Officials Identify Recent Afghanistan, Iraq Casualties

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, March 2, 2006 – Defense Department officials have announced the identities of six Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom soldiers who died in recent days.

• Army Master Sgt. Emigdio E. Elizarraras, 37, of Pico Rivera, Calif., died in Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan, on Feb. 28 when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Humvee during a reconnaissance mission. Elizarraras was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, N.C.
• Army Staff Sgt. Christopher J. Schornak, 28, of Hoover, Ala., died in Baghdad on Feb. 26 when his dismounted patrol was engaged by enemy forces using small-arms fire. Schornak was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.
• Army Spcs. Clay P. Farr, 21, of Bakersfield, Calif.; and Joshua U. Humble, 21, of Appleton, Maine, died in Baghdad on Feb. 26 when an improvised explosive device detonated near their Humvee. Both soldiers were assigned to the 1st Squadron, 71st Cavalry, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division of Fort Drum, N.Y.
• Army Sgt. Dimitri Muscat, 21, of Aurora, Colo., died in Balad, Iraq, on Feb. 24 of non-combat related injuries suffered earlier that day in Samarra, Iraq. Muscat was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.
• Army Pvt. Joshua F. Powers, 21, of Skiatook, Okla., died in Baghdad on Feb. 24 from a non-combat related injury. Powers was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Ky.

  (Compiled from Defense Department news releases.)