Military Deaths

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

Joseph P. Bier, 22, of Centralia, Wash.; corporal, Marine Corps. Bier was killed Wednesday when an improvised explosive device detonated near him during combat in Ramadi, west of Baghdad. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force in Twentynine Palms, Calif. As part of Operation Iraqi Freedom, his unit was attached to the 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward).

Daniel M. Cuka, 27, of Yankton, S.D.; staff sergeant, Army National Guard. Cuka was one of two guardsmen killed Dec. 4 when improvised explosive devices detonated near their Humvee during a convoy in Baghdad. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 147th Field Artillery, Army National Guard in Yankton, S.D.

Philip A. Dodson Jr., 42, of Forsyth, Ga.; sergeant, Army National Guard. Dodson was among three guardsmen killed Dec. 2 when their Humvee rolled over at Tallil Air Base, near the southern town of Nasiriya. He was assigned to the 148th Forward Support Battalion, 48th Brigade Combat Team, Army National Guard in Forsyth, Ga.

Marcus S. Futrell, 20, of Macon, Ga.; specialist, Army National Guard. Futrell was among three guardsmen killed Dec. 2 when their Humvee rolled over at Tallil Air Base, near the southern town of Nasiriya. He was assigned to the 148th Forward Support Battalion, 48th Brigade Combat Team, Army National Guard in Forsyth, Ga.

Grzegorz Jakoniuk, 25, of Schiller Park, Ill.; sergeant, Army. Jakoniuk died of noncombat-related injuries Nov. 30 in Taji, north of Baghdad. He was assigned to the 4th Battalion, 3rd Aviation Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division at Ft. Campbell, Ky.

Richard L. Schild, 40, of Tabor, S.D.; sergeant first class, Army National Guard. Schild was one of two guardsmen killed Dec. 4 when improvised explosive devices detonated near their Humvee during a convoy in Baghdad. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 147th Field Artillery, Army National Guard in Yankton, S.D.

Jimmy L. Shelton, 21, of Lehigh Acres, Fla.; corporal, Army. Shelton was killed Dec. 3 when his forward operating base was attacked with mortars in Bayji, south of Mosul. He was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 33rd Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division at Ft. Campbell, Ky.

Thomas C. Siekert, 20, of Lovelock, Nev.; private first class, Army. Siekert died of noncombat-related injuries Tuesday in Bayji, south of Mosul. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division at Ft. Campbell, Ky.

Kevin J. Smith, 28, of Brandon, Fla.; first lieutenant, Army. Smith was killed Thursday when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Humvee in Baghdad. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 76th Field Artillery, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division at Ft. Stewart, Ga.

Michael C. Taylor, 23, of Hockley, Texas; sergeant, Army. Taylor was killed Wednesday when an improvised explosive device detonated near his truck during combat in Balad, north of Baghdad. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 13th Field Artillery, 214th Field Artillery Brigade, 3rd Corps Artillery at Ft. Sill, Okla.

William G. Taylor, 26, of Macon, Ga.; corporal, Marine Corps. Taylor was killed by small-arms fire Nov. 30 during combat in Fallouja, west of Baghdad. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Philip L. Travis, 41, of Snellville, Ga.; staff sergeant, Army National Guard. Travis was among three guardsmen killed Dec. 2 when their Humvee rolled over at Tallil Air Base, near the southern town of Nasiriya. He was assigned to the 148th Forward Support Battalion, 48th Brigade Combat Team, Army National Guard in Forsyth, Ga.

Brian A. Wright, 19, of Keensburg, Ill.; specialist, Army National Guard. Wright was killed Tuesday when his Humvee struck a land mine during combat in Ramadi, west of Baghdad. He was assigned to the 135th Engineer Company, Army National Guard in Lawrenceville, Ill.

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