Fighting in the Arghandab Valley of southern Afghanistan has claimed the life of another Fort Lewis soldier, Spc. Michael Dahl, 23, from Moreno, California.

Dahl's vehicle was struck by a bomb. He died on Oct. 17 from wounds suffered in the attack.

Dahl was deployed with the 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, which I joined in late September for two weeks of patrols. The unit is part of the 5th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division. It is the first combat unit to deploy to Iraq with Stryker vehicles.

The 1st Battalion, with some 700 soldiers, has now lost more than 10 men since arriving in southern Afghanistan in mid-summer. With the battalion, Dahl was part of Bravo Company, the unit I wrote about in my articles.

All these soldiers have a tough mission. The Arghandab Valley is a Taliban stronghold, where roads hold a constant risk of bombs buried or tucked inside culverts. Stryker vehicles often drive off-road in an effort to reduce the risks of hitting one of these bombs, which are typically made from fertilizer.

Like many of the soldiers in the battalion, Dahl previously seved in Iraq. His awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Iraq Campaign Medal.

Spc. Michael Dahl

(Photo courtesy of Fort Lewis)