U.S. Military Deaths in War With Iraq From November to December 2004
The following are the U.S. military personnel who have been killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom from November, 2004 to December, 2004. All dates reflect when the incidents occurred local time. For deaths before November 2004 and after December 2004, see the links at the left of the page. The lists are compiled from information reported by the Defense Department after notification of family.
December 31, 2004
• Lance Cpl. Jason E. Smith, 21, of Phoenix, Ariz., died as result of hostile action in Al Anbar Province, Iraq.
December 30, 2004
• Sgt. Damien T. Ficek, 26, from Pullman, Wash., died in Baghdad, Iraq, when his patrol was attacked by enemy forces using small arms fire.
December 29, 2004
• Spc. Craig L. Nelson, 21, from Bossier City, La., died at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., of injuries sustained Dec. 16 in Baghdad, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his military vehicle.
• Pfc. Oscar Sanchez, 19, from Modesto, Calif., died in Mosul, Iraq, when a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device struck his observation post.
December 28, 2004
• Staff Sgt. Jason A. Lehto, 31, of Mount Clemens, Mich., died in a non-hostile incident in Al Anbar Province, Iraq.
• Navy Seaman Pablito Pena Briones, Jr., 22, of Anaheim, Calf., died of a non-hostile gun shot wound in Fallujah, Iraq.
• Staff Sgt. Nathaniel J. Nyren, 31, from Reston, Va., died in Baghdad, Iraq, when a civilian vehicle struck his military vehicle.
December 27, 2004
• Staff Sgt. Todd D. Olson, 36, from Loyal, Wis., died in the 67th Combat Support Hospital in Tikrit, Iraq from wounds sustained in Samarra, Iraq on Dec. 26, when an improvised explosive device detonated.
• Spc. Jose A. Rivera-Serrano, 26, from Mayaquez, Puerto Rico, died in Baghdad, Iraq, from wounds sustained when an improvised explosive device hit his vehicle.
December 23, 2004
• Lance Cpl. Eric Hillenburg, 21, of Marion, Ind., died as result of enemy action in Al Anbar Province, Iraq.
• Lance Cpl. James R. Phillips, 21, of Hillsboro, Fla., died as result of enemy action in Al Anbar Province, Iraq.
• Cpl. Raleigh C. Smith, 21, of Lincoln, Mont., died as result of enemy action in Al Anbar Province, Iraq.
• 1st Lt. Christopher W. Barnett, 32, of Baton Rouge, La., died in Baghdad, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his military vehicle.
December 21, 2004
• Chief Joel Egan Baldwin, 37, of Arlington, Va., died in Mosul, Iraq, when the dining facility he was in was attacked.
• Capt. William W. Jacobsen Jr., 31, of Charlotte, N.C., died in Mosul, Iraq, when a dining facility he was in was attacked.
• Sgt. Maj. Robert D. O'Dell, 38, of Manassas, Va., died in Mosul, Iraq, when a dining facility he was in was attacked.
• Sgt. 1st Class Paul D. Karpowich, 30, of Bridgeport, Pa., died in Mosul, Iraq, when a dining facility he was in was attacked.
• Staff Sgt. Julian S. Melo, 47, of Brooklyn, N.Y., died in Mosul, Iraq, when a dining facility he was in was attacked.
• Staff Sgt. Darren D. VanKomen, 33, of Bluefield, W.Va., died in Mosul, Iraq, when a dining facility he was in was attacked.
• Staff Sgt. Robert S. Johnson, 23, of Castro Valley, Calif., died in Mosul, Iraq, when a dining facility he was in was attacked.
• Sgt. Lynn R. Poulin Sr., 47, of Freedom, Maine, died in Mosul, Iraq, when a dining facility he was in was attacked.
