Military deaths

The Defense Department last week identified the following U.S. military personnel killed in Afghanistan, Iraq and Kuwait:

Joshua R. Anderson, 24, of Jordan, Minn.; private first class, Army. Anderson died Wednesday in Kamasia, Iraq, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. He was assigned to the 6th Squadron, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division at Ft. Stewart, Ga.

Joseph R. Berlin Jr., 21, of Chelsea, Ala.; private first class, Army. Berlin died Dec. 30 in Baghdad of injuries suffered in a noncombat-related incident. He was assigned to the Special Troops Battalion, 4th Infantry Division, Ft. Hood, Texas.

Thomas J. Casey, 32, of Albuquerque, N.M.; captain, Army. Casey was one of two soldiers killed Thursday in Sadiyah, Iraq, when insurgents attacked their unit using small-arms fire during combat operations. He was assigned to the Military Transition Team, 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division at Ft. Riley, Kan.

Brian L. Gorham, 21, of Woodburn, Ky.; private first class, Army. Gorham died Monday at Ft. Sam Houston, Texas, of wounds suffered Dec. 12 in Afghanistan when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment (Airborne), 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, Camp Ederle in Vicenza, Italy.

Shawn F. Hill, 37, of Wellford, S.C.; sergeant, Army National Guard. Hill died Wednesday in Khowst province, Afghanistan, when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 178th Engineer Battalion, 218th Infantry Brigade, South Carolina Army National Guard in Rock Hill, S.C.

Victor W. Jeffries, 52, of Honolulu; petty officer first class, Navy. Jeffries died Monday as a result of injuries suffered Dec. 24 in a vehicular accident in Kuwait. He was permanently assigned to the Navy Expeditionary Logistics Support Group in Kuwait.

Reno S. Lacerna, 44, of Waipahu, Hawaii; sergeant, Army. Lacerna died Monday in Qayyarah, Iraq, of a noncombat-related illness. He was assigned to the 87th Corps Support Battalion, 3rd Sustainment Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division at Ft. Stewart, Ga.

Ryan D. Maseth, 24, of Pittsburgh; staff sergeant, Army. Maseth died Wednesday in Baghdad of injuries suffered in a noncombat-related incident. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Ft. Campbell, Ky.

Andrew J. Olmsted, 37, of Colorado Springs, Colo.; major, Army. Olmsted was one of two soldiers killed Thursday in Sadiyah, Iraq, when insurgents attacked their unit using small-arms fire during combat operations. He was assigned to the Military Transition Team, 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division at Ft. Riley, Kan.

Source: Department of Defense