Afghan Fallen Heroes: Gray, Griffin, Kennedy Thompson

Sgt. Maj. Griffin

Our soldiers in Afghanistan {and other locations around the world} seem forgotten. I want to make sure they are recognized and remembered.....

On Tuesday, two gunmen wearing Afghan army uniforms killed a U.S. soldier and wounded two others in Paktia province in the east.

Also on Tuesday, the Taliban released a sickening video showing an Afghan soldier {who killed a U.S. soldier and injured two others} being welcomed back into the insurgent encampment. On May 11, 2012, the soldier – who the Taliban named as Mamood – turned on his American trainers and opened fire. First Lt. Alejo R. Thompson, 30, of Yuma, Arizona, a father of two young children, was killed in the ambush in eastern Afghanistan. Thompson was based at Fort Carson, Colorado.

First Lt. Thompson

On Wednesday, three U.S. soldiers and an American aid worker were also killed in the eastern province of Kunar, which lies along the volatile border with Pakistan where militants have hideouts. Two attackers wearing suicide vests detonated their explosives as a Nato foot patrol passed by the headquarters of the provincial government. The Taliban have claimed responsibility for the killings. The Defense Department identified the three troops killed in Kunar as Air Force Maj. Walter D. Gray, 38, of Conyers, Ga.; Army Maj. Thomas E. Kennedy, 35, of West Point, N.Y.; and Command Sgt. Maj. Kevin J. Griffin, 45, of Laramie, Wyo., all based at Fort Carson, Colorado.

Air Force Maj. Gray

On Thursday, two Afghan soldiers tried to gun down a group of NATO troops outside a military base in eastern Afghanistan. No international forces were killed, but one of the attackers was killed as NATO forces shot back.

On Friday morning in Helmand province, in a green-on-blue shooting, an Afghan police commander invited at least three U.S. Special Forces soldiers to dinner at his outpost under the pretext of having a meeting to discuss security. {Special Forces soldiers are used in Afghanistan to train local police. These "green on blue" shootings are when the Afghans who Americans are tasked to train turn their weapons and target U.S. troops.} "During dinner, the police commander opened fire killing three and injuring one. The Taliban say the shooter fled and joined their forces. 

Army Maj. Kennedy

In another incident on Friday, NATO said a coalition service member died after an insurgent attack in southern Afghanistan. The death brings to 19 the number of coalition troops killed in Afghanistan this month.

Also in Helmand province Friday, six Afghan civilians were killed when their car hit a roadside bomb.

P.S. If you discover names and photos of the other soldiers killed this week, please leave a comment and/or link so I may add to this post. Thank you.


The Public Affairs office of the 4th Brigade 4th Infantry Division shared this on Facebook:

“There has been some inaccurate reporting from unauthorized sources about recent events in the Task Force Mountain Warrior AO. As many are aware, the Brigade Command Sergeant Major, Command Sgt. Maj. Kevin J. Griffin, 45, of Laramie, Wyo., Maj. Thomas Kennedy, the brigade Fire Support Coordinator, Maj. Walter D. Gray, USAF and Mr. Ragaei Abdelfattah, USAID were recently killed during a suicide attack in Kunar Province. Certain media outlets have reported that the Brigade Commander has been seriously wounded. We can confirm that Col. Mingus is unharmed, although he was present during the attack. There were, however, other leaders and soldiers harmed in the attack, which is a favored TTP of an enemy who cares little about who he harms in the pursuit of his goals. We are respecting the privacy of those wounded until they are prepared to release the specific information on the attack and their injuries. Please keep the soldiers, leaders, families and loved ones of the fallen and wounded in your thoughts and prayers as we remain focused on the mission of securing the provinces of Eastern Afghanistan and training and partnering with the Afghan National Security Forces. All of these brave men were committed to this task, and we will continue to honor their service and commitment by seeing the task accomplished. "Led By Love of Country." -- Maj. Thomas, BCT PAO.”

http://www.defense.gov/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=15507