Military Deaths

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

Travis R. Bruce, 22, of Byron, Minn.; specialist, Army. Bruce was killed Wednesday when he was struck by a rocket-propelled grenade while standing on the roof of a building that he and his unit were guarding in Baghdad. He was assigned to the 170th Military Police Company, 504th Military Police Battalion at Ft. Lewis, Wash.

Jonathan A. Hughes, 21, of Lebanon, Ky.; specialist, Army National Guard. Hughes was killed March 19 when his Humvee struck a roadside bomb while he accompanied a U.S. convoy headed to Baghdad’s international airport. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 623rd Field Artillery Regiment, Army National Guard in Campbellsville, Ky.

Lee A. Lewis Jr., 28, of Norfolk, Va.; private first class, Army. Lewis was killed March 18 when his patrol was attacked with small-arms fire in the Sadr City section of Baghdad. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division at Ft. Stewart, Ga.

Francisco G. Martinez, 20, of Fort Worth; specialist, Army. Martinez was killed March 20 when he was attacked with small-arms fire in Tamin, on the outskirts of Ramadi. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division at Camp Hovey, South Korea.

Kevin S. Smith, 20, of Springfield, Ohio; lance corporal, Marine Corps. Smith was killed Monday in enemy action in Al Anbar province. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Paul W. Thomason III, 37, of Talbot, Tenn.; sergeant, Army National Guard. Thomason was killed March 20 when a roadside bomb exploded near his convoy vehicle in Kirkuk. He was assigned to the 2nd Squadron, 278th Regimental Combat Team, Army National Guard in Greeneville, Tenn.

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Sources: Department of Defense, Associated Press