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| Afghanistan | |
| Four Colonels Killed In Afghanistan Bombing | |
| 2010-05-23 | |
"My husband and I both said to the colonel who came here to tell us, 'There must be some mistake. He's not there. He's not going until October. It must be someone else,'" Sharon Belkofer, the 44-year-old lieutenant colonel's mother, told ABCNews.com. But a suicide bomber detonated a minibus in a convoy carrying Belkofer and three other high-ranking officers in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Tuesday morning. The victims included two full colonels -- one was Canadian -- and two American lieutenant colonels who were on a two-week visit in advance of their upcoming deployments. The Army identified the American colonel as John M. McHugh, 46, from West Caldwell, N.J., who was assigned to the United States Army Battle Command Training Program at Fort Leavenworth, Kan. One of McHugh's five children, Michael McHugh, was a soldier serving in Iraq and met his father's body in Kuwait to accompany him home. The other lieutenant colonel was identified as Paul R. Bartz, 43, of Waterloo, Wis. The Canadian was identified as Col. Geoff Parker, 42, of the Royal Canadian Regiment. He was the highest-ranking Canadian to die in Afghanistan. "My husband and I both said to the colonel who came here to tell us, 'There must be some mistake. He's not there. He's not going until October. It must be someone else,'" Sharon Belkofer, the 44-year-old lieutenant colonel's mother, told ABCNews.com. But a suicide bomber detonated a minibus in a convoy carrying Belkofer and three other high-ranking officers in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Tuesday morning. The victims included two full colonels -- one was Canadian -- and two American lieutenant colonels who were on a two-week visit in advance of their upcoming deployments. The Army identified the American colonel as John M. McHugh, 46, from West Caldwell, N.J., who was assigned to the United States Army Battle Command Training Program at Fort Leavenworth, Kan. One of McHugh's five children, Michael McHugh, was a soldier serving in Iraq and met his father's body in Kuwait to accompany him home. The other lieutenant colonel was identified as Paul R. Bartz, 43, of Waterloo, Wis. The Canadian was identified as Col. Geoff Parker, 42, of the Royal Canadian Regiment. He was the highest-ranking Canadian to die in Afghanistan. | |
| Posted by: Anonymoose |
| #6 This type of mistake makes me want to scream, especially after Polands tragedy. 4 colonels on the same bus is just asking for an attack. |
| Posted by: Charles 2010-05-23 14:13 |
| #5 Talked with one of the top intel guys in Iraq last week. the battle is for actionable intel, there. I suspect the same is true in Afghanistan. With cell phones, intel is nine digits away. |
| Posted by: Chuck Simmins 2010-05-23 14:03 |
| #4 One of McHugh's five children, Michael McHugh, was a soldier serving in Iraq and met his father's body in Kuwait to accompany him home. This is very sad. God bless the men and women who serve in our armed forces. |
| Posted by: JohnQC 2010-05-23 08:59 |
| #3 In the "Feeding hand meet biting dog" category. Due to the change in the Status of Forces (SOFA) agreement signed off on by the current administration, unless traveling MILAIR, one know needs a Visa to visit Iraq. Cost $100. USD. Departure requires another $100. Visa. The Iraqi gov't is attempting to impose the Visa rule on MILAIR paks as well. Not certain the Afghan gov't has caught on yet. So much for arrivals and departures OPSEC. Thank you once again Mr. President for your support of the US military. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2010-05-23 07:27 |
| #2 Success by enemy intelligence. |
| Posted by: gromky 2010-05-23 03:32 |
| #1 Why are Colonel's riding in a mini-bus? Isin't this a war zone? |
| Posted by: jefe101 2010-05-23 01:35 |