Southern California Sailor Latest Casualty in Iraq

ANAHEIM, CA — The United States Department of the Navy reported today that a sailor assigned to an Explosive Ordinance Disposal Mobile Unit died from injuries he suffered in an incident in Iraq.

Chief Petty Officer Jason C. Finan, a 34-year-old resident of Anaheim, California, was serving in an advisory capacity to the Iraqi coalition force supporting Operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq.

According to Department of Defense reports, Finan was the first U.S. service member to die while fighting in Iraq since the launch of a massive operation to retake the Islamic State-held city of Mosul.

"The entire Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC) family offers our deepest condolences and sympathies to the family and loved ones of the Sailor we lost," said Rear Adm. Brian Brakke, commander of the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command/NECC Pacific.

The number of U. S. troops in Iraq, according to the Pentagon, is currently 4,565, not including 1,500 troops temporarily assigned to duty in Iraq.

An NBC San Diego report states that three other service members have lost their lives in Iraq since the U.S.-led coalition started in August of 2014.

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