OIA PRESS RELEASE

Two Guam soldiers killed, 1 seriously injured in Afghanistan

Casualties: Specialist Samson A. Mora and Sergeant Brian S. Leon Guerrero. Injured: Specialist Kalani Echang Credit: KUAM News

July 11, 2008 - As reported by DoD and KUAM News in Guam, two Guam Army National Guard members were killed in action while on deployment in Afghanistan while another Guam soldier was seriously injured. The Guam Army National Guard identified the two casualties as 34-year-old Sergeant Brian S. Leon Guerrero of Tamuning and 28-year-old Specialist Samson A. Mora from Dededo. The two died on July 10 from injuries sustained after their vehicle struck an improvised explosive device in Babo Kheyl, Afghanistan. The third Guard member, 25-year-old Specialist Kalani Echang from Mangilao, was seriously injured from the incident.  All three soldiers were assigned to the  294th Infantry Regiment, Guam Army National Guard, Barrigada, Guam.

A statement was issued late this afternoon by Major General Donald Goldhorn the Adjutant General for the Guam National Guard quote, ""I, my wife Jan, and the entire Guard family are deeply saddened by the loss of SGT Leon Guerrero and SPC Mora, and the injury to SPC Echang. We have mobilized our support teams to ensure that we take care of the needs of the families of our fallen and injured Soldiers immediately."

The Soldiers are members of 3rd Platoon, A Company, 1/294th Infantry Battalion that deployed to Afghanistan in January of this year in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.  Guerrero and Mora bring the number of casualties from Guam to 14 since the beginning of the War on Terror.

The Department of the Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs honors the brave men and women of the insular areas who offer up the ultimate sacrifice in the War on Terror and is also appreciative and proud to recognize all who serve or have served in all branches of the United States Armed Forces.