Army Sgt. Patrick S. Tainsh

Died February 11, 2004 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

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33, of Oceanside, Calif.; assigned to Troop E, 2nd Squadron, 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Polk, La.; killed Feb. 11 by an improvised explosive device while on a mounted patrol in Baghdad.

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Soldier from California killed in Baghdad blast

Associated Press

FORT POLK, La. — Two soldiers killed by a roadside bomb while on mounted patrol in Iraq on Feb. 11 were assigned to Fort Polk, the Army said Friday.

Sgt. Patrick S. Tainsh, 33, of Oceanside, Calif., and Pfc. William C. Ramirez, 20, of Portland, Ore., were killed in the blast in Baghdad, according to a statement from Fort Polk. One soldier was also wounded, but the Army released no details about his wounds.

Tainsh, a cavalry scout, joined the Army in September 2000 and had been at Fort Polk since May 2001.

“Patrick died defending our freedom, and we honor his sacrifice for protecting our cherished way of life,” California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said in a prepared statement.

Capitol flags will be flown at half-staff in honor of Tainsh, he said.

Ramirez, a fire support specialist, joined the Army in May 2002 and had been at Fort Polk since September 2002.

Both soldiers were assigned to E Troop, 2nd Squadron, 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment.

The explosion remained under investigation.