DOD Identifies Army Casualties
December 14, 2010

The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of six soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

They died Dec. 12 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked their unit with an improvised explosive device.

Killed were:

Cpl. Sean M. Collins, 25, of Ewa Beach, Hawaii.

Cpl. Willie A. McLawhorn Jr., 23, of Conway, N.C.

Cpl. Patrick D. Deans, 22 of Orlando, Fla.

Cpl. Kenneth E. Necochea Jr., 21, of San Diego, Calif.

Cpl. Derek T. Simonetta, 21, of Redwood City, Calif.

Cpl. Jorge E. Villacis, 24, of Sunrise, Fla.

They were assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.

For more information, media may contact the Fort Campbell public affairs office at 270-798-3025.

UPDATE: Spcs. Deans, Necochea Jr., Simonetta, and Villacis were posthumously promoted to corporal.