Army Spc. Garrett A. Fant

Remember Our Heroes

Army Spc. Garrett A. Fant, 21, of American Canyon, Calif.

Spc. Fant was assigned to 4th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan.; died Sept. 26, 2011 in Helmand province, Afghanistan, of wounds caused by an improvised explosive device.


Spc Fant graduated from South Tahoe High School in 2008. He joined the Army in March 2009 and served as an indirect fire infantryman. This was his first deployment.

He first came to live in American Canyon when he was 2 years old, said grandfather, Robert Fant. He alternated living with his father and mother.

“He was proud of his uniform. He was dedicated,” his grandfather said.

“He was a very deep thinker, very mature for his age,” said Maria Cisneros, principal of Valley Oaks High School. “He was a very serious young man, a stand-up young man. He was quite the intellectual. He stayed after school to talk to teachers. He was passionate about serving his country.”

Spc Fant had come home in June for a few days on his 21st birthday.

Mother, Julia, says her son had hoped to teach history at his high school in South Lake Tahoe after completing his service.

She said her son Fant would always try to call her whenever there was news of U.S. casualties in Afghanistan. He wanted to reassure her that he would be fine and reduce her stress.

Spc Fant’s awards and decorations include:
Combat Infantryman’s Badge
NATO Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with one Campaign Star
Army Service Ribbon

Spc Fant was laid to rest on October 7 at Happy Homestead Cemetery in South Lake Tahoe, CA.

Spc Fant is survived by his mother, Julia; father, John; sister, Shawna and brother, Ricky, who is stationed in San Diego.

Army Spc. Garrett A. Fant was killed in action on 9/26/11.

Army 1st Lt. Andres Zermeno

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Army 1st Lt. Andres Zermeno, 26, of San Antonio

1st Lt Zermeno was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Polk, La.; died Sept. 25, 2011 in Wardak province, Afghanistan, of wounds caused by a rocket-propelled grenade.


Lt Zermeno was born in Brownsville, TX and moved to San Antonio to attend university. He loved music and taught himself to play guitar.

He graduated from St. Mary's University with a degree in psychology. He was active in the ROTC and campus ministry. He met his wife Rachel while attending the university.

Lt Zermeno served in the National Guard while attending St Mary's and was commissioned into the Army upon graduation. This was his first deployment. He had been in Afghanistan for 11 months and was due home in about a month.

“His love for his wife Rachel was shown daily by the way he looked at his wedding ring, the way he talked about her and the way he talked with her on the phone,” said Army 1st Lt. Chad Presser in a message from Zermeño's unit in Afghanistan. “Not a day went by that he didn't brag or have a story about what his kids were doing back home."

Zermeño, known as “Z” and “Andy,” was remembered as an inspiration and “a gift to us” by university chaplain Charles “Kip” Stander, who co-officiated at the bilingual services with the deceased's brother Joaquin Zermeño, pastor of St. John the Baptist Church in San Juan.

A message from Army 1st Lt. Peter Houhoulis in Iraq said, “You were one of the best leaders I have ever seen,” he wrote. “You earned the respect of your peers and subordinates by your willingness to take on the tough jobs and see them through.”

1st Army Lt. Stephen Moreno recalled Zermeño as a mentor and caring friend who helped him survive rigorous ROTC training.
“His sense of humor and down-to-earth mentality always kept the mood positive,” Moreno said.

Lt Zermeno's awards and decorations include:
Bronze Stars (2)
Purple Heart
Army Commendation Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Army Service Ribbon
Overseas Service Ribbon
NATO Medal
Combat Action Badge

Lt Zermeno was laid to rest on October 8th at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery.

Lt Zermeno is survived by parents, Dolores and Juan; wife, Rachel and their children, 3-year-old Steven and 20 month-old, Madeline; sister, Isabel and brothers, Juan, Joaquin and Adrian.

Army 1st Lt. Andres Zermeno was killed in action on 9/25/11.

Army Spc. Francisco Briseno-Alvarez

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Army Spc. Francisco Briseno-Alvarez, 27, of Oklahoma City, Okla.

Spc. Briseno-Alvarez was assigned to 1st Battalion, 179th Infantry Regiment, 45th Brigade Combat Team, Oklahoma National Guard, Stillwater, Okla. died Sept. 25, 2011 in Laghman province, Afghanistan, of injuries caused by an improvise dexplosive device.


Sgt Briseno-Alvarez graduated from U.S. Grant High School in 2003. He joined the Army National Guard on Sept. 11, 2010, and served as a truck driver.

Major General Myles Deering, from the Oklahoma Army National Guard, said, “My thoughts and prayers are with the Briseno-Alvarez family and those of our wounded heroes. Spc. Briseno-Alvarez answered the call to serve this great Nation and help defend it. His loyalty and ultimate sacrifice for the sake of our Country will never be forgotten.”

Briseno-Alvarez's cousin Juan Cerano said that "he died doing the right thing. He died serving and protecting his country."

"He was like the brother I never had," Cerano said. "I'm really going to miss him. I only have four sisters. I don't have an actual brother, so it's hard to lose somebody like that. There's always going to be part of him in our hearts," Cerano said.

Another cousin, Sarai Cerano, said she remembers him as "always smiling."

"He could lighten up a room," she said, describing him as "just the sweetest, most caring guy ever."

His death is "devastating for our family," she said.

Sarai said her cousin had worked as a delivery driver for a soda company before he was deployed to Afghanistan.

The last time Sarai saw her cousin was when he was in town for a week in the summer.

“He was a bundle of sunshine in every person's path that he crossed. He just had a fire that could ignite anyone's world,” she said.

Briseno-Alvarez is survived by his father, Javier Briseno; his mother, Lurdes Alvarez; a brother, Adrian and sister, Diana.

Army Spc. Francisco Briseno-Alvarez was killed in action on 9/25/11.

Marine Lance Cpl. Franklin N. Watson

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Marine Lance Cpl. Franklin N. Watson, 21, of Vonore, Tenn.

LCpl Watson was assigned to 4th Combat Engineer Battalion, 4th Marine Division, Marine Forces Reserve, Knoxville, Tenn.; died Sept. 24, 2011 in Helmand province, Afghanistan, while conducting combat operations.


Lance Cpl Franklin N. Watson dreamed of one day guarding the President of the United States. He believed that his excelling in the Marine Corps would assist him in achieving that goal.

Lcpl Watson graduated from Swquoyah High School in 2008 where he played football. He was employed at the Madisonville Police Department. His law enforcement career began as a part time deputy with the Monroe County Sheriff's Department. He joined the Marines in 2010.

Madison Police Chief Gregg Breeden, "Frankie was too young to die. He had a lot of life to live and a lot of good things to do, but in his time he was just inspirational as far as his attitude and outlook towards life. I think that's somethingthat will carry on."

Sheriff Bill Bivens, "We've got sadness in our heart. We will miss him. Our department will miss him. I've seen a lot of teary eyes and a lot of folks calling me over the weekend. It's just bad, and we hate to see this happen."

Family friend, Lowell Russel said a competitive drive prompted Watson to join the Marines. When Russel asked why he chose the Marine Corps, Watson answered, "I wanted to go through the hardest one I could get in."

Cousin, Miriam Watson wrote the following, which the family asked the news media to print:

It takes a real man to do what you've done. You've not only inspired your friends and family, but the world. You showed them that you're brave enough, to risk your own life, to give us freedom. You were our hero before you left, and you still will be. You mean everything in this world to us, and you'll be missed so much. That great personality of yours, that beautiful smile; everything. You were pretty much my brother! You're truly a great young man, who had a brave heart. You stand out, over so many people in this world, Frankie. You had a wonderful heart, and put it to great use! Some people come into our lives and leave footprints in our hearts and we are never ever the same again. You left footprints in my heart, that will always be there. You're in a much better place that this, and with a man who is gonna make everything better for you. I know you wouldn't wanna see me with tears streaming down my face, so I may cry, but I'm gonna keep smiling because that's what you would want, and I'm gonna do exactly what you would hope for, no matter how sad I am, or how much I cry. Although this is my "goodbye" letter, goodbyes are not forever. Goodbyes are not the end. They simply mean I'll miss you, until we meet again! So, when God is ready for me to see you again, I'll be ready. I love you more than anything in this world, Frankie, and you will be missed!

Lcpl Watson was laid to rest on September 3 at Hiwassee Church of God Cemetery in Madisonville.

He is survived by his mother and step-father, Stacy and Jack; father and step-mother, Troy N., Jr. and Katie Watson; grandparents, Troy N., Sr. and Edith Watson.

Marine Lance Cpl. Franklin N. Watson was killed in action on 9/24/11.

Army Pfc. Carlos A. Aparicio

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Army Pfc. Carlos A. Aparicio, 19, of San Bernadino, Calif.;

Pfc Aparicio was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Polk, La.; died Sept. 23, 2011 in Wardak province of injuries caused by an improvised explosive device. Also killed was Sgt. Rafael E. Bigai Baez.

SAN BERNARDINO - Army Pfc. Carlos Aparicio will keep a promise he made to his mom in the weeks leading up to his return from Afghanistan.

Giving into the gentle nudges of Connie Aparicio, the 19-year-old infantryman in his last email to her said he would wear the more formal Army service uniform in which she always wanted to see him.

"He said mom, when I come home, I'm going to be in my dress uniform," Connie Aparicio said. "Make sure you have a camera ready because that's the last time you're going to see me in that uniform."

Known for his piercing brown eyes, softened by a warm smile and the dimples his mother gave him, Carlos Aparicio will come home Wednesday. The youngest of three children, he was killed Sept. 23 in Wardak province. His body will arrive at L.A./Ontario International Airport.

"It's the first time we're going to be able to see him," Connie Aparicio said. "Really see him."

Born to Connie and Hugo Aparicio, Carlos Aparicio was the little brother of Miguel Aparicio, 28, and Maricela Aparicio, 26.

He was marked out at an early age as a high achiever who could accomplish whatever he wanted in life.

His family recalled how, at the age of two, Carlos Aparicio grabbed a pen and tried as hard as he could to help his big sister with homework.

They cherish a report card from Redlands East Valley High School that their youngest boy filled with A's.

But Carlos Aparicio was not an introverted bookworm.

Looking over photos of her son Tuesday night, Connie Aparicio said: "He was a ham. He loved the camera."

Indeed, one could see the soldier mugging for the camera in several photographs - many times posing like a statue gazing off in the distance, his jaw firm, his stout frame thick with young man's muscle.

And he was a jokester too.

Asked if he was taller than his older siblings, they both yelled "Yes!"

He often reminded them of his stature.

"He was always joshing with me, telling me, `How you doing, little brother?"' Miguel Aparicio said.

Carlos Aparicio also excelled as an athlete at Fontana High School, and at Redlands East Valley, where he graduated in 2010.

Upon hearing the news of his death, emails poured into the Aparicio family, including those from coaches at both schools who lauded him as a wrestler, and more so as a young man.

"I felt like I was punched in the chest when I heard the news of his death," wrote Elliott Anderson, a wrestling coach at Redlands East Valley.

It was in his senior year that Carlos Aparicio committed himself to a military life. He wanted combat experience, saying it would make him a better officer, and then he considered a career in law enforcement after the Army.

"He always said `This is what I want..."' Connie Aparicio said. "He knew what he wanted."

He enlisted out of high school in June last year.

Carlos Aparicio was an infantryman with the 2nd Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Polk, La., according to the Fort Drum Public Affairs Office in New York.

After training at Fort Benning, Ga., he went to Fort Polk in January. He deployed to Afghanistan in February.

"From the moment he went over there, all we could do was just have that faith that God would bring him back alive, and if he didn't, we had 19 beautiful years with him," Connie Aparicio said.

It was a cool and overcast Saturday morning at 6 a.m. when a knock at the door stirred Connie Aparicio from her sleep.

She walked into the living room and looked out the window.

"As soon as I saw the two uniforms...I went hysterical," she said. "All I could say was `no, no, no' because I knew."

An Army chaplain and casualty assistance officer stood on the porch.

"It took me a little while to open the door," Connie Aparicio said.

Army Pfc. Carlos A. Aparicio was killed in action on 9/23/11.

Army Sgt. Andy Morales

Remember Our Heroes

Army Sgt. Andy Morales, 32, of Longwood, Fla.

Sgt Morales was assigned to the 143rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), Orlando, Fla. He died Sept. 22, 2011 in Baghdad, Iraq.

The body of U.S. Army Sgt. Andy C. Morales was buried today after a funeral service at River of Life Church in Oviedo.

Morales was killed in Iraq Sept. 22, the 2-month-anniversary of the birth of his daughter.

The 32-year-old soldier, who was killed in Baghdad, was assigned to the 143rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) of Orlando and was serving in Operation New Dawn, according to the Department of Defense.

When Army officials delivered the news to his wife, Mariela Caraballo-Morales, she could hardly believe it, said sister-in-law Mercian Lesser said from her Sarasota home.

Just five months before, the best friends were married in a celebration that brought together a family that had seen its share of hardships. The young soldier spent just nine days with his newborn, Naiara Morales, before he was deployed, his wife said.

Morales was the second of five children born to a single mother from Puerto Rico who struggled to keep her family safe and secure in Brooklyn, N.Y., family members said.

The close-knit siblings — each born just a year apart — celebrated all their November birthdays together in one party more out of necessity than novelty. Their tightness kept each other out of trouble in the inner city despite the enormous obstacles they faced as a family, they said.

'We were always la familia," she said. "We had to stick together."

Sgt. Morales was the warrior of the clan, always fighting to protect his family and work toward their collective success, his brother and sisters said.

"We were always just skating by," Lesser said. "He always felt the need to fight for us."

He was also the family comic, transforming the most heartbreaking occasions into laughing marathons.

"Andy didn't believe in being angry. He hated it when people were angry with him," said older brother Robert Morales. "He loved seeing people smile, and that's probably the one thing I'm going to miss the most — his smile."

Morales recalled a time when his brother took off his shoes and walked home barefoot with a friend who had had his shoes stolen. "That's the kind of person Andy was," he said.

Younger sister Glorian Morales said her brother was not only her dance partner and a cheating board games opponent, but he also was the father figure of the dad she never had. He was everything to his little sisters, twins Mercian and Glorian, and the youngest Jeannie.

"I am angry at the world, at the military, at myself. I'm angry at the things we had to live through and the constant struggle we faced," she said. "Even though he's gone, we all have a part of him that comes out in us. Sometimes it's his funny jokes or his temper … He's a hero and an awesome brother."

Morales joined the Marines in 2002 but left as a sergeant after four years of active duty at bases in Japan and California.

The family drifted apart as they lived their lives separately in other states, but Sgt. Morales' near-fatal car accident in North Carolina in 2009 helped draw them back together, family said.

Through all of Morales' carefree adventures in life, his relationship with then-friend and now wife Mariela was constant. They kept in touch throughout the years and made their union official when he relocated to Central Florida where she lived.

After his wife became pregnant and several unsuccessful attempts to find work, he rejoined the military — this time with the Army in October 2010. They married April 25 during a small, intimate ceremony.

When his daughter was born, Andy Morales' world changed and he was determined to take care of her and his wife's 11-year-old daughter, Nyobi, said Robert Morales.

On the day he deployed, Glorian Morales said her brother promised to come back. In turn, she made a promise to take care of his family if anything happened.

She has vowed to keep her end of the bargain even if Sgt. Morales didn't, she said.

The family was told the 32-year-old soldier was on a mission when he was shot and killed, but the incident is under investigation, they said.

"Last thing he said was he couldn't wait to see his children," his wife, Mariela, said. "Let the world know he died for his children."

Army Sgt. Andy Morales was killed in action on 9/22/11.

Marine Lance Cpl. Terry C. Wright

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Marine Lance Cpl. Terry C. Wright, 21, of Scio, Ohio

LCpl Wright was assigned to 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.; died Sept. 21, 2011 in Helmand province while supporting combat operations.

An investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Department of Defense into the death of Marine Lance Cpl. Terry C. Wright, 21, of the Scio area, who died Wednesday while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

Wright was the son of Dawn Seabolt of the Scio area. He graduated in 2008 from Carrollton High School and Buckeye Career Center in New Philadelphia.

“The circumstances surrounding Lance Cpl. Wright’s death are still being determined,” 2nd Lt. D. Oliver David, public affairs officer for the 2nd Marine Division, said Friday night.

“His death occurred due to wounds sustained while conducting combat operations and in the course of duty. I can’t release specific information until the investigation is complete. At this point, there’s certainly no indication of friendly fire.

“It’s always unfortunate when we lose a member of our team and our family. We’re working to ensure that we are able to provide his family and his loved ones with the best care that we can.”

Wright joined the Marine Corps in July 2008 and was promoted to lance corporal in April 2009.

He deployed to Afghanistan in December 2009 for his first tour of duty, with his second tour beginning in July 2011.

“He always wanted to be in the military,” 1st Sgt. Lowell Hilty, Army instructor of the ROTC program at Carrollton High School, told The Times-Reporter.

“He was small in stature, like me, but that didn’t deter him from wanting to serve his country and be a Marine. He was probably about 5-foot-5 and 110 pounds. Size doesn’t matter when you want to serve your country.”

“He was always happy-go-lucky — it was a rare day when he was down in the dumps about anything,” Hilty said. “He enjoyed life and wanted to excel. The Marine Corps gave him that opportunity, and he excelled more so than many Americans ever get the opportunity to do. It’s young people like him who allow us to go to bed at night and sleep knowing we’re in good hands. I would tell him ‘thank you’ for serving our country and making the ultimate sacrifice.”

Hilty said that none of the current R.O.T.C. students were in high school with him, but “we’ll offer them the opportunity to go to the funeral as a group. We would assist the family in any way they ask. The whole family was in R.O.T.C., which is kind of neat.”

Wright’s family “is very patriotic,” Hilty said, adding that an older sister served in the Army and an older brother, Adam, is currently serving in the Marine Corps.

“It makes for a somber day,” James “Bucky” Myers of Uhrichsville said after he received a phone message about Wright’s death.

Myers is an instructor in the law enforcement and criminal justice program at Buckeye Career Center. Wright was a student there as a junior and senior in high school.

“I remember that he would accept any challenge that I gave him,” Myers said. “He would accept whatever came his way and never offered excuses.”

Myers said Wright’s “class was a rather small class, with maybe 10 to 12 in it. They were all close, almost like brothers and sisters.”

Buckeye Career Center Superintendent Roger Bond said the flag at the school will be lowered to half-staff when Wright’s body is returned to the area.

Wright’s awards include the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, and the NATO Medal for Afghanistan.

Carrollton High Principal Dave Davis remembered Wright as a freshman and sophomore.

“He was a real likable kid and all his teachers appreciated having him in class,” he said. “His friends could always count on him to be there for them. He had a goal and vision that he wanted to serve his country, wanted to be a Marine. We are all very proud of him. Obviously, we mourn his loss and pray for his family. His family has given a lot to everyone and given more now, for sure, with his loss.”

Marine Lance Cpl. Terry C. Wright was killed in action on 9/21/11.

Army Spc. Jakob J. Roelli

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Army Spc. Jakob J. Roelli, 24, of Darlington, Wis.

Spc Roelli was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 34th Armor Regiment, 1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan.; died Sept. 21, 2011 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with small-arms fire.

It wasn't enough for Jakob Roelli to join the Army, putting college and dreams of law school on hold. He wanted to be in the Special Forces, whose members undergo the most grueling training and carry out some of the most dangerous missions.

"When Jake decided to join the Army, he fully embraced all aspects of what it meant to be a soldier," said his former girlfriend, Amy Siegenthaler, a UW-Madison senior. "His summer before basic training, you could find him running around Darlington in his Army boots and a backpack full of rocks or bricks.

"When he found out his scores were high enough for him to be in Special Forces, he was beyond happy. He wanted to be right in the middle of all the action. He was a fearless man who would take on any challenge."

Earlier this week, that dream ended when the 24-year-old Army specialist was killed in Afghanistan. His father and brother traveled Thursday to Dover Air Force Base to bring Roelli's remains home to Wisconsin. An Army spokeswoman said details of his death were not yet being released.

Jakob Roelli grew up on a farm outside of Darlington and graduated from Darlington High School in 2006. He played football, ran cross country, wrestled, was on the forensics team, acted in school plays and musicals, including Beauty and the Beast and The Sting, and enjoyed pastimes including sliding down the moss-covered dam at Ludden Lake in Mineral Point.

"He was a young man who was not afraid to try new things," Principal Doug McArthur

Family members were notified Wednesday that Army Spc. Jakob Roelli of Darlington, died while serving in Afghanistan. His father, Richard Roelli, told The Associated Press on Thursday that his 24-year-old son was “the best of the best” and was in the Army Special Forces for two years.

His uncle, Greg Roelli, said his nephew was a “fine young man” who was always there to lend a hand to his acquaintances.

His aunt, Kathy Roelli, said he grew up on a farm, graduated from Darlington High School in 2006 and attended the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh before joining the military. She said he was active in his Baptist church.

The Roelli family traveled Thursday to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware to receive his remains.

Darlington had not lost a resident in combat since the Vietnam War. His name is expected to be added to a new veterans memorial the town hopes to install by 2013.

“We've been very fortunate to avoid some of that grief but it fell on us yesterday,” Darlington High School Principal Doug McArthur told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Roelli was remembered at his school as someone who would try just about anything. He played football two years and was active in theater.

McArthur said Roelli sang and danced in “Beauty and the Beast” and starred in “The Sting,” acting the part played by Paul Newman in the film.

“He was a good singer, good actor, just a fun-loving kid,” McArthur said. “Obviously a person that wasn't afraid to try something new.”

The principal said Roelli studied business and pre-law at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh but joined the Army after a year of college.

“I believe his desire was to move up in ranking in the military and I heard he asked to be deployed to Afghanistan with the special forces,” McArthur said.

Army Spc. Jakob J. Roelli was killed in action on 9/21/11.

Army Spc. Robert E. Dyas

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Army Spc. Robert E. Dyas, 21, of Nampa, Idaho

Spc Dyas was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 34th Armor Regiment, 1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan.; died Sept. 21, 2011 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with small-arms fire.

NAMPA — The parents of U.S. Army Spc. Robert E. Dyas announced Thursday that their son was killed in combat in Afghanistan.

The military had not confirmed the death, but Melissa and Jerry Nowland held a press conference in their Nampa front yard to notify the public. Other family members cried as they stood behind the couple in front of their modest home with a U.S. flag at half mast and a makeshift memorial with pictures of Dyas.

According to his family, Dyas died Wednesday from wounds in the abdomen received during a small arms fire fight in the Kandahar Province.

Melissa Nowland called Dyas, 21, a “true hero” who made the ultimate sacrifice for his country.

“He is a son, he is a friend and he is a brother,” she said, “and he is going to be so missed, so missed.”

Dyas was a fire support specialist in the 34th Regiment, 1st Brigade, out of Fort Riley, Kansas. Melissa said Dyas’s civilian job was eliminated before he enlisted.

“He didn’t want to just sit around and wait and look for jobs,” she said. “He thought he wanted the security of the military.”

Dyas planned to go back to school and learn a trade when he got out of the military, Jerry Nowland said. He liked to bird hunt with his stepfather and said considered hunting his lifetime training. Jerry said what Dyas learned hunting helped him in Afghanistan.

Dyas had recently purchased a 1966 Pontiac LeMans, like the one his step father owns, on eBay. He told Jerry that the two could cruise together in their classic cars.

“That car’s going to be so special to us,” Jerry said.

Jerry also expressed his opinion that the soldiers still in Afghanistan should come home.

“We need to bring them home,” he said. “Nobody needs to feel this kind of pain.”

Melissa planned to travel to Dover, Del., Thursday for the return of Dyas’s remains.

Family members said they plan to set up foundation representing Dyas.

Army Spc. Robert E. Dyas was killed in action on 9/21/11.

Army Sgt. Timothy D. Sayne

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Army Sgt. Timothy D. Sayne, 31, of Reno, Nev.

Sgt Sayne was assigned to 5th Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Fort Wainwright, Alaska; died Sept. 18, 2011 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.


Sgt Sayne was killed by an improvised explosive device while on a dismounted patrol in the district of Shah Wali in Afghanistan, where he had been deployed since April to train Afghanistan Army personnel and police.

Sgt Sayne was born in Kentucky. At some point, family moved to Illinois where he graduated from Effingham High School. He joined the Army in February 2008, reporting to Fort Wainwright six months later in August.

This was Sgt Sayne's second deployment, having previously been deployed to Iraq for 12 months in September 2008.

“It’s the kind of thing you see on TV around the country. You don’t think of it happening to someone you know so close to home,” said friend, Todd Cisna. "We had supper three or four weeks ago to get caught up on the kids. She (his mother) was so proud of him,” he recalled. “He was a good kid. It’s a shame something like this had to happen.”

Linda Matte, a Captain with the Illinois Patriot Guard Riders said, "Because he gave the ultimate sacrifice for all of us, this is the least we could do for his family. I know Timothy's family, not well, but I knew them and it really hits home when you lose one of your own but they’re all our brothers, our soldiers whether we knew them or not."

Major Gen. Gregory Couch, who spoke at the eulogy, said officers and fellow soldiers remembered Sayne during a memorial service in Afghanistan as someone who always looked at the positive side of life and always accomplished the mission.

In a message from Sayne's squadron commander, Couch read, “He is strong, brave, always tries his hardest. He is the eternal optimist. I have watched Sayne mature into an effective, charismatic and determined young leader. The type of leader who walks in the front to clear the way.”

From Sayne’s platoon leader, Couch read, “What I learned through knowing Sgt. Sayne is what makes a hero is the way they lived their life leading up to those fateful moments. I am truly indebted to Sgt. Sayne because he will always be a hero of mine. He was a person with a presence and personality that left an indelible mark on those he met and especially those with whom he served. His devotion to his family was unmistakable and only strengthened the deep sense of respect that those who knew him will share.”

According to both officers, Sayne embodied the Army’s core values of courage, selfless service, loyalty, respect, honor, integrity and duty.

“His integrity was of utmost importance as he always chose the hard right over the easy wrong,” Couch read.

Sgt Sayne is survived by his mother, Kathy; wife, Thania, 1-year-old son, Timothy with another child due in January; siblings, Cory, Joey and Paige.

Army Sgt. Timothy D. Sayne was killed in action on 9/18/11.

Army Staff Sgt. Estevan Altamirano

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Army Staff Sgt. Estevan Altamirano, 30, of Edcouch, Texas

SSgt Altamirano was assigned to 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas; died Sept. 18, 2011 in Tikrit, Iraq, of injuries suffered in a non-combat incident.


SSgt Altamirano died from a non-combat weapon malfunction. In another report, wife, Pamela, stated that her husband accidentally shot himself while cleaning his gun.

Altamirano was posthumously promoted from Sergeant to Staff Sergeant.

SSgt Altamirano graduated from Edcouch Elsa High School in 1999. He joined the Army in January 2001 and served as an armor crewman. This was his fourth deployment to Iraq, having deployed in May.

Fellow soldiers called him "Speedy". Brig Gen Stephen B. Leisenring said, "The nickname says something about his dedication to his unit and his family because he tried to spend as much time as possible with both."

Even though he spent months away from his family, Altamirano did not complain when one of his superiors told him that his leave to come home from Iraq would be postponed, Leisenring said. "He was a selfless soldier," Leisenring said.

Wife, Pamela, said her husband loved the military and his fellow servicemen.

“His war brothers were his everything. I asked him not to go this time because he had some injuries from other deployments. He said he couldn't leave his brothers behind,” said Pamela Altamirano.

Edcouch Mayor Robert Schmalzried ordered that flags be flown at half-staff until two weeks after SSgt Altamirano's burial in memory of the valiant young man.

"Soldiers often go unannounced and they don’t get the respect that they deserve. They do so much for our country and they do so much for their families and their friends. They need to have all the respect that they can get,” said Edcouch Mayor Robert Schmalzried.

Stepdaughter Kayla,16, presented a slideshow of family photos at his funeral.

“I love him and he was a wonderful man,” she said. “And there is no one who will ever be like him.”

SSgt Altamirano's awards and decorations include the following:
Meritorious Service Medal
Army Commendation Medals (4)
Army Achievement Medals (4)
Valorous Unit Award
Meritorious Unit Award
Army Good conduct Medals (3)
National Defense Service Medal
Iraqi Campaign Medal with 4 Campaign Stars
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon
Army Service Ribbon
Overseas Service Ribbon (3)
Combat Action Badge

Army Staff Sgt. Estevan Altamirano was killed in non-combat related accident on 9/18/11.

Army Spc. Chazray C. Clark

Remember Our Heroes

Army Spc. Chazray C. Clark, 24, of Ecorse, Mich.

Spc Clark was assigned to 4th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan.; died Sept. 18, 2011 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using an improvised explosive device.

SPC Clark was home on leave about two weeks before he was killed.

SPC Clark graduated from Ecorse High School in 2005 where he participated in football, basketball and baseball. He joined the Army in September 2009. He was a highly skilled combat engineer and planned to make a career of the military. He deployed to Afghanistan in February 2011. This was his first deployment.

He met his wife, Christina Clark, in 2003. They both worked at Kentucky Fried Chicken in Lincoln Park. He was a cook and she was a drive through cashier. They were married seven years later.

Wife, Christina, said, “He was proud to serve his country. I know he’s with God and that he died for his country. He was brave enough to go over there and fight for our country and he died for that.

I talked to him three hours before he went on his last mission. He said, ‘I'm going out on a mission and will call in 48 hours.’ I never heard from him again.

Family was important to him. The two of us had a great marriage and he just adored his son.”

SPC Clark’s awards and decorations include the following:

Bronze Star
Purple Heart
Good Conduct Medal
NATO Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Service Medal with Bronze Service Star
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Army Service Ribbon
Overseas Service Ribbon
Combat Action Badge
Combat and Special Skill Badge
Basic Marksmanship Qualifications Badge
Rifle Expert Marksmanship Badge
Overseas Service Bar

Army Spc. Chazray C. Clark was killed in action on 9/18/11.

Army Spc. Ryan J. Cook

Remember Our Heroes

Army Spc. Ryan J. Cook, 29, of Fort Walton Beach, Fla.

Spc Cook was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Fort Wainwright, Alaska; died Sept. 18, 2011 in Takhar province, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.

SPC Cook was born in Danvers, MA. He moved to Fort Walton Beach when he was seven. He graduated from Choctawhatchee High School, where he played football.

Spc Cook joined the Army in March 2008. This was his second deployment, having previously been deployed to Iraq.

As a little boy, Ryan never passed up an opportunity to protect his younger siblings or save an injured animal. As a soldier, he showed the same compassion and loyalty to others.

Despite being injured and offered a chance to go home, SPC Cook stayed with his unit and embarked upon what would be his last mission.

“He was the last guy out, always,” said his mom, Kathleen Silva. “He was just always soft-hearted and sweet. He had the bluest eyes, the most disarming smile and the softest heart in the world,” she said.

Kathleen said she last spoke to her son about a month ago. She said she since learned that he chose not to call her before he left on what would be his last mission. He was afraid she would hear it in his voice.

“This was a really bad mission,” she said, “And he knew I would know.”

Kathleen, wears the dog tags of both her son and daughter (who's in the Air Force) around her neck.

“He loved his Army,” his mother said. “He said he was doing what he needed to do.”

Army Spc. Ryan J. Cook was killed in action on 9/18/11.

Staff Sgt. Michael W. Hosey

Remember Our Heroes

Staff Sgt. Michael W. Hosey, 27, of Birmingham, Ala.

SSgt Hosey was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.; died Sept. 17, 2011 in Uruzgan province, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using small-arms fire.

SSgt Hosey graduated from Clay-Chalkville High School in 2001.

"No matter how the class was going he could put a smile on your face," said Erin Kinnaird, who graduated with Hosey from Clay-Chalkville High School in 2001.

On days students were allowed to dress up in costumes in high school, Hosey would wear military uniforms, Kinnaird said. "He had always wanted to be in the military," she said.

After graduating high school Hosey joined the Army and became a communications intelligence specialist. After attending basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, and then the Defense Language Institute, Foreign Language Center at the Presidio of Monterey in Monterey, California, He attended Advanced Individual Training at Goodfellow Air Force Base in San Angelo Texas.

Hosey's first duty assignment was with Company B, 304th Military Intelligence Battalion, 111th MI Brigade where he instructed officers in the MI Officer Basic Course and Officer Training Corps, in the proper deployment of a Signal Intelligence Company on the battlefield. He also instructed Air Force Surface Weather Officer assigned to Army units and worked with US Border Patrol in the emplacement of Remote Battlefield Sensor System for joint task forces.

In 2003, he was assigned to Fort Huachuca, Arizona, where he served as a communications intelligence specialist. In 2005, Hosey was assigned to Fort Lewis, Washington.

Hosey's military education included the Defense Language Institute-Korean, Warrior Leader Course, Airborne School, Survival Evasion Resistance Escape School, and the Advanced Leader Course.

SSgt Hosey's awards and decorations include:

Purple Heart
Bronze Star
Meritorious Service Medal
Army Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Army Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Army Good Conduct Medal with bronze clasp (two Loops)
National Defense Service Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal (with Campaign Star)
Iraq Campaign Medal (with Campaign Star)
Global War on Terror Service Medal
Non-commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon with the Numeral 2
Army Service Ribbon
NATO Medal

Staff Sgt. Michael W. Hosey was killed in action on 9/17/11.

Army Sgt. Garrick L. Eppinger Jr.

Remember Our Heroes

Army Sgt. Garrick L. Eppinger Jr., 25, of Appleton, Wis.

Sgt Eppinger was assigned to 395th Ordnance Company, 687th Combat Sustainment Support Brigade, 646th Regional Support Group, 310th Expeditionary Sustainment Command, U.S. Army Reserve, Wausau, Wis.; died Sept. 17, 2011 in Parwan province, Afghanistan.

Sgt Eppinger was a supply specialist for the munitions post at Bagram Air Base.

The youngest of five children. Sisters, Shandra, Robbyn and Amy said their brother worked a desk job when he was found dead at Bagram Airbase.

“Garrick wasn’t infantry,” Shandra said. “He wasn’t in the line of fire. He wasn’t in one of the valley areas where there’s fighting. You would almost expect then that something could happen, but he was on a base, near where he worked.”

Shandra said her brother was shot but that the circumstances of his death were unknown. She said a death on base was “highly irregular” and that an investigation by military police was ongoing.

“They found him behind the ammunitions post where he worked. That’s all we know,” she said. “We won’t know any details until they
complete their investigation.”

Sgt Eppinger graduated from Appleton North High School in 2005 and joined the Army shortly afterwards. He had been deployed for about 1 1/2 months. This was his third deployment, having previously served in Iraq in 2005 and 2009.

Mother, Linda, last spoke with her son the Friday before he was killed. He told her everything was OK. On Saturday morning, two Army officers arrived at her home to inform her that her son had been shot and killed in the line of duty.

Linda and Garrick Eppinger Sr., both Navy veterans, knew the risks of serving in the military. That doesn't make the loss of their son any easier.

"It's really rough right now," said mother, Linda. "We've had a lot of support from our family and friends, but it's just not something you expect to land on your doorstep."

She said the details of their son's death were not immediately known. "All we know is he was shot in Afghanistan," she said.

Garrick Sr. said he was at peace with his son's death because he told him, in a letter and in a conversation, that he loved him and that he was proud of him.

"I got a chance to state my peace with him before he left," he said. "A lot of parents tend to think of things that they should have said. If they're in earnest and try to put as much of that (down), knowing full well that the child may not come back, then they're at peace when something like this happens."

He said his son had strong faith in God and "a strong love of country."

Army Sgt. Garrick L. Eppinger Jr. was killed in action on 9/17/11.

Marine Cpl Gregory W. Courtney

Remember Our Heroes

Cpl Gregory W. Courtney, 22, of Allegan, MI.

Cpl Courtney was killed in a car crash on September 16, 2011 when he failed to negotiate a curve, ran off the road and struck two trees. Deputies stated that after running off the road, Courtney's car “continued to roll and tumble, ejecting the driver” and then struck some smaller trees before catching fire. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators were not clear if Courtney was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash due to the extensive damage to his vehicle.

Cpl Courtney joined the Marines after graduating from Allegan High School in 2007 where he was on the wrestling team and gone on to state championship his senior year.

Cpl Courtney had just returned home in early August after being deployed to Afghanistan for a year.

“I'm still numb, I don't have any emotion right now because I just can't believe it,” Courtney's aunt, Shirlee Boitnott. “I didn't expect this to happen because he made it through Afghanistan.”

“He was pretty much one of a kind,” Boitnott said. “He's the type of person, he would give the shirt off his back for anybody. He'd go up and give anyone a hug.”

Boitnott said her brother left his home for work Friday and saw deputies' cruisers at the scene of the crash, but didn't know his son was involved until he got a call at work later in the day from one of his other sons.
Cpl Courtney was laid to rest at Ft. Custer National Cemetery in Augusta.

Cpl Courtney is survived by his mother, Lauri; father, Joseph; as well as three brothers, one sister; aunt Shirlee and a grandmother.

Army Sgt. Mycal L. Prince

Remember Our Heroes

Army Sgt. Mycal L. Prince, 28, of Minco, Okla.

Sgt Prince was assigned to 1st Battalion, 179th Infantry Regiment, 45th Brigade Combat Team, Oklahoma National Guard, Stillwater, Okla.; died Sept. 15, 2011 in Laghman province, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when insurgents attacked his unit using rocket-propelled grenades and small-arms fire.

He was to have celebrated his sixth wedding anniversary in October.

Sgt Prince graduated from Ninnekah High School in 1997. He joined the National Guard shortly after his 17th birthday. This was his third deployment.

Sgt Prince served as a police officer in Alex for three years before he and his wife, Surana, moved to Minco in 2009. On the Minco police force, Prince was a K-9 officer. He and his K-9 partner, Bayca, helped fight the drug trade.

Sgt Prince was a respected leader in his company. Friends said he exemplified leadership to younger soldiers.

“Mycal Prince was a soldier. He wasn't looking for glory or fame. He was simply willing and ready when his country called,” said Capt. Jeremy Dunn, an Army chaplain.

Dunn said being a police officer fit with the mentality Prince developed as a soldier, willing to give everything for his country and his neighbors.

“He was a true servant to his community,” Dunn said. “Mycal wasn't content to stand on the sidelines. He was a doer, and he was always looking for ways to make a difference in someone's life.”

“Mycal Prince left his home, his wife and daughters and gave his life to create a better life for people he didn't even know,” Dunn said. “That's a hero in my book.”

Prince's third deployment, having previously deployed to Iraq and served in Saudi Arabia. He was a respected leader in his company. Friends said he exemplified leadership to younger soldiers.

Army Sgt. Mycal L. Prince was killed in action on 9/15/11.

Marine Cpl. Michael J. Dutcher

Remember Our Heroes

Marine Cpl. Michael J. Dutcher, 22, of Asheville, N.C.

Cpl Dutcher was assigned to 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.; died Sept. 15, 2011 in Helmand province, Afghanistan, while conducting combat operations.

Cpl Dutcher graduated from Asheville High School in 2007 where he was a member of the marching band and a member of the Marine Corps JROTC, which was one of the reasons he chose to join the Marines. He joined the Marines after graduation.

Cpl Dutcher deployed to Afghanistan for the second time in April and served as an infantryman. He was scheduled to come home in three weeks.

He had planned to ride his motorcycle across the country from California to North Carolina, then he planned to go to college. He wanted to be a history teacher.

Greg Townsend, family friend and Principal of Asheville High School, said, "He was such a natural leader. It's sad to see him go."

Mother, Teresa Dutcher, described Michael as having a good outlook on life. "He was loving and caring. He was an awesome dude."

Cpl Dutcher's awards and decorations include:

Purple Heart
Combat Action Ribbon
Afghanistan Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Sea Service Deployment with three Bronze Stars
Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
National Defense Service Medal
NATO Medal ISAF-Afghanistan

Marine Cpl. Michael J. Dutcher was killed in action on 9/15/11.

Army Sgt. Rodolfo Rodriguez Jr.

Remember Our Heroes

Army Sgt. Rodolfo Rodriguez Jr., 26, of Pharr, Texas

Sgt Rodriguez was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Fort Wainwright, Alaska; died Sep. 14, 2011 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.

Sgt Rodriguez graduated from Weslaco High School in 2003 where he was a varsity basketball and football player. He was named Defensive Player of the Year in his district as a senior.

Sgt Rodriguez joined the Army in March of 2006. After basic at Fort Benning in Georgia, he served three years with the 2nd Battalion, 505th Infantry at Fort Bragg before arriving at Fort Wainwright in March of last year.

This was his third deployment, having previosly been deployed to Iraq in November 2006 and December 2008. He deployed to Afghanistan in August.

Cousin, Leann Rodriguez, hoped it would be his last tour of duty. He was expected to return home in December.

She described her cousin as a gregarious man who loved fishing, sports and his family, whose future he would plan every day.

Mark Aguilar, one of the soldiers who served along side Rudy in Iraq, said, “That was my boy, man. I just want everybody to know he was a good f---ing leader.”

“He would joke around with them,” he said. “But when it came time to work, he would work. And he always made sure his guys were taken care of first.”

Sgt Rodriguez was laid to rest on September 26 at Rio Grande Valley State Veteran's cemetery in Mission.

He is survived by his mother, Cristela; father, Rodolfo Rodriguez Sr; wife, Melissa and their children, Derek, 7, and Katelyn, 5; siblings, Rodzie, Cristy and Danny; paternal grandparents, Juan and Isabel; maternal grandmother, Carolina.

Army Sgt. Rodolfo Rodriguez Jr. was killed in action on 9/14/11.

Army MSgt. Danial R. Adams

Remember Our Heroes

Army Master Sgt. Danial R. Adams, 35, of Portland, Ore.

MSgt Adams was assigned to 1st Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Stuttgart, Germany; died Sept. 13, 2011 in Wardak province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using mortar, machine-gun and small-arms fire.

MSgt Adams joined the Army in 1995 as an infantryman, where he served with distinction as a team and squad leader while stationed at Fort Richardson, Alaska. After a short assignment at Fort Lewis, Wash., Adams earned the Green Beret in 2005.

In 2009 he joined the 1st Battalion of the 10th Special Forces Group, stationed in Stuttgart where he served on a Special Forces team and took advanced courses including jungle warfare and air assault. Other educational achievements included Airborne School, Ranger School, Jumpmaster School and the Special Forces Qualification Course.

MSgt Adams' awards and decorations include:

Bronze Star Medal with 2 oak leaf clusters
Army Commendation Medal with 2 oak leaf clusters
Army Achievement Medal with 3 oak leaf clusters
Army Good Conduct Medal with bronze clasp
National Defense Service Medal with 1 service star
Afghanistan Campaign Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal Professional Development Ribbon
Global War on Terror Service Medal
Noncommissioned Officer
Army Service Ribbon
Overseas Service Ribbon
NATO Medal
Special Forces Tab
Ranger Tab
Parachutist Badge
Air Assault Badge
Combat Infantryman's Badge
Expert Infantryman's Badge

STUTTGART, Germany — When Sgt. 1st Class Danial R. Adams fell to enemy fire Sept. 13 in eastern Afghanistan, he was leading the same way he always did, from the front.

“He led from the front, time and time again, through enemy fire so his boys didn’t have to,” said Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Hughes during a memorial service Tuesday.

Members of 1st Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) gathered at Panzer Kaserne Chapel in Böblingen to mourn of one of their own.

Adams, 35, of Portland, Ore., died in an intense firefight when insurgents assaulted his unit with mortar, machine-gun and small-arms fire while the unit was on patrol in Wardak province.

Adams, who was posthumously promoted to master sergeant, was recalled as a natural leader with an easygoing nature. He was called a “quiet professional” who led by example.

The slightly built soldier, known as “Slim” to his comrades, was usually the last guy to leave the office when in garrison, going out of his way to make sure no one was stuck behind to work alone, soldiers said. It was no different on the battlefield.

“He’s everything that embodies a Special Forces soldier,” said Staff Sgt. Joseph Steadman, who read recollections from Adams’ team members in Afghanistan.

“His appearance was deceiving,” Steadman continued. “We never fought beside a more fearsome warrior. He had the heart of a lion. He pushed forward when other men would have cowered. ‘Slim’ was the standard.”

Adams joined the Army in 1995 as an infantryman, serving as a team and squad leader while stationed at Fort Richardson, Alaska. His first Special Forces assignment was as a senior medical sergeant with the 3rd Special Forces Group out of Fort Bragg, N.C.

As he worked his way up the ranks, Adams emerged as a talented leader and gifted athlete, winning unit iron man contests along the way, said Lt. Col. Isaac Peltier, commander of the 1st Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group.

“He was renowned for his physical fitness,” Peltier said. “His reputation as a warrior and outstanding medic preceded him.”

He also had the ability to smile and make a joke “even as everything went to hell,” Hughes said.

During downtime on his most recent tour in Afghanistan, Adams had started talking about how this could be his last combat tour. A veteran of five tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, he had hopes of making up for lost time with his wife Melany; his sons, Jeffrey and John; and his daughter, Skye.

“When we asked him why, he’d get that big grin on his face and say, ‘Man, because Melany would beat me if I try to go again,’ ” said Steadman.

Adams was serving as team sergeant, a key position within the Green Berets, when his unit came under fire earlier this month. Outmanned and outgunned, Adams took the lead in the fight, dying in the process, according to members of the unit.

“An A-Team is the heart of the Special Forces and the team sergeant is the heart of an A-Team,” Peltier said. “The loss of Master Sergeant Dan Adams strikes at the heart of our force.”

Soldiers said they would honor Adams’ memory by carrying on with the mission.

“Dan, your boys fought like lions that day,” Hughes said. “They refused to leave your side.”

Army Master Sgt. Danial R. Adams was killed in action on 9/13/11.

Staff Sgt. Daniel A. Quintana

Remember Our Heroes

Staff Sgt. Daniel A. Quintana, 30, of Huntington Park, Calif.

SSgt Quintana was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment, 172nd Infantry Brigade, Schweinfurt, Germany; died Sept. 10, 2011 in Paktika province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using small-arms fire.

Sgt. Quintana grew up in Fresno and attended McLane and Fresno High Schools.

Remembered by his family as good natured with a big heart, he first joined the Air Force when he was 18, then later joined the Army, planning to make a career out of the military. He was on his second deployment, having previously been deployed to Iraq.

“He couldn’t stand being a civilian,” said Tammy Echeverria, his aunt. “He said it was too boring.” She added, “He said he wanted to learn how to drive a tank and jump out of airplanes.”

“He loved it,” said his mother, Dora Melendez. “He stood up for his country. He was a very giving person. Very respectful. That’s what the military taught him.”
He had a wonderful sense of humor. “He was a prankster,” said Maryann Echeverria, another aunt. “He had a lot of stories. No matter what, he was always laughing.”

Daniel Quintana, Sr. said his son planned a career in the military. “He told me, ‘Dad, I love what I do. Don’t worry about me. I’m a great soldier’,” the father recalled. “I believe him. He was a great soldier.”

He was described as a father, football coach and a leader within his platoon. He was known to everyone as “Staff Sergeant Q” or just “Q”. He was a former armor soldier in the Brigade’s 3rd Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment who converted to the infantry during preparations for deployment.

SSgt Quintana was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery. His father said, “He wanted to be buried with his fallen brothers.”

SSgt Quintana is survived by his parents, Dora and Daniel Sr; wife, Nilda and children, Jose and Daniel, and a third child due in January 2012; sisters Desiree Quintana, Emily Echeverria, Daisy Echeverria; brothers Jonathan Echeverria, Matthew Belmontez, Fred Belmontez and Vincent Melendez

Staff Sgt. Daniel A. Quintana was killed in action on 9/10/11.

Staff Sgt. Keith F. Rudd

Remember Our Heroes

Staff Sgt. Keith F. Rudd, 36, of Winder, Ga.

SSgt Rudd was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.; died Sept. 10, 2011 in Parvan, Afghanistan, after being found unresponsive in his room.

The original DOD announcement stated that SSgt Rudd died Sept. 10 in Parvan, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained while supporting combat operations.

However, a later release from the 82nd Airborne Division said Staff Sgt. Keith Rudd did not respond to efforts to revive him after he was discovered in his room in Parvan, Afghanistan. His death is under investigation.

SSgt Rudd joined the Army in 2003. He served as medic. He deployed last month. This was his third deployment, having previously been deployed to Iraq in 2007 and Afghanistan in 2009.

"If Rudd was your medic, you could be rest assured of two things," said U.S. Army Sgt. Robert Smith of Savannah, Ga., a colleague and friend of the fallen medic. "One, he would come to get you without hesitation. Two, he would not stop until you were safe and in good care."

SSgt Rudd's awards and decorations include:
Air Medals (3)
Army Achievement Medals (6)
Army Good Conduct Medals (2)
National Defense Service Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal
Iraqi Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon
Army Serivce Ribbon
Overseas Service Ribbons (2)
Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal
NATO Medal
Combat Medic Badge
Army Aviation Badge

September 20, 2011
I feel compelled to share some of my earliest memories of knowing our dearest friend and brother, Keith Freeman Rudd. Keith and I were assigned to our first duty station, Tripler AMC, within a week of each other back in January 2004 and the first week we knew each other demonstrated both who Keith was and what he loved.

The first time I experienced who Keith truly was on my third day in Hawai’i. We went to Hanauma Bay, he went scuba diving and I snorkeling. This outing seemed like any other one would expect in Hawai’i, gorgeous water and nature. After spending a few hours exploring the bay we decided it was time to pack up and head out. It was approximately 1630, the same time the lifeguards call it a day, and time to go any ways because the park closes at 1700 and there were maybe five people left on the beach including Keith and myself. Just as we are about to collect our things we hear someone call for help from the water. We both turn and cannot see any one in the water and remark to each other derisively that it was probably some kids playing a joke and that needing help is not something to joke around about. Just as we saying this we hear another call for help, turn back to the water, and notice that a woman is screaming frantically for help. Keith, myself, and one other Samaritan then headed for her calls of help. Keith grabbed his scuba gear, thinking it is damn good source of air for a casualty, and the other guy grabbed the lifeguard paddle board. The paddle board reaches the guy (his wife was the one screaming for help) before us and we met up at a coral outcropping in the middle of the bay. We drag the board with the guy up onto the rocks for a solid base and Keith starts performing CPR. During this time I am trying to hold the board steady as the breaking waves are rocking it and all of us. At sometime during this someone on the beach called EMS and the just departed lifeguards. After about 2-3 minutes of CPR a lifeguard makes it out to us and brings the man on the board back to a just arrived ambulance on the beach. They are unable to revive this guy and suspected that he had a heart attack and then slipped under the water. That day we left the beach with an indelible mark on us both physically from the sharp coral and on our souls and heart pondering how little nuances might have made a difference.

The second event that week involves something that Keith had a lifelong obsession with, vehicles. We went out to Schofield Barracks to the salvage yard, Keith was always working on his or someone else car and I decided to head out with him. Keith at time had 1989 three cylinder Dodge Colt he bought for 300 bucks to cover until his Ford Ranger arrived, based on his beater at the time I am sure we were looking for parts for the Colt. I needed a car because I did not ship one to Hawai’i. In the salvage yard was a 1995 Jeep Grand Cherokee that was impounded by the MPs and the owner went to jail. It would not start at this time and was missing a window, the radio, keys and even a title but Keith looked it over and recommended I put in a bid in the silent auction for it. I ended up following his advice and won it with a 3 grand bid. I knew this guy a week and took his advice to buy a car that didn’t work and was missing a couple of things. There were many things that I had to fix and replace not to mention about 6 different starters/solenoids. I learned everything there was to know about a car for Keith because he was there busted knuckle and greasy with me every time. Similar tales occurred many times over, and there are many great stories I have about Keith and I am sure all of the stories you have are just as great. Keith will be truly missed and I am looking forward to having many more great times with him when my time comes too. ~ Michael C., Chisinau, Moldova

Staff Sgt. Keith F. Rudd died in Afghanistan on 9/10/11/.

Army Sgt. Bret D. Isenhower

Remember Our Heroes

Army Sgt. Bret D. Isenhower, 26, of Lamar, Okla.

Sgt Isenhower was assigned to 1st Battalion, 279 Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Oklahoma National Guard, Tulsa, Okla.; died Sept. 9, 2011 in Paktya, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with small-arms fire. Also killed were Sgt. Christopher D. Horton and Pfc. Tony J. Potter Jr.

Sgt. Bret D. Isenhower, was born January 30, 1985 in Shawnee, OK. He graduated from Seminole High School in 2003; he moved on to attend East Central University, and a member of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. He worked as a volunteer Firefighter at Seminole Fire Department and at the Seminole County 911 Dispatch center. Bret is a member of the 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Oklahoma Army National Guard. He served in Iraq in 2007 and 2008 during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Bret’s journey on earth ended on September 9, 2011 serving our country in eastern Afghanistan. This was his second tour of duty. Bret paid the ultimate sacrifice while defending our country. He was a loving, kind and generous man who touched the lives of everyone he met. Bret was a powerful role model to the many children in his life because of the care and attention he showed them. He had an infectious smile that will never be forgotten.

Bret was survived by his parents Janet Dawsey and Kevin Isenhower; two sisters, Bridgette Hall and her husband Ryan and Krysten Isenhower; one nephew, Jackson Hall; three grandparents, Rheta Jo McNary, Joy Isenhower and Phil Isenhower; an aunt, uncle and cousins, along with a multitude of friends. He was preceded in death by his grandfather Raymond McNary.

Isenhower joined the Oklahoma National Guard in 2006, three years after he graduated from Seminole High School, according to a release. He was promoted to sergeant in March and was a fire team leader.

His hometown, Lamar, is 30 miles east of Seminole and 40 miles south of Henryetta.

Isenhower was deployed in Iraq in 2007. His most recent deployment was his second.

Before he enlisted in the Oklahoma Guard in 2008, Horton graduated from the Missouri Military Academy. He was trained to be an infantrymen and was sniper qualified, according to the release. This was his first deployment.

Army Sgt. Bret D. Isenhower was killed in action on 9/9/11.

Army Pfc. Tony J. Potter Jr.

Remember Our Heroes

Army Pfc. Tony J. Potter Jr., 20, of Okmulgee, Okla.

Pfc Potter was assigned to 1st Battalion, 279 Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Oklahoma National Guard, Tulsa, Okla.; died Sept. 9, 2011 in Paktya, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with small-arms fire. Also killed were Sgt. Bret D. Isenhower and Spc. Christopher D. Horton.

Potter was on his first deployment, and is the youngest guard member to die in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the guard stated. Potter, an Okmulgee High School graduate, joined the Oklahoma Guard in 2010 and was promoted to private first class in May, according to the release.

His mother-in-law, Somi Yarbrough, said Potter was a smart, ambitious young man who was very in love with his wife, Emily.

The two were married Dec. 22, and Emily Potter is currently pregnant with their first child, Yarbrough said.

"He was waiting for word from his wife to find out if they were having a boy or girl," Yarbrough said. "Unfortunately, he didn't make it long enough to find out."
The two met while taking a carpentry class three years ago at Oklahoma State University in Okmulgee, where they worked on several projects together and even helped build a house, she said.

"It was young love and true love," Yarbrough said. "Not just infatuation, but true love. That would have lasted for a lifetime. I truly believe they were actually soulmates."

Tony and Emily Potter lived in Miami, Okla., while Emily went to school at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College, Yarbrough said.

Potter was on the wrestling team at Okmulgee High School and was an honors student, she said.

Potter joined the Oklahoma National Guard to have a stronger sense of purpose and be able to serve others.

"He just believed in our country and wanted to serve our country and do something better with his life," Yarbrough said. "He was excited about what he was doing and proud to go and serve."

Army Pfc. Tony J. Potter Jr. was killed in action on 9/9/11.

Army Spc. Christopher D. Horton

Remember Our Heroes

Army Spc. Christopher D. Horton, 26, of Collinsville, Okla.

Spc Horton was assigned to 1st Battalion, 279 Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Oklahoma National Guard, Tulsa, Okla.; died Sept. 9, 2011 in Paktya, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with small-arms fire. Also killed were Sgt. Bret D. Isenhower and Pfc. Tony J. Potter Jr.

Specialist Christopher David Horton, 26, of Collinsville, Oklahoma was a sniper killed in action on September 9, 2011 while serving in Afghanistan with the Oklahoma Army National Guard's 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.

He was killed when his unit was attacked with small arms fire in Zormat, Paktia Province.

Christopher was born on October 1, 1984 in Tulsa, Oklahoma to David and Cherie Horton. He has two siblings, a brother, Nicholas, and a sister, Tenley.

He was married to his wife Jane Horton of Cleveland, Ohio whom he met while attending The King’s College in New York City.

Before enlisting in the Oklahoma Army National Guard in 2008, Christopher graduated from the Missouri Military Academy in Mexico, Missouri. Chris was an exceptional cadet during his six years at Missouri Military Academy in every area. Academically, he was on the honor roll, earning the Academic Fourragere. He was the 2nd Platoon Leader his senior year, as well as captain of the rifle team. During his time with the Oklahoma National Guard, He was trained to be an infantryman, was SWAT certified, and was sniper qualified, graduating at the top of his class.

Some of his extensive marksman awards include: The Gus Hadwiger Award in 2009, 1st place novice pistol in the Oklahoma National Guard Sergeant Major’s match 2009, 1st place novice pistol in the Governor’s Twenty Matches in 2009, 2nd place novice rifle in the Oklahoma National Guard Sergeant Major’s Match in 2009, 2nd place in the Old Fort Shootout in the Unclassified Production Division 2009, 2nd place pistol in The State of Oklahoma Governor’s Twenty 2009, Oklahoma State IDPA Championship High Military 2008 and 2009, 3rd place in the Carolina Cup Enhanced Service Pistol Sharpshooter in 2008 as well as many others.

Chris worked on many political campaigns including K.T. McFarland’s 2006 Senate Campaign, Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s 2005 re-election campaign, President Bush’s 2004 election campaign, and Governor Romney’s 2008 Presidential primary. Chris also was a professional sponsored shooter through United States Shooting Academy in Owasso, Oklahoma, and was a business owner as well as a volunteer Police officer.

Christopher was an accomplished competitive and recreational shooter. Every opportunity he had, Christopher fished both ocean and freshwaters. He loved fishing for all species of fish.

Chris was both passionate and dedicated to politics and conservative causes. He also worked on many campaigns and was extremely patriotic and passionate about America and the freedoms we love and enjoy.

Chris had a love for baseball and had aspirations of someday trying out for the minors.

Army Spc. Christopher D. Horton was killed in action on 9/9/11.

Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Brian K. Lundy

Remember Our Heroes

Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Brian K. Lundy, 25, of Austin, Texas

Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Lundy was assigned to 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 5, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.; died while conducting a dismounted patrol in Marjah, Helmand province, Afghanistan, on Sept. 9, 2011.

Petty Officer Lundy graduated from Bowie High School in May 2004. Receiving a scholarship to Huston Tillotson University, he enrolled in August that year.

Deciding that college was not for him, he enlisted in the Navy in May 2006 and served as a Hospital Corspman, first aboard the Aircraft Carrier USS Ronald Reagan from November 2006 to August 2008, then with the Naval Hospital 29 Palms, California from December 2008 to December 2010. He then applied for and was accepted to Special Training as Hospital Corpsman with the Fleet Marine Force afterwhich he was assigned to Camp Lejuene, NC in March 2011. He deployed to Afghanistan four months later in July.

Petty Officer Lundy loved motorcycles and loved animals. As a child, wanted to be veterinarian when he grew up. His pets included Great Danes, an iguana and a parrot which now resides with his mother.

He sang with the Voices of Joy and was an active member of TCIA and JCIA Youth groups. He was also a Jr. Deacon and early on demonstrated an eagerness to serve.

Mother, Ramona, said that he son often callled her detailing interesting stories about his duties as a Corpsman. He told her about having to deliver a baby, treating an Afghani National with multiple stab wounds, and even having to remove a rock from the eye of a young Afghanistan boy.

His mother said her son had finally found his calling and his purpose in life, and that he was doing something that made him feel that he was making a difference in this world. Her little "Peanut" had become a man.

Petty Officer Lundy's awards and decorations include:

Purple Heart
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
Navy "E" Ribbon Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with Bronze Star
Good Conduct Medal NATO Medal
National Defense Service Medal

Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Brian K. Lundy was killed in action on 9/9/11.

Pfc. Brett E. Wood

Remember Our Heroes

Pfc. Brett E. Wood, 19, of Spencer, Ind.

Pfc Wood assigned to to 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Fort Wainwright, Alaska; died Sept. 9, 2011 in Kandahar, Afghanistan, when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.

Pfc Wood graduated from Owen Valley High School in 2010. He enlisted with his older brother Nikk that summer. He reported to Fort Wainwrght in November 2010. He deployed to Afghanistan five months later, in April.

Owen Valley High School principal Rhonda Schafer, who had been one of Brett Wood’s teachers, said, “Just a couple weeks ago, he came here visiting everyone,” Schafer said. “I saw him briefly. He was friends with everyone because he was so outgoing. He got along with all students.”

Pfc Wood came home over the summer to heal from head wounds suffered in another improvised explosive device blast. He continued to suffer from mild headaches and dizziness, but was later cleared to return to active duty and returned to Afghanistan.

Brother Nikk returned from service in Afghanistan on Sept. 12 for his brother's funeral where he read "last word" messages his brother had written for family members and friends. Nikk told mourners he became closer to his younger brother while they served in the Army together.

"He was always the person that was positive," said sister, Amber Poland. “I wish he knew how much I loved him, how much I miss him and how
proud I am of him.”

“We are so thankful for all of the support from the community. People have brought food, flags, flowers and candles. The support has been incredible,” she said, noting that her brother was proud to serve and “cherished life.”

Pfc. Brett E. Wood was killed in action on 9/9/11.

Army Spc. Koran P. Contreras

Remember Our Heroes

Army Spc. Koran P. Contreras, 21, of Lawndale, Calif.

Spc Contreras was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y.; died Sept. 8. 2011 in Kandahar, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. Also killed was Pfc. Douglas J. Jeffries Jr.

Specialist Koran Pulido Contreras, age 21, of Lawndale, California passed away on Thursday, September 8, 2011 in Kandahar, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.

Koran was born in Redondo Beach, California and was an Union High School graduate.

He enjoyed food with coffee, donuts and tacos being his favorites. He was a Pittsburg Steelers fan and a sports enthusiast who enjoyed basketball and skate boarding.

Spending time with his younger brother Anthony was Koran's special pastime.

Koran served his community as a police officer after serving in the military and our nation. He was an Infantryman with the 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, and 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, NY. Koran joined the Army in April 2008. After training at Fort Benning, Georgia he was assigned to Fort Hood, Texas and arrived at Fort Drum in April 2010.

Koran previously deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from January 2009 to December 2009. He deployed with his unit to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in March 2011.

Koran's awards and decorations include the Bronze Star, Posthumous; the Purple Heart, 2, Posthumous; the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, Posthumous; the Meritorious Unit Commendation; the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal; the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon; the Overseas Service Ribbon; the NATO Medal, Posthumous; and the Combat Infantryman Badge.

Koran is survived by mother, Lilia Contreras; father, Marco Quiroz; and brother, Anthony Contreras.

Army Spc. Koran P. Contreras was killed in action on 9/8/11.

Army Pfc. Douglas J. Jeffries Jr.

Remember Our Heroes

Army Pfc. Douglas J. Jeffries Jr., 20, of Springville, Calif.

Pfc. Jeffries was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y.; died Sept. 8, 2011 in Kandahar, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. Also killed was Spc. Koran P. Contreras.

Jeffries is survived by his father and mom, Doug and Andrea Jeffries, his sister Jessica, and fiancee Tiffany Stanford, all of Springville. He is also survived by his mother, Evelyn McLeod, sister Jamie Viray and her husband Paul, brother Joseph Averman, and several nephews — Dylan and Kaleb Viray, and Taylor and Joseph Jr. Averman, all of Las Vegas. Grandparents include Stephen and Vanola Jeffries of Springville, Donna Jeffries of Clearlake, and Helen Dinning of Las Vegas.

As a child, DJ, as the family called Doug Jeffries, loved to play his guitar, and ride his bicycles and motorcycles, said his father, Doug Jeffries.

“He loved life. He lived his life,” Jeffries said.

His mom added that her son was “real funny” and loved to laugh.

“He got his sense of humor from his mom,” Jeffries said. “Everyone who knew DJ knew that his family — and his country — were the most important things to him, and that he was funny.”

Doug Jeffries parents also shared that they learned that their son carried a full-size American flag in his pack in Afghanistan, proof of his pride and love of his country, they said.

But there were many other wonderful qualities in the young soldier.

“How many 18 year olds do you know who register to vote on their 18th birthday?” his mom asked.

For hours, family and friends have gathered at the home to share stories, Jeffries said.

They weren’t the only ones. Earlier in the day, the associated student body at Porterville High School honored Jeffries with a short memorial that included a few words by his former teacher Todd Coons, a moment of silence, taps played on trumpet by PHS band director Jim Kusserow, and the release of dozens of red and blue balloons attached to small pieces of colored construction paper that read “Thank you for your service, Doug Jeffries” and “Once a Panther - Always a Panther.”

“This is a truibute for all he has done for Porterville and our country,” said Makayla Reed, ASB public relations. “He was a student here and really involved with the ag program. We just wanted to honor him.”

It is a sentiment that has been expressed again and again throughout the small mountain community where flags are flying at half staff in honor of Pfc. Jeffries.

“The amount of outpouring and emotion from the community has been overwhelming,” Jeffries said. “We’ll never leave Springville. We’ll never move out of this house.”

Army Pfc. Douglas J. Jeffries Jr. was killed in action on 9/8/11.

Navy Cmdr. James K. Crawford

Remember Our Heroes

Navy Cmdr. James K. Crawford, 50, of East Concord, N.Y.

Cmdr Crawford was assigned to U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, supporting operations at the Combined Maritime Forces Coalition Coordination Center at Naval Support Activity, Bahrain; died Sept. 7 of a heart attack while exercising in Manama, Bahrain.

A final goodbye Friday morning for a Western New Yorker who died in the Middle East while serving his country.

Commander James K. Crawford, 50, of East Concord died last Wednesday in a non-combat incident in Manama, Bahrain. Crawford was there as part of Operation New Dawn. His family says Crawford was assigned to Fifth Fleet Headquarters in Bahrain where he worked in an Intelligence unit.

Mark Crawford, the brother of the Commander, says he suffered a heart attack while working out and could not be revived. The Defense Department says an investigation is still underway.

A funeral with full military honors was held at SS Peter and Paul Church in Hamburg. Commander Crawford was then laid to rest in SS Peter and Paul Cemetery.

Mark Crawford says his brother was a veteran of the First Gulf War in 1991. He was a Navy reservist for 22 years, And in civilian life he was an agent with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency of the Homeland Security Department.

Navy Cmdr. James K. Crawford died of a heart attack on 9/7/11.

James W. Coker

Remember Our Heroes

The Department of Defense announced the death of a Department of the Navy civilian who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

James W. Coker, 59, of Mount Pleasant, S.C., was pronounced dead Sept. 5 in Kabul, Afghanistan, while on temporary assignment with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Coker worked for Naval Facilities Engineering Command Atlantic, Norfolk, Va.

The circumstances surrounding his death are under investigation.

In Afghanistan, a Western official who was briefed on the incident told The Associated Press that after the kidnapping, Coker's body was found in a cave in nearby hills. He was strangled with a belt, the official said, speaking anonymously to discuss matters of intelligence.

Coker, 59, was a civilian working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He reportedly was kidnapped from a power plant near Kabul and strangled, making him the third Pentagon civilian killed in 10 years of war and U.S. involvement in Afghanistan.

Coker was a life-long area resident who worked as a civilian at the Charleston Air Force Base for about 20 years prior to his more recent postings. He also built houses in the Charleston area.

Carrie Coker-Hughes of Goose Creek said her father, James W. "Will" Coker, was a deeply religious man who loved his three children, five grandchildren and traveling the world.

"He raised three children on his own," she said. "He was a precious man who loved his family and God unconditionally."

Daughter, Carrie,
said they always talked about the good times and family business, not on the goings-on around him in Afghanistan.

"I knew it was a dangerous risk," she said. "That lifestyle over there is pretty tough." He'd been overseas for about three months but was expected to return home in about two weeks.

Carrie said her father was assigned to several bases while in Afghanistan, identifying those places as Camp Blackhorse and Camp Integrity, where the phone service was less consistent, she said.

She knew something was wrong when she didn't hear from him during the weekend, saying his habit had been to call her during her breaks from her job as a dental hygienist.

Outside of work, Coker became involved in overseas relief missions with local church groups, including to Africa. His daughter described him as a workaholic.

"Working in the yard and reading, or just working with his hands," Coker-Hughes said of his hobbies. "He was a hard worker. He just never stopped."

She believes her father's good deeds left him at peace, and called him her guardian angel. "He has gone to heaven," she said. "I have no doubt."

James Coker was laid to rest at Whispering Pines Memorial Gardens.
He is survived by his wife, Marli; children, James, Lisa and Carrie; siblings, Ben, Mack, Bill, Peggy, Betty Jo and Juanita.

Army Spc. Christophe J. Marquis

Remember Our Heroes

Army Spc. Christophe J. Marquis, 40, of Tampa, Fla.

Spc Marquis was assigned to 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Fort Wainwright, Alaska; died Sept. 4, 2011 at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Germany, of injuries sustained Aug. 27 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, when insurgents attacked his unit using an improvised explosive device.

Spc Marquis was born in was born in Strasbourg, France. He joined the French Foreign Legion as an infantryman in 1990. He deployed to Bosnia and French Guiana in South America. He earned the rank of staff sergeant while in the Legion.

“Specialist Marquis was a warrior in the truest sense of the word,” said Capt. Christopher Gardiner, the commander of Troop A, 5th Sqdn., 1st Cav. Reg.

“There is no one who exemplifies the warrior lifestyle more. (His) attention to detail and dedication to mission was phenomenal and an example to junior troopers around him.”

“Soldiering was what Marquis loved to do and he let nothing get in the way,” added Pfc. Daniel Bridges. “He especially had a way of continuously lightening the mood day-in and day-out whether it was (with) his French dance or his many other ways of making people laugh,” Bridges said Specialist Marquis was the epitome of a Soldier,” said Staff Sgt. Aloysius Domme, a squad leader with Troop A. “He was a Soldier (who) everyone, including myself, learned from.”

“He could take any situation and pull the positives out of it in a way to make people feel better about what’s going on,” Domme said. “He always brought a smile to our faces. He was, in his own way, a morale boost.”

“He was a great Soldier and more importantly he was a good friend, my friend,” Domme said. “He will not be forgotten. It was an honor to serve with him and a privilege to know him.”

“Marquis was a good Soldier, knowledgeable, helpful and willing to carry the heaviest loads, and it’s clear his platoon-mates liked and admired him,” said Lt. Col. David Hardy, the commander of 2nd Bn., 8th Inf. Reg. “He came from a different background and he was a little older than the rest and he had a different accent but he was right at home among his fellow Soldiers.”

Few have a story like his, Hardy said. He went from the Legion to owning a bar in France to owning a bar in Florida, but ended up in the U.S. Army because he loved being a soldier.

He moved to the U.S. in 2007 and joined the Army in April 2010. He arrived at Fort Wainwight in February 2011. He deployed to Afghanistan in April. He served as a M240 gunner and a biometrics equipment operator.

Awards and decorations include:

Bronze Star
Purple Heart
Combat Infantryman Badge
National Defense Service Ribbon
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Afghan Campaign Medal

Army Spc. Christophe J. Marquis died on 9/4/11 from injuries received in action on 8/27/11.

Army Spc. Christopher J. Scott

Remember Our Heroes

Army Spc. Christopher J. Scott, 21, of Tyrone, N.Y.

Spc Scott was assigned to 716th Military Police Battalion, 101st Sustainment Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.; died Sept. 3, 2011 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit with small-arms fire.

Spc Scott was born in New Port Richey, FL, but raised in Dundee NY. He graduated from Dundee High School in 2009 where he participated in football, track and was the only male cheerleader on the Varsity Team. He received both the Maroon and White Varsity Letters in football and track.

A former Boy Scout, Spc Scott was an avid sportsman and hunter. He loved to go duck and coon hunting and was a member of the Spencer Van Etton Coon Hunting Club. He was skilled in martial arts and had received his Senior Red Belt.

He dreamed of serving his country as a Military Policeman. He followed his dream by joining the Army a month after he graduated high school. He was assigned to Fort Campbell in May 2010.

This was Spc Scott's first deployment, having just deployed to Afghanistan in July. He was killed 12 days before he was due to return home to get married.

"As a leader, I couldn't ask for a better soldier," said Sgt Christopher Coats, a team leader with the 561st Military Police Company. The way he conducted himself on a daily basis was 100% professional."

"Spc Scott served with distinction in our nations battle against terrorism," said Lt Col John Cook, Commander, 1st SQDN, 10th Cavalry Regiment.

Spc Scott's awards and decorations include:

Bronze Star
Purple Heart
National Defense Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Army Service Ribbon
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Star
Overseas Service Ribbon
Army Good Conduct Medal
NATO Medal
Combat Action Badge

Army Spc. Christopher J. Scott was killed in action on 9/3/11.

Army Sgt. Chester G. Stoda

Remember Our Heroes

Army Sgt. Chester G. Stoda, 32, of Black River Falls, Wis.

Sgt Stoda died Sep. 2, 2011 from a non-combat related incident. He was assigned to the 8th Engineer Battalion, 36th Engineer Brigade, Fort Hood, Texas.

Sgt Stoda died while scuba diving in Hawaii while on leave from Afghanistan.

A lifeguard at Haena Beach Park administered CPR for more than 30 minutes in an attempt to save Stoda's life before medics arrived.

Sgt Stoda was scuba diving with a friend from Texas near Tunnels Beach. Lifeguard John Cammak noticed the two enter the water around 3 p.m. and for more than an hour, observed the pair diving and periodically surfacing. Around 4:30 p.m., Stoda's diving companion returned to the beach while Stoda remained in the water to snorkel.

The lifeguard continued to observe Stoda as he snorkeled and drifted closer to the waters in front of the lifeguard stand. Around 5:00 p.m., as Cammak was closing up the lifeguard stand, he observed Stoda still in the water about 50 yards offshore and decided to swim out to see if he needed assistance. When he reached Stoda, Stoda was unconscious.

The lifeguard brought Stoda back to shore and asked for assistance from beachgoers in retrieving first aid and communications equipment from the lifeguard stand.

Stoda was transported to Wilcox Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 7:32 p.m.

North District Lifeguard Supervisor Jim Ingham praised Cammak for following his instincts and making heroic efforts to save Stoda’s life. “John felt something wasn’t right, so before closing up for the night he felt compelled to swim out and check on Mr. Stoda,” stated Ingham. “Although ultimately the victim couldn’t be revived, John and others on the beach did everything they could to assist. John’s actions truly represent the dedication, commitment and skill of our lifeguards.”

Sgt. Stoda had worked as a logger in his father's logging business as well as Webster Lumber and several logging operations in the Bangor area. He was working as a self-employed logger at the time he entered the service.

Sgt Stoda enlisted in the Army in February 2008, where he served as a combat engineer and was responsible for locating and removing improvised explosive devices from roads. He deployed to Afghanistan in December 2010.

Sgt Stoda was an outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting, fishing, hiking, cross-county skiing, camping and bee keeping.

"He loved the outdoors," said his mother, Ann.

He also loved history and enjoyed reading books about events such as World War II.

When describing their son, Ann and Douglas Stoda refer to him as a man who was kind and would do anything for anyone.

His father, Douglas, described Chester as "easy and fun to be around."

Sgt Stoda's awards and decorations include:

Army Achievement Medals (2)
Army Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Meda
Korea Defense Service Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with campaighn star
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
NATO Medal
Army Service Ribbon
Overseas Service Ribbons (2)
Combat Action Badge

Sgt Stoda was laid to rest in Oak Grove Cemetery in Tomah

Sgt Stoda is survived by his parents, grandparents, and two sisters.

Army Sgt. Chester G. Stoda died in a non-combat related accident on 9/2/11.