Gulfport Sailor Among 8 Deaths This Week In Support Of Operation Enduring Freedom

Posted Jun 9, 2012 by Howard Altman

Updated Jun 9, 2012 at 03:41 PM

A sailor from Gulfport was among eight U.S. service members who died this week in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Master Chief Petty Officer Richard J. Kessler, 47, of Gulfport was found dead in his compartment at about 7 a.m. local time Friday, according to Lt. Com. Sarah Self-Kyler. The cause of death is under investigation, said Navy Lt. Greg Raelson.

Pfc. Brandon D. Goodine, 20, of Luthersville, Ga., died June 7 in Maiwand, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.  He was assigned to the 4th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.

Cpl. Anthony R. Servin, 22, of Moreno Valley, Calif., died June 8 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif. This incident is under investigation.

Capt. Scott P. Pace, 33, of Brawley, Calif.,  and 1st Lt. Mathew G. Fazzari, 25, of Walla Walla, Wash. died June 6, in Qarah Bagh, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when their helicopter crashed.  They were assigned to the 1st Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.
     
Pfc. Vincent J. Ellis, 22, of Tokyo, Japan, died June 4, in Landstuhl, Germany, from wounds suffered June 1, on Forward Operating Base Salerno, Afghanistan, when enemy forces attacked his unit with improvised explosive devices and small arms fire.  He was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 40th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Airborne Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska.

Lance Cpl. Joshua E. Witsman, 23, of Covington, Ind., died May 30 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.  He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif. This incident is under investigation.

Spc. Gerardo Campos, 23, of Miami, Fla., died June 2 in Maiwand, Afghanistan, when enemy forces attacked his unit with small arms fire.  He was assigned to the 4th Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.

There have now been 1,988 casualties in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, the nation’s longest war.