SGT Jacob L. Herring
28 April 2004 • Samarra, Iraq
Killed in action in Samarra. Previously wounded on February 8, 2004 — returned to duty. Awarded two Purple Hearts, the second posthumously. One of the first Stryker soldiers killed in combat.
PFC Jesse J. Martinez
Deployment 1 • Location details being verified
Killed in action during the first deployment. Additional biographical details are being gathered from unit veterans and official records.
CPL Demetrius L. Rice
Deployment 1 • Location details being verified
Killed in action during the first deployment. Additional biographical details are being gathered from unit veterans and official records.
If you served during this deployment and can provide additional details about PFC Martinez or CPL Rice, please
contact us.
May 6, 2007 — Baqubah IED • Deadliest Single Day
Six soldiers were killed when a single IED detonated near their Stryker during combat operations in Baqubah. This was one of the deadliest single incidents for any Stryker unit in the Iraq War.
SSG Vincenzo Romeo
6 May 2007 • Baqubah, Diyala Province
Killed in action by IED. Additional biographical details being gathered.
SGT Jason R. Harkins
6 May 2007 • Baqubah, Diyala Province
Killed in action by IED. Posthumously awarded the Silver Star for actions during the engagement.
SGT Joel W. Lewis
6 May 2007 • Baqubah, Diyala Province
Killed in action by IED. Additional biographical details being gathered.
CPL Matthew L. Alexander
6 May 2007 • Baqubah, Diyala Province
Age 21, of Gretna, Nebraska. Killed in action by IED.
CPL Anthony M. Bradshaw
6 May 2007 • Baqubah, Diyala Province
Age 21, of San Antonio, Texas. Killed in action by IED.
CPL Michael A. Pursel
6 May 2007 • Baqubah, Diyala Province
Killed in action by IED. Additional biographical details being gathered.
Other 2006–07 KIA
SSG Jesse Williams
8 April 2007 • Baqubah, Diyala Province
Shot in the head during combat operations. Previously wounded during the first deployment (OIF 2-3), earning his first Purple Heart on October 14, 2004. Returned for his second deployment and was killed. Awarded two Purple Hearts.
SGT Jason W. Vaughn
10 May 2007 • Baqubah, Diyala Province
Age 29, of Iuka, Mississippi. Killed when his vehicle was struck by a deep-buried IED while en route to assist another unit in direct contact. On his second tour with 5/20th Infantry, having served from 2003–2004 and again from 2006. Posthumously promoted to Sergeant.
Additional Soldiers
2006–2007 • Mosul, Baghdad, Baqubah
Additional soldiers from the 2006–07 deployment were killed in action across operations in Mosul, Baghdad, and Baqubah. Their names and details are being verified through unit records and veteran accounts. The total for this deployment is 13 KIA.
The 2006–07 deployment KIA list is not yet complete. If you can help identify soldiers not listed here, please
contact us.
SSG Todd Willis Selge
3 September 2009 • Diyala Province
Age 25, of Burnsville, Minnesota. Killed in a vehicle rollover on the same day the battalion conducted Relief in Place / Transfer of Authority — effectively the first day of the deployment. Selge was on his second deployment with 5/20th Infantry. During the first (2006–07), he was shot twice and earned a Purple Heart. He had planned to leave the Army in 2012 and return to Minnesota. Survived by his wife Dellonamarie and two sons, Dallas and Austin. Buried at Fort Snelling National Cemetery, Minneapolis.
SGT Jordan Michael Shay
3 September 2009 • Diyala Province
Age 22, of Salisbury, Massachusetts. Killed in the same vehicle rollover as SSG Selge. The vehicle fell approximately 60 feet from a bridge. Shay graduated from Amesbury High School in 2005 and enlisted in November 2006. He authored a military blog called "Through Amber Lenses." Posthumously promoted to Sergeant. Awards include the Bronze Star and Army Commendation Medal. Buried at Saint Joseph's Cemetery, Amesbury, Massachusetts. The SGT Jordan M. Shay Memorial Foundation was established in his honor.
SGT O'Bryan
2009–2010 • Diyala Province
Killed in action during the third deployment. Confirmed via unit records. Awarded the Purple Heart posthumously. Additional biographical details being gathered.
CPL Yauch
2009–2010 • Diyala Province
Killed in action during the third deployment. Confirmed via unit records. Awarded the Purple Heart posthumously. Additional biographical details being gathered.
If you served during the 2009–10 deployment and can provide additional details about SGT O'Bryan, CPL Yauch, or any other casualties from this deployment, please
contact us.
This page is incomplete. It will always be incomplete — because no list of names and dates can capture the full weight of what was lost. But the names deserve to be recorded, and the record deserves to be accurate.
If you have information, corrections, photographs, or stories about any of the soldiers listed here, please reach out to jakewalsh24@gmail.com.