Seven join war dead roll call

The seven US soldiers killed under fire in Afghanistan on Monday took the total number in the campaign to nine.

They include Sgt Bradley Crose, 22, of Orange Park, Florida, of the 1st Battalion of the 75th Ranger Regiment, Army Special Forces. His father Ricky said: "I'm hurting but I'm ever so proud of him."

Also killed was Sgt Philip Svitak, 31, of the 2nd Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), who lived in Joplin, Montana, with wife Laura and their children, Nolan, two, and Ethan, four. "He was the best kid in the world," said his father, Richard, 57. "He did everything right. He wanted to go because of what happened in New York."

Others included Marc Anderson, 30, of Brandon, Florida, who was in the 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Army Special Forces; Private 1st Class Matthew Commons, 21, of Boulder City, Nevada, in the 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Army Special Forces; Petty Officer 1st Class Neil Roberts, 32, of Woodland, California, a technical sergeant in the Navy SEALs, who was married with an 18-month-old son; and John Chapman, 36, of Waco, Texas, a combat air controller, who was married with two young children.

Jason Cunningham, 26, was in the 38th Rescue Squadron, of the US air force and lived in Camarillo, California, with wife, Theresa and their two daughters Hannah, two, and Kyla, four. "We're very proud," said his mother Jackie. "Jason died doing what he liked to do, saving lives."

A further 17 American servicemen have died in Afghanistan in accidents and "friendly-fire" incidents.