Florida Newsmakers of the Year
Military - Florida's Fallen Soldiers 2010
Florida's Fallen Soldiers
• FLORIDA'S FALLEN SOLDIERS
A Navy carry team takes a transfer case containing the remains of Seaman William F. Ortega at Dover Air Force Base, Del. Ortega died on June 18. [Photo: Steve Ruark/AP] |
For the second year, our Floridian of the Year issue includes soldiers who have died in action. In 2009, 28 Floridians were killed as a result of the wars in Iraq or Afghanistan — including Staff Sgt. Dennis J. Hansen, 31, from Panama City, who died Dec. 7, 2009, in Afghanistan after we went to press. In 2010, the number, as of Dec. 1, was 26. The most common causes: Small-arms fire attacks by Afghan insurgents and makeshift bombs. In fact, with much of the military's focus shifting from Iraq to Afghanistan last year, 22 of the soldiers died as a result of injuries in that war, compared to four in Iraq.
In chronological order based on when they died, here are Florida's 2010 war dead.
| Spec. David A. Croft Jr. |  |
|
Age: 22 Hometown: Plant City Died: Jan. 5 War: Iraq |
| Sgt. Daniel M. Angus |  |
Age: 28 Hometown: Thonotosassa Died: Jan. 24 War: Afghanistan |
| Staff Sgt. John A. Reiners |  |
Age: 24 Hometown: Lakeland Died: Feb. 13 War: Afghanistan |
| Cpl. Jonathan D. Porto |  |
Age: 26 Hometown: Largo Died: March 14 War: Afghanistan |
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