Remember Our Heroes
Army Staff Sgt. Anton R. Phillips, 31, of Inglewood, Calif.; assigned to G Forward Support Company, 77th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Battalion, Task Force Wildhorse, Forward Operating Base Methar Lam, Afghanistan; died Dec. 31, 2009 at FOB Methar Lam, Afghanistan.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Army Master Sgt. Dane Paresi (Rt)
Remember Our Heroes
A highly decorated soldier was among those killed in last week’s bombing at a CIA base in Afghanistan. Master Sgt. Dane Paresi, 46, grew up on Mount Scott and spent almost 30 years in the Army before retiring and going to work for the security company Xe which was formerly known as Blackwater.
After more than a quarter century in the Army, Master Sgt. Dane Paresi, of DuPont, retired in 2008 and briefly tried to settle into a civilian stateside job. But he quickly grew restless and joined Xe Services, the company formally known as Blackwater, on what a relative says was a security assignment in Afghanistan.
"He was just not meant to be behind a desk. He was meant to be on the front lines," said his brother Terry Paresi, of Oregon City, Ore. "He told me he was providing security as an independent contractor."
Paresi, 46, died Dec. 30 in an Afghanistan suicide bombing by a Jordanian double agent. The bombing killed seven Americans — five men and two women — including Paresi, another Xe contractor and five CIA employees.
The CIA has not released the names of any of those killed in the bombing at a base in eastern Afghanistan. Xe also has not publicly released any names of those who died. However, details of some of the dead have begun to trickle out in newspaper obituaries and family statements.
In the Pacific Northwest, relatives confirmed Dane Paresi's death.
His wife, MindyLou Paresi, told The News Tribune of Tacoma that she had been told her husband suspected something might be wrong with the Jordanian informant who came to meet with the CIA agents at Forward Operating Base Chapman in Khost Province. MindyLou Paresi said that her husband approached the bomber, and was the closest person to the bomber as the explosion happened. "He saved many people; unfortunately seven of them did die," she said in the News Tribune interview. "It could have been worse."
Paresi credited Xe for keeping her family informed in recent days. She told the News Tribune that she attended a ceremony with CIA Director Leon Panetta and other government officials after meeting her husband's casket Tuesday at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware.
"The Americans who fell in the line of duty last week at a CIA base in Afghanistan were courageous and patriotic," said George Little, a CIA spokesman. "They were doing essential work to protect our nation."
A federal law-enforcement official said this week that the bomber, a Jordanian doctor identified as Humam Khalil Abu-Mulal al-Balawi, entered the base by car and detonated a powerful explosive just outside the base's gym where CIA operatives and others had gathered. It was unclear whether the explosives were hidden in a suicide vest or belt.
The bomber hit a sensitive CIA post, where agents were involved in targeting Taliban and other militant leaders through armed drones that flew across the border into Pakistan.
The bomber, at the time of his attack, had offered to share information about a top al-Qaida leader, Ayman al-Zawahiri.
Xe, like its predecessor company Blackwater, is led by Erik Prince, a former Navy SEAL who built a huge contracting business that since 9/11 has been involved in a wide range of security-related jobs for U.S. government agencies.
In Afghanistan, Xe has a range of contracts that include training Afghan border guards and has a role in assisting in CIA security. The New York Times reported that Blackwater once was involved in assisting the CIA drone program in Pakistan, where the company has been a flash point for controversy.
Paresi, a native of Portland, Ore., joined Xe after retiring from Fort Lewis, where he served in the Special Forces. His career included several overseas tours, including Afghanistan, and he earned numerous awards and medals, according to a statement released by the family.
After joining Xe, Paresi trained at the company's headquarters in North Carolina before heading over to Afghanistan. He told his brother Terry that he would be involved in security but never disclosed additional details about his assignment.
"My brother's true passions were the military and his family," said Terry Paresi. "He left for basic training the day after high school, and began the odyssey that finally just ended. He got done whatever needed to be done, whether it was messy or easy."
In addition to his brother Mark, survivors include Paresi's wife, MindyLou; two daughters; mother and father, Charles and Jan Paresi of Portland; three other brothers, Terry, Steve and Kirt; and a sister, Santina.
A highly decorated soldier was among those killed in last week’s bombing at a CIA base in Afghanistan. Master Sgt. Dane Paresi, 46, grew up on Mount Scott and spent almost 30 years in the Army before retiring and going to work for the security company Xe which was formerly known as Blackwater.
After more than a quarter century in the Army, Master Sgt. Dane Paresi, of DuPont, retired in 2008 and briefly tried to settle into a civilian stateside job. But he quickly grew restless and joined Xe Services, the company formally known as Blackwater, on what a relative says was a security assignment in Afghanistan.
"He was just not meant to be behind a desk. He was meant to be on the front lines," said his brother Terry Paresi, of Oregon City, Ore. "He told me he was providing security as an independent contractor."
Paresi, 46, died Dec. 30 in an Afghanistan suicide bombing by a Jordanian double agent. The bombing killed seven Americans — five men and two women — including Paresi, another Xe contractor and five CIA employees.
The CIA has not released the names of any of those killed in the bombing at a base in eastern Afghanistan. Xe also has not publicly released any names of those who died. However, details of some of the dead have begun to trickle out in newspaper obituaries and family statements.
In the Pacific Northwest, relatives confirmed Dane Paresi's death.
His wife, MindyLou Paresi, told The News Tribune of Tacoma that she had been told her husband suspected something might be wrong with the Jordanian informant who came to meet with the CIA agents at Forward Operating Base Chapman in Khost Province. MindyLou Paresi said that her husband approached the bomber, and was the closest person to the bomber as the explosion happened. "He saved many people; unfortunately seven of them did die," she said in the News Tribune interview. "It could have been worse."
Paresi credited Xe for keeping her family informed in recent days. She told the News Tribune that she attended a ceremony with CIA Director Leon Panetta and other government officials after meeting her husband's casket Tuesday at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware.
"The Americans who fell in the line of duty last week at a CIA base in Afghanistan were courageous and patriotic," said George Little, a CIA spokesman. "They were doing essential work to protect our nation."
A federal law-enforcement official said this week that the bomber, a Jordanian doctor identified as Humam Khalil Abu-Mulal al-Balawi, entered the base by car and detonated a powerful explosive just outside the base's gym where CIA operatives and others had gathered. It was unclear whether the explosives were hidden in a suicide vest or belt.
The bomber hit a sensitive CIA post, where agents were involved in targeting Taliban and other militant leaders through armed drones that flew across the border into Pakistan.
The bomber, at the time of his attack, had offered to share information about a top al-Qaida leader, Ayman al-Zawahiri.
Xe, like its predecessor company Blackwater, is led by Erik Prince, a former Navy SEAL who built a huge contracting business that since 9/11 has been involved in a wide range of security-related jobs for U.S. government agencies.
In Afghanistan, Xe has a range of contracts that include training Afghan border guards and has a role in assisting in CIA security. The New York Times reported that Blackwater once was involved in assisting the CIA drone program in Pakistan, where the company has been a flash point for controversy.
Paresi, a native of Portland, Ore., joined Xe after retiring from Fort Lewis, where he served in the Special Forces. His career included several overseas tours, including Afghanistan, and he earned numerous awards and medals, according to a statement released by the family.
After joining Xe, Paresi trained at the company's headquarters in North Carolina before heading over to Afghanistan. He told his brother Terry that he would be involved in security but never disclosed additional details about his assignment.
"My brother's true passions were the military and his family," said Terry Paresi. "He left for basic training the day after high school, and began the odyssey that finally just ended. He got done whatever needed to be done, whether it was messy or easy."
In addition to his brother Mark, survivors include Paresi's wife, MindyLou; two daughters; mother and father, Charles and Jan Paresi of Portland; three other brothers, Terry, Steve and Kirt; and a sister, Santina.
CIA Agent Elizabeth Hanson
Remember Our Heroes
In a telephone interview, her father, Duane Hanson Jr., said an agency official called several days ago to let him know that his daughter, who he said would have turned 31 next month, had been killed. He knew little of her work, other than that she had been in Afghanistan. “I begged her not to go,” he recalled. “I said, ‘Do you know how dangerous that is? That’s for soldiers.’ ”
Known for her curiosity and chattiness, Elizabeth Hanson saw life as an adventure to be embraced, judging from the quote she chose to run next to her high school yearbook photo in Rockford.
"It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end," read the quote, by author Ursula K. LeGuin.
On Thursday, Hanson's family, friends and teachers expressed shock and sadness after learning that the 30-year-old was one of several CIA agents killed Dec. 30 in a suicide bombing while gathering intelligence on al-Qaida at a remote base in the mountains of Afghanistan.
The four CIA agents, along with three American security guards and a Jordanian intelligence officer, died after the bomber had been invited to a meeting, supposedly to pass along important information. Officials said he turned out to be a double agent.
"We're very proud of her," said Hanson's brother, Duane Hanson III, confirming her death to the Associated Press.
In Rockford, where Elizabeth Hanson grew up, her friends and teachers at Keith Country Day School remembered her Thursday as friendly and outgoing. They also expressed surprise at her career.
Her nickname was "Bitsy" and she was voted most talkative girl by her senior class, said her Latin teacher Sherrilyn Martin. Hanson took advanced placement classes, loved tennis and worked on the yearbook. She also was in the Junior Engineering Technical Society, Martin said.
"Even though her journey was short, I certainly hope it was very fulfilling for her," Martin said. "Those who remember her do so with great affection and admiration, both for what she did overseas and what she did while she was here."
After graduating in 1997, Hanson majored in economics and minored in Russian language and literature at Colby College in Maine. She graduated in 2002.
Michael Donihue, an economics professor at Colby, said he was struck by Hanson's intellectual curiosity and desire to understand the world around her.
"She was thoughtful and asked the types of questions that indicate she was thinking beyond the textbook," he said, though he too was surprised by her CIA work.
Just after Sept. 11, 2001, she wrote a thesis titled "Faithless Heathens: Scriptural Economics of Judaism, Christianity and Islam." The paper explored economic principles through the lens of the three religions.
In a telephone interview, her father, Duane Hanson Jr., said an agency official called several days ago to let him know that his daughter, who he said would have turned 31 next month, had been killed. He knew little of her work, other than that she had been in Afghanistan. “I begged her not to go,” he recalled. “I said, ‘Do you know how dangerous that is? That’s for soldiers.’ ”
Known for her curiosity and chattiness, Elizabeth Hanson saw life as an adventure to be embraced, judging from the quote she chose to run next to her high school yearbook photo in Rockford.
"It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end," read the quote, by author Ursula K. LeGuin.
On Thursday, Hanson's family, friends and teachers expressed shock and sadness after learning that the 30-year-old was one of several CIA agents killed Dec. 30 in a suicide bombing while gathering intelligence on al-Qaida at a remote base in the mountains of Afghanistan.
The four CIA agents, along with three American security guards and a Jordanian intelligence officer, died after the bomber had been invited to a meeting, supposedly to pass along important information. Officials said he turned out to be a double agent.
"We're very proud of her," said Hanson's brother, Duane Hanson III, confirming her death to the Associated Press.
In Rockford, where Elizabeth Hanson grew up, her friends and teachers at Keith Country Day School remembered her Thursday as friendly and outgoing. They also expressed surprise at her career.
Her nickname was "Bitsy" and she was voted most talkative girl by her senior class, said her Latin teacher Sherrilyn Martin. Hanson took advanced placement classes, loved tennis and worked on the yearbook. She also was in the Junior Engineering Technical Society, Martin said.
"Even though her journey was short, I certainly hope it was very fulfilling for her," Martin said. "Those who remember her do so with great affection and admiration, both for what she did overseas and what she did while she was here."
After graduating in 1997, Hanson majored in economics and minored in Russian language and literature at Colby College in Maine. She graduated in 2002.
Michael Donihue, an economics professor at Colby, said he was struck by Hanson's intellectual curiosity and desire to understand the world around her.
"She was thoughtful and asked the types of questions that indicate she was thinking beyond the textbook," he said, though he too was surprised by her CIA work.
Just after Sept. 11, 2001, she wrote a thesis titled "Faithless Heathens: Scriptural Economics of Judaism, Christianity and Islam." The paper explored economic principles through the lens of the three religions.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Army Staff Sgt. Ronald J. Spino
Remember Our Heroes
Army Staff Sgt. Ronald J. Spino, 45, of Waterbury, Conn.
SSgt. Spino was assigned to the 274th Forward Surgical Team, 44th Medical Command, Fort Bragg, N.C.; died Dec. 29, 2009 in Bala Morghab, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when he was shot while unloading supplies.
Bragg medic killed in Afghanistan
The Associated Press
FORT BRAGG, N.C. — A 45-year-old Fort Bragg soldier has been killed while unloading medical supplies in a village in northwestern Afghanistan.
Military officials say Staff Sgt. Ronald Jay Spino from Waterbury, Conn., died Dec. 29 in Bala Morghab, a village in Badghis province.
Spino was assigned to the 44th Medical Command at Fort Bragg. He returned from Iraq in February and deployed to Afghanistan in November.
Connecticut Gov. M. Jodi Rell says Spino was expected to return from Afghanistan in about 30 days and ordered flags in the state lowered to half-staff.
Spino was remembered by friends in his unit as a quiet, hardworking soldier with a good sense of humor.
Army Staff Sgt. Ronald J. Spino was killed in action on 12/29/09.
Army Staff Sgt. Ronald J. Spino, 45, of Waterbury, Conn.
SSgt. Spino was assigned to the 274th Forward Surgical Team, 44th Medical Command, Fort Bragg, N.C.; died Dec. 29, 2009 in Bala Morghab, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when he was shot while unloading supplies.
Bragg medic killed in Afghanistan
The Associated Press
FORT BRAGG, N.C. — A 45-year-old Fort Bragg soldier has been killed while unloading medical supplies in a village in northwestern Afghanistan.
Military officials say Staff Sgt. Ronald Jay Spino from Waterbury, Conn., died Dec. 29 in Bala Morghab, a village in Badghis province.
Spino was assigned to the 44th Medical Command at Fort Bragg. He returned from Iraq in February and deployed to Afghanistan in November.
Connecticut Gov. M. Jodi Rell says Spino was expected to return from Afghanistan in about 30 days and ordered flags in the state lowered to half-staff.
Spino was remembered by friends in his unit as a quiet, hardworking soldier with a good sense of humor.
Army Staff Sgt. Ronald J. Spino was killed in action on 12/29/09.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Marine Lance Cpl. Charles Rochlin
Remember Our Heroes
Westport (WTNH) - An accident in Westport has left an active-duty Marine dead. The driver of the vehicle was hospitalized.
Lance Cpl. Charles Rochlin was killed early Sunday morning when the car he was riding in slammed into a tree along Greens Farms Road in Westport.
"Everything was done to assist him but unfortunately he succombed" to his injuries, Lt. Vincent Penna, Westport Police, said.
The damage to the passenger side of the Jeep Cherokee shows the force of impact.
Rochlin, a 24-year-old who grew up in Westport, had been out with a childhood friend. Police tell News Channel 8 Mathew Packer was the only other person in the car.
Packer, 25, wasn't seriously hurt, but police said he denies he was behind the wheel when the crash occured.
"The physical evidence at the scene and also what we will garner from the vehicle will indicate who was operating the vehicle and at this point in time we have no other suspects except Mr. Packer and feel he was the operator of the vehicle," Lt. Penna said.
Rochlin was based at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina and recently returned to Connecticut following a tour in Iraq. He was set to deploy to Afganistan this spring.
Police are waiting for toxicology reports to come in, but they believe alcohol was a factor in the crash.
"Does appear that alcohol played a role and it shows the unfortunate consequences of mixing alcohol and operating a vehicle especially at this time of year," Lt. Penna said.
Born in Norwalk, Rochlin spent much of his live in Westport. He attended Fairfield Prep, but graduated from Staples High School in June 2003.
According to a story posted on WestportNow.com , calling hours will be Tuesday from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Harding Funeral Home, 210 Post Road East. The funeral will be held Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. at Saint Luke Church, 49 Turkey Hill Road North. Rochlin will be buried with full military honors at Willowbrook Cemetery, 395 Main St.
Westport (WTNH) - An accident in Westport has left an active-duty Marine dead. The driver of the vehicle was hospitalized.
Lance Cpl. Charles Rochlin was killed early Sunday morning when the car he was riding in slammed into a tree along Greens Farms Road in Westport.
"Everything was done to assist him but unfortunately he succombed" to his injuries, Lt. Vincent Penna, Westport Police, said.
The damage to the passenger side of the Jeep Cherokee shows the force of impact.
Rochlin, a 24-year-old who grew up in Westport, had been out with a childhood friend. Police tell News Channel 8 Mathew Packer was the only other person in the car.
Packer, 25, wasn't seriously hurt, but police said he denies he was behind the wheel when the crash occured.
"The physical evidence at the scene and also what we will garner from the vehicle will indicate who was operating the vehicle and at this point in time we have no other suspects except Mr. Packer and feel he was the operator of the vehicle," Lt. Penna said.
Rochlin was based at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina and recently returned to Connecticut following a tour in Iraq. He was set to deploy to Afganistan this spring.
Police are waiting for toxicology reports to come in, but they believe alcohol was a factor in the crash.
"Does appear that alcohol played a role and it shows the unfortunate consequences of mixing alcohol and operating a vehicle especially at this time of year," Lt. Penna said.
Born in Norwalk, Rochlin spent much of his live in Westport. He attended Fairfield Prep, but graduated from Staples High School in June 2003.
According to a story posted on WestportNow.com , calling hours will be Tuesday from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Harding Funeral Home, 210 Post Road East. The funeral will be held Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. at Saint Luke Church, 49 Turkey Hill Road North. Rochlin will be buried with full military honors at Willowbrook Cemetery, 395 Main St.
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Army Spc. Jason M. Johnston
Remember Our Heroes
Army Spc. Jason M. Johnston, 24, of Albion, N.Y.
Spc. Johnston was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.; died Dec. 26, 2009 in Arghandab, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.
A small Orleans County village is mourning the loss of one of its own. Army soldier Jason Johnston, 24, of Albion was killed in Afghanistan Saturday.
The Department of Defense says Johnston was killed in southern Afghanistan by an improvised explosive device.
Johnston's parents left for Delaware to identify their son’s body. While they're gone, some are doing their best to honor Johnston here in his hometown.
"It's a family," said Albion Fire Chief Eric Bradshaw. "It's the true meaning of family."
Bradshaw said in many ways the Albion Fire Department is Johnston's family.
"Jason and his dad spent a lot of time in the fire house together," Bradshaw said.
Johnston's father Brad has been with the department for more than 15 years. His mother Jenny has volunteered for more than ten years. Johnston himself was in the youth explorer program.
"When he graduated high school, he went into the military and we sort of lost touch with him but he was a good kid very hard working the time that we shared down here at the fire house," said Bradshaw.
"I'm really close with the mother and we just hugged and talked a little bit about what was going on," said Albion Fire Department President Stanley Farone. "Just to let her know basically we're here for them."
Flags outside several businesses and at the firefighters memorial at the Mt. Albion Cemetery have been lowered to half staff, a sign of respect for Johnston and a show of support for his family.
"What we can do we're going to do," Farone said. "We're just trying to take some of the burden off them."
Johnston was never a full fledged member. Albion's fire chief says now he will be.
"We're very proud of the fact that he decided to go into the military," said Bradshaw. "We're going to honor Jason as best we can, and one of the things we can do is make him a full member here at the department. We're a family and we take care of our family."
Funeral arraignments have not been finalized. Johnston leaves behind three sisters, one of whom was also in the Albion Fire Department's Explorer Program.
Bradshaw said the department will help with any services the Johnston family requests.
Army Spc. Jason M. Johnston was killed in action on 12/26/09.
Army Spc. Jason M. Johnston, 24, of Albion, N.Y.
Spc. Johnston was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.; died Dec. 26, 2009 in Arghandab, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.
A small Orleans County village is mourning the loss of one of its own. Army soldier Jason Johnston, 24, of Albion was killed in Afghanistan Saturday.
The Department of Defense says Johnston was killed in southern Afghanistan by an improvised explosive device.
Johnston's parents left for Delaware to identify their son’s body. While they're gone, some are doing their best to honor Johnston here in his hometown.
"It's a family," said Albion Fire Chief Eric Bradshaw. "It's the true meaning of family."
Bradshaw said in many ways the Albion Fire Department is Johnston's family.
"Jason and his dad spent a lot of time in the fire house together," Bradshaw said.
Johnston's father Brad has been with the department for more than 15 years. His mother Jenny has volunteered for more than ten years. Johnston himself was in the youth explorer program.
"When he graduated high school, he went into the military and we sort of lost touch with him but he was a good kid very hard working the time that we shared down here at the fire house," said Bradshaw.
"I'm really close with the mother and we just hugged and talked a little bit about what was going on," said Albion Fire Department President Stanley Farone. "Just to let her know basically we're here for them."
Flags outside several businesses and at the firefighters memorial at the Mt. Albion Cemetery have been lowered to half staff, a sign of respect for Johnston and a show of support for his family.
"What we can do we're going to do," Farone said. "We're just trying to take some of the burden off them."
Johnston was never a full fledged member. Albion's fire chief says now he will be.
"We're very proud of the fact that he decided to go into the military," said Bradshaw. "We're going to honor Jason as best we can, and one of the things we can do is make him a full member here at the department. We're a family and we take care of our family."
Funeral arraignments have not been finalized. Johnston leaves behind three sisters, one of whom was also in the Albion Fire Department's Explorer Program.
Bradshaw said the department will help with any services the Johnston family requests.
Army Spc. Jason M. Johnston was killed in action on 12/26/09.
Friday, December 25, 2009
Army Staff Sgt. David H. Gutierrez
Remember Our Heroes
Army Staff Sgt. David H. Gutierrez, 35, of San Francisco
SSgt Gutierrez was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 5th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.; died Dec. 25, 2009 at Kandahar Air Field, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his dismounted patrol with an improvised explosive device in Howz-e Madad.
FORT LEWIS, Wash. — The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Fort Lewis Soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Staff Sgt. David H. Gutierrez, 35, of San Francisco, Calif., died Dec. 25 at Kandahar Air Field, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his dismounted patrol with an improvised explosive device in Howz-e Madad. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 5th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.
According to unit records, Gutierrez enlisted October 22, 1998, at San Francisco, Calif. Following basic training and Advanced Individual Training in Military Occupational Specialty 11B: Infantryman, he reported to Fort Campbell, Kentucky on April 14, 1999. Gutierrez completed two overseas assignments; Camp Casey, Korea September 2000 – August 2001, and Schofield Barracks from October 2001 through May 2008. While assigned to Schofield Barracks Gutierrez deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from January 2004 through January 2005.
He arrived at Fort Lewis May 8, 2008 was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, The brigade deployed to Afghanistan in July, 2009. This was his second deployment.
Gutierrez’ civilian and military education includes a high school equivalency diploma, the Military Occupational Specialty 11B: Infantryman (1999), Air Assault training (1999), Combat Lifesavers Course (1999), Warrior Leader Course (2002), Army Retention Course (2002), Force XXI Battle Command Brigade and Below Leader Operator New Equipment Training Certification (2006), Javelin Training Devices Course (2008), Unit Prevention Leader Course (2008)
His awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal (2 awards), Army Achievement Medal (4 awards), Army Good Conduct Medal (3 awards), National Defense Service Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Ribbon, Combat Infantry Badge, Expert Infantry Badge, Air Assault Badge.
Army Staff Sgt. David H. Gutierrez was killed in action on 12/25/09.
Army Staff Sgt. David H. Gutierrez, 35, of San Francisco
SSgt Gutierrez was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 5th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.; died Dec. 25, 2009 at Kandahar Air Field, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his dismounted patrol with an improvised explosive device in Howz-e Madad.
FORT LEWIS, Wash. — The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Fort Lewis Soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Staff Sgt. David H. Gutierrez, 35, of San Francisco, Calif., died Dec. 25 at Kandahar Air Field, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his dismounted patrol with an improvised explosive device in Howz-e Madad. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 5th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.
According to unit records, Gutierrez enlisted October 22, 1998, at San Francisco, Calif. Following basic training and Advanced Individual Training in Military Occupational Specialty 11B: Infantryman, he reported to Fort Campbell, Kentucky on April 14, 1999. Gutierrez completed two overseas assignments; Camp Casey, Korea September 2000 – August 2001, and Schofield Barracks from October 2001 through May 2008. While assigned to Schofield Barracks Gutierrez deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from January 2004 through January 2005.
He arrived at Fort Lewis May 8, 2008 was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, The brigade deployed to Afghanistan in July, 2009. This was his second deployment.
Gutierrez’ civilian and military education includes a high school equivalency diploma, the Military Occupational Specialty 11B: Infantryman (1999), Air Assault training (1999), Combat Lifesavers Course (1999), Warrior Leader Course (2002), Army Retention Course (2002), Force XXI Battle Command Brigade and Below Leader Operator New Equipment Training Certification (2006), Javelin Training Devices Course (2008), Unit Prevention Leader Course (2008)
His awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal (2 awards), Army Achievement Medal (4 awards), Army Good Conduct Medal (3 awards), National Defense Service Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Ribbon, Combat Infantry Badge, Expert Infantry Badge, Air Assault Badge.
Army Staff Sgt. David H. Gutierrez was killed in action on 12/25/09.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
U.S. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Johann Gokool
Remember Our Heroes
U.S. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Johann Gokool lost his left leg when a bomb ripped a hole in the side of the USS Cole nearly a decade ago, but the injury was nothing compared with the mental torment that ravaged him almost daily. He returned home to Florida suffering severe post-traumatic stress disorder and frequent panic attacks so violent he would launch into seizures and even fractured his own wrist several times as he flailed, sister Natala Gokool said Tuesday.
One of the brothers he lived with, his younger brother Hamish, found him dead in their home Wednesday, December 23, 2009, just a week after his 31st birthday, Natala Gokool said. His cause of death was unknown, though she said foul play was not suspected. The family believes the seizures just became too much for his body to handle.
Gokool was an electronic warfare technician aboard the Cole when suicide bombers rammed a small boat packed with explosives into it on Oct. 12, 2000, during a refueling stop in Aden, Yemen. It triggered a string of deadly fires. Seventeen U.S. sailors were killed and 39 others injured. His sister said he soon began having panic attacks.
"Every year around the anniversary of the attack on the Cole, it seemed to get worse and more violent and more frequent," she said.
When he was awake, the episodes were generally mild, she said. When they struck in his sleep, he would thrash uncontrollably.
``We had to restrain him,'' said Natala, project coordinator for a Miami architecture firm. ``Once, he got loose and hit me with such force I went through the [open] front window.'' Later, he'd have no memory of the incidents.
``When he was doing well, he was outgoing,'' she said. ``He spoke to everyone and was very friendly,'' a practical joker who would play tricks with his prosthetic leg. ``When he wasn't doing well, it was physically exhausting.''
When he could, Gokool spoke to school kids about overcoming adversity. He played cards on Monday evenings, and had an on-again, off-again relationship with a longtime girlfriend.
He loved Buffalo wings, Caribbean dishes like curried crab and shrimp, and all kinds of music, from German punk rock to a bagpipe version of Amazing Grace to Sean ``Diddy'' Combs' raps.
He was clean-cut and preppy, Natala said. ``He didn't own a pair of jeans.''
Drenched in Davidoff's Cool Water cologne, he'd declare: ``I want to look sharp and smell good.''
Gokool recalled her brother as a "fun-loving, outgoing, friendly, generous to-a-fault type of person," even after the bombing.
He was in the ship's mess hall during the attack. "When the explosion went off, everything was in slow motion, like a movie," Gokool told The Miami Herald in 2005. "My body spun around and I could smell smoke and fuel." After being knocked unconscious, Gokool said he woke up and slowly dragged himself up a ladder to rescue. "I don't want to die here," he said he thought to himself.
Doctors later removed his badly injured left leg, and he was visited in the hospital by then-President Bill Clinton.
"The president ... told me to hang in there," Gokool told the Herald. "I told him not to worry, that I'd make it, and to prove it, I'd open a nightclub and he'd be the first musician I'd invite so he could watch me dance on one leg while he played the sax."
Gokool lived in Homestead, about 35 miles southwest of Miami.
His sister said the lost leg "didn't really have any effect on him once the physical wound healed."
It was the panic attacks that scarred him. He couldn't work and stayed home when he felt them coming on, which was sometimes too often for him to live any normal life. He played cards occasionally and video games, and chatted often on the Internet with friends. He and his sister would go to the movies just about every Tuesday, but only when he felt comfortable there were no panic attacks looming.
"We saw every specialist you could think of but nobody knew what was causing it. They could just rule things out," his sister said.
While Gokool's death was sudden, "my parents and my brothers and I always knew that unless somebody could figure out what was wrong with him, it would probably kill him," she said. "A part of us always knew that would be his demise."
The family plans to take his ashes to Arlington National Cemetery, where the Cole dead lie in a special section. ``He always said he wanted to be interred with his buddies up there,'' his father said.
Born in Trinidad, Johann Gokool was 8 years old when the family moved to South Florida. His father, Ramish, is Hindu, of Indian heritage; his mother, Liah, is French Creole Catholic. Brothers Angelo and Hamish Gokool of Homestead, and Owen Paponette of Richmond, Va., also survive.
U.S. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Johann Gokool lost his left leg when a bomb ripped a hole in the side of the USS Cole nearly a decade ago, but the injury was nothing compared with the mental torment that ravaged him almost daily. He returned home to Florida suffering severe post-traumatic stress disorder and frequent panic attacks so violent he would launch into seizures and even fractured his own wrist several times as he flailed, sister Natala Gokool said Tuesday.
One of the brothers he lived with, his younger brother Hamish, found him dead in their home Wednesday, December 23, 2009, just a week after his 31st birthday, Natala Gokool said. His cause of death was unknown, though she said foul play was not suspected. The family believes the seizures just became too much for his body to handle.
Gokool was an electronic warfare technician aboard the Cole when suicide bombers rammed a small boat packed with explosives into it on Oct. 12, 2000, during a refueling stop in Aden, Yemen. It triggered a string of deadly fires. Seventeen U.S. sailors were killed and 39 others injured. His sister said he soon began having panic attacks.
"Every year around the anniversary of the attack on the Cole, it seemed to get worse and more violent and more frequent," she said.
When he was awake, the episodes were generally mild, she said. When they struck in his sleep, he would thrash uncontrollably.
``We had to restrain him,'' said Natala, project coordinator for a Miami architecture firm. ``Once, he got loose and hit me with such force I went through the [open] front window.'' Later, he'd have no memory of the incidents.
``When he was doing well, he was outgoing,'' she said. ``He spoke to everyone and was very friendly,'' a practical joker who would play tricks with his prosthetic leg. ``When he wasn't doing well, it was physically exhausting.''
When he could, Gokool spoke to school kids about overcoming adversity. He played cards on Monday evenings, and had an on-again, off-again relationship with a longtime girlfriend.
He loved Buffalo wings, Caribbean dishes like curried crab and shrimp, and all kinds of music, from German punk rock to a bagpipe version of Amazing Grace to Sean ``Diddy'' Combs' raps.
He was clean-cut and preppy, Natala said. ``He didn't own a pair of jeans.''
Drenched in Davidoff's Cool Water cologne, he'd declare: ``I want to look sharp and smell good.''
Gokool recalled her brother as a "fun-loving, outgoing, friendly, generous to-a-fault type of person," even after the bombing.
He was in the ship's mess hall during the attack. "When the explosion went off, everything was in slow motion, like a movie," Gokool told The Miami Herald in 2005. "My body spun around and I could smell smoke and fuel." After being knocked unconscious, Gokool said he woke up and slowly dragged himself up a ladder to rescue. "I don't want to die here," he said he thought to himself.
Doctors later removed his badly injured left leg, and he was visited in the hospital by then-President Bill Clinton.
"The president ... told me to hang in there," Gokool told the Herald. "I told him not to worry, that I'd make it, and to prove it, I'd open a nightclub and he'd be the first musician I'd invite so he could watch me dance on one leg while he played the sax."
Gokool lived in Homestead, about 35 miles southwest of Miami.
His sister said the lost leg "didn't really have any effect on him once the physical wound healed."
It was the panic attacks that scarred him. He couldn't work and stayed home when he felt them coming on, which was sometimes too often for him to live any normal life. He played cards occasionally and video games, and chatted often on the Internet with friends. He and his sister would go to the movies just about every Tuesday, but only when he felt comfortable there were no panic attacks looming.
"We saw every specialist you could think of but nobody knew what was causing it. They could just rule things out," his sister said.
While Gokool's death was sudden, "my parents and my brothers and I always knew that unless somebody could figure out what was wrong with him, it would probably kill him," she said. "A part of us always knew that would be his demise."
The family plans to take his ashes to Arlington National Cemetery, where the Cole dead lie in a special section. ``He always said he wanted to be interred with his buddies up there,'' his father said.
Born in Trinidad, Johann Gokool was 8 years old when the family moved to South Florida. His father, Ramish, is Hindu, of Indian heritage; his mother, Liah, is French Creole Catholic. Brothers Angelo and Hamish Gokool of Homestead, and Owen Paponette of Richmond, Va., also survive.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Marine Lance Cpl. Omar G. Roebuck
Remember Our Heroes
Marine Lance Cpl. Omar G. Roebuck, 23, of Moreno Valley, Calif.
LCpl Roebuck was assigned to 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.; died Dec. 22, 2009 as a result of a noncombat-related incident in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
Marine Lance Cpl. Omar G. Roebuck was killed in a non-combat related incident on 12/22/09.
Marine Lance Cpl. Omar G. Roebuck, 23, of Moreno Valley, Calif.
LCpl Roebuck was assigned to 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.; died Dec. 22, 2009 as a result of a noncombat-related incident in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
Marine Lance Cpl. Omar G. Roebuck was killed in a non-combat related incident on 12/22/09.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Marine Pfc. Serge Kropov
Remember Our Heroes
Marine Pfc. Serge Kropov, 21, of Hawley, Pa.
Pfc. Kropov was assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif.; died Dec. 20, 2009 as a result of a non-hostile incident in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
Los Angeles Times -- A Marine from Miramar Marine Corps Air Station in San Diego has died in Afghanistan from a "nonhostile incident," the Pentagon announced.
Pfc. Serge Kropov, 21, died in Helmand province in southern Afghanistan, where Marines have been assigned to oust Taliban fighters and win support from the local populace.
Kropov, from Hawley, Pa., enlisted in 2006 and had served in Iraq. He was a helicopter airframe mechanic assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, part of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force.
His death Sunday is under investigation
Marine Pfc. Serge Kropov was killed in a non-hostile incident on 12/20/09.
Marine Pfc. Serge Kropov, 21, of Hawley, Pa.
Pfc. Kropov was assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif.; died Dec. 20, 2009 as a result of a non-hostile incident in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
Los Angeles Times -- A Marine from Miramar Marine Corps Air Station in San Diego has died in Afghanistan from a "nonhostile incident," the Pentagon announced.
Pfc. Serge Kropov, 21, died in Helmand province in southern Afghanistan, where Marines have been assigned to oust Taliban fighters and win support from the local populace.
Kropov, from Hawley, Pa., enlisted in 2006 and had served in Iraq. He was a helicopter airframe mechanic assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, part of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force.
His death Sunday is under investigation
Marine Pfc. Serge Kropov was killed in a non-hostile incident on 12/20/09.
Friday, December 18, 2009
Army Sgt. Albert D. Ware
Remember Our Heroes
Army Sgt. Albert D. Ware, 27, of Chicago
Sgt. Ware was assigned to the 782nd Combat Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.; died Dec. 18, 2009 in the Arghandab River Valley, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device.
Washington DC) A soldier from Chicago has been killed in the line of duty in Afghanistan.
Military officials said today 27-year-old Army Sergeant Albert D. Ware died December 18th in Arghandab River Valley of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive.
Ware was assigned to the 782nd Combat Support Battalion, Fourth Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
"They are on the offense," said Maj. Brian Fickel, a division spokesman at Fort Bragg. "It's a product of that. With the surge of forces into Afghanistan, we expect that's going to continue all across Afghanistan."
Ware was assigned to Company F of the 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment.
"Sgt. Ware was loved and respected by all personnel in his platoon," said Sgt. 1st Class Kalep Rivers, his platoon sergeant. "He will be truly missed."
Ware joined the Army as a motor transport operator on July 6, 2006, and attended basic training and advanced individual training at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. He completed the Basic Airborne School at Fort Benning, Ga. and was assigned to the 782nd Brigade Support Battalion at Fort Bragg in November 2006.
"He would go above and beyond his job," said Sgt. Scott Wolfe, who worked with Ware. "He thought of his soldiers before himself, any day. He would often work late nights and weekends to make sure soldiers had what they needed for missions."
Ware served with the battalion during its 15-month deployment to Afghanistan from January 2007 to April 2008.
He is survived by his wife, Pleshette Farmer-Ware; his son, T'John B. Ware; his daughters, Heaven Ferguson and Musu Cawtain; his father, Thomas Ware; and his mother, Massa Cooper.
A memorial in his honor will be held in Afghanistan.
Army Sgt. Albert D. Ware was killed in action on 12/18/09.
Army Sgt. Albert D. Ware, 27, of Chicago
Sgt. Ware was assigned to the 782nd Combat Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.; died Dec. 18, 2009 in the Arghandab River Valley, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device.
Washington DC) A soldier from Chicago has been killed in the line of duty in Afghanistan.
Military officials said today 27-year-old Army Sergeant Albert D. Ware died December 18th in Arghandab River Valley of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive.
Ware was assigned to the 782nd Combat Support Battalion, Fourth Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
"They are on the offense," said Maj. Brian Fickel, a division spokesman at Fort Bragg. "It's a product of that. With the surge of forces into Afghanistan, we expect that's going to continue all across Afghanistan."
Ware was assigned to Company F of the 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment.
"Sgt. Ware was loved and respected by all personnel in his platoon," said Sgt. 1st Class Kalep Rivers, his platoon sergeant. "He will be truly missed."
Ware joined the Army as a motor transport operator on July 6, 2006, and attended basic training and advanced individual training at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. He completed the Basic Airborne School at Fort Benning, Ga. and was assigned to the 782nd Brigade Support Battalion at Fort Bragg in November 2006.
"He would go above and beyond his job," said Sgt. Scott Wolfe, who worked with Ware. "He thought of his soldiers before himself, any day. He would often work late nights and weekends to make sure soldiers had what they needed for missions."
Ware served with the battalion during its 15-month deployment to Afghanistan from January 2007 to April 2008.
He is survived by his wife, Pleshette Farmer-Ware; his son, T'John B. Ware; his daughters, Heaven Ferguson and Musu Cawtain; his father, Thomas Ware; and his mother, Massa Cooper.
A memorial in his honor will be held in Afghanistan.
Army Sgt. Albert D. Ware was killed in action on 12/18/09.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Air Force Tech. Sgt. Anthony C. Campbell Jr.
Remember Our Heroes
Air Force Tech. Sgt. Anthony C. Campbell Jr., 35, of Florence, Ky.
TSgt. Campbell was assigned to the 932nd Civil Engineer Squadron, Scott Air Force Base, Ill.; died Dec. 15, 2009 in Helmand province, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained from the detonation of an improvised explosive device.
Flags to be lowered for Campbell
The Associated Press
FRANKFORT, Ky. — Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear has ordered that flags at all state office buildings be lowered to half-staff Dec. 22 in honor of an airman who died in Afghanistan.
The Pentagon says 35-year-old Tech Sgt. Anthony Campbell Jr. of Florence died Dec. 15 of wounds suffered when a bomb exploded in Helmand province. Campbell was assigned to the 932nd Civil Engineer Squadron based at Scott Air Force Base, Ill.
Services for Campbell were to be held in Williamstown on Dec. 22.
Campbell transferred to the Air Force Reserve in early 2008 after serving with the Kentucky Air National Guard.
Air Force Tech. Sgt. Anthony C. Campbell Jr. was killed in action on 12/15/09.
Air Force Tech. Sgt. Anthony C. Campbell Jr., 35, of Florence, Ky.
TSgt. Campbell was assigned to the 932nd Civil Engineer Squadron, Scott Air Force Base, Ill.; died Dec. 15, 2009 in Helmand province, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained from the detonation of an improvised explosive device.
Flags to be lowered for Campbell
The Associated Press
FRANKFORT, Ky. — Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear has ordered that flags at all state office buildings be lowered to half-staff Dec. 22 in honor of an airman who died in Afghanistan.
The Pentagon says 35-year-old Tech Sgt. Anthony Campbell Jr. of Florence died Dec. 15 of wounds suffered when a bomb exploded in Helmand province. Campbell was assigned to the 932nd Civil Engineer Squadron based at Scott Air Force Base, Ill.
Services for Campbell were to be held in Williamstown on Dec. 22.
Campbell transferred to the Air Force Reserve in early 2008 after serving with the Kentucky Air National Guard.
Air Force Tech. Sgt. Anthony C. Campbell Jr. was killed in action on 12/15/09.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Army Pfc. Jaiciae L. Pauley
Remember Our Heroes
Army Pfc. Jaiciae L. Pauley, 29, of Austell, Ga.
Pfc. Pauley was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.; died Dec. 11, 2009 in Kirkuk, Iraq, of injuries sustained from a non-combat-related incident.
Muncie Star Press -- A man who moved to Muncie two years ago to be closer to his family has now lost his only son in the Iraq War.
Pfc. Jaiciae L. Pauley, 29, of Austell, Ga., son of Muncie residents Roger and Teressa Pauley, died Dec. 11 in Kirkuk, Iraq, as a result of a "non-combat related incident," according to a military press release.
The death is still being investigated by the U.S. Army, but for Roger Pauley, the manner of his son's death isn't important.
"It bothers me (knowing the death is still being investigated), but whether it's a suicide or an accidental discharge of a gun, my son is still gone," the elder Pauley said. "He was a typical man in his 20s and he was my best friend who I could talk to about anything."
Jaiciae Pauley enlisted in the Army during the summer of 2008, after his father and stepmother moved from the Atlanta metropolitan area to Muncie. The family had begun to struggle financially, prompting the Pauleys to choose to live with family in Indiana.
Roger's mother, Floffie, and stepfather, Marshall Bias, have lived in Muncie for the past 23 years. The couple, who have been married for 53 years, welcomed their son into their new home with open arms, although they were sad that their grandson opted to stay behind in Atlanta.
And although the family was supportive of Jaiciae's decision to enlist in the Army, they were concerned about the dangers of combat, wondering whether they would see their loved one again.
"I was a protective parent," Roger said. "I personally didn't want him to go, because I was worried about the outcome. But I was supportive."
Family members miss the man they knew as loyal and fun, a man who enjoyed having philosophical discussions and who was always there to help family and friends.
Nothing will bring Jaiciae back, but memories of him will go on forever.
"I was pretty hurt when I heard Jaiciae died," said his stepgrandfather, Bias. "This is the second family member I've lost in this stupid war. And we'll all miss him. I know his dad will really miss him."
Army Pfc. Jaiciae L. Pauley was killed in a non-combat related incident on 12/11/09.
Army Pfc. Jaiciae L. Pauley, 29, of Austell, Ga.
Pfc. Pauley was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.; died Dec. 11, 2009 in Kirkuk, Iraq, of injuries sustained from a non-combat-related incident.
Muncie Star Press -- A man who moved to Muncie two years ago to be closer to his family has now lost his only son in the Iraq War.
Pfc. Jaiciae L. Pauley, 29, of Austell, Ga., son of Muncie residents Roger and Teressa Pauley, died Dec. 11 in Kirkuk, Iraq, as a result of a "non-combat related incident," according to a military press release.
The death is still being investigated by the U.S. Army, but for Roger Pauley, the manner of his son's death isn't important.
"It bothers me (knowing the death is still being investigated), but whether it's a suicide or an accidental discharge of a gun, my son is still gone," the elder Pauley said. "He was a typical man in his 20s and he was my best friend who I could talk to about anything."
Jaiciae Pauley enlisted in the Army during the summer of 2008, after his father and stepmother moved from the Atlanta metropolitan area to Muncie. The family had begun to struggle financially, prompting the Pauleys to choose to live with family in Indiana.
Roger's mother, Floffie, and stepfather, Marshall Bias, have lived in Muncie for the past 23 years. The couple, who have been married for 53 years, welcomed their son into their new home with open arms, although they were sad that their grandson opted to stay behind in Atlanta.
And although the family was supportive of Jaiciae's decision to enlist in the Army, they were concerned about the dangers of combat, wondering whether they would see their loved one again.
"I was a protective parent," Roger said. "I personally didn't want him to go, because I was worried about the outcome. But I was supportive."
Family members miss the man they knew as loyal and fun, a man who enjoyed having philosophical discussions and who was always there to help family and friends.
Nothing will bring Jaiciae back, but memories of him will go on forever.
"I was pretty hurt when I heard Jaiciae died," said his stepgrandfather, Bias. "This is the second family member I've lost in this stupid war. And we'll all miss him. I know his dad will really miss him."
Army Pfc. Jaiciae L. Pauley was killed in a non-combat related incident on 12/11/09.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Army Pvt. Jhanner A. Tello
Remember Our Heroes
Army Pvt. Jhanner A. Tello, 29, of Los Angeles
Pvt. Tello was assigned to the 3rd Aviation Support Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas; died Dec. 10, 2009 in Baghdad, Iraq, of injuries sustained from a non-combat-related incident.
WASHINGTON —Fort Hood Pvt. Jhanner A. Tello, 29, of Los Angeles, died Thursday in Baghdad of injuries he received in what the military described Monday as a non-combat-related incident.
Circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation, the Department of Defense said Monday.
Tello was assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division’s 3rd Aviation Support Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade.
Tello joined the Army in July 2005 and had been stationed at Fort Hood since November 2005.
Army Pvt. Jhanner A. Tello was killed in a non-combat related incident on 12/10/09.
Army Pvt. Jhanner A. Tello, 29, of Los Angeles
Pvt. Tello was assigned to the 3rd Aviation Support Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas; died Dec. 10, 2009 in Baghdad, Iraq, of injuries sustained from a non-combat-related incident.
WASHINGTON —Fort Hood Pvt. Jhanner A. Tello, 29, of Los Angeles, died Thursday in Baghdad of injuries he received in what the military described Monday as a non-combat-related incident.
Circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation, the Department of Defense said Monday.
Tello was assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division’s 3rd Aviation Support Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade.
Tello joined the Army in July 2005 and had been stationed at Fort Hood since November 2005.
Army Pvt. Jhanner A. Tello was killed in a non-combat related incident on 12/10/09.
Tuesday, December 08, 2009
Marine Sgt. Ralph Anthony Webb Frietas
Remember Our Heroes
Marine Sgt. Ralph Anthony Webb Frietas, 23, of Detroit, Mich.
Sgt. Frietas was assigned to Marine Wing Support Squadron 172, Marine Wing Support Group 17, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Okinawa, Japan; died Dec. 8, 2009 in Baghdad, Iraq, of unknown causes.
23-year-old Marine from Detroit is killed in Iraq
By Niraj Warikoo
Detroit Free Press
A Marine from Detroit has died while serving in Iraq, the Pentagon said Saturday.
Sgt. Ralph Anthony Webb Frietas, 23, died Tuesday in Baghdad.
The Department of Defense said the cause is unknown and is under investigation.
Frietas was assigned to the Marine Wing Support Squadron 172, Marine Wing Support Group 17, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force in Okinawa, Japan.
Frietas was a combat engineer who began active duty in the Marine Corps in August 2004, according to the Marines.
He was promoted to the rank of sergeant in September 2008 and began his tour on Okinawa in June.
“He was a very good Marine, and it always hits hard when you lose one of your Marines,” Maj. Victor A. Chin, the executive officer of Marine Wing Support Squadron 172, said in a statement today. "He will be missed."
Frietas received a number of awards, including the Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Unit Commendation, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon
Marine Sgt. Ralph Anthony Webb Frietas died 12/08/09 of unknown causes.
Marine Sgt. Ralph Anthony Webb Frietas, 23, of Detroit, Mich.
Sgt. Frietas was assigned to Marine Wing Support Squadron 172, Marine Wing Support Group 17, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Okinawa, Japan; died Dec. 8, 2009 in Baghdad, Iraq, of unknown causes.
23-year-old Marine from Detroit is killed in Iraq
By Niraj Warikoo
Detroit Free Press
A Marine from Detroit has died while serving in Iraq, the Pentagon said Saturday.
Sgt. Ralph Anthony Webb Frietas, 23, died Tuesday in Baghdad.
The Department of Defense said the cause is unknown and is under investigation.
Frietas was assigned to the Marine Wing Support Squadron 172, Marine Wing Support Group 17, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force in Okinawa, Japan.
Frietas was a combat engineer who began active duty in the Marine Corps in August 2004, according to the Marines.
He was promoted to the rank of sergeant in September 2008 and began his tour on Okinawa in June.
“He was a very good Marine, and it always hits hard when you lose one of your Marines,” Maj. Victor A. Chin, the executive officer of Marine Wing Support Squadron 172, said in a statement today. "He will be missed."
Frietas received a number of awards, including the Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Unit Commendation, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon
Marine Sgt. Ralph Anthony Webb Frietas died 12/08/09 of unknown causes.
Marine Cpl. Xhacob Latorre
Remember Our Heroes
Marine Cpl. Xhacob Latorre, 21, of Waterbury, Conn.
Cpl. Latorre was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.; died Dec. 8, 2009 of wounds sustained while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
2/8 Marine dies from combat wounds
Staff report
A North Carolina-based Marine injured in Afghanistan in August died Tuesday, according to the Defense Department.
Cpl. Xhacob Latorre, 21, of Waterbury, Conn., died of wounds he suffered Aug. 10 during combat operations in Helmand province. He lost both legs when he was struck by an improvised explosive device, according to the Warrior’s Wish Foundation Web site. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines, out of Camp Lejeune, N.C.
Latorre, a mortar man, joined the Corps in June 2005, according to II Marine Expeditionary Force release. He served two tours in Iraq, one in July 2006 and another in late 2007.
He is survived by his wife and son.
Marine to be laid to rest
The Associated Press
WATERBURY, Conn. — A funeral service is being held for a Connecticut Marine who died Dec. 8 from wounds he suffered four months earlier during combat operations in Afghanistan.
The funeral for Cpl. Xhacob Latorre is set for Dec. 17 in his hometown of Waterbury. He will be buried at the State Veterans Cemetery in Middletown.
Latorre, 21, died at a Texas hospital from wounds he suffered in August when an improvised explosive device detonated. He left behind his wife and an 18-month-old son.
He was a mortar man assigned to the II Marine Expeditionary Force, based at Camp Lejeune, N.C. He joined the Marines in 2005 shortly after graduating from Crosby High School in Waterbury.
Marine Cpl. Xhacob Latorre was killed in action on 12/08/09.
Marine Cpl. Xhacob Latorre, 21, of Waterbury, Conn.
Cpl. Latorre was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.; died Dec. 8, 2009 of wounds sustained while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
2/8 Marine dies from combat wounds
Staff report
A North Carolina-based Marine injured in Afghanistan in August died Tuesday, according to the Defense Department.
Cpl. Xhacob Latorre, 21, of Waterbury, Conn., died of wounds he suffered Aug. 10 during combat operations in Helmand province. He lost both legs when he was struck by an improvised explosive device, according to the Warrior’s Wish Foundation Web site. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines, out of Camp Lejeune, N.C.
Latorre, a mortar man, joined the Corps in June 2005, according to II Marine Expeditionary Force release. He served two tours in Iraq, one in July 2006 and another in late 2007.
He is survived by his wife and son.
Marine to be laid to rest
The Associated Press
WATERBURY, Conn. — A funeral service is being held for a Connecticut Marine who died Dec. 8 from wounds he suffered four months earlier during combat operations in Afghanistan.
The funeral for Cpl. Xhacob Latorre is set for Dec. 17 in his hometown of Waterbury. He will be buried at the State Veterans Cemetery in Middletown.
Latorre, 21, died at a Texas hospital from wounds he suffered in August when an improvised explosive device detonated. He left behind his wife and an 18-month-old son.
He was a mortar man assigned to the II Marine Expeditionary Force, based at Camp Lejeune, N.C. He joined the Marines in 2005 shortly after graduating from Crosby High School in Waterbury.
Marine Cpl. Xhacob Latorre was killed in action on 12/08/09.
Saturday, December 05, 2009
Army Sgt. Elijah J. Rao
Remember Our Heroes
Army Sgt. Elijah J. Rao, 26, of Lake Oswego, Ore.
Sgt. Rao was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.; died Dec. 5, 2009 in Nuristan, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.
The Gazette -- A 26-year-old Fort Carson soldier was killed Saturday when his unit was attacked with an improvised explosive device in Nuristan province, Afghanistan, the Department of Defense announced this evening.
Sgt. Elijah J. Rao, of Lake Oswego, Ore., was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division. He is survived by a wife, Leah, and a 1-year-old daughter, The Oregonian newsPaper reported. His family remained at Fort Sill, Okla., when he was reassigned to Fort Carson and deployed in June to Afghanistan, the newsPaper said.
Rao was the 35th soldier from Fort Carson to die in Afghanistan, pushing the total number of Fort Carson’s war deaths to 290.
“He was a kind, loving, honorable man and will be missed dearly by our family and all those that he touched with his gentle spirit,” Cicily Ulrich, who identified herself as Rao’s sister,said in a blog post earlier this week.
Rao served a previous tour in Iraq from October 2006 to December 2007 before deploying to Afghanistan in June. He was scheduled to return home on leave in January and would have completed his tour in May, the blog entry said.
He was a field artillery meteorological crewmember. His mother, Sharon Heuerken of Vancouver, Wash., told The Oregonian that he repaired meteorological equipment. He was hit by an explosive after stepping out of his truck at the site of an earlier bombing, she said.
“As a family, we are so proud of Elijah,” she was quoted as saying in The Oregonian. “He was an honorable son, grandson, brother, uncle, husband, father, soldier and hero. We were lucky to have him.”
Army Sgt. Elijah J. Rao was killed in action on 12/05/09.
Army Sgt. Elijah J. Rao, 26, of Lake Oswego, Ore.
Sgt. Rao was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.; died Dec. 5, 2009 in Nuristan, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.
The Gazette -- A 26-year-old Fort Carson soldier was killed Saturday when his unit was attacked with an improvised explosive device in Nuristan province, Afghanistan, the Department of Defense announced this evening.
Sgt. Elijah J. Rao, of Lake Oswego, Ore., was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division. He is survived by a wife, Leah, and a 1-year-old daughter, The Oregonian newsPaper reported. His family remained at Fort Sill, Okla., when he was reassigned to Fort Carson and deployed in June to Afghanistan, the newsPaper said.
Rao was the 35th soldier from Fort Carson to die in Afghanistan, pushing the total number of Fort Carson’s war deaths to 290.
“He was a kind, loving, honorable man and will be missed dearly by our family and all those that he touched with his gentle spirit,” Cicily Ulrich, who identified herself as Rao’s sister,said in a blog post earlier this week.
Rao served a previous tour in Iraq from October 2006 to December 2007 before deploying to Afghanistan in June. He was scheduled to return home on leave in January and would have completed his tour in May, the blog entry said.
He was a field artillery meteorological crewmember. His mother, Sharon Heuerken of Vancouver, Wash., told The Oregonian that he repaired meteorological equipment. He was hit by an explosive after stepping out of his truck at the site of an earlier bombing, she said.
“As a family, we are so proud of Elijah,” she was quoted as saying in The Oregonian. “He was an honorable son, grandson, brother, uncle, husband, father, soldier and hero. We were lucky to have him.”
Army Sgt. Elijah J. Rao was killed in action on 12/05/09.
Thursday, December 03, 2009
Army Staff Sgt. Dennis J. Hansen
Remember Our Heroes
Army Staff Sgt. Dennis J. Hansen, 31, of Panama City, Fla.
SSgt. Hansen was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, N.Y.; died Dec. 7, at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Landstuhl, Germany, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit on Dec. 3, 2009 with an improvised explosive device in Logar province, Afghanistan.
News Herald -- A Panama City native has died of injuries suffered at war in Afghanistan, the Army said Thursday.
Staff Sgt. Dennis J. Hansen died Monday at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany, military officials said. The 31-year-old sergeant was a husband and a father of three young children.
Hansen was wounded in a Dec. 3 blast in Afghanistan’s Logar province, according to the Army. Kerry Buchenroth, who identified himself as Hansen’s uncle, told the Bellefontaine (Ohio) Examiner that Hansen was clearing the second floor of a building when an improvised explosive device detonated.
He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) at Fort Drum, N.Y. He arrived at Fort Drum in July 2005.
Hansen graduated in 1996 from Indian Lake High School in Lewistown, Ohio, where he grew up as an adopted child, Buchenroth told the Examiner. He joined the Army immediately after graduation.
His previous deployments included four months in Iraq from March to July 2004 and 16 months in Afghanistan from February 2006 to June 2007.
Over his 13 years of service, Hansen earned decorations including the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the NATO Medal and the Combat Infantryman Badge.
Army Staff Sgt. Dennis J. Hansen was killed in action on 12/03/09.
Army Staff Sgt. Dennis J. Hansen, 31, of Panama City, Fla.
SSgt. Hansen was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, N.Y.; died Dec. 7, at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Landstuhl, Germany, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit on Dec. 3, 2009 with an improvised explosive device in Logar province, Afghanistan.
News Herald -- A Panama City native has died of injuries suffered at war in Afghanistan, the Army said Thursday.
Staff Sgt. Dennis J. Hansen died Monday at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany, military officials said. The 31-year-old sergeant was a husband and a father of three young children.
Hansen was wounded in a Dec. 3 blast in Afghanistan’s Logar province, according to the Army. Kerry Buchenroth, who identified himself as Hansen’s uncle, told the Bellefontaine (Ohio) Examiner that Hansen was clearing the second floor of a building when an improvised explosive device detonated.
He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) at Fort Drum, N.Y. He arrived at Fort Drum in July 2005.
Hansen graduated in 1996 from Indian Lake High School in Lewistown, Ohio, where he grew up as an adopted child, Buchenroth told the Examiner. He joined the Army immediately after graduation.
His previous deployments included four months in Iraq from March to July 2004 and 16 months in Afghanistan from February 2006 to June 2007.
Over his 13 years of service, Hansen earned decorations including the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the NATO Medal and the Combat Infantryman Badge.
Army Staff Sgt. Dennis J. Hansen was killed in action on 12/03/09.
Marine Cpl Ryan Pape
Remember Our Heroes
Marine Brothers Die 4 Years Apart
EAST GRAND FORKS, Minn. (AP) ―
Marine Corps Corporal Ryan Pape, 23, died Thursday from injuries sustained during a parachute training exercise in California.
A Minnesota family has lost a second military son in a non-combat accident.
Ron and Shar Pape received visitors at their home in East Grand Forks Sunday and mourned the loss of their 23-year-old son Ryan Pape, a Marine Corps corporal. He died Thursday from injuries suffered during a parachute training exercise at Camp Pendleton, Calif.
Ryan Pape graduated from high school in May 2005, a day after his older brother, Marine Cpl. Riley Pape, was buried in a cemetery near the family farm. Riley Pape survived fighting in Iraq's Anbar Province, but lost his life in a motorcycle accident after returning to California.
The Star Tribune reports Ryan Pape followed his brother into a Marine reconnaissance battalion and served two tours in Iraq.
Marine Brothers Die 4 Years Apart
EAST GRAND FORKS, Minn. (AP) ―
Marine Corps Corporal Ryan Pape, 23, died Thursday from injuries sustained during a parachute training exercise in California.
A Minnesota family has lost a second military son in a non-combat accident.
Ron and Shar Pape received visitors at their home in East Grand Forks Sunday and mourned the loss of their 23-year-old son Ryan Pape, a Marine Corps corporal. He died Thursday from injuries suffered during a parachute training exercise at Camp Pendleton, Calif.
Ryan Pape graduated from high school in May 2005, a day after his older brother, Marine Cpl. Riley Pape, was buried in a cemetery near the family farm. Riley Pape survived fighting in Iraq's Anbar Province, but lost his life in a motorcycle accident after returning to California.
The Star Tribune reports Ryan Pape followed his brother into a Marine reconnaissance battalion and served two tours in Iraq.
Tuesday, December 01, 2009
Army Sgt. Kenneth R. Nichols Jr.
Remember Our Heroes
Army Sgt. Kenneth R. Nichols Jr., 28, of Chrisman, Ill.
Sgt. Nichols was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.; died Dec. 1, 2009 in Kunar province, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when enemy forces attacked his unit using small-arms and rocket-propelled grenade fire.
Fort Carson solider killed in Afghanistan
The Associated Press
FORT CARSON, Colo. — A Fort Carson soldier killed in Afghanistan’s Kunar province was looking forward to coming home for Christmas during a two-week break from the battlefield this month, family members said.
Twenty-eight-year-old Sgt. Kenneth R. Nichols Jr., who grew up in Chrisman, Ill., was killed Tuesday when his unit was attacked by small-arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades, the Department of Defense said Friday.
He is survived by his wife and four children, including a 9-month-old daughter, Pailynn.
Nichols was assigned in Fort Carson’s 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division.
“He always smiled. He loved life, he was happy, and he made everyone around him want to be a better person,” his widow, Lexi Nichols, told The Gazette in Colorado Springs.
The four-year Army veteran had served a tour in Iraq, from October 2006 to December 2007.
He loved playing pranks, riding his Harley Davidson and hanging out in a shed he built behind his Colorado Springs home.
While deployed, Nichols chatted on the computer with his wife for 5 or 10 minutes a day. He had been looking forward to seeing his children during a two-week break that was to have started Dec. 16.
His family said he would be buried in the Danville National Cemetery in Illinois.
Army Sgt. Kenneth R. Nichols Jr. was killed in action on 12/01/09.
Army Sgt. Kenneth R. Nichols Jr., 28, of Chrisman, Ill.
Sgt. Nichols was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.; died Dec. 1, 2009 in Kunar province, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when enemy forces attacked his unit using small-arms and rocket-propelled grenade fire.
Fort Carson solider killed in Afghanistan
The Associated Press
FORT CARSON, Colo. — A Fort Carson soldier killed in Afghanistan’s Kunar province was looking forward to coming home for Christmas during a two-week break from the battlefield this month, family members said.
Twenty-eight-year-old Sgt. Kenneth R. Nichols Jr., who grew up in Chrisman, Ill., was killed Tuesday when his unit was attacked by small-arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades, the Department of Defense said Friday.
He is survived by his wife and four children, including a 9-month-old daughter, Pailynn.
Nichols was assigned in Fort Carson’s 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division.
“He always smiled. He loved life, he was happy, and he made everyone around him want to be a better person,” his widow, Lexi Nichols, told The Gazette in Colorado Springs.
The four-year Army veteran had served a tour in Iraq, from October 2006 to December 2007.
He loved playing pranks, riding his Harley Davidson and hanging out in a shed he built behind his Colorado Springs home.
While deployed, Nichols chatted on the computer with his wife for 5 or 10 minutes a day. He had been looking forward to seeing his children during a two-week break that was to have started Dec. 16.
His family said he would be buried in the Danville National Cemetery in Illinois.
Army Sgt. Kenneth R. Nichols Jr. was killed in action on 12/01/09.
Marine Lance Cpl. Jonathan A. Taylor
Remember Our Heroes
Marine Lance Cpl. Jonathan A. Taylor, 22, of Jacksonville, Fla.
LCpl Taylor was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.; died Dec. 1, 2009 in Helmand province, Afghanistan, while supporting combat operations.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- A 22-year-old Marine killed in Afghanistan last week was laid to rest Wednesday.
Family and friends gathered to say a final goodbye to Lance Cpl. Jonathan Taylor.
Taylor, who joined the U.S. Marines after graduating from Wolfson High School, was killed in the Helmand Province on Dec. 1 by an improvised explosive device. He was attached to the 2nd Battalion 2nd Marines out of Camp Lejeune.
Taylor was two months into his second tour in Afghanistan. His personal awards included the National Defense Service Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and a certificate of commendation.
"He had the biggest heart," said Justin Wilson, who knew Taylor since middle school. "Whenever anyone needed anything, Jonathan would volunteer himself."
"Jonathan Taylor always knew the right thing to say and when he needed to say it," said Sgt. Jonathan Davis, who also knew Taylor since middle school. "He always could calm any situation down."
Wilson and Davis said they were best friends with Taylor but thought of him more as a brother.
"He's been talking about going into the Marines ever since I've known him," Wilson said. "So he's actually one of the few people I know that lived his entire life the way he wanted to."
Friends and loved ones gathered graveside, remembering Taylor's love for God, his family and his country. Even though he's gone, they said his service and his spirit will never be forgotten.
"I know he would want everybody to celebrate the fact that he did walk the Earth and celebrate the fact that he did what he wanted to do," Davis said.
Marine Lance Cpl. Jonathan A. Taylor was killed in action on 12/01/09.
Marine Lance Cpl. Jonathan A. Taylor, 22, of Jacksonville, Fla.
LCpl Taylor was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.; died Dec. 1, 2009 in Helmand province, Afghanistan, while supporting combat operations.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- A 22-year-old Marine killed in Afghanistan last week was laid to rest Wednesday.
Family and friends gathered to say a final goodbye to Lance Cpl. Jonathan Taylor.
Taylor, who joined the U.S. Marines after graduating from Wolfson High School, was killed in the Helmand Province on Dec. 1 by an improvised explosive device. He was attached to the 2nd Battalion 2nd Marines out of Camp Lejeune.
Taylor was two months into his second tour in Afghanistan. His personal awards included the National Defense Service Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and a certificate of commendation.
"He had the biggest heart," said Justin Wilson, who knew Taylor since middle school. "Whenever anyone needed anything, Jonathan would volunteer himself."
"Jonathan Taylor always knew the right thing to say and when he needed to say it," said Sgt. Jonathan Davis, who also knew Taylor since middle school. "He always could calm any situation down."
Wilson and Davis said they were best friends with Taylor but thought of him more as a brother.
"He's been talking about going into the Marines ever since I've known him," Wilson said. "So he's actually one of the few people I know that lived his entire life the way he wanted to."
Friends and loved ones gathered graveside, remembering Taylor's love for God, his family and his country. Even though he's gone, they said his service and his spirit will never be forgotten.
"I know he would want everybody to celebrate the fact that he did walk the Earth and celebrate the fact that he did what he wanted to do," Davis said.
Marine Lance Cpl. Jonathan A. Taylor was killed in action on 12/01/09.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Army Pfc. Derrick D. Gwaltney
Remember Our Heroes
Army Pfc. Derrick D. Gwaltney, 21, of Cape Coral, Fla.
Pfc. Gwaltney was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 377th Field Artillery Regiment, 17th Fires Brigade, Fort Lewis, Wash; died Nov. 29, 2009 south of Basra, Iraq, from a non-combat-related incident.
Was days away from returning home
The Associated Press
Derrick Gwaltney couldn’t wait to come home from Iraq and see his wife and 2-year-old daughter — and the son the couple was expecting, his family said.
They had spoken to him on Thanksgiving, just days before he died.
“We put him on speaker phone so everyone could yell, ‘Derrick, we love you! Happy Thanksgiving!’ He kind of chuckled and laughed and said, ‘Thanks everybody.’ He said, ‘I’ll talk to you later, mom.’ That was it,” said his mother, Patricia Gwaltney.
Gwaltney, 21, of Cape Coral, Fla., died Nov. 29 south of Basra, Iraq. His family said he was found alone with a single gunshot wound to his head. He graduated from Sandusky High School in Ohio in 2006 and enlisted in the military in 2008. He was assigned to Fort Lewis, Wash.
His sister, Latisha Gwaltney, said he was apprehensive about his deployment but was “strong-willed and brave.”
Whitney Brechner of Cape Coral remembered her “Insomnia Buddy” in a posting on an online message board. She recalled the late-night talks and adventures playing “World of Warcraft” the two would have in the wee hours.
“Derrick was an incredibly caring and selfless man,” she said. “He was a loving father and a wonderful friend.”
He is survived by his wife, Heidi; a daughter and a stepdaughter.
Army Pfc. Derrick D. Gwaltney was killed in a non-combat incident on 11/29/09.
Army Pfc. Derrick D. Gwaltney, 21, of Cape Coral, Fla.
Pfc. Gwaltney was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 377th Field Artillery Regiment, 17th Fires Brigade, Fort Lewis, Wash; died Nov. 29, 2009 south of Basra, Iraq, from a non-combat-related incident.
Was days away from returning home
The Associated Press
Derrick Gwaltney couldn’t wait to come home from Iraq and see his wife and 2-year-old daughter — and the son the couple was expecting, his family said.
They had spoken to him on Thanksgiving, just days before he died.
“We put him on speaker phone so everyone could yell, ‘Derrick, we love you! Happy Thanksgiving!’ He kind of chuckled and laughed and said, ‘Thanks everybody.’ He said, ‘I’ll talk to you later, mom.’ That was it,” said his mother, Patricia Gwaltney.
Gwaltney, 21, of Cape Coral, Fla., died Nov. 29 south of Basra, Iraq. His family said he was found alone with a single gunshot wound to his head. He graduated from Sandusky High School in Ohio in 2006 and enlisted in the military in 2008. He was assigned to Fort Lewis, Wash.
His sister, Latisha Gwaltney, said he was apprehensive about his deployment but was “strong-willed and brave.”
Whitney Brechner of Cape Coral remembered her “Insomnia Buddy” in a posting on an online message board. She recalled the late-night talks and adventures playing “World of Warcraft” the two would have in the wee hours.
“Derrick was an incredibly caring and selfless man,” she said. “He was a loving father and a wonderful friend.”
He is survived by his wife, Heidi; a daughter and a stepdaughter.
Army Pfc. Derrick D. Gwaltney was killed in a non-combat incident on 11/29/09.
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Navy Engineman 3rd Class David M. Mudge
Remember Our Heroes
Navy Engineman 3rd Class David M. Mudge, 22, of Sutherlin, Ore.
Engineman Mudge died Nov. 28, 2009 when he was electrocuted while working in a machinery space aboard the guided missile frigate Rentz while on a port call in Jebel Ali, United Arab Emirates.
Rentz sailor electrocuted aboard ship
Staff report
SAN DIEGO — A sailor assigned to the frigate Rentz died Saturday after being electrocuted while working in a machinery space during a port call in the Persian Gulf, Navy officials said Monday.
Navy officials identified the sailor as Engineman 3rd Class David M. Mudge, 22, who suffered fatal wounds “due to electric shock” while doing repairs in an auxiliary machinery space, Naval Surface Forces officials said in a statement. Mudge, of Sutherlin, Ohio, died despite resuscitation efforts and was pronounced dead at the Jebel Ali International hospital in Jebel Ali, United Arab Emirates.
Navy officials are investigating the incident.
Mudge joined the Navy in January 2007 and served aboard the frigate McClusky before reporting to Rentz in July 2009, said Lt. Cmdr. Chris Servello, a Naval Surfaces Forces spokesman in Coronado, Calif.
Rentz, a San Diego-based ship, is deployed with the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group.
Took advantage of the chance to travel the world
The Associated Press
David Mudge liked traveling, and trying new cuisines or “anything that wasn’t what he had at home,” his brother said.
Mudge joined the Navy to see the world after a childhood of listening to his uncles and other relatives share stories about serving in the military. On the USS Rentz, Mudge was able to see the ancient pyramids in Egypt, a sight that left him in awe, his brother said.
“The sheer size of them and the age of them and everything just blew him away,” Curtis Mudge said. “Pictures didn’t do it justice.”
David Mudge, 22, of Sutherlin, Ore., was killed Nov. 28 in an electrical accident aboard the USS Rentz. The ship was at Port Jebel Ali, United Arab Emirates, when Mudge died.
He grew up in a large, close-knit family, and he graduated from the Phoenix School in Roseburg, Ore. At age 19, he enlisted in the Navy.
“He was looking for something to do with his life that he would be able to be proud of,” said Curtis Mudge. “He always looked up to the fact that our family was military oriented.”
Mudge is survived by his parents, Larry and Judy Mudge; sisters Sarah Washburn, Allison Tomlinson and Angelica Mudge; and brothers Brian, Curtis and Jed.
Navy Engineman 3rd Class David M. Mudge died on 11/28/09
Navy Engineman 3rd Class David M. Mudge, 22, of Sutherlin, Ore.
Engineman Mudge died Nov. 28, 2009 when he was electrocuted while working in a machinery space aboard the guided missile frigate Rentz while on a port call in Jebel Ali, United Arab Emirates.
Rentz sailor electrocuted aboard ship
Staff report
SAN DIEGO — A sailor assigned to the frigate Rentz died Saturday after being electrocuted while working in a machinery space during a port call in the Persian Gulf, Navy officials said Monday.
Navy officials identified the sailor as Engineman 3rd Class David M. Mudge, 22, who suffered fatal wounds “due to electric shock” while doing repairs in an auxiliary machinery space, Naval Surface Forces officials said in a statement. Mudge, of Sutherlin, Ohio, died despite resuscitation efforts and was pronounced dead at the Jebel Ali International hospital in Jebel Ali, United Arab Emirates.
Navy officials are investigating the incident.
Mudge joined the Navy in January 2007 and served aboard the frigate McClusky before reporting to Rentz in July 2009, said Lt. Cmdr. Chris Servello, a Naval Surfaces Forces spokesman in Coronado, Calif.
Rentz, a San Diego-based ship, is deployed with the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group.
Took advantage of the chance to travel the world
The Associated Press
David Mudge liked traveling, and trying new cuisines or “anything that wasn’t what he had at home,” his brother said.
Mudge joined the Navy to see the world after a childhood of listening to his uncles and other relatives share stories about serving in the military. On the USS Rentz, Mudge was able to see the ancient pyramids in Egypt, a sight that left him in awe, his brother said.
“The sheer size of them and the age of them and everything just blew him away,” Curtis Mudge said. “Pictures didn’t do it justice.”
David Mudge, 22, of Sutherlin, Ore., was killed Nov. 28 in an electrical accident aboard the USS Rentz. The ship was at Port Jebel Ali, United Arab Emirates, when Mudge died.
He grew up in a large, close-knit family, and he graduated from the Phoenix School in Roseburg, Ore. At age 19, he enlisted in the Navy.
“He was looking for something to do with his life that he would be able to be proud of,” said Curtis Mudge. “He always looked up to the fact that our family was military oriented.”
Mudge is survived by his parents, Larry and Judy Mudge; sisters Sarah Washburn, Allison Tomlinson and Angelica Mudge; and brothers Brian, Curtis and Jed.
Navy Engineman 3rd Class David M. Mudge died on 11/28/09
Monday, November 23, 2009
Army Staff Sgt. Matthew A. Pucino
Remember Our Heroes
Army Staff Sgt. Matthew A. Pucino, 34, of Cockeysville, Md.
SSgt Pucino was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 20th Special Forces Group of the Maryland Army National Guard, Glen Arm, Md.; died Nov. 23, 2009 in Pashay Kala, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.
PLYMOUTH — Army Sgt. Dan Dosier used all of his Special Forces training to hold back tears when talking about his friend, Army Staff Sgt. Matthew A. Pucino.
Dosier reflected on the time he was shot during a raid and how Pucino held his hand, kept him calm and told jokes during the helicopter ride back to base for medical attention.
Before Pucino hopped back on the helicopter to return to the war zone, he gave one more gift to his wounded friend: He donated two pints of blood.
"This left Matt pretty weak but that's the kind of friend he was," Dosier said. "He was the first person to call me and ask how I was doing."
Friends and family filled The New Testament Church last night to remember Pucino, a former Plymouth resident, at a memorial service that had almost as many laughs as tears.
Phil Haglof, Pucino's brother-in-law, told the large crowd about the time Pucino got caught trying to sneak his small knife into Walt Disney World. Pucino was asked to leave it in the car but tried to go through a different entrance before he was caught by a security guard with a gold Mickey Mouse badge. "We always made fun of him that this Green Beret was busted by a Mickey cop," Haglof said to loud laughter from the crowd.
Pucino, 34, a 1993 graduate of Bishop Stang High School in Dartmouth who lived briefly in Bourne, died in Afghanistan Nov. 23 of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an explosive device.
A private burial service with full military honors will be held for Pucino in Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.
Yesterday, he was remembered as a loving, caring, humorous and fun-seeking uncle, brother, son and soldier who was quick to help anyone in need, take care of his family and have a lot of laughs along the way.
"He was just the best," said Tim Cicirelli, a classmate at Bishop Stang. "He was a great football player and a great friend. He could get along with anyone."
Cicirelli's older brother, A.J., didn't attend Stang with Pucino but that didn't stop the two from becoming friends. "He could put a smile on anyone's face," A.J. Cicirelli said. "Charismatic is the perfect word to describe him."
A large American flag hung from a fire engine ladder to mark the entrance to the church. Smaller flags and TV cameras lined the church's driveway off Long Pond Road. Army personnel served as ushers, helping the grieving family members and friends find seats in the crowded church.
Mark Chekares, a classmate at Stang who now teaches English at Somerset High School, had recently been in touch with Pucino on Facebook and was planning on getting together with his friend.
"I was really looking forward to reconnecting with him and thanking him (for his service)," Chekares said.
Army Staff Sgt. Matthew A. Pucino was killed in action on 11/23/09.
Army Staff Sgt. Matthew A. Pucino, 34, of Cockeysville, Md.
SSgt Pucino was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 20th Special Forces Group of the Maryland Army National Guard, Glen Arm, Md.; died Nov. 23, 2009 in Pashay Kala, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.
PLYMOUTH — Army Sgt. Dan Dosier used all of his Special Forces training to hold back tears when talking about his friend, Army Staff Sgt. Matthew A. Pucino.
Dosier reflected on the time he was shot during a raid and how Pucino held his hand, kept him calm and told jokes during the helicopter ride back to base for medical attention.
Before Pucino hopped back on the helicopter to return to the war zone, he gave one more gift to his wounded friend: He donated two pints of blood.
"This left Matt pretty weak but that's the kind of friend he was," Dosier said. "He was the first person to call me and ask how I was doing."
Friends and family filled The New Testament Church last night to remember Pucino, a former Plymouth resident, at a memorial service that had almost as many laughs as tears.
Phil Haglof, Pucino's brother-in-law, told the large crowd about the time Pucino got caught trying to sneak his small knife into Walt Disney World. Pucino was asked to leave it in the car but tried to go through a different entrance before he was caught by a security guard with a gold Mickey Mouse badge. "We always made fun of him that this Green Beret was busted by a Mickey cop," Haglof said to loud laughter from the crowd.
Pucino, 34, a 1993 graduate of Bishop Stang High School in Dartmouth who lived briefly in Bourne, died in Afghanistan Nov. 23 of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an explosive device.
A private burial service with full military honors will be held for Pucino in Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.
Yesterday, he was remembered as a loving, caring, humorous and fun-seeking uncle, brother, son and soldier who was quick to help anyone in need, take care of his family and have a lot of laughs along the way.
"He was just the best," said Tim Cicirelli, a classmate at Bishop Stang. "He was a great football player and a great friend. He could get along with anyone."
Cicirelli's older brother, A.J., didn't attend Stang with Pucino but that didn't stop the two from becoming friends. "He could put a smile on anyone's face," A.J. Cicirelli said. "Charismatic is the perfect word to describe him."
A large American flag hung from a fire engine ladder to mark the entrance to the church. Smaller flags and TV cameras lined the church's driveway off Long Pond Road. Army personnel served as ushers, helping the grieving family members and friends find seats in the crowded church.
Mark Chekares, a classmate at Stang who now teaches English at Somerset High School, had recently been in touch with Pucino on Facebook and was planning on getting together with his friend.
"I was really looking forward to reconnecting with him and thanking him (for his service)," Chekares said.
Army Staff Sgt. Matthew A. Pucino was killed in action on 11/23/09.
Army Spc. Jason A. McLeod
Remember Our Heroes
Army Spc. Jason A. McLeod, 22, of Crystal Lake, Ill.
Spc. McLeod was assigned to the 704th Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.; died Nov. 23, 2009 west of Pashmul, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit with mortar fire.
Daily Herald -- A Crystal Lake soldier killed in Afghanistan last month was remembered as an all American hero who loved his country, his family and his friends.
More than 200 people on Friday filled the chapel of the Davenport Funeral Home in Crystal Lake to say goodbye to Sgt. Jason McLeod, 22, who died Nov. 23 after his unit was attacked with mortar fire near Pashmul.
Mourners filled the two sides of the L-shaped chapel and many stood listening in the lobby. A collage of photographs and a portrait of McLeod stood near his flag-draped casket as the Rev. John Gow of Ss. Peter and Paul Church in Cary read some of McLeod's favorite Bible verses, including from the Gospel of Paul.
U.S Navy Petty Officer Ryan Cannon, a childhood friend, recalled memories of "fireworks and rat tails," from their youth.
"His memory will live on in our hearts forever," said Cannon, who also assured McLeod's wife, Aimee Ghannam, and their 15-month-old daughter, Jocelyn, that their husband and father did not die in vain.
Gov. Pat Quinn addressed the audience, telling families and friends gathered that the entire state "has to pause and thank God for the life of Sgt. Jason McLeod."
During the standing-room-only ceremony at Davenport Funeral Home, the Rev. John Gow said McLeod embodied the kind of love St. Paul spoke of in 1 Corinthians 13.
"Without love, we really become nothing," said Gow. "Love gives meaning. It is how we love that defines the type of people we become. In this reading, we are reminded of the person Jason became and the love he had for his family and his country."
McLeod's casket was draped with an American flag and a video montage displayed photos of the smiling soldier holding his infant daughter, Jocelyn Elizabeth, who was swaddled in an American flag.
McLeod also is survived by his widow, the former Aimee Rambo. He was a 2006 graduate of Crystal Lake Central High School.
The long funeral cortege that slowly made its way through town to Windridge Memorial Park Cemetery in Cary included ambulances and squad cars flashing their lights, members of the American Legion and the Patriot Riders, who carried large American flags on their motorcycles.
Insurance agencies, auto shops, law firms and restaurants along the route displayed well wishes and prayers for McLeod and for his family.
At Porters Oyster Bar, where McLeod's mother, Barb, is a waitress, the front of the building was draped with an oversized American flag.
One of the mourners, longtime family friend Chuck Lee, said he has known the McLeod family for 30 years. McLeod, he said, had a lot going for him.
"He honored his family," he said. "He honored his wife. He honored his town, and now his town is honoring him."
Navy Petty Officer Ryan Cannon was a childhood friend of McLeod's.
The soldier was "not just a good man, he was a great man," Cannon said. "He is an American hero. Jason was a vibrant, shining star wherever he went."
A procession led by members of the Patriot Guard escorted McLeod's remains to the Windridge Memorial Park Cemetery in Cary, where McLeod was laid to rest with full military honors.
McLeod was deployed to Afghanistan in May and was killed less than a month before he was due home on leave. McLeod also served for a year in Iraq in 2007. He was a mechanic who worked on Humvees and was assigned to the 704th Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, out of Fort Carson, Colo.
Army Spc. Jason A. McLeod was killed in action on 11/23/09.
Army Spc. Jason A. McLeod, 22, of Crystal Lake, Ill.
Spc. McLeod was assigned to the 704th Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.; died Nov. 23, 2009 west of Pashmul, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit with mortar fire.
Daily Herald -- A Crystal Lake soldier killed in Afghanistan last month was remembered as an all American hero who loved his country, his family and his friends.
More than 200 people on Friday filled the chapel of the Davenport Funeral Home in Crystal Lake to say goodbye to Sgt. Jason McLeod, 22, who died Nov. 23 after his unit was attacked with mortar fire near Pashmul.
Mourners filled the two sides of the L-shaped chapel and many stood listening in the lobby. A collage of photographs and a portrait of McLeod stood near his flag-draped casket as the Rev. John Gow of Ss. Peter and Paul Church in Cary read some of McLeod's favorite Bible verses, including from the Gospel of Paul.
U.S Navy Petty Officer Ryan Cannon, a childhood friend, recalled memories of "fireworks and rat tails," from their youth.
"His memory will live on in our hearts forever," said Cannon, who also assured McLeod's wife, Aimee Ghannam, and their 15-month-old daughter, Jocelyn, that their husband and father did not die in vain.
Gov. Pat Quinn addressed the audience, telling families and friends gathered that the entire state "has to pause and thank God for the life of Sgt. Jason McLeod."
During the standing-room-only ceremony at Davenport Funeral Home, the Rev. John Gow said McLeod embodied the kind of love St. Paul spoke of in 1 Corinthians 13.
"Without love, we really become nothing," said Gow. "Love gives meaning. It is how we love that defines the type of people we become. In this reading, we are reminded of the person Jason became and the love he had for his family and his country."
McLeod's casket was draped with an American flag and a video montage displayed photos of the smiling soldier holding his infant daughter, Jocelyn Elizabeth, who was swaddled in an American flag.
McLeod also is survived by his widow, the former Aimee Rambo. He was a 2006 graduate of Crystal Lake Central High School.
The long funeral cortege that slowly made its way through town to Windridge Memorial Park Cemetery in Cary included ambulances and squad cars flashing their lights, members of the American Legion and the Patriot Riders, who carried large American flags on their motorcycles.
Insurance agencies, auto shops, law firms and restaurants along the route displayed well wishes and prayers for McLeod and for his family.
At Porters Oyster Bar, where McLeod's mother, Barb, is a waitress, the front of the building was draped with an oversized American flag.
One of the mourners, longtime family friend Chuck Lee, said he has known the McLeod family for 30 years. McLeod, he said, had a lot going for him.
"He honored his family," he said. "He honored his wife. He honored his town, and now his town is honoring him."
Navy Petty Officer Ryan Cannon was a childhood friend of McLeod's.
The soldier was "not just a good man, he was a great man," Cannon said. "He is an American hero. Jason was a vibrant, shining star wherever he went."
A procession led by members of the Patriot Guard escorted McLeod's remains to the Windridge Memorial Park Cemetery in Cary, where McLeod was laid to rest with full military honors.
McLeod was deployed to Afghanistan in May and was killed less than a month before he was due home on leave. McLeod also served for a year in Iraq in 2007. He was a mechanic who worked on Humvees and was assigned to the 704th Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, out of Fort Carson, Colo.
Army Spc. Jason A. McLeod was killed in action on 11/23/09.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Marine Lance Cpl. Nicholas J. Hand
Remember Our Heroes
Marine Lance Cpl. Nicholas J. Hand, 20, of Kansas City, Mo.
LCpl Hand was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.; died Nov. 22, 2009 in Helmand province, Afghanistan, while supporting combat operations.
Forbes.com -- Nicholas J. Hand was always playing the role of older brother, whether he was marshalling his nine siblings to do chores at home in Kansas City, Mo., or leading his squad in Afghanistan.
"He was good at encouraging people and motivating them without being harsh at it," said his brother Brandon.
He said Nicholas was patriotic as a student and used to write quotes from military leaders and the Founding Fathers on his whiteboard.
Hand graduated early from Oak Park High School to join the Marines at 17.
In early November, Hand visited home, where he often ended up roughhousing with his brothers. Three weeks later, on Nov. 22, the 20-year-old was killed by small arms fire in Helmand province. He was assigned to Camp Lejeune and previously served in Iraq.
"He had his biological family, and he had his Marine family," said his mother, Dawn. "You watched his face light up, and you knew that in your heart he was with his family there."
She called Hand "a socialite" who made time for everyone in his large family, who is remembering him as "a good Marine, but a better brother."
Marine Lance Cpl. Nicholas J. Hand was killed in action on 11/22/09.
Marine Lance Cpl. Nicholas J. Hand, 20, of Kansas City, Mo.
LCpl Hand was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.; died Nov. 22, 2009 in Helmand province, Afghanistan, while supporting combat operations.
Forbes.com -- Nicholas J. Hand was always playing the role of older brother, whether he was marshalling his nine siblings to do chores at home in Kansas City, Mo., or leading his squad in Afghanistan.
"He was good at encouraging people and motivating them without being harsh at it," said his brother Brandon.
He said Nicholas was patriotic as a student and used to write quotes from military leaders and the Founding Fathers on his whiteboard.
Hand graduated early from Oak Park High School to join the Marines at 17.
In early November, Hand visited home, where he often ended up roughhousing with his brothers. Three weeks later, on Nov. 22, the 20-year-old was killed by small arms fire in Helmand province. He was assigned to Camp Lejeune and previously served in Iraq.
"He had his biological family, and he had his Marine family," said his mother, Dawn. "You watched his face light up, and you knew that in your heart he was with his family there."
She called Hand "a socialite" who made time for everyone in his large family, who is remembering him as "a good Marine, but a better brother."
Marine Lance Cpl. Nicholas J. Hand was killed in action on 11/22/09.
Army Sgt. Briand T. Williams
Remember Our Heroes
Army Sgt. Briand T. Williams, 25, of Sparks, Ga.
Sgt. Williams was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 10th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Benning, Ga.; died Nov. 22, 2009 in Numaniyah, Iraq, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit using small-arms fire.
'He never looked for an easy way out’
The Associated Press
Briand Williams — known to his comrades as “Sergeant Will” — gave big hugs, and had an even bigger appetite, his mother said.
“When he’d come to visit me, he’d give me a big hug every time,” said his mother, Tonya Flippen. “And the first words that would come out of his mouth were, ‘What are you cooking me for dinner?’ ”
Williams, 25, of Sparks, Ga., was killed by an enemy sniper Nov. 22 in Numaniyah, Iraq. He was assigned to Fort Benning, Ga., and was posthumously promoted to staff sergeant.
The soldier enlisted in 2002 after graduating from Valdosta High School in Georgia. Flippen said her son was determined to be a career military man.
“His mission was to go into the military and retire. That was his job,” his mother said. “He died doing what he loved.”
Pvt. Wayland Waldrep said “Sergeant Will” was tough on him and the other soldiers, but only because he cared about them as a leader.
“He taught me how to be a better soldier and how to be on time,” Waldrep said. “He never looked for the easy way out to do what’s right for the situation. He was a good man.”
Williams also is survived by his wife, Atiyhia; a daughter, Briana; a son, Antonio Godbold; his father, Fred Williams Jr.; and a sister, Kyra Williams. His wife is pregnant with the couple’s third child.
Army Sgt. Briand T. Williams was killed in action on 11/22/09.
Army Sgt. Briand T. Williams, 25, of Sparks, Ga.
Sgt. Williams was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 10th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Benning, Ga.; died Nov. 22, 2009 in Numaniyah, Iraq, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit using small-arms fire.
'He never looked for an easy way out’
The Associated Press
Briand Williams — known to his comrades as “Sergeant Will” — gave big hugs, and had an even bigger appetite, his mother said.
“When he’d come to visit me, he’d give me a big hug every time,” said his mother, Tonya Flippen. “And the first words that would come out of his mouth were, ‘What are you cooking me for dinner?’ ”
Williams, 25, of Sparks, Ga., was killed by an enemy sniper Nov. 22 in Numaniyah, Iraq. He was assigned to Fort Benning, Ga., and was posthumously promoted to staff sergeant.
The soldier enlisted in 2002 after graduating from Valdosta High School in Georgia. Flippen said her son was determined to be a career military man.
“His mission was to go into the military and retire. That was his job,” his mother said. “He died doing what he loved.”
Pvt. Wayland Waldrep said “Sergeant Will” was tough on him and the other soldiers, but only because he cared about them as a leader.
“He taught me how to be a better soldier and how to be on time,” Waldrep said. “He never looked for the easy way out to do what’s right for the situation. He was a good man.”
Williams also is survived by his wife, Atiyhia; a daughter, Briana; a son, Antonio Godbold; his father, Fred Williams Jr.; and a sister, Kyra Williams. His wife is pregnant with the couple’s third child.
Army Sgt. Briand T. Williams was killed in action on 11/22/09.
Army Pfc. Marcus A. Tynes
Remember Our Heroes
Army Pfc. Marcus A. Tynes, 19, of Moreno Valley, Calif.
Pfc. Tynes was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Benning, Ga.; died Nov. 22, 2009 in Zabul province, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device. Also killed was Sgt. James M. Nolen.
DoD News - Army Pfc. Marcus A. Tynes19, of Moreno Valley, Calif.; assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Benning, Ga.; died Nov. 22 in Zabul province, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when
"Dearest Marcus, I was your librarian at Midland school and I remember you well. I attended the services held for you along with our principal, Mr. Flowers and Mr. Kaufman. Marcus, you did so much with your life during your nineteen short years. My heart breaks for your family and for the loss of you. You will always be in my prayers and thank you for your ultimate sacrifice. May God bless you and keep you in the warmth of his love."
Mrs. Workman posted Sunday about Army Pfc. Marcus A. Tynes, 19, of Moreno Valley, who was one of two paratroopers killed Nov. 22 when a roadside bomb exploded near their convoy vehicle in southwest Afghanistan’s Kandahar province, on the Pakistani border.
The Los Angeles Times -- The first time Marcus A. Tynes suited up for a youth basketball game, his mother saw the change.
She already knew her big, vigorous boy would like sports. But she didn't realize how thrilled he would be just to don that team jersey. It made him proud, gave him a sense of belonging. "He just liked that uniform," she said. "It made him feel part of something."
As he grew, one uniform followed another. One for football at Valley View High School in Moreno Valley, and another for track. A favorite was one he wore as a Riverside County sheriff's Explorer.
He put on the Explorer's green slacks and tan shirt, complete with badge and "rocker" insignia, and a new version of himself emerged, said sheriff's Sgt. Melvin Rasmussen, Tynes' Explorer advisor. The clownish kid sobered up. He volunteered for extra tasks and chided his fellow Explorers to keep their grades up. "He just jumped in with both feet," Rasmussen said.
Those uniforms kept Tynes on track. They guided his transformation from a good-natured but unruly adolescent to dedicated young man.
He had his heart set on someday wearing the navy blues of a Los Angeles Police Department SWAT officer. Rasmussen encouraged him to do a stint in the military first -- standard career advice for a would-be police officer.
At 19, Tynes died an Army private first class, killed Nov. 22 when a roadside bomb exploded near his convoy vehicle in southwest Afghanistan's Kandahar province, on the Pakistani border. Also killed was the paratrooper riding with him, Army Sgt. James Nolen, 25, of Alvin, Texas, who was on his second tour in Afghanistan. Both were assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, NC.
Tynes was born in Bellflower and spent his first years in Compton and Long Beach before moving to Moreno Valley, said his mother, Dana Atlas, a nurse. He attended several schools, including Mountain View Middle School.
At Valley View High, his teachers liked him but sometimes struggled to contain him. He was happy, gregarious -- and disinclined to sit still.
He was bright, but some kids may just not be meant for academics, said Jack Fogarty, head football coach. "He had to be outside doing things," he said. "Sitting behind a desk was a task."
Fogarty recalled getting exasperated more than once. But Tynes was cheerful and a good athlete. And as time wore on, it was clear that he also was devoted.
When he first joined the team, the Valley View Eagles were in a bad way. They lost all but one game the first season, Rasmussen said. Tynes and his teammates fought "to the bitter end," Fogarty said. Each year, the team improved.
Eventually, Tynes, with his stocky build and natural strength and quickness, made the all-league team as an offensive lineman. Fogarty credits him with helping to rebuild Valley View's struggling football program. The Eagles made the playoffs this year, Fogarty said.
Along the way, Tynes' parents, coaches and teachers talked to him frequently about goals. Like his Explorer advisor, his football coach thought the military idea was perfect. Tynes didn't take much convincing. Military service ran in his family. And of course, there was that uniform.
He knew his military and law enforcement dreams could be jeopardized by his classroom performance. So he stepped up his efforts. He graduated in June 2008 and enlisted in July. Tynes trained at Ft. Benning, Ga., and reported to Ft. Bragg in January. He left for his first Afghanistan tour in September.
At first, his mother had not been enthusiastic about the plan. But she wanted him to find his way. And when she saw her son in his new uniform, she had to admit it: She was proud.
Not long ago, during a break before leaving for Afghanistan, Tynes went back to visit his old mentors at Valley View, cutting a striking figure in his camouflage gear.
His former English teacher, Ben Harrer, noted how different he seemed. In class, he had been rambunctious. Now, in soldier's garb, he appeared mature, clearly pleased with his new role: Private first class. Rifleman.
Tynes' mother was at work when her husband brought the news of his death. Rasmussen, the sheriff's sergeant, heard a few days later. "It took my breath away," he said.
Harrer, the teacher, "had a bad feeling," when he heard that someone from Moreno Valley had died. When he learned it was Tynes, he searched his computer and found a photo of Tynes doing a class presentation.
In the photo, a husky, youthful Tynes reads a scene from Arthur Miller's "The Crucible." He appears to be trying to suppress a smile. He is wearing his football uniform.
Tynes' body was flown to California on Thursday. His family waited in the bright sunshine to take him to a burial site next to his grandfather's grave at Pierce Bros. Crestlawn Memorial Park & Cemetery in Riverside.
In addition to his parents, Bruce and Dana Atlas of Moreno Valley, Tynes is survived by the Atlas siblings, Fallon, 26, Brittney, 20, Johannes, 15, Summer, 4, and Savannah, 2; and his biological father, Marcus Tynes Sr. The family does not use the terms "step" or "half"; they consider themselves one family, his mother said.
Army Pfc. Marcus A. Tynes was killed in action on 11/22/09.
Army Pfc. Marcus A. Tynes, 19, of Moreno Valley, Calif.
Pfc. Tynes was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Benning, Ga.; died Nov. 22, 2009 in Zabul province, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device. Also killed was Sgt. James M. Nolen.
DoD News - Army Pfc. Marcus A. Tynes19, of Moreno Valley, Calif.; assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Benning, Ga.; died Nov. 22 in Zabul province, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when
"Dearest Marcus, I was your librarian at Midland school and I remember you well. I attended the services held for you along with our principal, Mr. Flowers and Mr. Kaufman. Marcus, you did so much with your life during your nineteen short years. My heart breaks for your family and for the loss of you. You will always be in my prayers and thank you for your ultimate sacrifice. May God bless you and keep you in the warmth of his love."
Mrs. Workman posted Sunday about Army Pfc. Marcus A. Tynes, 19, of Moreno Valley, who was one of two paratroopers killed Nov. 22 when a roadside bomb exploded near their convoy vehicle in southwest Afghanistan’s Kandahar province, on the Pakistani border.
The Los Angeles Times -- The first time Marcus A. Tynes suited up for a youth basketball game, his mother saw the change.
She already knew her big, vigorous boy would like sports. But she didn't realize how thrilled he would be just to don that team jersey. It made him proud, gave him a sense of belonging. "He just liked that uniform," she said. "It made him feel part of something."
As he grew, one uniform followed another. One for football at Valley View High School in Moreno Valley, and another for track. A favorite was one he wore as a Riverside County sheriff's Explorer.
He put on the Explorer's green slacks and tan shirt, complete with badge and "rocker" insignia, and a new version of himself emerged, said sheriff's Sgt. Melvin Rasmussen, Tynes' Explorer advisor. The clownish kid sobered up. He volunteered for extra tasks and chided his fellow Explorers to keep their grades up. "He just jumped in with both feet," Rasmussen said.
Those uniforms kept Tynes on track. They guided his transformation from a good-natured but unruly adolescent to dedicated young man.
He had his heart set on someday wearing the navy blues of a Los Angeles Police Department SWAT officer. Rasmussen encouraged him to do a stint in the military first -- standard career advice for a would-be police officer.
At 19, Tynes died an Army private first class, killed Nov. 22 when a roadside bomb exploded near his convoy vehicle in southwest Afghanistan's Kandahar province, on the Pakistani border. Also killed was the paratrooper riding with him, Army Sgt. James Nolen, 25, of Alvin, Texas, who was on his second tour in Afghanistan. Both were assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, NC.
Tynes was born in Bellflower and spent his first years in Compton and Long Beach before moving to Moreno Valley, said his mother, Dana Atlas, a nurse. He attended several schools, including Mountain View Middle School.
At Valley View High, his teachers liked him but sometimes struggled to contain him. He was happy, gregarious -- and disinclined to sit still.
He was bright, but some kids may just not be meant for academics, said Jack Fogarty, head football coach. "He had to be outside doing things," he said. "Sitting behind a desk was a task."
Fogarty recalled getting exasperated more than once. But Tynes was cheerful and a good athlete. And as time wore on, it was clear that he also was devoted.
When he first joined the team, the Valley View Eagles were in a bad way. They lost all but one game the first season, Rasmussen said. Tynes and his teammates fought "to the bitter end," Fogarty said. Each year, the team improved.
Eventually, Tynes, with his stocky build and natural strength and quickness, made the all-league team as an offensive lineman. Fogarty credits him with helping to rebuild Valley View's struggling football program. The Eagles made the playoffs this year, Fogarty said.
Along the way, Tynes' parents, coaches and teachers talked to him frequently about goals. Like his Explorer advisor, his football coach thought the military idea was perfect. Tynes didn't take much convincing. Military service ran in his family. And of course, there was that uniform.
He knew his military and law enforcement dreams could be jeopardized by his classroom performance. So he stepped up his efforts. He graduated in June 2008 and enlisted in July. Tynes trained at Ft. Benning, Ga., and reported to Ft. Bragg in January. He left for his first Afghanistan tour in September.
At first, his mother had not been enthusiastic about the plan. But she wanted him to find his way. And when she saw her son in his new uniform, she had to admit it: She was proud.
Not long ago, during a break before leaving for Afghanistan, Tynes went back to visit his old mentors at Valley View, cutting a striking figure in his camouflage gear.
His former English teacher, Ben Harrer, noted how different he seemed. In class, he had been rambunctious. Now, in soldier's garb, he appeared mature, clearly pleased with his new role: Private first class. Rifleman.
Tynes' mother was at work when her husband brought the news of his death. Rasmussen, the sheriff's sergeant, heard a few days later. "It took my breath away," he said.
Harrer, the teacher, "had a bad feeling," when he heard that someone from Moreno Valley had died. When he learned it was Tynes, he searched his computer and found a photo of Tynes doing a class presentation.
In the photo, a husky, youthful Tynes reads a scene from Arthur Miller's "The Crucible." He appears to be trying to suppress a smile. He is wearing his football uniform.
Tynes' body was flown to California on Thursday. His family waited in the bright sunshine to take him to a burial site next to his grandfather's grave at Pierce Bros. Crestlawn Memorial Park & Cemetery in Riverside.
In addition to his parents, Bruce and Dana Atlas of Moreno Valley, Tynes is survived by the Atlas siblings, Fallon, 26, Brittney, 20, Johannes, 15, Summer, 4, and Savannah, 2; and his biological father, Marcus Tynes Sr. The family does not use the terms "step" or "half"; they consider themselves one family, his mother said.
Army Pfc. Marcus A. Tynes was killed in action on 11/22/09.
Army Sgt. James M. Nolen
Remember Our Heroes
Army Sgt. James M. Nolen, 25, of Alvin, Texas
Sgt. Nolen was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Benning, Ga.; died Nov. 22, 2009 in Zabul province, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device. Also killed was Pfc. Marcus A. Tynes.
ALVIN — Barbara Moore huddled in her jacket Wednesday afternoon as she waited along state Highway 6 to watch the escort for U.S. Army Sgt. James Nolen, who died Nov. 22 in Afghanistan.
“Staying in this is nothing compared to the conditions they have to put up with,” Moore said as she wiped tears from her eyes with her gloves. “The least we can do is come out to pay our respects to him.”
Darlene Morey remembered when James Nolen was about 5 years old.
Morey attended Sunday school with Nolen’s parents at First Baptist Church in Alvin.
“He was a normal, rambunctious boy,” Morey said. “I haven’t seen him since.”
Hundreds waited in the cold winds along Highway 6 and state Highway 35-B in Alvin as fire trucks, motorcycle riders and police escorted Nolen and his family to Scott Funeral Home.
Nolen, 25, of Alvin, died Nov. 22 after an improvised bomb exploded next to his vehicle that was part of a convoy. Pfc. Marcus A. Tynes, 19, of Moreno Valley, Calif., also died in the attack that took place in Afghanistan’s Kandahar Province.
Nolen is the 14th Brazoria County service member to have died while serving in Afghanistan or Iraq. Among his survivors are his wife, Rachel Anne Nolen, who is four months pregnant; his stepson, William Flathman; his father, Walter Nolen; his mother, Kimberly Roberts; and brothers, John and Jeremy.
Visitation is set for 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. today at Scott Funeral Home in Alvin. Nolen’s funeral is set for 10 a.m. Friday at Friendswood United Methodist Church, with burial to follow at Houston National Cemetery.
Some people waited in trucks, some stood along the roadway and others held flags as they paid tribute to the fallen soldier. People started lining the route along state Highway 35-B at the state Highway 35 Bypass, and the crowds grew thicker as the escort continued along state Highway 6 leading into Scott Funeral Home.
Bystanders talked while they waited, but hushed themselves quickly as the procession arrived. Some stood at attention and saluted as the hearse passed.
As the car carrying Nolen’s body pulled into the funeral home Wednesday, some of his relatives in the escort cried and waved at the people who showed up to welcome the fallen soldier home.
The greeting was moving, and Nolen’s family deeply appreciated it, family friend Christian Martin said.
“It was humbling, very very humbling,” he said.
Residents said they learned about the escort through social Web sites, e-mails and church groups.
Some Alvin High School football players stood along the highway in shorts waiting for Nolen’s remains to pass. A group of players got together and decided it was important to be there Wednesday, senior Dustin Moehlig said. So many decided to join in the tribute that coaches used a school bus to take them to the site.
“I’m just here thanking him for everything we have here,” Moehlig said. “I hope they see we’re thankful for what he’s done.”
Alvin resident Ann Blissit sat next to Moore before Nolen’s body was escorted down state Highway 6. Originally from England, Blissit said she remembers as a child sitting in bomb shelters as Nazi planes dropped bombs on London.
She appreciates the sacrifices American soldiers make, she said.
“I love this country, and I respect the young people who fight for it,” Blissit said.
State Rep. Randy Weber, R-Pearland, stood alone amid the participants Wednesday at the funeral home’s entrance.
“I wish I didn’t have to be here,” he said. “There’s really a sadness in your heart when you lose a soldier.”
Army Sgt. James M. Nolen was killed in action on 11/22/09.
Army Sgt. James M. Nolen, 25, of Alvin, Texas
Sgt. Nolen was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Benning, Ga.; died Nov. 22, 2009 in Zabul province, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device. Also killed was Pfc. Marcus A. Tynes.
ALVIN — Barbara Moore huddled in her jacket Wednesday afternoon as she waited along state Highway 6 to watch the escort for U.S. Army Sgt. James Nolen, who died Nov. 22 in Afghanistan.
“Staying in this is nothing compared to the conditions they have to put up with,” Moore said as she wiped tears from her eyes with her gloves. “The least we can do is come out to pay our respects to him.”
Darlene Morey remembered when James Nolen was about 5 years old.
Morey attended Sunday school with Nolen’s parents at First Baptist Church in Alvin.
“He was a normal, rambunctious boy,” Morey said. “I haven’t seen him since.”
Hundreds waited in the cold winds along Highway 6 and state Highway 35-B in Alvin as fire trucks, motorcycle riders and police escorted Nolen and his family to Scott Funeral Home.
Nolen, 25, of Alvin, died Nov. 22 after an improvised bomb exploded next to his vehicle that was part of a convoy. Pfc. Marcus A. Tynes, 19, of Moreno Valley, Calif., also died in the attack that took place in Afghanistan’s Kandahar Province.
Nolen is the 14th Brazoria County service member to have died while serving in Afghanistan or Iraq. Among his survivors are his wife, Rachel Anne Nolen, who is four months pregnant; his stepson, William Flathman; his father, Walter Nolen; his mother, Kimberly Roberts; and brothers, John and Jeremy.
Visitation is set for 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. today at Scott Funeral Home in Alvin. Nolen’s funeral is set for 10 a.m. Friday at Friendswood United Methodist Church, with burial to follow at Houston National Cemetery.
Some people waited in trucks, some stood along the roadway and others held flags as they paid tribute to the fallen soldier. People started lining the route along state Highway 35-B at the state Highway 35 Bypass, and the crowds grew thicker as the escort continued along state Highway 6 leading into Scott Funeral Home.
Bystanders talked while they waited, but hushed themselves quickly as the procession arrived. Some stood at attention and saluted as the hearse passed.
As the car carrying Nolen’s body pulled into the funeral home Wednesday, some of his relatives in the escort cried and waved at the people who showed up to welcome the fallen soldier home.
The greeting was moving, and Nolen’s family deeply appreciated it, family friend Christian Martin said.
“It was humbling, very very humbling,” he said.
Residents said they learned about the escort through social Web sites, e-mails and church groups.
Some Alvin High School football players stood along the highway in shorts waiting for Nolen’s remains to pass. A group of players got together and decided it was important to be there Wednesday, senior Dustin Moehlig said. So many decided to join in the tribute that coaches used a school bus to take them to the site.
“I’m just here thanking him for everything we have here,” Moehlig said. “I hope they see we’re thankful for what he’s done.”
Alvin resident Ann Blissit sat next to Moore before Nolen’s body was escorted down state Highway 6. Originally from England, Blissit said she remembers as a child sitting in bomb shelters as Nazi planes dropped bombs on London.
She appreciates the sacrifices American soldiers make, she said.
“I love this country, and I respect the young people who fight for it,” Blissit said.
State Rep. Randy Weber, R-Pearland, stood alone amid the participants Wednesday at the funeral home’s entrance.
“I wish I didn’t have to be here,” he said. “There’s really a sadness in your heart when you lose a soldier.”
Army Sgt. James M. Nolen was killed in action on 11/22/09.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Army Sgt. Daniel A. Frazier
Remember Our Heroes
Army Sgt. Daniel A. Frazier, 25, of St. Joseph, Mo.
Sgt. Frazier was assigned to the 782nd Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.; died Nov. 19, 2009 in Zabul province, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when a suicide car-bomber attacked his unit. Also killed was John J. Cleaver.
Niles Daily Star -- Army Sgt. Daniel Alexander Frazier, 25, was tragically killed on Nov. 19, 2009 in the Afghanistan Province of Zabul during his second tour of duty with the United States Army. Frazier was stationed at Fort Bragg, N.C. and formerly of Niles and St. Joseph.
He was born on Jan. 9, 1984 in Berrien Springs. He graduated from St. Joseph High School in St. Joseph in 2003. A simple and quiet man, he enjoyed playing his Xbox 360, eating at Burger King and mud-bogging in his 4×4 Dodge.
Frazier enlisted in the Army at age 22. He was very close to his family and always looked out for others. In 2006 Frazier enlisted in the Army and like his brother, dedicated himself to service. He was a “big brother” to many of his fellow soldiers and listened to them as he helped with anything possible. Rather than being concerned with himself, Frazier was always giving to his fellow soldiers serving along side him.
When home he enjoyed spending time with his family; Frazier was a wonderful uncle and especially enjoyed his nieces and nephews. He was a man of sound character and loved his family. Frazier had an infectious smile about him that always put others at ease. To say he will be missed is an understatement.
On March 21, 2009 Frazier wed the love of his life, Brittany Lea Jenson, at a ceremony in Kernersville, N.C. While the two hadn’t known each other long, in the grand scheme of life, they both knew they had the type of love that is once in a lifetime. As a couple the two shared a strong passion and mutual respect for one another.
He is preceded in death by his paternal grandfather, Bruce Frazier, and maternal grandfather, Allen Beebe.
He is survived by his wife, Brittany Frazier of Fayetteville, N.C.; his father, David (Sheri) Frazier, of Niles; mother, Roxana (William) Walter, of Pace, Fla.; paternal grandmother, Geraldine Frazier, of Watervliet; maternal grandmother, Donna Beebe, of Coloma; siblings, Jessica (David) Marquardt, of St. Joseph, David (Amanda) frazier, of Colon, Marie (Cory) Culver, of Huntsville, Ala., Amanda (Mike) McLain, of Goshen, Ind., Lauren (Kevin) Lamb, of Elkhart, Ind., David Walter, of Benton Harbor; and many special nieces and nephews.
Frazier has always been a hero to his parents and siblings, from the birth of his nephews and nieces “Uncle Dan” was a hero, to Brittney, Frazier was her romantic hero, who swept her off her feet and now our community will gather to honor Our Hero, Sgt. Daniel Frazier, giving the ultimate sacrifice during Operation Enduring Freedom.
A time of visitation will be held on Sunday, Nov. 29, 2009 at Brown Funeral Home located at 521 East Main St. in Niles, from 4 to 8 p.m., with a celebration to honor Daniel’s life on Monday, Nov. 30, 2009 at 11 a.m. at the Michiana Christian Embassy located at 1922 East Main St. in Niles. Pastor Jerry Solis of Three Rivers will be officiating.
Frazier will be laid to rest with full Military Honors at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va.
Army Sgt. Daniel A. Frazier was killed in action on 11/19/09.
Army Sgt. Daniel A. Frazier, 25, of St. Joseph, Mo.
Sgt. Frazier was assigned to the 782nd Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.; died Nov. 19, 2009 in Zabul province, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when a suicide car-bomber attacked his unit. Also killed was John J. Cleaver.
Niles Daily Star -- Army Sgt. Daniel Alexander Frazier, 25, was tragically killed on Nov. 19, 2009 in the Afghanistan Province of Zabul during his second tour of duty with the United States Army. Frazier was stationed at Fort Bragg, N.C. and formerly of Niles and St. Joseph.
He was born on Jan. 9, 1984 in Berrien Springs. He graduated from St. Joseph High School in St. Joseph in 2003. A simple and quiet man, he enjoyed playing his Xbox 360, eating at Burger King and mud-bogging in his 4×4 Dodge.
Frazier enlisted in the Army at age 22. He was very close to his family and always looked out for others. In 2006 Frazier enlisted in the Army and like his brother, dedicated himself to service. He was a “big brother” to many of his fellow soldiers and listened to them as he helped with anything possible. Rather than being concerned with himself, Frazier was always giving to his fellow soldiers serving along side him.
When home he enjoyed spending time with his family; Frazier was a wonderful uncle and especially enjoyed his nieces and nephews. He was a man of sound character and loved his family. Frazier had an infectious smile about him that always put others at ease. To say he will be missed is an understatement.
On March 21, 2009 Frazier wed the love of his life, Brittany Lea Jenson, at a ceremony in Kernersville, N.C. While the two hadn’t known each other long, in the grand scheme of life, they both knew they had the type of love that is once in a lifetime. As a couple the two shared a strong passion and mutual respect for one another.
He is preceded in death by his paternal grandfather, Bruce Frazier, and maternal grandfather, Allen Beebe.
He is survived by his wife, Brittany Frazier of Fayetteville, N.C.; his father, David (Sheri) Frazier, of Niles; mother, Roxana (William) Walter, of Pace, Fla.; paternal grandmother, Geraldine Frazier, of Watervliet; maternal grandmother, Donna Beebe, of Coloma; siblings, Jessica (David) Marquardt, of St. Joseph, David (Amanda) frazier, of Colon, Marie (Cory) Culver, of Huntsville, Ala., Amanda (Mike) McLain, of Goshen, Ind., Lauren (Kevin) Lamb, of Elkhart, Ind., David Walter, of Benton Harbor; and many special nieces and nephews.
Frazier has always been a hero to his parents and siblings, from the birth of his nephews and nieces “Uncle Dan” was a hero, to Brittney, Frazier was her romantic hero, who swept her off her feet and now our community will gather to honor Our Hero, Sgt. Daniel Frazier, giving the ultimate sacrifice during Operation Enduring Freedom.
A time of visitation will be held on Sunday, Nov. 29, 2009 at Brown Funeral Home located at 521 East Main St. in Niles, from 4 to 8 p.m., with a celebration to honor Daniel’s life on Monday, Nov. 30, 2009 at 11 a.m. at the Michiana Christian Embassy located at 1922 East Main St. in Niles. Pastor Jerry Solis of Three Rivers will be officiating.
Frazier will be laid to rest with full Military Honors at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va.
Army Sgt. Daniel A. Frazier was killed in action on 11/19/09.
Army Staff Sgt. John J. Cleaver
Remember Our Heroes
Army Staff Sgt. John J. Cleaver, 36, of Marysville, Wash.
SSgt. Cleaver was assigned to the 782d Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.; died Nov. 19, 2009 in Zabul province, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when a suicide car-bomber attacked his unit. Also killed was Daniel A. Frazier.
Cleaver joined the Navy in 1995 and was stationed on the U.S.S. Inchon at Ingleside, Texas, served in Kosovo, then PCS'd to Norfolk, Va., where he was a firefighter instructor for three years, then Seattle, where he set up a firefighter training school and was stationed on the U.S.S. Rodney M. Davis, soon deploying to Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
After serving 10 years in the Navy, he reenlisted in the Army. Shortly after arriving at Fort Bragg, N.C., he was deployed to Afghanistan as a convoy commander and a medic.
Cleaver was deployed to Afghanistan again in July, his fourth deployment to a combat zone, stationed at FOB Apache. He was working a supply run to FOB Shajoy, they'd just unloaded the supplies and were ready to mount up and head back, when the truck pulled up and was detonated by the driver.
"Staff Sgt. Cleaver was one of the most disciplined paratroopers that I have ever had a chance to work with. He always set a standard and ensured that his paratroopers always meet that standard," said Capt. Burton Furlow, commander of Company E.
Cleaver's awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart Medal, the Army Commendation Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster, the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, the Navy Unit Commendation with bronze oak leaf cluster, four Navy Efficiency Ribbons, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the Navy Good Conduct Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters, the National Defense Service Medal, Navy Battle “E” with silver wreath for four or more awards, the Kosovo Campaign Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terror Service Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal, the Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with bronze stars for 2nd, 3rd and 4th award, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Naval Reserve Sea Service Medal, Navy Pistol Medal with silver E for expert, the NATO Medal, the Combat Action Badge and the Parachutist Badge.
Cleaver is survived by his parents, Ron and Teresa Cleaver, brother Ron, sister Rhonda, and 2 sons, Collin and Aiden, plus a plethora of extended family and friends.
In addition to his enviable military record, something he loved and gave his all, he was as great a person as anyone could have the honor to meet. He always back-burnered his life to handle the needs of his soldiers, friends, and even strangers. Always a can do, will do, did do guy. He was our best friend and we don't know of one single bad thing he's ever done. He loved his country, his family, his friends, the Army, and most of all his sons. Truly an asset to Ft Bragg, Fayetteville, and the World.
John, we love you and miss you. We cry every day. "No worries", brother.
Love,
J.R. and "Rae"
Dec 5, 2009
Amber Hoskins
SSG John J. Cleaver will live in our hearts forever. You are a true American Hero!!
Remember to save a dance for me!!
http://ourfallensoldier.com/CleaverJohnJ_MemorialPage.html
Army Staff Sgt. John J. Cleaver was killed in action on 11/19/09.
Army Staff Sgt. John J. Cleaver, 36, of Marysville, Wash.
SSgt. Cleaver was assigned to the 782d Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.; died Nov. 19, 2009 in Zabul province, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when a suicide car-bomber attacked his unit. Also killed was Daniel A. Frazier.
Cleaver joined the Navy in 1995 and was stationed on the U.S.S. Inchon at Ingleside, Texas, served in Kosovo, then PCS'd to Norfolk, Va., where he was a firefighter instructor for three years, then Seattle, where he set up a firefighter training school and was stationed on the U.S.S. Rodney M. Davis, soon deploying to Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
After serving 10 years in the Navy, he reenlisted in the Army. Shortly after arriving at Fort Bragg, N.C., he was deployed to Afghanistan as a convoy commander and a medic.
Cleaver was deployed to Afghanistan again in July, his fourth deployment to a combat zone, stationed at FOB Apache. He was working a supply run to FOB Shajoy, they'd just unloaded the supplies and were ready to mount up and head back, when the truck pulled up and was detonated by the driver.
"Staff Sgt. Cleaver was one of the most disciplined paratroopers that I have ever had a chance to work with. He always set a standard and ensured that his paratroopers always meet that standard," said Capt. Burton Furlow, commander of Company E.
Cleaver's awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart Medal, the Army Commendation Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster, the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, the Navy Unit Commendation with bronze oak leaf cluster, four Navy Efficiency Ribbons, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the Navy Good Conduct Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters, the National Defense Service Medal, Navy Battle “E” with silver wreath for four or more awards, the Kosovo Campaign Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terror Service Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal, the Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with bronze stars for 2nd, 3rd and 4th award, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Naval Reserve Sea Service Medal, Navy Pistol Medal with silver E for expert, the NATO Medal, the Combat Action Badge and the Parachutist Badge.
Cleaver is survived by his parents, Ron and Teresa Cleaver, brother Ron, sister Rhonda, and 2 sons, Collin and Aiden, plus a plethora of extended family and friends.
In addition to his enviable military record, something he loved and gave his all, he was as great a person as anyone could have the honor to meet. He always back-burnered his life to handle the needs of his soldiers, friends, and even strangers. Always a can do, will do, did do guy. He was our best friend and we don't know of one single bad thing he's ever done. He loved his country, his family, his friends, the Army, and most of all his sons. Truly an asset to Ft Bragg, Fayetteville, and the World.
John, we love you and miss you. We cry every day. "No worries", brother.
Love,
J.R. and "Rae"
Dec 5, 2009
Amber Hoskins
SSG John J. Cleaver will live in our hearts forever. You are a true American Hero!!
Remember to save a dance for me!!
http://ourfallensoldier.com/CleaverJohnJ_MemorialPage.html
Army Staff Sgt. John J. Cleaver was killed in action on 11/19/09.
Navy Master-at-Arms 2nd Class Brian M. Patton
Remember Our Heroes
Navy Master-at-Arms 2nd Class Brian M. Patton, 37, of Freeport, Ill.
Master-at-Arms Patton, a member of the Navy Reserve, died Nov. 19, 2009 in Kuwait of injuries suffered in a noncombat-related accident.
Served in AF Reserve between Navy stints
The Associated Press
Brian M. Patton was the kind of man who remembered to wish his wife of nine years a happy anniversary even from overseas.
He called to tell Amy Patton he missed her, and they talked about a trip they were planning to Hawaii. Then he hung up for the final time.
Relatives say the 37-year-old from Freeport, Ill., was killed Nov. 19 in a vehicle crash near a base in Kuwait, where he had volunteered to deploy.
The Gulf War veteran spent time in the Air Force Reserve between stints with the Navy, most recently with a reserve unit based in New York. He had recently worked in Dallas, Pa., as an officer at a correctional facility.
Colleagues and comrades say they could always depend on Patton, a graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania, to fill several roles: the jokester, the attention-grabber, the life of the party, the go-to guy.
“He was a natural leader,” said Senior Chief Petty Officer David Kinnaird. “People would follow him. Definitely a wonderful sailor, one of my best sailors.”
Patton also is survived by sons Brian and Nicholas; a stepson, Tyler; and two brothers, Robert and Scott.
Navy Master-at-Arms 2nd Class Brian M. Patton was killed in a non-combat incident on 11/19/09.
Navy Master-at-Arms 2nd Class Brian M. Patton, 37, of Freeport, Ill.
Master-at-Arms Patton, a member of the Navy Reserve, died Nov. 19, 2009 in Kuwait of injuries suffered in a noncombat-related accident.
Served in AF Reserve between Navy stints
The Associated Press
Brian M. Patton was the kind of man who remembered to wish his wife of nine years a happy anniversary even from overseas.
He called to tell Amy Patton he missed her, and they talked about a trip they were planning to Hawaii. Then he hung up for the final time.
Relatives say the 37-year-old from Freeport, Ill., was killed Nov. 19 in a vehicle crash near a base in Kuwait, where he had volunteered to deploy.
The Gulf War veteran spent time in the Air Force Reserve between stints with the Navy, most recently with a reserve unit based in New York. He had recently worked in Dallas, Pa., as an officer at a correctional facility.
Colleagues and comrades say they could always depend on Patton, a graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania, to fill several roles: the jokester, the attention-grabber, the life of the party, the go-to guy.
“He was a natural leader,” said Senior Chief Petty Officer David Kinnaird. “People would follow him. Definitely a wonderful sailor, one of my best sailors.”
Patton also is survived by sons Brian and Nicholas; a stepson, Tyler; and two brothers, Robert and Scott.
Navy Master-at-Arms 2nd Class Brian M. Patton was killed in a non-combat incident on 11/19/09.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Army Spc. Joseph M. Lewis
Remember Our Heroes
Army Spc. Joseph M. Lewis, 26, of Terrell, Texas
Spc. Lewis was assigned to the 8th Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.; died Nov. 17, 2009 in Kandahar, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device.
Texas soldier dies in Afghanistan
The Associated Press
FORT LEWIS, Wash. — The Defense Department says a Fort Lewis soldier was killed Tuesday by a roadside bomb in Kandahar, Afghanistan.
Twenty-six-year-old Spc. Joseph M. Lewis of Terrell, Texas, was a member of the 5th Stryker brigade.
The News Tribune of Tacoma, Wash., reports he was the 29th member of the brigade to die since it deployed in July.
Lewis previously served a 12-month tour in Korea and was on his first deployment to Afghanistan.
Lewis leaves behind a wife, Theresa, and an infant daughter, Abigail, according to the Terrell Tribune.
Army Spc. Joseph M. Lewis was killed in action on 11/17/09.
Army Spc. Joseph M. Lewis, 26, of Terrell, Texas
Spc. Lewis was assigned to the 8th Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.; died Nov. 17, 2009 in Kandahar, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device.
Texas soldier dies in Afghanistan
The Associated Press
FORT LEWIS, Wash. — The Defense Department says a Fort Lewis soldier was killed Tuesday by a roadside bomb in Kandahar, Afghanistan.
Twenty-six-year-old Spc. Joseph M. Lewis of Terrell, Texas, was a member of the 5th Stryker brigade.
The News Tribune of Tacoma, Wash., reports he was the 29th member of the brigade to die since it deployed in July.
Lewis previously served a 12-month tour in Korea and was on his first deployment to Afghanistan.
Lewis leaves behind a wife, Theresa, and an infant daughter, Abigail, according to the Terrell Tribune.
Army Spc. Joseph M. Lewis was killed in action on 11/17/09.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Army Staff Sgt. Ryan L. Zorn
Remember Our Heroes
Army Staff Sgt. Ryan L. Zorn, 35, of Upton, Wyo.
SSgt Zorn was assigned to 1st Battalion, 34th Armor Regiment, 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan.; died Nov.16, 2009 in Tal Afar, Iraq, of injuries sustained during a vehicle rollover.
Soldier planned to be career serviceman
By Matt Joyce
The Associated Press
CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Army Staff Sgt. Ryan Zorn, who died in a vehicle accident in Iraq, knew early in life that he wanted to join the military, and he planned to spend his career in the service, his mother said.
Zorn, who grew up in Upton, Wyo., died Nov. 16 in Tal Afar, Iraq, from injuries suffered in the roll-over crash, the Defense Department said. He was 35.
JoAnn Zorn, of Wright, Wyo., said her son was on his third tour in Iraq when he was killed. During a 15-year military career, he had been stationed across the United States and in Germany, Saudi Arabia and Korea, his mother said.
“He had always wanted to go into the service, as much as we tried to talk him out of it,” JoAnn Zorn said. “At high school, when they would have career day or anything like that, he said, ‘No I want to go into service,’ and that’s what he did.”
Zorn was assigned to the 1st Infantry Division at Fort Riley, Kansas. He trained there to be part of a military transition team — a small group of soldiers that advises and teaches Iraqi soldiers — and deployed in March for a yearlong tour.
The military said it’s investigating the roll-over crash that killed Zorn. JoAnn Zorn said the family has not yet heard any details about the crash except that her son suffered traumatic head injuries.
“He loved his job,” JoAnn Zorn said. “He loved being a soldier and he loved serving his country.”
Connie Andersen, a Wright resident and family friend, remembered Zorn as a kindhearted person who enjoyed being around his family and helping others.
JoAnn Zorn said her son would volunteer for holiday work shifts so other soldiers with family members could spend the holiday with their families. Whenever he came home to visit, he was a “family man,” she said.
“He had a nephew and two nieces,” JoAnn Zorn said. “He didn’t drink, and when he came home on leave, he always just stayed at home with the family.”
Zorn liked playing cards with his mother and nieces during visits, Andersen said.
Zorn is survived by his parents, Myron and JoAnn of Wright, a brother, a grandmother and others. Funeral arrangements were pending.
Was in military for 15 years
The Associated Press
Ryan Zorn used to volunteer for holiday work shifts so other soldiers could spend time with their families, his mother said.
When he made it home, he played cards with his mother and two nieces.
“He didn’t drink, and when he came home on leave, he always just stayed at home with the family,” said the soldier’s mother, JoAnn Zorn, of Wright, Wyo.
Zorn, 35, of Upton, Wyo., died Nov. 16 in a vehicle rollover in Tal Afar, Iraq. He was based at Fort Riley, Kan.
He trained there to be part of a military transition team — a small group of soldiers that advises and teaches Iraqi soldiers — and deployed in March for a yearlong tour.
Zorn was on his third tour in Iraq when he was killed, and during a 15-year military career, he had been stationed across the United States and in Germany, Saudi Arabia and Korea, his mother said.
“He had always wanted to go into the service, as much as we tried to talk him out of it,” JoAnn Zorn said. “At high school, when they would have career day or anything like that, he said, ‘No I want to go into service,’ and that’s what he did.”
Zorn also is survived by his father, Myron; his brother; his grandmother; his nephew; and other relatives.
Army Staff Sgt. Ryan L. Zorn was killed in action on 11/16/09.
Army Staff Sgt. Ryan L. Zorn, 35, of Upton, Wyo.
SSgt Zorn was assigned to 1st Battalion, 34th Armor Regiment, 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan.; died Nov.16, 2009 in Tal Afar, Iraq, of injuries sustained during a vehicle rollover.
Soldier planned to be career serviceman
By Matt Joyce
The Associated Press
CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Army Staff Sgt. Ryan Zorn, who died in a vehicle accident in Iraq, knew early in life that he wanted to join the military, and he planned to spend his career in the service, his mother said.
Zorn, who grew up in Upton, Wyo., died Nov. 16 in Tal Afar, Iraq, from injuries suffered in the roll-over crash, the Defense Department said. He was 35.
JoAnn Zorn, of Wright, Wyo., said her son was on his third tour in Iraq when he was killed. During a 15-year military career, he had been stationed across the United States and in Germany, Saudi Arabia and Korea, his mother said.
“He had always wanted to go into the service, as much as we tried to talk him out of it,” JoAnn Zorn said. “At high school, when they would have career day or anything like that, he said, ‘No I want to go into service,’ and that’s what he did.”
Zorn was assigned to the 1st Infantry Division at Fort Riley, Kansas. He trained there to be part of a military transition team — a small group of soldiers that advises and teaches Iraqi soldiers — and deployed in March for a yearlong tour.
The military said it’s investigating the roll-over crash that killed Zorn. JoAnn Zorn said the family has not yet heard any details about the crash except that her son suffered traumatic head injuries.
“He loved his job,” JoAnn Zorn said. “He loved being a soldier and he loved serving his country.”
Connie Andersen, a Wright resident and family friend, remembered Zorn as a kindhearted person who enjoyed being around his family and helping others.
JoAnn Zorn said her son would volunteer for holiday work shifts so other soldiers with family members could spend the holiday with their families. Whenever he came home to visit, he was a “family man,” she said.
“He had a nephew and two nieces,” JoAnn Zorn said. “He didn’t drink, and when he came home on leave, he always just stayed at home with the family.”
Zorn liked playing cards with his mother and nieces during visits, Andersen said.
Zorn is survived by his parents, Myron and JoAnn of Wright, a brother, a grandmother and others. Funeral arrangements were pending.
Was in military for 15 years
The Associated Press
Ryan Zorn used to volunteer for holiday work shifts so other soldiers could spend time with their families, his mother said.
When he made it home, he played cards with his mother and two nieces.
“He didn’t drink, and when he came home on leave, he always just stayed at home with the family,” said the soldier’s mother, JoAnn Zorn, of Wright, Wyo.
Zorn, 35, of Upton, Wyo., died Nov. 16 in a vehicle rollover in Tal Afar, Iraq. He was based at Fort Riley, Kan.
He trained there to be part of a military transition team — a small group of soldiers that advises and teaches Iraqi soldiers — and deployed in March for a yearlong tour.
Zorn was on his third tour in Iraq when he was killed, and during a 15-year military career, he had been stationed across the United States and in Germany, Saudi Arabia and Korea, his mother said.
“He had always wanted to go into the service, as much as we tried to talk him out of it,” JoAnn Zorn said. “At high school, when they would have career day or anything like that, he said, ‘No I want to go into service,’ and that’s what he did.”
Zorn also is survived by his father, Myron; his brother; his grandmother; his nephew; and other relatives.
Army Staff Sgt. Ryan L. Zorn was killed in action on 11/16/09.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Marine Lance Cpl. Shawn P. Hefner
Remember Our Heroes
Marine Lance Cpl. Shawn P. Hefner, 22, of Hico, Texas
LCpl Hefner was assigned to 2nd Amphibious Assault Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.; died Nov. 13, 2009 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
Dallas Morning News – Shawn Patrick Hefner was promoted to be a Marine lance corporal on Nov. 1 and scheduled to return to his home base at Camp Lejeune, N.C., sometime next week.
After a state-side debriefing about his duty in Afghanistan, he planned to return home to Central Texas on Dec. 10, less than a week after celebrating his 23rd birthday. He was to be on leave until early January.
But Lance Cpl. Hefner was killed by an improvised bomb last Friday while supporting combat operations in the Helmand Province of Afghanistan.
His body was returned home Thursday to Hico, Texas, where services will be at 2 p.m. today at First Baptist Church. He will be buried in Hico Cemetery.
Cpl. Hefner was fun-loving and fearless, said his father, Patrick Hefner of Hico.
"He was outdoors," said his father, a former Marine. "He loved to fish and camp. If it could be done outdoors, that's where he wanted to be."
Cpl. Hefner was born Dec. 4, 1986, in Kansas City, Mo., and moved with his family to Hico in 1991. He was a 2006 graduate of Hico High School.
He joined the Marines in January 2008 and was deployed to Afghanistan in June . Almost immediately, he demonstrated his toughness, when he received a concussion after his Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle was rocked by an explosion.
His mother, Robin Hefner of Hico, had instructed her son to document his tour of duty with photographs. Cpl. Hefner faithfully carried out his mother's request – even after that attack.
"They were carting him off in helicopters, and he was lying on his back taking pictures of his buddies up in front of him," his father said.
Cpl. Hefner was assigned to the 2nd Amphibious Assault Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Lejeune.
In addition to his mother and father, Cpl. Hefner is survived by a brother, Brandon Hefner of Mesquite; a sister, Jessica Megan Hefner of Hico; a grandfather, Raymond Hefner of Hico; and a grandmother, Lynn Schroff of Mesquite.
HICO — Of the thousands of young men and women who have died in the mountains of Afghanistan and on the streets of Iraq, none had a hometown named Hico.
But a week ago Friday, Marine Lance Cpl. Shawn Patrick Hefner, a Hico Tiger, Class of ’06, died in Afghanistan when a roadside bomb detonated in the Helmand province.
And as much as life doesn’t stop when someone dies, it came pretty close this week in Hico, a town on the upper end of the Hill Country in Hamilton County.
"I can’t remember anything that has gripped this town like this in years," said Bill Travis, who owns the Texas Trails restaurant. "The war has come home to Hico."
On a gray Friday afternoon, hundreds of people filled the First Baptist Church, then proceeded down Texas 6 to the cemetery to pay their last respects.
Hefner was 22, a Marine for less than two years.
"This entire community is hurting," said Mayor Lavern Tooley, who doubles as the school nurse and knew Hefner well.
Hefner’s father, Patrick, himself a former Marine, stood outside the church after the service.
He said the townsfolk had propped up him and his wife, Robin, for much of the last week as they made arrangements and flew to Dover Air Force Base, Del., to receive their son’s body.
"It’s a small town," he said. "We’re all family."
Only about 1,300 people live in Hico, the size of a small high school in Tarrant County.
It’s not a cliche to say that everyone knows everyone else, where they live, who their grandma is, when they buy a new pickup.
And it’s not hard to find people who have a story to tell about Hefner, a young man described by his family as fearless, outdoorsy and fun-loving.
There was the story about when he got suspended from school a few years ago because he had stripped off his clothes and gone "naked cliff diving" on a school field trip.
Or the one about how he tried to break a mustang, was thrown off and lay quietly on the couch for several hours, until he finally told his parents he was pretty sure he had a broken arm.
"The Marine Corps suited his lifestyle," said Drexel Ragland, who led the funeral service at the First Baptist Church.
Hico school Superintendent Rod Townsend could appreciate those stories. He knew Hefner well. His office is in the high school itself.
Townsend called Hefner a "rambunctious kid" who wasn’t always interested in schoolwork.
"Even when he was in trouble, though, he was very respectful," Townsend said. "He never lied to get out of any consequences. He was a good-hearted kid."
He was more than that to Cpl. William Pullen, who served with Hefner in the 2nd Amphibious Assault Battalion in Afghanistan.
Pullen spoke at the funeral.
Their vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb in July, and Pullen was the only one still in the vehicle, trapped as he faded in and out of consciousness.
"Shawn went back to the truck," Pullen said, his voice breaking. "He came and got me and carried me 50 feet. He stayed by my side. He was a good man. He was a good Marine."
Several days ago, Townsend remembered a story. Sometime in mid-2008, he was eating at a restaurant when a young man walked up to him. It was Hefner.
"He shook my hand and talked to me," he said. "Shawn and I were never great friends because we were usually on opposite sides of an issue. But the Shawn I talked to that day was not the Shawn I remembered.
"He had grown up into a young man," Townsend said. "I told myself, 'This kid is going to be OK.’ He had found his place."
So when Townsend heard about Hefner’s death, the one thing he thought he could do, for him and the schoolchildren he oversees, was bus them downtown Thursday afternoon to watch Hefner come home.
Every child in the Hico schools from third grade to the senior class lined Texas 6 for Hefner’s motorcade.
Businesses closed down. Flags were lowered to half-staff. People switched out the marquees around town to say "God Bless Shawn Hefner."
"I wanted the children to see how important he was for this nation," Townsend said. "I wanted them to have a lump in their throat, just like I did. Some things you can’t teach without seeing it. And you know what? You could have heard a pin drop in this town when those police lights came over that hill."
He came and got me and carried me 50 feet. He stayed by my side. He was a good man. He was a good Marine."
Marine Lance Cpl. Shawn P. Hefner was killed in action on 11/13/09.
Marine Lance Cpl. Shawn P. Hefner, 22, of Hico, Texas
LCpl Hefner was assigned to 2nd Amphibious Assault Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.; died Nov. 13, 2009 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
Dallas Morning News – Shawn Patrick Hefner was promoted to be a Marine lance corporal on Nov. 1 and scheduled to return to his home base at Camp Lejeune, N.C., sometime next week.
After a state-side debriefing about his duty in Afghanistan, he planned to return home to Central Texas on Dec. 10, less than a week after celebrating his 23rd birthday. He was to be on leave until early January.
But Lance Cpl. Hefner was killed by an improvised bomb last Friday while supporting combat operations in the Helmand Province of Afghanistan.
His body was returned home Thursday to Hico, Texas, where services will be at 2 p.m. today at First Baptist Church. He will be buried in Hico Cemetery.
Cpl. Hefner was fun-loving and fearless, said his father, Patrick Hefner of Hico.
"He was outdoors," said his father, a former Marine. "He loved to fish and camp. If it could be done outdoors, that's where he wanted to be."
Cpl. Hefner was born Dec. 4, 1986, in Kansas City, Mo., and moved with his family to Hico in 1991. He was a 2006 graduate of Hico High School.
He joined the Marines in January 2008 and was deployed to Afghanistan in June . Almost immediately, he demonstrated his toughness, when he received a concussion after his Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle was rocked by an explosion.
His mother, Robin Hefner of Hico, had instructed her son to document his tour of duty with photographs. Cpl. Hefner faithfully carried out his mother's request – even after that attack.
"They were carting him off in helicopters, and he was lying on his back taking pictures of his buddies up in front of him," his father said.
Cpl. Hefner was assigned to the 2nd Amphibious Assault Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Lejeune.
In addition to his mother and father, Cpl. Hefner is survived by a brother, Brandon Hefner of Mesquite; a sister, Jessica Megan Hefner of Hico; a grandfather, Raymond Hefner of Hico; and a grandmother, Lynn Schroff of Mesquite.
HICO — Of the thousands of young men and women who have died in the mountains of Afghanistan and on the streets of Iraq, none had a hometown named Hico.
But a week ago Friday, Marine Lance Cpl. Shawn Patrick Hefner, a Hico Tiger, Class of ’06, died in Afghanistan when a roadside bomb detonated in the Helmand province.
And as much as life doesn’t stop when someone dies, it came pretty close this week in Hico, a town on the upper end of the Hill Country in Hamilton County.
"I can’t remember anything that has gripped this town like this in years," said Bill Travis, who owns the Texas Trails restaurant. "The war has come home to Hico."
On a gray Friday afternoon, hundreds of people filled the First Baptist Church, then proceeded down Texas 6 to the cemetery to pay their last respects.
Hefner was 22, a Marine for less than two years.
"This entire community is hurting," said Mayor Lavern Tooley, who doubles as the school nurse and knew Hefner well.
Hefner’s father, Patrick, himself a former Marine, stood outside the church after the service.
He said the townsfolk had propped up him and his wife, Robin, for much of the last week as they made arrangements and flew to Dover Air Force Base, Del., to receive their son’s body.
"It’s a small town," he said. "We’re all family."
Only about 1,300 people live in Hico, the size of a small high school in Tarrant County.
It’s not a cliche to say that everyone knows everyone else, where they live, who their grandma is, when they buy a new pickup.
And it’s not hard to find people who have a story to tell about Hefner, a young man described by his family as fearless, outdoorsy and fun-loving.
There was the story about when he got suspended from school a few years ago because he had stripped off his clothes and gone "naked cliff diving" on a school field trip.
Or the one about how he tried to break a mustang, was thrown off and lay quietly on the couch for several hours, until he finally told his parents he was pretty sure he had a broken arm.
"The Marine Corps suited his lifestyle," said Drexel Ragland, who led the funeral service at the First Baptist Church.
Hico school Superintendent Rod Townsend could appreciate those stories. He knew Hefner well. His office is in the high school itself.
Townsend called Hefner a "rambunctious kid" who wasn’t always interested in schoolwork.
"Even when he was in trouble, though, he was very respectful," Townsend said. "He never lied to get out of any consequences. He was a good-hearted kid."
He was more than that to Cpl. William Pullen, who served with Hefner in the 2nd Amphibious Assault Battalion in Afghanistan.
Pullen spoke at the funeral.
Their vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb in July, and Pullen was the only one still in the vehicle, trapped as he faded in and out of consciousness.
"Shawn went back to the truck," Pullen said, his voice breaking. "He came and got me and carried me 50 feet. He stayed by my side. He was a good man. He was a good Marine."
Several days ago, Townsend remembered a story. Sometime in mid-2008, he was eating at a restaurant when a young man walked up to him. It was Hefner.
"He shook my hand and talked to me," he said. "Shawn and I were never great friends because we were usually on opposite sides of an issue. But the Shawn I talked to that day was not the Shawn I remembered.
"He had grown up into a young man," Townsend said. "I told myself, 'This kid is going to be OK.’ He had found his place."
So when Townsend heard about Hefner’s death, the one thing he thought he could do, for him and the schoolchildren he oversees, was bus them downtown Thursday afternoon to watch Hefner come home.
Every child in the Hico schools from third grade to the senior class lined Texas 6 for Hefner’s motorcade.
Businesses closed down. Flags were lowered to half-staff. People switched out the marquees around town to say "God Bless Shawn Hefner."
"I wanted the children to see how important he was for this nation," Townsend said. "I wanted them to have a lump in their throat, just like I did. Some things you can’t teach without seeing it. And you know what? You could have heard a pin drop in this town when those police lights came over that hill."
He came and got me and carried me 50 feet. He stayed by my side. He was a good man. He was a good Marine."
Marine Lance Cpl. Shawn P. Hefner was killed in action on 11/13/09.
Army Spc. Christopher J. Coffland
Remember Our Heroes
Army Spc. Christopher J. Coffland, 43, of Baltimore
Spc. Coffland was assigned to the 323rd Military Intelligence Battalion, Fort Meade, Md.; died Nov. 13, 2009 in Wardak province, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.
WBOC -- David and Toni Coffland never thought they would have to prepare for their son's funeral. Army intelligence specialist Christopher Coffland was killed last week in Afghanistan by a roadside bomb.
The 42-year-old soldier was just about two weeks into his deployment. His sister broke the news to their parents at their home in Worcester County.
"I'll never forget the look on my daughter's face," said Toni Coffland. "I have never seen a face with such horror and sadness."
The Cofflands went to Dover Air Force base the next day for Chris' dignified transfer. His father hopes no one has to go through the same ordeal.
"It tears you apart and you can't believe your boy's body's in there," said David Coffland.
The Cofflands, who have received dozens of condolences, are planning a funeral service for this weekend in Baltimore. They say they want his leadership, humor and selflessness to be remembered.
OCEAN PINES -- An Ocean Pines couple is mourning the loss of their son, a Baltimore man who was killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan two weeks into his deployment.
Spc. Christopher James Coffland joined the Army Reserve at age 42, one month shy of the cutoff age for enlistment. His family said he dreamed of moving up in the intelligence field, and hoped for a defense department or civilian contractor job when he came home.
Coffland died Nov. 13 of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device in Wardak province. Two Marines also died in the attack. The team was investigating a report of another vehicle bombing, family members said.
His remains arrived Saturday night at Dover Air Force Base, where family members and friends were waiting.
"I can't tell you how much respect and honor with which they do that in Dover," said his father, David Coffland, choking up. "I gotta tell you, it's the hardest thing in life, for any parent to see that casket with the flag lying on it. It tears you up."
Mr. Coffland said he and his wife Toni are touched by an outpouring of support from their Ocean Pines neighbors.
"It's a continuous parade of people, with food and comfort," he said. "It's one of the most caring communities and circle of friends that anyone could possibly have. It's amazing. They're just coming out of the woodwork."
Coffland's father remembered how, "even when he was a little guy in Little League," Coffland remained a loyal and staunch supporter of his friends.
"For his small size, when he was a kid, he was the bravest kid I ever knew -- tough, you know, being able to withstand or do anything. As he grew, his morals grew. If every man could have been like my son, there wouldn't have been any problems in this world," he said.
After a lifetime of worldwide travel, Coffland became interested in a career in intelligence, his father said. He sought work in the field of covert operations, and turned down several opportunities to join as an officer, choosing enlistment instead.
His interest in the military wasn't new. He had been accepted into Army and Navy service academies after graduating in 1984 from Baltimore's Gilman School -- but he turned them down, his father said.
"He decided at that time that six years was too much of a commitment. And of course, we were in peacetime. He thought, 'why would I go do that if there wasn't a war?' After 9/11, he changed his thinking about war. He was patriotic, and he wanted to do something," he said.
Coffland graduated in 1988 from Washington and Lee University. He would later travel the world -- playing professional football in Europe, coaching football in Australia, earning a graduate anthropology degree in Washington, living with native Pygmy tribesmen in Africa, tending bar in Baltimore.
"Never a thought in his mind of any kind of commercial venture where he could make money," his father said. "That was the furthest thing from his mind. His whole intention in life was for helping people, and doing for others."
Coffland's brother-in-law, Kevin Bresnahan, of Ocean City, agreed that he always sought meaningful pursuits in everything he did.
"His whole mantra was, 'unless there's passion, there is no life,' type of a thing," he said. "And it was kind of surprising he joined the Army, because he's the kind of guy that doesn't like the regiment or authority that much. He was just a free spirit, but for some reason he thought this was his calling."
Army spokeswoman Maj. Monica Womack said Coffland had been assigned to the 323rd Military Intelligence Battalion based in Fort Meade, Md. In February he was cross-leveled with the Austin, Texas-based 321st Military Intelligence Battalion, and trained for his mission to Afghanistan. His unit arrived at the end of October.
Coffland's sister Karen Bresnahan said her baby brother never wanted the fanfare or accolades that came from his very dangerous job.
"I'm very proud my brother died doing what he wanted to do," she said. "He lived his life doing what he wanted to -- whatever he wanted to do, he did. He was accomplished in every aspect of his life. He wanted to serve his country. He will be an inspiration to many other young men and women, trying to rid the world of these terrorists and rebels, so we can have a life of freedom and democracy."
Coffland most recently resided in Baltimore with his sister, Lynn. In a statement, Mayor Sheila Dixon praised his service and said city flags will be lowered in his honor.
Coffland is survived by his parents, three sisters and a brother. A viewing will be held Nov. 20 at Lemmon Funeral Home in Timonium, Md., followed by an 11:00 a.m funeral Nov. 21 at Baltimore's Cathedral of Mary Our Queen.
Funeral set for fallen reservist
The Associated Press
BALTIMORE — A funeral Mass has been scheduled for an Army Reservist from Baltimore who was killed in a roadside bombing in Afghanistan.
The funeral for Spc. Christopher James Coffland will take place Nov. 20 at 11 a.m. at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen.
The 43-year-old Coffland died Nov. 13 when the vehicle he was in exploded in the Sayed Abud region.
Coffland signed up with the Army Reserves in December 2007, a month before he turned 42. He was killed 2½ weeks after arriving in Afghanistan.
Army Spc. Christopher J. Coffland was killed in action on 11/13/09.
Army Spc. Christopher J. Coffland, 43, of Baltimore
Spc. Coffland was assigned to the 323rd Military Intelligence Battalion, Fort Meade, Md.; died Nov. 13, 2009 in Wardak province, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.
WBOC -- David and Toni Coffland never thought they would have to prepare for their son's funeral. Army intelligence specialist Christopher Coffland was killed last week in Afghanistan by a roadside bomb.
The 42-year-old soldier was just about two weeks into his deployment. His sister broke the news to their parents at their home in Worcester County.
"I'll never forget the look on my daughter's face," said Toni Coffland. "I have never seen a face with such horror and sadness."
The Cofflands went to Dover Air Force base the next day for Chris' dignified transfer. His father hopes no one has to go through the same ordeal.
"It tears you apart and you can't believe your boy's body's in there," said David Coffland.
The Cofflands, who have received dozens of condolences, are planning a funeral service for this weekend in Baltimore. They say they want his leadership, humor and selflessness to be remembered.
OCEAN PINES -- An Ocean Pines couple is mourning the loss of their son, a Baltimore man who was killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan two weeks into his deployment.
Spc. Christopher James Coffland joined the Army Reserve at age 42, one month shy of the cutoff age for enlistment. His family said he dreamed of moving up in the intelligence field, and hoped for a defense department or civilian contractor job when he came home.
Coffland died Nov. 13 of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device in Wardak province. Two Marines also died in the attack. The team was investigating a report of another vehicle bombing, family members said.
His remains arrived Saturday night at Dover Air Force Base, where family members and friends were waiting.
"I can't tell you how much respect and honor with which they do that in Dover," said his father, David Coffland, choking up. "I gotta tell you, it's the hardest thing in life, for any parent to see that casket with the flag lying on it. It tears you up."
Mr. Coffland said he and his wife Toni are touched by an outpouring of support from their Ocean Pines neighbors.
"It's a continuous parade of people, with food and comfort," he said. "It's one of the most caring communities and circle of friends that anyone could possibly have. It's amazing. They're just coming out of the woodwork."
Coffland's father remembered how, "even when he was a little guy in Little League," Coffland remained a loyal and staunch supporter of his friends.
"For his small size, when he was a kid, he was the bravest kid I ever knew -- tough, you know, being able to withstand or do anything. As he grew, his morals grew. If every man could have been like my son, there wouldn't have been any problems in this world," he said.
After a lifetime of worldwide travel, Coffland became interested in a career in intelligence, his father said. He sought work in the field of covert operations, and turned down several opportunities to join as an officer, choosing enlistment instead.
His interest in the military wasn't new. He had been accepted into Army and Navy service academies after graduating in 1984 from Baltimore's Gilman School -- but he turned them down, his father said.
"He decided at that time that six years was too much of a commitment. And of course, we were in peacetime. He thought, 'why would I go do that if there wasn't a war?' After 9/11, he changed his thinking about war. He was patriotic, and he wanted to do something," he said.
Coffland graduated in 1988 from Washington and Lee University. He would later travel the world -- playing professional football in Europe, coaching football in Australia, earning a graduate anthropology degree in Washington, living with native Pygmy tribesmen in Africa, tending bar in Baltimore.
"Never a thought in his mind of any kind of commercial venture where he could make money," his father said. "That was the furthest thing from his mind. His whole intention in life was for helping people, and doing for others."
Coffland's brother-in-law, Kevin Bresnahan, of Ocean City, agreed that he always sought meaningful pursuits in everything he did.
"His whole mantra was, 'unless there's passion, there is no life,' type of a thing," he said. "And it was kind of surprising he joined the Army, because he's the kind of guy that doesn't like the regiment or authority that much. He was just a free spirit, but for some reason he thought this was his calling."
Army spokeswoman Maj. Monica Womack said Coffland had been assigned to the 323rd Military Intelligence Battalion based in Fort Meade, Md. In February he was cross-leveled with the Austin, Texas-based 321st Military Intelligence Battalion, and trained for his mission to Afghanistan. His unit arrived at the end of October.
Coffland's sister Karen Bresnahan said her baby brother never wanted the fanfare or accolades that came from his very dangerous job.
"I'm very proud my brother died doing what he wanted to do," she said. "He lived his life doing what he wanted to -- whatever he wanted to do, he did. He was accomplished in every aspect of his life. He wanted to serve his country. He will be an inspiration to many other young men and women, trying to rid the world of these terrorists and rebels, so we can have a life of freedom and democracy."
Coffland most recently resided in Baltimore with his sister, Lynn. In a statement, Mayor Sheila Dixon praised his service and said city flags will be lowered in his honor.
Coffland is survived by his parents, three sisters and a brother. A viewing will be held Nov. 20 at Lemmon Funeral Home in Timonium, Md., followed by an 11:00 a.m funeral Nov. 21 at Baltimore's Cathedral of Mary Our Queen.
Funeral set for fallen reservist
The Associated Press
BALTIMORE — A funeral Mass has been scheduled for an Army Reservist from Baltimore who was killed in a roadside bombing in Afghanistan.
The funeral for Spc. Christopher James Coffland will take place Nov. 20 at 11 a.m. at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen.
The 43-year-old Coffland died Nov. 13 when the vehicle he was in exploded in the Sayed Abud region.
Coffland signed up with the Army Reserves in December 2007, a month before he turned 42. He was killed 2½ weeks after arriving in Afghanistan.
Army Spc. Christopher J. Coffland was killed in action on 11/13/09.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Marine Lance Cpl. Justin J. Swanson
Remember Our Heroes
Marine Lance Cpl. Justin J. Swanson, 21, of Anaheim, Calif.
LCpl. Swanson was assigned to 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.; died Nov. 10, 2009 in Helmand province, Afghanistan, from injuries sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated.
ANAHEIM -- Justin J. Swanson talked about duty and discipline and about being a role model for his family when he signed up for the U.S. Marine Corps a few weeks out of high school.
Lance Cpl. Swanson of Anaheim died earlier this week in the blast of an improvised explosive as he participated in combat operations in southern Afghanistan. He was 21 years old.
"I'm in the United States Marine Corps. Ooorah!!!" he wrote on his MySpace page. "I love what I do ... and I'm good at what I do. ... I like being number 1 and being the best at whatever it is I do."
Swanson was serving in the Taliban stronghold of Helmand Province when he died of his injuries from an improvised explosive device, the Department of Defense announced on Thursday. His death on Tuesday came on the official birthday of the U.S. Marine Corps, and a day before Veterans' Day.
His family could not be reached for comment.
Swanson enlisted in the Marines in 2006 and was based at Camp Pendleton with the 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force. Officials at the base said he was on his second deployment after returning from Iraq last year.
A close friend, Daniel Ramos, 21, of Fullerton, said Swanson volunteered to go to Afghanistan. "He didn't want to stay back," Ramos said. "He was ready to go."
Swanson grew up in a neighborhood in Anaheim where role models were in short supply. He had talked since high school about joining the Marines, in part to set an example for his two younger brothers and two younger sisters, Ramos said.
He went to Buena Park High School, where – according to his MySpace page – he majored in football. He was a laid-back student, and his teachers sometimes thought they were more worried about his future than he was.
But many of them said he was something special. Michelle Johnson, who taught him freshman English, called him a "diamond in the rough, full of enthusiasm." And school counselor Cindy Chow remembered a student workshop, when a small boy came forward to say he was being picked on.
It was Justin Swanson, the big football player, who "made it a point to say, I have your back," Chow said.
Swanson visited the school a few months ago, and spoke to students in English teacher Ron Carcich's classroom about finding their way in life. Carcich remembered Swanson not as the well-disciplined Marine standing at the front of the classroom, but as the student who never seemed to take anything seriously.
"Don't worry, Mr. C.," Swanson would tell his teacher. "I'll make it."
"He'll never be married. He'll never have children," Carcich said. "It's the loss of what could have been, what was just starting to be."
"It tore me to pieces," he said. "I cried like a baby."
Marine Lance Cpl. Justin J. Swanson was killed in action on 11/10/09.
Marine Lance Cpl. Justin J. Swanson, 21, of Anaheim, Calif.
LCpl. Swanson was assigned to 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.; died Nov. 10, 2009 in Helmand province, Afghanistan, from injuries sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated.
ANAHEIM -- Justin J. Swanson talked about duty and discipline and about being a role model for his family when he signed up for the U.S. Marine Corps a few weeks out of high school.
Lance Cpl. Swanson of Anaheim died earlier this week in the blast of an improvised explosive as he participated in combat operations in southern Afghanistan. He was 21 years old.
"I'm in the United States Marine Corps. Ooorah!!!" he wrote on his MySpace page. "I love what I do ... and I'm good at what I do. ... I like being number 1 and being the best at whatever it is I do."
Swanson was serving in the Taliban stronghold of Helmand Province when he died of his injuries from an improvised explosive device, the Department of Defense announced on Thursday. His death on Tuesday came on the official birthday of the U.S. Marine Corps, and a day before Veterans' Day.
His family could not be reached for comment.
Swanson enlisted in the Marines in 2006 and was based at Camp Pendleton with the 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force. Officials at the base said he was on his second deployment after returning from Iraq last year.
A close friend, Daniel Ramos, 21, of Fullerton, said Swanson volunteered to go to Afghanistan. "He didn't want to stay back," Ramos said. "He was ready to go."
Swanson grew up in a neighborhood in Anaheim where role models were in short supply. He had talked since high school about joining the Marines, in part to set an example for his two younger brothers and two younger sisters, Ramos said.
He went to Buena Park High School, where – according to his MySpace page – he majored in football. He was a laid-back student, and his teachers sometimes thought they were more worried about his future than he was.
But many of them said he was something special. Michelle Johnson, who taught him freshman English, called him a "diamond in the rough, full of enthusiasm." And school counselor Cindy Chow remembered a student workshop, when a small boy came forward to say he was being picked on.
It was Justin Swanson, the big football player, who "made it a point to say, I have your back," Chow said.
Swanson visited the school a few months ago, and spoke to students in English teacher Ron Carcich's classroom about finding their way in life. Carcich remembered Swanson not as the well-disciplined Marine standing at the front of the classroom, but as the student who never seemed to take anything seriously.
"Don't worry, Mr. C.," Swanson would tell his teacher. "I'll make it."
"He'll never be married. He'll never have children," Carcich said. "It's the loss of what could have been, what was just starting to be."
"It tore me to pieces," he said. "I cried like a baby."
Marine Lance Cpl. Justin J. Swanson was killed in action on 11/10/09.
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