2 Texans, 1 Fort Hood soldier dead in Afghanistan

WASHINGTON -- Two Texans and a 23-year-old Fort Hood soldier from Michigan have died in separate enemy actions in Afghanistan.

A Pentagon statement issued Thursday says 24-year-old Army Sgt. Fernando Delarosa of Alamo, Texas, was one of seven U.S. soldiers killed in an attack on their vehicle. The incident happened Tuesday in the Arghandab Valley of southern Afghanistan.

Others killed by the improvised roadside bomb were 27-year-old Staff Sgt. Luis M. Gonzalez of South Ozone Park, N.Y.; 29-year-old Sgt. Dale R. Griffin of Terre Haute (TEHR'-uh HAHT), Ind.; 27-year-old Sgt. Isaac B. Jackson of Plattsburg, Mo.; 24-year-old Patrick O. Williamson of Broussard, La.; 22-year-old Spc. Jared D. Stanker of Evergreen Park. Ill; and 25-year-old Pfc. Christopher I. Walz of Vancouver, Wash. All were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.

Another Pentagon statement issued Thursday says 21-year-old Marine Lance Cpl. Cody R. Stanley of Rosanky, Texas, died Thursday in combat in Helmand province of southern Afghanistan. As customary, the Marine Corps released no other details of his death. Stanley was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif.

According to another Pentagon statement issued Thursday says Army Spc. Brandon K. Steffey of Sault (SOO) Sainte Marie, Mich., died Sunday when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised bomb.

The Army says Steffey was assigned to the 178th Military Police Detachment, 89th Military Police Brigade, III Corps, Fort Hood, Texas.