You are not logged in. Please register or login.
- Topics: Active | Unanswered
Re: Army Ranger Dies On 14th Deployment
Army Ranger Dies On 14th Deployment
by Luis Martinez & Christina Caron / ABC World News
http://abcnews.go.com/US/army-ranger-he … d=14811227
An Army Ranger who was on his 14th deployment to a combat zone has been killed in Afghanistan.
Sgt. First Class Kristoffer B. Domeij, 29, was killed Saturday when the assault force he was with triggered a hidden roadside bomb in Afghanistan's Kandahar Province.
Domeij served four deployments in Iraq and another nine stints in Afghanistan. During that time he was awarded two Bronze Stars. His third Bronze Star, earned during his final tour in Afghanistan, will be awarded posthumously, according to the U.S. Army Special Operations Command.
Also killed in Saturday's blast were First Lieutenant Ashley White, 24, a Cultural Support Team member, and fellow Ranger Private First Class Christopher A. Horns, 20, who was on his first combat deployment.
His battalion commander, Lt. Col. David Hodne, described Domeij as "one of those men who was known by all as much for his humor, enthusiasm, and loyal friendship, as he was for his unparalleled skill and bravery under fire."
"This was a Ranger you wanted at your side when the chips were down... He is irreplaceable … in our formation … and in our hearts," Hodne said.
Domeij, who grew up in San Diego, Calif. and Colorado Springs, Colo., and lived in Lacey, Wash., was married and had two young daughters.
Rangers are some of the Army's most elite special operations forces and have seen almost continual combat in Afghanistan since October 2001 when they were part of the original airborne assault into the country.
Rangers serve three to four month tours of duty that are significantly shorter than the year-long deployments served by soldiers in conventional units. But during those short deployments they see a constant churn of intense combat missions. On average, a Ranger battalion will conduct between 400 to 500 missions during a combat deployment.
Tracy Bailey, a spokesperson for the 75th Ranger Regiment, says Domeij had a combined total of 48 months deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan.
Higher ranking enlisted Rangers, like Domeij, typically have between nine and 12 deployments if they were with the 75th Ranger Regiment prior to or shortly after Sept. 11, 2001. Domeij had enlisted in the Army in July 2001 and joined the 2nd battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment in April 2002.
With his 14 deployments, Domeij becomes the Ranger with the most deployments to date killed in action. Just a year ago this month, fellow Ranger SFC Lance Vogeler was killed in Afghanistan during his 12th deployment, becoming at that time the Ranger with the most deployments killed in action.
Domeij had the distinction of being one of the first Rangers to be qualified as a Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC), a position usually reserved for Air Force airmen who serve with ground combat units and call in airstrikes from fighters or bombers flying overhead.
Col. Mark W. Odom, commander of the 75th Ranger Regiment, called Domeij "the prototypical special operations NCO" whose abilities as a JTAC "made him a game changer on the battlefield—an operator who in real terms had the value of an entire strike force on the battlefield."
Re: Army Ranger Dies On 14th Deployment
Very sad. 14 deployments is insane. These men(and women) risk their lives daily in a country that now openly claims they will side with Pakistan in a US-Pakistan conflict. We've went past the point of achieving our goals. Obviously still terrorists but..
Re: Army Ranger Dies On 14th Deployment
It doesn't warrant infinite occupation. If we need a presence there for an upcoming war with Iran, Syria, or Pakistan, then just maintain a very limited troop presence & keep the air bases indefinitely. I doubt there will ever be a complete withdrawal..
Re: Army Ranger Dies On 14th Deployment
but if war starts with Pakistan and they do actually side with them, it needs to be turned into a parking lot and the areas our military needs should be annexed. We have propped up that regime for 10 years & there has to be a steep price for betrayal..
Re: Army Ranger Dies On 14th Deployment
The Karzai comments are purely strategical and should be viewed for what they are. The leaders in the region see a waning western presence coming and are hedging their bets in the case the US have to pull out for good leaving them at the mercy of Russia and China. If it doesn't happen they clearly view the US position too weak at the moment to do anything about it, like assassinate Karzai and risk a cranked up revolution.
America is technically broke and racking up wars on an almost weekly basis. Pakistan, Uganda, Kenya, Jemen, Iraq, Afghanistan with Syria and Iran on the christmas wishlist. Obviously the leaders in those countries don't think that can last for ever and are preparing themselves for changes. The comments from Karzai are very telling and could be the sign of a paradigm shift on the geopol stage.
Re: Army Ranger Dies On 14th Deployment
but if war starts with Pakistan and they do actually side with them, it needs to be turned into a parking lot and the areas our military needs should be annexed. We have propped up that regime for 10 years & there has to be a steep price for betrayal..
We should've done that half a decade ago.
Re: Army Ranger Dies On 14th Deployment
The comments from Karzai are very telling and could be the sign of a paradigm shift on the geopol stage.
Putin wants to form an alliance to keep the west in check when he is prez in 2012. Even offering EU & ex Soviet states membership....
