Please also visit part 1.
They were sons, daughters, mothers, fathers, friends and colleagues – and on this New Year’s Eve, we remember those service members who have died this year as a result of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. This remembrance, from the "I Got the News Today" (IGTNT) team, is more than a list. It’s a chronicle of lives and dreams cut short, and a glimpse into the grief that their survivors live with every day.
We've chosen "We Remember Them," by Rabbis Sylvan Kamens and Jack Riemer to help us commemorate the lives lost this year. Please click on the hyperlinked dates to read the stories behind the names; I know I'm not the only one to cry while writing them. Or while reading them.
Our heartfelt condolences go out to all those who knew and loved the fallen, and who miss them so much.
Special thanks to the IGTNT team for their assistance with these year-end diaries.
May 2008 bring fewer names and more peace.
From "We Remember Them," by Rabbis Sylvan Kamens and Jack Riemer:
As long as we live, they too will live, for they are now a part of us as
We remember them.
July
1 Sgt. Joel A. Dahl, 21, of Los Lunas, N.M.; Sgt. 1st Class Nathan L. Winder, 32, of Blanding, Utah; Pfc. Andre Craig Jr., 24, of New Haven, Conn.; Capt. Darrell C. Lewis, 31, of Washington, D.C.
2 Sgt. Frank M. Sandoval, 27, of Yuma, Ariz.; Staff Sgt. Daniel A. Newsome, 27, of Chicopee, Mass.; Sgt. William W. Crow Jr., 28, of Grandview Plaza, Kansas
3 Sgt. Shin W. Kim, 23, of Fullerton, Calif.; Sgt. Michael J. Martinez, 24, of Chula Vista, Calif.; Sgt. Giann C. Joya Mendoza, 27, of North Hollywood, Calif.; Spc. Dustin L. Workman II, 19, of Greenwood, Neb.; Pfc. Cory F. Hiltz, 20, of La Verne, Calif.
4 Staff Sgt. Robb L. Rolfing, 29, of Milton, Mass.; Pfc. Jonathan M. Rossi, 20, of Safety Harbor, Fla.; Spc. Victor A. García, 22, of Rialto, Calif.
5 Lance Cpl. William C. Chambers, 20, of Ringgold, Ga.; Lance Cpl. Jeremy L. Tinnel, 20, of Mechanicsville, Va.; 1st Lt. Christopher N. Rutherford, 25, of Newport, Ohio; Spc. James L. Adair, 26, of Carthage, Texas
6 Sgt. 1st Class Raymond R. Buchan, 33, of Johnston, Pa.; Staff Sgt. Michael L. Ruoff Jr., 31, of Yosemite, Calif.; Lance Cpl. Juan M. Garcia Schill, 20, of Grants Pass, Ore.
7 Pfc. Steven A. Davis, 23, of Woodbridge, Virginia; Pfc. Andrew T. Engstrom, 22, of Slaton, Texas; Chief Warrant Officer Scott A.M. Oswell, 33, of Lacey, Washington
8 Petty Officer First Class Jason Dale Lewis, 30, of Brookfield, Conn.; Petty Officer First Class Robert Richard McRill, 42, of Lake Placid, Fla.; Petty Officer First Class Steven Phillip Daugherty, 28, of Barstow, Calif.
9 Maj. James M. Ahearn, 43, of Calif.; Sgt. Keith A. Kline, 24, of Oak Harbor, Ohio; Sgt. Thomas P. McGee, 23, of Hawthorne, Calif.; Pfc. Joseph A. Miracle, 22, of Ortonville, Mich.; Spc. Christopher S. Honaker, 23, of Cleveland, N.C.
10 Spc. Roberto J. Causor Jr., 21, of San Jose, Calif.; Spc. Anthony M.K. Vinnedge, 24, of Okeana, Ohio; Spc. Michelle R. Ring, 24, of Martin, Tenn.; Spc. Jeremy L. Stacey, 23, of Bismarck, Ark.
11 Pfc. Jason E. Dore, 25, of Moscow, Maine; Col. Jon M. Lockey, 44, of Fredericksburg, Va.; Cpl. Jeremy D. Allbaugh, 21, of Luther, Okla.; Lance Cpl. Steven A. Stacy, 23, of Coos Bay, Ore.; Lance Cpl. Angel R. Ramirez, 28, of Brooklyn, N.Y.
12 Sgt. Gene L. Lamie, 25 of Homerville, Georgia; Pfc. Le Ron A. Wilson, 18, of Queens, New York; Pfc. Bruce C. Salazar Jr, 24, of Tracy, California; Cpl. Kory D. Wiens, 20, of Independence, Oregon, and Cooper, partner of Cpl. Wiens
13 Master Sgt. Randy J. Gillespie, 44, of Coaldale, Colo.; Sgt. Eric A. Lill, 28, of Chicago
14 Capt. Maria I. Ortiz, 40, of Bayamon, Puerto Rico
Capt. Maria I. Ortiz. "A woman of strong Christian faith, she believed going to Iraq to treat American military personnel wounded in the war was a calling from God. 'And she always told me that's a privilege that she, as a nurse, can tell wounded soldiers maybe at the last moments of their lives of the possibility of going to Heaven, to receive the opportunity to receive God in their hearts,' her sister said."
15 Sgt. Courtney T. Johnson, 26, of Garner, N.C.; 1st Sgt. Jeffrey R. McKinney, 40, of Garland, Texas
16 Sgt. Allen A. Greka, 29, of Alpena, Michigan
17 Pfc. Christopher D. Kube, 18, of Sterling Heights, Mich.; Spc. Robert D. Varga, 24, of Monroe City, Mo.
19 Lance Cpl. Shawn V. Starkovich, 20, of Arlington, Wash.; Chief Petty Officer Patrick L. Wade, 38, of Key West, Fla.; Petty Officer First Class Jeffrey L. Chaney, 35, of Omaha, Neb.
20 Sgt. Nathan S. Barnes, 23, of American Fork, Utah; Pfc. Ron J. Joshua Jr., 19, of Austin, Texas; Pfc. Brandon K. Bobb, 20, of Orlando, Fla.
22 Pfc. James J. Harrelson, 19, of Dadeville, Alabama; Sgt. Ronald L. Coffelt, 36, of Fair Oaks, California; Cpl. Brandon M. Craig, 25, of Earleville, Maryland
22 Sgt. 1st Class Luis E. Gutierrez-Rosales, 38, of Bakersfield, Calif.; Spc. Zachary R. Clouser, 19, of Dover, Pa.; Spc. Richard Gilmore III, 22, of Jasper, Ala.; Spc. Daniel E. Gomez, 21, of Warner Robbins, Ga.
23 Spc. Daniel E. Gomez, 21, of Warner Robbins, Ga.
24 Sgt. Jacob S. Schmuecker, 27, of Atkinson, Neb.; Cpl. Rhett A. Butler, 22, of Fort Worth, Texas
26 Lance Cpl. Bobby L. Twitty, 20, of Bedias, Texas; Sgt. Shawn G. Adams, 21, of Dixon, Calif.; Pfc. Zachary R. Endsley, 21, of Spring, Texas
27 Hospitalman Daniel S. Noble, 21, of Whittier, Calif.; Lance Cpl. Robert A. Lynch, 20, of Louisville, Ky.; Cpl. James H. McRae, 22, of Springtown, Texas; Cpl. Matthew R. Zindars, 21, of Watertown, Wis.; Staff Sgt. Joshua P. Mattero, 29, of San Diego, Calif.
28 Sgt. Courtney D. Finch, 27, of Leavenworth, Kan.; Pfc. Juan S. Restrepo, 20, of Pembroke Pines, Fla.
30 Sgt. William R. Howdeshell, 37, of Norfolk, Va.; Spc. Charles E Bilbrey, Jr., 21, of Owego, New York; Spc. Jaime Rodriguez, Jr., 19, of Oxnard, Calif.
When we are weary and in need of strength
We remember them.
August
1 Pvt. Michael A. Baloga, 21, of Everett, Wash.; Spc. Daniel A. Leckel, 19, of Medford, Ore.; Pfc. Cody C. Grater, 20, of Spring Hill, Fla.
2 Staff Sgt. Wilberto Suliveras, 38, of Humacao, P.R.; Cpl. Sean A. Stokes, 24, of Auburn, Calif.; Spc. Camy Florexil, 20, of Philadelphia; 1st Lt. Benjamin J. Hall, 24, of Fredericksburg, Virginia
3 Sgt. Stephen R. Maddies, 41, of Elizabethton, Tenn.; Cpl. Jason M. Kessler, 29, of Mount Vernon, Wash.
4 Spc. Zachariah J. Gonzalez, 23, of Indiana; Pfc. Charles T. Heinlein Jr., 23, of Hemlock, Michigan; Pfc. Alfred H. Jairala, 29, of Hialeah, Florida
5 Sgt. Taurean T. Harris, 22, of Liberty, Miss.
6 Staff Sgt. Fernando Santos, 29, of San Antonio, Texas; Spc. Cristian Rojas-Gallego, 24, of Loganville, Ga.; Spc. Eric D. Salinas, 25, of Houston, Texas; Master Sgt. Julian Ingles Rios, 52, of Anasco, Puerto Rico; Spc. Braden J. Long, 19, of Sherman, Texas
7 Tech. Sgt. Joey D. Link, 29, of Portland, Tenn.; Lance Cpl. Cristian Vasquez, 20, of Coalinga, Calif.; Sgt. Dustin S. Wakeman,25, of Fort Worth, Texas; Cpl. Jason K. Lafleur 28, of Ignacio, Colo.; Pfc. Jaron D. Holliday, 21, of Tulsa, Okla.
8 Pfc. Matthew M. Murchison, 21, of Independence, Mo.; Spc. Charles E. Leonard Jr., 29, of Monroe, La.; Sgt. Bradley W. Marshall, 37, of Little Rock, Ark.; Spc. Daniel F. Reyes, 24, of San Diego; Sgt. 1st Class Travis S. Bachman, 30, of Garden City, Kan.
9 Spc. Justin R. Blackwell, 27, of Paris, Tenn.; Pvt. Jeremy S. Bohannon, 18, of Bon Aqua, Tenn.; Sgt. Jon E. Bonnell Jr., 22, of Fort Dodge, Iowa; Spc. Christopher T. Neiberger, 22, of Gainesville, Fla.
10 Staff Sgt. Jacob M. Thompson, 26, of North Mankato, Minn.; Sgt. Nicholas A. Gummersall, 23, of Chubbuck, Idaho.; Cpl. Juan M. Alcantara, 22, of New York; Spc. Kareem R. Khan, 20, of Manahawkin, N.J.
11 Spc. Donald M. Young, 19, of Helena, Montana; Marine Corporal Raynold Armand, 21, Rochester, NY
13 Sgt. Joan J. Duran, 23, of Roxbury, MA; Pfc. Jordan Goode, 21, of Kalamazoo MI; Pfc. William L. Edwards, 23 of Houston, TX; Pvt. Alan J. Austin, 21 of Houston, TX
14 Sgt. 1st Class Jeffrey D. Kettle, 31, of Madill, Okla.; Staff Sgt. Jesse G. Clowers Jr., 27, of Herndon, Va.; Sgt. Charles B. Kitowski III, 31, of Farmers Branch, Texas
15 Sgt. Scott L. Kirkpatrick, 26, of Reston, Va; Staff Sgt. William D. Scates, 31, of Oklahoma City; Sgt. Andrew W. Lancaster, 23, of Stockton, Ill.; Spc. Justin O. Penrod, 24, of Mahomet, Ill.
16 Sgt. Michael E. Tayaotao, 27, of Sunnyvale, Calif.; Pfc. Shawn D. Hensel, 20, of Logansport, Ind.; Staff Sgt. Alicia A. Birchett, 29, of Mashpee, Mass.
17 Chief Warrant Officer Christopher C. Johnson, 31, of Grandville, Michigan; Chief Warrant Officer Jackie L. McFarlane Jr, 30, Virginia Beach, Va.; Staff Sgt. Sean P. Fisher, 29, of Santee, Calif.; Staff Sgt. Stanley B. Reynolds, 37, of Rock, W. Va.; Spc. Steven R. Jewell, 26, of Bridgeton, N.C.
18 Staff Sgt. Eric D. Cottrell, 39, of Pittsview, Alabama; Pfc. Juan M. Lopez Jr., 23, of San Antonio, Texas; fc. Paulomarko U. Pacificador, 24, of Shirley, New York; Spc. Alun R. Howells, 20, of Parlin, Colorado; Staff Sgt. Robert R. Pirelli, 29, of Franklin, Massachusetts
19 Pfc. Willard M. Kerchief III, 21, of Evansville, Indiana
20 Spc. Zandra Terneice (Neicy) Worthy-Walker, 28, of Greenville, SC; Sgt. Princess C. Samuels, 22, of Mitchellville, Md
21 1st Lt. Jonathan W. Edds, 24, of White Pigeon, Mich.
22 Staff Sgt. Paul B. Norris, 30, of Cullman, Ala.; Spc. Kamisha J. Block, 20, of Vidor, Texas; Capt. Michael S. Fielder, 35, of Holly Springs, N.C.
Spc. Kamisha J. Block. "I'm so proud of that girl," Payne said. "It's just sad that I'm not going to look up and see her anymore."
23 Spc. George V. Libby, 23, of Aberdeen, N.C.
24 Pfc. Donovan D. Witham, 20, of Malvern, Ark.; Staff Sgt. Sandy R. Britt, 30, of Apopka, Fla; Pfc. Omar E. Torres, 20, of Chicago, IL
25 Cpl. Nathan C. Hubbard, 21, of Clovis, Calif.; Spc. Michael A. Hook, 25, of Altoona, Penn.; Spc. Jessy G. Pollard, 22, of Springfield, Mo.; Spc. Tyler R. Seideman, 20, of Lincoln, Ark.
25 Capt. Corry P. Tyler, 29, of Georgia; Chief Warrant Officer Paul J. Flynn, 28, of Whitsett, N.C.; Sgt. Matthew L. Tallman, 30, of Groveland, Calif.; Spc. Rickey L. Bell, 21, of Caruthersville, Mo.; Capt. Derek A. Dobogai, 26, of Fond du Lac, Wis.
Spc. Rickey L. Bell. "He loved the Army," (his aunt, Glenda) Overbey said. "He loved it. He loved what he was doing. He always volunteered. If there was anything to be volunteered for, Ricky volunteered."
25 Staff Sgt. Jason L. Paton, 25, of Poway, Calif.; Sgt. Garrett I. McLead, 23, of Rockport, Texas.; Cpl. Jeremy P. Bouffard, 21, of Middlefield, Mass.; Cpl. Phillip J. Brodnick, 25, of New Lenox, Ill.; Cpl. Joshua S. Harmon, 20, of Mentor, Ohio.
26 Sgt. 1st Class Adrian M. Elizalde, 30, of North Bend, Ind.; Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Tully, 33, of Falls Creek, Penn.; Sgt. 1st Class David A. Heringes, 36, of Tampa, Fla.
27 Sgt. 1st Class Daniel E. Miller, 43, of Rossford, Ohio. He was assigned to 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kansas; Sgt. 1st Class Scott M. Carney, 37, of Ankeny, Iowa; Pfc. Edgar E. Cardenas, 34, of Lilburn, Ga.
28 Sgt. Joshua L. Morley, 22, of Boise, Idaho; Spc. Tracy C. Willis, 21, of Marshall, TX; Lance Cpl. Matthew S. Medlicott, 21, of Houston, TX
29 Staff Sgt. Nicholas R. Carnes, 25, of Dayton, Ky.
30 Pfc. Rogelio A. Ramirez, 21, of Los Angeles, CA; Pfc. Thomas R. Wilson, 21, of Maurertown, VA; Sgt. James S. Collins Jr., 35, of Rochester Hills, MI
31 Sgt. 1st Class Rocky H. Herrera, 43, of Salt Lake City; Sgt. Cory L. Clark, 25, of Plant City, Fla.; Sgt. Bryce D. Howard, 24, of Vancouver, Wash.; Maj. Henry S. Ofeciar, 37, of Agana, Guam; Master Sgt. Scott R. Ball, 38, of Mount Holly Springs, Penn.; Sgt. Jan M. Argonish, 26, of Peckville, Penn.
When we are lost and sick at heart
We remember them.
September
1 Capt. Erick M. Foster, 29, of Wexford, Penn.; Cpl. John C. ("Corey") Tanner, 21, of Columbus, Ga.; Spc. Edward L. Brooks, 25, of Dayton, Ohio; Staff Sgt. Jason M. Butkus, 34, of West Milford, N.J.
2 Staff Sgt. Andrew P. Nelson, 22, of Moorhead, Minn.; Sgt. 1st Class Daniel E. Scheibner, 40, of Muskegon, Mich.
5 Spc. Travis M. Virgadamo, 19, of Las Vegas, Nev.; Pvt. Justin T. Sanders, 22, of Watson, La.
7 Sgt. Kevin A. Gilbertson, 24, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Spc. Christopher G. Patton, 21, of Lawrenceville, Ga.; Master Sgt. Patrick D. Magnani, 38, of Martinez, Calif.
8 Cpl. William T. Warford III, 24, of Temple, Texas; Pfc. Dane R. Balcon, 19, of Colorado Springs, Colo.; Spc. Rodney J. Johnson, 20, of Houston, Texas
9 Staff Sgt. Delmar White, 37, of Wallins, Ky.; Sgt. 1st Class David A. Cooper Jr., 36, of State College, Penn.; Spc. Keith A. Nurnberg, 26, of McHenry, Ill.; Sgt. Joel L. Murray, 26, of Kansas City, Mo.; Spc. David J. Lane, 20, of Emporia, Kan.; Pvt. Randol S. Shelton, 22, of Schiller Park, Ill.
10 Pfc. Mykel F. Miller, 19, of Phoenix, Arizona; Sgt. Lee C. Wilson, 30, of Chapel Hill, N.C.; Spc. Jason J. Hernandez, 21, of Streetsboro, Ohio; Spc. Thomas L. Hilbert, 20, of Venus, Texas
12 Cpl. Christopher L. Poole Jr., 22, of Mount Dora, Fla.; Cpl. Bryan J. Scripsick, 22, of Wayne, Okla.; Staff Sgt. John C. Stock, 26, of Longview, Texas; Sgt. Michael J. Yarbrough, 24, of Malvern, Ark.
12 Corporal Ryan Woodward, 22, of Fort Wayne, Ind.; Spc. Marisol Heredia, 19, of El Monte, Cali.; Cpt. Drew N. Jensen, 27, of Damascus, Oregon
13 Sgt. Alexander U. Gagalac, 28, of Wahiawa, Hawaii; Lance Cpl. Lance M. Clark, 21, of Cookeville, Tenn.; Pfc. Sammie E. Phillips, 19, of Cecilia, Ky.; Cpl. Javier G. Paredes, 24, of San Antonio, Texas; and Cpl. Travis M. Woods, 21, of Redding, Calif.
Sgt. Alexander U. Gagalac. "Alexander was a great man, a hero, My Twin brother. I lost him to the war in Iraq. Please keep him alive by remembering him."
14 Cpl. Carlos E. Gilorozco, 23, of San Jose, Calif.; Lance Cpl. Jon T. Hicks Jr., 20, of Atco, N.J.; Staff Sgt. Courtney Hollinsworth, 26, of Yonkers, N.Y.
15 Staff Sgt. Gregory Rivera-Santiago, 26, of St. Croix, Virgin Islands; Sgt. Michael C. Hardegree, 21, of Villa Rica, Ga.; Sgt. Nicholas J. Patterson, 24, of Rochester, Ind.; Spc. Ari D. Brown-Weeks, 23, of Abingdon, Md.; Spc. Steven R. Elrod, 20, of Hope Mills, N.C.
15 Sgt. Omar L. Mora, 28, of Texas City, Texas; Staff Sgt. Yance T. Gray, 26, of Ismay, Mont.
18 Staff Sgt. Terry D. Wagoner, 28, of Piedmont, S.C.; Spc. Todd A. Motley, 23, of Clare, Mich.; Spc. Jonathan Rivadeneira, 22, of Jackson Heights, N.Y.; Pvt. Christopher M. McCloud, 24, of Malakoff, Texas
19 Pfc. Brandon T. Thorsen, 22, of Trenton, Florida; Sgt. John Mele, 25, of Union City, Tenn.; Staff Sgt. Michael L. Townes, 29, of Las Vegas, Nevada
21 Spc. Matthew J. Emerson, 20, of Grandview, Wash.; Spc. Joseph N. Landry III, 23, of Pensacola, Fla.; Spc. Nicholas P. Olson, 22, of Novato, Calif.; Spc. Donald E. Valentine III, 21, of Orange Park, Fla.; Spc. Aaron J. Walker, 23, of Harker Heights, Texas
21 Sgt. Edmund J. Jeffers, 23, of Daleville, Ala.; Pfc. Christian M. Neff, 19, of Lima, Ohio
23 Cpl. Graham M. McMahon, 22, of Corvallis, Oregon; Pfc. Luigi Marciante Jr., 25, of Elizabeth, N.J.
24 Captain (Dr.) Roselle M. Hoffmaster, 32, of Cleveland, Ohio; Specialist John J. Young, 24, of Savannah, Ga.
25 Command Sergeant Major Jonathan M. Lankford, 42, of Scottsboro, Ala.
26 Spc. Joshua H. Reeves, 26, of Watkinsville, Ga.; Spc. David L. Watson, 29, of Newport, Ark.
27 SFC Matthew D. Blaskowski, 27, of Levering, MI
When we have joy we crave to share
We remember them.
October
1 Petty Officer Second Class Charles Luke Milam, 26, of Littleton, Colo.
3 Staff Sgt. Donnie D. Dixon, 37, of Miami, Fla.; Sgt. Robert T. Ayres III, 23, of Los Angeles, Calif.; Sgt. 1st Class James D. Doster, 37, of Pine Bluff, Ark.; Spc. Ciara M. Durkin, 30, of Quincy, Mass.; Sgt. 1st Class Randy L. Johnson, 34, of Washington D.C.; Sgt. Zachary D. Tellier, 31, of Charlotte, N.C.
4 Gunnery Sgt. Herman J. Murkerson Jr., 35, of Adger, Ala.; Sgt. Randell Olguin, 24, of Ralls, Texas; Sgt. Chirasak Vidhyarkorn, 32, of Queens, N.Y.
Gunnery Sgt. Herman J. Murkerson Jr. "'He wanted some Alabama memorabilia to go in his room. He had his own room he was a gunnery sergeant,' said Wendy Murkerson. Murkerson's high school sweetheart and wife Wendy was preparing to mail him Crimson Tide sheets and a matching shower curtain when the family got the news."
5 Petty Officer Third Class Mark R. Cannon, 31, Lubbock, Texas
7 Spc. Avealalo Milo, 23, of Hayward, Calif.; Sgt. Ricardo X. Rodriguez, 23, of Arecibo, Puerto Rico; Seaman Apprentice Shayna Ann Schnell, 19, of Tell City, Ind.
8 U.S. Army Reserve Specialist Rachel Hugo, 24, of Madison, Wis.
10 Spc. Jason N. Marchand, 26, of Greenwood, W. Virginia; Sgt. Joseph B. Milledge, 23, of Pointblank, Texas; Spc. Adam D. Quinn, 22, of Orange City, Florida; Spc. Vincent G. Kamka, 23, of Everett, Washington
11 Cpl. Benjamin C. Dillon, 22, of Rootstown, Ohio; Lance Cpl. Jeremy W. Burris, 22, of Tacoma, Wash.
12 Cpl. Gilberto A. Meza, 21, of Oxnard, Calif.
13 Pfc. Christopher F. Pfeifer, 21, of Spalding, Neb.; Spc. Mathew D. Taylor, 21, of Cameron Park, Calif.; Sgt. Jason M. Lantieri, 25, of Killingworth, Conn.
14 Staff Sgt. Eric T. Duckworth, 26, of Plano, Texas; Staff Sgt. Lillian Clamens, 35, of Lawton, Okla.; Spc. Samuel F. Pearson, 28, of Westerville, Ohio; Staff Sgt. Donald L. Munn II, 25, of Saint Clairs Shores, Mich.
15 Pvt. Nathan Z. Thacker, 18, of Greenbrier, Ark.
17 Spc. Frank L. Cady III, 20, of Sacramento, Calif.; Sgt. 1st Class Justin S. Monschke, 28, of Krum, Texas; Pfc. Kenneth J. Iwasinski, 22, of West Springfield, Mass.; 1st Lt. Thomas M. Martin, 27, of Ward, Ark.; Spc. Jason B. Koutroubas, 21, of Dunnellon, Fla.
19 Spc. Micheal D. Brown, 20, of Williamsburg, Kan.
22 Spc. Vincent A. Madero, 22, of Port Hueneme, Calif.; Staff Sgt. Jarred S. Fontenot, 35, of Port Barre, La.
23 Cpl. Erik T. Garoutte, 22, of Santee, Calif.; Spc. Wayne M. Geiger, 23, of Lone Pine, Calif.
25 Seaman Anamarie Sannicolas Camacho, 20, of Panama City, Fla.; Seaman Genesia Mattril Gresham, 19, of Lithonia, Ga.
26 Staff Sgt. Larry I. Rougle, 25, of West Jordan, Utah
27 Sgt. Edward O. Philpot, 38, of Latta, S.C.
28 Staff Sgt. Robin L. Towns Sr., 52, of Upper Marlboro, Md.
29 Sgt. Joshua C. Brennan, 22, of Ontario, Ore.; Spc. Hugo V. Mendoza, 29, of Glendale, Ariz.; Spc. David E. Lambert, 39, of Cedar Bluff, Va.
31 Master Sergeant Thomas L. Bruner, 50, of Owensboro, Ky.
When we have decisions that are difficult to make
We remember them.
November
1 Maj. Jeffrey R. Calero, 34, of Queens Village, N.Y.
3 Staff Sgt. James D. Bullard, 28, of Marion, S.C.; Sgt. Louis A. Griese, 30, of Sturgeon Bay, Wisc.; Capt. Timothy I. McGovern, 28, of El Paso, Texas and Idaville, Ind.; Spc. Brandon W. Smitherman, 21, of Conroe, Texas
5 Master Sgt. Thomas A. Crowell, 36, of Neosho, Missouri; Staff Sgt. David A. Weiger, 28 of North Huntingdon, Penn.; Nathan J. Schuldheiss, 27, of Newport, R.I.
7 2nd Lt. Tracy Lynn Alger, 30, of New Auburn, Wis.; Sgt 1st Class Johnny C. Walls, 41 of Bremerton, Wash; Pfc. Dwane A. Covert Jr., 20, of Tonawanda, N.Y.
8 Petty Officer 2nd Class Kevin R. Bewley, 27, of Hector, Ark.; Spc. Christine M. Ndururi, 21, of Dracut, Mass.; Sgt. Daniel J. Shaw, 23, of West Seneca, N.Y.
9 Staff Sgt. Carletta S. Davis, 34, of Anchorage, Alaska; Staff Sgt. John D. Linde, 30, of New York, N.Y.; Sgt. Derek T. Stenroos, 24, of North Pole, Alaska; Pfc. Adam J. Muller, 21, of Underhill, Vt.
12 Capt. Benjamin D. Tiffner, 31, of West Virginia and Alaska; Sgt. Lui Tumanuvao, 29, of Fagaalu, American Samoa
14 1st Lt. Matthew C. Ferrara, 24, of Torrance, Calif.; Sgt. Jeffery S. Mersman, 23, of Parker, Kan.; Spc. Sean K. A. Langevin, 23, of Walnut Creek, Calif.; Spc. Lester G. Roque, 23, of Torrance, Calif.; Pfc. Joseph M. Lancour, 21, of Swartz Creek, Mich.
15 Spc. Jermaine D. Franklin, 22, of Arlington, TX; Staff Sgt. Patrick F. Kutschbach, 25, of McKees Rocks, PA; Sgt. Phillip A. Bocks, 28, of Troy, MI; and Sgt. Joseph M. Vanek, 22, of Elmhurst, IL.
17 Sgt. Christopher R. Kruse, 23, of Emporia, Kansas; Cpl. Peter W. Schmidt, 30, of Eureka, California; Pfc. Casey P. Mason, 22, of Lake, Michigan; Capt. David A. Boris, 30, of Pennsylvania; Sgt. Adrian E. Hike, 26, of Callender, Iowa
Cpl. Peter W. Schmidt."Just a regular guy doing a regular job. Regular people join the Army, right? Well, I did and now I am in Iraq. Baghdad to be specific with no idea how long I will be here. It's not all that bad."
18 Spc. Ashley Sietsema, 20, of Melrose Park, Ill.; 2nd Lt. Stuart F. Liles, 26, of Hot Springs, Ark.
19 Sgt. Steven C. Ganczewski, 22, of Niagara Falls, N.Y.
19 Sgt. Mason L. Lewis, 26, of Gloucester, Va.; Sgt. Kenneth R. Booker, 25, of Vevay, Ind.
20 2nd Lt. Peter H. Burks, 26, Dallas, Texas; Staff Sgt. Alejandro Ayala, 26, Riverside, CA
22 Pfc. Marius L. Ferrero, 23, of Miami, Fla.; Cpl. Jason T. Lee, 26, of Fruitport, Mich.; Cpl. Christopher J. Nelson, 22, Rochester, Wash.
25 Sgt. Alfred G. Paredez Jr., 32, of Las Vegas, Nev.; Spc. Melvin L. Henley Jr., 26, of Jackson, Miss.
27 Staff Sgt. Jonathon L. Martin, 33, of Bellevue, Ohio
When we have achievements that are based on theirs
We remember them.
December
2 Pvt. Isaac T. Cortes, 26, of Bronx, New York; Spc. Benjamin J. Garrison, 25, of Houston, Texas; Cpl. Allen C. Roberts, 21, of Arcola, Illinois; Sgt. 1st Class John J. Tobiason, 42, of Bloomington and Hayfield, Minnesota
5 Cpl. Blair William Emery, 24, Lee, Maine; Spc. Matthew "Kyle" Reece, 24, Harrison, Arkansas
7 Sgt. Kyle Dayton, of El Dorado Hills, Calif.
8 Sgt. Eric J. Hernandez, 26, of Waldwick, N.J.; Pvt. Dewayne L. White, 27, of Country Club Hills, Ill.; Capt. Adam P. Snyder, 26, of Fort Pierce, Fla.
12 Spc. Randy W. Pickering, Bovey, Minn.
13 Cpl. Johnathan A. Lahmann, 21, of Richmond, Ind.
14 Cpl. Tanner J. O’Leary, 23, of Eagle Butte, S.D.
15 Staff Sgt. Gregory L. Elam, 39, of Columbus, Georgia; Chief Petty Officer Mark T. Carter, 27, of Fallbrook, California
Staff Sgt. Gregory L. Elam. "He always had a smile on his face, or a joke to tell to pull the team together. He not only wanted to be a leader to soldiers, but he wanted to be a role model, and he was just that to officers, NCOs and soldiers."
16 Spc. Brynn J. Naylor, 21, of Roswell, N.M.; Sgt. Samuel E. Kelsey, 24, of Troup, Texas; Staff Sgt. Michael J. Gabel, 30, of Crowley, La.; Cpl. Joshua C. Blaney, 25, of Matthews, N.C.
17 Sgt. 1st Class Jonathan A. Lowery, 38, of Houlton, Maine; Pvt. Daren A. Smith, 19, of Helena, Mont.
19 Sgt. Austin D. Pratt, 22, Cadet, Missouri
20 PFC Juctin R.P. McDaniel, 19, of Andover, New Hampshire
27 1st Lt. Jeremy E. Ray, 26, of Houston, Texas
29 Sgt. Peter C. Neesley, 28, of Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan; Pfc. George J. Howell, 24, of Salinas, California; Senior Airman Nicholas D. Eischen, 24, of Sanger, California
Sgt. Bryan J. Tutten, 33, of St. Augustine, Fla.; Capt. Rowdy J. Inman, 38, of Panorama Village, Texas; Sgt. Benjamin B. Portell, 27, of Bakersfield, Calif.
As long as we live, they too will live, for they are now a part of us as
We remember them.
Please bear in mind that these diaries are read by friends and family of the service members chronicled here. May all of our remembrances be full of compassion rather than politics.