Three Illinois Soldiers killed in action March 15 in Afghanistan

SPRINGFIELD – Sgt. Christopher Abeyta, 23; Spc. Robert Weinger, 24 and Spc. Norman Cain III, 22, all assigned to Company D, 1st Battalion, 178th Infantry based in Woodstock, Ill., were killed in action March 15 in Afghanistan.

Abeyta, a resident of Midlothian, Ill., graduated from Bremen High School in Midlothian in 2003. He enlisted in the Illinois Army National Guard May in 2002. This was his second deployment. His first deployment was in support of Operation Enduring Freedom October 2003 to February 2005.

Weinger, a resident of Round Lake Beach, Ill., graduated from Round Lake High School in Round Lake, Ill., in 2002. He enlisted in the Illinois Army National Guard in January 2006. This was his second deployment. His first deployment was in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom September 2006 to October 2007. The Weinger family has requested no media contact.

Cain, a resident of Mount Morris, Ill., graduated from Freeport High School in Freeport, Ill., in 2006. He enlisted in the Illinois Army National Guard in July 2007. This was Cain’s first deployment. He was married with one daughter.

“Facing the loss of three more Illinois National Guard Soldiers is devastating,” said Maj. Gen. William Enyart, Adjutant General of the Illinois National Guard. “Sgt. Abeyta, Spc. Weinger and Spc. Cain were remarkable, devoted Soldiers who will always be our heroes. While this is a sad day for the Illinois National Guard, we will remember these Soldiers by their bravery and the sacrifice they made for us all. Our thoughts and prayers are with their families at this difficult time.”

The three Soldiers were killed when their vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device in Kot, Afghanistan. An active-duty Airman from Tucson, Ariz., was also killed in the incident.

The unit deployed to Afghanistan as part of the 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT) and is providing security for Provincial Reconstruction Teams, which are helping the Afghan government build roads, hospitals, government buildings and other infrastructure. The unit arrived in theater late October 2008.

Company D, 1st Battalion, 178th Infantry is one of the approximate 30 units with the 33rd IBCT and two units from the 404th Chemical Brigade that deployed to Afghanistan.

Abeyta, Weinger and Cain are the 9th, 10th and 11th casualties from the Illinois Army National Guard’s 33rd IBCT since their deployment to Afghanistan. No information on funeral arrangements has been determined at this time.

These are the 25th, 26th and 27th casualties the Illinois National Guard has suffered since operations in Afghanistan and Iraq began.