A female Lt. on her first deployment, a veteran of 14 deployments, and a young PFC on his first as well. Male, Female, young and in war years, "old".
The Special Operations community is paying a heavy price these days and this has become a difficult rotation for 2 Batt. The targets have become almost a crime scene these days and we of course are all about "Cultural Awareness" so females are now mandatory. Sadly, this Lt. paid the ultimate sacrafice.
Perhaps sexist but it still is a real punch in the gut to see this happen. I expect to see the grizzled face of SFC's or the still baby fat on the cheeks of a PFC Rangers from time to time. It's a dangerous job, and the 75th goes after the worst of the worst, in the areas others dare not go. It's typically at night, under NOD's perhaps on very little sleep or without a recent meal, in over 10 years, you have come to expect ( though the loss is no less painful) that Rangers will pay the ultimate sacrafice.
But the picture of a 24 year old female soldier, a National Guard member no less, is a bit shocking. I knew they were on target and have been for quite some time, but I guess to see one, smiling and knowing she is gone, just kind of punches me in the gut.
Rest Easy, 1LT White and Rangers Domeij and Horns. Your mission is over, you can rest now.
Jurena...out
RELEASE NUMBER: 111023-01
DATE POSTED: OCTOBER 23, 2011
PRESS RELEASE: U.S. Army Special Operations Soldiers killed in combat
U.S. Army Special Operations Command Public Affairs
FORT BRAGG, N.C. (USASOC News Service, Oct. 23, 2011)—Two U.S. Army Rangers and one Cultural Support Team member were killed in action Oct. 22, during combat operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Killed were:
1st Lt. Ashley White, 24, was assigned to the 230th Brigade Support Battalion, 30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team, North Carolina National Guard, Goldsboro, N.C., and attached to a joint special operations task force as a Cultural Support Team member.
Pvt. 1st Class Christopher A. Horns, 20, was assigned to Co. C, 2nd Bn., 75th Ranger Regiment, at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.
All three service members were killed during combat operations when their assault force triggered an improvised explosive device near Kandahar Province, Afghanistan.
1Lt. Ashley White
A native of Alliance, Ohio, White was commissioned in the U.S. Army as a Medical Service Corps Officer after receiving a commission from Kent State in 2009. White is survived by her husband Cpt. Jason Stumpf of Raeford, N.C., her parents Robert and Deborah White, twin sister Brittney and brother Josh, all of Alliance, Ohio.
“Lt. White, a member of a Cultural Support Team, played a crucial role as a member of a special operations strike force. Her efforts highlight both the importance and necessity of women on the battlefield today.”
“This Battalion mourns the tragic loss of 1st Lt. Ashley White. Ashley was an incredibly talented officer and teammate who lost her life while committed to making a difference in our effort in Afghanistan,” said Hodne. “She demonstrated a level of quiet courage that set the example for others to follow, and we will never forget her sacrifice. Her family is in our thoughts and prayers.”
SFC Kristoffer Domeij
A native of San Diego, Calif., Domeij enlisted in the U.S. Army in July, 2001 and joined the 75th Ranger Regiment in April, 2002 where he served as a Ranger Joint Terminal Attack Controller. He is survived by his wife, Sarah and daughters Mikajsa and Aaliyah of Lacey, Wash.; his mother Scoti Domeij of Colorado Springs, Colo., and his brother Kyle Domeij of San Diego, Calif. Domeij was on his 14th combat deployment in support of the War on Terror.
“Sgt. 1st Class Domeij was the prototypical special operations NCO—a technically and tactically competent Joint Terminal Attack Controller and veteran of a decade of deployments to both Iraq and Afghanistan and hundreds of combat missions. His ability to employ fire support platforms made him a game changer on the battlefield—an operator who in real terms had the value of an entire strike force on the battlefield,” said Col. Mark W. Odom, commander of the 75th Ranger Regiment.
“Sgt. 1st Class Kris Domeij will be dearly missed by the men of 2nd Ranger Bn. He was one of those men who was known by all as much for his humor, enthusiasm, and loyal friendship, as he was for his unparalleled skill and bravery under fire,” said Lt. Col. David Hodne, commander of 2nd Bn., 75th Ranger Regiment. “This was a Ranger you wanted at your side when the chips were down. He and his family are very much part of the fabric that defines 2nd Ranger Bn. He is irreplaceable…in our formation…and in our hearts.”
A native of Colorado Springs, Colo., Horns enlisted in the U.S. Army in July, 2010 and joined the 75th Ranger Regiment in March 2011 where he served as an assistant machine gunner and automatic rifleman. He is survived by his parents Larry and Tamara Horns, and his sister Tiffany of Colorado Springs, Colo. Horns was on his first deployment in support of the War on Terror.
“Ultimately Pvt. 1st Class Christopher Horns represents everything which is great about the United States. He placed his fellow Rangers, the Regiment, and his nation before everything else in life,” said Odom.
“On his first combat deployment, Pvt. 1st Class Christopher Horns demonstrated all the qualities we look for in our U.S. Army Rangers. Courageous and disciplined, he lost his life while pressing the assault in an area known for insurgent activity,” said Hodne. “He earned the universal respect of seniors and peers alike. We will honor his service and remember his sacrifice. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Horns family.”
The 75th Ranger Regiment has been continuously deployed to Afghanistan since October, 2001.
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