Virginia Officer Killed By Bomb in Iraq

JOHN M.R. BULL
The Daily Press


A Virginia Beach police officer serving as a Marine reservist died in Iraq on Wednesday when a roadside bomb destroyed his troop carrier, killing 14 Marines.

Marine Sgt. Bradley J. Harper, 25, originally from Ohio, was hired by the Police Department last year and patrolled the Oceanfront section of the city. He shipped out for Iraq in March.

"He was a great guy," said Virginia Beach officer Harry McBrien, who was an instructor in the police academy when Harper graduated in July 2004.

"He always gave 100 percent. He was always smiling."

Harper didn't have much time to spend in the new home he and his wife, Kendra - a nurse at Portsmouth Medical Center - bought in Chesapeake in September. Members of her family flew in Wednesday to be with her.

Kendra Harper issued a statement through McBrien.

"In the eyes of those who knew and loved Brad, he was a real hero," she said. "He gave 100 percent in whatever assignment he undertook. He was proud to be a Marine and considered it an honor serving as an officer for Virginia Beach. He will live on forever in our hearts."

A relative who answered the phone at Harper's family home in Ohio said the family would have no further comment for at least a few days.

Harper was riding in a convoy of vehicles on a desert road in Haditha, a town in western Iraq, when a roadside bomb blew up in the middle of the convoy. The lightly armored amphibious troop carrier in which Harper was riding was destroyed, killing 14 Marines and an Iraqi civilian interpreter.

It was one of the deadliest attacks on U.S. Marines since the war in Iraq began two years ago. So far, more than 1,800 soldiers have died in the conflict.

The Marines were trying to shut down an insurgent pipeline down the Euphrates River. Military officials have said it is a route insurgents frequently use to get from Syria to the Iraqi heartland and the Baghdad area.

Virginia Beach Police Chief A.M. "Jake" Jacocks Jr. called Harper a "hero" and promised the department's help to Kendra Harper.

McBrien said Harper originally shipped out with the Ohio-based 3rd Battalion, 25th Marines, a reserve unit, but transferred to the 4th Assault Amphibian Battalion, which operated out of Little Creek Naval Amphibious Base in Virginia Beach. He was a communications specialist, McBrien said.

McBrien said he already has received a message from a soldier in Iraq seeking a way to tell Harper's wife that her husband was "a great guy."

Funeral arrangements have not been made.

First New York City Cop Killed In Iraq

N.J. BURKETT
Courtesy of WABC 7


(New York -WABC, August 3, 2005) -- In Iraq - the first NYPD officer to die serving in the war. James McNaughton was shot and killed while guarding prisoners outside of Baghdad.

He's one of 23 Americans who've died in Iraq in the last two days. Earlier today a roadside bomb killed 14 Marines just outside Haditha, seven more died there yesterday.

A freelance journalist from New York was also found shot to death in Basra.

Our coverage starts with N.J. Burkett live from Centereach on Long Island.

The war in Iraq came home today for an entire family of new York City police officers. They received condolences this afternoon from the mayor of New York City and Governor Pataki for the first New York City police officer to be killed in action in Iraq.

From 6,000 miles away to a doorstep in Centereach Long Island the news was unbearable. James McNaughton was 27-years-old, a New York City police officer in the Army Reserve - shot in the head by an Iraqi sniper.

Brian Kenny, Fellow Police Officer: "We had spoken to him, the guys on the midnights in particular - some of the guys that were in the military said 'that's the most dangerous place in the world right now' and Jimmy was all gung-ho military ready to go protect the American way of life."

Staff Sergeant James McNaughton was stationed at an Army outpost near Baghdad known as Camp Victory - a military policeman assigned to the 306th MP battalion at Fort Totten. He joined the NYPD back in 2000 and like his father William McNaughton, he worked in the transit division.

Mayor Bloomberg said today that he died in the line of duty: "He comes from a family dedicated to protecting our city and protecting the freedoms we enjoy every day."

James McNaughton is the first New York City police officer to be killed in Iraq. last year Christian Engeldrum was the first New York City firefighter to die there. Ralph Vitiello knew them both. He's a New York City firefighter who served in Iraq and was also James McNaughton's next door neighbor.

Ralph Vitiello, Neighbor: "When I was over there we were preparing ourselves to go after an army, some guerilla stuff but not like they're doing today. It's just - I can't imagine what it's like for them over there, especially being an MP. It's a sad day, I really feel bad for his family. it's horrible."

His father is a retired New York City police officer, his stepmother is an officer assigned to transit headquarters in downtown Brooklyn and his fiancee is an officer in the city's 9th precinct in Manhattan.

James McNaughton was one of 273 New York City police officers on active duty in Iraq.

Local Policeman Killed On Duty In Iraq
Toronto Native Had Hopes Of Full-time Work In Martins Ferry

POSTED: 10:46 p.m. EDT August 1, 2005
UPDATED: 3:16 p.m. EDT August 2, 2005


Story by wtov9.com

TORONTO, OH --

Nathan Rock was from Toronto, but he served and protected in Martins Ferry as a part-time policeman until his work in the Marine Corps took him to Iraq.

Monday night, a family friend notified NEWS 9 Rock had died in the line of duty.

The Defense Department has not released any details about his death in Iraq, but his friends and co-workers here in the Valley are grieving.

Rock was serving in Iraq and had hoped to return home next month.

Rock was a part-time officer in Martins Ferry when he left for the war and worked alongside his brother, who is a full-time officer on the force.

Martins Ferry Police Chief Barry Carpenter tells NEWS 9 Rock would often check in from overseas to see if there was still a spot for him on the force when he came home.

"The loss is devastating not only for his family, but for our department," Carpenter told NEWS 9. "We were looking to put him on as the next full time officer and it's a shame things happen the way they do."

Susan Kulstad who is actively involved with Toronto's military family support group says there are no plans yet for a public memorial service until Rock's body is returned to his family in Toronto.

Rendell Now Says Five Local Guardsmen Killed In Iraq
Details Of Attack Not Released

POSTED: 9:57 a.m. EDT August 10, 2005
UPDATED: 4:37 p.m. EDT August 10, 2005


Story by nbc10.com

PHILADELPHIA -- Five members of the Pennsylvania National Guard were killed in action in Iraq, Gov. Ed Rendell said, and among those killed were a city police officer and a suburban firefighter.

"To have this -- seven guardsman (killed) in less than four days -- it brings home the crushing reality of this war ... and the incredibly high price we pay for what we're trying to accomplish," Rendell said at a Capitol news conference on an unrelated topic.

A Guard spokesman, Capt. Cory P. Angell, would say only that a Pennsylvania Guard unit suffered casualties that included both dead and wounded. The unit had been performing stability and support operations in Beiji, 155 miles north of Baghdad, Angell said.

Angell declined to say whether the unit was one that came under attack late Tuesday in Beiji.

The deaths of Gennaro Pellegrini Jr., a 31-year-old Philadelphia police officer and aspiring boxer, and John Kulick, a firefighter in Whitpain Township in Montgomery County, were announced by local officials Wednesday.

The National Guard declined to say Wednesday how or when the men died, or to confirm the deaths of the three other soldiers Rendell referred to.

NBC 10 has learned the third fatality is Nathanial DeTample of Morrisville, Pa., who was also a firefighter.

Pelligrini, a 26th district officer from Port Richmond, was also a professional boxer. Pelligrini's fellow police officers were notified of his death Wednesday morning.

Two other Pennsylvania National Guard soldiers were killed last weekend in Iraq.

Sgt. Brahim Jeffcoat, 25, Philadelphia, and Spc. Kurt Krout, 43, Spinnerstown, were killed Saturday by when improvised explosive devices detonated near their convoy in Samarra, 60 miles north of Baghdad.

Pellegrini, Kulick, DeTample, Krout and Jeffcoat were assigned to the Pennsylvania Army National Guard's Company A, 1st Battalion, 111th Infantry.

The unit is part of Task Force Dragoon, a force of 750 Pennsylvania Army National Guard Soldiers that was deployed to Iraq in December for a one-year assignment.

Santa Monica police officer killed in Iraq
The Argonaut reports: 10-year veteran of SMPD killed in Iraq by grenade.

A ten-year veteran officer of the Santa Monica Police Department — who was serving his second tour of duty as a U.S. Marine in the Iraq War — was killed in combat Thursday, May 26th.

Ricardo "Rick" A. Crocker, 39, died at 6:45 a.m. Pacific Standard Time when he was struck by a rocket-propelled grenade during fighting in the province of Al-Anbar, Iraq.

Crocker, a Torrance resident, was identified by his dog tags and the name badge on his uniform.

The soldier had served for over a year as a Marine Corps reservist in his first tour of duty in Iraq, and after returning home, he was redeployed.


June 07, 2005

Special Agent Ed Seitz
Diplomatic Security Service

Killed in Iraq
10/24/04

Ed was a former Cleveland police officer and was assigned to Diplomatic Security's Chicago Field Office. Ed was killed in a mortar attack at Camp Victory.

Secretary of State Colin Powell, said, "The Department of State and I mourn the loss of one of our own today in Baghdad."

"Ed was a brave American, dedicated to his country and to a brighter future for the people of Iraq," Powell said. "Ed's death is a tragic loss for me personally, and for all of his colleagues at the Department of State."

"Ed Seitz died in the service of his country and for the cause of liberty and freedom for others. There is no more noble a sacrifice."

Anaheim Police Reserve Officer Killed Outside Baghdad

UPDATED: 8:04 pm PDT April 8, 2003

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- A Marine who also served as an Anaheim reserve police officer had told his friends he planned to ride into Baghdad wearing his black SWAT team cap stitched with a silver eagle.

1st Sgt. Edward C. Smith, 38, of Vista, Calif., never made it. He died April 5 in Doha, Qatar, from wounds suffered while in action against enemy forces in central Iraq on April 4, the Defense Department said Tuesday.

Smith served as first sergeant in the 2nd Tank Battalion, Fox Company, leading more than 200 Marines.

His wife, Sandy, spoke about her husband at a news conference at the Anaheim Police Department. The couple's three children and police colleagues were at her side.

"Their dad loved them more than anything," Mrs. Smith said of their children, breaking down in tears. "We all knew Edward was a great man and it's so nice to know everybody else knew him too."