USASOC NEWS SERVICE

RELEASE NUMBER: 041018-03
DATE POSTED: OCTOBER 18, 2004

PRESS RELEASE: PSYOP Soldiers killed in Iraq

U.S. Army Special Operations Command Public Affairs Office 

FORT BRAGG, N.C. (USASOC News Service, Oct. 18, 2004) — A pair of Army psychological operations Soldiers died in Iraq Oct. 15 after their vehicle was attacked with an improvised explosive device.

Staff Sgt. Michael G. Owen, 31, of Fayetteville, N.C., and Cpl. Jonathan J. Santos, 22, of Bellingham, Wash., were fatally wounded while conducting vehicle-mounted loudspeaker operations with the 1st Marine Division in Karabilah, Iraq. 

Both men were psychological operations specialists assigned to the 9th Psychological Operations Battalion, 4th Psychological Operations Group (Airborne) at Fort Bragg, N.C.

One other Soldier was injured during the attack.

The 4th POG has worldwide responsibility for strategic and tactical PSYOP support to military operations and is the only active-duty psychological operations unit in the U.S. Army.  The group has conducted operations in Afghanistan, Iraq and other locations in support of the Global War on Terrorism.

The deaths of Owen and Santos represent the first combat-related casualties for the 4th POG since the Vietnam era.

Staff Sgt. Michael G. Owen

Originally from Phoenix, Ariz., Owen served as the team leader of a three-man tactical PSYOP team.  His unit deployed in September 2004 to support Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Prior to OIF, Owen deployed to Haiti in March 2004 in support of a U.S.-led, U.N.-authorized Multinational Interim Force.

He joined the Army in November 1992 and completed the Psychological Operations Specialist Course at Fort Bragg, N.C in 2002.  He had previously served as an automated logistical specialist before retraining as a PSYOP specialist at Fort Bragg.

Owen completed the French Special Operations Language Training Course in January 2004.

His previous assignments include: the 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Bragg, N.C.; 82nd Engineer Battalion, Warner Barracks, Germany; and Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.

His awards include the Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon and the Senior Parachutist Badge.

He is survived by his wife, Crystal, and his parents, Howard Owen and Kay Hutchinson of Arizona.

Cpl. Jonathan J. Santos

Santos served as a psychological operations specialist on a three-man tactical PSYOP team.  His unit deployed in September 2004 to support Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Prior to OIF, Santos deployed to Haiti in March 2004 in support of a U.S.-led, U.N.-authorized Multinational Interim Force.

He entered the Army in July 2001 and completed the Psychological Operations Specialist Course at Fort Bragg in 2002. He was assigned to the 9th PSYOP Bn. in May 2003.

Santos had also graduated the Modern Arabic Language Course at Fort Bragg in 2002.

His awards include the Purple Heart, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon and the Parachutist Badge.

He is survived by his mother, Doris Kent, of Bellingham, Wash., and his father, Les Santos, of Oshkosh, Wis.

-usasoc-

Biography of Staff Sgt. Michael G. Owen:  ( .pdf )
Biography of Cpl. Jonathan J. Santos:  ( .pdf )

Staff Sgt. Michael G. Owen, 31, a psychological operations specialist assigned to the 9th Psychological Operations Battalion, 4th Psychological Operations Group (Airborne) at Fort Bragg, N.C., was killed Oct. 15 in Karabilah, Iraq, after his vehicle was attacked with an improvised explosive device. (Courtesy photo)

 Staff Sgt. Michael G. Owen (third from right) and other Soldiers from the 9th Psychological Operations Battalion, Fort Bragg, N.C., walk off a C-5 Galaxy at the airport of Port-Au-Prince Haiti on March 13, 2004. Owen was killed Oct. 15 in Karabilah, Iraq, after his vehicle was attacked with an improvised explosive device. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Andy Dunaway)
Cpl. Jonathan J. Santos, 22, a psychological operations specialist assigned to the 9th Psychological Operations Battalion, 4th Psychological Operations Group (Airborne) at Fort Bragg, N.C., was killed Oct. 15 in Karabilah, Iraq, after his vehicle was attacked with an improvised explosive device. (Courtesy photo)
Cpl. Jonathan J. Santos, 22, talks on a tactical radio outside of a Humvee in this undated photo.  Santos died Oct. 15 in Karabilah, Iraq, after his vehicle was attacked with an improvised explosive device. (U.S. Army photo)

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