American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, Dec. 12, 2005  -

One Task Force Baghdad soldier was killed south of Baghdad today. Another died in western Baghdad on Dec. 11. Both soldiers were killed when their patrols struck improvised explosive devices, military officials reported. A third soldier, assigned to the 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward), was killed in a suicide car-bomb attack near Ramadi Dec. 11. Several U.S. Army units are attached to 2nd MEF (Forward) during Operation Iraqi Freedom. The names of all three soldiers are being withheld pending notification the families. In other news from Iraq, Iraqi soldiers captured an insurgent associated with a failed kidnapping of an Iraqi civilian and confiscated an 82 mm mortar system during a raid Dec. 11. Troops from the 1st Brigade, 2nd Battalion, 5th Iraqi Army Division, handed the suspect and cache over to authorities pending further investigation. No injuries or damages were reported. In the skies over Iraq, coalition aircraft flew 53 close-air-support missions Dec. 11 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. U.S. Air Force F-16s provided close-air support to coalition troops in contact with insurgent forces near Balad. Eleven U.S. Air Force and Navy intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft also flew missions in support of operations in Iraq. British Royal Air Force fighter aircraft also performed in a nontraditional ISR role with their electro-optical and infrared sensors.

(Compiled from Multinational Force Iraq, Multinational Security Transition Command Iraq and U.S. Central Command Air Forces Forward news releases.) 

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NEWS RELEASE from the United States Department of Defense



No. 1286-05

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Dec 12, 2005

Media Contact: Army Public Affairs - (703) 692-2000

Public/Industry Contact: (703)428-0711



DoD Identifies Army Casualty





            The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who

was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.







            Sgt. Adrian N. Orosco, 26, of Corcoran, Calif., died in Baghdad, Iraq,

on Dec. 9, when a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device detonated near his

dismounted position during combat operations.   Orosco was assigned to the 1st

Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Irwin, Calif.





             For further information related to this release, contact Army Public

Affairs at (703) 692-2000.





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NEWS RELEASE from the United States Department of Defense



No. 1285-05

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Dec 12, 2005

Media Contact: Army Public Affairs - (703) 692-2000

Public/Industry Contact: (703)428-0711



DoD Identifies Army Casualty





            The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who

was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.







            Sgt. Julia V. Atkins, 22, of Bossier City, La., died in Baghdad, Iraq,

on Dec. 10, when an improvised explosive device detonated near her HMMWV during

patrol operations.  Atkins was assigned to the 64th Military Police Company, 720th

Military Police Battalion, 89th Military Police Brigade, Fort Hood, Texas.







            For further information related to this release, contact Army Public

Affairs at (703) 692-2000.





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NEWS RELEASE from the United States Department of Defense



No. 1284-05

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Dec 12, 2005

Media Contact: Army Public Affairs - (703) 692-2000

Public/Industry Contact: (703)428-0711



DoD Identifies Army Casualty





            The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who

was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.







            Sgt. 1st Class James S. Moudy, 37, of Newark, Del., died in Baghdad,

Iraq, on Dec. 11, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his HMMWV

during combat operations.   Moudy was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 71st Cavalry,

1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y.





             For further information related to this release, contact Army Public

Affairs at (703) 692-2000.





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NEWS RELEASE from the United States Department of Defense



No. 1283-05

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Dec 12, 2005

Media Contact: Army Public Affairs - (703) 692-2000

Public/Industry Contact: (703)428-0711



DoD Identifies Army Casualty





            The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who

was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.







            Sgt. Spencer C. Akers, 35, of Traverse City, Mich., died at Brooke Army

Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, on Dec. 8, of injuries sustained in

Habbaniyah, Iraq, on Nov. 21, when an improvised explosive device detonated near

his HMMWV during combat operations.   Akers was assigned to the Army National

Guard's 1st Battalion, 125th Infantry Regiment, Saginaw, Mich.





             For further information related to this release, contact Army Public

Affairs at (703) 692-2000.





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NEWS RELEASE from the United States Department of Defense



No. 1282-05

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Dec 12, 2005

Media Contact: Army Public Affairs - (703) 692-2000

Public/Industry Contact: (703)428-0711



DoD Identifies Army Casualty





The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting

Operation Iraqi Freedom.



            Sgt. Clarence L. Floyd, Jr., 28, of Newark, N.J., died in Taji, Iraq,

on Dec. 10, when his unit was attacked by enemy forces using small arms fire during

combat operations.  Floyd was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 320th Field Artillery

Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Ky.

             For further information related to this release, contact Army Public

Affairs at (703) 692-2000.





------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NEWS RELEASE from the United States Department of Defense



No. 1287-05

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Dec 12, 2005

Media Contact: Army Public Affairs - (703) 692-2000

Public/Industry Contact: (703)428-0711



DoD Identifies Army Casualty





            The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who

was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.







            Staff Sgt. Milton Rivera-Vargas, 55, of Boqueron, Puerto Rico, died in

Kalsu, Iraq, on Dec. 8, from a non-combat related cause while on guard duty.

Rivera-Vargas was assigned to the Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 296th

Infantry Regiment, Sabana Grande, Puerto Rico.





             For further information related to this release, contact Army Public

Affairs at (703) 692-2000.