Military deaths

The Defense Department last week identified the following American military personnel killed in Afghanistan and Pakistan:

Rusty H. Christian, 24, of Greenville, Tenn.; staff sergeant, Army. Christian died Jan. 28 in Oruzgan province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.

Marc P. Decoteau, 19, of Waterville Valley, N.H.; specialist, Army. Decoteau was one of two soldiers killed Jan. 29 in Wardak province, Afghanistan, while supporting combat operations. He was assigned to the 6th Psychological Operations Battalion (Airborne), 4th Psychological Operations Group (Airborne) at Ft. Bragg, N.C.

Dillon B. Foxx, 22, of Traverse City, Mich.; sergeant, Army. Foxx died Friday in Bala Murghab, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division at Ft. Bragg, N.C.

Michael L. Freeman Jr., 21, of Fayetteville, Pa.; lance corporal, Marine Corps. Freeman died Monday while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Lejeune, N.C.

David J. Hartman, 27, of Okinawa, Japan; sergeant first class, Army. Hartman was one of three soldiers killed Wednesday in Timagara, Pakistan, when insurgents attacked their unit with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 96th Civil Affairs Battalion (Airborne), 95th Civil Affairs Brigade (Airborne) at Ft. Bragg, N.C.

Zachary G. Lovejoy, 20, of Albuquerque, N.M.; private first class, Army. Lovejoy was one of two soldiers killed Tuesday when enemy forces attacked their vehicle with an improvised explosive device in Zabul province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division at Ft. Bragg, N.C.

Matthew S. Sluss-Tiller, 35, of Callettsburg, Ky.; sergeant first class, Army. Sluss-Tiller was one of three soldiers killed Wednesday in Timagara, Pakistan, when insurgents attacked their unit with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 96th Civil Affairs Battalion (Airborne), 95th Civil Affairs Brigade (Airborne) at Ft. Bragg, N.C.

David J. Smith, 25, of Frederick, Md.; sergeant, Marine Corps. Smith died Jan. 26 from wounds received Jan. 23 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 4th Marine Division, Marine Forces Reserve at Camp Pendleton.

Mark A. Stets, 39, of El Cajon, Calif.; staff sergeant, Army. Stets was one of three soldiers killed Wednesday in Timagara, Pakistan, when insurgents attacked their unit with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 8th Psychological Operations Battalion (Airborne), 4th Psychological Operations Group (Airborne) at Ft. Bragg, N.C.

David J. Thompson, 39, of Hooker, Okla.; captain, Army. Thompson was one of two soldiers killed Jan. 29 in Wardak province, Afghanistan, while supporting combat operations. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group at Ft. Bragg, N.C.

Daniel Whitten, 28, of Grimes, Iowa; captain, Army. Whitten was one of two soldiers killed Tuesday when enemy forces attacked their vehicle with an improvised explosive device in Zabul province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division at Ft. Bragg, N.C.

Sources: Department of Defense