alexlannin
06-05-2005, 01:06 PM
Dual blasts seriously injure two of the Guardsmen, from Eugene and Portland, in an attack on their convoy in Iraq
Sunday, June 05, 2005
MIKE FRANCIS and ANNE SAKER
Ten members of the Oregon National Guard were wounded, two seriously, when their three-Humvee convoy was hit by two roadside bombs early Friday near Kirkuk, Iraq.
Sgt. Johan Christian Bagge, 23, of Eugene and 2nd Lt. Timothy Bomke, 29, of Portland were flown to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany. Bomke suffered heavy shrapnel injuries to his legs. Bagge's cousin said Saturday evening that doctors had amputated his left foot and a portion of his right leg, but were able to save his wounded arm.
"He's in good spirits," said Lorraine Bagge of Salem. She said her mother had spoken to Christian Bagge's mother, who said her son would be flown to a military hospital in Texas within a few days.
Eight other soldiers were treated for less serious wounds and returned to duty, Oregon Military Department spokesman Capt. Mike Braibish said Saturday. Their names and the nature of their injuries weren't available Saturday evening.
The convoy was returning to Forward Operating Base Warrior from an early morning mission to check a road for explosives that might have been planted overnight. Braibish said a bomb exploded and disabled the first of the three Humvees, and when the other two Humvees pulled up to provide security, a second bomb damaged the third Humvee.
The attack occurred during a wave of violence that has swept Iraq, including the Kirkuk region, in the past several days. The BBC counts the death toll at more than 800, including U.S. service members, since the new Iraqi government took office April 28. A Kirkuk city councilman was gunned down as he left a mosque Friday.
Kirkuk is a strategically important city because it is a regional oil capital ringed by refineries. It is politically important because it is on the southern edge of Kurdistan and is a place where Kurds, Sunni Arabs, Turkmen and some Christians live. It has been relatively peaceful, even after the invasion of Iraq by coalition forces, but has seen increasing violence in recent weeks.
The convoy's soldiers are members of Ontario-based Alpha Company, which is part of the La Grande-based 3rd Battalion, 116th Cavalry. Bomke was the officer in charge of a platoon that has responsibility for a zone south of Kirkuk that includes the town of Laylan.
Braibish said the explosions occurred around 4:20 a.m. Friday in Iraq, or about 5:20 p.m. Thursday Portland time. Guard officials notified family members before releasing the information Saturday.
Bomke's father, Lawrence, said from his home in Redlands, Calif., that he and Bomke's mother, Kathleen, spoke to Bomke on Saturday morning.
"He's doing pretty good, but he's in a lot of pain," Lawrence Bomke said. He said his son expects to be moved to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., today.
"Anyone would be proud to have him for a son," he said. "He had about 50 men in his unit, and he always told them from the very beginning that he was going to bring them all home safely. We're so thankful to God that he wasn't killed or injured more seriously."
Lorraine Bagge said her cousin had gotten married when he came home on leave, about two months ago. Bomke had gotten married just before deploying to Iraq.
Mike Francis: 503-412-7014; mikefrancis@news.oregonian.com Anne Saker: 503-294-7656; annesaker@news.oregonian.com
Sunday, June 05, 2005
MIKE FRANCIS and ANNE SAKER
Ten members of the Oregon National Guard were wounded, two seriously, when their three-Humvee convoy was hit by two roadside bombs early Friday near Kirkuk, Iraq.
Sgt. Johan Christian Bagge, 23, of Eugene and 2nd Lt. Timothy Bomke, 29, of Portland were flown to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany. Bomke suffered heavy shrapnel injuries to his legs. Bagge's cousin said Saturday evening that doctors had amputated his left foot and a portion of his right leg, but were able to save his wounded arm.
"He's in good spirits," said Lorraine Bagge of Salem. She said her mother had spoken to Christian Bagge's mother, who said her son would be flown to a military hospital in Texas within a few days.
Eight other soldiers were treated for less serious wounds and returned to duty, Oregon Military Department spokesman Capt. Mike Braibish said Saturday. Their names and the nature of their injuries weren't available Saturday evening.
The convoy was returning to Forward Operating Base Warrior from an early morning mission to check a road for explosives that might have been planted overnight. Braibish said a bomb exploded and disabled the first of the three Humvees, and when the other two Humvees pulled up to provide security, a second bomb damaged the third Humvee.
The attack occurred during a wave of violence that has swept Iraq, including the Kirkuk region, in the past several days. The BBC counts the death toll at more than 800, including U.S. service members, since the new Iraqi government took office April 28. A Kirkuk city councilman was gunned down as he left a mosque Friday.
Kirkuk is a strategically important city because it is a regional oil capital ringed by refineries. It is politically important because it is on the southern edge of Kurdistan and is a place where Kurds, Sunni Arabs, Turkmen and some Christians live. It has been relatively peaceful, even after the invasion of Iraq by coalition forces, but has seen increasing violence in recent weeks.
The convoy's soldiers are members of Ontario-based Alpha Company, which is part of the La Grande-based 3rd Battalion, 116th Cavalry. Bomke was the officer in charge of a platoon that has responsibility for a zone south of Kirkuk that includes the town of Laylan.
Braibish said the explosions occurred around 4:20 a.m. Friday in Iraq, or about 5:20 p.m. Thursday Portland time. Guard officials notified family members before releasing the information Saturday.
Bomke's father, Lawrence, said from his home in Redlands, Calif., that he and Bomke's mother, Kathleen, spoke to Bomke on Saturday morning.
"He's doing pretty good, but he's in a lot of pain," Lawrence Bomke said. He said his son expects to be moved to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., today.
"Anyone would be proud to have him for a son," he said. "He had about 50 men in his unit, and he always told them from the very beginning that he was going to bring them all home safely. We're so thankful to God that he wasn't killed or injured more seriously."
Lorraine Bagge said her cousin had gotten married when he came home on leave, about two months ago. Bomke had gotten married just before deploying to Iraq.
Mike Francis: 503-412-7014; mikefrancis@news.oregonian.com Anne Saker: 503-294-7656; annesaker@news.oregonian.com