10th Mountain Division Patch

Fort Drum, New York

Home of the 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry)

 

April 3, 2007

Release # 0704-07

By PAO

NEWS RELEASE: Four 10th Mountain Division Soldiers killed in Baghdad IED attack April 1

FORT DRUM – Four Soldiers from 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, were killed in Iraq when their vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device April 1.

Staff Sgt. David A. Mejias, Staff Sgt. Eric R. Vick, Sgt. William G. Bowling and Sgt. Robert M. McDowell were all assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division.

The Soldiers of the Commando Brigade deployed to Iraq in support Operation Iraqi Freedom in August 2006.


Staff Sgt. David A. Mejias

Staff Sgt. David A. Mejias, 26, was a military police noncommissioned officer assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Brigade Special Troops Battalion.

A native of San Juan, Puerto Rico, Mejias enlisted in the Army in October 2001 and trained at Fort Sill, Okla., to be an artilleryman.

In March 2002, he was assigned to 1st Battalion, 6th Field Artillery at Warner Barracks, Germany. He was reassigned to Fort Drum in March 2006.

While assigned to Germany, he deployed to Yugoslavia from November to December 2002.

Mejias' military education includes the Warrior Leader Course, Unit Armorer Course and the Combat Lifesaver Course.

His awards and decorations include the Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Valorous Unit Award, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Kosovo Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Combat Action Badge and the Driver Badge.

He is survived by his wife and daughter, of Fort Drum, and his parent, who live in Puerto Rico.


Staff Sgt. Eric R. Vick

Staff Sgt. Eric R. Vick, 25, was a military police noncommissioned officer assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Brigade Special Troops Battalion.

Vick, from Spring Hope, N.C., enlisted in the Army in February 2002 and trained at Fort Benning, Ga., to be an infantryman. His first assignment was with 2nd Battalion, 325th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, N.C.

In November 2005, he was reassigned to Fort Drum to serve with 2nd Brigade Combat Team.

His military education includes the Hazardous Materials Transportation Course, Warrior Leader Course, Combatatives Level 2 Course, Combat Lifesaver Course and the Basic Airborne Course.

Vick previously deployed to Iraq from March 2003 to April 2004 and then again from November 2004 to May 2005.

His awards and decorations include the Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Presidential Unit Citation Award, Valorous Unit Award, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge and the Parachutist Badge.

He is survived by his wife, parents and brother.


Sgt. William G. Bowling

Sgt. William G. Bowling, 24, was a military police noncommissioned officer assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Brigade Special Troops Battalion.

The Beattyville, Ky., native joined the Army in March 2003 and trained at Fort Benning, Ga., to be an infantryman. He was assigned to Fort Drum in September 2003.

Bowling's awards and decorations include the Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon and the Combat Action Badge.

He is survived by his wife, daughter and parents.


Sgt. Robert M. McDowell

Sgt. Robert M. McDowell, 30, was a military police noncommissioned officer assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Brigade Special Troops Battalion.

Originally from Deer Park, Texas, he joined the Army in February 1998 and completed training at Fort Benning, Ga.

In June 1998 he was assigned to Fort Hood where he served until being reassigned to 1st Battalion, 1st Aviation Regiment at Katterbach Kaserne in Germany in January 2003. While a member of 1st Infantry Division, he served as an AH-64 Apache Attack Helicopter repairman.

McDowell was assigned to Fort Drum in March 2006 after completing military police reclassification training at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.

He was deployed to Bosnia Herzegovina from February to September 1999.

His awards and decorations include the Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Valorous Unit Award, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Kosovo Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Combat Action Badge and the Army Aviator Badge.

He is survived by his wife and son, of Evans Mills, N.Y., and a daughter, Madison McDowell, of New Mexico.

 

Sgt. William G. Bowling a military police noncommissioned officer assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, was killed in Iraq when his vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device April 1. Sgt. William G. Bowling a military police noncommissioned officer assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, was killed in Iraq when his vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device April 1.
Sgt. Robert M. McDowell a military police noncommissioned officer assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, was killed in Iraq when his vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device April 1. Sgt. Robert M. McDowell a military police noncommissioned officer assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, was killed in Iraq when his vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device April 1.
Staff Sgt. David A. Mejias, a military police noncommissioned officer assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, was killed in Iraq when his vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device April 1. Staff Sgt. David A. Mejias, a military police noncommissioned officer assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, was killed in Iraq when his vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device April 1.
Staff Sgt. Eric R. Vick a military police noncommissioned officer assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, was killed in Iraq when his vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device April 1. Staff Sgt. Eric R. Vick a military police noncommissioned officer assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, was killed in Iraq when his vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device April 1.

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