4 Troops Die In Afghanistan in First Week Of Year

Posted Jan 8, 2012 by Howard Altman

Updated Jan 8, 2012 at 09:27 PM

During a week that saw the President introduce his Defense Strategic Guidance – a roadmap for a leaner, less expensive military with less troops, less new equipment and a roughly 8 percent budget cut each year over the next 10 for a total of about $487 billion - four U.S. service personnel died in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, the nation’s longest war.

Three airmen died Jan. 5 in Shir ghazi, Helmand province, Afghanistan, when their vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device.

        Killed were:

        Senior Airman Bryan R. Bell, 23, of Erie, Pa.  He was assigned to the 2nd Civil Engineer Squadron, Barksdale Air Force Base, La.       
        Tech. Sgt. Matthew S. Schwartz, 34, of Traverse City, Mich.  He was assigned to the 90th Civil Engineer Squadron, FE Warren Air Force Base, Wyo. 
        Airman 1st Class Matthew R. Seidler, 24, of Westminster, Md.  He was assigned to the 21st Civil Engineer Squadron, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. 

Petty Officer 1st Class Chad R. Regelin, 24, of Cottonwood, Calif., died Jan. 2 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.  Regelin was assigned as an explosive ordnance disposal technician to Marine Special Operations Company Bravo.  Regelin was stationed at Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 3, San Diego, Calif.

There have now been 1,849 casualties in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.