Six Fort Bliss soldiers killed in Afghanistan honored at memorial
Six American soldiers that were killed in a single roadside bombing in Eastern Afghanistan on July 8 were honored on Wednesday in a memorial service on Fort Bliss.
Staff Sgt. Ricardo Seija, Spc. Erica P. Alecksen, Spc. Clarence Williams III, Pfc. Trevor B. Adkins, Pfc. Alejandro J. Pardo, Pfc. Cameron J. Stambaugh, died of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked their unit with an improvised explosive device. They were part of the 978th Military Police Company, all stationed at Fort Bliss. Theywere killed when their armored vehicle struck a bomb in Eastern Afghanistan.
Those honored are:
Seija, 31, of Tampa, Fla., was a Military Policeman (MOS 31B) who entered the Army January 2000. He was previously stationed at Fort Riley, Kan., Darmstadt, Germany, Fort Rucker, Ala., Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico, Camp Humphreys, Korea, and Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. His military education includes Senior, Advanced and Warrior Leaders Courses, Non-Lethal Weapons Instructors Course, Domestic Violence Intervention Training, Special Reaction Team Training, and Combat Life Savers Course. Seija’s awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Good Conduct Medal-Third Award, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon with Numeral 3, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon with Numeral 3, and the Driver and Mechanic Badge. He is survived by his spouse and one child.
Alecksen, 21, of Eatonton, Ga., was a Military Policeman (MOS 31B) who entered the Army from Atlanta, Ga., March 2010. She was previously stationed at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., and Fort Gillem, Ga. Alecksen’s awards and decorations include the National Treaty Organization Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with a Campaign Star, and the Army Service Ribbon. She is survived by her spouse.
Williams, 23, of Brooksville, Fla., was a Military Policeman (MOS 31B) who entered the Army from Tampa, Fla., March 2010. His previous assignment includes Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. His awards and decorations include the National Treaty Organization Medal, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with a Campaign Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the Army Service Ribbon.
Adkins, 21, of Spring Lake, N.C., was a Military Policeman (MOS 31B) who entered the Army August 2010. His previous assignment includes Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. His awards and decorations include the National Treaty Organization Medal and the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with a Campaign Star.
Pardo, 21, of Porterville, Calif., was a Military Policeman (MOS 31B) who entered the Army from Oakland, Calif., July 2009. His previous assignment includes Camp Walker, Korea, Yongsan, Korea, and Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. His military education includes the Combat Life Savers Course. His awards and decorations include the National Treaty Organization Medal and the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with a Campaign Star.
Stambaugh, 20, of Spring Grove, Pa., was a Military Policeman (MOS 31B) who entered the Army from Harrisburg, Pa., August 2010. His previous assignment includes Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. His awards and decorations include the National Treaty Organization Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with a Campaign Star.
Watch the full memorial service here.
