DoD Identifies Army Casualties
October 07, 2009

The Department of Defense announced today the death of eight soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. They died Oct. 3 in Kamdesh, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked their contingency outpost with small arms, rocket-propelled grenade and indirect fires. They were assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.

Killed were:

Staff Sgt. Vernon W. Martin, 25 of Savannah, Ga.

Staff Sgt. Justin T. Gallegos, 27, of Tucson, Ariz.

Sgt. Joshua M. Hardt, 24, of Applegate, Calif.

Sgt. Joshua J. Kirk, 30, of South Portland, Maine.

Sgt. Michael P. Scusa, 22, of Villas, N.J.

Spc. Christopher T. Griffin, 24, of Kincheloe, Mich.

Spc. Stephan L. Mace, 21, of Lovettsville, Va.

Pfc. Kevin C. Thomson, 22, of Reno, Nev.

For more information media may contact the Fort Carson public affairs office at (719) 526-7525; after hours (719) 526-5500.