Other deaths

The Defense Department last week identified the following American military personnel killed in Iraq or who died at a U.S. hospital of their injuries:

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Luis G. Ayala, 21, of South Gate; specialist, Army. Ayala was killed Dec. 28 when a roadside bomb exploded near his unit while on patrol in Taji, north of Baghdad. He was assigned to the 2nd Squadron, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division at Ft. Hood, Texas.

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Alan R. Blohm, 21, of Kenai, Alaska; private first class, Army. Blohm was killed Dec. 31 when a roadside bomb exploded near his unit while on patrol in Baghdad. He was assigned to the 425th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 4th Airborne Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division at Ft. Richardson, Alaska.

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Lawrence J. Carter, 25, of Rancho Cucamonga; sergeant, Army. Carter was one of two soldiers killed Dec. 29 when a roadside bomb exploded near their vehicle in Baghdad. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division in Schweinfurt, Germany.

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David E. Dietrich, 21, of Marysville, Pa.; private, Army. Dietrich was killed Dec. 29 when his unit was attacked with small-arms fire while on patrol in Ramadi, west of Baghdad. He was assigned to the 1st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division in Friedberg, Germany.

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Dustin R. Donica, 22, of Spring, Texas; specialist, Army. Donica was killed Dec. 28 when his unit was attacked with small-arms fire in Baghdad. He was the 3,000th U.S. troop to be killed in the war in Iraq. Donica was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Airborne Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division at Ft. Richardson, Alaska.

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Nathaniel A. Given, 21, of Dickinson, Texas; private first class, Army. Given was one of two soldiers killed Dec. 27 when a roadside bomb exploded near them while on foot patrol in Baghdad. He was assigned to the 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team at Ft. Drum, N.Y.

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Christopher P. Messer, 28, of Petersburg, Mich.; sergeant, Army. Messer was one of two soldiers killed Dec. 27 when a roadside bomb exploded near them while on foot patrol in Baghdad. He was assigned to the 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team at Ft. Drum, N.Y.

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William R. Newgard, 20, of Arlington Heights, Ill.; private first class, Army. Newgard was one of two soldiers killed Dec. 29 when a roadside bomb exploded near their vehicle in Baghdad. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division in Schweinfurt, Germany.

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Jonathan E. Schiller, 20, of Ottumwa, Iowa; corporal, Army. Schiller was one of two soldiers killed Dec. 31 when a roadside bomb exploded near them while on patrol in Baqubah, north of Baghdad. He was assigned to the 215th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division at Ft. Hood, Texas.

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Edward W. Shaffer, 23, of Mont Alto, Pa.; sergeant, Army. Shaffer died Dec. 27 at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, where he was being treated for critical burn injuries suffered Nov. 13 when a roadside bomb exploded near his Bradley fighting vehicle in Ramadi, west of Baghdad. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 36th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division in Friedberg, Germany.

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Richard A. Smith, 20, of Grand Prairie, Texas; specialist, Army. Smith was one of two soldiers killed Dec. 31 when a roadside bomb exploded near them while on patrol in Baqubah, north of Baghdad. He was assigned to the 215th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division at Ft. Hood, Texas.

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John M. Sullivan, 22, of Hixon, Tenn.; sergeant, Army. Sullivan was killed Dec. 30 when a roadside bomb exploded near his vehicle while on patrol in Baghdad. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 17th Field Artillery, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division at Ft. Carson, Colo.

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Thomas E. Vandling Jr., 26, of Pittsburgh; sergeant, Army. Vandling was killed Monday when a roadside bomb exploded near his vehicle while on patrol in Baghdad. He was assigned to the 303rd Psychological Operations Company in Oakdale, Pa., a subordinate unit of the Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne) at Ft. Bragg, N.C.

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Sources: Department of Defense, Times staff reports and the Associated Press