Navy Reservist Lt. Kylan Jones-Huffman, 31, was killed by an unidentified gunman on August 21, 2003 in Al Hillah, Iraq. Lt. Jones-Huffman was on temporary duty with the I Marine Expeditionary Force supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Army Sgt. Melissa Valles, 26, died on July 9, 2003 of a non-combat injury in Balad, Iraq. Sgt. Valles was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) on behalf of the B Company, 64th Forward Support Battalion in Fort Carson, Colorado. At the time of the press release, the incident was under investigation. Military officials told her mother she died from a noncombat gunshot wound to her abdomen. Sgt. Valles was the first woman soldier from Texas killed in Iraq and left behind an eight-year-old son.
Sixteen months have passed since Army Sgt. Melissa Valles gave her life for her country. Still, the pain, anger and unanswered questions persist for the Eagle Pass, Texas, native’s grieving mother and siblings. “We’re still looking for some answers. We’re still trying to find out what really happened,” said Fernando Valles Jr., one of the soldier’s two older brothers. –My Plainview
Army Lt. Col. Dominic ‘Rocky’ Baragona, 42, was killed on May 19, 2003 in Iraq (specific location not provided). A tractor-trailer jackknifed on the road and collided with Lt. Col. Baragona’s HMMWV causing his death. Baragona was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom on behalf of the 19th Maintenance Battalion at Fort Sill in Oklahoma. At the time of the press release, the incident was under investigation.
MILITARY JUSTICE FOR ALL 