Other Deaths

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

Ernesto M. Blanco, 28, of Texas; captain, Army. Blanco was killed while conducting a support mission Dec. 28 when an improvised explosive device struck his vehicle in Qaryat Ash Shababi. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, based at Ft. Bragg, N.C.

Thomas W. Christensen, 42, of Atlantic Mine, Mich.; staff sergeant, Army Reserve. Christensen was killed Dec. 25 when his living area in Baquba came under mortar attack. He was assigned to the 652nd Engineer Battalion, Army Reserve, based in Ellsworth, Wis.

Rey D. Cuervo, 24, of Laguna Vista, Texas; private, Army. Cuervo was killed Dec. 28 while on a mounted patrol in Baghdad when an improvised explosive device struck his vehicle. He was assigned to 1st Squadron, 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment, based at Ft. Polk, La.

Stephen C. Hattamer, 43, of Gwinn, Mich.; staff sergeant, Army Reserve. Hattamer was killed Dec. 25 when his living area in Baquba came under mortar attack. He was assigned to the 652nd Engineer Battalion, Army Reserve, based in Ellsworth, Wis.

Curt E. Jordan Jr., 25, of Green Acres, Wash.; sergeant, Army. Jordan died of noncombat injuries Dec. 28 near Bayji. He was assigned to the 14th Combat Engineer Battalion (Corps) (Wheeled), 555th Combat Engineer Group, based at Ft. Lewis, Wash.

Justin W. Pollard, 21, of Foothill Ranch, Calif.; specialist, Army. Pollard died Tuesday in Baghdad of injuries suffered in a noncombat-related incident. He was assigned to the 2nd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, based at Ft. Carson, Colo.

Michael E. Yashinski, 24, of Monument, Colo.; sergeant, Army. Yashinski died Dec. 24 in Kirkuk of injuries suffered while running a communication wire. He was assigned to the 501st Forward Support Company, 173rd Airborne Brigade, based in Vicenza, Italy.

Source: Department of Defense