Military Deaths

The Defense Department last week identified the following American military personnel killed in Iraq:

Tenzin Dengkhim, 19, of Falls Church, Va.; lance corporal, Marine Corps. Dengkhim died April 2 as a result of hostile action in Al Anbar province. He was assigned to the 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Christopher W. Dill, 32, of Tonawanda, N.Y.; staff sergeant, Army Reserve. Dill was one of two soldiers killed Monday in Balad Ruz, when their patrol was attacked by enemy forces using small-arms fire. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 390th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 98th Division in Buffalo, N.Y.

Javier J. Garcia, 25, of Crawfordville, Fla.; sergeant, Army. Garcia died Tuesday in Baghdad when improvised explosive devices detonated near his patrol. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division at Ft. Stewart, Ga.

Stephen C. Kennedy, 35, of Oak Ridge, Tenn.; sergeant first class, Army National Guard. Kennedy was one of two soldiers killed Monday in Balad Ruz, when their patrol was attacked by enemy forces using small-arms fire. He was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment in Lenoir City, Tenn.

Jeremiah C. Kinchen, 22, of Salcha, Alaska; lance corporal, Marine Corps. Kinchen died Monday from an explosion during combat operations in Al Anbar province. He was assigned to Marine Forces Reserve’s 4th Reconnaissance Battalion, 4th Marine Division in San Antonio. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, Kinchen was attached to the 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 8, 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force.

Robbie D. McNary, 42, of Lewistown, Mont.; sergeant first class, Army National Guard. McNary died March 31 in Hawijah from injuries sustained during combat operations. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 163rd Mechanized Infantry Regiment in Missoula, Mont.

Kelly S. Morris, 24, of Boise, Idaho; sergeant, Army. Morris died March 30 in Baghdad from injuries sustained from enemy small-arms fire. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division at Ft. Stewart, Ga.

William D. Richardson, 23, of Moreno Valley; corporal, Army. Richardson died April 3 in Baghdad when he came under enemy fire and fell into a canal. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 41st Infantry Regiment, 1st Armored Division at Ft. Riley, Kansas.

Kenneth L. Ridgley, 30, of Olney, Ill.; sergeant, Army. Ridgley died March 30 in Mosul of injuries sustained when enemy forces using small-arms fire attacked his unit. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team) at Ft. Lewis, Wash.

Garrywesley T. Rimes, 30, of Santa Maria, Calif.; corporal, Marine Corps. Rimes died April 1 as a result of hostile action in Al Anbar province. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Pendleton. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, Rimes was attached to the 2nd Marine Division.

James A. Sherrill, 27, of Ekron, Ky.; sergeant, Army National Guard. Sherrill died April 3 in Bayji when an improvised explosive device detonated near his military vehicle. He was assigned to the 2113th Transportation Company in Paducah, Ky.

Ioasa F. Tavae Jr., 29, of Pago Pago, American Samoa; staff sergeant, Army. Tavae died April 2, in Mosul when his unit was attacked by enemy forces using small-arms fire. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division at Ft. Lewis, Wash.

Juan C. Venegas, 21, of Simi Valley; lance corporal, Marine Corps. Venegas died Thursday as a result of a vehicle accident during combat operations in Al Anbar province. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force in Twentynine Palms, Calif. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, Venegas was attached to Regimental Combat Team 8, 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force.

Glenn J. Watkins, 42, of Carlsbad, Calif.; specialist, Army National Guard. Watkins died Tuesday in Baghdad when a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device detonated near his military vehicle. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 161st Infantry in Kent, Wash.

Source: Department of Defense