Pentagon Identifies 8 Army Casualties (OEF)

News in Balance:

WASHINGTON, Oct. 7, 2009 -- The following news release made available Wednesday by the U.S. Department of Defense is the text of a statement identifying casualties:

The Department of Defense announced today the death of eight soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. They died Oct. 3 in Kamdesh, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked their contingency outpost with small arms, rocket-propelled grenade and indirect fires. They were assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.

Killed were:

• Staff Sgt. Vernon W. Martin, 25 of Savannah, Ga.

• Sgt. Justin T. Gallegos, 27, of Tucson, Ariz.

• Sgt. Joshua M. Hardt, 24, of Applegate, Calif.

• Sgt. Joshua J. Kirk, 30, of South Portland, Maine.

• Sgt. Michael P. Scusa, 22, of Villas, N.J.

• Spc. Christopher T. Griffin, 24, of Kincheloe, Mich.

• Spc. Stephan L. Mace, 21, of Lovettsville, Va.

• Pfc. Kevin C. Thomson, 22, of Reno, Nev.

(Report from a U.S. Defense Department news release.)