May Now Deadliest Month In Iraq This Year

BAGHDAD -- Ten American soldiers were killed in roadside bombings and a helicopter crash on Memorial Day, the military reported Tuesday, making May the deadliest month of the year for U.S. troops in Iraq.

Three others were wounded in two incidents Monday in Iraq, military officials reported. Eight other U.S. soldiers were killed and 12 were wounded in Iraq over the preceding several days.

In other violence, five Britons were kidnapped Tuesday from an Iraqi Finance Ministry office in Baghdad, according to Britain's Foreign Office, and two car bombings killed 40 people and destroyed a Shiite mosque in the capital, police said.

And two bombings in Baghdad on Tuesday killed at least 40 people.

Eight of the deaths occurred in the restive Diyala province north of Baghdad.

Two of the soldiers were killed in a helicopter crash. It's not known if the helicopter was shot down or suffered mechanical difficulties.

Six soldiers were killed in explosions near their vehicles. Three other soldiers were wounded in the incident and were taken to a coalition forces medical treatment facility.

Deaths Cap Violent Weekend

While conducting a combat security patrol in the southern section of the Iraqi capital, two soldiers were killed when an improvised explosive device detonated Monday.

The military reported several other recent incidents.

A Task Force Lightning soldier was killed when an explosion occurred near his vehicle while conducting operations in Diyala province May 26. Two other soldiers were wounded in the incident and were taken to a coalition forces medical treatment facility.

A Marine assigned to Multinational Force West was killed May 26 while conducting combat operations in Anbar province. He was identified as Sgt. Nicholas R. Walsh, who was assigned to the 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, of Camp Pendleton, Calif.

Another soldier was killed and two others were wounded when an improvised explosive device detonated May 26. An Iraqi interpreter also was injured in the attack.

One soldier was killed and four others were wounded when an IED detonated May 26. Two soldiers have been returned to duty.

A Task Force Lightning soldier died of wounds suffered from small-arms fire while conducting operations in Baghdad province May 25. One other soldier, also wounded in the incident, was taken to a coalition forces medical treatment facility.

A Marine assigned to Multinational Force West died May 25 in a non-combat related incident in Anbar province.

An improvised explosive device killed a Multinational Corps Iraq soldier May 25 in Maqdadiyah.

A Multinational Corps Iraq soldier was killed and three were wounded in a complex attack against their military vehicle near Taji on May 25. The wounded soldiers were evacuated to the 28th Combat Support Hospital in Baghdad. Two soldiers were treated for minor injuries and returned to duty.

The names of the deceased are being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

At least 112 U.S. troops have been killed in May. And with these deaths, at least 3,462 members of the military have died since the beginning of the Iraq war in March 2003.

Bombings In Baghdad Kill 40

Two bombings in Baghdad on Tuesday have killed at least 40 people.

The first bomb hit a busy square, killing 23 people and injuring 68 others.

Witnesses said cars were riddled with shrapnel, and pushcarts were flipped upside-down.

A man who runs a clothing shop said the blast tore through a line of buses waiting at the square. He said he rushed there to see about four or five burning bodies.

Later, a bomb in a parked car exploded on a busy street in the western part of the city. Police said 17 people were killed and 55 hurt.

In other violence, three German computer consultants were kidnapped from an Iraqi Finance Ministry office near the main ministry building. Three Germans were taken by a group of gunmen wearing police commando uniforms.

Witnesses said the gunmen arrived in a huge convoy of white sport utility vehicles, which are often used by police. Police have been accused of being involved in violence in the past.

Slain Troops Identified

The Defense Department released the identities of 16 soldiers who were killed recently in the war in Iraq.

• Sgt. Clayton G. Dunn II, 22, of Moreno Valley, Calif.; Spc. Michael J. Jaurigue, 20, of Texas City, Texas; and Spc. Gregory N. Millard, 22, of San Diego, Calif., died May 26 in Salah Ad Din province, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device detonated near their vehicle. They were assigned to 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, in Fort Bragg, N.C.
• Spc. Erich S. Smallwood, 23, of Trumann, Ark., died May 26, near Balad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. He was assigned to A Company, 875th Engineer Battalion of the Arkansas Army National Guard in Marked Tree, Ark.
• Spc. Mathew P. LaForest, 21, of Austin, Texas, died May 25 in Taji, Iraq, of injuries suffered when his unit came in contact with enemy forces using small-arms fire during combat operations. He was assigned to 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, in Fort Lewis, Wash.
• Spc. Alexander Rosa Jr., 22, of Orlando, Fla., died May 25 in Muqdadiyah, Iraq, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. He was assigned to the 89th Military Police Brigade, in Fort Hood, Texas.
• Pfc. Casey P. Zylman, 22, of Coleman, Mich., died May 25 in Mosul, Iraq, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle May 24 in Tallafar, Iraq. He was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, in Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.
• Pvt. William L. Bailey III, 29, of Bellevue, Neb., died May 25, in Taji, Iraq, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. Bailey was assigned to the 755th Chemical Reconnaissance/Decontamination Company, Nebraska Army National Guard, in O'Neill, Neb.
• Sgt. 1st Class Robert E. Dunham, 36, of Baltimore, and Staff Sgt. Russell K. Shoemaker, 31, of Sweet Springs, Mo., died May 24 in Baghdad of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near their vehicle. They were assigned to 1st Brigade Transition Team, and attached to the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, in Fort Riley, Kansas.
• Sgt. Iosiwo Uruo, 27, of Agana Heights, Guam, died May 24, in Buhriz, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his unit came in contact with enemy forces using small-arms fire. He was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team), in Fort Lewis, Wash.
• Pfc. Robert H. Dembowski, 20, of Ivyland, Pa., died May 24 in Baghdad of wounds suffered when his unit came in contact with enemy forces using small-arms fire. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, in Fort Bragg, N.C.
• Staff Sgt. Steve Butcher Jr., 27, of Penfield, N.Y., and Pfc. Daniel P. Cagle, 22, of Carson, Calif., died May 23 of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near their unit in Ramadi, Iraq. Butcher died in Ramadi, while Cagle died in Balad, Iraq. They were assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, in Fort Stewart, Ga.
• Cpl. Victor H. Toledo Pulido, 22, of Hanford, Calif., and Cpl. Jonathan D. Winterbottom, 21, of Falls Church, Va., died May 23 in Nahrawan, Iraq, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near their vehicle. They were assigned to 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized), in Fort Benning, Ga.