Military Deaths

The Defense Department last week identified the following American military personnel who died in Iraq and the Mideast:

Christopher Bunda, 29, of Washington; staff sergeant, Army. Bunda was listed as “Duty Status Whereabouts Unknown” when his boat capsized during a river patrol on the Tigris on Jan. 25. His remains were recovered Tuesday. Bunda was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry, Ft. Lewis, Wash.

Joshua L. Knowles, 23, of Sheffield, Iowa; specialist, Army. Knowles died Feb. 5 in Baghdad when he was hit with a mortar round at a Baghdad International Airport checkpoint. He was assigned to 1133rd Transportation Company, Army National Guard, Mason City, Iowa.

Jude C. Mariano, 39, of Vallejo, Calif.; master sergeant, Air Force. Mariano died Tuesday in Doha, Qatar, from injuries suffered in a motor vehicle accident. He was assigned to 615th Air Mobility Operations Squadron, Travis Air Force Base, Calif.

Richard P. Ramey, 27, of Canton, Ohio; staff sergeant, Army. Ramey died Feb. 8 in Mahmudiyah, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device detonated. He was assigned to 703rd Ordnance Company, Ft. Knox, Ky., and he was supporting the 82nd Airborne Division.

William C. Ramirez, 19, of Portland, Ore.; private first class, Army. Ramirez was one of two soldiers killed Wednesday when an improvised explosive device struck them while they were on a mounted patrol in Baghdad. He was assigned to Troop E, 2nd Squadron, 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Ft. Polk, La.

Thomas D. Robbins, 27, Schenectady, N.Y.; sergeant, Army. Robbins died Monday in Sinjar, Iraq, when unexploded ordnance, rocket-propelled grenades and mortar rounds detonated while being moved to a demolition point. He was assigned to Troop A, 1st Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment (Stryker), Ft. Lewis, Wash.

Patrick S. Tainsh, 33, of Oceanside, Calif.; sergeant, Army. Tainsh was one of two soldiers killed Wednesday when an improvised explosive device struck them while they were on a mounted patrol in Baghdad. He was assigned to Troop E, 2nd Squadron, 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Ft. Polk, La.

Elijah Tai Wah Wong, 42, of Mesa, Ariz.; sergeant, Army. Wong died Monday in Sinjar, Iraq, when unexploded ordnance, rocket-propelled grenades and mortar rounds detonated while being moved to a demolition point. He was assigned to 363rd Explosive Ordnance Company, Army National Guard, Casa Grande, Ariz.

Source: Department of Defense