1st Brigade 4th Infantry Division

'Black Dragon' soldiers join time-honored NCO corps

Soldiers assigned to 5th Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, recite the Oath of the United States Army Non-commissioned Officer during an induction ceremony on Contingency Operating Site Marez, Iraq, Aug. 5. As a non-commissioned officer, inductees have the responsibility of providing outstanding leadership to junior soldiers. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Angel Turner)

Military deaths with Nebraska connections | Today's Defense

As of Sunday, Aug. 7, 2011, 70 U.S. service members with Nebraska connections have died in Afghanistan or Iraq since the beginning of military operations following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States, according to the Department of Defense and family members. Two military-employed civilians who had Nebraska connections also were killed in Iraq.

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Latest Nebraskan reported to be killed, according to the Department of Defense, the Nebraska National Guard or families of the victim:

— Marine Sgt. Joshua Robinson died Aug. 7, 2011, while on combat operations in Helmand Province. Another soldier from Robinson’s unit was also killed. The Defense Department said Robinson was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, which is based at Camp Pendleton, Calif.

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Previous deaths in Afghanistan or Iraq with Nebraska connections:

— Master at Arms, Class 1 John Douangdara, 26, of South Sioux City, was among the 30 American troops killed when a military helicopter was shot down in Afghanistan on Aug. 6, 2011, family members said. Douangdara, a 2003 graduate of South Sioux City High School, was a Navy SEAL.

— Sgt. Patrick Hamburger, 30, of Grand Island, died Aug. 6, 2011, in eastern Afghanistan when insurgents show down a U.S. military helicopter. He was a member of the Nebraska National Guard. Hamburger arrived in Afghanistan less than two weeks before the crash.

— Sgt. Omar Jones, 28, died July 18, 2011, of a noncombat-related injury in Afghanistan, the Nebraska Army National Guard said. His death at a base in Balkh Province is under investigation by the Department of the Army. The Nebraska National Guard said Jones was an electrician assigned to the 623rd Engineer Company in Wahoo.

— U.S. Army Capt. Matthew Nielson, 27, of Jefferson, Iowa, died June 29, 2011 in Badrah, Iraq, during a fire attack by insurgents. He was assigned to the 2nd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment at Fort Hood, Texas. Nielson was born in Omaha and lived in Lincoln before moving with his family to Iowa.

— Spc. Joseph Cemper, 21, died April 16, 2011, in Afghanistan after being injured when a man posing as an Afghan soldier detonated several grenades, killing himself as well. He was assigned to the 101st Special Troops Battalion, 101st Sustainment Brigade, 101st Airborne Division. Cemper moved from the Omaha suburb of Papillion to Warrensburg, Mo., before he began high school.

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