Casualties - June 1, 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 Air Force

The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of four airmen who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. The airmen died May 30 in the crash of an Iraqi air force aircraft during a training mission in eastern Diyala province. They are:

Maj. William Downs, 40, of Winchester, Va., assigned to the 6th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.

Capt. Jeremy Fresques, 26, of Clarkdale, Ariz., assigned to the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.

Capt. Derek Argel, 28, of Lompoc, Calif., assigned to the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.

Staff Sgt. Casey Crate, 26, of Spanaway, Wash., assigned to the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.

The cause of the crash is currently under investigation.

UPDATE, Staff Sgt Casey Crate: This hit home with many of us here in the Tacoma News Tribune reading area. SSgt Crate was from Spanaway, WA, a community just outside the back gate of McChord Air Force Base here. His funeral was attended by family and friends. The link to story is here. God Bless you SSgt crate. You left many friends behind, as their devotion to you showed in the story.

United States Army

The Department of Defense announced today the death of three soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. They died May 24 in Baghdad, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device detonated near their HMMWV. They were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 76th Field Artillery, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga. The Soldiers are:

Sgt. Charles A. Drier, 28, of Tuscola, Mich.

Spec. Dustin C. Fisher, 22, of Fort Smith, Ark.

Pfc. Jeffrey R. Wallace, 20, of Hoopeston, Ill.