thedrifter
05-11-04, 06:39 PM
First Marine dies in hostile fire in Afghanistan
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
May 9, 2004
KABUL, Afghanistan - One U.S. Marine was killed and another injured in an overnight attack on a patrol southwest of the capital, the military said yesterday. It was the Marines' first loss to hostile fire in Afghanistan.
The soldiers were fired on by militants south of Tirin Kot, about 250 miles from Kabul in Uruzgan province, said military spokesman Lt. Col. Tucker Mansager. Spokeswoman Capt. Cindy Beam said the soldiers were attacked during a patrol through Uruzgan and Kandahar provinces. She gave no further details of the clash and did not identify the victims, but said the injured Marine underwent surgery at the U.S. military base near Kandahar city for "multiple gunshot wounds to the lower extremities."
A 2,000-strong Marine force was deployed recently in Uruzgan to bolster the fight against resurgent Taliban-led militants. It was unclear if the two were part of that force. Marines also are operating in eastern Kunar province and guard facilities including the U.S. Embassy in Kabul.
The troops from the special operations-capable 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, based in Camp Lejeune, N.C., began arriving in Afghanistan in late March and have set up a new base near Tirin Kot, the Uruzgan provincial capital.
Mansager said the U.S.-led coalition in Afghanistan had swelled to 20,000 - up from about 11,000 late last year. Part of the increase was down to "overlap" during a routine rotation of units, he said, and he declined to say how many would remain once the switch is complete.
Despite the extra forces, Taliban-led militants have carried out a fresh wave of attacks, killing dozens of Afghan troops. A Taliban spokesman claimed its fighters on Wednesday killed two British security consultants helping the United Nations organize elections due in September.
Nine other Marines have died in Afghanistan due to helicopter and airplane problems. Four U.S. Army soldiers have been killed in action.
Copyright © 2004, Newsday, Inc.
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/ny-woafgh093793982may09,0,3358559.story?coll=ny-worldnews-headlines
Ellie
Rest In Peace
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
May 9, 2004
KABUL, Afghanistan - One U.S. Marine was killed and another injured in an overnight attack on a patrol southwest of the capital, the military said yesterday. It was the Marines' first loss to hostile fire in Afghanistan.
The soldiers were fired on by militants south of Tirin Kot, about 250 miles from Kabul in Uruzgan province, said military spokesman Lt. Col. Tucker Mansager. Spokeswoman Capt. Cindy Beam said the soldiers were attacked during a patrol through Uruzgan and Kandahar provinces. She gave no further details of the clash and did not identify the victims, but said the injured Marine underwent surgery at the U.S. military base near Kandahar city for "multiple gunshot wounds to the lower extremities."
A 2,000-strong Marine force was deployed recently in Uruzgan to bolster the fight against resurgent Taliban-led militants. It was unclear if the two were part of that force. Marines also are operating in eastern Kunar province and guard facilities including the U.S. Embassy in Kabul.
The troops from the special operations-capable 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, based in Camp Lejeune, N.C., began arriving in Afghanistan in late March and have set up a new base near Tirin Kot, the Uruzgan provincial capital.
Mansager said the U.S.-led coalition in Afghanistan had swelled to 20,000 - up from about 11,000 late last year. Part of the increase was down to "overlap" during a routine rotation of units, he said, and he declined to say how many would remain once the switch is complete.
Despite the extra forces, Taliban-led militants have carried out a fresh wave of attacks, killing dozens of Afghan troops. A Taliban spokesman claimed its fighters on Wednesday killed two British security consultants helping the United Nations organize elections due in September.
Nine other Marines have died in Afghanistan due to helicopter and airplane problems. Four U.S. Army soldiers have been killed in action.
Copyright © 2004, Newsday, Inc.
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/ny-woafgh093793982may09,0,3358559.story?coll=ny-worldnews-headlines
Ellie
Rest In Peace