FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa., Sept. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Three Pennsylvania Army
National Guard soldiers, and a fourth from the Vermont National Guard, were
killed by an improvised explosive device (IED) attack in Iraq Monday.
The soldiers were on a routine patrol when their convoy was attacked in Ar
Ramadi, Al Anbar Province, Sept. 19 around 11:30 a.m. The attack killed three
soldiers in their up-armored HMMWV and another in a Bradley Fighting Vehicle.
All soldiers were assigned to the Pennsylvania Army National Guard's 2nd
Brigade Combat Team.
Killed in the attack were Spc. William Evans, 22, Hallstead, Susquehanna
County; Sgt. Michael Egan, 36, Philadelphia; Spc. William Fernandez, 37,
Reading, Berks County; and Lt. Mark Dooley, a member of the Vermont National
Guard. Evans was in the Bradley Fighting Vehicle. Egan, Fernandez and Dooley
were in the HMMWV.
"Midge and I send our deepest sympathies to the families of these lost
patriots," said Governor Edward G. Rendell. "We, along with our fellow
citizens, mourn the loss of these National Guard soldiers."
The soldiers will be posthumously awarded the Purple Heart.
Evans was assigned to the Williamsport-based Co. B 1/109th Infantry, for
the Iraq deployment. His unit prior to deployment was the New Milford-based
Co. C 1/109th Infantry. He joined the Pennsylvania National Guard in April
2003. In his civilian capacity, Evans worked at Craige's Photique, Montrose,
Susquehanna County.
Egan was assigned to Headquarters, Headquarters Troop, 1/104th Cavalry,
Philadelphia. Egan served in the Marines from 1990 to 1999. He joined the
Pennsylvania National Guard in 2003. As a civilian Egan worked for Reliance
Electric, Philadelphia.
Fernandez was assigned to Troop B, 1/104th Cavalry, Philadelphia, for the
deployment. His unit prior to deployment was the Fort Indiantown Gap-based
Long Range Surveillance Detachment (LRSD). Fernandez recently performed extra
duty with the LRSD.
Fourteen Pennsylvania National Guard members have been killed in action
since the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Seventy-three Pennsylvania
service members have been killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
The 2nd Brigade Combat Team is comprised of more than 4,000 soldiers from
31 states. The Pennsylvania National Guard's 28th Infantry Division makes up
the largest portion with 2,100 soldiers. The team departed Camp Shelby, Miss.
in June for a one-year tour in Iraq.
CONTACT: Lt. Col. Chris Cleaver, Pennsylvania Department of Military and
Veterans Affairs, +1-717-861-8468.
SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs
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Related links:
http://www.state.pa.us
CONTACT:
Lt. Col. Chris Cleaver, Pennsylvania
Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, +1-717-861-8468
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