Military deaths

The Defense Department last week identified the following American military personnel killed in Iraq and Kuwait:

Alejandro Ayala, 26, of Riverside; staff sergeant, Air Force. Ayala was killed Nov. 18 in a vehicle accident in Kuwait. He was assigned to the 90th Logistics Readiness Squadron at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo.

Kenneth R. Booker, 25, of Vevay, Ind.; sergeant, Army. Booker was killed Nov. 14 when a roadside bomb exploded near his vehicle in Mukhisa, Iraq, northeast of Baghdad. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division at Ft. Lewis, Wash.

Peter H. Burks, 26, of Dallas; second lieutenant, Army. Burks was killed Nov. 14 when a roadside bomb exploded near his vehicle in Baghdad. He was assigned to the 4th Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment in Vilseck, Germany.

Marius L. Ferrero, 23, of Miami; private first class, Army. Ferrero was among three soldiers killed Nov. 18 when a suicide bomber walked up and detonated his explosives while they were handing out candy and toys from a military vehicle to children in Baqubah, Iraq, northeast of Baghdad. Ferrero was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division at Ft. Lewis, Wash.

Steven C. Ganczewski, 22, of Niagara Falls, N.Y.; sergeant, Army. Ganczewski was killed Nov. 16 when he apparently fell from a helicopter during a combat mission in Balad, Iraq, north of Baghdad. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment at Ft. Benning, Ga.

Melvin L. Henley Jr., 26, of Jackson, Miss.; specialist, Army. Henley died of noncombat-related injuries Wednesday at Camp Striker, Iraq, west of Baghdad. He was assigned to the 603rd Aviation Support Battalion, 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division at Ft. Stewart, Ga.

Jason T. Lee, 26, of Fruitport, Mich.; corporal, Army. Lee was among three soldiers killed Nov. 18 when a suicide bomber walked up and detonated his explosives while they were handing out candy and toys from a military vehicle to children in Baqubah, Iraq, northeast of Baghdad. Lee died of his injuries in Balad, Iraq. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division at Ft. Lewis, Wash.

Mason L. Lewis, 26, of Gloucester, Va.; sergeant, Army. Lewis was killed Nov. 16 when he fell off a roof while training Iraqi soldiers in Baghdad. He was assigned to the 26th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division at Ft. Stewart, Ga.

Christopher J. Nelson, 22, of Rochester, Wash.; corporal, Army. Nelson was among three soldiers killed Nov. 18 when a suicide bomber walked up and detonated his explosives while they were handing out candy and toys from a military vehicle to children in Baqubah, Iraq, northeast of Baghdad. Nelson was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division at Ft. Lewis, Wash.

Alfred G. Paredez Jr., 32, of Las Vegas; sergeant, Army. Paredez was killed Tuesday when his vehicle struck an improvised explosive device in Baghdad. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division at Ft. Hood, Texas.

Sources: Department of Defense, Times staff reports and the Associated Press