Reprinted from Caribbean Net News
caribbeannetnews.com

US Virgin Islands soldiers killed in Baghdad identified

Friday, January 26, 2007

by: Melody Wiggins
Caribbean Net News St Croix Correspondent
Email: melody@caribbeannetnews.com

ST CROIX, USVI: The identities of the two US Virgin Islands National Guard soldiers killed in Baghdad, Iraq have been released by military officials. Lt. Col. David C. Canegata III of St Croix and Sgt. First Class Floyd Everett Lake of St Thomas died when the US Army Black Hawk helicopter they were traveling in went down.

This photo was taken before the soldiers deployed
to Iraq. From left to right Lt. Col. Michael McDonald,
Rear Operations Base mayor at Camp Taji, Iraq,
LtC. David C. Canegata III, an unidentified soldier
and Sgt. First Class Floyd E. Lake. Photo provided
by the 786th QM VING

Virgin Islands Adj. Gen. Eddy Charles described the fallen soldiers as "heroes" and "warriors."

Canegata, 50, began his military service in 1995. He is survived by his wife Shenneth Benjamin Canegata, his four children, Nicole, David-Mychal, Andre and Jessica.

Lake, 43, enlisted in the US Army in 1988. He is survived by his wife, Linda, and five children - J'Nelle, Floyd Jr., Andre, Keeshawn and Tamile.

Both soldiers had a distinguished career in the military and were awarded numerous commendations for exemplary service.

US Virgin Islands Gov. John de Jongh, Jr. and Lt. Gov. Gregory Francis, in a joint statement expressed great sadness and profound sorrow at having received military confirmation of the death of two Virgin Islands National Guardsmen in the theater of war in Iraq.

"The death of these two Virgin Islands soldiers is a reminder that even as we do our work here, our men and women in uniform who have served and are now serving in both Iraq and Afghanistan are putting their lives on the line for our country and for the freedoms we hold so dear," deJongh said.

The US Department of Defense also released the names of the other 10 soldiers killed along with Canegata and Lake, they are:

Col. Brian D. Allgood, 46, of Oklahoma, Staff Sgt. Darryl D. Booker, 37, of Midlothian, Va., Sgt. 1st Class John G. Brown, 43, of Little Rock, Ark., Command Sgt. Maj. Marilyn L. Gabbard, 46, of Polk City, Iowa, Command Sgt. Maj. Roger W. Haller, 49, of Davidsonville, Md., Col. Paul M. Kelly, 45, of Stafford, Va., Cpl. Victor M. Langarica, 29, of Decatur, Ga., Capt. Sean E. Lyerly, 31, of Pflugerville, Texas., Maj. Michael V. Taylor, 40, of North Little Rock, Ark. and 1st Sgt. William T. Warren, 48, of North Little Rock, Ark.

The cause of the crash is still being investigated by the Department of Defense.

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