Afghanistan war taking toll on Washington

Fighting in Afghanistan is taking a toll on soldiers from Washington.

The Defense Department has released the names of seven of the eight Fort Lewis soldiers killed Tuesday by improvised bombs. All were members of the 5th Stryker brigade. The News Tribune of Tacoma reports the brigade has lost 26 soldiers since deploying in July.

The latest dead include 25-year-old Pfc. Christopher I. Walz of Vancouver. Others are: Staff Sgt. Luis M. Gonzalez, 27, of South Ozone Park, N.Y., Sgt. Fernando Delarosa, 24, of Alamo, Texas, Sgt. Dale R. Griffin, 29, of Terre Haute, Ind., Sgt. Issac B. Jackson, 27, of Plattsburg, Mo., Sgt. Patrick O. Williamson, 24, of Broussard, La., and Spc. Jared D. Stanker, 22, of Evergreen Park, Ill. The name of the eighth soldier has not yet been released.

Fort Bragg reports 40-year-old Niall Lyons of Spokane was one of seven killed in the crash of a helicopter Monday in Afghanistan. Also killed in the crash was 36-year-old Chief Warrant Officer Michael P. Montgomery of Savannah, Ga. KOMO-TV reports he is a native of Redmond.