Casualties - May 28, 2005

Condolences to the Family and Friends of the following Americans who lost their lives while in the pursuit of gaining freedom for others

United States Marines

Maj. Ricardo A. Crocker, 39, of Mission Viejo, Calif., died May 26 from a rocket propelled grenade explosion while conducting combat operations in Hadithah, Iraq. Crocker was assigned to the Marine Forces Reserve’s 3rd Civil Affairs Group, Camp Pendleton, Calif. During Operation Iraqi Freedom his unit was attached to II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward).

United States Army

Sgt. Alfred B. Siler, 33, of Duff, Tenn., died May 25 in Tuz, Iraq, when his HMMWV hit another vehicle. Siler was assigned to the Army National Guard's Support Squadron, 278th Regimental Combat Team, Knoxville, Tenn.

Sgt. Mark A. Maida, 22, of Madison, Wis., died May 27 in Baghdad, Iraq, of injuries sustained in Diyarah, Iraq, May 26 when an improvised explosive device detonated near his HMMWV. Maida was assigned to the Army's 2nd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Irwin, Calif.

The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. They died on May 27 from injuries sustained on May 26 in Buhriz, Iraq, when their OH-58 (Kiowa Warrior) came under small arms attack and crashed. Both soldiers were assigned to the Army's 1st Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.

The soldiers are:
CW4 Matthew Scott Lourey, 40, of East Bethel, Minn.
CW2 Joshua Michael Scott, 28, of Sun Prairie, Wis.