Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class John T. Fralish

Died February 6, 2006 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom

---

30, of New Kingstown, Pa.; assigned to the 3rd Marine Division Detachment, Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe, Hawaii; killed Feb. 6 when enemy forces opened fire on a U.S. patrol northwest of Methar Lam in Laghman province, Afghanistan.

* * * * *

Hawaii-based sailor killed in Afghanistan

HONOLULU — A Hawaii-based based sailor was killed in combat Monday, military officials said Wednesday.

Petty Officer 3rd Class John T. Fralish, 30, of New Kingstown, Pa., died from small-arms fire during a patrol in Laghman Province, Afghanistan, officials said.

He was a hospital corpsman assigned to 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, stationed at Marine Corps Base, Hawaii.

Fralish joined the Navy in February 2002 and was assigned to Hawaii in July 2005. He deployed to Afghanistan last month.

He is survived by his father and mother.

— Associated Press

* * * * *

Pa. Marine killed in Iraq crash; sailor shot in Afghanistan

A sailor from Pennsylvania was killed in combat in Afghanistan and a 27-year-old Marine — due to return to his southwestern Pennsylvania home soon — was killed in Iraq in a vehicle accident.

Petty Officer 3rd Class John T. Fralish, 30, of New Kingstown, Pa., died Monday from small-arms fire during a patrol in Laghman Province, Afghanistan, military officials said Wednesday. He was a hospital corpsman assigned to 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, stationed at Marine Corps Base, Hawaii.

Fralish, who was not married, joined the Navy in February 2002 and was assigned to Hawaii in July 2005. He deployed to Afghanistan last month. He is survived by his father and mother.

Fralish, an avid surfer and 1994 graduate of Cumberland Valley High School in central Pennsylvania, had served two tours in Iraq, said an uncle, John C. Fralish Jr. The family was told that Fralish’s patrol came under fire after it had stopped its vehicles, he said.

“He was an amazing man. He could have become anything, an admiral, a governor, even the president,” his uncle said. “This was someone who had real potential.”

Lance Cpl. Steven Phillips, of Spraggs, Pa., was killed in a noncombat vehicle accident, his family said. He had been in Iraq for about a year, said an aunt, Anita Phillips, of Spraggs.

His father, James Phillips, confirmed his son’s death to the Washington Observer-Reporter but declined further comment. The military had not posted news of Phillips’ death. They did confirm that a Marine died Tuesday in a vehicle accident near Qaim.

Phillips was an anti-tank assault man stationed with the 6th Marine Regiment at Camp al Qaim in Iraq. He was a 1996 graduate of Waynesburg Central High School and joined the Marines in 2003.

“He was such a wonderful, caring, intelligent young man. What a waste,” his aunt said.

Debbie Longstreth, Phillips’ high school English teacher, said Phillips kept in touch with several teachers and visited the school before he was deployed.

“His personality was what you remembered about Steven. He was always smiling,” Longstreth said.

— Associated Press

---

New Kingstown man shot dead in Afghanistan

A Navy hospital corpsman attached to a Marine unit at Kane’ohe was killed Monday during combat operations in Afghanistan, the Pentagon announced yesterday.

Petty Officer 3rd Class John T. Fralish, 30, of New Kingstown, Pa., died when enemy forces opened fire on his unit as it patrolled northwest of Methar Lam in Laghman province, the Pentagon said.

Fralish was the second casualty since the arrival last month of the 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment from Marine Corps Base Hawai’i. About 900 Marines and sailors are on a scheduled seven-month Afghanistan deployment.

His brother, Christian Fralish, 18, said by telephone from New Kingstown yesterday that the family was notified Monday.

The Navy told the family that Fralish and his unit were on a reconnaissance mission on foot in the Gownapal Valley when they were ambushed, Christian Fralish said.

“There was small-arms fire,” he said. “He was shot in the upper chest, below his right clavicle.”

Fralish was taken by helicopter to Bagram Airfield where he was pronounced dead at the combat hospital, his brother said.

Fralish was not married and did not have any children, his brother said. He was the third-oldest of six brothers and sisters.

Fralish’s brother said funeral plans are pending.

Family friend Chris Tiney, 21, also of New Kingstown, said Fralish was interested in cars and playing rugby.

“He liked to help people,” Tiney said. “He was looking into trying to be a Navy SEAL.”

Fralish joined the Navy in 2002 and reported to Hawai’i in July 2005.

The unit that Fralish was attached to was hit hard in Iraq in late 2004 and early 2005. Eight Marines from the 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment were killed in a suicide car bomb attack, 26 Marines and a sailor perished in a helicopter crash, and 11 others also were killed — most of them in what has become known as the Battle of Fallujah.

Reach Mike Gordon at mgordon@honoluluadvertiser.com

— By Mike Gordon, Honolulu Advertiser