Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 Donald V. Clark

Died November 15, 2008 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

37 year old Donald Clark, of Memphis, Tenn.; assigned to the 6th Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, Task Force 49, U.S. Army Alaska, Fort Wainwright, Alaska; died Nov. 15 in Mosul, Iraq, when his OH-58 Kiowa helicopter crashed while on a mission over Mosul. Also killed was Chief Warrant Officer 2 Christian P. Humphreys.

Memphis soldier killed in Iraq helicopter crash

The Associated Press

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Two soldiers, including one from Tennessee, were killed when a U.S. military helicopter made a “hard landing” after hitting wires in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul.

The U.S. military said the OH-58 Kiowa Warrior helicopter went down at about 6:10 p.m. Saturday in the eastern part of the city. The military also said that “the incident appears to be combat-unrelated and there was no enemy contact in the area.”

Killed were Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 Donald V. Clark, 37, of Memphis, Tenn., and Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Christian P. Humphreys, 28, Fallon, Nev.

Both were assigned to the 6th Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, Task Force 49, U.S. Army Alaska, Fort Wainwright, Alaska.

Army spokesman Lt. Col. Jonathan Allen told the Anchorage Daily News that Clark and Humphreys were the only two on board the helicopter and no one else was killed or injured. The Army did not say which of the two pilots was flying when the crash occurred.

Clark joined the Army in February 1992 and was assigned to Fort Wainwright in November 2006. Humphreys joined the Army in June 1998 and was assigned to Fort Wainwright in April. Both deployed to Iraq in July, Allen said.

Including Clark, 89 service members from Tennessee have been killed in Iraq, according to an Associated Press count. Nine service members from Tennessee have been killed in Afghanistan.

Funeral held for soldier killed in Iraq

The Associated Press

DOTHAN, Ala. — Chief Warrant Officer 3 Donald Clark was described Monday as a world class soldier and his wife’s hero during a funeral service for the Newton man who was killed when his helicopter crashed Nov. 15 in Iraq.

Clark, 37, was buried with full military honors after his body was flown to Sunset Memorial Park cemetery in Dothan by helicopter. A military detachment loaded the casket, draped with the American flag, onto a horsedrawn caisson. The caisson carried the body to the funeral site as the family walked behind, according to a report on The Dothan Eagle Web site.

During the ceremony folded American flags were presented to Clark’s 8-year-old son, Bailey, to his wife, Jamie, and to his parents.

CW3 Mike Eckhart’s hand trembled when he presented the flag to Jamie Clark. Eckhart was Clark’s wingman.

“He was absolutely fearless in support of his brothers in combat,” said Eckhart, who delivered the eulogy and told stories of a gregarious, talented, driven soldier who felt truly free in the sky and in the Alaskan wilderness.

His fellow soldiers called him “Genghis Don.” Eckhart referred to Clark as a real man and a world class soldier. He said Clark referred to himself as the “self-proclaimed emperor of Newton.”

Rev. David Willis read a letter Jamie Clark wrote for the service in which she said, “Don and I were the sweetest love story ever told. He was my hero. The sorrow I feel is immeasurable. Don loved his family, his friends, his comrades and his country.”

Willis described Clark as a smart man who could have done anything with his life.

“But he chose to stand together shoulder to shoulder with brave men and women to fight tyranny,” Willis said.

2 Fort Wainwright servicemen remembered

The Associated Press

FAIRBANKS, Alaska — They came from different backgrounds, but shared one passion: flying.

That’s how hundreds from the Fort Wainwright Community remembered two fallen airmen killed Nov. 15 in Mosul, Iraq.

Chief Warrant Officers Donald V. Clark and Christian P. Humphreys were killed instantly when their OH-58 Kiowa helicopter crashed.

Clark, 37, of Tennessee, was remembered for his rough-and-tumble demeanor. He had served as a flight instructor in Korea and Alabama.

Humphreys, 28, of New Mexico, served as a crew chief in the Navy before joining the Army. He was remembered for his love for board games, particularly backgammon.

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. Jose Regalado

Died November 12, 2008 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

23 year old Jose Regalado, of Los Angeles; assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Hood, Texas; died Nov. 12 in Mosul, Iraq, when an Iraqi Army soldier wearing a uniform approached and opened fire. Also killed was Spc. Corey M. Shea.

Sergeant remembered for devotion to daughter

The Associated Press

Sgt. Jose Regalado’s lucky charm was his daughter, even before she was born. He carried around ultrasounds of his baby girl in Iraq.

“I’m just glad to be home and finally go from this to an actual human being, someone that cries,” he said when he returned to the U.S. between tours.

Regalado, 23, of Los Angeles, died Nov. 12 in Mosul from small-arms fire. He was working toward an associate’s degree from Troy State University and was assigned to Fort Hood.

When he arrived at the airport to meet his 2-month-old daughter, Jaimie, and wife, Sharri, he confessed: “I tried to play it cool the whole time, even though I was really excited deep down. My wife gets mad at me for doing that because even though I’m excited I try to play it cool because I’m Mr. Tough Guy.”

He loved anything to do with cars and trucks. He always told his wife that if he was going to die, he wanted to go out in battle.

“I don’t want anyone to have to puree my food,” he would say. “If they do, you better believe I’m going to tell them to put a shot of vodka in it and to knock me out.”

Army Sgt. Angel De Jesus Lucio Ramirez

Died November 11, 2006 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

22 year old Angel De Jesus Lucio Ramirez, of Pacoima, Calif.; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 16th Engineer Battalion, 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division, Giessen, Germany; died Nov. 11 of injuries sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near their vehicle during combat operations in Ramadi, Iraq. Also killed were: Staff Sgt. Misael Martinez and Staff Sgt. William S. Jackson II.

Army Sgt. Angel De Jesus Lucio, 22, was killed on Veterans Day when an improvised explosive device exploded near his military vehicle.

It was his second tour of duty in Iraq.

Lucio was remembered as a hero in the eyes of many.

His father said growing up, his son always wanted to be in the Army. Lucio joined shortly after high school graduation four years ago with his parents’ support.

When away from the battlefield, Lucio loved being with family: his parents Ignacio and Marina, and two brothers and sisters.

The young soldier was recently married to Daniela whom he met while stationed in Germany.

Lucio planned to get U.S. citizenship when he returned from Iraq in March.

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.

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.

Army Pfc. Theron V. Hobbs

Died November 6, 2008 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

22 year old Theron Hobbs, of Albany, Ga.; assigned to the 572nd Engineer Company, 20th Engineer Battalion, 36th Engineer Brigade, Fort Hood, Texas; died Nov. 6 in a motor vehicle accident in Kirkuk, Iraq.

Soldier remembered for dedication to family

The Associated Press

Pfc. Theron V. Hobbs’ wife is expecting their first child in February, a son who will be given his father’s name. And she says she will do everything she can to make sure he knows his father in spirit.

“We have a lot videos and I will show them to him. And I know the people who knew Theron will tell him that his father was a good guy,” said Kimberly Hobbs.

Hobbs, 22, of Albany, Ga., died Nov. 6 in a motor vehicle accident in Kirkuk. He was a 2005 high school graduate and was assigned to Fort Hood.

“For the most part we are trying to be strong because he was a cheerful person, and he wouldn’t want us to be all depressed. He would want us to celebrate the right way,” said his wife.

When a caravan of police and sheriff cruisers escorted Hobbs body to the funeral home, his wife said: “I know he is grinning from ear to ear if he could see it. I know he is smiling so hard, like is all this is for me.”

She added: “He loved everybody. He made friends with everybody. And he always did what he had to do to take care of his family.”

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 Staff Sgt. Amy C. Tirador

Died November 4, 2009 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

29 year old Amy Tirador, of Albany, N.Y.; assigned to the 209th Military Intelligence Company, 1st Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.; died Nov. 4 in FOB Caldwell, Iraq, of injuries sustained from a non-combat-related incident.

Played lacrosse in high school

The Associated Press

Amy Tirador had many interests and was passionate about them all.

She was an accomplished trumpeter who played “Taps” at funerals of relatives who served in World War II. She was a lacrosse player who helped start the girls’ lacrosse program during her junior year of high school. And she was an Army medic credited with saving the life of a soldier during a convoy attack in Iraq.

“She was incredibly dedicated, and leaving work unfinished didn’t seem to be part of her genetic makeup,” Aimee Ruscio, a soldier who served with Tirador in Iraq, wrote in an Internet posting.

Tirador, 29, of Albany, N.Y., died Nov. 4 in Kirkush, Iraq. The Army is investigating her death, which it says was a noncombat incident. Her family has said Tirador was shot in the back of the head, and that it was not an accident or a suicide.

The 1998 graduate of South Colonie Central High School was an Arabic-speaking interrogator and interpreter. Tirador was assigned to Fort Lewis.

Survivors include her husband, Mickey Tirador, and her parents, Colleen Murphy and Gerard Seyboth.

“She loved her country, cherished her family, was devoted to and loved her husband dearly,” cousin Cheryl Seyboth Shepard wrote in an online message board.

Army Pfc. Dwane A. Covert Jr.

Died November 3, 2007 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

20 year old Dwane Covert, of Tonawanda, N.Y.; assigned to the 104th Transportation Company, 13th Corps Support Sustainment Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Benning, Ga.; died Nov. 3 in Al-Sahra, Iraq, from injuries sustained in a non-combat-related incident.

Buffalo-area soldier dies in Iraq

The Associated Press

TONAWANDA, N.Y. — A 20-year-old soldier who was looking forward to the birth of his daughter was killed in a non-combat explosion in Iraq.

Army Pfc. Dwane Covert Jr. of the Town of Tonawanda joined the Army in 2006 and shipped out to Iraq in October of that year. He was assigned to the 104th Transportation Company, 13th Corps, Support Sustainment Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division in Fort Benning, Ga.

Covert died Saturday in Al-Sahra, Iraq when a cylindrical object he picked up while cleaning up around the base exploded, his mother, Teresa Covert, said.

He was the father of a 22-month-old son and was expecting a daughter in December. He had already named the baby Zoe. He and his wife Jeanette were married in March.

“He was held back from going out on another mission, because he was due back home for the birth of his baby,” Teresa Covert said.

She said her son picked up what appeared to be a caulk gun and was hitting it against a building to knock some dirt off when it exploded.

“Dwane loved his wife and baby. He was so excited about having a baby girl,” the mother 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.

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.

Army Spc. Adrian L. Avila

Died October 29, 2009 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

19 year old Adrian Avila, of Opelika, Ala.; assigned to the 1343rd Chemical Company, 151st Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear Battalion, 115th Fires Brigade of the Alabama National Guard, Fort Payne, Ala.; died Oct. 29 at Camp Buehring, Kuwait, of injuries sustained from a noncombat-related accident.

Burial for Alabama Guard soldier

The Associated Press

FORT PAYNE, Ala. — Funeral services are scheduled Nov. 6 for a member of a Fort Payne-based Army National Guard unit killed in Kuwait.

The Pentagon says 19-year-old Spc. Adrian L. Avila of Opelika died at Khabari Crossing in Kuwait from injuries he received in a noncombat-related accident.

Avila was assigned as an infantryman with the 1343rd Chemical Company of the 151st Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Battalion. He had been in the National Guard for about two years.

Avila was among 130 members of the unit who left in April for training in Fort Hood, Texas, before being deployed to Kuwait for a year.

Army Spc. Joseph L. Gallegos

Died October 28, 2009 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

39 year old Joseph Gallegos, of Questa, N.M.; assigned to the 720th Transportation Company, New Mexico Army National Guard, in Las Vegas, N.M.; died Oct. 28 in Tallil, Iraq, in a noncombat-related incident.

Guardsman in Iraq dies of heart attack

The Associated Press

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The New Mexico National Guard said a 39-year-old soldier deployed to Iraq has died after a heart attack.

Spc. Joseph L. Gallegos of Questa died Wednesday in Tallil, Iraq. He was a vehicle mechanic with the 720th Transportation Company out of Las Vegas, N.M.

About 130 members of the unit left New Mexico on May 14 for training before deploying to Iraq in July.

Gallegos served in the Navy and Army before recently joining the National Guard after a five-year break in military service.

Army Pfc. Brian R. Bates Jr.

Died October 27, 2009 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom

20 year old Brian Bates, of Gretna, La.; assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.; died Oct. 27 in Loy Kariz, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device.

2 Louisiana soldiers among 18 honored by Obama

By Janet McConnaughey

The Associated Press

NEW ORLEANS — Two Louisiana soldiers killed in Afghanistan were among 18 fallen service members honored Thursday by President Barack Obama at the Delaware air force base where their bodies were returned home to the U.S.

The bodies of Sgt. Patrick Williamson, 24, of Broussard, and Pfc. Brian Bates, 20, of Gretna in suburban New Orleans, were on the plane met early Thursday by the president at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware.

“Brian met the president. And that’s all that matters. I know he would like that,” his wife, Enjolie Bates, said in a telephone interview from Lakewood, Wash. She said Bates loved his job and the Army.

“He liked the idea of fighting for his country. He thought that’s worth it. He believed in it,” she said.

He planned to make the Army his career, said his grandmother, Marlene O’Briant Tully of Gretna.

Both Bates and Williamson were in the Army’s 5th Stryker Brigade, 2nd Infantry division and were killed Tuesday in Afghanistan, relatives said. Funeral arrangements were incomplete.

Bates drove a Stryker light-armored vehicle, “which he told me was the safest job they had. They hit a bomb. That’s all I know. All seven of them were killed,” Tully said.

Williamson’s father, Leon “Buddy” Williamson, said Thursday that his son recently was promoted to sergeant and was among soldiers in the brigade killed this week in Afghanistan’s Kandahar province.

Williamson said his son was the first member of his family to enlist.

“At the end of the day, he was doing what he wanted,” Williamson said. “He’s wanted to join the Army and be in the infantry since fifth grade.”

He said he didn’t know what had sparked Patrick Williamson’s interest in the Army.

“Patrick lays claim to a badge of honor that very few people can lay claim to: having served his country honorably and well,” he said. “The rest of us can thank him because while the rest of us enjoy the fruits of freedom, he paid the price for it.”

Enjolie Bates said her husband joined the Army to take care of her and their children, Brylie, a 2½-year-old girl, and Braiden, a 1½-year-old boy.

“Braiden, he just started saying ‘Dada,’“ she said.

Tully said her grandson, whom she raised along with his 17-year-old brother, called her weekly. He talked to her Saturday and to his wife on Monday, she said.

She said Jefferson Parish was honoring him by flying flags at half-staff, and she thought it was a “wonderful thing” that an assigned Army escort would be with him until he is buried.

About the president’s decision to meet the airplane, Tully said, “He ought to be there for every last one of them.” A bit later, she said, “Obama needs to do something. Our kids are just dying. For what? What kind of war is this? We’re not trying to win.”

Army Staff Sgt. Keith R. Bishop

Died October 26, 2009 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom

28 year old Keith Bishop, of Medford, N.Y.; assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Bragg, N.C.. died Oct. 26 of wounds suffered when the MH-47 helicopter he was aboard crashed in Darreh-ye Bum, Afghanistan. Also killed were Army Chief Warrant Officer 4 Michael P. Montgomery, Sgt. 1st Class David E. Metzger, Staff Sgt. Keith R. Bishop, Chief Warrant Officer Niall Lyons, Staff Sgt. Shawn H. McNabb, Sgt. Josue E. Hernandez Chavez and Sgt. Nickolas A. Mueller.

DoD IDs soldiers killed in Afghanistan crash

Staff report

The Defense Department has identified the seven special operations soldiers killed Oct. 26 when their MH-47 helicopter crashed in Badghis province in western Afghanistan.

Two of the soldiers were from 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group of Fort Bragg, N.C., and five were assigned to 3rd Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment of Hunter Army Airfield, Ga.

Also killed in the crash were three agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Low visibility has been blamed for the crash, which happened about 3:30 a.m. when the soldiers and federal agents lifted off in the helicopter after an operation to disrupt arms smuggling and drug trafficking in the Darreh-ye Bum Village in Qadis District, according to information from the International Security Assistance Force.

Thick dust stirred up from the initial takeoff overwhelmed the visibility of the crew, according to ISAF. When the crew tried to correct the aircraft’s movement, it struck a tall structure and crashed.

The soldiers assigned to 3rd Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment of Hunter Army Airfield, Ga., were:

Chief Warrant Officer Michael P. Montgomery, 36, of Savannah, Ga.
Chief Warrant Officer Niall Lyons, 40, of Spokane, Wash.
Staff Sgt. Shawn H. McNabb, 24, of Terrell, Texas
Sgt. Josue E. Hernandez Chavez, 23, of Reno, Nev.
Sgt. Nickolas A. Mueller, 26, of Little Chute, Wis.

The soldiers assigned to 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group of Fort Bragg, N.C., were:

Sgt. 1st Class David E. Metzger, 32, of San Diego, Calif.,
Staff Sgt. Keith R. Bishop, 28, of Medford, N.Y.

Army Sgt. Eduviges G. Wolf

Died October 25, 2009 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom

24 year old Eduviges Wolf, of Hawthorne, Calif.; assigned to the 704th Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.; died Oct. 25 at FOB Bostick, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked her vehicle with a rocket-propelled grenade.

Funeral set for slain soldier

The Associated Press

ALEXANDRIA, S.D. — Funeral services are being held for a soldier with South Dakota ties who was killed in Afghanistan.

The Defense Department says 24-year-old Army Sgt. Eduviges “Duvi” Guadalupe Wolf of Hawthorne, Calif., died Oct. 25 when a rocket-propelled grenade hit her vehicle.

She leaves behind two children and a husband from the Alexandria area, who also has been stationed in Afghanistan.

Her funeral was scheduled for Nov. 3 in Alexandria, with burial in Farmer. The Rev. Tom Clement says the family of Wolf’s husband is from Farmer.

A statement from Gov. Mike Rounds says Wolf was a member of Alpha Company of the 704th Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.

Her death brings to 30 the number of service members with South Dakota connections who have died in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2003.

Carson service to remember 2 fallen soldiers

The Associated Press

FORT CARSON, Colo. — Fort Carson is holding a memorial service for two of its soldiers who were killed in Afghanistan in separate attacks.

The service Dec. 9 honors 24-year-old Sgt. Eduviges Guadalupe Wolf and 19-year-old Pfc. Devin J. Michel.

Wolf was assigned to the 704th Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division. Michel was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Division, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division.

Wolf died Oct. 25 after a rocket-propelled grenade hit her vehicle. She is survived by two children and a husband who also was serving in Afghanistan.

Michel died Oct. 24 from wounds he suffered when his unit was attacked with an improvised bomb in Zhari province.

Army Pfc. Devin J. Michel

Died October 24, 2009 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom

19 year old Devin Michel, of Stockton, Ill.; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.; died Oct. 24 in Zhari district, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.

Carson service to remember 2 fallen soldiers

The Associated Press

FORT CARSON, Colo. — Fort Carson is holding a memorial service for two of its soldiers who were killed in Afghanistan in separate attacks.

The service Dec. 9 honors 24-year-old Sgt. Eduviges Guadalupe Wolf and 19-year-old Pfc. Devin J. Michel.

Wolf died Oct. 25 after a rocket-propelled grenade hit her vehicle. She is survived by two children and a husband who also was serving in Afghanistan.

Michel died Oct. 24 from wounds he suffered when his unit was attacked with an improvised bomb in Zhari province.

Army Spc. Deon L. Taylor

Died October 22, 2008 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom

30 year old Deon Taylor, of Bronx, N.Y.; assigned to the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, New York Army National Guard, Syracuse, N.Y.; died Oct. 22 in Bela Ba Luk, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device.

Army Spc. Deon L. Taylor remembered

The Associated Press

Deon L. Taylor, of New York City, went to Maine as an 8-year-old participant in the Fresh Air Fund program, which brings city youths to rural towns.

“I could see things differently through his eyes. He had never seen stars like ours, never wild animals. He wanted to know who let them out of the zoo. I always missed him when he left and was glad to see him when he came back,” said to Rose Church, whose family hosted Taylor.

Taylor, 30, of New York City, died Oct. 22 in Bela Beluk, Afghanistan, of wounds from a roadside explosion. He was on his second deployment to Afghanistan and was assigned to Syracuse, N.Y.

He graduated from Old Westbury College in Long Island with a degree in sociology and criminology. He joined the NYPD in 2005 as a transit cop and then was promoted to the narcotics division in Brooklyn.

He is survived by his 8-year-old son, DaRue, and fiancée, Caitlin Casey.

He was a huge fan of the Yankees, the Knicks and the Giants.

“Deon was the apple of my eye,” said his grandmother, Shirley Taylor. “I’m going to miss that big smile and that big bear hug he used to give me. But no more, no more.”

Funeral for NYPD soldier killed in Afghanistan

The Associated Press

NEW YORK — As a child, Deon Taylor loved to play GI Joe and stood ready to protect his friends from bullies.

On Thursday, dignitaries joined his grief-stricken family to honor “our GI Joe” for protecting his city, as a police officer, and his country, as a member of the Army National Guard. It was in the latter role, during his second tour of duty, that the 30-year-old sergeant was killed in Afghanistan.

“Ralph Waldo Emerson once said that to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived is to have succeeded,” Mayor Michael Bloomberg said Thursday in a eulogy at Riverside Church. “By that token, Deon achieved the greatest possible success in life.”

Taylor grew up in the Bronx, but graduated from Carrabec High School in Portland, Maine. At age 18, he proudly enlisted in the Army.

“Deon’s family breathed a sigh of relief when his tour ended,” noted an obituary included in his funeral program.

He got his bachelor’s degree in sociology at the State University of New York College at Old Westbury on Long Island, graduated from the Police Academy and worked as an undercover narcotics officer. Then he broke the news to his family about his second tour.

His mother, the obituary noted, “was already worn out from praying during his first tour.”

“The American heroes aren’t always the ones who make history books, rather the ones who change lives,” Taylor’s brother, Damarr, said in a written remembrance.

On Oct. 22, the family’s worst fears came true. Among the hymns chosen to lend them comfort on Thursday: “We are tossed and driven on the restless sea of time. … We will understand it better by and by.”

He is the third NYPD officer to die overseas in recent years. The NYPD has 258 members currently on military leave, many of them serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly.

Survivors include his parents, Pamela and Leon Taylor; Damarr Taylor; fiance Caitlin Casey; and his son, Da’Rue.

Taylor had planned to return home in December, and to marry Casey in August 2009. “The only way that I can make sense of this is by realizing that God needed you more than we do,” she wrote.

Another message came from 8-year-old Da’Rue:

“I love you Daddy and I will keep you in my heart forever.”

Army Spc. Kyle A. Coumas

Died October 21, 2009 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom

22 year old Kyle Coumas, of Lockeford, Calif., assigned to 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.; died Oct. 21 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device.

Spc. Kyle A. Coumas, 22, of Lockeford, California, was born on August 24, 1987 in Tracy, CA, the only child of Lori and Greg Coumas. Kyle was a graduate of St. Mary’s High School in Stockton class of 2005 where he was a member of the Chess Club and the Concert Band.

His earliest act of service began in 2003 when our family sponsored a platoon serving in Iraq. Kyle would pass out flyers in our neighborhood asking family, friends, neighbors and local businesses to help “support our troops”. He was a member of the 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division in Ft. Lewis, WA. He received the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal and the Army Service Ribbon. He deployed with his unit to Afghanistan in July of 2009. Kyle died October 21 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device.

Kyle was a man who believed that serving his country, being a part of a greater whole and being dedicated to preserving our nations freedom was the most honorable job a person could have. His selfless duty to his country came as little surprise to those who knew him. Kyle will always be remembered as a soldier who served with honor, dignity and pride. Kyle was the son of Lori and Greg Coumas of Lockeford; grandson of Robert and Doris Delarm of Manteca and Janet Coumas of Lodi; nephew of: Paul and Kathy Ackerman, Michael Delarm and John (Jerry) Delarm; cousin of: Jackie, Jamie, Michael, John, Robert and Rudy Delarm. Kyle’s funeral was held on November 2, 2009 and burial was in the Sandoz-Fuchs Family Cemetery in Wilseyville. Cherokee Memorial Funeral Home in Lodi served his family.

Kyle’s parents would like others to know this about their son:
“Kyle Coumas was a man who believed that serving his country, being a part of a greater whole and being dedicated to preserving our nations freedom was the most honorable job a person could have. His selfless duty to his country came as little surprise to those who knew him. His earliest act of service began in 2003 when our family sponsored a platoon serving in Iraq. Kyle would pass out flyers in our neighborhood asking family, friends, neighbors and local businesses to help support our troops. Kyle will always be remembered as a soldier who served with honor, dignity and pride. We are blessed to have been his parents for 22 years and will always love him; our only child, with all our hearts! We are especially thankful at this time that our son, Spc. Kyle Coumas, will be escorted home to his family by his life-long friend, Lance Corporal Joseph Gonzales.”

Army Staff Sgt. Bradley Espinoza

Died October 19, 2009 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

26 year old Bradley Espinoza, of Mission, Texas; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas, died Oct. 19 in Qwest, Iraq, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device.

Texas soldier dies in attack in Iraq

The Associated Press

WASHINGTON — A 26-year-old Fort Hood soldier from South Texas has died of wounds from the explosion of an improvised explosive device in Iraq.

The Pentagon says Staff Sgt. Bradley Espinoza of Mission died Monday in Qwest, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his vehicle was attacked by enemy forces.

His uncle, Ralph Solis, tells The Monitor of McAllen that Army representatives told the family that Espinoza died while trying to disarm the bomb.

Army Pfc. Daniel J. Rivera

Died October 18, 2009 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

22 year old Daniel Rivera, of Rochester, N.Y.; assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas; died Oct. 18 in Mosul, Iraq, of injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident.

Daniel had a large extended family and wanted to be a role model for his younger niece and cousins. That”s one reason he decided to enter the military as several of his older relatives had.

Family members say the 22-year-old from Rochester, New York, also was not afraid of anything – even death. “He wanted to serve his county, and he was really proud of what he was doing. … He just wanted to make the most of his life,” said his mother, Myrian Rivera. Daniel, a 2005 graduate of Victor High School, enjoyed playing soccer and baseball.

Army Spc. Michael A. Dahl Jr.

Died October 17, 2009 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom

23 year old Michael Dahl Jr., of Moreno Valley, Calif.; assigned to 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.; died Oct. 17 in Kandahar, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an IED.

Michael was a serious soldier who LOVED the Military and agreed with why our troops were fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. He was a part of the 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division.

He loved his family and loved going to church.

Michael passed away October 17, 2009 while on patrol in his Stryker in Arghandab, Afghanistan. He is survived by his father Michael Sr., mother Patricia Dahl, brother Angel Dahl and his pitbull “Girl”.

Dahl’s father, mother and younger brother traveled Monday to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware to attend the ceremonial transfer of the soldier’s body from the battlefield to his home country.

“I think my son’s a hero,” Michael Dahl Sr. said afterward. “He died for what he believed in.”

Prior to Afghanistan, Dahl spent a year in Iraq, according to his mother, Patricia Dahl. She described her son as a serious and driven soldier who left for war without hesitation.

Army Spc. Anthony G. Green

Died October 16, 2009 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom

28 year old Anthony Green, of Matthews, N.C.; assigned to the 143rd Infantry Detachment, Austin, Texas; died Oct. 16 in Jaghato district, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an IED. Also killed was Staff Sgt. Chris N. Staats.

He was many things to many people. He was a devout Christian, a fantastic father, a dedicated husband, a perfect son, a brother, uncle, farmer, a soldier and a warrior. Gabe was raised in Yorktown, Texas where he graduated from high school in 2000. He was a well liked student playing football, participating in the drama club and doing things that you do in a small town. He married the love of his life Lindsay Afflerbach on November 19, 2005. He followed his grandfather and father into the military, joining the Texas National Guard.

Gabe was deployed in Iraq in 2004 and 2005. His second tour to Iraq was with the First Infantry Division, “The Big Red One”. During this tour his humvee struck an IED and Gabe was able to walk away with minor injuries. He deployed to Afghanistan in February 2009, with Agricultural Development Team 2, 143rd Airborne Infantry Brigade of the Texas Thirty-Sixth “Arrowhead” Division. Gabe was the teams resident Veterinarian. Everyone in ADT 2 had a specialty. The was a Geologist, an Agriculture Engineer and other specialized trades. They were short a Veterinarian, but they had a farmer, Gabriel Green.

He earned certificates from Texas A&M and Purdue Universities to help him complete his mission. He loved working with the Afghani’s , teaching them how to irrigate from a windmill they erected increasing their yield three fold. Gabriel was also a soldier and it was his soldierly duties that required his ultimate sacrifice. He died with Staff Sergeant Chris Staats of Fredericksburg, TX. Gabe was awarded the Combat Assault Badge, the Bronze Star for Operation :Enduring Freedom” and the Purple Heart.

Gabe is survived by his wife Lindsay, daughter Kaydence and Madie; father-in-law Ronald Afflerbach, parents Patricia and A. Cornell Green, brothers Floyd Parrett, Thomas Parrett, Jacob Green, Jesse Green. He left his sisters Sarah Clark, Margaret Green and Kathleen Green. He also had 14 nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his grandfathers Milburn Cleveland and A.C. Green. Gabriel was a shining beacon and his light will be sorely missed. He was the 12th National Guard soldier to die in Afghanistan. He will forever be his father’s “Twelfth Man.” Gabe died at age 28 in Wardak province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device.

Army Staff Sgt. Glen H. Stivison Jr.

Died October 15, 2009 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom

34 year old Glen Stivison Jr., of Blairsville, Pa.; assigned to the 569th Mobility Augmentation Company, 4th Engineer Battalion, Fort Carson, Colo.; died Oct. 15 at Arghandab River Bridge, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an IED. Also killed were Spc. Jesus O. Flores Jr., Spc. Daniel C. Lawson and Pfc. Brandon M. Styer.

Carson honors 15 killed in Afghanistan

By Dan Elliott

The Associated Press

FORT CARSON, Colo. — Fort Carson paid somber tribute Wednesday to 15 of its soldiers killed in Afghanistan last month, the worst single month for combat deaths the post has endured since the Vietnam War.

Eight soldiers from the 4th Infantry Division were killed in a single battle on Oct. 3, and seven soldiers from the 4th Engineer Battalion were killed in three separate incidents.

The 4th Infantry soldiers were honored at a service in the Soldiers’ Memorial Chapel at midday. A second service was scheduled later in the day for the others.

Chuckles rippled through the nearly full chapel as letters were read from soldiers still in Afghanistan recounting the fallen troops’ lives and praising their bravery and friendship.

“I would have followed that man straight to hell if he thought it was a good idea,” one letter said of Sgt. Joshua T. Kirk, 30, of South Portland, Maine.

Maj. Dan Chandler said each of the eight 4th Infantry soldiers enlisted after the terrorist Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. “They were helping to make a difference when they were taken from us,” he said.

The others killed in that battle were Staff Sgt. Justin T. Gallegos, 27, of Tucson, Ariz.; Staff Sgt. Vernon W. Martin, 25, Savannah, Ga.; Sgt. Joshua M. Hardt, 24, Applegate, Calif.; Sgt. Michael P. Scusa, 22, Villas, N.J.; Spc. Christopher T. Griffin, 24, Kincheloe, Mich.; Spc. Stephan L. Mace, 21, Lovettsville, Va.; and Pfc. Kevin C. Thomson, 22, Reno, Nev.

Across the front of the chapel, each fallen soldier was represented in the Army tradition with his portrait, a pair of boots and an M-4 rifle, standing muzzle-down with a helmet resting atop it and dog tags dangling from the pistol grip. The boots had spurs with black straps, signifying the eight were members of a cavalry regiment.

A soldier sobbed quietly at the back of the chapel as Sgt. Major Leslie Frye called the roll, pausing silently after he twice called out the name of each man killed.

Outside the chapel, seven riflemen fired three volleys in a 21-gun salute, and a bugle played taps.

Army Secretary John McHugh attended the service but didn’t speak. He was also scheduled to attend the second service and then hold a news conference.

The 4th Engineer Battalion soldiers were Staff Sgt. Glen H. Stivison Jr., 34, of Blairsville, Pa.; Spc. Kevin O. Hill, 23, Brooklyn, N.Y.; Spc. Jesus O. Flores, 28, La Mirada, Calif.; Spc. Daniel C. Lawson, 33, of Deerfield Beach, Fla.; Spc. Eric N. Lembke, 25, Tampa, Fla.; Spc. Kimble A. Han, 30, Lehi, Utah; and Pfc. Brandon M. Styer, 19, Lancaster, Pa.

Fort Carson says 32 soldiers from the post have been killed in Afghanistan and 255 have been killed in Iraq. Officials said they did not know the exact month and year when the post had more soldiers killed in combat but said it was in Vietnam.

Army Pfc. Christopher A. McCraw

Died October 14, 2008 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

23 year old Christopher McCraw, of Columbia, Miss.; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; died Oct. 14 in Baghdad of wounds sustained when he encountered small arms fire while on dismounted patrol.

Slain soldier known for humor

By Nicklaus Lovelady

The (Jackson) Clarion-Ledger

Avon McCraw clearly remembers the last time he talked with his son, Pfc. Christopher McCraw.

“I was talking with him on the cell phone, and he was laughing when it cut out,” said Avon, of Marion County. “That was the last time I got to hear his voice, his laughter.”

Christopher McCraw, 23, died Tuesday in Baghdad from wounds suffered when he encountered small-arms fire while on patrol, according to the Department of Defense.

At least 67 people from Mississippi or with strong ties to the state have died in the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Christopher McCraw is the third soldier from Marion County to be killed in Iraq.

“We all knew the danger was there, but I didn’t expect this to happen,” Avon McCraw said. “I’ll probably never get over it, but I don’t want to because he was my child.”

Christopher McCraw comes from a family of soldiers, with Avon’s brothers, Jerry and Monroe, both having served in the Army. Christopher McCraw’s brother also served in Iraq and came home two years ago with post-traumatic stress disorder, a family member said.

Christopher McCraw was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii and was looking forward to coming home from Iraq and marrying the mother of his young son.

There was no mistaking Christopher’s sweet sense of humor, friends said.

“Chris was just a charmer, an all around, happy-go-lucky kid,” said Wendy Bracey, his Sunday school teacher at Woodlawn Pentecostal Church in Columbia. “He was a prankster with a sweet smile. I remember he would always sneak up behind me, then tap me on my shoulder trying to scare me.”

Christopher McCraw called Columbia home until his parents separated as he entered high school. He moved with his mother to North Carolina, where he eventually graduated.

Jerron Carney, 28, of Columbia said Christopher was always loyal to his friends in Mississippi and would always stop by to say hello when he was in town.

On Oct. 1, Christopher McCraw sent Carney a message on MySpace checking in on Carney and his family.

“He was a favorite of mine. He will be missed by a lot of people, and I know I’m one of them,” he said.

A message Christopher McCraw wrote before his death on his MySpace.com page said: “For man hath no greater love than that he would lay down his own life for his friends.”

Avon McCraw said he supported his son’s decision to join the military.

“He loved his job. He was a true soldier,” he said. “He never mentioned anything about being scared, which is why I say he was a soldier.”

‘Happy-go-lucky’ soldier led by example

The Associated Press

From Pfc. Christopher A. McCraw’s childhood to his adult years, those who knew him couldn’t help but be touched by his jovial personality.

“Chris was just a charm an all around happy-go-lucky kid,” said Wendy Bracey, his Sunday school teacher. “He was a prankster with a sweet smile. I remember he would always sneak up behind me then tap me on my shoulder trying to scare me.”

McCraw, 23, of Columbia, Miss., died Oct. 14 of injuries from small-arms fire in Nasar Wa Salam. He was assigned to Schofield Barracks.

“In his unit, he was very respected,” Brig. Gen. Genaro Dellarocco said. “He never accepted defeat. Never left a comrade behind. He set the example for many others in his platoon.”

The Rev. Jerron Carney characterized McCraw as a food aficionado — his favorite dishes being shepherd’s pie, banana pudding and Swiss cake rolls — and a prankster. “If he wasn’t telling a joke, he was pulling a joke.”

He is survived by his 15-month-old son, Issac, and fiancee Brianna Bell.

“He was always a happy kid, a bursting-with-energy-type kid, I guess what you would call a perfect soldier,” said uncle Jerry McCraw.

Army Cpl. Scott G. Dimond

Died October 13, 2008 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom

39 year old Scott Dimond, of Franklin, N.H.; assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 172nd Infantry Regiment (Mountain), New Hampshire Army National Guard, Milford, N.H.; died Oct. 13 in Kandahar, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when his vehicle struck an improvised explosive device and his patrol was engaged in a small arms fire attack.

Hundreds pay respects to fallen N.H. soldier

The Associated Press

FRANKLIN, N.H. — The line to get into the Franklin Middle School gym stretched down the hallways and along one side of the brick building as hundreds of people paid respects to a fallen soldier.

Army National Guard Cpl. Scott Dimond of Franklin was killed in a roadside bomb blast in Afghanistan last week. Hundreds of mourners attended calling hours Friday night, watching photos of Dimond flash on a big screen and sharing memories of the 20 years he spent as a police officer before joining the National Guard.

A funeral service will be held Saturday.

Army Pfc. Scott G. Dimond remembered

The Associated Press

Scott G. Dimond’s uncle, Jean Dimond, said his nephew was fearless and up for any challenge, such as being the only child in the neighborhood brave enough to ride a friend’s red wagon down a hill.

“He had such a wonderful outlook on life,” Jean Dimond said.

Dimond, 39, of Franklin, N.H., died in an ambush Oct. 13 in Kandahar, Afghanistan. He was a 1987 high school graduate and was assigned to Milford, N.H.

Initially, he had planned to enter the Marine Corps, but the Marines wouldn’t take him because of a football injury, so he took a job with the Franklin Police Department.

He started as a dispatcher, then moved up to special officer, then full-time officer, retiring as a sergeant after 18 years of service.

“He didn’t have a mean bone in his body,” said Bill Athanas, his old principal.

He had been taking pre-med courses, planning to earn a nursing degree and work alongside his mother caring for aged and injured veterans.

“I can’t say enough about him. I wish I had had five more just like him,” said former Franklin Police Chief Doug Boyd.

Dimond is survived by his wife, Jennifer, and his four children, Luke, Ashlee, Alexis and Madison.

Army Spc. Geoffrey G. Johnson

Died October 12, 2008 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

28 year old Geoffrey Johnson, of Lubbock, Texas; assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Division Special Troops Battalion, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas; died Oct. 12 of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident in Baghdad.

Spc. was ‘golden boy’ who could be relied on

The Associated Press

Spc. Geoffrey G. Johnson was a terrain data specialist who worked in geospatial intelligence. He helped commanders understand unknown areas into which they would lead troops.

But he wasn’t always behind a desk — he volunteered for special patrols, going out and helping to identify enemies.

“I think he thought he could do some good there,” said his father, Jim. “He saw some bad things happen to innocent people.”

Johnson, 28, of Lubbock, Texas, died Oct. 12 of a heart attack in Baghdad. He was a 1998 high school graduate and was assigned to Fort Hood.

He was born in Provo, Utah, and moved to Lubbock in 1985. He graduated from South Plains College School of Vocational Nursing before joining the Army. He enjoyed playing games and reading with his children, and was an avid waterskier.

Sgt. Darren Tindall, Johnson’s supervisor, said he excelled in his job and was among the brightest he has led. When he needed the best job done quickly, he knew he could count on “the Golden Boy.”

He also is survived by his wife, Amy and children, Kelsi, 8, Parker, 5, Joel, 3, and Brayden, 1.

Army Sgt. Reuben M. Fernandez III

Died October 11, 2008 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

22 year old Reuben Fernandez III, of Abilene, Texas; assigned to the 2nd Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas; died on Oct. 11 of wounds sustained when his vehicle struck an improvised explosive device in Majar Al Kabir, Iraq.

Sgt. described as being ‘a man of stength’

The Associated Press

On leave and staying in Abilene, Texas, Reuben M. Fernandez III called his mother at work in San Angelo and asked if she had lunch plans.

“I said ‘I don’t know,’ and I look up, and there he is walking in the door,” said Aurora Fernandez. “He was funny like that. He drove all the way to San Angelo, and we had lunch.”

Fernandez, 22, of Abilene, died Oct. 11 after his vehicle struck a bomb in Majar Al Kabir. He was a 2004 high school graduate and was assigned to Fort Hood.

“Marcus was all smiles and all heart. His eyes spoke to everyone. His laughter was infectious,” said cousin Ruben De La Garza.

Fernandez was well known for stealing the ball while playing basketball at Clack Middle School, so his friends took to calling him “Crook.”

He was deployed to Iraq in December 2005 and returned the following December.

At his funeral, pastor Brian Daniels said Fernandez was loving and respectful, “the most respectful man I have ever known.”

“Marcus was such a man of strength,” Daniels said. “Marcus worried more about us over here than we worried about him over there.”

Army Spc. George W. Cauley

Died October 10, 2009 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom

24 year old George Cauley, of Walker, Minn.; assigned to the 114th Truck Company, Minnesota National Guard, Duluth, Minn.; died Oct. 10 in Bagram, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his vehicle with an IED on Oct. 7 in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

2 Minnesota service members killed in Afghanistan

By Steve Karnowski

The Associated Press

MINNEAPOLIS — Two Minnesota servicemen killed in separate attacks in Afghanistan over the past week were being remembered Tuesday as young men who were proud to be serving their country.

Marine Staff Sgt. Aaron J. Taylor, 27, was killed Friday by a homemade bomb while on foot patrol in Helmand province, said his father, Clifford Taylor, of rural Two Harbors.

Minnesota National Guard Spc. George W. Cauley, 24, of Walker, died Saturday after being wounded when insurgents attacked his vehicle with a homemade bomb on Oct. 7 in Helmand province, according to the Defense Department.

Cauley graduated from Northland High School in 2003 and was a member of the football team. He got along with everybody and always had a smile on his face, Principal Joe Akre said Tuesday.

Standing about 5 feet 3 inches tall, Cauley “wasn’t exactly the biggest guy out there,” football coach Shem Daugherty said.

“But he had heart. He wasn’t afraid to go out and try to hit,” Daugherty said. “He was one of those likable young men you enjoyed having around because he was always there for the right reasons.”

Daugherty said that after graduation, Cauley came back in uniform and “was pretty darn proud. You could see it in his face.” Daugherty said Cauley also had served in Iraq.

Clifford Taylor said his son was born in Duluth, grew up in Bovey and graduated with honors in 2000 from Greenway High School in Coleraine, where he was a band member and manager of the hockey team.

Aaron Taylor had been in the Marines for eight years and had been in Afghanistan for about six weeks. He also had served a tour of duty in Iraq, his father said. They last spoke a week ago.

“He was telling me that they were doing good things over there,” Clifford Taylor said. “They had built some schools. He was new to the unit when he came on board, but they say that everybody just liked him and they were all glad to work with him. And he was very proud to be serving with this group of men. They all knew their jobs and they were professionals all the way.”

Aaron Taylor was based at Camp Pendleton, Calif., and recently bought a house in Temecula, Calif., near the base, his father said.

“He had spontaneous wit and was a very caring individual,” Clifford Taylor said of his son. “Very intelligent. His goal was to be promoted to gunnery sergeant before his third enlistment. I think he would have made it. It’s tough to do.”

Aaron Taylor’s body was flown to Dover Air Force base in Delaware on Monday. Funeral arrangements were pending.

Maj. Patricia Baker, a spokeswoman for the Guard, said few details about Cauley’s death were immediately available Monday evening. She said Cauley’s company mobilized for training June 16 and later arrived in Afghanistan to begin its tour based out of Helmand province.

Taylor and Cauley were the 86th and 87th people with strong Minnesota ties to have died in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.