Articles 9.30.2004

Stars & Stripes reports on the recent 2nd BCT combat fatalities of Spc. Robert Unruh and Cpt. Eric Allton. Both soldiers were assigned dangerous duties.

Spc. Unruh was a member of the 44th Engineer Battalion. According to the article: "The 44th Engineers are a combat engineer unit but, before deploying, some unit members were trained by Directorate of Public Works engineers in such tasks as basic construction, electrical work and plumbing. The new skills were expected to be put to use fixing up U.S. base camps as well as in goodwill-promoting projects with local Iraqi communities." A tribute in the Arizon Daily Star described the Combat Engineers job as "one of the most hazardous in the Army. It involves supporting front-line troops and helping them move safely across foreign territory. Duties can include locating land mines, placing and detonating explosives, and building roads, trails, bridges, bunkers and gun emplacements."

Cpt. Allton was a member of the 17 Field Artillery Regiment. According to Stars & Stripes, "Battery A was scheduled to work as an infantry company during the first four months in Iraq, officials have said, and will rotate through each role over the rest of the year. No information was immediately available Wednesday as to which battery Allton was assigned."