DoD Announces Change-in-Status of Army Soldiers
April 15, 2005

The Department of Defense announced today the death of six soldiers previously listed as Duty Status Whereabouts Unknown (DUSTWUN) who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. The soldiers had become unaccounted for on April 6 in Ghazni, Afghanistan, when the CH-47 helicopter they were on crashed. Their remains have since been identified.

Killed were:

Capt. David S. Connolly, 37, of Boston, Mass. Connolly was assigned to the Army Reserves 1173rd Transportation Terminal Battalion, Brockton, Mass.

Sgt. Maj. Barbaralien Banks, 41, of Harvey, La. Banks was assigned to the Division Artillery, 25th Infantry Division (Light), Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.

Staff Sgt. Romanes L. Woodard, 30, of Hertford, N.C. Woodard was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 508th Infantry Regiment, Camp Ederle, Italy.

Sgt. Stephen C. High, 45, of Spartanburg, S.C. High was assigned to the Army National Guard’s 228th Signal Brigade, Spartanburg, S.C.

Spc. Michael K. Spivey, 21, of Fayetteville, N.C. Spivey was assigned to the 5th Battalion, 159th Aviation Regiment, 12th Aviation Brigade, Giebelstadt, Germany.

Cpl. Sascha Struble, 20, of Philadelphia, N.Y. Struble was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 508th Infantry Regiment, Camp Ederle, Italy.

The incident remains under investigation.

For further information related to this release, contact Army Public Affairs at (703) 692-2000.