[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 121 (Tuesday, September 11, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6100-S6101]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                       HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES


                         California Casualties

  Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to 30 
servicemembers from California or based in California who have died 
while serving our country in Operation Enduring Freedom since June 6, 
2012. This brings to 381 the number of servicemembers either from 
California or based in California who have been killed while serving 
our country in Afghanistan. This represents 18 percent of all U.S. 
deaths in Afghanistan.
  CPT Scott P. Pace, 39, of Brawley, CA, died June 6, in Qarah Bagh, 
Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when his helicopter crashed. Captain 
Pace was assigned to 1st Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 82nd Combat 
Aviation Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, NC.
  Cpl Anthony R. Servin, 22, of Moreno Valley, CA, died June 8, while 
conducting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Corporal 
Servin was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine 
Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, CA.
  SPC Nathan T. Davis, 20, Yucaipa, CA, died June 9, in Tore Obeh, 
Afghanistan, of injuries suffered when his vehicle was attacked with an 
enemy improvised explosive device. Specialist Davis was assigned to 1st 
Battalion, Airborne, 501st Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 
Airborne, 25th Infantry Division, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, AK.
  Cpl Taylor J. Baune, 21, of Andover, MN, died June 13, while 
conducting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Corporal 
Baune was assigned to 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine 
Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, CA.
  SSG Nicholas C. Fredsti, 30, of San Diego, CA, died June 15, in 
Spedar, Afghanistan, when insurgents attacked his unit with small arms 
fire. Staff Sergeant Fredsti was assigned to 1st Battalion, 504th 
Parachute Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne 
Division, Fort Bragg, NC.
  SGT Jose Rodriguez, 22, of Gustine, CA, died June 19, in Kandahar 
Province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered from enemy small arms fire. 
Sergeant Rodriguez was assigned to 4th Battalion, 23rd Infantry 
Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Joint 
Base Lewis-McChord, WA.
  PFC Steven P. Stevens II, 23, of Tallahassee, FL, died June 22, while 
conducting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Private 
First Class Stevens was assigned to 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st 
Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, CA.
  LCpl Niall W. Cotisears, 23, of Arlington, VA, died June 23, while 
conducting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Lance 
Corporal Cotisears was assigned to 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 
1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, 
CA.
  SPC Alejandro J. Pardo, 21, of Porterville, CA, died July 8, of 
wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit in Maidan Shahr, 
Wardak Province, Afghanistan, with an improvised explosive device. 
Specialist Pardo was assigned to 978th Military Police Company, 93rd 
Military Police Battalion, Fort Bliss, TX.
  Cpl Joshua R. Ashley, 23, of Rancho Cucamonga, CA, died July 19, 
while conducting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. 
Corporal Ashley was assigned to 2nd Law Enforcement Battalion, II 
Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, NC.
  PO2 Michael J. Brodsky, 33, of Tamarac, FL, died July 21, in Kandahar 
Province, Afghanistan, from injuries related to a dismounted improvised 
explosive device blast. Petty Officer Second Class Brodsky was assigned 
to Navy Region Southwest Security Detachment, San Diego, CA.
  SGT Eric E. Williams, 27, of Murrieta, CA, died July 23, of injuries 
sustained when his forward operating base received indirect fire in 
Pul-E Alam, Afghanistan. Sergeant Williams was assigned to 3rd 
Battalion, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort 
Bragg, NC.
  1LT Sean R. Jacobs, 23, of Redding, CA, died July 26, in Khakrez, 
Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when he encountered an enemy improvised 
explosive device. First Lieutenant Jacobs was assigned to 2nd 
Battalion, 17th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat 
Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA.
  SPC Benjamin C. Pleitez, 25, of Turlock, CA, died July 27, of 
injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident in Mazar E 
Sharif, Afghanistan. Specialist Pleitez was assigned to 1072nd 
Transportation Company, 746th Combat Support Battalion, 224th 
Sustainment Brigade, Van Nuys, CA.
  PFC Jose Oscar Belmontes, 28, of La Verne, CA, died July 28, in 
Wardak Province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered from enemy small arms 
fire. Private First Class Belmontes was assigned to 630th Engineer 
Company, 7th Engineer Battalion, 10th Sustainment Brigade, Fort Drum, 
NY.
  GySgt Daniel J. Price, 27, of Holland, MI, died July 29, while 
conducting combat operations in Badghis province, Afghanistan. Gunnery 
Sergeant Price was assigned to 1st Marine Special Operations Battalion, 
Camp Pendleton, CA.
  LCpl Curtis J. Duarte, 22, of Covina, CA, died August 1, while 
conducting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Lance 
Corporal Duarte was assigned to 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st 
Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, CA.
  PFC Jesus J. Lopez, 22, of San Bernardino, CA, died August 1, in 
Paktika Province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when he encountered 
an enemy improvised explosive device. Private First Class Lopez was 
assigned to 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade 
Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, KS.
  PO3 Clayton R. Beauchamp, of Weatherford, TX, died August 7, when 
enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device 
while conducting a dismounted patrol in the Shaban District, Helmand 
Province, Afghanistan. Petty Officer Third Class Beauchamp was assigned 
to 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 6, 1st 
Marine Division, Forward, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Forward, Camp 
Pendleton, CA.
  Capt. Matthew P. Manoukian, 29, of Los Altos Hills, CA, died August 
10, while conducting combat operations in Helmand Province, 
Afghanistan. Captain Manoukian was assigned to 1st Marine Special 
Operations Battalion, Camp Pendleton, CA.
  GySgt Ryan Jeschke, 31, of Herndon, VA, died August 10, while 
conducting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Gunnery 
Sergeant Jeschke was assigned to 1st Marine Special Operations 
Battalion, Camp Pendleton, CA.
  SSgt Sky R. Mote, 27, of El Dorado, CA, died August 10, while 
conducting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Staff 
Sergeant Mote was assigned to 1st Marine Special Operations Battalion, 
Camp Pendleton, CA.
  SSgt Scott E. Dickinson, 29, of San Diego, CA, died August 10, while 
supporting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Staff 
Sergeant Dickinson was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 
2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force.
  Cpl Richard A. Rivera Jr., 20, of Ventura, CA, died August 10, while 
supporting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Corporal 
Rivera Jr. was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd 
Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force.
  CW2 Suresh N. Krause, 29, of Cathedral City, CA, died August 16, in a 
helicopter crash northeast of Kandahar, Afghanistan. Chief Warrant 
Officer 2 Krause was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment, 
25th Combat Aviation Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield 
Barracks, HI.
  SGT Richard A. Essex, 23, of Kelseyville, CA, died August 16, in a 
helicopter crash northeast of Kandahar, Afghanistan. Sergeant Essex was 
assigned to 2nd Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment, 25th Combat Aviation 
Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, HI.
  PO1 Sean P. Carson, 32, of Des Moines, WA, died August 16, in a 
helicopter crash northeast of Kandahar, Afghanistan. Explosive 
Ordinance Disposal Petty Officer First Class Carson was assigned to an 
explosive ordnance disposal mobile unit in San Diego, CA.

[[Page S6101]]

  PO1 Patrick D. Feeks, 28, of Edgewater, MD, died August 16, in a 
helicopter crash northeast of Kandahar, Afghanistan. Special Warfare 
Operator Petty Officer First Class Feeks was assigned to a west coast-
based naval special warfare unit.
  PO2 David J. Warsen, 27, of Kentwood, MI, died August 16, in a 
helicopter crash northeast of Kandahar, Afghanistan. Special Warfare 
Operator Petty Officer Second Class Warsen was assigned to a west 
coast-based naval Special warfare unit.
  LCpl Alec R. Terwiske, 21, of Dubois, IN, died September 3, while 
conducting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Lance 
Corporal Terwiske was assigned to 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st 
Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, CA.

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