Articles 6.14.2005

The Colorado Springs Gazette and the Cedar Falls Courier, IA report on the circumstances surrounding the deaths of Spc. Casey Byers, of the 22th Eng Bn, and Sgt. 1st Class Neil Prince, of the 2-17th FA. The two Soldiers were in an unarmoured humvee as part of a 25-vehicle convoy "moving equipment and Soldiers" when an IED exploded, although not injuring anyone. As the convoy secured the area, two more IEDs exploded. The third explosion was right underneath their vehicle and killed the two. A third soldier, Spc. James Migues of the 224th Eng, was on foot in front of the vehicle when the explosion occured, and suffered "shrapnel and other blast injuries." Spc. Migues is receiving treatment in Germany. The attack occured in Al Taqaddum, near Habbaniyah.

According to the the Cedar Falls Courier, IA, and the Sioux City Journal, IA, and a separate Sioux City Journal article, when Spc Byers heard that the 224th Eng was being deployed, he volunteered and completed a combat engineering course in order to join the unit, transferring from an infantry unit. He enlisted in the National Guard in 1999, and had previously deployed to the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt in mid 2003 to early 2004. Spc Byers is the father of an infant girl. He was 22 years old.

According to the Baltimore Sun and BWAL News, MD, SFC Prince was traveling with the convoy to reach another unnamed city. He was born in Jamaica and moved to Baltimore when he was 10. He enlisted in the Army in 1989 after graduating from college. He was married and had a 4 year old son. SFC Prince was 35 years old.
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Other news from the region:
- Chicago Tribune: A dam in the deserts of Iraq
- Christian Science Monitor: US troops, security contractors increasingly at odds in Iraq
- USA Today: Iraqis at impasse over drafting of constitution
- Washington Post (reg req'd): Battle-Hard G.I.'s Learn To Release Their Pain - Team Helps Soldiers Beat Trauma