SEOUL — Another Strike Force member died in Iraq last week, the victim of a vehicle accident, according to the Department of Defense.
Pfc. Daniel F. Guastaferro, 27, of Las Vegas, died Friday in Ramadi after his vehicle left the road and went into a canal, according to the Defense Department.
Guastaferro was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team from Camp Casey, South Korea. He is the 35th 2nd Infantry Division soldier to die in Iraq since division soldiers deployed there this past summer.
As of Friday, 1,342 servicemembers had died since the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq began in March 2003 according to the military’s figures.
Troops have been patrolling areas of Ramadi, Fallujah and other corners of the “Sunni Triangle” for weeks to try to quell rebel attacks and secure cities for Iraq’s upcoming election.
U.S. officials and several local leaders have differed sharply about the election, with the U.S. officials maintaining it will go forward as planned and the local leaders, amid continuing attacks, questioning its safety and legitimacy.
