[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 7]
[Senate]
[Pages 10319-10321]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES

  Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to 39 service 
members from California or based in California who have died while 
serving our country in Operation Enduring Freedom since December 7, 
2010. This brings to 276 the number of service members either from 
California or based in California who have been killed while serving 
our country in Afghanistan. This represents 17 percent of all U.S. 
deaths in Afghanistan.
  CPL Kenneth E. Necochea Jr., 21, of San Diego, CA, died December 12 
in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents 
attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. Corporal 
Necochea was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, Air Assault, Fort 
Campbell, KY.
  CPL Derek T. Simonetta, 21, of Redwood City, CA, died December 12 in 
Kandahar Province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents 
attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. Corporal 
Simonetta was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, Air Assault, Fort 
Campbell, KY.
  SSgt Justin E. Schmalstieg, 28, of Pittsburgh, PA, died December 15 
while conducting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. 
Staff Sergeant Schmalstieg was assigned to the 1st Explosive Ordnance 
Disposal Company, 7th Engineer Support Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics 
Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, CA.
  LCpl Jose L. Maldonado, 21, of Mathis, TX, died December 17 while 
conducting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Lance 
Corporal Maldonado was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 
1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, CA.
  Cpl Eric M. Torbert Jr., 25, of Lancaster, PA, died December 18 while 
conducting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Corporal 
Torbert was assigned to the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine 
Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, CA.
  PFC Conrado D. Javier Diaz Jr., 19, of Marina, CA, died December 20 
in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces 
attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device. Private First 
Class Javier Diaz was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry 
Regiment, Vilseck, Germany.
  LCpl Kenneth A. Corzine, 23, of Bethalto, IL, died December 24 of 
wounds received December 5 while conducting combat operations in 
Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Lance Corporal Corzine was assigned to 
the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine 
Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, CA.
  Cpl Tevan L. Nguyen, 21, of Hutto, TX, died December 28 while 
conducting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Corporal 
Nguyen was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st 
Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, CA.
  MAJ Evan J. Mooldyk, 47, of Ranch Murieto, CA, died January 12 in 
Khowst Province, Afghanistan, in a noncombat-related incident. Major 
Mooldyk was assigned to the 19th Sustainment Command, 377th Theater 
Sustainment Command, Belle Chasse, LA.
  PO2 Class Dominique Cruz, 26, of Panama City, FL, was found during

[[Page 10320]]

search and rescue operations January 19 in the Gulf of Oman after being 
reported missing January 18. Petty Officer 2nd Class Cruz was assigned 
as an operations specialist to the USS Halsey homeported in San Diego, 
CA.
  Sgt Jason G. Amores, 29, of Lehigh Acres, FL, died January 20 while 
conducting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Sergeant 
Amores was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine 
Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, CA.
  SPC Rudolph R. Hizon, 22, of Los Angeles, CA, died February 28 in 
Logar Province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents 
attacked his unit using an improvised explosive device. Specialist 
Hizon was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 4th 
Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Polk, LA.
  SGT Jason M. Weaver, 22, of Anaheim, CA, died March 3 in Kandahar 
Province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his 
unit using an improvised explosive device. Sergeant Weaver was assigned 
to the 504th Military Police Battalion, 42nd Military Police Brigade, 
Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA.
  Cpl Jordan R. Stanton, 20, of Rancho Santa Margarita, CA, died March 
4 while conducting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. 
Corporal Stanton was assigned to the 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd 
Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, NC.
  SSG Mark C. Wells, 31, of San Jose, CA, died March 5 in Helmand 
Province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his 
unit with an improvised explosive device. Staff Sergeant Wells was 
assigned to the 45th Sustainment Brigade, 8th Theater Sustainment 
Command, Schofield Barracks, HI.
  SSG Eric S. Trueblood, 27, of Alameda, CA, died March 10 in Kandahar 
Province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked 
his unit with an improvised explosive device. Staff Sergeant Trueblood 
was assigned to the 391st Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 16th 
Sustainment Brigade, Spinelli Barracks, Mannheim, Germany.
  PFC Arturo E. Rodriguez, 19, of Bellflower, CA, died March 12 in 
Paktika Province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents 
attacked his unit using small arms fire. Private First Class Rodriguez 
was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade 
Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, Air Assault, Fort Campbell, KY.
  SPC Rudy A. Acosta, 19, of Canyon Country, CA, died March 19 in 
Kandahar Province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when he was 
allegedly shot with small arms fire by an individual from a military 
security group. Specialist Acosta was assigned to the 4th Squadron, 2nd 
Stryker Calvary Regiment, Vilseck, Germany.
  SPC Jameson L. Lindskog, 23, of Pleasanton, CA, died March 29 of 
wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with small arms 
fire in Konar Province, Afghanistan. Specialist Lindskog was assigned 
to the 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 
101st Airborne Division, Air Assault, Fort Campbell, KY.
  LCpl Harry Lew, 21, of Santa Clara, CA, died April 3 while supporting 
combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Lance Corporal Lew 
was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine 
Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, based out of Marine Corps 
Base Kaneohe Bay, HI.
  HN Benjamin D. Rast, 23, of Niles, MI, died April 6 while conducting 
a dismounted patrol northeast of Patrol Base Alcatraz, Helmand 
Province, Afghanistan. Hospitalman Rast was assigned to the 1st 
Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division stationed at Naval 
Medical Center, Expeditionary Medical Force Detachment, San Diego, CA.
  LCpl Joe M. Jackson, 22, of White Swan, WA, died April 24 while 
conducting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Lance 
Corporal Jackson was assigned to 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 
1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, CA.
  CPL Preston J. Dennis, 23, of Redding, CA, died April 28 in Kandahar 
Province, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when enemy forces attacked 
his unit with an improvised explosive device. Corporal Dennis was 
assigned to the 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade 
Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, NY.
  SGT Ken K. Hermogino, 30, of Edwards Air Force Base, CA, died May 9 
in Herat Province, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained in a noncombat-
related vehicle accident. Sergeant Hermogino was assigned to the 7th 
Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry 
Division, Fort Carson, CO.
  LtCol Benjamin J. Palmer, 43, of Modesto, CA, died May 12 while 
supporting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. 
Lieutenant Colonel Palmer was assigned to Marine Wing Headquarters 
Squadron 2, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, II Marine Expeditionary Force, 
Cherry Point, N.C.
  SSG Kristofferson B. Lorenzo, 33, of Chula Vista, CA, died May 23, in 
Kunar Province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces 
attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. Staff Sergeant 
Lorenzo was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 3rd 
Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, HI.
  TSgt Kristoffer M. Solesbee, 32, of Citrus Heights, CA, died May 26 
in the Shorabak district of Kandahar Province, Afghanistan, of wounds 
suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised 
explosive device. Technical Sergeant Solesbee was assigned to the 775th 
Civil Engineer Squadron, Hill Air Force Base, UT.
  SGT Aaron J. Blasjo, 25, of Riverside, CA, died May 29, in Wardak 
Province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked 
his unit with an improvised explosive device. Sergeant Blasjo was 
assigned to the 3rd Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, NC.
  Cpl Paul W. Zanowick II, 23, of Miamisburg, OH, died June 3 while 
conducting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Corporal 
Zanowick was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine 
Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, CA.
  LCpl Nicholas S. O'Brien, 21, of Stanley, NC, died June 9 while 
conducting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Lance 
Corporal O'Brien was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 5th Marine 
Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp 
Pendleton, CA.
  LCpl Jason D. Hill, 20, of Poway, CA, died June 11 while conducting 
combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Lance Corporal Hill 
was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine 
Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, CA.
  LCpl Sean M. N. O'Connor, 22, of Douglas, WY, died June 12 while 
conducting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Lance 
Corporal O'Connor was assigned to 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 
1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, CA.
  LCpl Jared C. Verbeek, 22, of Visalia, CA, died June 21 from wounds 
received while conducting combat operations in Helmand Province, 
Afghanistan. Lance Corporal Verbeek was assigned to 1st Battalion, 5th 
Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, Camp Pendleton, CA.
  Cpl Gurpreet Singh, 21, of Antelope, CA, died June 22 from wounds 
received while conducting combat operations in Helmand Province, 
Afghanistan. Corporal Singh was assigned to 1st Battalion, 5th Marine 
Regiment, 1st Marine Division, Camp Pendleton, CA.
  SSG Nigel D. Kelly, 26, Menifee, CA, died June 25, in Kunar Province, 
Afghanistan of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with 
small arms fire. Staff Sergeant Kelly was assigned to 3rd Brigade 
Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry 
Division, Schofield Barracks, HI.
  SPC Kevin J. Hilaman, 28, of Albany, CA, died June 26, in Kunar 
Province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his 
unit using

[[Page 10321]]

small arms fire. Specialist Hilaman was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 
35th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry 
Division, Schofield Barracks, HI.
  LCpl Mark R. Goyet, 22, of Sinton, TX, died June 28 while conducting 
combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Lance Corporal 
Goyet was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine 
Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, CA.
  LCpl John F. Farias, 20, of New Braunfels, TX, died June 28 while 
conducting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Lance 
Corporal Farias was assigned to 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st 
Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, CA.
  Sgt Chad D. Frokjer, 27, of Maplewood, MN, died June 30 while 
conducting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Sergeant 
Frokjer was assigned to 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine 
Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, CA.
  I would also like to pay tribute to the six service members from 
California or based in California who have died while serving our 
country in Iraq since December 7, 2010. This brings to 891 the number 
of service members either from California or based in California who 
have been killed while serving our country in Iraq. This represents 20 
percent of all U.S. deaths in Iraq.
  SPC Jose A. Torre, Jr., 21, of Garden Grove, CA, died January 15 in 
Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit 
with a rocket-propelled grenade. Specialist Torre was assigned to the 
Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Infantry 
Division, Fort Riley, KS.
  SGT Martin J. LaMar, 43, of Sacramento, CA, died January 15 in Mosul, 
Iraq, of wounds suffered when an Iraqi soldier from the unit with which 
he was training shot him with small arms fire. Sergeant LaMar was 
assigned to the 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat 
Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, TX.
  SrA Michael J. Hinkle II, 24, of Corona, CA, died March 16 due to a 
noncombat-related incident in Southwest Asia. Senior Airman Hinkle was 
assigned to the 28th Communications Squadron, Ellsworth Air Force Base, 
SD.
  PFC Ramon Mora Jr., 19, of Ontario, CA, died May 22 in Baghdad, Iraq, 
of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an 
improvised explosive device. Private First Class Mora was assigned to 
the 1st Battalion, 63rd Armor, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry 
Division, Fort Riley, KS.
  SPC Christopher B. Fishbeck, 24, of Victorville, CA, died June 6 in 
Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit 
with indirect fire. Specialist Fishbeck was assigned to the 1st 
Battalion, 7th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 
1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, KS.
  SSG Russell J. Proctor, 25, of Oroville, CA, died June 26, in Diyala 
Province, Iraq, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit 
with an improvised explosive device. Staff Sergeant Proctor was 
assigned to the 4th Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat 
Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, TX.

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