Free Republic

DoD Identifies Army Casualty The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Pfc. Kenneth C. Souslin, 21, of Mansfield, Ohio, died Dec. 15 at Baghdad International Airport, Iraq. Souslin died of non-combat related injuries. He was assigned to the 440th Signal Company, 22nd Signal Brigade, V Corps, Darmstadt, Germany. The incident is under investigation.

The Department of Defense approved plans for the Army to field six Stryker Brigade Combat Teams (SBCT). Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld approved an Army enhancement plan on Dec. 8 that provides for the acquisition of Stryker Brigade Combat Teams (SBCT) 5 and 6. The Army's plan focused on enhancing the aviation, fire support, network, and sensor capability of SBCTs 5 and 6, and retrofitting brigades 1 through 4 with newer technology as it becomes available. The approval gives the Army permission to begin expending funds for the new brigades’ acquisition and fielding. Rumsfeld directed the Army to prepare the...