2 Calif. Soldiers Killed In Suicide Attack In Afghanistan
FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. (AP) -- Six American soldiers killed in a suicide attack in Afghanistan were named by the U.S. military Tuesday as members of the 101st Airborne Division based at Fort Campbell.
The soldiers died Sunday when an explosives-packed minibus blew up at the entrance of a joint NATO-Afghan base in Kandahar province. It was the deadliest attack on coalition troops this month and the latest loss for the 101st, which has fielded soldiers this year in two of Afghanistan's most violent regions, the south and the east.
The Department of Defense named the men as Cpl. Sean M. Collins, 25, of Ewa Beach, Hawaii; Cpl. Willie A. McLawhorn Jr., 23, of Conway, N.C.; Spc. Patrick D. Deans, 22, of Orlando, Fla.; Spc. Kenneth E. Necochea Jr., 21, of San Diego, Calif.; Spc. Derek T. Simonetta, 21, of Redwood City, Calif.; and Spc. Jorge E. Villacis, 24, of Sunrise, Fla.
The army planned a video news conference at Fort Campbell on Tuesday to discuss the attack. NATO spokesman Brig. Gen. Josef Blotz said Monday several suspects had been arrested in Afghanistan for the bombing.
The attack came less than a month after six Fort Campbell solders were shot and killed by a lone gunman from the Afghan Border Police during a training mission in Nangahar province.
It also came just days ahead of a major White House review of its Afghan strategy, following President Barack Obama's decision last year to send 30,000 reinforcements in a bid to reverse gains by the Taliban since they were ousted from power in the 2001 U.S.-led invasion.
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