Tuesday, June 14, 2011

** US Army medics killed in Baghdad rocket attack

** Thousands attend funeral for California paramedic/firefighter killed in blaze

IRAQ NEWS

** Fellow soldiers in Baghdad are mourning the loss of several EMS colleagues, after a rocket attack last Monday on the Army barracks. The Columbus Dispatch (Randy Ludlow/June 11) said the strike killed Spc. Bobby Hartwick, 20, as he headed to the showers following a workout. Along with Hartwick, his roommate Spc. Emilio J. Campo, Jr., 20, was also killed, as was Spc. Michael B. Cook, 27 and two other soldiers. Monday’s attack is deadliest aimed at US troops since 2009.

UNITED STATES NEWS

** Thousands of friends, family, and colleagues turned out Friday to attend the funeral of paramedic/firefighter Anthony Valero, 53, who perished fighting a blaze June 4. The Fog City Journal (Luke Thomas/June 11) said the commemoration, which also honored the life of firefighter Lt. Vincent Perez, 48, centered around San Francisco’s St. Mary’s Cathedral. According to the newspaper, a private burial service following the funeral took place at Colma’s Holy Cross Cemetery. Valerio, who started his prehospital career in Oakland in 1980 as an EMT, began working for the San Francisco Department of Public Health in 1984. An avid surfer and scuba diver, he leaves his parents and siblings to mourn.