Five promoted to captain posthumously

Team Infidel

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By Melissa Vogt - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Feb 9, 2007 0:15:15 EST
Five active-duty first lieutenants who were selected for promotion to captain died in the Iraq and Afghanistan war zones before the promotion selection list was released Thursday.
It is the Army’s policy to posthumously promote officers placed on selection lists. The higher grade is then used on all military documents and the burial marker for that officer. However, no bonus, gratuity pay or allowances are awarded based on a posthumous promotion.
The officers, listed alphabetically, are:
• Michael A. Cerrone, 24, of Clarksville, Tenn. He died Nov. 12 of injuries sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle during combat operations in Samarra, Iraq. Pfc. Harry A. Winkler III also was killed.
The officer was the son of Brig. Gen. James Cerrone, an assistant to the XXVIII Airborne Corps commanding general.
Cerrone was assigned to A Company, 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, at Fort Bragg, N.C., since October 2005. He was commissioned in 2004 upon graduating from the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, N.Y.
Information on his military awards and decorations was unavailable.
Survivors include his parents and a brother.
• John R. Dennison, 24, of Ijamsville, Md. He died Nov. 15 as a result of small-arms fire in Balad, Iraq.
Dennison was assigned to 5th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg. He graduated from West Point in 2004. During his time at the U.S. Military Academy, he was a member of the Black Knights Parachute Team.
His military awards and decorations include the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. He also received the Army Service Ribbon, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Ranger Tab and Parachutist’s Badge, according to the 82nd Airborne Division.
Survivors include his wife, Army 1st Lt. Haley Dennison, who is stationed in Afghanistan; and his parents, Jack and Shannon Dennison.
• David M. Fraser, 25, of Houston. He died Nov. 26 of injuries sustained when an IED detonated near his vehicle in Baghdad. Capt. Jason R. Hamill and Pvt. Joshua C. Burrows were also killed.
Fraser was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas. He joined the military in May 2004 as an engineer.
His military awards include the National Defense Service Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism (Service) Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon and the Weapons Qualification Badge — Expert, according to a post press release.
Survivors include his parents, Richard and Helen Fraser of Houston; his brother, Patrick, and sister-in-law, April, of Las Vegas; and his grandmother, Nona Fraser of Wyoming.
• Benjamin D. Keating, 27, of Shapleigh, Maine. He died Nov. 26 of injuries sustained when his vehicle turned over in Kamdesh, Afghanistan. The incident is under investigation.
He was the executive officer for A Troop, 3rd Squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y. Keating deployed to Afghanistan with his unit as part of Task Force Spartan in February 2006.
He participated in the Reserve Officers Training Corps at the University of New Hampshire from which he graduated with a degree in history.
In 2004, Keating earned the George C. Marshall ROTC Award at his school. The award is presented to the most outstanding Army ROTC cadet senior at each college or university with an ROTC detachment.
His awards include the Bronze Star, Army Commendation Medal with “V” device, National Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Afghan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and Combat Action Badge, according to a post press release.
Survivors include his father, Kenneth Keating; his mother, Elizabeth Keating; and a sister.
• Kevin C. Landeck, 26, of Illinois. He died Feb. 2 in Baghdad of wounds sustained when an IED detonated near his vehicle. Staff Sgt. Terrence D. Dunn was also killed.
Landeck was assigned to B Company, 2nd Battalion, 15th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum. He was serving as an adviser to the Iraqi army when he died.
The Wheaton, Ill., native was commissioned in May 2004 after graduating from Purdue University in Lafayette, Ind., with a degree in criminal justice.
Landeck’s awards include the Purple Heart, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge and the Parachutist Badge, according to press release.
Survivors include his wife, Bethany Landeck.

Related reading:

The captains selection list
 
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