Thursday, December 28, 2006
What gives you the right to fuck with our lives: CXXI:
No. 1327-06 IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 28, 2006
Media Contact: (703) 697-5131/697-5132
Public/Industry(703) 428-0711

DoD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Spc. Michael J. Crutchfield, 21, of Stockton, Calif., died Dec. 23 in Balad, Iraq, of a non-combat related injury.Crutchfield was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, Fort Bragg, N.C.

Crutchfield's death is under investigation.

For more information in regard to this release the media can contact the Fort Bragg public affairs office at (910) 303-0617.
--Spencer Ackerman
I've noticed this locution in these announcements:

"The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier [Marine] who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom."

(Emphasis added.)

That language seems a bit strange. (Cf. "who was serving in"? "who was assigned to"?)

Has that language been used throughout the Iraq war? Has the same language been used in the past? Anyone know?
Blogger alkali | 6:05 PM

It's pretty typical military parlance. "He was supporting the mission."
Blogger Spencer Ackerman | 7:10 AM

Thanks (he said, removing his tinfoil hat).
Blogger alkali | 8:13 AM