Greater Orange News Service

Metro TALK
A community service of the Greater Orange Communities Organization

Orange resident Pfc. Brandon A. Meyer was among five American soldiers killed this Monday (1/28) in a complex attack in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul. Meyer was 20 years old and grew up in Canyon, Texas where he graduated from Canyon High School (Canyon, TX) in 2005. He had been in the Army for a little more than a year, joining on Jan. 18, 2007. He was in the 3rd Brigade Combat Team since June 2007. He would have turned 21 this Saturday February 2nd. His wife Catlin is reported to live in Orange. Meyer and the other soldiers killed were assigned to the 1st Battalion 8th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team from Fort Carson, Colorado. The other men in the unit also killed with Meyer were:
• Sgt. James E. Craig, 26, of Hollywood, Calif.

• Staff Sgt. Gary W. Jeffries, 37, of Roscoe, Texas.

• Spc. Evan A. Marshall, 21, of Athens, Ga.

• Pvt. Joshua A. R. Young, 21, of Riddle, Ore.

A Fort Carson spokesperson stated their deaths bring to 232 the total number of Fort Carson soldiers killed in Iraq. The bombing equaled the deadliest for Fort Carson soldiers since the current Iraq campaign began.

Mosel is one of al-Qaida in Iraq's last strongholds, the attack on Meyer’s unit came just days after a house explosion and suicide attack killed as many as 60 people there. U.S. military spokeswoman in northern Iraq, Maj. Peggy Kageleiry said the soldiers came under small arms fire and were hit by a roadside bomb during convoy operations in Mosel, which is the capital of Ninevah province. Iraqi police in the provincial capital reported that clashes had erupted in a middle-class Sunni neighborhood believed to be an insurgent stronghold. Reports from the area included information about three civilians being wounded and helicopters bombarded buildings in the southeastern Sumar neighborhood of Mosel, which has seen frequent attacks on U.S. and Iraqi forces.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger released the following statement regarding the death of Pfc. Brandon A. Meyer when he ordered flags at the State Capitol building flown at half mast:
"Private First Class Brandon Meyer devoted himself to serving his country with honor, bravery and integrity. His selfless commitment to the United States will never be forgotten by the people of California. Maria and I extend our thoughts and prayers to Brandon's family, friends and fellow soldiers during this difficult time."

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