Schofield soldier dies in firefight
By William Cole
Advertiser Military Writer
A Schofield Barracks soldier was among three U.S. service members killed in fighting yesterday in the restive Paktika province of southeastern Afghan-istan, Army officials said.
The 21-year-old soldier's name was being withheld pending notification of family. He was married and a member of the 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry "Wolfhounds," based out of a former Soviet airfield at a "forward operating base" in Orgun-E near the Pakistan border.
The infantryman, a vehicle gunner on a mounted patrol, died when his vehicle came under enemy fire.
He is the fourth soldier from Schofield's 25th Infantry Division (Light) to be killed in Afghanistan since about 5,500 of them deployed on a yearlong mission in March and April.
"The loss of any soldier is a terrible tragedy. While it is hard on his friends and comrades here in Afghanistan, our loss is of no comparison to that of his wife and loved ones," said Col. Gary Cheek with the 25th, who commands Task Force Thunder in the region. "We are deeply appreciative of our fallen comrade's service, his sacrifice to our nation, and the tremendous difference he made in this challenged land."
He was the first Wolfhound to be lost in Afghanistan, although nine previously had been wounded, and the first Schofield soldier to be killed in a firefight. The other three losses in Afghanistan from the 25th Division are:
• Cpl. David M. Fraise, 24, of New Orleans, an infantryman with the 2nd Battalion, 35th Regiment "Cacti," who was killed when his Humvee patrol hit a roadside bomb near Kandahar.
• Spc. Philip Witkowski, 24, of New York, a member of 3rd Battalion, 7th Field Artillery, who died after a Humvee-mounted machine gun accidentally discharged during maintenance April 30. The incident is under investigation.
• Sgt. Daniel Lee Galvan, 30, a helicopter crew chief, who was killed when his unit's UH-60 Black Hawk crashed near the Pakistan border Aug. 12, injuring 14 other soldiers. Galvan, of Moore, Okla., was assigned to the 2nd Battalion (Assault), 25th Aviation Regiment.
In yesterday's fighting, two other soldiers also were killed, two were slightly wounded and six Afghan government troops were evacuated to a U.S. base for treatment.
A military statement said the names of the dead were being withheld until relatives could be notified. It gave no further details of the incident.
The latest deaths came amid a flurry of attacks on American troops across the south and east of the country, where Taliban-led insurgents are most active.
The military said that in Zabul province, close to the Pakistan border, U.S.-led forces killed several militants in a clash, and coalition forces came under fire near Deh Rawood in Uruzgan province.
Schofield commanders said they expected increased insurgency as the Oct. 9 Afghan presidential elections approach.
"We're in more places now than we've ever been before," said Army spokeswoman Maj. Stacy Bathrick.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. Reach William Cole at wcole@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-5459.
