Army Staff Sgt. Alex French IV

Remember Our Heroes

Army Staff Sgt. Alex French IV, 31, of Milledgeville, Ga.

SSgt. French was assigned to 1st Battalion, 121st Infantry Regiment, Lawrenceville, Ga.; died Sept. 30, 2009 in Khowst, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when enemy forces attacked his unit using an improvised explosive device.

Enlisted with the Navy before joining National Guard
The Associated Press

Alex French had a thing for the spinach-gobbling Popeye as a child and followed his own dream of being a sailor, joining the Navy.

French was honorably discharged in 2000 and continued his career in public service, becoming a sheriff’s deputy. But he wanted to keep serving his country and later joined the National Guard.

“It was in him to do that,” said his sister Latoya French. “When you’d see him, you’d think he belonged in uniform.”

French, 31, of Milledgeville, Ga., died Sept. 30 in Khost, Afghanistan, when enemy forces bombed his unit. He was assigned to Lawrenceville, Ga.

Another sister, Laquitta French Basley, said she often talked to her brother online while he was deployed. He always asked to make sure things were OK back in Georgia, rarely talking about himself.

French was always close to his family, Basley said, and always protective of his sisters.

“He was a rock,” she said.

Bibb County Sheriff Jerry Modena said French was an intelligent sergeant in the booking division who worked hard to rise through the ranks.

“He had a good career ahead of him,” Modena said. “To have it terminated so early, it’s a waste.”

Army Staff Sgt. Alex French IV was killed in action on 9/30/09.

Army Spc. Ross E. Vogel III

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Army Spc. Ross E. Vogel III, 27, of Red Lion, Pa.

Spc. Vogel was assigned to the 67th Signal Battalion, 35th Signal Brigade, Fort Gordon, Ga.; died Sept. 29, 2009 in Kut, Iraq, of injuries sustained in a noncombat-related incident.

Was looking forward to being career soldier
The Associated Press

Christin Wiley says the changes in her brother were obvious when she last saw him around Christmas.

Ross Vogel wasn’t the skinny kid she grew up with; he was big and buff. It was a pleasant surprise.

“We’re used to scrawny little skater Ross with the long hair,” she said.

The transformation came after Vogel, of Red Lion, Pa., joined the Army, following in the footsteps of a brother in the Air Force. Vogel had decided to make the Army a career.

“He loved his career and fighting for his country,” said his stepfather, Chuck Wiley.

Vogel, 27, was on his third tour of duty in Iraq when he died Sept. 29 in Kut, Iraq, of noncombat injuries. He was assigned to Fort Gordon, Ga.

Vogel, who was home-schooled, was a football and hockey fan. He loved the Pittsburgh Steelers, and got to watch the Penguins win the Stanley Cup on television this summer with his mother, Mary Wiley.

He also liked cars and playing the drums.

He is survived by his wife, Kristen, and two sons, 12-year-old Logan and 5-year-old Ross IV.

Army Spc. Ross E. Vogel III was killed in a non-combat related incident on 9/29/09.

Army Sgt. 1st Class Christopher D. Shaw

Remember Our Heroes

Army Sgt. 1st Class Christopher D. Shaw, 37, of Markham, Ill.

SFC Shaw was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group, Fort Lewis, Wash.; died Sept. 29, 2009 in Jolo Island, Philippines, from the detonation of an improvised explosive device. Also killed was Staff Sgt. Jack M. Martin III.

Put aside athletics for active-duty Army
The Associated Press

Christopher D. Shaw was fast, a former standout runner at Natchez High School in Natchez, Miss.

“I think he held the state record at one time,” former classmate Kareem West said. “He was maybe one of the best track stars ever at the school.”

That talent earned him a track and field scholarship at Texas Southern University, where he studied history. He enlisted in the Army Reserve in 1994 and put his studies on hold to join active duty the following year.

“He was the best God could have put out here,” Camille Felton said of her oldest son.

Shaw, 37, of Markham, Ill., was killed Sept. 29 on Jolo Island in the Philippines by a bomb buried under the road. Officials said he was part of a task force helping to quell militants there. He was assigned to Fort Lewis, Wash., and it was his second deployment.

“He was a nice, good kid,” said his stepfather, Willie Felton. “He didn’t do anybody any harm.”

Shaw enjoyed motorcycles and talking about sports, but his family was his priority, Felton said.

He is survived by his wife, Attina; five children; his father, mother and stepfather; and two brothers and two sisters.

Army Sgt. 1st Class Christopher D. Shaw was killed in action on 9/29/09.

Army Staff Sgt. Jack M. Martin III

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Army Staff Sgt. Jack M. Martin III, 26, of Bethany, Okla.

Sgt Martin was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group, Fort Lewis, Wash.; died Sept. 29, 2009 in Jolo Island, Philippines, from the detonation of an improvised explosive device. Also killed was Sgt. 1st Class Christopher D. Shaw.

Wanted to work in schools
The Associated Press

Jack M. Martin III dreamed of working as an educator or finding another way to help people when his time in the military ended, his family said.

The 26-year-old from Bethany, Okla., was helping to resupply a school construction project in the Philippines when he was killed Sept. 29 by a bomb buried beneath a road on Jolo Island. Military officials said he was part of a task force deployed to help quell militants there.

Martin, the youngest of five children, was born in Iowa and grew up there and in Oklahoma. He played football and was an honors student at Bethany High School, graduating in 2001.

He started out in the Army Reserve before studying at the University of Central Oklahoma, said his father, Jack Martin Jr., adding that his son was in basic training during the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

The younger Martin had volunteered to go to Iraq, and when that deployment was canceled, he met with a recruiter looking for special forces volunteers and became a Green Beret. He was assigned to Fort Lewis.

“He was a very kind and loving person that was very intelligent with numbers,” his father said.

Martin’s survivors include his wife, Ashley.

Army Staff Sgt. Jack M. Martin III was killed in action on 9/29/09.

Marine Lance Cpl. Jordan L. Chrobot

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Marine Lance Cpl. Jordan L. Chrobot, 24, of Frederick, Md.

LCpl Chrobot was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.; died Sept. 26, 2009 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

A good neighbor, a good Marine
The Associated Press

Jordan Chrobot’s wedding in his grandparents’ back yard was a long time coming.

“I immediately fell in love with him. I was about 11 years old,” said his wife, Amber. “One day he told me he loved me, and that was it.”

She spoke with him for about a half-hour before he went out on a mission, and the whole time he was “being silly and joking” as he thanked her for packages from home, said Chrobot’s mother, Kandy Poole Johns. It was the last mission he’d head out for.

Chrobot, 24, of Frederick, Md., died Sept. 26 in combat in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to Camp Lejeune, N.C. He graduated from New Life Christian School in 2003.

Friends and family said he was proud to be a Marine and help other Marines. An unnamed neighbor said Chrobot came home from a deployment before he did and spent extra time helping the neighbor’s wife do chores around the house.

Justin Coffey, a friend from New Life, recalled the last time he saw Chrobot before he deployed to Afghanistan.

“He opened the trunk and pulled out his helmet and just said, ‘Look at my helmet.’ He was just so proud to be a Marine,” Coffey said.

He is also survived by his stepfather; his father and stepmother; three siblings; and numerous other relatives.

Marine Lance Cpl. Jordan L. Chrobot was killed in action on 9/26/09.

Army Spc. Kevin J. Graham

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Army Spc. Kevin J. Graham, 27, of Benton, Ky.

Spc. Graham was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.; died Sept. 26, 2009 in Kandahar, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his vehicle with an IED.

Pastor says soldier loved serving country
The Associated Press

BENTON, Ky. — A western Kentucky pastor says a soldier who died when a roadside bomb hit his vehicle in Afghanistan believed he was doing his life’s work in the Army.

The Rev. Jonathan Goodman told The Paducah Sun that 27-year-old Spc. Kevin J. Graham of Benton was honored to serve his country.

Graham died Sept. 26 in Kandahar of wounds suffered in the attack by insurgents. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.

Goodman says Graham joined the Army in 2007, was married in Washington and had a stepson. The pastor says Graham’s parents brought reports of their son to church often and that members of the church would pray for him.

The newspaper said Graham’s parents, Dan and Sandy Graham, live near Fairdealing and were at Dover Air Force Base, Del., on Sept. 28 when their son’s body was returned to the United States. Graham has three older brothers.

Had always wanted to join Army
The Associated Press

Kevin Graham loved muscle cars. It started when he rebuilt a 1939 with his dad and brother, and culminated in his prized vehicle: A 1965 Pontiac Le Mans.

“He loved to drive that thing,” said Graham’s brother, Sean Graham. “That was his pride and joy. He was always working on that thing, always driving and washing it.”

Graham, 27, of Benton, Ky., was killed Sept. 26 when the vehicle in which he was riding hit a roadside bomb in Afghanistan. He was assigned to Fort Lewis, Wash.

Sean Graham said his brother always wanted to be a soldier, dressing up in Army gear, playing Army games and eagerly listening to stories of World War II and Vietnam. He enlisted in 2007.

“He had always been that way, and I fully supported his decision to go into the Army,” Sean Graham said. “It took a while for him to make that decision. When he did, I was so proud of him.”

Jonathan Goodman, the pastor at Calvary Baptist Church in Benton, said Graham was proud to serve his country, noting that the congregation often prayed for him when his parents brought reports to the church.

Graham is survived by his parents and three older brothers, including Sean.

Army Spc. Kevin J. Graham was killed in action on 9/26/09.

Marine Lance Cpl. John J. Malone

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Marine Lance Cpl. John J. Malone, 24, of Yonkers, N.Y.

LCpl Malone was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Fore, based out of Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay; died Sept. 24, 2009 while supporting combat operations in Farah province, Afghanistan.

Local Marine killed in Afghanistan
By Hannan Adely and Hoa Nguyen
The (Westchester, N.Y.) Journal News

A 24-year-old Marine killed in action in Afghanistan on Thursday was a Gorton High School graduate and former Mahopac resident who “would light up the room,” family and friends said.

Lance Cpl. John J. Malone, who grew up in Mahopac before moving to Yonkers to attend high school, died of gunshot wounds while on patrol in Afghanistan, according to family and friends who said they were notified late Thursday. The Pentagon said he died in Farah province, Afghanistan.

Malone, a young man who loved music, often wore a smile on his face and was committed to his family and serving his country, had a way about him that earned many friends.

“John is a great guy,” said Zahara Majeed, 21, of Yonkers, a friend who knew Malone when he and his sister attended Gorton. “You would never have a bad day because he would always make you smile.”

Malone, who after graduation worked at the Pathmark store on Central Avenue and later enlisted, was proud of his military service and the opportunities that came with being in the Marines, friends said.

“He loved it,” Majeed said. “It changed him. He got to see the world, something that he was never going to do if he never got into the military.”

But most of all, Malone, who last year served in Iraq, wanted to help protect his country and family, friends said.

“He had family in the Marines, so what he said was, ‘Basically, they’re trying to kill my family,’ and he wanted to go and protect people he loved and what not — the country and everything,” said Josh Blumenstetter, 24, a friend who knew Malone when he lived in Mahopac.

Malone had come to Mahopac to live with his grandmother, and, despite being new to the area, he fit in easily, said Charles Blumenstetter, Josh’s father.

“He was one of the most popular guys in town. Everybody loved him,” Charles Blumenstetter said. “He was just a polite young man and very friendly, and all I can say is I was talking to one of the kids this morning and they’re all very upset. They said John would just light up the room.”

On Tuesday, Josh Blumenstetter got an e-mail from Malone saying he had had a lot of close calls while serving in Afghanistan and was anxious to come home. He was due to come home in several weeks.

“When he was in Iraq, it seemed like he felt a lot more safe and everything seemed better,” he said.

Then, Blumenstetter got a text message from Malone’s brother Darryl at 5:15 p.m. Thursday saying, “John’s gone.”

Malone was a member of the 2nd Battalion , 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, based at Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay.

Marco Kilcawley, 22, of Columbia, S.C., served in the same company as Malone in Afghanistan but was sent back to Hawaii a couple of months ago for medical reasons.

“We went to Iraq together. We went to Afghanistan together,” Kilcawley said. “He was an all-around good Marine. He made everyone happy, even when we were around the field cold and miserable.”

During his free time, Malone would listen to songs that he had written and produced, and enjoyed hanging out with his friends, Kilcawley said. Like his friends in the company, he was torn over whether to quit the military or sign up for another tour, Kilcawley said. This last tour in Afghanistan was more difficult than their other assignments, Kilcawley said, adding that he did not know the circumstances surrounding Malone’s death.

“Afghanistan is more dangerous,” he said. “The Taliban over there are a little more braver in trying to attack us.”

Enjoyed writing, producing music
The Associated Press

John Malone liked to see his friends smiling.

So if they weren’t, he’d try to change that.

“You would never have a bad day because he would always make you smile,” a friend, Zahara Majeed, told the Journal News of Westchester, N.Y.

He was friendly and polite and could light up a room.

“He was an all-around good Marine,” said Marco Kilcawley, who served with Malone in Iraq and Afghanistan. “He made everyone happy, even when we were around the field cold and miserable.”

Malone, 24, of Yonkers, N.Y., was killed Sept. 24 during fighting in Farah province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay.

Malone, a graduate of Charles E. Gorton High School, had looked forward to serving in the military, friends and family members said.

“It was a dream that he always wanted to do,” said his mother, Maria Pacheco. “It was something he had always talked about.”

Malone joined the Marines in February 2007 and was deployed to Iraq a year later. His Afghanistan deployment was in May.

Malone also had a passion for music, and he had written and produced some songs.

Marine Lance Cpl. John J. Malone was killed in action on 9/24/09.

Army Sgt. Edward B. Smith

Remember Our Heroes

Army Sgt. Edward B. Smith, 30, of Homestead, Fla.

Sgt. Smith was assigned to the 4th Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.; died Sept. 24, 2009 in Omar Zai, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an IED.

Former Fort Knox soldier’s dreams die with bomb in Afghanistan
By Sean Rose
The (Louisville, Ky.) Courier-Journal via Gannett News Service

Army Staff Sgt. Edward Bernard Smith was not looking for a relationship when he met his future wife at a club at Fort Knox.

But they were drawn to each other and discovered they had much in common.

“He was looking for the same thing I was looking for,” Jamie Welch Smith said. “He was my best friend, we could talk about anything.”

Edward and Jamie Smith, of Ekron, Ky., had been married for 3½ years when he was killed by a makeshift bomb in Afghanistan on Sept. 24. He was 30.

Edward Smith had already served one year in Iraq before reporting to Fort Knox in 2005 for the Army’s Armor School, according to the Army. He was transferred to Fort Lewis, Wash., in 2007, and his brigade was deployed in July, according to an Army spokesman.

Jamie Smith said she and her husband planned to have a baby when he returned next July.

Jamie Smith had two children when she met Edward Smith, who is originally from Homestead, Fla. She said he was great with her kids and, as the oldest of six children in his family, practically had to raise his siblings after their mother died when he was 18.

“He was wonderful, there’s nothing bad you can say about him,” she said. “He just did everything in his power to try to make us happy. He was just that type of person.”

Edward Smith enjoyed playing basketball and video games and spending time with her children, Jamie Smith said. He joined the Army to try to find a career and make something of himself, she said. He wanted to become a physical education teacher after leaving the Army.

“We’re OK but we’re taking it really hard,” she added. “He was our everything.”

His funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Oct. 9 at the Prichard Chapel at Fort Knox, with burial in Zion Grove Cemetery in Ekron. Visitation will be at Hager Funeral Home in Brandenburg, Ky., from 4 to 9 p.m. Oct. 8 and noon to 1:15 p.m. Oct. 9.

Appreciated his sister’s prayers
The Associated Press

Edward Bernard Smith loved talking about the military with his grandfather.

“He would always tell me about the new technology, the new weapons they had,” said Smith’s grandfather, Edward Parrish.

But Smith was scared, too — he knew the risks and was afraid he may not make it home. His sister, June Render of Atlanta, recalled her brother thanking her for her prayers.

“ ‘Thanks sis, I needed to hear that,’ ” she recalled him saying.

Smith, 30, of Homestead, Fla., was killed Sept. 24 in Omar Zai, Afghanistan, when the vehicle in which he was riding was hit by a roadside bomb. He was assigned to Fort Lewis, Wash. He graduated from South Dade Senior High. He enlisted in 2002, inspired to join by the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

The soldier was close to his grandparents — his mother, Sophia Smith Carter, died in 1997 at age 32. He was one of eight children and was close to his family.

“He loved his family and really appreciated what family meant,” said aunt Yalunda Evans. “He was the one who always pulled the family together.”

Smith is also survived by his wife, Jamie, and two stepchildren. He is preceded in death by a brother, Samuel Smith, who was killed in a car crash earlier this year.

Army Sgt. Edward B. Smith was killed in action on 9/24/09.

Army Sgt. Titus R. Reynolds

Remember Our Heroes

Army Sgt. Titus R. Reynolds, 23, of Columbus, Ohio

Sgt. Reynolds was assigned to the 4th Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.; died Sept. 24, 2009 in Omar Zai, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an IED.

Always was willing to help in neighborhood
The Associated Press

Titus Reynolds was the neighborhood helper and organizer — and a pretty good-looking one at that.

His father, Rod Reynolds, recalled many waitresses giving his son their phone numbers when the family would go out to eat.

“It happened many times,” the elder Reynolds said.

Reynolds, 23, of Columbus, Ohio, died Sept. 24 in Omar Zai, Afghanistan, when his vehicle hit a roadside bomb. He was assigned to Fort Lewis, Wash. He graduated from Reynoldsburg High School in 2005.

Childhood friend Emil Davitian, 25, recalled that Reynolds’ home was the hotspot for get-togethers among friends, typically planned by Reynolds.

“We would get together and have video game tournaments,” he said. “The Sony PlayStation was at my house, and the Nintendo 64 was at his.”

Reynolds could also often be seen helping neighbors haul groceries inside, or playing electric guitar and bass for his church band.

“Titus would do anything for you,” said neighbor Sheryl Sycks. “He was nice and mannerly, such a sweet kid.”

In addition to his father, the soldier is survived by his wife, Nikki; his mother; and two brothers and a sister.

Army Sgt. Titus R. Reynolds was killed in action on 9/24/09.

Army Spc. Joseph V. White

Remember Our Heroes

Army Spc. Joseph V. White, 21, of Bellevue, Wash.

Spc White was assigned to the 4th Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.; died Sept. 24, 2009 in Omar Zai, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an IED.

Married wife shortly before leaving for Afghanistan
The Associated Press

If any guys messed with Joseph White’s sisters, they knew they would have to answer to him.

“He was very protective of his teenage sisters,” White’s mother, Robyn, wrote in an e-mail to The Seattle Times. “Joseph White is our hero and will be greatly missed by many, many people.”

White, 21, of Bellevue, Wash., was killed Sept. 24 in Omar Zai, Afghanistan, when his vehicle was attacked with an improvised explosive device. Two other soldiers also died in the attack.

White was committed to his two brothers and seven sisters, his mother said. He also loved the outdoors, and his favorite pastimes included playing Frisbee, golf and paintball.

While on leave during the Christmas holiday, White proposed to his wife. The two married in May, a month and a half before his deployment, his family said.

“Joe was not happy to be leaving his bride to go to Afghanistan, but he did not complain. Rather, he went with a strong sense of duty and desire to maintain freedom and safety for others,” his mother wrote.

She said her son was home-schooled and took some classes at Bellevue Community College before joining the Army in 2006.

Army Spc. Joseph V. White was killed in action on 9/24/09.

Army Pfc. William L. Meredith

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Army Pfc. William L. Meredith, 26, of Virginia Beach, Va.

Pfc. Meredith was assigned to the 569th Engineer Company, 4th Engineer Battalion, Fort Carson, Colo.; died Sept. 21, 2009 in Kandahar, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device.

Soldier’s enlistment surprised father
The Associated Press

Master Sgt. Lloyd Lee Meredith was a bit surprised when his son, William “Lee” Meredith, called to say he had joined the military.

“Lee is the kindest, gentlest soul I have ever met in my life,” the elder Meredith said. “He never had a hard word for anybody. Would never fight anybody. He was not a fighter. He was very passive.”

It was even more surprising that Lee had chosen a combat specialty. Sandy Mahoney, the mother of Lee Meredith’s best friend Chris, said the timid boy had blossomed after the Army.

“I never saw him stand so tall and proud as in his uniform,” Mahoney said.

Meredith, 26, of Virginia Beach, Va., was killed Sept. 21 in Kandahar, Afghanistan, after enemy forces attacked the vehicle in which he was riding. He was assigned to Fort Carson, Colo.

Mahoney fondly remembered all the times her son spent with Meredith, including the time Meredith lived with her and her son. Chris Mahoney had a bunk bed, and the two would argue over who would get the top bunk.

Now, Meredith was a guy who loved music and playing video games, and had hoped to propose soon to his longtime girlfriend.

“He took life day by day just trying to get by,” Chris Mahoney said of his friend.

Army Pfc. William L. Meredith was killed in action on 9/21/09.

Air Force Senior Airman Matthew R. Courtois

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Air Force Senior Airman Matthew R. Courtois, 22, of Lucas, Texas

SrA Courtois was assigned to the 366th Security Forces Squadron, Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho; died Sept. 20, 2009 as a result of a nonhostile incident on Abdullah Al Mubarak Airbase, Kuwait.

Remembered as a family man
The Associated Press

Matthew R. Courtois was a family man, whether he was chasing his two stepchildren, Shaundra and Kaden, or just hanging out with relatives and friends.

“He always carried a smile and determined to get the job done,” colleague Johannes Dias wrote in an online memorial, adding that the two had deployed together to Iraq.

Courtois, of Lucas, Texas, died Sept. 20 — a week before his three-month wedding anniversary — after a nonhostile incident at Abdullah Al Mubarak Airbase, Kuwait. The military was investigating his death and didn’t release details. The 22-year-old was assigned to Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho.

The son of Steve and Sue Courtois, he was born in Arizona and grew up in Lucas. He attended Allen High School in Allen, Texas, and joined the Air Force in January 2006.

Courtois, an Eagle Scout, loved being outdoors, building fires and shooting or playing paintball. He also enjoyed singing karaoke and playing video games on an Xbox. He was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Courtois is also survived by his wife, Cheyenne; a brother, John; and two sisters, Carrie and Amy.

Air Force Senior Airman Matthew R. Courtois was killed in a nonhostile incident on 9/20/09.

Army Spc. Damon G. Winkleman

Remember Our Heroes

Army Spc. Damon G. Winkleman, 23, of Lakeville, Ohio

Spc. Winkleman was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.; died Sept. 20, 2009 in Zabul province, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained during a vehicle rollover. Also killed was Spc. Corey J. Kowall.

Loudonville area mourns soldier
By Jami Kinton
Mansfield (Ohio) News Journal via Gannett News Service

LOUDONVILLE, Ohio — If Loudonville High School biology teacher David Spreng were to write a book, one chapter would be devoted to Damon Winkleman.

On Monday the Loudonville community learned that Spc. Winkleman, 23, of Lakeville, was killed last week in Afghanistan. He was an Army combat medic.

“I had Damon in several classes, and he was just so good-natured,” Spreng said. “He never took himself too seriously. He had a great sense of humor and was always coming up with something that would have you in stitches. He made teaching fun.”

Details of Winkleman’s death have yet to be released by the Department of Defense. Family members reached Monday night declined comment.

“I’m fortunate to still have the memories,” Spreng said. “But we’ll sure miss him. This is a school where you knew everybody, and I’m sure this has touched his whole class very deeply. I always said if I ever were to write a book about my teaching experiences, at least one chapter would be on Damon.”

Winkleman was a member of the 82nd Airborne. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Byerly-Lindsey Funeral Home in Loudonville.

High school Principal Ben Blubaugh said Winkleman was “everyone’s friend.”

“He was so well-liked by the students and teachers alike,” Blubaugh said. “He was a very solid young man with wonderful values. He impressed me. He had goals and knew where he was going. Any parent would be proud to claim him.”

Blubaugh said district officials were informed of the news Monday.

“We’re waiting for more information to see what happens, but I’m sure the school will be a part of it when we find out the arrangements,” he said.

Sally Warbel, the recently retired 22-year principal at McMullen Elementary School, said the news was heartbreaking.

“Damon was just such a nice kid,” Warbel said. “You just remember the whole Winkleman family as just the nicest family. If we had a carnival, you could count on them being there helping. They were the kind of family you like to see at your school. So many come and go, but you remember people like that. This is just a tragedy.”

Danville resident Sam Kapport, a 2005 Loudonville graduate, said he played with Winkleman in a garage band called The Red Republicans.

“We were a high school band and everyone in it was completely different from each other,” Kapport said. “We were not from the same social groups, and a lot of people didn’t understand that, but we did it anyway, and we loved it.

“Damon was one of the most talented bass players ever. His father taught him how to play bass and taught his brother Nate geometry. Damon used to say, ‘I wish I had learned geometry,’ and I’d say, ‘No, Damon. You needed to learn bass.’ He was awesome.”

Kapport said Winkleman also had a big heart.

“He was a friend to all,” he said.

Loudonville resident Barb Burd said Winkleman was friends with her two sons.

“He was a very fun guy who lived life to the fullest,” Burd said. “He had a great sense of humor and was sometimes very ornery. My hope is that his family continues to be surrounded by prayer and that God keeps them in his loving arms. I’m very proud of his service to our country.”

Winkleman was the second of three sons of Richard “Wink” and Pat Winkleman of rural Lakeville. Father Richard is an Army Reserve major; brothers Jason and Nathan also are in the military.

“Lets keep it short ‘n sweet,” Winkleman wrote on his MySpace page. “I’m Damon. I’m in the military, I love my family and I love my friends.”

The outdoors were where he was at home
The Associated Press

Damon Winkleman loved science and the outdoors — whether at the lake near his house or Carolina Beach.

“There wasn’t a tree, animal or piece of anatomy he couldn’t identify,” his family wrote in his obituary. Winkleman also loved playing in his “garage band” in high school, fishing and woodworking.

Winkleman, 23, of Lakeville, Ohio, died Sept. 20 in Zabul province, Afghanistan, when his vehicle overturned. The crash also killed a soldier riding with him. They were on their way to help another unit facing enemy fire.

Winkleman was a combat medic assigned to Fort Bragg, N.C. He graduated from Loudonville High School in 2004.

Winkleman played football and baseball in high school and continued to follow sports, although an Army chaplain who met him at Fort Bragg said he had unusual favorites.

“He loved the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Pittsburgh Steelers, a combination most of us in North Carolina never heard of and still don’t understand,” said Capt. Larry McCarthy.

He is survived by his parents, Richard and Patricia; two brothers, one of whom is currently deployed to Iraq; two nephews; and several aunts and uncles.

Army Spc. Damon G. Winkleman was killed in action on 9/20/09.

Army Spc. Corey J. Kowall

Remember Our Heroes

Army Spc. Corey J. Kowall, 20, of Murfreesboro, Tenn.

Spc. Kowall was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.; died Sept. 20, 2009 in Zabul province, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained during a vehicle rollover. Also killed was Spc. Damon G. Winkleman.

‘He understood what it was to be an American’
The Associated Press

Ashley West was determined to marry the man she called her “everything.”

Her boyfriend, Corey Kowall, was over in Afghanistan with the Army. They’d have to get through that first and make sure he safely returned home.

“He was the most amazing person I ever met,” West said. “He had a great sense of humor and always treated people the way they wanted to be treated. He was the best boyfriend, and I wanted to spend the rest of my life with him.”

She wouldn’t get that chance. Kowall, 20, of Murfreesboro, Tenn., was killed Sept. 20 in a vehicle rollover in Zabul province. He was assigned to Fort Bragg, N.C.

West was gearing up to move in with him on the base, and she hoped to attend North Carolina State University about an hour away. She was just waiting for him to come home in March.

Kowall’s father, C.J., said his son was his personal hero.

“When I didn’t think I could make it, he was my inspiration and made me laugh,” C.J. Kowall said.

Many friends and family said they were happy Kowall lived his dream of serving his country.

“At a young age, he understood what it was to be an American,” said his mother, Kelly Rae Speight.

In addition to his parents and girlfriend, Kowall is survived by two sisters.

Army Spc. Corey J. Kowall was killed in action on 9/20/09.

Army Sgt. David A. Davis

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Army Sgt. David A. Davis, 28, of Dalhart, Texas

Sgt. Davis was assigned to the 32nd Transportation Company, 68th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 43rd Sustainment Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.; died Sept. 19, 2009 at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when enemy forces attacked Bagram Airfield using indirect fire.

Carson soldier dies from Afghan bomb wounds
The Associated Press

FORT CARSON, Colo. — The military says a soldier from Fort Carson has died from wounds he suffered in combat in Afghanistan.

The Defense Department said Tuesday that Sgt. David A. Davis, 28, of Dalhart, Texas, died Saturday at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan.

Davis was assigned to the 32nd Transportation Company, 68th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 43rd Sustainment Brigade, 4th Infantry Division.

He is at least the 13th Fort Carson soldier killed in combat in Afghanistan; 264 Fort Carson soldiers have been killed in combat in Iraq.

Davis had served two tours in Iraq and was on his first tour in Afghanistan when he was killed.

His decorations included two Army Commendation Medals and the Army Achievement Medal.

Had a special love for his home state, Texas
The Associated Press

David A. Davis always had a way of making others smile. Before joining the Army, he worked at a United supermarket near his hometown of Dalhart, Texas, and was happy to help customers with their groceries.

“When you’d go to United, he knew who you were by name, and you didn’t even have to take your keys,” local resident Angela Reynolds said. “He took your keys and took it out to the car for you.”

His love of Texas showed even in Afghanistan. While other soldiers slept in normal pajamas, Davis always wore “Texas PJs,” Army Maj. Gen. Thomas Robinson said. He said Davis had a great sense of humor but was selfless and serious when he needed to be.

Davis, 28, died Sept. 19 at Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, when the facility was attacked with indirect fire.

“He always had a smile on his face, and I’m sure when he was over there, I’m sure he was still smiling,” said Reynolds, who first met Davis at church.

The 2000 graduate of Dalhart High School also had served two tours in Iraq. He was assigned to Fort Carson, Colo.

Davis is survived by his wife, Devon; six children and stepchildren; his parents, Bernard Davis and Vicky Williamson; and a brother, Roy.

Army Sgt. David A. Davis was killed in action on 9/19/09.

Army Spc. Michael S. Cote Jr.

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Army Spc. Michael S. Cote Jr., 20, of Denham Springs, La.

Spc. Cote was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 52nd Aviation Regiment, Task Force 49, Fort Wainwright, Alaska; died Sept. 19, 2009 in Balad, Iraq, of wounds sustained when the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter he was in crashed.

Met his wife during basic training
The Associated Press

Michael Cote wasn’t supposed to focused on romance during basic training.

But he and the woman who would eventually become his wife, Ashlee — a fellow soldier — found a way around that policy. The two would secretly pass notes to each other and set dates for Sunday church services.

They married just days after finishing basic training. Their daughter, Brooke, was born in March.

“Every time he talked about Brooke, his face would light up,” said Chief Warrant Officer Pat Azan. “I asked him what he did when he was home on leave, and he told me all he did was hang around the house with his wife and daughter.”

Cote, 20, of Denham Springs, La., died Sept. 19 in Balad, Iraq, when the Black Hawk helicopter in which he was riding crashed. He was assigned to Fort Wainwright, Alaska.

A career in flight seemed fitting for Cote, who could always identify whatever aircraft was buzzing overhead, said his sister, Heather Cote. Whether it was an F-16 fighter jet or a Black Hawk like the one he served as a crew chief on, Michael Cote just knew.

“Mikey never, never, never had a doubt in his mind what he wanted to become, how he wanted to spend his life or how he would achieve that,” Heather Cote said.

Army Spc. Michael S. Cote Jr. was killed in action on 9/19/09.

Army Pfc. Jeremiah J. Monroe

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Army Pfc. Jeremiah J. Monroe, 31, of Niskayuna, N.Y.

Pfc. Monroe was assigned to the 7th Engineer Battalion, 10th Sustainment Brigade, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, N.Y.; died Sept. 17, 2009 in Kandahar, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device.

‘We were together as one,’ brother says
The Associated Press

Jeremiah Monroe liked to build and fix things, and his brother said he was a master tradesman.

“You name a blue-collar trade, he could do it,” Robert Monroe said of his older brother. Robert Monroe said he had a strong relationship with Jeremiah, forged through the family’s hard times.

“We haven’t had the easiest life. There wasn’t any little brother, big brother,” said Robert Monroe, who also is in the military. “We were together as one.”

Jeremiah Monroe, 31, of Niskayuna, N.Y., was killed Sept. 17 in Kandahar, Afghanistan, when the vehicle in which he was riding hit a roadside bomb. He was a combat engineer assigned to Fort Drum, N.Y. He joined the Army in March 2008 and was on his first deployment to Afghanistan, Army officials said.

Monroe enjoyed drawing motorcycles and cars, and served as a mentor in the Big Brothers-Big Sisters program, his family said in his obituary.

Monroe’s great-aunt, Netty Manning, said he was well-liked and was happy to use his skills in the military.

“It made him grow up a little bit more,” she said. “He was happy to be there and protecting us and doing what he could protecting his country.”

Monroe is also survived by his daughter, mother and grandmother.

Army Pfc. Jeremiah J. Monroe was killed in action on 9/17/09.

Army Sgt. Robert D. Gordon II

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Army Sgt. Robert D. Gordon II, 22, of River Falls, Ala.

Sgt. Gordon was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.; died Sept. 16, 2009 at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Germany, from a noncombat-related illness, after becoming ill Sept. 11 in southern Afghanistan.

Enlisted straight out of high school
The Associated Press

Robert Gordon couldn’t enlist until he was 18, so he until then, he played out his dream of being a soldier with his G.I. Joes.

“If I had all the money we spent on G.I. Joes, I’d be set,” said his mother, Diane Gordon. “But it carried through until the age he could sign up on his own.”

Gordon, 22, of River Falls, Ala., died Sept. 16 at a U.S. military hospital in Landstuhl, Germany, after contracting an illness Sept. 11 while serving in southern Afghanistan. He was assigned to Fort Lewis, Wash., and had enlisted after graduating from Red Level High School.

His father died at a young age, and Gordon was raised by his mother.

“We always knew he was going into the military. He put on a tough front for his friends, but deep down, he was such a sweet, sweet boy,” Diane Gordon said. “His daddy was an infantryman, so that made up his mind.”

Diane Gordon said she was proud of her son for doing what he always dreamed of.

“That’s the kind of person he was,” she said.

“He had a mischievous streak, and when he made up his mind, that was it.”

Gordon is also survived by a brother and sister.

Army Sgt. Robert D. Gordon II died of a non-combat related illness on 9/16/09.

Army Sgt. 1st Class Bradley S. Bohle

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Army Sgt. 1st Class Bradley S. Bohle, 29, of Glen Burnie, Md.

SFC Bohle was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, N.C.; died Sept. 16, 2009 in Helmand province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle Sept. 15 with an improvised explosive device. Also killed were Army Sgt. 1st Class Shawn P. McCloskey, 33, of Peachtree, Ga., and Army Staff Sgt. Joshua M. Mills, 24, of El Paso, Texas.

Was married, had three daughters
The Associated Press

As a child, Bradley S. Bohle could often be found woodworking with his grandfather. When the pair finished their work, “Pops” would shave the ice for a couple of refreshing milkshakes.

Those grandfather-grandson days are one of Ethel Bohle’s fondest memories of Bohle and her husband, Edward, who died three years ago.

Not too long ago, Brad Bohle’s father came to tell Ethel Bohle that her grandson had died.

“He said, ‘I guess Brad and Pop are having a milkshake,’ ” Ethel Bohle said.

Bohle, 29, of Glen Burnie, Md., died Sept. 16 when the Humvee he was riding in hit a roadside bomb in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to Fort Bragg, N.C., and had been in the military since graduating from North County High School in 1998.

His aunt Shirley Bohle recalled the last time she spoke to him, remembering Bradley Bohle as an “all-American kid” who loved playing with his children.

“We were eating crabs and talking about whether we liked them spicy or not and what beer goes well with them,” she said.

His sister, April Clark, said her brother was her hero.

“When I was upset he’d always hug me, and even if I wasn’t he would,” she said.

Bohle is also survived by his wife, three daughters and parents.

Army Sgt. 1st Class Bradley S. Bohle was killed in action on 9/16/09.

Army Staff Sgt. Joshua M. Mills

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Army Staff Sgt. Joshua M. Mills, 24, of El Paso, Texas

SSgt Mills was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, N.C.; died Sept. 16, 2009 in Helmand province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle Sept. 15 with an improvised explosive device. Also killed were Army Sgt. 1st Class Bradley S. Bohle, 29, of Glen Burnie, Md., and Army Sgt. 1st Class Shawn P. McCloskey, 33, of Peachtree, Ga.

Had wide base of interests
The Associated Press

When Joshua M. Mills was young, he aspired to two careers.

“He wanted to be a paleontologist,” said his older brother, Quent. “He loved dinosaurs.”

But he also loved being a Green Beret. Mills graduated from the Silva Magnet High School in his hometown of El Paso, Texas, where he was a member of the Junior ROTC and was on the rifle team. He joined the Army in 2005 and was assigned to Fort Bragg, N.C.

Family was important to Mills, and despite training and deployment, he almost always made it home for Christmas, his brother said.

“He would always try to surprise you,” Quent Mills said. “He’d come into town, but he wouldn’t tell you. He would just show up on your doorstep.”

The 24-year-old died of wounds from a roadside bomb in Helmand province, Afghanistan, on Sept. 16, about two months after deploying to Afghanistan.

Quent Mills said his brother followed in the footsteps of their father, Tommy, who was an air defense soldier at Fort Bliss, Texas.

Joshua Mills is also survived by his wife, Magen; a son, Malaki; his mother, Celeste; and his brothers.

Army Staff Sgt. Joshua M. Mills was killed in action on 9/16/09.





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Army Sgt. 1st Class Shawn P. McCloskey

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Army Sgt. 1st Class Shawn P. McCloskey, 33, of Peachtree City, Ga.

SFC McCloskey was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, N.C.; died Sept. 16, 2009 in Helmand province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle Sept. 15 with an improvised explosive device. Also killed were Army Sgt. 1st Class Bradley S. Bohle, 29, of Glen Burnie, Md., and Army Staff Sgt. Joshua M. Mills, 24, of El Paso, Texas.

USASOC -- Sgt.1st Class Shawn P. McCloskey, 33, died on Sept. 16, after his vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device Sept. 15, while conducting a mounted patrol in the Afghan city of Ghur Ghuri, in support of combat operations while serving with, Company B, 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne).

He deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in July 2009 as a member of the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force – Afghanistan. This was his third deployment to Afghanistan in support of the Global War on Terror. He also served on to deployments to Colombia. He was a Special Forces intelligence sergeant.

McCloskey a native of Hudson, New York, grew up in Peachtree City, Ga., enlisted into the U.S. Army January 2002 as a Special Forces candidate. He completed the Special Forces Qualification Course May 2004 and earned the coveted “Green Beret” as a Special Forces engineer sergeant. He was assigned to Co. B, 3rd Bn., 7th SFG (A).

McCloskey’s military education includes the Warrior Leader’s Course, Basic NCO Course, Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Course, Basic Airborne Course, Jumpmaster Course, Combat Diver Course, Special Operations Diving Supervisor Course, Air Movement Operations Course, Special Operations Target Interdiction Course and Special Forces Qualification Course.

His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, non-commissioned officer professional development ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, Senior Parachutist Badge, Special Operations Diver Supervisor Badge and the Special Forces Tab.

McCloskey is survived by his wife Jessica, daughter Katie and son Collin of Raeford, N.C. and parents Patrick and Kathryn McCloskey of Fayetteville, Ga.

Army Sgt. 1st Class Shawn P. McCloskey was killed in action on 9/16/09.

Army Spc. Demetrius L. Void

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Army Spc. Demetrius L. Void, 20, of Orangeburg, S.C.

Spc. Void was assigned to the 57th Expeditionary Signal Battalion, 11th Signal Brigade, III Corps, Fort Hood, Texas; died Sept. 15, 2009 at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when a military vehicle struck him while conducting physical training.

Took part in family tradition of military service
The Associated Press

Demetrius Void was always focused on academics in high school: Teachers said he never shied away from asking for help and had a competitive nature.

“He kept at it until he figured out that calculus,” said math teacher Sharlene Foster.

But Void also always wanted to be different. He decided not to apply for college and instead chose to follow his family’s tradition of military service.

“He said he was tired of school,” said his uncle Keith Void. “He said he was tired of being smart.”

Void, 20, of Orangeburg, S.C., died Sept. 15 at Kandahar Air Field of injuries sustained when a military vehicle struck him while he was jogging. He was assigned to Fort Hood, Texas. The military has said it is investigating the hit-and-run accident.

Void was disciplined before he joined the Army, being active in the JROTC at Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School.

“He greeted students at the front desk and said, ‘You can’t go in there until you get your pants up. ... This is an order,’ ” recalled Angelia Fersner, the school’s guidance counselor, who called Void her “acting secretary.”

Void is survived by his mother and two brothers.

Army Spc. Demetrius L. Void was killed in a vehicle accident on 9/15/09.

Army Sgt. Andrew H. McConnell

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Army Sgt. Andrew H. McConnell, 24, of Carlisle, Pa.

Sgt. McConnell was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.; died Sept. 14, 2009 in southern Afghanistan of wounds sustained when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device. Also killed was 1st Lt. David T. Wright.

Followed dad’s footsteps
The Associated Press

Andrew McConnell’s fellow soldiers remembered him as a walking encyclopedia, able to recite random trivia at any moment and a man with an intense personality.

“He was 100 mph, 100 percent of the time,” Staff Sgt. Philip McIlroy said during McConnell’s eulogy.

McConnell, 24, of Carlisle, Pa., died Sept. 14 in southern Afghanistan when his vehicle hit a roadside bomb. He was assigned to Fort Lewis, Wash., and although he listed Carlisle as his hometown, he considered the northwest home.

He was the son of a military man and moved around a lot he was born in California, went to high school in Italy and attended Georgia Military College. His sister Ashlee said Washington was his true home. It was where he met his wife, Sarah, who is expecting the couple’s first child.

Ashlee McConnell said her brother was married for only seven months before his death, but said “they were seven months that made Andrew the happiest man in the world, and they were seven months that I know Andrew is thanking God for right now in Heaven.”

McConnell enlisted in 2005 and was on his first deployment. His father, Col. Gregory “Scott” McConnell, previously was deployed to Iraq.

In addition to his wife, father and sister, McConnell is survived by his mother and three other sisters.

Army Sgt. Andrew H. McConnell was killed in action on 9/14/09.

Army Sgt. Mitchell Atchley

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Funeral services for Mitch Atchley, 23, will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 17, at First Baptist Church in Teague. Brother Carl Clark of Corinth Baptist Church in Dew will officiate. Interment will follow the services at Dew Cemetery.

Visitation with the family present will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 16, at Bowers Funeral Home, 900 U.S. Highway 84, Teague.

Mr. Atchley lost his battle with cancer on Monday, Sept. 14, 2009, at his residence in Dew. He was born in Fairfield, raised in Dew, and attended Teague and Fairfield High Schools and was homeschooled before he joined the U.S. Army. He served in the Texas National Guard and earned the rank of sergeant. During his service to the military, Mitch completed a 13-month tour of duty in Iraq.

He was a proud member of the Dew Volunteer Fire Department and had also worked with the Jewett Volunteer Fire Department. His dream was to become a paramedic and firefighter and had worked hard in training to achieve those goals. Mitch was training as a rope rescue specialist before his health failed. He was proud to have been able to ride with the Dallas Fire Department Station 41 on calls.

Mitch was active in numerous church youth events including the paintball ministry at First Baptist Church in Teague and was an active member of Corinth Baptist Church in Dew.

He is survived by his mother, Theresa Underwood and husband Kenneth of Marquez; his father, Monte Atchley and wife Tammy of Dew; one brother, Jordan Atchley of Dew; three stepbrothers, Jordan Witcher, Hayden Hardwick, and Colt Hardwick, all of Dew; five stepsisters, Mindi Wooley of Dew, Shelby Ryan and husband David of Watertown, N.Y., Stacy Myrick of Conroe, April Underwood of Groesbeck, and Kristen Underwood of Tyler; grandparents, Joseph and Charlene Little of Dew; and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and many friends.

Mr. Atchley was preceded in death by his sister, Maegen Atchley; maternal grandparents, Lynn and Wanda Herrin; paternal grandparents, Dwight and Norma D. Atchley; aunt, Janice Corrigan; and cousin, Danny Corrigan.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be sent to Corinth Baptist Church, 105 FM 489 West, Teague, TX 75860; or the Dew Volunteer Fire Department, 112 FCR 477, Teague, TX 75860.

Army 1st Lt. David T. Wright II

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Army 1st Lt. David T. Wright II, 26, of Moore, Okla.

1st Lt. Wright was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.; died Sept. 14, 2009 in southern Afghanistan of wounds sustained when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device. Also killed was Sgt. Andrew H. McConnell.

Soldier remembered at funeral
The Associated Press

NORMAN, Okla. — An Army officer from Moore who was killed in Afghanistan was honored Sept. 22 as a leader and a hero.

About 400 mourners packed a Norman church for the funeral of 26-year-old 1st Lt. David Timothy Wright II, who was killed along with another soldier Sept. 14 when a roadside bomb hit their vehicle while on patrol.

Dozens of police officers lined the sidewalk outside the church as a hearse carrying Wright’s flag-draped coffin left the church.

Wright’s father is a lieutenant with the Moore police department. Letters from soldiers who served with Wright were read during the service.

Parents received letter expressing pride in service after retrieving his body
The Associated Press

David Wright II didn’t let his football and track talent go to waste after graduating from Moore High School in his hometown of Moore, Okla. He went to the University of Oklahoma on a track scholarship and earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice in 2006.

He didn’t let that training go unused, either. Wright enlisted in the Army and was chosen almost immediately to serve as a platoon leader at Fort Benning, Ga.

“It was 9/11 that did it for David,” the Rev. Randy Nail said at his memorial. “He wanted to do something about it, and he did.”

The 26-year-old was killed Sept. 14 by a roadside bomb in southern Afghanistan. He was assigned to Fort Lewis, Wash.

After being deployed to Afghanistan in July, Wright wrote home about the honor he felt for his country and his fellow soldiers as they protected a village. He said he had no hard feelings toward the villagers, although some were angry with the soldiers.

“These people deserve a better existence,” he wrote, “and hopefully my efforts will help, in a small way, provide that to them.”

That letter was waiting for his parents, Tim and Michele, when they returned to Oklahoma after receiving his body

Army 1st Lt. David T. Wright II was killed in action on 9/14/09.

Army Staff Sgt. Nekl B. Allen

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Army Staff Sgt. Nekl B. Allen, 29, of Rochester N.Y.

SSgt Allen was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, N.Y.; died Sept. 12, 2009 in Wardak province, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised-explosive device and small arms fire. Also killed was Spc. Daniel L. Cox.

Relatives mourn soldier killed in Afghanistan
The Associated Press

SPENCERPORT, N.Y. — Mourners gathered Sept. 22 in a Rochester suburb for the funeral of a soldier killed in combat in Afghanistan after two tours in Iraq.

The parents, widow and three young children of Staff Sgt. Nekl Allen bid farewell to the soldier, who died Sept. 12 when his vehicle was hit by small-arms fire and an improvised explosive device in Wardak province.

Allen, 29, graduated in 1999 from Churchville-Chili High School, where he was a wrestler and played football. He joined the Army in 2002.

He was killed along with Spc. Daniel Cox, a 23-year-old from Parsons, Kan. Stationed with the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum, N.Y., they were deployed to Afghanistan in January.

Spent most of his free time with his children
The Associated Press

When Nekl Allen was home from the Army, he always found time to interact with his daughter and two sons.

Riding dirt bikes with 10-year-old Christopher. Roughhousing in the living room with 7-year-old Michael. Helping 5-year-old Grace learn to count.

“He was the most lovable person I know,” said his sister, Rana.

Allen, 29, of Rochester, N.Y., died Sept. 12 in Wardak province, Afghanistan, when he and a fellow soldier were attacked with an explosive and small weapons. Both were assigned to Fort Drum, N.Y.

Allen, known also as Nick or Nicky, loved the outdoors. He enjoyed fishing, bow-hunting and playing paintball. He was a 1999 graduate of Churchville-Chili High School, where he was a wrestler and played fullback and linebacker for the football team.

“He showed the signs of courage by taking on big tasks, even when he was young,” said his high school coach, Paul Dick.

Allen joined the Army in May 2002, prompted by the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. He was deployed twice to Iraq before being sent to Afghanistan.

“He stepped up to serve his country because he knew it was the right thing to do,” said his father-in-law, Mike Meehan.

Allen also is survived by his wife, Amy Meehan-Allen.

Army Staff Sgt. Nekl B. Allen was killed in action on 9/12/09.

Army Spc. Daniel L. Cox

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Army Spc. Daniel L. Cox, 23, of Parsons, Kan

Spc. Cox was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, N.Y.; died Sept. 12, 2009 in Wardak province, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised-explosive device and small arms fire. Also killed was Staff Sgt. Nekl B. Allen.

State to honor soldiers by lowering flags
The Associated Press

TOPEKA, Kan. — Kansas Gov. Mark Parkinson has ordered flags to be flown at half-staff for two days to honor two soldiers killed in Afghanistan.

The lowered flags will honor Cpl. Daniel Cox of Parson on Sept. 21 and Sgt. Tyler Juden of Winfield on Sept. 22. Both men were 23 when they died Sept. 12 in separate attacks.

Cox was killed in Wardak province when his unit came under attack from a roadside bomb and small arms fire.

Juden was killed when enemy forces attacked his unit with rocket-propelled grenades and small-arms fire near Turan.

Parkinson says the thoughts and prayers of the entire state are with the men’s families, friends and communities. He added that their “bravery and sacrifice will never be forgotten.”

Stood out on football team with scout-team contributions
The Associated Press

Daniel L. Cox didn’t mind working hard to help others be better, whether he was with comrades at Fort Drum, N.Y., or playing the sport that stole his heart: football.

He started in the peewee league and worked his way up to the scout teams in practice at Parsons High School in Parsons, Kan.

“They would get knocked around a lot out there by the varsity pretty good,” assistant coach Mark Pound said. “Not a lot of freshmen wanted to get out there, but Daniel was always first to volunteer.”

The 23-year-old died Sept. 12 of injuries from an attack in Wardak province, Afghanistan, during his second tour of the country. He had joined the Army before graduating in 2005 and had special workouts to get in shape for boot camp.

Pound said Cox’s on-field attitude translated to his military work.

“He never worried about his own stats or glory for himself; it was always about the team,” Pound said, adding that Cox “wanted to be a part of something bigger than himself.”

In his downtime, Cox enjoyed four-wheeling, fishing, old trucks and cars and tinkering with things.

He is survived by his parents, Kim and Sharon, and two sisters, Jennifer and Shannon.

Army Spc. Daniel L. Cox was killed in action on 9/12/09.

Army Sgt. 1st Class Duane A. Thornsbury

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Army Sgt. 1st Class Duane A. Thornsbury, 30, of Bridgeport, W. Va.

SFC Thornsbury was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group, Fort Carson, Colo.; died Sept.12, 2009 in Baghdad of injuries sustained during a vehicle rollover.

‘A no-nonsense type of soldier’
The Associated Press

One of Duane “Tony” Thornsbury’s friends said it wasn’t often you meet a person who will make you stop and think, “there is just something about them.”

But “Tony was that guy!” Sgt. James Smith wrote in an online memorial.

Other friends recalled Thornsbury in a similar fashion.

“He was a go-getter, a no-nonsense type of soldier,” Tony Batts wrote in the same online message board, noting he served with Thornsbury in Iraq from 2003-04.

Thornsbury, 30, of Bridgeport, W.Va., died Sept. 12 in Baghdad of injuries suffered in a vehicle rollover. He was assigned to Fort Carson, Colo., and graduated from Grafton (W.Va.) High School, where he was on the wrestling team.

Holly Lane of Winchester, Va., recalled Thornsbury as “a part of our family” when he dated her older sister years ago.

“He was the one to teach me how to ride a horse and gave me riding lessons,” Lane wrote online.

He was on his third deployment to Iraq. Thornsbury had earned his Green Beret in 2006, becoming a weapons sergeant

Army Sgt. 1st Class Duane A. Thornsbury was killed in a vehicle rollover on 9/12/09.

Air Force Staff Sgt. Bryan D. Berky

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Air Force Staff Sgt. Bryan D. Berky, 25, of Melrose, Fla.

SSgt. Berky was assigned to the 28th Civil Engineer Squadron, Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D.; died Sept. 12, 2009 near Bala Baluk, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained from enemy fire while supporting combat operations.

Was interested in punk rock
The Associated Press

Bryan D. Berky had the focus to disarm bombs in faraway places like Afghanistan, but friends say he was also a dedicated punk rocker.

Berky and his high school classmates would often jam at Berky’s house, said former Bradford High School classmate John Moore. Berky would play guitar — the precursor to his band, My Friend the Artery, Moore said.

At school, he did what he had to for his video class: Berky would often burst into a classroom during lessons, and simply tell the teacher he had to do it for another class.

“He was really a charismatic person who got away with quite a bit,” Moore said.

Berky, 25, of Melrose, Fla., died Sept. 12 when he and other soldiers were ambushed near Bala Baluk, Afghanistan. He was assigned to Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D. Berky enlisted in 2003, a year after graduating from high school.

A former teacher, Christie Torode, said Berky always kept busy and focused, so it didn’t surprise her that he became a detonation specialist.

“He was good at paying attention to detail, but he didn’t like to sit still for too long,” she said.

Berky is survived by his wife, Erin, and his infant son, Harrison.

Air Force Staff Sgt. Bryan D. Berky was killed in action on 9/12/09.

Army Pfc. Matthew M. Martinek

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Army Pfc. Matthew M. Martinek, 20, of DeKalb, Ill.

Pfc. Martinek was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, Fort Richardson, Alaska; died Sept. 11, 2009 at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Germany, of wounds sustained in Paktika province, Afghanistan, Sept. 4 when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised-explosive device followed by a rocket-propelled grenade and small arms fire.

‘One of those clowns’
The Associated Press

Friends and family say Matthew M. Martinek had a sparkle in his eyes, maybe the seed of the smile he drew out of others.

“If you were in a bad mood, he always did something to cheer you up y’know, one of those clowns,” said Ryne Jones, who worked with him at a car care center in Martinek’s hometown of DeKalb, Ill.

Martinek, 20, died Sept. 11 at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Germany, of wounds suffered earlier in a roadside ambush in Paktika province.

“He tried not to talk too much about what he was doing, but he said he liked helping people,” said his brother, Travis Wright.

The Bartlett High School football player graduated in 2007 and joined the Army the next year, following a family tradition that included his grandfather, uncle and two older brothers.

His stepmother, Char DeGand, said he loved the outdoors snowboarding, camping, all-terrain vehicles and had an impressive tan for someone stationed at Fort Richardson, Alaska.

She said he was an organ donor, helping to save other soldiers even after his death.

Martinek also is survived by his father, Michael; mother, Cheryl Brandes Ferguson; and brothers Frank and Michael Jr.

Army Pfc. Matthew M. Martinek died 9/11/09 from wounds received in combat on 9/4/09.

Army 1st Lt. Tyler E. Parten

Remember Our Heroes

Army 1st Lt. Tyler E. Parten, 24, of Jonesboro, Ark.

1st Lt Parten was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.; died Sept. 10, 2009 in Konar province, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit using rocket-propelled grenades and small-arms fire.

Ark. soldier killed by insurgents in Afghanistan
The Associated Press

MARIANNA, Ark — The father of an Arkansas soldier who was killed in Afghanistan said Sept. 12 his son was a gifted leader who was dedicated to serving his country.

“He was one of the most incredible individuals a man could ever be,” Dave Parten told The Associated Press of his son, 24-year-old 1st Lt. Tyler E. Parten.

The Defense Department said Tyler Parten was killed in Afghanistan on Sept. 10 after insurgents attacked his unit. The department said he died in Konar province after being wounded when insurgents attacked with rocket-propelled grenades and small arms fire.

He had been stationed in Afghanistan since May and was a scout platoon leader on the mission in which he died. He was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.

Parten grew up in Marianna and graduated from Marianna Lee High School.

Dave Parten, 53, said his son was a 2007 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. “The top 10 percent of his class or something like that,” he said.

A second son, Daniel, is in his fourth year at West Point, he said.

Tyler Parten studied Arabic and wanted to be involved in conflicts targeting terror groups overseas, his father said.

“That was his reason for wanting to serve, to face the challenge and to serve others, serve his country,” Dave Parten said. “He wanted to lead other men.”

Tyler Parten’s mother, Lona Parten, told television station KAIT of Jonesboro, Ark., that her son loved the military and his country.

“He’s not just a U.S. soldier, he’s a man that took care of his troops,” she said.

Dave Parten said his son worked to excel in everything he attempted.

“He wrote music,” the father said. “He could pick up and play anything he wanted. He was just incredibly gifted.”

Tyler Parten, who was not married, also had a strong religious foundation and was a “wonderful Christian man,” his father said.

“He had a wonderful relationship with God,” Dave Parten said. “He affected everyone who ever shook hands with him.”

Tyler Parten’s body is expected to be returned to the U.S. over the weekend.

Mourners remember dedicated soldier
The Associated Press

MARIANNA, Ark. — Mourners remembered an Arkansas soldier Sept. 17 who killed in Afghanistan as a brave, dedicated man who knew what he was getting into when he enlisted in the Army.

Family and friends gathered in Marianna to honor 1st Lt. Tyler Parten, who was killed Sept. 10 in Kunbar province after insurgents attacked his unit with rocket-propelled grenades and small-arms fire, according to the Department of Defense.

“My brother died a hero,” his brother, Daniel, told mourners attending Parten’s funeral in downtown Marianna. “Tyler earned his military honors and he knew what he was doing. He knew exactly what he was doing when he signed up for the job he signed up for.”

Parten had been stationed in Afghanistan since May and was a scout platoon leader on the mission in which he died. He was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.

He grew up in Marianna and graduated from Marianna Lee High School. He was 2007 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., and his brother, Daniel, is now in his fourth year there.

Parten’s family remembered their son as a bright man who traveled the world and spoke Arabic fluently.

Parten’s service awards included a National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon and the Combat Action Badge, according to his mother, Lona Parten of Jonesboro.

“Ty right now is having the greatest adventure of his life. ... I don’t grieve for Tyler, I grieve for us, because a nation has lost a great man,” she told mourners.

‘Tough days make the good days that much better,’ he wrote
The Associated Press

Tyler E. Parten entertained the “kiddos” in Afghanistan with his harmonica, built a chicken coop and wrote warmly of the look on a man’s face “when you show his child a little compassion.”

Those are some of the war zone experiences he documented through photos and messages on Facebook.

“Tough days make the good days that much better,” Parten said in a mid-August posting.

The 2007 graduate of West Point was assigned to Fort Carson, Colo., and studied Arabic because he wanted to help target terrorist groups overseas.

“That was his reason for wanting to serve, to face the challenge and to serve others, serve his country,” said his father, Dave Parten. “He wanted to lead other men.”

The 24-year-old from Marianna, Ark., was doing just that when he died during an ambush Sept. 10 in Konar province.

His father said Parten’s talents went beyond those of a good soldier.

“He wrote music,” Dave Parten said. “He could pick up and play anything he wanted. He was just incredibly gifted.”

The Marianna Lee High School graduate is also survived by his mother, Lona; and a brother, Daniel.

Army 1st Lt. Tyler E. Parten was killed in action on 9/10/09.

Marine Lance Cpl. Christopher S. Fowlkes

Remember Our Heroes

Marine Lance Cpl. Christopher S. Fowlkes, 20, of Gaffney, S.C.

LCpl Fowlkes was assigned to 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C.; died Sept. 10, 2009 from wounds sustained Sept. 3 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

Gaffney Marine dies from Afghanistan injuries
The Associated Press

COLUMBIA — A 20-year-old Marine from South Carolina has been killed while serving in Afghanistan.

The Department of Defense said Friday that Lance Cpl. Christopher S. Fowlkes died Thursday.

WYFF-TV reports that Fowlkes died at a military hospital in Germany, where he had been recuperating from injuries from an explosion earlier in the week. Family friend LeighAnn Turner told the station Fowlkes' parents had flown to Germany after their son was injured Sept. 3 in Helmand province.

Fowlkes was from Gaffney. He was assigned to 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Turner said Fowlkes was a graduate of Gaffney High School.

Wanted to send friend off to boot camp
The Associated Press

Christopher Fowlkes had just returned from a tour of duty in Iraq, but it wasn’t too much to drive six hours so he could send off his buddy to Marine boot camp.

“His heart was just huge,” said friend Cameron Snuggs. “He was my brother.”

Snuggs said Fowlkes always wore his uniform with pride — whether it was a Little League jersey, his Gaffney Indians high school uniform, Marine dress blues or camouflage.

“No one wore that Gaffney High School uniform like Chris did,” Snuggs said.

Fowlkes, 20, of Gaffney, S.C., died Sept. 10 at a U.S. military hospital in Germany. He had been seriously wounded a week earlier in Helmand province, Afghanistan, when an improvised explosive detonated. He was assigned to Camp Lejeune, N.C.

The Rev. David Kite eulogized Fowlkes at his funeral.

“He gave laughter in situations that were really difficult to find humor,” Kite said.

“He gave friendship to those who needed a friend.”

Jessica LeMaster, who attended high school with Fowlkes, said it was clear in high school that he wanted to be a Marine. The two shared a love for University of Tennessee sports — and LeMaster said she had borrowed a pair of basketball shorts from him some time ago.

Now, she’ll keep them as something by which to remember him.

Marine Lance Cpl. Christopher S. Fowlkes died 9/10/09 of injuries received in the line of duty on 9/3/09.

Air Force 1st Lt. Joseph D. Helton

Remember Our Heroes

Air Force 1st Lt. Joseph D. Helton, 24, of Monroe Ga.

1st Lt. Helton was assigned to the 6th Security Forces Squadron, MacDill Air Force Base, Fla.; died Sept. 8, 2009 near Baghdad of wounds sustained when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device.

Airman killed in Iraq IED attack
Staff report

An Air Force security forces officer died Tuesday near Baghdad when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device.

The victim was 1st Lt. Joseph D. Helton, 24, of Monroe, Ga., the Defense Department announced Wednesday.

Helton was deployed from the 6th Security Forces Squadron at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla. He was stationed there in 2007 after graduating from the Air Force Academy, reports said.

“We’d like to express our deepest sympathy to family, friends and comrades of Lieutenant Joe Helton for their recent loss,” said Col. Lawrence Martin, commander of MacDill’s 6th Air Mobility Wing. “Joe was an amazing airman and defender who volunteered to lead our best in Iraq. We are deeply saddened by his loss and very proud of his service.”

Air Force 1st Lt. Joseph D. Helton was killed in action on 9/08/09.

Navy Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class James R. Layton

Remember Our Heroes

Navy Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class James R. Layton, 22, of Riverbank, Calif.

Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Layton was assigned to an embedded training team with Combined Security Tranisiton Command in Afghanistan; died Sept. 8, 2009 in Kunar province, Afghanistan, while supporting combat operations.

Training team corpsman killed in Afghanistan
By Andrew Scutro
Staff writer

A corpsman was killed Tuesday in Afghanistan while serving with an embedded training team.

Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class James Ray Layton, 22, of Riverbank, Calif., died in Kunar Province “while supporting combat operations,” according to a news release Thursday from the Defense Department.

At the time of his death Layton was assigned to Combined Security Transition Command in Afghanistan, which is responsible for training and equipping Afghan security forces.

Lt. Cmdr. John Daniels, a Navy spokesman at the Pentagon, said Layton deployed to Afghanistan with an element of the Okinawa-based 3rd Marine Division.

Layton enlisted Dec. 20, 2007.

This spring, two Navy officers serving with the Combined Security Transition Command were killed by an Afghan national. Lt. Florence B. Choe and Lt. j.g. Francis L. Toner IV died March 27.

Loved Japanese people, food, culture
The Associated Press

James Layton’s plan was to get an education in health care, see the world during eight years of military service, then become a radiology technician.

Before going to Afghanistan, he was stationed in Okinawa, Japan, and told his family he loved the people and food while he was there.

“He was a very caring person, so it didn’t surprise me that he was looking at the healing profession,” his grandmother Kathy Anderson said.

Layton, a 22-year-old Navy corpsman from Riverbank, Calif., was killed Sept. 8 in Kunar province, Afghanistan, while aiding a wounded U.S. Marine.

Layton enlisted in the Navy two years ago. One of his teachers at Vista High School in Escalon, Calif., recalled Layton saying several years ago that he was inspired by his grandfather’s naval service during the Korean War.

“I wouldn’t say he was a giant go-getter, but he recognized the need to do something with his life,” teacher Shane Bua said.

Layton earn his high school diploma in 2005.

He is survived by his grandmother; his mother, Nikki Freitas, and his father, Brent Layton; two younger brothers, Jonathan and Jesse; a stepsister, Andrea, and a stepbrother, Jason

Navy Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class James R. Layton was killed in action on 9/8/09.

Marine Gunnery Sgt. Edwin W. Johnson Jr.

Remember Our Heroes

Marine Gunnery Sgt. Edwin W. Johnson Jr., 31, of Columbus, Ga.

GSgt Johnson was assigned to 3rd Combat Assault Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Okinawa, Japan; died Sept. 8, 2009 while supporting combat operations in Kunar province, Afghanistan. Also killed were Staff Sgt. Aaron M. Kenefick and 1st Lt. Michael E. Johnson.

‘Gunny J’ loved life in the Corps
The Associated Press

Edwin W. Johnson Jr. wasn’t known to many people as Edwin. To loved ones and friends, he was Wayne. To fellow Marines, he was “Gunny J.”

To his younger sister, LaToya Lowe, he was Superman.

“He always tried to help people do better for themselves,” Lowe said. “He was like the role model of the century. Everybody I know who knew my brother, they looked up to him.”

Johnson, 31, of Columbus, Ga., died Sept. 8 in Kunar province, Afghanistan, when insurgents attacked. He was stationed in Okinawa, Japan. He enlisted in the Marine Corps after graduating from Columbus High School in 1996, and served in Korea and Japan.

His wife, Tasha, is a fellow Marine.

Johnson loved his life of discipline, though he was quite mischievous as a child. His cousin, Theopolis Ramsey, recalled a time the two were trying to get rid of ants they found in the house with broom straw they would set on fire. They ended up setting a bed on fire.

“That was one of the worst whippings we got,” Ramsey said, laughing. “We would still laugh about it.”

Johnson is also survived by three children: Jaron, Jalissa and Toren.

Marine Gunnery Sgt. Edwin W. Johnson Jr. was killed in action on 9/8/09.

Marine 1st Lt. Michael E. Johnson

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Marine 1st Lt. Michael E. Johnson, 25, of Virginia Beach, Va.

1st Lt. Johnson was assigned to 7th Communications Battalion, 3rd Marine Headquarters Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Okinawa, Japan; died Sept. 8, 2009 while supporting combat operations in Kunar province, Afghanistan. Also killed were Staff Sgt. Aaron M. Kenefick and Gunnery Sgt. Edwin W. Johnson Jr.

Enjoyed outdoor activities
The Associated Press

Michael E. Johnson and his wife once made a deal: He would teach her to surf if she taught him how to snowboard.

That love for nature is what brought Johnson to Oregon for college and kept him there.

“He was all about doing stuff outdoors, traveling around, hiking,” said his uncle Greg Chase. He grew up in Virginia Beach, Va., working at surf shops and swimming pools. But Johnson eventually was lured to Oregon State University while visiting friends and family in the state.

His wife, Durinda, also loved to be active, and the two married in an outdoor ceremony in 2007. They moved to Okinawa when he was stationed there, setting up a home and adopting a couple of pets. Then he was sent to Afghanistan.

Johnson, 25, was killed Sept. 8 in Kunar province, Afghanistan, during an insurgent attack.

He had graduated from OSU in 2006, where he was in the Marine ROTC. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant the same day he graduated.

“He was just a hard-working, dedicated kid,” Chase said.

Johnson is survived by his wife; parents; a twin brother, Dan, and brother Steve.

Marine 1st Lt. Michael E. Johnson was killed in action on 9/8/09.

Marine Gunnery Sgt. Aaron M. Kenefick

Remember Our Heroes

Marine Gunnery Sgt. Aaron M. Kenefick, 30, of Roswell, Ga.

GSgt Kenefick was assigned to 3rd Combat Assault Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Okinawa, Japan; died Sept. 8, 2009 while supporting combat operations in Kunar province, Afghanistan. Also killed were Gunnery Sgt. Edwin W. Johnson Jr. and 1st Lt. Michael E. Johnson.

Volunteered at VA hospital on Thanksgiving
The Associated Press

A few years ago on Thanksgiving, Aaron M. Kenefick asked his mom what time dinner would be served. He wanted to make sure he’d have time to visit patients at the Veterans Administration hospital.

“That’s where the true heroes are,” Kenefick told his mother, Susan Price.

“I just smiled and said, ‘That’s why I love you so much,’ ” Price recalled telling her son.

Kenefick himself was the recipient of a Purple Heart after he was wounded by shrapnel in Afghanistan. A fellow Marine died next to him; a sandbag saved Kenefick’s life, said his sister, Jade Myszka.

Two days later on Sept. 8, the 30-year-old from Roswell, Ga., was killed in an ambush in Kunar province. He had been stationed in Okinawa. He enlisted in the Marines immediately after high school.

He was twice named Marine of the Year during his 12-year military career.

“... He was a big part of our young athletic program, and our coaches viewed him as a leader, so I’m not surprised he took that role of leadership as a Marine,” said Kevin Lester, the athletic director at Williamsville South High School in New York. Kenefick went to school there for two years.

Kenefick is survived by his mother and father; two sisters; his girlfriend; and his young daughter, Landon.

Marine Gunnery Sgt. Aaron M. Kenefick was killed in action on 9/8/09.

Army Staff Sgt. Shannon M. Smith

Remember Our Heroes

Army Staff Sgt. Shannon M. Smith, 31, of Marion, Ohio

SSgt Smith was assigned to the 545th Military Police Company, Arctic Military Police Battalion, Fort Richardson, Alaska; died of wounds sustained when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an explosive device Sept. 8, 2009 in Baji, Iraq. Also killed were Pfc. Thomas F. Lyons and Pfc. Zachary T. Myers.

Liked exploring the Alaskan wilderness
The Associated Press

Shannon Smith was an avid fan of the Ohio State Buckeyes who loved the outdoors. He enjoyed hiking, canoeing, fishing and bowhunting for deer.

But those activities had to be squeezed in when he wasn’t defending his country.

Smith, 31, of Marion, Ohio, joined the Army in 1997 and had served tours in Afghanistan, Iraq and Bosnia. He died in combat Sept. 8 after the vehicle he was in was bombed in Baji, Iraq. He was assigned to Fort Richardson, Alaska.

Another Ohioan, Zachary T. Myers, also died in the attack. Myers thought highly of Smith, his mother, Tonya J. Latto, told the Columbus Dispatch.

“He talked about Shannon all the time and about what a great a guy he was,” Latto said. “He was a good friend who showed him the ropes.”

Smith was a 1997 graduate of Marion Harding High School, where he excelled in wrestling.

He and his wife, Cassie, liked to spend time sightseeing and photographing Alaska when they could find the time.

Smith also leaves behind a son, Steven.

Army Staff Sgt. Shannon M. Smith was killed in action on 9/8/09.

Army Pfc. Thomas F. Lyons

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Army Pfc. Thomas F. Lyons, 20, of Fernley, Nev.

Pfc. Lyons was assigned to the 545th Military Police Company, Arctic Military Police Battalion, Fort Richardson, Alaska; died of wounds sustained when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an explosive device Sept. 8, 2009 in Baji, Iraq. Also killed were Pfc. Zachary T. Myers and Staff Sgt. Shannon M. Smith.

Flags at half-staff on day of burial
The Associated Press

FERNLEY, Nev. — A northern Nevada soldier killed Sept. 8 in Iraq has been laid to rest in Fernley.

Funeral services for Army Pfc. Thomas Lyons, 20, took place Sept. 14, with burial at Northern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery.

Lyons died when an enemy explosion hit the truck he was riding in north of Baghdad.

His wife, Delvin, is also an active duty soldier, and both were stationed at Fort Richardson, Alaska. The Lyons had their first child this spring.

Lyons’ family and a military honor guard received his body Sept. 13 at Reno-Tahoe International Airport.

Flags at the Nevada State Capitol Complex were flown at half-staff Sept. 14 in honor of Lyons.

From rebellious teen to responsible soldier
The Associated Press

In the last years of his life, Thomas F. Lyons grew from a rebellious teen who once made off with his family’s car and wrecked it to a “good man” who was happy to be a father, his best friend said.

“He chose to go to Iraq,” Michael Coughlin said. “He didn’t go for blood or glory. He went to protect his family and freedom.”

Lyons, 20, of Fernley, Nev., died Sept. 8 when the vehicle he was in was attacked with an explosive device in Baji, Iraq. Three others also were killed. All four were based at Fort Richardson, Alaska.

John Flint said his stepson was kind and giving, and sometimes unaware of his talents.

“He loved life and people,” Flint said.

Lyons grew up in a large family and he liked sports. He wanted to become a police officer when he returned from Iraq.

Earlier this year in Alaska, Lyons married his wife, Delvin, a military police officer. The couple’s son, Erik, was born in May.

Lyons was deployed to Iraq in July. He was posthumously promoted from private first class to specialist.

“His sacrifice will not be forgotten by both his country and his community,” Coughlin said.

Army Pfc. Thomas F. Lyons was killed in action on 9/8/09.

Army Pfc. Zachary T. Myers

Remember Our Heroes

Army Pfc. Zachary T. Myers, 21, of Delaware, Ohio

Pfc. Myers was assigned to the 545th Military Police Company, Arctic Military Police Battalion, Fort Richardson, Alaska; died of wounds sustained when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an explosive device Sept. 8, 2009 in Baji, Iraq. Also killed were Pfc. Thomas F. Lyons and Staff Sgt. Shannon M. Smith.

Service gave Myers a sense of purpose

The Associated Press

As a kid growing up in central Ohio, Zach Myers got into a lot of mischief with his best friend, Jeffrey Naples.

“From playing in the mud behind our houses to shocking ourselves on a car battery to see if it has a charge and everything between,” Naples wrote in an online post.

After spending time in the Army, Myers changed — for the better, said Heather Betts, another friend.

“When he was in high school he didn’t care about life or anything, but he joined the service and his feelings changed,” Betts said. “He cared.”

Myers, 21, of Delaware, Ohio, died Sept. 8 after the vehicle he was in was bombed in Baji, Iraq. He was assigned to Fort Richardson, Alaska.

Myers, a 2006 graduate of Delaware Hayes (Ohio) High School, was a husband and father. He leaves behind his wife, Megan, and his 15-month-old daughter, Rowen.

Friends said they were proud of him for his growth and for serving their country.

“I’m going to miss you a lot!” Naples wrote. “You did your job and you did it well! Unfortunately you had to depart, but with honor.”

Army Pfc. Zachary T. Myers was killed in action on 9/8/09.

Army Staff Sgt. Michael C. Murphrey

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Army Staff Sgt. Michael C. Murphrey, 25, of Snyder, Texas

SSgt Murphrey was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, Fort Richardson, Alaska; died Sept. 6, 2009 in Paktika province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.

News West 9 -- SNYDER- An update on the death of a West Texas Soldier NewsWest 9 told you about on Tuesday night.

25-year-old Staff Sergeant Michael Murphrey from Snyder will be honored with a moment of silence at the next home football game in Snyder.

NewsWest 9 talked to Sergeant Murphrey's high school football coach.

He said he watched Murphrey grow up and become an outstanding, West Texas, All-American man.

Murphrey leaves behind a wife and two children

Army Staff Sgt. Michael C. Murphrey was killed in action on 9/06/09.

Army Sgt. Randy M. Haney

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Army Sgt. Randy M. Haney, 27, of Orlando, Fla.

Sgt. Haney was assigned to 2nd Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.; died Sept. 6, 2009 in Nangarhar, Afghanistan of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit using small arms and rocket-propelled grenades.

Enjoyed working on his Honda Civic

The Associated Press

When Randy M. Haney got a care package filled with candy while serving in Afghanistan, he wasn’t the one who ate it. He gave it to Afghan children, his mother said.

“He was very proud of the fact that he helped people and that he was serving his country,” added his mother-in-law, Cindy Alexopoulos. “He cared a lot about the kids and trying to help people who were there.”

Haney, 27, of Orlando, Fla., was killed Sept. 6 when enemy forces attacked his unit. He joined the military in search of a stable job after he earned his GED and had trouble finding jobs. He was a military police officer assigned to Fort Carson, Colo.

Haney had served a tour in Afghanistan from 2005-06, and in Iraq from 2007-08. But he was ready to come back to civilian life with his wife and two young children. And he was especially excited to work on his speedy Honda Civic, which he was always taking apart and putting back together.

His family said he was also a jokester who decided he would be in charge of boosting morale in his military unit.

Haney is survived by his wife, Katie, and two children, 5-year-old Aubry and 18-month-old Austin.

Army Sgt. Randy M. Haney was killed in action on 9/6/09.

Marine Capt. Joshua S. Meadows

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Marine Capt. Joshua S. Meadows, 30, of Bastrop, Texas

Capt. Meadows was assigned to 1st Marine Special Operations Battalion, Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command, Camp Pendleton, Calif.; died Sept. 5, 2009 while supporting combat operations in Farah province, Afghanistan.

MarSOC officer killed in Afghanistan
Staff report

A California-based Marine was killed Saturday in Afghanistan’s Farah province, the Pentagon reported Wednesday.

Capt. Joshua S. Meadows, 30, of Bastrop, Texas, died from wounds sustained during a firefight, friends told the Elgin Courier, his hometown newspaper. A UH-1N Huey pilot, he was assigned to 1st Marine Special Operations Battalion, Marine Corps Forces-Special Operations Command, out of Camp Pendleton, Calif.

He had joined MarSOC in May, Marine officials said in a statement.

Meadows enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1996, and he served as a reservist while studying at Texas Tech University, the Courier reported. He and his wife were expecting the birth of their first child.

His military awards and decorations included the Purple Heart, Navy-Marine Corps Commendation Medal and Navy-Marine Corps Achievement Medal, officials said.

Marine Capt. Joshua S. Meadows was killed in action on 9/05/09.

Army 2nd Lt. Darryn D. Andrews

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Army 2nd Lt. Darryn D. Andrews, 34, of Dallas

2nd Lt Andrews was assigned to 1st Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, Fort Richardson, Alaska; was killed Sept. 4, 2009 in Paktika province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device and a rocket-propelled grenade.

‘If he knew you, it was always a bear hug’

The Associated Press

Darryn D. Andrews wasn’t one for shaking hands.

“If he knew you, it was always a bear hug. It didn’t make any difference,” said his mother, Sondra.

She said he loved life, especially with his wife, Julie, and their 2-year-old son. The couple was expecting their second child when Andrews died Sept. 4 of wounds from a rocket-propelled grenade in Paktika province, Afghanistan.

The 34-year-old from Dallas was assigned to Fort Richardson, Alaska.

His mother said he was lighthearted, energetic and “could put a fun spin on any situation.” He enjoyed scuba and sky diving, fishing and hunting, and he immersed himself in athletics, theater productions and church youth group while growing up in the Texas panhandle.

He and his twin brother, Jarrett, attended Texas Tech University, and he earned a master’s degree from Texas State University in 2008. But his sense of duty led him to the military six years ago, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather.

“We grew up with an enormous amount of pride for our nation,” she said. “We passed it on to our children, never thinking we would pay the ultimate sacrifice.”

Andrews also is survived by his father

Army 2nd Lt. Darryn D. Andrews was killed in action on 9/4/09.





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Army Staff Sgt. Todd W. Selge

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Army Staff Sgt. Todd W. Selge, 25, of Burnsville, Minn.

SSgt Selge was assigned to the 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.; died Sept. 3, 2009 in Baqubah, Iraq, of injuries sustained in a vehicle rollover. Also killed was Army Spc. Jordan M. Shay.

Burnsville native dies in Iraq

By Nomaan Merchant
The Associated Press

MINNEAPOLIS — Just about everyone at Burnsville High School knew what Todd Selge would do after graduation.

“You hear things about different seniors that are going to be graduating,” said associate principal Bruce Morrissette. “It was very apparent that Todd had a desire to serve his country and felt a duty to do so.”

The 25-year-old staff sergeant was killed Thursday along with another soldier, Spc. Jordan M. Shay, of Salisbury, Mass. The two were injured in a vehicle rollover, according to a release from Fort Lewis, Wash.

Selge’s wife told the St. Paul Pioneer Press that he was killed less than a month into his second deployment.

“He was definitely gung-ho about the military,” said Dellona Selge, adding that her husband hoped to return to Minnesota after finishing his service in 2012. “He was going to get out. He wanted to finish up school and move back home and have a regular life.”

The couple has two sons, ages 6 and 2.

Selge enlisted in the Army in 2004, two years after he graduated from high school. He was deployed to Iraq once before and received a Purple Heart.

Before and during his service, Selge made it clear he joined the Army to help others achieve freedom.

“We’ve heard that a lot of insurgents have moved here from Baghdad,” he told the Associated Press in March 2007 while posted in Diyala province, northeast of the Iraqi capital. “The Iraqi army is supposed to be OK here, so we’re coming to help them stand up.”

The following month, he wrote an essay for an internal Army newsletter describing his experiences — carrying out attacks on insurgents, getting to know other soldiers, and handing out candy to children.

“What does the average soldier think on a daily basis?” he wrote. “He wants to accomplish the mission. He wants to see the smiles of the Iraqi people endure. He is grateful for everything he has back home, and he wishes the very same freedom he is fighting for, upon the country of Iraq.”

Though he also played football for three years, Selge stood out in high school due to his commitment to serving in the military one day, according to associate principal Bruce Morrissette.

“A lot of students come and go, but I do remember Todd,” Morrissette said.

The team will hold a moment of silence at its game next Friday for him.

Army Staff Sgt. Todd W. Selge was killed in action on 9/03/09.