug. 22, 2008, at in Ghazni, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when the improvised explosive device he was attempting to deactivate detonated. Studer was assigned to the 720th Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company, 28th Transportation Battalion, 18th Military Police Brigade, Mannheim, Germany.

Army Spc. Chester Wayne Hosford, 35, formerly of Hastings, Minn., died July 6, 2008, in Khanabad, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. Hosford was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 106th Cavalry Regiment, Illinois National Guard, Dixon, Ill.

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2009

Army Chief Warrant Officer Philip E. Windorski Jr., 35, of Bovey, Minn., was among four who died Jan. 26, 2009, from wounds sustained when two OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopters crashed after taking surface-to-air hostile fire in Kirkuk, Iraq. Windorski was assigned to the 6th Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment, 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y.

Army Spc. Carlos Wilcox, 27, of Cottage Grove, Minn., was among three Minnesotans who died of wounds sustained after insurgents attacked their unit on July 16, 2009, in Basra, Iraq. Wilcox was assigned to the 34th Military Police Company, 34th Infantry Division, Minnesota Army National Guard, Stillwater, Minn.

Army Spc. Daniel Drevnick, 22, of Woodbury, died July 17, 2009, in Basra, Iraq, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit. He was assigned to the 34th Military Police Company, 34th Infantry Division, Minnesota Army National Guard, Stillwater, Minn. Spc. Carlos Wilcox and Spc. James Wertish, also died after the attack, as noted above and below, respectively.

Army Spc. James Wertish, 20, of Olivia, Minn., was among three Minnesotans who died of wounds sustained after insurgents attacked their unit on July 16, 2009, in Basra, Iraq. Wertish was assigned to the 34th Military Police Company, 34th Infantry Division, Minnesota Army National Guard, Stillwater, Minn. Spc. Carlos Wilcox and Spc. Carlos Wilcox, also died after the attack, as noted above.

Air Force Capt. Thomas Gramith, 27, of Eagan, Minn., was killed when his F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet crashed in Afghanistan on July 17, 2009. He was assigned to the 336th Fighter Squadron, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C.

Army Benjamin Kopp, 21, died July 18, 2009 at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington of wounds sustained July 10 in Helmand province, Afghanistan, when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms fire. Kopp was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Benning, Ga.

Army Pfc. Jonathan Yanney, 20, of Litchfield, Minn., died Aug. 18, 2009, in Arghandab, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his unit. Yanney was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.

Army Staff Sgt. Todd W. Selge, 25, of Burnsville, Minn., died Sept. 3, 2009, in Baqubah, Iraq, of injuries sustained in a vehicle rollover. native. Selge was assigned to the 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.

Marine Staff Sgt. Aaron Taylor, 27, of Bovey, Minn., died Oct. 9, 2009, at Camp Dwyer, Afghanistan, while supporting combat operations in Helmand province. Taylor was assigned to Marine Wing Support Squadron 372, Marine Wing Support Group 37, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.

Army Spc. George Cauley, 24, of Walker, Minn., died Oct. 10, 2009, in Bagram, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his vehicle with an IED on Oct. 7 in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Cauley was assigned to the 114th Truck Company, Minnesota National Guard, Duluth, Minn.

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2010

Marine Lance Cpl. Curtis Michael Swenson, 20, of Rochester, Minn., died on April 2, 2010, died April 2 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Sewnson was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.

Air Force Maj. Voas Randell Voas, 43, of Lakeville, Minn., died April 9, 2010, near Kandahar, Afghanistan, in a crash of a CV-22 Osprey. Voas was assigned to the 8th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.

Army Spc. Matthew Johnson, of Maplewood, Minn., died July 14, 2010, at Forward Operating Base Lagman, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his military vehicle with an improvised explosive device.He was assigned to the 27th Engineer Battalion (Combat Airborne), 20th Engineer Brigade (Combat), Fort Bragg, N.C.

Army 1st Lt. Christopher S. Goeke died July 13, 2010, in Kandahar City, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit with rifle, rocket propelled grenade, and small arms fire. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.

Marine Master Sgt. Daniel L. Fedder, 34, of Pine City, Minn., died Aug. 27, 2010, while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.. He was assigned to 7th Engineer Support Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.

Army Pvt. Adam Novak, age 20, who grew up in Fergus Falls, Minn., died Aug. 27, 2010, in the Dzardan district of Paktya province of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device. . He was assigned to 1st Squadron, 33rd Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.

Army Chief Warrant Officer Jonah D. McClellan, 26, originally of St. Louis Park, Minn., was among nine who died Sept. 21, 2010, in Qalat, Afghanistan, in a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crash during combat operations. McClellan was assigned to the 5th Battalion, 101st Combat Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky

Army Cpl. Ryan J. Clark, 19, a graduate of New London-Spicer High School, died June 29, 2010, at the Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio of injuries sustained June 17 when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Humvee during combat operations in Ramadi, Iraq. He was assigned to 40th Engineer Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, Baumholder, Germany.

Marine Cpl. Sean Osterman, 21, of Princeton, Minn., died Dec. 16, 2010, of wounds received Dec. 14 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Lejeune, N.C.

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2011

Army Cpl. Andrew Wilfahrt, 31, of Rosemount, Minn., died Feb. 27, 2011, in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit using an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to 504th Military Police Battalion, 8th Military Police Brigade, 8th Theater Sustainment Command, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.

Army Spc. Joseph A. Kennedy, 25, of Inver Grove Heights, died April 15, 2011, in Ghazni province, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when enemy forces attacked his unit with small-arms fire.. Kennedy was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Knox, Ky.

Army Sgt. Emilio Campo, 20, of Madelia, Minn., was among five who died of wounds sustained when enemy forces attacked his unit with indirect fire June 6, 2011, in Baghdad. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 7th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan.

Marine Sgt. Chad Frokjer, 27, of Maplewood, Minn., died June 30, 2011, in Helmand province, Afghanistan, while conducting combat operations. Frokjer was assigned to 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.

Marine Lance Cpl. Robert Greniger, 21, of Greenfield, Minn., was killed July 12, 2011, during combat in Helmand Province in Afghanistan. assigned to 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Navy Special Warfare Operator (SEAL) John W. Faas, 31, of Minneapolis, died Aug. 6, 2011, in Wardak province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when the CH-47 Chinook helicopter in which he was riding was shot down. He assigned to an East Coast-based SEAL team.

Navy Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 2nd Class (SEAL) Nicholas P. Spehar, 24, died Aug. 6, 2011, in Wardak province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when the CH-47 Chinook helicopter in which he was riding was shot down. He was assigned to a West Coast-based SEAL team.

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2012

Army Sgt. Matthew Harmon, of Lengby, Minn., died Aug. 14, 2011, in Yahya Khel district, Paktika province, Afghanistan, while conducting vehicle recovery operations and encountered a secondary explosion while dismounted. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment, 172nd Infantry Brigade Grafenwoehr, Germany.

Army Sgt. Nicholas Dickhut, 23, of Stewartville, Minn., died April 30, 2012, in Zharay, Afghanistan, from wounds caused by small-arms fire. He was assigned to 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.

Army Spc. Kedith L. Jacobs, 21, a graduate of Richfield High School, died May 27, 2012, in Chaki Wardak district, Wardak province, Afghanistan, when his unit was attacked by enemy forces. Jacobs was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Fort Bliss, Texas.

Marine Cpl. Taylor J. Baune, 21, of Andover, Minn., died June 13, 2012, in Helmand province, Afghanistan, while conducting combat operations. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, Calif.

Marine Lance Cpl. Dale W. Means, 23, of Jordan, Minn., died Nov. 18, 2012, while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Means was assigned to Combat Logistics Battalion 2, Combat Logistics Regiment 2, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

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2013

There were no recorded deaths of Minnesotans in 2013.

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2014

Marine Lance Cpl. Caleb Erickson, 20, of Waseca, Minn., died Feb. 28, 2014, while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Erickson was assigned to 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

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2015

Maj. Adrianna M. Vorderbruggen, 36, of Plymouth, Minn., died Dec. 21, 2015, in a suicide attack near Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan. Vorderbruggen was assigned to the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, 9th Field Investigations Squadron, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.

2016

Staff Sgt. Adam Thomas, 31, died from injuries caused by an improvised explosive device during operations Oct. 4, 2016, according to a Defense Department press release. His commander said in a statement that Thomas "epitomized what it is to be a professional Green Beret and soldier."

NON-COMBAT DEATHS

Army Sgt. Major Michael Mettille, 44, of West St. Paul, Minn., died Feb. 1, 2007, at Camp Adder, Iraq, . He was found in his room in his barracks after apparently suffering a heart attack or aneurysm.Mettille was assigned to the National Guard's 134th Brigade Support Battalion, Brooklyn Park, Minn.

Army Spc. Randy W. Pickering, 31, of Bovey, Minn., died Dec. 9, 2007, in Baghdad of injuries sustained in a non-combat-related incident. Pickering was assigned to the Regimental Support Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, Vilseck, Germany.

Army Spc. Jacob J. Fairbanks, 22, of St. Paul, Minn., died April 9 in Baghdad of injuries sustained in a non-combat-related incident.Fairbanks was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.

The Rev. Tim Vakoc, 49, died June 20, 2009, at North Memorial Medical Center in Robbinsdale, Minn., where he was being treated after being injured in 2004 in Mosul, Iraq. He was hospitalized for four months at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, and was transferred in a near coma to the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Minneapolis in October 2004.

Army Maj. Tad Hervas, 48, of Coon Rapids, Minn., died Oct. 6 at Contingency Operating Base Basra, Iraq, of injuries sustained from a noncombat-related incident.Hervas was assigned to the 34th Infantry Division, Minnesota National Guard, Rosemont, Minn.

Army Sgt. Kurt Kruize, 35, of Hancock, Minn., died April 4 in Baghdad of wounds sustained in a noncombat-related incident. Kruize was assigned to the 367th Engineer Battalion, U.S. Army Reserve, St. Cloud, Minn.

Marine Sgt. Ian Williams McConnell, 24, of Woodbury, was found dead July 6, 2011 in California. He was assigned to EOD-Explosive Ordnance Disposal and had recently been accepted into MARSOC-Marine Corps Special Operations Command.

Spc. David Mertz, 26, of Chanhassen, Minn., died Nov. 6, 2011, of wounds sustained in a noncombat-related incident. Mertz was assigned to the 2nd Brigade Command Team, 1st Armored Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

Chief Warrant Officer Lucas Sigfrid, 32, of Champlin, Minn., was killed Dec 12, 2011, in Fort Lewis, Washington while participating in helicopter training. He was assigned to the 4th Squadron/6th Calvary Regiment of the 16th Combat Aviation Brigade, Fort Lewis, Wash.

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NON-MILITARY DEATHS

John Pinsonneault, 39, a former Marine who was working as a civilian security consultant, was killed Oct. 14, 2004, inside the Green Zone in Baghdad after suicide bombers set off explosives at a market and cafe.

St. Paul Police Officer Kyle M. Kaszynski, 39, was killed Dec. 22, 2005, while he was working for a private security consulting firm, in a convoy that was escorting correctional advisers from Baghdad to Baquba, Iraq, when it was attacked.

Roland C. Barvels, 42, originally of Fairmont, Minn., died Jan. 18, 2006, while working as international police liaison officer for DynCorp International when a roadside bomb hit their convoy near Basra, Iraq.

William Juneau, 36, of Rush City, Minn., was killed Nov. 26, 2007, in Baghdad, Iraq, by a roadside bomb that went off near the convoy in which he was traveling as a civilian contractor with DynCorp International.

Paul Johnson-Reuben, 39, of Minneapolis, was confirmed dead March 27, 2008, after being kidnapped Nov. 16, 2006, by men in Iraqi police uniforms who ambushed the convoy he and others were escorting while working for Crescent Security Group, a Kuwait-based private security firm.

Randy Bergquist, 53, originally from Minnesota, but who had lived in Florida the past 20 years, died Oct. 13 while on a routine mission in Nuristan province, Afghanistan. He worked for Virginia-based Lockheed-Martin subcontractor Avenge Inc.