Military deaths

L.A. Times Archives

April 20, 2008 12 AM PT

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

William E. Allmon, 25, of Ardmore, Okla.; specialist, Army. Allmon was killed April 12 when his vehicle struck a roadside bomb in Baghdad. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division at Ft. Stewart, Ga.

Jason L. Brown, 29, of Magnolia, Texas; staff sergeant, Army. Brown was killed Thursday when his unit was attacked with small-arms fire and grenades while trying to capture an Al Qaeda leader in Sama Village, Iraq. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group at Ft. Campbell, Ky.

Arturo Huerta-Cruz, 23, of Clearwater, Fla.; specialist, Army. Huerta-Cruz was killed Monday when his vehicle struck a roadside bomb in Tuz, Iraq, north of Baghdad. He was assigned to the 10th Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) at Ft. Drum, N.Y.

Luke J. Mercardante, 35, of Athens, Ga.; first sergeant, Marine Corps. Mercardante was one of two soldiers killed Tuesday when their convoy vehicle struck a roadside bomb in southern Afghanistan’s Kandahar province. He was assigned to Combat Logistics Battalion 24, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Richard J. Nelson, 23, of Racine, Wis.; corporal, Marine Corps Reserve. Nelson was one of two Marine reservists killed Monday when a roadside bomb exploded near them in Iraq’s Anbar province, west of Baghdad. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division in Milwaukee.

Dean D. Opicka, 29, of Waukesha, Wis.; lance corporal, Marine Corps Reserve. Opicka was one of two Marine reservists killed Monday when a roadside bomb exploded near them in Iraq’s Anbar province, west of Baghdad. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division in Milwaukee.

Joseph A. Richard III, 27, of Lafayette, La.; sergeant, Army. Richard was killed Monday when his vehicle struck a roadside bomb in Baghdad. He was assigned to the 4th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) at Ft. Polk, La.

Kyle W. Wilks, 24, of Rogers, Ark.; corporal, Marine Corps. Wilks was one of two soldiers killed Tuesday when their convoy vehicle struck a roadside bomb in southern Afghanistan’s Kandahar province. He was assigned to Combat Logistics Battalion 24, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Sources: Department of Defense and the Associated Press

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War casualties

Total U.S. deaths*:

* In and around Iraq**: 4,039

* In and around Afghanistan***: 424

* Other locations***: 64

*Includes military and Department of Defense- employed civilian personnel killed in action and in nonhostile circumstances.

**As of Friday

***As of April 12

Source: Department of Defense