Army Staff Sgt. Anton R. Phillips

Died December 31, 2009 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom

31 year old Anton Phillips, of Inglewood, Calif.; assigned to G Forward Support Company, 77th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Battalion, Task Force Wildhorse, Jalalabad, Afghanistan; died Dec. 31 at FOB Methar Lam, Afghanistan.

‘He was more than just a team leader, he was a friend’

The Associated Press

Anton Phillips, a father of three, “took care of his soldiers like family,” a fellow officer said.

“He rallied them to do their jobs to the best of their ability and he led by example,” said Capt. Alexis Jackson, who served with Phillips.

As an executive officer for the 5th Maintenance Company out of Kaiserslautern, Germany, Phillips earned respect from both his leaders and peers, according to The Provider, a blog about the 82nd Sustainment Brigade, which is supporting the war in Afghanistan.

Phillips, 31, of Inglewood, Calif., died Dec. 31 at Forward Operating Base Methar Lam, Afghanistan. According to the Department of Defense, Phillips was assigned to the base in Afghanistan.

The Defense Department has announced that it is investigating Phillips’ death.

“Sergeant Phillips was beyond reliable,” 1st Lt. Craig A. Long, 5th MC platoon leader, said at a service for Phillips. “He was more than just a team leader, he was a friend and his door was always open to anyone, day or night.”

Phillips is survived by daughters Lexus, 13, Antoneth, 8, and Alina, 5. The Provider reports that more than 200 soldiers attended a memorial service for Phillips at Bagram Airfield.

Army Staff Sgt. Ronald J. Spino

Died December 29, 2009 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom

45 year old Ronald Spino, of Waterbury, Conn.; assigned to the 274th Forward Surgical Team, 44th Medical Command, Fort Bragg, N.C.; died Dec. 29 in Herat, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when he was shot while unloading supplies.

Bragg medic killed in Afghanistan

The Associated Press

FORT BRAGG, N.C. — A 45-year-old Fort Bragg soldier has been killed while unloading medical supplies in a village in northwestern Afghanistan.

Military officials say Staff Sgt. Ronald Jay Spino from Waterbury, Conn., died Dec. 29 in Bala Morghab, a village in Badghis province.

Spino was assigned to the 44th Medical Command at Fort Bragg. He returned from Iraq in February and deployed to Afghanistan in November.

Connecticut Gov. M. Jodi Rell says Spino was expected to return from Afghanistan in about 30 days and ordered flags in the state lowered to half-staff.

Spino was remembered by friends in his unit as a quiet, hardworking soldier with a good sense of humor.

‘Blossomed’ after joining Army

The Associated Press

Ronald Spino was a hardworking but shy man who “blossomed” when he joined the military, his mother said.

“It was his true love,” Rita Spino said.

For a time he worked in the records room of Waterbury Hospital in Waterbury, Conn., where co-workers said he went out of his way to help others. The same held true in the military.

“For those who knew and worked with him, we will remember him as a dedicated non-commissioned officer,” said Col. Scott Putzier, one of Spino’s superiors. “He was quiet, so when he spoke, everyone listened and were often caught off guard by his sense of humor. … He was really funny.”

Spino, 45, of Fayetteville, N.C., died Dec. 29 in Bala Morghab, Afghanistan, when he was shot while unloading supplies. He was assigned to Fort Bragg, N.C., and lived in Waterbury before joining the military.

The combat nurse graduated from Holy Cross High School and Teikyo Post University, now known as Post University.

He joined the Army in 1993 at age 29, becoming a medic. He later trained as a nurse and then became a paratrooper, and was sometimes called upon to parachute into war-ravaged areas to treat wounded soldiers, his mother said.

Spino is survived by his wife, Betty, whom he met while he was in the military; a stepdaughter, Kandice, 24; his mother and father; two brothers; and a sister.

Army Spc. Jason M. Johnston

Died December 26, 2009 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom

24 year old Jason Johnston, of Albion, N.Y.; assigned to 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.; died Dec. 26 in Arghandab, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.

Family says he felt that he had to serve

The Associated Press

While serving in an explorers program at the volunteer fire department in Albion, N.Y., Jason Johnston earned a reputation as hardworking and responsible.

That reputation followed him when he joined the Army in 2006.

“Johnston was the type of guy that did the job with little complaint, comment or fanfare — but always did the job well,” said the soldier’s commander, Capt. Adam Armstrong.

Johnston’s second deployment to Afghanistan was delayed, but the infantry paratrooper was eager to rejoin his unit.

“He fought to get over here with us this time just so he could fight for his country again and to be with his brother in arms,” friend and fellow soldier Spc. Joshua Leeson wrote from Afghanistan.

Johnston, 24, died Dec. 26 in Arghandab after his unit was bombed. He was assigned to Fort Bragg, N.C.

Johnston attended Albion High School but didn’t graduate. He earned his GED before joining the Army.

“Jason always wanted to be in the military,” his family said in a statement. “He said he felt a strong sense of duty to serve. He had been planning to apply to Syracuse University after his term in the Army.”

He leaves behind his parents, Bradley and Jeanine Johnston.

Army Staff Sgt. David H. Gutierrez

Died December 25, 2009 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom

35 year old David Gutierrez, of San Francisco; assigned to 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 5th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.; died Dec. 25 at Kandahar Air Field, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his dismounted patrol with an improvised explosive device in Howz-e Madad.

* * * * *

Soldier died in Christmas Day ambush

The Associated Press

David Gutierrez tried to visit his wife, Patty, and three sons via webcam daily while in Afghanistan.

The last time the family connected online was Christmas Eve. The next day, Patty Gutierrez and her sons were eating Christmas breakfast when she learned her husband had been killed. Two Army chaplains knocked on her door.

“I woke up Christmas morning,” she said. “But when the knock came it wasn’t Christmas anymore.”

Gutierrez, 35, died Christmas Day at Kandahar Air Field of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his patrol with a bomb in Howz-e Madad. He was assigned to Fort Lewis, Wash.

Gutierrez graduated from Santa Teresa High School in San Jose, Calif., and attended San Jose City College. He met his wife while working as a bouncer at a club in San Jose. He enlisted in 1998, two years after he married his wife.

Gutierrez served in Iraq in 2004 and 2005, and he was deployed to Afghanistan in July 2009.

“He had his life in the uniform,” Patty Gutierrez said. “But when he came home, he was the patient one, my go-to guy.”

Gutierrez is survived by his wife; and sons Gabriel, 4, Jeremiah, 6, and Andrew, 12.

Marine Lance Cpl. Omar G. Roebuck

Died December 22, 2009 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom

23 year old Omar Roebuck, of Moreno Valley, Calif.; assigned to 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.; died Dec. 22, as a result of a noncombat-related incident in Camp Bastion, Afghanistan.

‘My son continues to shine even in death’

The Associated Press

Omar Roebuck, who grew up in a house with a single father, loved boxing, stunt bikes and his family, including a next door neighbor he called “Mom.”

“Omar was wonderful, funny, smart,” said neighbor Connie Tatum. “He always had a smile on his face. He loved my enchiladas. He was like another son to me.”

Tatum, who has three sons of her own with her husband, Pat, said she tried to discourage Roebuck from enlisting in 2008. But he told her, “ ‘Mom, the Marine Corps will give me an education and a better life.’ And he loved it.”

Roebuck, of Moreno Valley, Calif., died Dec. 22 in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Roebuck’s father said the 23-year-old Marine, a diesel mechanic, was crushed while working on a new assault tank.

“This is so hard,” said John Roebuck, 54. “The only way to look at it is that God wanted Omar in his presence.”

Omar Roebuck enlisted in November 2008 and was promoted to lance corporal June 2. He was assigned to Camp Lejeune, N.C.

“My son continues to shine even in death,” John Roebuck said. “I don’t have the words to say how proud I am of him.”

Roebuck is survived by his father and sister, Eboni, 27.

Marine Pfc. Serge Kropov

Died December 20, 2009 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom

21 year old Serge Kropov, of Hawley, Pa.; assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif.; died Dec. 20 as a result of a non-hostile incident in Camp Bastion, Afghanistan.

‘He had a million friends’

The Associated Press

Serge Kropov’s friends said the Marine helicopter mechanic was a good-hearted, fun-loving guy who enjoyed basketball and trick bike riding.

“He was just a very kind, giving, friendly, loving person,” said Lindamay Rodnite, who said her sons attended school with Kropov. “He had a million friends.”

Indeed, a Facebook page dedicated to Kropov was filled with dozens of tributes to the fallen Marine.

Kropov, 21, of Hawley, Pa., died Dec. 20 in a non-hostile incident in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif. He attended Wallenpaupack Area High School in Hemlock Farms, Pa. His obituary said he planned to be a career military man.

Kropov was a native of Moscow who later moved to the U.S. with his parents, Igor and Allison Alevtina. He is also survived by a sister, Anna.

Rodnite’s son Jonathan remembered seeing Kropov riding his mountain bike around the neighborhood because he didn’t have a car.

“He was a good friend from day one,” Jonathan Rodnite said. “Very outgoing, very social.”

The Marine wrote on a Web site profile that he also loved snowboarding, working out and the beach, and that he was “always looking and willing to learn and expand my experiences.”

Army Sgt. Albert D. Ware

Died December 18, 2009 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom

27 year old Albert Ware, of Chicago; assigned to the 782nd Combat Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.; died Dec. 18 in the Arghandab River Valley, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device.

Died during 2nd tour of Afghanistan

The Associated Press

Albert D. Ware was no stranger to war. As a scrawny 12-year-old, he came to the United States to escape violence in Liberia, which is why his father, Thomas, got upset when he joined the Army in 2006.

He had played sports — soccer, football and wrestling — as an honors student at Corliss High School near Chicago, and the military made him even more athletic and disciplined.

In time, his family grew proud.

“He was a respectable man,” said his stepmother, Anna. “He didn’t throw a mean word to anyone. He did something with himself.”

The 27-year-old died Dec. 18 in the Arghandab River Valley of Afghhanistan of wounds from an explosive during his second tour there. He was assigned to Fort Bragg, N.C.

He had attended Chicago State University and Kennedy-King College before joining the Army. A colleague, Sgt. Scott Wolfe, said Ware always put fellow soldiers first and worked extra night and weekend hours to make sure they were well equipped for missions.

At home, he enjoyed cooking fufu and other West African dishes.

He and his wife, Plichette, have three children, all younger than 6: T’John, Heaven and Musu. Ware is also survived by his mother and a sister, Ciatta.

Air Force Tech. Sgt. Anthony C. Campbell Jr.

Died December 15, 2009 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom

35 year old Anthony Campbell Jr., of Florence, Ky.; assigned to the 932nd Civil Engineer Squadron, Scott Air Force Base, Ill.; died Dec. 15 in Helmand province, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained from the detonation of an improvised explosive device.

Flags to be lowered for Campbell

The Associated Press

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear has ordered that flags at all state office buildings be lowered to half-staff Dec. 22 in honor of an airman who died in Afghanistan.

The Pentagon says 35-year-old Tech Sgt. Anthony Campbell Jr. of Florence died Dec. 15 of wounds suffered when a bomb exploded in Helmand province. Campbell was assigned to the 932nd Civil Engineer Squadron based at Scott Air Force Base, Ill.

Services for Campbell were to be held in Williamstown on Dec. 22.

Campbell transferred to the Air Force Reserve in early 2008 after serving with the Kentucky Air National Guard.

Reservist served on Cincinnati police force

The Associated Press

Anthony “Tony” Campbell loved life, his wife and his children, friends and family said — and even got to hear his 2-year-old son, Ryker, count to 10 during their last conversation.

Campbell was an Air Force reservist serving in Afghanistan, but he fulfilled a dream by becoming a police officer back home in Cincinnati in 2008.

“He just always had in his mind that he wanted to be a police officer,” said longtime friend Chris Webster.

Campbell, 35, of Florence, Ky., was killed by a roadside bomb Dec. 15 in Helmand province. He was assigned to Scott Air Force Base, Ill. He went into active duty in the Air Force immediately after graduating from Boone County High School in 1992 and later became a reservist.

Webster told the crowd at Campbell’s funeral that the technical sergeant loved his wife, Emily, and was always telling his friends how proud he was of his children — Ryker, 7-year-old Jordan and his stepson, 11-year-old Devin Ruberg.

“I hadn’t seen him for a long time, but you could tell from his Facebook postings how he loved life and loved serving his country,” said Tracy Adkins, a former schoolmate who had recently reconnected with Campbell through the social networking Web site.

Army Spc. Jaiciae L. Pauley

Died December 11, 2009 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

29 year old Jaiciae Pauley, of Austell, Ga.; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.; died Dec. 11 in Kirkuk, Iraq, of injuries sustained from a non-combat-related incident.

He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd ID. As a line medic with one year of active service, Pfc. Pauley trained hard to bring essential skills to his team, said Brig. Gen. Phillips.

Friends say he had a warm and noble heart, he always had a smile, and he never complained.

“Private First Class Pauley was a quiet guy unless you knew him,” said fellow medic and comrade Spc. Andrew Servi, 1/30 Inf. “If you knew him, he’d open up to you. When we were at school together, you could always depend on him.”

“He was one of my best Soldiers I had in my squad,” he added.

Army Pvt. Jhanner A. Tello

Died December 10, 2009 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

29 year old Jhanner Tello, of Los Angeles; assigned to the 3rd Aviation Support Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas; died Dec. 10 in Baghdad, Iraq, of injuries sustained from a non-combat-related incident.

A helicopter mechanic, Tello was assigned to the 3rd Aviation Support Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, at Ft. Hood, Texas.

Family members said he had aspirations to go back to college for a degree in aviation mechanics and dreamed of eventually owning his own shop.

“He was a very happy man,” said Lusin Mathews-Gezalyan, his ex-wife and the mother of his two children, Giovanny Tello-Gezalyan, 9, and Christian Tello-Gezalyan, 8.

Marine Cpl. Xhacob Latorre

Died December 8, 2009 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom

21 year old Xhacob Latorre, of Waterbury, Conn.; assigned to 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.; died Dec. 8 of wounds sustained while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

2/8 Marine dies from combat wounds

Staff report

A North Carolina-based Marine injured in Afghanistan in August died Tuesday, according to the Defense Department.

Cpl. Xhacob Latorre, 21, of Waterbury, Conn., died of wounds he suffered Aug. 10 during combat operations in Helmand province. He lost both legs when he was struck by an improvised explosive device, according to the Warrior’s Wish Foundation Web site. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines, out of Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Latorre, a mortar man, joined the Corps in June 2005, according to II Marine Expeditionary Force release. He served two tours in Iraq, one in July 2006 and another in late 2007.

He is survived by his wife and son.

Marine to be laid to rest

The Associated Press

WATERBURY, Conn. — A funeral service is being held for a Connecticut Marine who died Dec. 8 from wounds he suffered four months earlier during combat operations in Afghanistan.

The funeral for Cpl. Xhacob Latorre is set for Dec. 17 in his hometown of Waterbury. He will be buried at the State Veterans Cemetery in Middletown.

Latorre, 21, died at a Texas hospital from wounds he suffered in August when an improvised explosive device detonated. He left behind his wife and an 18-month-old son.

He was a mortar man assigned to the II Marine Expeditionary Force, based at Camp Lejeune, N.C. He joined the Marines in 2005 shortly after graduating from Crosby High School in Waterbury.

Awarded Purple Heart before death

The Associated Press

Xhacob LaTorre enjoyed making people happy.

“You could be sad. You could be crying, but he would look for the way to make you laugh,” said his mother, Nicole LaSalle.

The 21-year-old Marine corporal even joked around some in his hospital room after being severely wounded during combat in Helmand province, Afghanistan, last August.

LaTorre, who was assigned to Camp Lejeune, N.C., succumbed to his injuries Dec. 8. It was just four days before his 22nd birthday and one day after being awarded the Purple Heart.

The Waterbury, Conn., native joined the Marines three days after graduating from Crosby High School in 2005. He was deployed twice to Iraq before being sent to Afghanistan, where he sustained wounds so severe his legs had to be amputated.

LaTorre was married to his high school sweetheart, Frances LaTorre. They have a son, 1½-year-old Javier, whom family members say has a strong resemblance to his father.

“To me, it’s like he never left,” said LaTorre’s brother, Danny LaTorre, also a Marine corporal. “Seeing his son is seeing him grow up all over again.”

Army Staff Sgt. Dennis J. Hansen

Died December 5, 2009 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom

31 year old Dennis Hansen, of Panama City, Fla.; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, N.Y.; died Dec. 5, at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Landstuhl, Germany, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit on Dec. 3 with an improvised explosive device in Logar province, Afghanistan.

Served with Corps before joining Army

The Associated Press

Dennis Hansen was determined to dunk a basketball when he was a boy, so he plotted the perfect strategy: Set up a ladder to slam that ball through the hoop.

He made the shot, but there was just one problem: He didn’t plan for what would happen after the dunk, so his landing was a bit rough, Pastor Barry Baughman recalled at Hansen’s funeral. But that desire to excel is something Hansen carried throughout life, Baughman said.

Hansen, 31, of Panama City, Fla., died Dec. 7 at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Germany, of wounds sustained from a roadside bomb four days earlier in Logar province, Afghanistan. He had served 8½ years in the Marine Corps before joining the Army and had previously served in Africa, Kosovo, Japan, Panama, Cuba and Iraq, as well as two tours in Afghanistan.

Hansen was assigned to Fort Drum, N.Y., and lived in Scottsville, N.Y., with his wife, Jennifer, and their infant son, Michael. Hansen had two other children who live in Texas: 10-year-old Alana and 7-year-old Gabriel.

His family said in his obituary that he enjoyed fishing, golfing, wrestling and woodworking, and noted he was an avoid Ohio State University football fan. He also loved animals, pumpkin pie and coffee, his family said.

“Michael says Hi Daddy!” his wife wrote on his MySpace page in July 2009. “… We think you’re the best and we cant [sic] wait to see your face again!”

Marine Lance Cpl. Jonathan A. Taylor

Died December 1, 2009 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom

22 year old Jonathan Taylor, of Jacksonville, Fla.; assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.; died Dec. 1 in Garmsir district, Afghanistan, while supporting combat operations.

Joining Marines was his goal from childhood on

The Associated Press

Jonathan Taylor started talking about joining the Marine Corps when he was just 11.

At 13, he wasn’t quite old enough — so he joined the Naval Sea Cadets Corps. He was highly motivated, said Lt. Cmdr. June Tillett, who mentored Taylor in the program.

“I’ve gone through thousands of cadets, and he was in my top five,” she said. “I feel like I’ve lost a son.”

Taylor, 22, of Jacksonville, Fla., was killed Dec. 1 in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to Camp Lejeune, N.C. He graduated from Wolfson High School and attended The Citadel, a military college in South Carolina, before enlisting after a year there.

Taylor loved the Florida Gators and enjoyed politics and history, according to an obituary posted online. He last spoke to his family the day before Thanksgiving to get an update on his favorite team and chat with his three sisters.

“He brought so much light to the family,” said sister MacKenzie, 15. “If you saw him, you’d smile.”

Friends and family said Taylor excelled in Junior ROTC activities as a youngster and knew what it meant to serve.

“Jonathan was one of those idealists,” said James Miller, Taylor’s high school history teacher. “He understood why we started this country. He got the sacrifices behind this country.”

Army Sgt. Brandon T. Islip

Died November 29, 2009 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom

23 year old Brandon Islip, of Richmond, Va.; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.; went missing Nov. 4 while involved in a resupply mission in Bala Murghab, Afghanistan; he had been listed as Duty Status Whereabouts Unknown. His status was changed Nov. 29 to having died in a noncombat-related incident.

Body of missing sergeant found in Afghanistan

By Rahim Faiez

The Associated Press

KABUL — Rescuers found the body of a second U.S. paratrooper missing after being swept away by a fast-moving current while on an airdrop resupply mission earlier this month in western Afghanistan, NATO said Monday.

Sgt. Brandon Islip, 24, was recovered Sunday from the Bala Murgahab River in Badghis province after a local Afghan citizen provided information on his whereabouts. British divers searching the river Nov. 10 found the body of 21-year-old Spc. Benjamin Sherman, who was promoted to sergeant posthumously.

A memorial service for the two paratroopers will be held in Afghanistan in the coming days.

The two, both from the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, disappeared Nov. 4 in the Bala Barghab area of Badghis. Local police said they were swept away by the river as they tried to recover airdropped supplies that had accidentally fallen into the water.

During the first days of the search, intense fighting broke out with militants in the area. Eight Afghans — four soldiers, three policemen and an interpreter — were killed, while 17 Afghan troops and five American soldiers were wounded.

‘He made me the happiest I’ve ever been’

The Associated Press

Sonja Islip said her husband, Brandon, has “always been a hero to me.”

“He’s willing to put his life on the line for this country and that’s all anybody really can ask for,” Sonja Islip said.

Brandon Islip, 23, of Richmond, Va., died Nov. 4 in Bala Murghab, Afghanistan. He and another soldier were picking up supplies that had been dropped by aircraft. Military officials said he and the other soldier, Benjamin Sherman, tried to retrieve one that fell into a river and were swept away by the current.

The military did not announce his death until nearly a month later.

Islip graduated from Monacan High School and enlisted in the military in 2006. He was assigned to Fort Bragg, N.C.

“Sergeant Islip was a very focused individual when it came to work,” Sgt. 1st Class Joe Armenta, Islip’s platoon sergeant, said in a statement.

“He was always focused on mission accomplishment, success of the platoon, and more importantly, the welfare of his soldiers.”

Islip and his wife had been married for only seven months, but Sonja Islip said she was just relieved to know what happened to her husband.

“I had my short time with him and he made me the happiest I’ve ever been,” she said.

Navy Engineman 3rd Class David M. Mudge

Died November 28, 2009 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom

22 year old David Mudge, of Sutherlin, Ore.; died Nov. 28, when he was electrocuted while working in a machinery space aboard the guided missile frigate Rentz while on a port call in Jebel Ali, United Arab Emirates.

Rentz sailor electrocuted aboard ship

Staff report

SAN DIEGO — A sailor assigned to the frigate Rentz died Saturday after being electrocuted while working in a machinery space during a port call in the Persian Gulf, Navy officials said Monday.

Navy officials identified the sailor as Engineman 3rd Class David M. Mudge, 22, who suffered fatal wounds “due to electric shock” while doing repairs in an auxiliary machinery space, Naval Surface Forces officials said in a statement. Mudge, of Sutherlin, Ohio, died despite resuscitation efforts and was pronounced dead at the Jebel Ali International hospital in Jebel Ali, United Arab Emirates.

Navy officials are investigating the incident.

Mudge joined the Navy in January 2007 and served aboard the frigate McClusky before reporting to Rentz in July 2009, said Lt. Cmdr. Chris Servello, a Naval Surfaces Forces spokesman in Coronado, Calif.

Rentz, a San Diego-based ship, is deployed with the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group.

Took advantage of the chance to travel the world

The Associated Press

David Mudge liked traveling, and trying new cuisines or “anything that wasn’t what he had at home,” his brother said.

Mudge joined the Navy to see the world after a childhood of listening to his uncles and other relatives share stories about serving in the military. On the USS Rentz, Mudge was able to see the ancient pyramids in Egypt, a sight that left him in awe, his brother said.

“The sheer size of them and the age of them and everything just blew him away,” Curtis Mudge said. “Pictures didn’t do it justice.”

David Mudge, 22, of Sutherlin, Ore., was killed Nov. 28 in an electrical accident aboard the USS Rentz. The ship was at Port Jebel Ali, United Arab Emirates, when Mudge died.

He grew up in a large, close-knit family, and he graduated from the Phoenix School in Roseburg, Ore. At age 19, he enlisted in the Navy.

“He was looking for something to do with his life that he would be able to be proud of,” said Curtis Mudge. “He always looked up to the fact that our family was military oriented.”

Mudge is survived by his parents, Larry and Judy Mudge; sisters Sarah Washburn, Allison Tomlinson and Angelica Mudge; and brothers Brian, Curtis and Jed.

Army Pfc. Michael A. Rogers

Died November 27, 2009 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

23 year old Michael Rogers, of White Sulphur Springs, Mont.; assigned to the 210th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, N.Y.; died Nov. 27, at Forward Operating Base Hammer, east of Baghdad of injuries sustained from a noncombat-related incident.

An adventurous son of Montana

The Associated Press

Michael Rogers and his older brother grew up going to the Missouri River near their Montana home and catching crawdads.

They would bring the critters back to their mom, who would use them to make homemade gumbo.

Rogers, of White Sulphur Springs, Mont., also loved snowball fights and building snow forts, said his brother, James Westcott, a sergeant in the Marines.

Rogers died Nov. 27 in a noncombat-related incident at Forward Operating Base Hammer, east of Baghdad. He was 23 and assigned to Fort Drum, N.Y.

“Our hearts and prayers go out to the family of Private First Class Rodgers,” Brig. Gen. John Walsh said. “There are countless others who are sharing in your loss.”

At a service in Townsend, Mont., Westcott spoke of growing up in the country with his younger brother. When Westcott broke down at one point in the service, an aunt took his written words and read them for Rogers’ family and friends.

“My little brother is on a new adventure now,” Westcott wrote.

Walsh presented Rogers’ family with commendation and good conduct medals during the ceremony.

Rogers is survived by his mother and brother.

Army Sgt. Jason A. McLeod

Died November 23, 2009 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom

22 year old Jason McLeod, of Crystal Lake, Ill.; assigned to the 704th Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.; died Nov. 23, west of FOB Wilson, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit with mortar fire.

Was due to have leave in a month

The Associated Press

FORT CARSON, Colo. — A Fort Carson soldier from Illinois has died after an attack in Afghanistan.

The Defense Department said Nov. 24 that 22-year-old Spc. Jason A. McLeod of Crystal Lake died Nov. 23 west of Pashmul of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with mortar fire.

Family members say McLeod was deployed to Afghanistan in May and was due to come home on leave in less than a month. They say he was a mechanic who worked on Humvees.

He also served in Iraq in 2007 for about a year. He was a 2006 graduate of Crystal Lake Central High School.

He’s survived by his wife, Aimee Ghannam; a 15-month-old daughter, Jocelyn; his parents and two siblings.

He was assigned to the 704th Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.

Thirty-two other soldiers from the post have been killed in Afghanistan, and 255 have been killed in Iraq.

Even in tough times, soldier remained upbeat

The Associated Press

Jason A. McLeod met his future bride, Aimee, when they were youngsters at day camp in Illinois, but they didn’t reconnect for about a decade. Then she was hooked.

He always kept a positive outlook and smiled even in tough times, she said, describing him as “the most wonderful man I ever met in my life.”

McLeod, 22, of Crystal Lake, Ill., died Nov. 23 west of Pashmul, Afghanistan, after his unit was attacked with mortar fire. He was assigned to Fort Carson, Colo., and had previously served in Iraq.

The 2006 graduate of Crystal Lake Central High School and his best friend, Brandon, enjoyed skateboarding, playing video games and camping, said Brandon’s mother, Robin Rogers. She said McLeod had hoped to go back to school.

“He joined the Army as a stepping stone to what he wanted to do,” said McLeod’s mother-in-law, Julie Ghannam. “He was trying to make himself a life. He was a great person, he grew up young.”

She said McLeod adored his 15-month-old daughter, Jocelyn Elizabeth, who saw him via a Web camera while he was deployed. McLeod is also survived by his mother, Barbara, and his father, Gregory; a brother, Justin; and a sister, Jacquee.

Marine Lance Cpl. Nicholas J. Hand

Died November 22, 2009 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom

20 year old Nicholas Hand, of Kansas City, Mo.; assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.; died Nov. 22 in Garmsir, Afghanistan, while supporting combat operations.

‘A good Marine, but a better brother’

The Associated Press

Nicholas J. Hand was always playing the role of older brother, whether he was marshalling his nine siblings to do chores at home in Kansas City, Mo., or leading his squad in Afghanistan.

“He was good at encouraging people and motivating them without being harsh at it,” said his brother, Brandon.

He said Nicholas was patriotic as a student and used to write quotes from military leaders and the Founding Fathers on his whiteboard.

Hand graduated early from Oak Park High School to join the Marines at 17.

In early November, Hand visited home, where he often ended up roughhousing with his brothers. Three weeks later, on Nov. 22, the 20-year-old was killed by small arms fire in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to Camp Lejeune, N.C., and previously served in Iraq.

“He had his biological family, and he had his Marine family,” said his mother, Dawn. “You watched his face light up, and you knew that in your heart he was with his family there.”

She called Hand “a socialite” who made time for everyone in his large family, who is remembering him as “a good Marine, but a better brother.”

Navy Master-at-Arms 2nd Class Brian M. Patton

Died November 19, 2009 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

37 year old Brian Patton, of Freeport, Ill., a member of the Navy Reserve, died Nov. 19 in Kuwait of injuries suffered in a noncombat-related accident.

Served in AF Reserve between Navy stints

The Associated Press

Brian M. Patton was the kind of man who remembered to wish his wife of nine years a happy anniversary even from overseas.

He called to tell Amy Patton he missed her, and they talked about a trip they were planning to Hawaii. Then he hung up for the final time.

Relatives say the 37-year-old from Freeport, Ill., was killed Nov. 19 in a vehicle crash near a base in Kuwait, where he had volunteered to deploy.

The Gulf War veteran spent time in the Air Force Reserve between stints with the Navy, most recently with a reserve unit based in New York. He had recently worked in Dallas, Pa., as an officer at a correctional facility.

Colleagues and comrades say they could always depend on Patton, a graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania, to fill several roles: the jokester, the attention-grabber, the life of the party, the go-to guy.

“He was a natural leader,” said Senior Chief Petty Officer David Kinnaird. “People would follow him. Definitely a wonderful sailor, one of my best sailors.”

Patton also is survived by sons Brian and Nicholas; a stepson, Tyler; and two brothers, Robert and Scott.

Army Spc. Joseph M. Lewis

Died November 17, 2009 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom

26 year old Joseph Lewis, of Terrell, Texas; assigned to the 8th Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.; died Nov. 17 in Ezqabad, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device.

Texas soldier dies in Afghanistan

The Associated Press

FORT LEWIS, Wash. — The Defense Department says a Fort Lewis soldier was killed Tuesday by a roadside bomb in Kandahar, Afghanistan.

Twenty-six-year-old Spc. Joseph M. Lewis of Terrell, Texas, was a member of the 5th Stryker brigade.

The News Tribune of Tacoma, Wash., reports he was the 29th member of the brigade to die since it deployed in July.

Lewis previously served a 12-month tour in Korea and was on his first deployment to Afghanistan.

Lewis leaves behind a wife, Theresa, and an infant daughter, Abigail, according to the Terrell Tribune.

Called Afghanistan experience ‘really awesome’

The Associated Press

In his elementary school days, Joseph M. Lewis was one of the restless kids battling in water gun fights on the streets of Bedford, Texas.

“I told a principal, I know he’s not going to be the next pope, but if he becomes a stand-up comedian or a senator, I’ll be happy,” said his mother, Pam.

Instead, young Joey lived up to his later nickname, “G.I. Joe,” and joined the Army in 2005 after graduating from L.D. Bell High School.

The 26-year-old from Terrell, Texas — where his family had moved when he was a teen — died Nov. 17 in Kandahar, Afghanistan, of wounds from an explosive. He was assigned to Fort Lewis, Wash.

His mother said Lewis’ experiences in Afghanistan included sharing tea with village elders who gave him fruit and figs.

“He said it was really awesome,” she said.

Back home, his wife, Teresa, awaited his return with their infant daughter. It was for them, relatives said, that Lewis had traded in his sporty Pontiac Trans Am for a more practical Chevrolet Tahoe.

“He was fun-loving and would do anything to help others,” his family said.

Other survivors include his father, Mike; and a sister, Amanda.

Army Staff Sgt. Ryan L. Zorn

Died November 16, 2009 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

35 year old Ryan Zorn, of Upton, Wyo.; assigned to 1st Battalion, 34th Armor Regiment, 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan.; died Nov.16 in Tal Afar, Iraq, of injuries sustained during a vehicle rollover.

Soldier planned to be career serviceman

By Matt Joyce

The Associated Press

CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Army Staff Sgt. Ryan Zorn, who died in a vehicle accident in Iraq, knew early in life that he wanted to join the military, and he planned to spend his career in the service, his mother said.

Zorn, who grew up in Upton, Wyo., died Nov. 16 in Tal Afar, Iraq, from injuries suffered in the roll-over crash, the Defense Department said. He was 35.

JoAnn Zorn, of Wright, Wyo., said her son was on his third tour in Iraq when he was killed. During a 15-year military career, he had been stationed across the United States and in Germany, Saudi Arabia and Korea, his mother said.

“He had always wanted to go into the service, as much as we tried to talk him out of it,” JoAnn Zorn said. “At high school, when they would have career day or anything like that, he said, ‘No I want to go into service,’ and that’s what he did.”

Zorn was assigned to the 1st Infantry Division at Fort Riley, Kansas. He trained there to be part of a military transition team — a small group of soldiers that advises and teaches Iraqi soldiers — and deployed in March for a yearlong tour.

The military said it’s investigating the roll-over crash that killed Zorn. JoAnn Zorn said the family has not yet heard any details about the crash except that her son suffered traumatic head injuries.

“He loved his job,” JoAnn Zorn said. “He loved being a soldier and he loved serving his country.”

Connie Andersen, a Wright resident and family friend, remembered Zorn as a kindhearted person who enjoyed being around his family and helping others.

JoAnn Zorn said her son would volunteer for holiday work shifts so other soldiers with family members could spend the holiday with their families. Whenever he came home to visit, he was a “family man,” she said.

“He had a nephew and two nieces,” JoAnn Zorn said. “He didn’t drink, and when he came home on leave, he always just stayed at home with the family.”

Zorn liked playing cards with his mother and nieces during visits, Andersen said.

Zorn is survived by his parents, Myron and JoAnn of Wright, a brother, a grandmother and others. Funeral arrangements were pending.

Was in military for 15 years

The Associated Press

Ryan Zorn used to volunteer for holiday work shifts so other soldiers could spend time with their families, his mother said.

When he made it home, he played cards with his mother and two nieces.

“He didn’t drink, and when he came home on leave, he always just stayed at home with the family,” said the soldier’s mother, JoAnn Zorn, of Wright, Wyo.

Zorn, 35, of Upton, Wyo., died Nov. 16 in a vehicle rollover in Tal Afar, Iraq. He was based at Fort Riley, Kan.

He trained there to be part of a military transition team — a small group of soldiers that advises and teaches Iraqi soldiers — and deployed in March for a yearlong tour.

Zorn was on his third tour in Iraq when he was killed, and during a 15-year military career, he had been stationed across the United States and in Germany, Saudi Arabia and Korea, his mother said.

Zorn also is survived by his father, Myron; his brother; his grandmother; his nephew; and other relatives.

Army Cpl. Christopher J. Coffland

Died November 13, 2009 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom

43 year old Christopher Coffland, of Baltimore; assigned to the 323rd Military Intelligence Battalion, Fort Meade, Md.; died Nov. 13 in Sayed Abad district, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.

Funeral set for fallen reservist

The Associated Press

BALTIMORE — A funeral Mass has been scheduled for an Army Reservist from Baltimore who was killed in a roadside bombing in Afghanistan.

The funeral for Spc. Christopher James Coffland will take place Nov. 20 at 11 a.m. at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen.

The 43-year-old Coffland died Nov. 13 when the vehicle he was in exploded in the Sayed Abud region.

Coffland signed up with the Army Reserves in December 2007, a month before he turned 42. He was killed 2½ weeks after arriving in Afghanistan.

Many adventures for intel man, world traveler

The Associated Press

Christopher Coffland had traveled the world, playing professional football in the cold of Finland and learning to evade elephants and leopards living with a tribe of Pygmy hunters in Africa.

He amassed an impressive collection of art and owned a restored 1968 Chevy Camaro. He grew up in a blue-collar home but later rubbed elbows with debutantes at parties. But it wasn’t enough. So he joined the Army, embracing his task of gathering intelligence from the locals in Afghanistan.

“I feel as comfortable talking to a head of state as I do a second-shift factory worker, and since I know both worlds, I am able to integrate into either without a trace of unfamiliarity,” he wrote in a letter to the Army, explaining why he was qualified for intelligence work.

Coffland, 43, of Baltimore was killed by a roadside bomb Nov. 13 in Wardak province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to Fort Meade, Md.

He was closer to his sister Lynn than anyone else, often staying with her in between adventures. Friends and family often hoped he would settle down, but his constant desire to do something fulfilling is what kept him changing jobs — and what brought him to the Army.

“He respected his friends, adored them,” Lynn Coffland said. “But he could not settle for what was not in his heart.”

Coffland is also survived by his parents; a brother; and two other sisters.

Army Sgt. Benjamin W. Sherman

Died November 10, 2009 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom

21 year old Benjamin Sherman, of Plymouth, Mass.; assigned to 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.; died Nov. 4 in Bala Murghab, Afghanistan, while participating in a resupply mission.

* * * * *

Hundreds pay tribute to Mass. paratrooper

The Associated Press

PLYMOUTH, Mass. — Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray joined hundreds of relatives, friends, soldiers and well-wishers paying tribute to a U.S. paratrooper who died while trying to save a comrade in Afghanistan.

Sgt. Benjamin Sherman of Plymouth died after jumping into the river to save a colleague who was also swept away by the current. The two soldiers were trying to retrieve airdropped supplies from a river in western Afghanistan.

Sherman’s body was found Nov. 10, six days after he disappeared. He was promoted posthumously.

Members of the veterans’ motorcycle group, the Patriot Guard Riders, mounted an honor guard during calling hours at the Richard Davis Funeral Home.

A funeral service is set for 11 a.m. Nov. 19 at the Second Church of Plymouth in Manomet. Burial will follow at the Manomet Cemetery.

* * * * *

Fan of loud rock music, sports, playing golf

The Associated Press

Ben Sherman knew how to make people feel comfortable, whether by entertaining them with a practical joke or saying exactly what they needed to hear.

“Ben always had a way of making people feel good about themselves,” said his wife, Patricia, who is expecting the couple’s first child in March.

Sherman, a 21-year-old Army paratrooper from Plymouth, Mass., drowned Nov. 4 in Afghanistan’s Badghis province. He was swept away as he tried to recover air-dropped supplies that had accidentally fallen into a river, police in Afghanistan said.

His family said they believe he died trying to rescue a fellow soldier on the same assignment who also drowned.

“He was an amazing guy,” his wife said. “He was very outgoing. He gave the world his all. … He would stop what he was doing and go help somebody who was in need.”

Sherman, a 2006 graduate of Plymouth South High School, was assigned to Fort Bragg, N.C.

He loved baseball, football and basketball, and liked to hit golf balls at the driving range on weekends, Patricia Sherman said. He also loved any kind of raucous rock music with a lead singer who screamed, she said.

Marine Staff Sgt. Stephen L. Murphy

Died November 9, 2009 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

36 year old Stephen Murphy, of Jaffrey, N.H.; assigned to 2nd Intelligence Battalion, II Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, Camp Lejeune, N.C.; died Nov. 9 as a result of a non-hostile incident in Asad, Iraq.

Mother of fallen NH Marine says his time had come

The Associated Press

TROY, N.H. — The mother of New Hampshire Marine Stephen L. Murphy of Troy who was killed in Iraq says it was his time to go.

Carol Murphy made the comments during a Sunday tribute to her son in the Troy town square that was hosted by the local American Legion post.

The 36-year-old staff sergeant was killed Nov. 8 in Al Asad, Iraq.

The New Hampshire Union Leader quotes Carol Murphy as saying she was blessed with something wonderful, but it was her son’s time to go.

Carol Murphy says she’s still waiting to learn more about how her son died.

A funeral for the fallen Marine is scheduled for Nov. 17.

Service provided foundation for Murphy

The Associated Press

Stephen Murphy’s foster family didn’t know what to make of him when he first arrived in his early teens. His hair was purple and green, and he was always listening to heavy metal music.

“His hair was his pride and joy,” said his foster sister, Lynn Quade. “He was such a heavy metal dude.”

That was before Murphy, of Jaffery, N.H., spent 16 years in the Marines. He died Nov. 9 in Iraq’s Anbar province. His death was not combat-related and is being investigated. Still, his military career made his family proud.

“He touched this earth, and he left behind all beautiful things for people in this town,” said his mother, Carol Murphy, who lives in Troy, N.H.

Friends and family members say Murphy, 36, grew into a quiet, tender man who still loved to play his guitar and go skiing.

He once joined a search party to look for a lost boy. He found the child and waited with him at the base of a mountain for help to arrive.

Murphy joined the Marines shortly after graduating from Conant High School in Jaffrey. He was assigned to Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Survivors also include his foster mother, Evelyn Covey, and three sisters.

Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Mathew C. Heffelfinger

Died November 8, 2009 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

29 year old Mathew Heffelfinger, of Kimberly, Idaho; assigned to the 2nd Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment, 25th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; died Nov. 8 in Tikrit, Iraq, of injuries sustained when his OH-58D helicopter crashed. Also killed was Chief Warrant Officer 2 Earl R. Scott III.

Town stood still while local son was buried

The Associated Press

Matthew C. Heffelfinger’s father says he was humble and could do without drawing attention to himself.

“He was one who walked the walk and commanded respect by his actions without needing to talk that talk,” Craig Heffelfinger said.

Heffelfinger, 29, joined the Army in April 2000. He was assigned in December 2007 to Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, and served as a Kiowa helicopter pilot.

On Nov. 8, he died in a helicopter crash in Tikrit, Iraq, along with Chief Warrant Officer Earl R. Scott of Jacksonville, Fla.

About 250 people attended services for Heffelfinger in rural Kimberly, Idaho, his hometown. Throughout the community, signs on businesses honored him and flags were flown at half-mast.

“We were humbled to see so many businesses with signs showing support and their sincere condolences,” Craig Heffelfinger said.

Heffelfinger leaves behind his wife, Tanya, and the couple’s two children.

Marine Sgt. Charles I. Cartwright

Died November 7, 2009 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom

26 year old Charles Cartwright, of Union Bridge, Md.; assigned to 1st Marine Special Operations Battalion, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command, Camp Pendleton, Calif.; died Nov. 7 while supporting combat operations in Farah province, Afghanistan.

MarSOC NCO killed in Afghanistan

Staff report

A California-based Marine was killed Saturday during combat operations in Afghanistan, Marine officials said.

Sgt. Charles I. Cartwright, 26, of Union Bridge, Md., died in Farah province. He was a reconnaissance man assigned to 1st Marine Special Operations Battalion at Camp Pendleton, Calif., according to a news release. The battalion is part of Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command.

It’s not immediately clear how he died.

Cartwright enlisted in the Corps on Sept. 10, 2001, and joined MarSOC in October 2006, just a few months after he was promoted to the rank of sergeant.

His military awards include: two Purple Hearts, Navy-Marine Corps Commendation Medal, two Combat Action Ribbons, Navy Presidential Unit Citation, Navy Unit Commendation, two Marine Corps Good Conduct Medals, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, two Iraqi Campaign Medals, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, four Sea Service Deployment Ribbons, NATO Medal and two Certificates of Commendation.

Was on his 5th tour in a war zone

The Associated Press

Charles Cartwright had been wounded in combat before — he had received two Purple Hearts before his death — but still fought without fear, a fellow Marine said.

Staff Sgt. Gerald Hooee Jr., who served in Iraq with Cartwright, recalled one of their missions to draw enemy fire.

“We sat there for about 45 minutes to an hour, and I’m dodging bullets the whole time, and he’s standing there saying, ‘Hey, what are you doing? Get up,’ ” Hooee said. “Is he crazy? But he stood there, firm in his position.”

Cartwright, 26, of Union Bridge, Md., died Nov. 7 in Farah province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to Camp Pendleton, Calif. He was serving his second tour in Afghanistan and had served three tours in Iraq since joining the Marines in 2001.

During that same mission, Hooee said, the two Marines encountered more gunfire on a rooftop. Hooee fell backward onto a staircase as he ducked behind some boxes.

“It was one of those moments where he picks me up, pulls me up, we look at each other and just start laughing. I mean how many people do that?” Hooee said.

Cartwright’s family said he enjoyed running, having run a marathon in California and a triathlon, as well as surfing and strolls along the beach with his wife and dog.

Among the survivors are his wife, Marissa; parents, Carol Ann and Michael; and his sister, Rebecca Ann.

Army Spc. Aaron S. Aamot

Died November 5, 2009 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom

22 year old Aaron Aamot, of Custer, Wash.; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.; died Nov. 5 in Jelewar, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device.

Rural upbringing led to appreciation for outdoors

The Associated Press

Aaron Aamot was fifth in a family of eight children and grew up in a small town called Custer — a place his father referred to as the “backside of the sticks.”

There, in north Washington state, Aamot was in the 4-H Club and Future Farmers of America program. He raised pheasants and bobwhite quail. He even had his own golden raspberry field on his parents’ small farm.

“Raising and showing chickens at the fair was a big deal for him,” said his older brother, Matt Aamot. “He kind of took after me.”

Aaron Aamot, 22, was killed by a roadside bomb Nov. 5 in Jelewar, Afghanistan. He was based at Fort Lewis, Wash., some 150 miles south of where he grew up.

“I still think of him as a kid, even though he’s 22,” his brother said. “He was a real fun kid. He was great with his nephews and nieces, just easygoing. He was a nice brother. I’m honored to have been his brother.”

Aamot graduated from Ferndale High School in 2006, the same year he enlisted. He deployed to Afghanistan for the first time in July.

“I’m pretty heartbroken, but I’m proud of his service,” Matt Aamot said.

Army Spc. Jonathon M. Sylvestre

Died November 2, 2009 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

21 year old Jonathon Sylvestre, of Colorado Springs, Colo.; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 10th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Benning, Ga.; died Nov. 2 in FOB Delta, Iraq, of injuries sustained from a noncombat-related incident.

Jonathon joined the Army in June of 2007 where he received the ARCOM, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service, Global War on Terrorism, Iraq Campaign, Army Service and Overseas Awards. Jonathon is survived by his parents, James and Sharon Sylvestre.

In a moving display of respect, members of U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command, along with their Air Force counterparts, lined the streets here to pay tribute to a fallen comrade. The remains of Spc. Jonathon M. Sylvestre were flown to Peterson Air Force Base Friday and met by Sylvestre’s family and escort officers to include USASMDC/ARSTRAT Deputy Commanding General for Operations, Brig. Gen. Kurt S. Story. A procession, led by Colorado Guard Patriot Riders, followed the lined streets of Peterson Air Force Base as hundreds of fellow Americans saluted the Colorado native and welcomed him home for the final time.

Marine Sgt. Cesar B. Ruiz

Died October 31, 2009 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom

26 year old Cesar Ruiz, of San Antonio, Texas; assigned to Marine Forces Reserve, New Orleans; died Oct. 31at Firebase Fiddler’s Green, Afghanistan, while supporting combat operations in Helmand province.

The loves of his life were his wife, Kimberly and son, Joshua Cesar. He is also survived by his father, Jose A. Ruiz; his mother, Maria Ruiz; grandma Little Lizard (Chorita); siblings, Dora Ruiz, Jose Ruiz, Maricela Chapa, Victor Ruiz, Lupita Young; father-in-law, Ralph Santillan, Jr.; mother-in-law, Sandra Santillan; many uncles, aunts, cousins, nephews and nieces.

Maria Ruiz was celebrating her birthday on Halloween when she learned her son had been killed that same day when he stepped on a land mine in Afghanistan. “‘It doesn’t matter which day they told you that your son died,’” Ruiz’s daughter, Maricela Chapa, remembered her mother saying. “‘It matters that your son died.’” At dusk Tuesday, 20 or so family members remembered Marine Reserve Sgt. Cesar B. Ruiz, a 2001 Taft High School graduate who died Saturday in Helmand province, Afghanistan’s most violent area. He was 26. Gathered in his parents’ Northwest Side home, they talked of a happy, playful child and strong-willed man who worked with his dad but so loved the Marines that he rejoined nearly three years after quitting.

He leaves a wife, Kimberly, and 14-month-old son, Joshua Cesar. “I just want everybody to know he was such a beautiful person,” Kimberly said. “He had a really kind heart, and I really believe that he was an angel disguised in a human body. “I’m just very, very grateful to God that even though he took him away from me so soon … I had six years of great marriage. He was the love of my life and always will be.”

A combat engineer on his second tour of Afghanistan, . Born in Nava Coahuila, Mexico, and raised in San Antonio, Ruiz knew the risks of going to war. A Marine sergeant told the family he had been working in Helmand as an engineer building bridges. During his first tour, Ruiz detonated enemy weapons caches. Maricela Chapa said her brother had talked about Afghanistan with her husband, Aaron, and her brothers. But Aaron Chapa said Ruiz never talked of going into battle, only that “it was a lot different than here” in America. “I had asked him if he was nervous or anything. He always put on a brave face,” said Kimberly Ruiz, 25, of San Antonio. “He was a very motivated Marine, and a lot of motivated Marines are willing and excited to do their jobs.

Army Sgt. Christopher M. Cooper

Died October 30, 2009 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

28 year old Christopher Cooper, of Oceanside, Calif., assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 28th Infantry, 172nd Infantry Brigade, Schweinfurt, Germany; died Oct. 30 in CSC Scania, Iraq, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident.

Served 5 years in Marines before joining Army

The Associated Press

Christopher Cooper was remembered as someone who was kind and charitable, dropping $20 bills in the lap of a homeless person and collecting tattered U.S. flags left on the streets after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Cooper entered the Marine Corps in 2000 and served five years, completing an Iraq tour. After a few months of civilian life in Oceanside, Calif., he joined the Army Reserves, then enlisted in the Active Army.

“He wasn’t one for complaining and it lifted those around him,” retired Spc. Chris Conover wrote in a message posted on the Daily Kos Web site. “You could always talk to him if you needed someone to have a heart-to-heart with.”

Cooper, 28, died Oct. 30 in Babil province, Iraq, in a noncombat-related incident. He was assigned to the Army’s 2nd Battalion at Schweinfurt, Germany.

An obituary said Cooper was a “restless soul” searching for his place in the world until he joined the military.

“He always looked forward to returning home to visit his family and friends but then could not get back fast enough to be reunited with his brothers in the military,” the obituary said.

Cooper is survived by his mother, Sherry Kennon; brother-in-law and sister, Damon and Lori Coachman; and niece Kayla Coachman.