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DoD Identifies Army Casualties

The Department of Defense announced today the death of five soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

They died June 9, in Gaza Village, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered while engaged in a combat operation. The incident is under investigation.

Killed were:

Staff Sgt. Scott R. Studenmund, 24, of Pasadena, California;

Staff Sgt. Jason A. McDonald, 28, of Butler, Georgia;

Spc. Justin R. Helton, 25, of Beaver, Ohio;

Cpl. Justin R. Clouse, 22, of Sprague, Washington; and

Pvt. 2nd Class Aaron S. Toppen, 19, of Mokena, Illinois.


Staff Sgt. Studenmund and Staff Sgt. McDonald were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group, Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Spc. Helton was assigned to the 18th Ordnance Company, 192nd Ordnance Battalion, 52nd Ordnance Group, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Cpl. Clouse and Pvt. 2nd Class Toppen were assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colorado.

For more information regarding Staff Sgt. Studenmund and Staff Sgt. McDonald, media may contact the U.S. Army Special Forces Command public affairs office during duty hours at 910-908-3947 or after duty hours at 910-689-6187. For more information regarding Spc. Helton, media may contact the 20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives (CBRNE) public affairs office during duty hours at 410-436-3433 or after duty hours at 410-436-6200. For more information regarding Cpl. Clouse and Pvt. 2nd Class Toppen, media may contact the Fort Carson public affairs office during duty hours at 719-526-4143 or after duty hours at 719-526-5500 and ask for the on-duty public affairs officer.

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Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you: 1. Jesus Christ 2. The American G.I. One died for your soul, and the other for your Freedom.

Ride In Peace, JonD, Debbie, Mike, Irish, Kat, Ron, Wheelmaster and Chgo Jim.

Our sincere condolences to the family and friends of PV2 Aaron S. Toppen. May God help you though this difficult time and sorrow. Know your loved one is a Hero to us all and will never be forgotten. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

Rest Safely and Securely in God's Loving Arms, Aaron.

Going home, going home,
I'm just going home.
Quiet-like, slip away-
I'll be going home.
It's not far, just close by;
Jesus is the Door;
Work all done, laid aside,
Fear and grief no more.
Friends are there, waiting now.
He is waiting, too.
See His smile! See His hand!
He will lead me through.

http://lnwbooks.com/data/mp3/15.mp3

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Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you: 1. Jesus Christ 2. The American G.I. One died for your soul, and the other for your Freedom.

Ride In Peace, JonD, Debbie, Mike, Irish, Kat, Ron, Wheelmaster and Chgo Jim.

Rest In Peace. My prayers and sincere condolences to the family and friends of Aaron. You will NEVER BE FORGOTTEN.

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In Memory of all those we lost on 9/11/2001

In honor of:
My son SFC US Army 82nd ABN, active duty 2 tours in Afghanistan
My father Cold War Vet. SGT US Army 8th Division 28th Infantry stationed in Germany
All those who protect this great nation

My family and I wish to express our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Pv2. Aaron S. Toppen. You are now and will forever be in our thoughts and prayers. The world is a smaller place today without him.

We hope that somehow you will find peace.

Aaron, stand down, you have done your duty in this life, carry on to the next.

Rest in Peace and God Bless.

My family and I express our sincere condolences to the family and friends of Aaron.

He stood for our country. Aaron S. Toppen was a hero.

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Thank and recognize those that serve our country for our freedom comes at a high price.

Our sincere condolences to the family and friends of PV2 Aaron S. Toppen
You will never be forgotten. Rest in Peace Hero

My thoughts and prayers to the family and friends of PFC AARON S TOPPEN, you are an American hero! May you rest in peace, you are not forgotten!

MY FAMILY AND I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER OUR
PRAYERS AND SINCERE CONDLOENCES TO THE
FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF AARON.

Robert L. Smith, Jr.

In honor of my Brother, Jon Dreymann and my Sister Deb.

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The moon gives you light,
And the bugles and the drums give you music;
And my heart, O my soldiers, my veterans,
My heart gives you love.

Walt Whitman-Drum Taps