DoD Identifies Marine Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Lance Corporal Steven A. Valdez, 20, of McRea, Arkansas, died September 26, 2005, from enemy mortar fire at Camp Blessing, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.

Media with questions about this Marine can call the Marine Corps Base Hawaii Public Affairs Office at (808) 257-8840 or (808) 257-8839.

A U.S. soldier and a U.S. Marine were killed Monday in separate attacks near Kandahar and Asadabad, Afghanistan, military officials reported Tuesday.
 
The soldier was taking part in a combined assault with U.S. and Afghan troops west of Kandahar when enemy  forces  fired  rocket-propelled grenades and small-arms fire at their vehicles. Another U.S. soldier was wounded in the attack and taken to a hospital in Kandahar for treatment. He was listed in stable condition.

The  unit  returned  fire, killing two enemy fighters and wounding a third. The wounded fighter was taken to Bagram   Air Base for treatment and was reported to be in stable condition.

At  a  U.S. forward operating base at Camp Blessing, near Asadabad, U.S. Marines reported receiving enemy  mortar,  rocket-propelled-grenade  and  small-arms fire. A U.S. Marine, Lance Corporal Steven A. Valdez,  20,  of McRea, Arkansas, was killed in the attack.Coalition forces responded with mortar fire and close air support. Valdez  was  assigned  to 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Kaneohe      Bay, Hawaii.
 
"These men gave their lives for America and a free Afghanistan," Army Brigadier General James G. Champion, 
Combined Joint Task Force 76 Deputy Commanding General, said. "We will continue to aggressively take the fight to  the enemy until they are defeated."

Lance Corporal Steven A. Valdez, 20, of McRea, Arkansas, was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, based at Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, according to a Defense Department news release.

Marines at Camp Blessing reported receiving enemy mortar, rocket-propelled-grenade and small-arms fire, and Valdez was killed in the attack, the release said.

Coalition forces responded with mortar fire and close air support, it stated.

Lance Corporal Valdez is scheduled to be buried with full military honors in Arlington National Cemetery on 11 October 2005.