It was a quiet gathering — except for the constant tolling of a church bell.
The bell, which sat on the top of the United Methodist Church in Corvalis, WA church’s front staircase, sounded exactly 999 times Sunday, February 21, 2010 to mark the number of U.S. soldiers killed in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom.
Local peace activist LoErna Simpson said the idea to toll the bell came about two weeks ago when she realized the number of U.S. soldier deaths was quickly approaching a benchmark. The ringing started at noon and ended with 999 chimes at 1:02 p.m.
U.S. Casaulties Lost February 7-18, 2010
February 7. 2010: Private 1st Class Charles A. Williams (Army, 97th Battalion, 18th Military Police Brigade) Incident: Hostile fire at Camp Nathan Smith, Kandahar, Afghanistan.
Hometown: Fair Oaks, CA; 29 years old.
February 9, 2010: Sgt. Adam J. Ray (Army, 4th Battalion, 23rd Infantrey Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Johgn Base Lewis-McChord, WA). Incident: Died in southern Afghanistan, of worunds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with a makeshift bomb.
Hometown: Louisville, KY; 23 years old.
February 13, 2010: Spc. Bobby J. Pagan (Army, 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, CO). Incident: Hostile fire, IED attack, Kandahar, Afghanistan.
Hometown: Austin, TX; 23 years old.
February 13, 2010: Staff Sergeant John A. Reiners ((Army, 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, CO). Incident: Incident: Hostile fire, IED attack, Kandahar, Afghanistan.
Hometown Lakeland, FL; 24 years old.
February 13, 2010: Cpl. Jacob H. Turbett (Marines, 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, NC). Incident: Died while supporting combat operation in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
Hometown: Canton, MI; 21 years old.
February 13, 2010: Sergeant Jeremiah T. Wittman (Army, 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, CO). Incident: Hostile fire, IED attack, Kandahar, Afghanistan.
Hometown: Carby, MT; 26 years old.
February 15, 2010: Pfc. Jason H. Estopinal (Marines, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeuine, NC). Incident: Died while supporting combat operations in Melmand province, Afghanistan.
Hometown: Dallas, GA; 21 years old.
February 16, 2010: Lance Cpl. Noah M. Pier (Marines, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Kaneohe Bay, HI). Incident: Died while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
Hometown: Charlotte, NC; 25 years old.
February 17, 2010: Petty Officer 1st Class Sean L. Caughman (Navy, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion Twenty-Two, Kuwait). Incident: Non-hostile (site of death not available).
Hometown: Fort Worth, TX; 43 years old.
February 17, 2010: Private 1st Class Eric D. Currier (Marines, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, NC). Incident: Hostile small arms fire in Helmand, Afghanistan.
Hometown: Londonderry, NH; 21 years old.
February 17, 2010: Lance Corporal Alejandro J. Yazzie (Marines, 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, CA). Incident: Hostile small arms fire in Helmand, Afghanistan.
Hometown: Rock Point (Navajo Nation), AZ; 23 years old.
February 18, 2010: Private 1st Class Kyle J. Coutu (Marines, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, NC). Incident: Hostile fire in Marjah, Helmand, Afghanistan)
Hometown: Providence, RI; 20 years old.
February 18, 2010: Lance Corporal Klelin T. Dunn (Marine, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, NC). Incident: Hostile small arms fire in Marjah, Helmand, Afghanistan.
Hometown: NA; 19 years old.
February 18, 2010: Larry M. Johnson (Rank not reported) (Marine, 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Station not yet reported). Incident: Hostile small arms fire in Marjah, Helmand, Afghanistan.
Hometown: Scanton, PA; 19 years old.
February 18, 2010: Sergeant Jeremy R. McQueary (Marine, 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, NC). Incident: Hostile small arms fire in Marjah, Helmand, Afghanistan.
Hometown: Columbus, IN; 27 years old.
