Dayhoff Westminster: A Westminster service member, Airman 1st Class Matthew R. Seidler, is one of the three killed in Afghanistan by an improvised explosive device on January 5

Saturday, January 7, 2012

A Westminster service member, Airman 1st Class Matthew R. Seidler, is one of the three killed in Afghanistan by an improvised explosive device on January 5

Three airmen killed in Afghanistan by an improvised explosive device on January 5

A Westminster service member, Airman 1st Class Matthew R. Seidler, is one of the three killed in Afghanistan by an improvised explosive device on January 5

By Kevin Dayhoff, January 7, 2012 http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/2012/01/westminster-service-member-airman-1st.html

Labels: Military, Military Air Force, Military Department of Defense, Military Fallen Hero, Military Fallen Hero Carroll Co, Military ISAF, World Middle East Afghanistan

24-year-old USAF Airman 1st Class Matthew R. Seidler, from Westminster, Maryland was one of three Air Force servicemen killed in action on 5th January 2012 when their vehicle struck an insurgent bomb in Shir Ghazi, Helmand. (Photo courtesy: http://oefkia.blogspot.com)

Westminster, Md. - The Pentagon announced earlier today that a Westminster airman was one of three servicemembers who died supporting Operation Enduring Freedom on Jan. 5 in Shir ghazi, Helmand province, Afghanistan.

Airman 1st Class Matthew R. Seidler, 24, of Westminster, Md had been assigned to the 21st Civil Engineer Squadron, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo.

Also killed in the attack were Senior Airman Bryan R. Bell, 23, of Erie, Pa., who had been assigned to the 2nd Civil Engineer Squadron, Barksdale Air Force Base, La. and Tech. Sgt. Matthew S. Schwartz, 34, of Traverse City, Mich. from the 90th Civil Engineer Squadron, FE Warren Air Force Base, Wyo.

According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, “The Erie Times News reported that Airman Bell joined the U.S. Air Force in 2006 and served a tour of duty in Iraq. As an explosive-ordnance disposal technician, his main job was to clear routes with two other servicemen in an armored vehicle, his father Rick Bell of Harborcreek told the newspaper.

“Airman Bell last visited his dad over the summer, before his deployment to Afghanistan, and said he was still excited about his dangerous job, which gained notoriety with the Academy Award-winning movie ‘The Hurt Locker,’ which won the Academy Award for best picture in 2009.”

The website, Fallen Heroes Afghanistan - http://oefkia.blogspot.com - reports, “Sr. Airman Bell, a bomb-disposal technician serving with the 2nd Civil Engineer Squadron, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, was a volunteer firefighter. He graduated from Harbor Creek High School in 2006 and joined the Air Force the same year. He leaves behind his father, mother, wife and sister.” (Photo courtesy: http://oefkia.blogspot.com)

Fallen heroes Afghanistan reports, “Sgt. Schwartz was a bomb-disposal technician serving with the 90th Civil Engineer Squadron, FE Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming. His family told local news that this was his sixth combat mission and that he had also served in Iraq. He had served in the US Air Force for 12 years. Sgt. Schwartz leaves his wife, Jenny, and three daughters.” (Photo courtesy: http://oefkia.blogspot.com)

Seidler was one of eight of NATO’s US-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) soldiers who have died in a series of recent attacks in southern and eastern Afghanistan, say military officials.

In accordance with ISAF policy, no further details were released. According to iCasualties.org, at least 566 NATO troops were killed in Afghanistan in 2011; including 418 from the US and 46 from the United Kingdom.

An Afghanistan International Security Assistance Force casualty report from Kabul, Afghanistan on Thursday, January 5, said, “Three International Security Assistance Force service members died following an improvised explosive device attack in southern Afghanistan today.

“It is ISAF policy to defer casualty identification procedures to the relevant national authorities…”

In related news, in an “ISAF Joint Command morning operational update - January 6, 2012… South: In Nahr-e Saraj district, Helmand province, a coalition security force discovered a cache of improvised explosive device materials during a routine patrol yesterday. The security force confiscated 50 various IED components from the scene to be destroyed at a later date.

An Afghan and coalition security force captured a Taliban leader during an operation in Nahr-e Saraj district, Helmand province, today. The leader constructed roadside bombs and trained insurgent fighters for attacks against coalition forces. Two additional suspected insurgents were detained during the operation.

“East: In Sabari district, Khost province, an Afghan and coalition security force captured a Haqqani leader during an operation today. The leader procured weapons for insurgent fighters and conducted roadside bomb attacks. The security force seized weapons, bomb making materials and detained multiple insurgents during the operation.”

The news that a Westminster area service member had been killed in Afghanistan had started circulating on Friday. However it is usually best to wait to report upon such information until the Pentagon releases the information – after the Department of Defense has notified all family members and appropriate personnel…

Approximately 140,000 NATO military personnel – including about 100,000 from the United States - are currently fighting in the ten-year war against the Taliban-led insurgency against the NATO-backed government of President Hamid Karzai in Afghanistan.

No further details on the deaths of, or funeral arrangements for Seidler, Bell or Schwartz are available at the moment.

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Link List:

http://www.defense.gov/releases/

http://icasualties.org/OEF/index.aspx

http://www.isaf.nato.int/

http://www.isaf.nato.int/article/casualty-report/isaf-casualties-82.html

http://www.isaf.nato.int/article/isaf-releases/isaf-joint-command-morning-operational-update-january-6-2012.html

http://www.emirates247.com/news/world/8-nato-troops-6-children-killed-in-afghan-blasts-2012-01-06-1.436143

http://www.emirates247.com/

http://oefkia.blogspot.com

http://oefkia.blogspot.com/2012/01/usaf-airman-1st-class-matthew-seidler.html