A colleague of mine, Dr. John Pryor, died in Iraq in Christmas. He was starting his second tour there at a forward surgical center, when he was hit by a mortar round in his quarters.
And he did have a local connection - he was from Albany and trained at SUNY Buffalo.
http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/news_update/20081227_John_P__Pryor__42__surgeon_and_soldier.html
He’ll be missed.