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Journalist @baltimoresun writer artist runner #amwriting Chaplain PIO #partylikeajournalist
Journalist @baltimoresun writer artist runner #amwriting Md Troopers Assoc #20 & Westminster Md Fire Dept Chaplain PIO #partylikeajournalist
Showing posts with label Military ISAF. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Military ISAF. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Maryland Senate Session Adjourned in Memory of Airman 1st Class Matthew Seidler


Maryland Senate Session Adjourned in Memory of Airman 1st Class Matthew Seidler - Marylanders for Joe Getty January 18, 2012

Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown, U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin and I attended the funeral yesterday for Airman 1st Class Matthew Seidler. In our official capacities, we offered condolences from all Maryland citizens to the family for their loss.

Today, at the end of the Senate legislative session, I moved that the Senate adjourn in memory of Airman 1st Class Seidler as a tribute to this Maryland Fallen Hero.

Seidler was 24-years-old and lived in Westminster where he graduated from Westminster High School in 2006.

When he joined the Air Force, he was accepted into the elite EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) unit. He was well-aware of the dangers he faced - the EOD personnel comprise only 1% of the Air Force but suffer 25% of the casualties.

On January 5, 2012, Seidler was part of a military convey of 27 vehicles engaged in hostile combat operations in the Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Earlier that day, his unit had defused two IEDs (improvised explosive devices) so that the convoy could continue its maneuvers. Tragically, his truck was hit by a third IED that killed Seidler and two other airmen.

The article by Kevin Dayhoff of the Carroll Eagle does an excellent job of capturing the outpouring of emotion and the honor and dignity given to this local hero during the funeral at Sol Levinson's & Bros. in Reisterstown. (click here)

Please keep the family of Airman 1st Class Matthew Seidler in your prayers.



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Military, Military Air Force, Military Department of Defense, Military Fallen Hero, Military Fallen Hero Carroll Co, Military ISAF, World Middle East Afghanistan, Dayhoff Media Explore Carroll, MD Gen Assembly Senate, People Getty-Joe Getty, People Cardin Ben, People Brown Anthony,

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A Day in the Life of Air Force EOD in Iraq

From Air Force News Service, Apr 21 2011 by Airman 1st Class Kara Philp, 332 Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

Retrieved January 17, 2012



TALLIL AIR BASE, Iraq -- Some might call a bomb squad living in a bunker ironic; the 332nd Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron’s explosive ordnance disposal flight airmen here call it practical.

The EOD airmen are on alert 24-hours a day, seven days a week, and respond to an average of 25 to 30 calls each week… http://usmilitary.about.com/cs/airforce/a/afeodiraq.htm



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Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Friends, family celebrate life of Westminster airman killed in Afghanistan

Friends, family celebrate life of Westminster airman killed in Afghanistan

By Kevin Dayhoff www.explorecarroll.com

In memory of Airman 1st Class Matthew Ryan Seidler, a Westminster airman and 2006 graduate of Westminster High School. http://tinyurl.com/7kh8kft http://twitpic.com/88ila3

More than 500 friends, family and neighbors braved gray skies and a steady drizzle on Tuesday to pay final respects to Airman 1st Class Matthew Ryan Seidler, a Westminster man killed in Afghanistan on Jan. 5.

Seidler was killed Jan. 5 from injuries suffered from an improvised explosive device attack during a combat operation in volatile enemy territory in Shir ghazi, Helmand province, southern Afghanistan. He had been assigned to the 21st Civil Engineer Squadron, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. He was one of three service members who died in the attack.

Friends, family celebrate life of Matthew Seidler, Westminster airman killed in Afghanistan http://www.baltimoresun.com/explore/carroll/news/ph-ce-seidler-funeral-0122-20120117,0,4197577.story



See also: Kevin Dayhoff, Carroll Eagle and Steve Kilar, Baltimore Sun: Westminster airman killed by explosive device in Afghanistan - baltimoresun.com:

January 12, 2012


"Funeral services are scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 17, for a Westminster airman who was killed Jan. 5 from injuries suffered from an improvised explosive device attack on Jan. 5 in Shir ghazi, Helmand province, southern Afghanistan.

Airman 1st Class Matthew Seidler, 24, of Westminster, had been assigned to the 21st Civil Engineer Squadron, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. He was one of three service members who died in the attack.

Also killed were Senior Airman Bryan Bell, 23, of Erie, Pa., who had been assigned to the 2nd Civil Engineer Squadron, Barksdale Air Force Base, La., and Tech. Sgt. Matthew Schwartz, 34, of Traverse City, Mich., from the 90th Civil Engineer Squadron, FE Warren Air Force Base, Wyo." ... http://www.baltimoresun.com/explore/carroll/news/community/ph-ce-seidler-service-0115-20120112,0,5367833.story?track=rss&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter


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In memory Afc Matthew R Seidler, KIA Afghanistan, a Westminster airman & 2006 grad Westminster High Sch http://tinyurl.com/7kh8kft

In memory Afc Matthew R Seidler EOD KIA Afghanistan 2006 grad Westminster High Sch http://tinyurl.com/7kh8kft http://twitpic.com/88ila3


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Thursday, January 12, 2012

Westminster airman killed by explosive device in Afghanistan - baltimoresun.com

Kevin Dayhoff, Carroll Eagle and Steve Kilar, Baltimore Sun:

Westminster airman killed by explosive device in Afghanistan - baltimoresun.com:


"Funeral services are scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 17, for a Westminster airman who was killed Jan. 5 from injuries suffered from an improvised explosive device attack on Jan. 5 in Shir ghazi, Helmand province, southern Afghanistan.

Airman 1st Class Matthew Seidler, 24, of Westminster, had been assigned to the 21st Civil Engineer Squadron, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. He was one of three service members who died in the attack.

Also killed were Senior Airman Bryan Bell, 23, of Erie, Pa., who had been assigned to the 2nd Civil Engineer Squadron, Barksdale Air Force Base, La., and Tech. Sgt. Matthew Schwartz, 34, of Traverse City, Mich., from the 90th Civil Engineer Squadron, FE Warren Air Force Base, Wyo." ... http://www.baltimoresun.com/explore/carroll/news/community/ph-ce-seidler-service-0115-20120112,0,5367833.story?track=rss&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Monday, January 09, 2012

Airman from Westminster is killed in Afghanistan By Steve Kilar, The Baltimore Sun


Airman from Westminster is killed in Afghanistan


January 07, 2012|By Steve Kilar, The Baltimore Sun

A 24-year-old airman from Westminster was killed when an improvised explosive device hit his vehicle in Afghanistan, the Defense Department said Saturday.

Airman 1st Class Matthew R. Seidler died Thursday in the attack, which killed two other airmen. They were patrolling in Helmand, a southwestern province that remains a Taliban stronghold.

"When he joined the Air Force, he blossomed. He became himself," said a cousin, Kalyn Masek, who last communicated with Seidler on Tuesday, his birthday. "I was really, really proud of him and the man that he'd become."

Seidler, an explosive ordnance disposal technician, entered active duty in November 2009. He was assigned to the 21st Civil Engineer Squadron at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado.

"He loved what he did" for the military, said Masek, who was surprised when Seidler told her that he was joining the Air Force. Being involved in the disarmament of explosives fed his intellect, she said, and excited him in a way that prior false starts in his professional life had not.

Seidler graduated from Westminster Senior High School in 2006. He took classes for a year in business administration at Stevenson University and then started in a multimedia design program at Carroll Community College before deciding to join the military.

"He was extremely smart," said longtime friend Bryan Vana, who'd known Seidler since middle school. Vana said … http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2012-01-07/news/bs-md-ca-airman-killed-20120107_1_seidler-explosive-ordnance-disposal-technician-airman



[20120107 Kilar Airman from Westminster is killed]

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Saturday, January 07, 2012

Westminster airman killed by explosive device in Afghanistan

Westminster airman killed by explosive device in Afghanistan

Kevin Dayhoff - ExploreCarroll.com: Westminster airman killed by explosive device in Afghanistan By Kevin Dayhoff January 7, 2012 | 6:18 p.m.

A Westminster airman was one of three service members who died from injuries suffered from an improvised explosive device attack on Jan. 5 in Shir ghazi, Helmand province, southern Afghanistan.

Airman 1st Class Matthew Seidler, 24, of Westminster, had been assigned to the 21st Civil Engineer Squadron, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo.



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Westminster Maryland Online: Three airmen killed in Afghanistan by an improvised explosive device on January 5

Westminster Maryland Online: A Westminster service member, Airman 1st Class Mat...: Three airmen killed in Afghanistan by an improvised explosive device on January 5 A Westminster service member, Airman 1st Class Mat...

Three airmen killed in Afghanistan by an improvised explosive device on January 5

A Westminster service member, Airman 1st Class Matthew R. Seidler, is one of the three killed in Afghanistan by an improvised explosive device on January 5

 
24-year-old USAF Airman 1st Class Matthew R. Seidler, from Westminster, Maryland was one of three Air Force servicemen killed in action on 5th January 2012 when their vehicle struck an insurgent bomb in Shir Ghazi, Helmand. (Photo courtesy: http://oefkia.blogspot.com)

Westminster, Md. - The Pentagon announced earlier today that a Westminster airman was one of three servicemembers who died supporting Operation Enduring Freedom on Jan. 5 in Shir ghazi, Helmand province, Afghanistan.

Airman 1st Class Matthew R. Seidler, 24, of Westminster, Md had been assigned to the 21st Civil Engineer Squadron, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo.

Also killed in the attack were Senior Airman Bryan R. Bell, 23, of Erie, Pa., who had been assigned to the 2nd Civil Engineer Squadron, Barksdale Air Force Base, La. and Tech. Sgt. Matthew S. Schwartz, 34, of Traverse City, Mich. from the 90th Civil Engineer Squadron, FE Warren Air Force Base, Wyo.


According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, “The Erie Times News reported that Airman Bell joined the U.S. Air Force in 2006 and served a tour of duty in Iraq. As an explosive-ordnance disposal technician, his main job was to clear routes with two other servicemen in an armored vehicle, his father Rick Bell of Harborcreek told the newspaper.

“Airman Bell last visited his dad over the summer, before his deployment to Afghanistan, and said he was still excited about his dangerous job, which gained notoriety with the Academy Award-winning movie ‘The Hurt Locker,’ which won the Academy Award for best picture in 2009.”

The website, Fallen Heroes Afghanistan - http://oefkia.blogspot.com - reports, “Sr. Airman Bell, a bomb-disposal technician serving with the 2nd Civil Engineer Squadron, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, was a volunteer firefighter. He graduated from Harbor Creek High School in 2006 and joined the Air Force the same year. He leaves behind his father, mother, wife and sister.” (Photo courtesy: http://oefkia.blogspot.com)

Fallen heroes Afghanistan reports, “Sgt. Schwartz was a bomb-disposal technician serving with the 90th Civil Engineer Squadron, FE Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming. His family told local news that this was his sixth combat mission and that he had also served in Iraq. He had served in the US Air Force for 12 years. Sgt. Schwartz leaves his wife, Jenny, and three daughters.” (Photo courtesy: http://oefkia.blogspot.com)

Seidler was one of eight of NATO’s US-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) soldiers who have died in a series of recent attacks in southern and eastern Afghanistan, say military officials.

In accordance with ISAF policy, no further details were released. According to iCasualties.org, at least 566 NATO troops were killed in Afghanistan in 2011; including 418 from the US and 46 from the United Kingdom.

An Afghanistan International Security Assistance Force casualty report from Kabul, Afghanistan on Thursday, January 5, said, “Three International Security Assistance Force service members died following an improvised explosive device attack in southern Afghanistan today.

“It is ISAF policy to defer casualty identification procedures to the relevant national authorities…”

In related news, in an “ISAF Joint Command morning operational update - January 6, 2012… South: In Nahr-e Saraj district, Helmand province, a coalition security force discovered a cache of improvised explosive device materials during a routine patrol yesterday. The security force confiscated 50 various IED components from the scene to be destroyed at a later date.

An Afghan and coalition security force captured a Taliban leader during an operation in Nahr-e Saraj district, Helmand province, today. The leader constructed roadside bombs and trained insurgent fighters for attacks against coalition forces. Two additional suspected insurgents were detained during the operation.

“East: In Sabari district, Khost province, an Afghan and coalition security force captured a Haqqani leader during an operation today. The leader procured weapons for insurgent fighters and conducted roadside bomb attacks. The security force seized weapons, bomb making materials and detained multiple insurgents during the operation.”

The news that a Westminster area service member had been killed in Afghanistan had started circulating on Friday. However it is usually best to wait to report upon such information until the Pentagon releases the information – after the Department of Defense has notified all family members and appropriate personnel…

Approximately 140,000 NATO military personnel – including about 100,000 from the United States - are currently fighting in the ten-year war against the Taliban-led insurgency against the NATO-backed government of President Hamid Karzai in Afghanistan.

No further details on the deaths of, or funeral arrangements for Seidler, Bell or Schwartz are available at the moment.

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 Kevin Dayhoff is an artist - and a columnist for Patuxent Publishing Co., The Carroll Eagle: www.explorecarroll.com: http://www.explorecarroll.com/search/?s=Dayhoff&action=GO Soundtrack: http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/ = http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/ or http://kevindayhoffart.com/ = http://www.kevindayhoff.com/ Kevin Dayhoff Westminster: http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/ or http://www.westgov.net/ = www.kevindayhoff.org Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevindayhoff Twitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff Kevin Dayhoff's The New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/ = www.newbedfordherald.net  The Tentacle: www.thetentacle.com http://www.thetentacle.com/author.cfm?MyAuthor=41 Tumblr: Kevin Dayhoff Banana Stems www.kevindayhoff.tumblr.com/ Smurfs: http://babylonfluckjudd.blogspot.com/ Google profile: https://profiles.google.com/kevindayhoff/ Westminster Patch: http://westminster.patch.com/search?keywords=Dayhoff E-mail: kevindayhoff(at)gmail.com BEST VIEWED IN Chrome My http://www.explorecarroll.com/ columns appear in the copy of the Baltimore Sunday Sun that is distributed in Carroll County: https://subscribe.baltsun.com/Circulation/

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