DoD Identifies Army Casualties and Soldiers as Whereabouts Unknown
April 11, 2005

The Department of Defense announced today the death of eight Soldiers and the identity of six Soldiers listed as Duty Status Whereabouts Unknown (DUSTWUN) who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. The soldiers died or became unaccounted for on April 6 in Ghazni, Afghanistan, when the CH-47 helicopter they were on crashed.

Killed were:

Maj. Edward J. Murphy, 36, of South Carolina. Murphy was assigned to the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Camp Ederle, Italy.

Chief Warrant Officer David Ayala, 24, of New York, N.Y. Ayala was assigned to the 5th Battalion, 159th Aviation Regiment, 12th Aviation Brigade, Giebelstadt, Germany.

Chief Warrant Officer Clint J. Prather, 32, of Cheney, Wash. Prather was assigned to the 5th Battalion, 159th Aviation Regiment, 12th Aviation Brigade, Giebelstadt, Germany.

Master Sgt. Edwin A. Matoscolon, 42, of Juana Diaz, P.R. Matoscolon was assigned to Division Artillery, 25th Infantry Division (Light), Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.

Staff Sgt. Charles R. Sanders Jr., 29, of Charleston, Mo. Sanders was assigned to the 5th Battalion, 159th Aviation Regiment, 12th Aviation Brigade, Giebelstadt, Germany.

Spc. Daniel J. Freeman, 20, of Cincinnati, Ohio. Freeman was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 508th Infantry Regiment, Camp Ederle, Italy.

Spc. Chrystal G. Stout, 23, of Travelers Rest, S.C. Stout was assigned to the Army National Guard’s 228th Signal Brigade, Spartanburg, S.C.

Spc. Pendelton L. Sykes II, 25, of Chesapeake, Va. Sykes was assigned to the 5th Battalion, 159th Aviation Regiment, 12th Aviation Brigade, Giebelstadt, Germany.

Reported as DUSTWUN are:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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