Report from Ann

[Rocky]

Families

It is my sad duty to once again inform you of the loss of another one of our own. Please keep Ranger David McDowell's family in your prayers. I will forward any further information that is passed on to me.
God Bless & RLTW

Sandee Rouse
Gold Star Mother Ranger James Markwell
Gold Star Mother Advocate 75th Ranger Regiment
Gold Star Family Advocate for the 75th RRA
2004 Honor Ranger
2007 Shield of Sparta Recipient

PSG David McDowell C-2/75 was killed in action on or about 29 April 2008 in Afghanistan. The USASOC press release is posted below as well as the link and attachments (photo and bio).

As more information is made available I will forward it to the 2/75 75th RRA email list.
Respectfully,
Nate

http://news.soc.mil/releases/News%20Archive/2008/April/080430-03.html

RELEASE NUMBER: 080430-03
DATE POSTED: APRIL 30, 2008

PRESS RELEASE: Army Ranger killed in Afghanistan
U.S. Army Special Operations Command

FORT LEWIS, WASH. (USASOC News Service, April 29, 2008)—An Army Ranger assigned to 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, here died in Afghanistan, April 29, of wounds sustained while conducting combat operations.

Sgt. 1st Class David L. McDowell, 30, was engaged in firefight when he was wounded. He was evacuated to Bastion, Afghanistan, where he died from those wounds.

McDowell volunteered for military service and entered the Army in July 1996. After completing One Station Unit Training, Basic Airborne Course and the 75th Ranger Regiment’s Ranger Indoctrination Program training at Fort Benning, Ga., he was assigned to 2nd Bn., 75th Ranger Regiment in December 1996. He served there as an automatic rifleman, machine gun team leader, fire team leader, rifle squad leader, and weapons squad leader. In 2005, he moved to Fort Benning and was assigned to the Regimental Training Detachment as a pre-Ranger Course instructor. After more than a year at Fort Benning, McDowell returned to 2nd Bn., 75th Ranger Regiment as a platoon sergeant.

McDowell is a graduate of Poway High School in Ramona, Calif. He was a veteran of operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom. This was his seventh deployment in support of the war on terror.

McDowell’s awards and decorations include Bronze Star Medal for valor, two Army Commendation Medals, four Army Achievement Medal, three Army Good Conduct Medals, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, three NCO Professional Development Ribbons, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Master Parachutist Badge, Senior Parachutist Badge, Parachutist Badge and the Ranger Tab.

He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, a second Bronze Star Medal with Valor device and Meritorious Service Meda l.

He is survived by his wife Joleen, son Joshua and daughter Erin of Lakewood, Wash., his mother Laurie Ann Wathen of Julian, Calif., and father Steven L. McDowell of Hope Mills, N.C.

[Rocky]

May our brother fine eternal peace. My best wishes and deepest regrets to his family, friends and brothers in arms.

[Carl Shefferd]

May God bless and care for your family. Rest in peace Ranger McDowell.

Shep