Thursday, February 26, 2009

Two Illinois National Guardsmen Killed in Afghanistan


Sgt. Schuyler Patch

SPRINGFIELD – Sgt. Scott Stream, 39, assigned to Co. B, 2nd Battalion, 130th Infantry based in Effingham, Ill., and Sgt. Schuyler Patch, 25, assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Troop , 2nd Battalion, 106th Cavalry, based in Kewanee, Ill., were killed in action Feb. 24 in Afghanistan.
Stream, a resident of Mattoon, Ill., graduated from Davis County High School in Bloomfield, Iowa, in 1987 and then continued his education at Drake University in 1989. He also attended Lake Land College in 2008. Stream enlisted in the Illinois Army National Guard July 2000.
This was his second deployment. His first deployment was in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom May 2005 to April 2006. Steam’s unit arrived in theater late August 2008. He was married with two children.


A resident of Galva, Ill., Patch, graduated from Wethersfield High School in Kewanee, Ill., in 2002. He enlisted in the Oklahoma National Guard in March 2005 and then transferred to the Illinois Army National Guard in November 2007. This was Patch’s third deployment. His first deployment was in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom January to July 2002 and his second deployment was in support of Operation Enduring Freedom June 2006 to May 2007.
Patch’s unit arrived in theater in December 2008. He was posthumously promoted from specialist to the rank of sergeant.

“These two Soldiers were outstanding individuals and will be missed by all of us in the Illinois National Guard,” said Maj. Gen. William Enyart, Adjutant General of the Illinois National Guard. "We extend our deepest sympathies and support to the families of both Soldiers. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all during this difficult time."

Both Soldiers were killed by an improvised explosive device in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Two other coalition members were also killed in the accident. The accident happened while the members were on a joint patrol with Afghan National Security Forces. An Afghan civilian working with the coalition forces was also killed in the incident. Coalition personnel have secured the scene and the incident is under investigation.

The units deployed to Afghanistan as part of the 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT) and are providing security for Embedded Training Teams, Police Mentor Teams and Forward Operating Bases.

Company B , 2nd Battalion, 130th Infantry and Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 2nd Battalion, 106th Cavalry are two of the approximate 30 units with the 33rd IBCT and two units from the 404th Chemical Brigade that deployed to Afghanistan to form Task Force Phoenix VIII. They were joined in theater by various coalition partners and forces from other U.S. service components to form the remainder of the task force.

Stream and Patch are the 22nd and 23rd casualties the Illinois National Guard has suffered since operations in Afghanistan and Iraq began. No information on funeral arrangements has been determined at this time.

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