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 Sgt. Jonathan M. Walls

Died August 1, 2009 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom

27 year old Jonathan Walls, of West Lawn, Pa.; assigned to 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.; died Aug. 1 in Mushan village, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his patrol with improvised explosive devices and rocket-propelled grenades. Also killed were Army Pfc. Richard K. Jones and Army Pvt. Patrick S. Fitzgibbon.

‘His kids were his life’

The Associated Press

As a kid, Jonathan Walls spent a lot of time playing “shoot-em-up” video games.

As it turned out, it was good training for his military career, said his father, Steven.

Walls, 27, of West Lawn, Pa., was once assigned to maneuver the high-tech armored combat vehicle called the Stryker, which has sophisticated sensors and communications systems.

“He loved it,” Steven Walls told the Reading Eagle. “He said, ‘Dad, it’s just like the video games.’ ”

Walls was one of three Army soldiers killed Aug. 1 when their patrol was attacked with explosives in Mushan Village, Afghanistan. All were assigned to Fort Carson, Colo.

Walls, a 2001 graduate of Wilson High School, wanted to do work that helped people. Beyond his military work, becoming a family man allowed him to do that, his father said. He left behind a wife, Meghan; son, Hayden; and daughters, Lily and Allahna.

“He was a good dad, a good son, a good soldier and a good man,” his father said.

“His kids were his life. He lived for them.”

Army Staff Sgt. Christopher F. Cabacoy

Died July 5, 2010 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom

30 year old Christopher Cabacoy, of Virginia Beach, Va.; assigned to 1st Squadron, 71st Armor Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, N.Y.; died July 5 in Kandahar, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device. Also killed in the attack was Army Pfc. Edwin C. Wood.

Staff sergeant remembered for his sense of humor

The Associated Press

Christopher Cabacoy was distraught when he and his high school sweetheart, Tamara, broke up.

But he did everything he could to get her back — and he did. “And they’ve been a great family ever since,” said his friend, Eddie Las Marias, who grew up with Cabacoy.

The couple had a son together, Aidan.

Cabacoy, 30, of Virginia Beach, Va. was killed July 5 in Kandahar, Afghanistan, when a homemade bomb exploded near his vehicle. He was assigned to Fort Drum. He graduated from Tallwood High School in 1997 and studied engineering at Old Dominion University before joining the Army in 2000.

Cabacoy was known as a jokester who had a great sense of humor. His friend Jacki Harris said she named her son after him — except it was spelled “Kristopher.” When Cabacoy found out, he had a joking, smart-alecky response. Which was exactly what she expected.

“He said, ‘What, you couldn’t think of a more original name?’” she said.

In his final posting on Facebook before he was killed, Cabacoy was optimistic despite what he said was a “hard month.”

“… to my love tami … i love you and can’t wait to see you … aidan, keep growing and be good!”

Army Pfc. Jacob A. Dennis

Died July 3, 2010 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom

22 year old Jacob Dennis, of Powder Springs, Ga.; assigned to the 4th Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.; died July 3 at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Landstuhl, Germany, of injuries sustained June 30 in a weapons system accident at Forward Operating Base Lane, Afghanistan.

Fallen private remembered for positive attitude

The Associated Press

Pfc. Jacob Dennis enjoyed cooking and knew how to bake a delectable cheesecake, according to his family.

The resident of Powder Springs, Ga., had been involved in Boy Scouts and youth ministry at Roswell Street Baptist Church. He graduated from North Cobb Christian School in Kennesaw, where he played soccer and ran track. He also was involved in theater and the school band.

“Jacob was very much a people person,” said his aunt Beth Wright. “You couldn’t meet him and not love him. I never in my life can remember a time where Jacob had a bad attitude about anything.”

Dennis, 22, died July 3 in Landstuhl, Germany, of injuries sustained June 30 in a weapons system accident in Zabul province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state, where he met his wife, Allysha. They married in June 2009.

He was supposed to come home at the end of July. His wife said he could have come home sooner but wanted to stay with his fellow soldiers.

“He loved the guys he was with like brothers,” she said.

Dennis had briefly gone to culinary school at Chattahoochee Tech before enlisting in the military.

Survivors include his parents, a brother and a sister.

Army Capt. Gregory T. Dalessio

Died June 23, 2008 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

30 year old Gregory Dalessio, of Cherry Hill, N.J.; assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Baumholder, Germany; died June 23 in Baghdad of wounds sustained in Salman Pak, Iraq, when his patrol encountered small arms fire during combat operations. Also killed was Pfc. Bryan M. Thomas.

Cherry Hill soldier loved family, God

By George Mast

(Cherry Hill, N.J.) Courier-Post

Those who knew Greg Dalessio are quick to point out two traits in his life — his love for his family and his faith in God.

These foundations were echoed throughout the funeral mass of Capt. Gregory Dalessio, 30, on Wednesday. Dalessio died June 23 in Baghdad, Iraq from injuries suffered in an attack that day during his second tour of duty.

The Cherry Hill native was laid to rest with full military parade in Colestown Ceremony following the morning service at St. Peter Celestine Church on Kings Highway.

“When thinking of Greg only one word comes to mind — family,” his younger brother Nicholas Pagano shared during the service.

Dalessio was the oldest of eight children.

“There are few things left in this world that can not be measured and Greg’s love for his family remains one of those things,” Nicholas said.

Greg’s brother Daniel Pagano read a letter to the approximately 400 gathered at the parish that his brother had sent from Iraq two days after Thanksgiving.

In the letter Greg said he was writing to his family in the place of Christmas presents and took time to individually thank each one for their impact on his life. The letter drew laughter at times and moments of silence at others as family members fought back tears

Greg described one sister as giving the best hugs in the world and to a brother he attributed the title “king of love.”

To his mother Maureen Pagano, Greg wrote, “You are my favorite person in the world.”

He went on to say that he only hoped to one day become half the parent his mother had been to him and his siblings.

While Dalessio will never get that chance, Father Thomas Newton, the pastor of St. Peter Celestine, where Dalessio was an active member, pointed out that he had already impacted all of their lives.

“Think about the good that he has brought into your life,” he said.

Newton said to observe Dalessio’s life of love and service is to see an example of Jesus himself.

Dalessio was raised in the Knollwood section and graduated from Bishop Eustace Prep School in Pennsauken in 1996. He was fatally shot June 23 as he emerged from a weekly reconstruction meeting with Iraqi officials. A second U.S. soldier, Pfc. Bryan M. Thomas, was also killed in the attack.

In the moments after the shooting Dalessio’s captain held him in his arms and told Dalessio he loved him, Newton said, adding that moments later Dalessio was handed into the arms of God.

Military representatives presented Dalessio’s family with the Purple Heart, Bronze Star and Combat Infantry Badge at the close of the service.

The flag draped coffin was escorted to Colestown Cemetery by around 30 members of the New Jersey Patriot Guard Riders. The bikers, comprised mostly of veterans, lined the front of the parish before the service with U.S. flags.

Several members of the military who served with Dalessio were present on Wednesday.

Lt. Col. Jeff Grable, described Delassio, who served under him in Iraq in 2006, as a man with exceptional character.

“He got tough jobs done and I didn’t have to check up on him,” Grable said.

While Delassio’s leadership and personality set him apart from others, Grable referred back to the familiar traits as to what stood out most in Delassio’s life.

“There was no questioning Greg’s faith and Greg’s love for his family and his friends,” he said.” There wasn’t anybody that did not know about Greg’s family.

Army Staff Sgt. Tyler E. Pickett

Died June 8, 2008 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

28 year old Tyler Pickett, of Saratoga, Wyo.; assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, N.Y.; died June 8 of wounds sustained when his unit was attacked by enemy forces using improvised explosive devices.

Wyoming soldier killed in Iraq

The Associated Press

SARATOGA, Wyo. — A soldier from Saratoga who died in Iraq this weekend was remembered by his mother as a dedicated serviceman who looked forward one day to retiring to the Wyoming mountains.

The Department of Defense announced Wednesday that Staff Sgt. Tyler E. Pickett died Sunday in Kirkuk Province. He was killed by enemy forces using an improvised explosive device.

Pickett was assigned to the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum, N.Y.

Pickett’s mother, Saratoga resident Sheri Peterson, said her 28-year-old son was killed in a suicide bombing that also injured 18 other people. Pickett was on his second tour in Iraq and had also served in Afghanistan.

Pickett is survived by his wife, Kristy, of Antwerp, N.Y., and her two children, Peterson said. The couple celebrated their second anniversary in February.

Pickett was born in Rice Lake, Wis., and moved to Saratoga, in south-central Wyoming, at the age of 14.

“When you move to a small town, sometimes it’s hard to acclimate,” Peterson said. “That didn’t happen here. He was friends with everyone. It didn’t matter where he was, he always touched someone’s life.”

Pickett graduated from Saratoga High School in 1999 and enlisted in the military about a year later, Peterson said. She said serving in the military was always a part of Pickett’s plan.

“He knew what he wanted long before most kids do,” she said.

Peterson said her son came from a family with a history of military service.

“My son’s job was to protect his country, and when you protect your country, you put your life on the line every day; just like a police officer does, just like a fireman does,” Peterson said.

Pickett’s survivors include his father, Ed Pickett, of Rice Lake, and other family members in Wyoming. Peterson said funeral services are planned in Saratoga, Antwerp, N.Y., and Minnesota.

Soldier killed in Iraq given hero’s funeral

The Associated Press

ANTWERP, N.Y. — Family and friends gathered at an upstate New York church for the funeral of a fallen soldier.

Staff Sgt. Tyler Pickett was killed June 8 in Iraq’s Kirkuk Province when his unit was attacked with an improvised explosive device.

Pickett’s commanders remembered him Wednesday during services at St. Michael’s Catholic Church as “not just a soldier. He was a leader of soldiers.”

Pickett was from Wyoming and lived in Antwerp for only a few years. But he was a well-known and well-liked member of the tight-knit community just outside the U.S. Army’s Fort Drum, the home of the 10th Mountain Division, in which Pickett served.

Pickett was supposed to be home on leave when he died, but his homecoming was delayed until June 30.

He is survived by his wife and two stepchildren.

Saratoga mourns fallen soldier

The Associated Press

SARATOGA, Wyo. — Mourners gathered in Saratoga on Monday to honor Staff Sgt. Tyler E. Pickett, a former Saratoga resident who was killed in action in Iraq earlier this month.

The 28-year-old was remembered as a dedicated soldier who made a big impression on the southern Wyoming town during his years there.

Pickett was killed in a suicide bombing on June 8 during his second tour in Iraq, the military said. He had also served in Afghanistan.

“Tyler died doing what he hired up to do and that’s the way he looked at it,” said Pickett’s grandfather, Jim Peterson, who traveled from Elysian, Minn.

Pickett was assigned to the Army’s 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum, N.Y. He was buried at a formal military service in New York earlier this month.

Pickett, who most recently lived in Antwerp, N.Y. with his wife Kristy and her two children, planned to retire to Wyoming, Kristy Pickett said.

She said being a soldier was more than a career to her husband.

“It was something he was passionate about,” Kristy Pickett said in a story in Tuesday editions of the Rawlins Daily Times. “He made a choice to help people and he did a good job. You just have to honor that decision of his.”

Nancy Vargas, Pickett’s English teacher at Saratoga High School, said she felt a mixture of sadness and pride about her former student’s death.

“If you didn’t like Tyler, well, you just didn’t like people,” Vargas said. “He left his footprints all over this valley and all over our hearts.”

U.S. Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., also attended the event. Barrasso said he’d never met the fallen soldier, but “just in visiting with both his wife and his mother today, I know the great love that he had for this state.”

The Platte Valley community did much of the organizing for Monday’s memorial service, said Sheri Peterson, Tyler Pickett’s mother.

“Tyler’s military motto is deeds not words,” she said. “That motto would be appropriate for the valley.”

Army Master Sgt. Brian Naseman

Died May 22, 2009 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

36 year old Brian Naseman, of New Bremen, Ohio; assigned to the 108th Forward Support Company, attached to 2nd Battalion, 127th Infantry, 32nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Sussex, Wis.; died May 22 in Taji, Iraq of a noncombat-related incident.

Wife remembers fallen husband

The Associated Press

CALEDONIA, Wis. — A Racine soldier who was killed in Iraq last week was always a comic, the life of the party whose two young sons adored and idolized him, his wife said.

Sgt. 1st Class Brian K. Naseman died May 22 of injuries described as noncombat-related, according to the Department of Defense.

Peggy Naseman said their boys, ages 9 and 7, wanted to be just like their father.

“They wanted to be career military just like their dad,” Naseman said Monday. “They knew that what he was doing was a good cause.”

Now they don’t understand why he won’t be coming home, she said.

Brian Naseman, 36, was assigned to the 108th Forward Support Company, attached to 2nd Battalion, 127th Infantry, 32nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team out of Sussex.

He died in a rural region 20 miles north of Baghdad, where he was stationed with the Wisconsin Army National Guard. Military officials are still investigating the circumstances surrounding his death.

He was born to serve, Peggy Naseman said, always ready to give. He would help a friend or neighbor at any time, day or night.

“I can’t even tell you how many lives Brian has changed,” she said. “If you needed something, he was there.”

Friends and neighbors spent Memorial Day with Peggy Naseman, helping around the house and tying yellow ribbons around the trees in their yard.

Brian Naseman grew up in Ohio and met his future wife at a barn dance, where he taught her to line dance. Sparks didn’t immediately fly, but Peggy Naseman soon realized how funny he was.

When he moved from Ohio to Wisconsin, he transferred from the Ohio National Guard to the Wisconsin National Guard, with which he served one tour of duty in Kuwait before his stint in Iraq.

Peggy Naseman said she still doesn’t know when she can plan a funeral for her husband of 10 years. She was told his body might be returned to the U.S. as soon as this week.

The last time the Naseman family was together was in April when Peggy Naseman and the boys traveled to New Mexico to see Brian Naseman before he shipped off to Iraq.

They spent one of their final days together on a hot-air balloon.

“We got as close to heaven as we wanted to be at the time,” Peggy Naseman said.

Nasemen never turned his back on others

The Associated Press

Brian Naseman never explained to his wife exactly why he wanted to join the military. He just did. He was a born leader, Peggy Naseman said.

When he moved from Ohio to Wisconsin, he transferred from the Ohio National Guard to the Wisconsin National Guard, with which he served two tours of duty, once in Kuwait and most recently in Iraq.

Brian would help a friend or neighbor at any time, day or night.

“I can’t even tell you how many lives Brian has changed. If you needed something, he was there,” she said.

Naseman, 36, of Racine, Wis., died May 22 in a noncombat-related incident in a rural region about 20 miles north of Baghdad.

He also is survived by two sons, Cole, 9, and Carter, 7. Naseman grew up in Ohio and met his future wife at a barn dance, where he taught her to line dance.

The Naseman family was last together in April when Peggy and the boys traveled to Albuquerque, N.M., to say goodbye to Brian before he shipped off to Iraq.

They spent one of their final days together on a hot air balloon.

“We got as close to heaven as we wanted to be at the time,” Peggy Naseman said.

Army Cpl. Michael J. Anaya

Died April 12, 2009 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

23 year old Michael Anaya, of Crestview, Fla.; assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; died April 12 in Mosul, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle.

Always envisioned serving in military

The Associated Press

Michael J. Anaya had dreams of being in the military since he was a little boy. His family said he’d don a uniform to pretend he was a soldier.

“He knew the risk, and he said that’s what he loved and that’s what his life was meant for,” said Katie Rowe, who is engaged to his older brother, Carmelo Jr. “He has, ever since he was 5 years old, known that’s what he wanted to do.”

Anaya, 23, of Crestview, Fla., died April 12 in Bayji when his truck drove over a roadside bomb. He was assigned to Schofield Barracks.

“It didn’t take long for someone to become best friends with Anaya,” said Pfc. Daniel Hicks. “He was always laughing and making everyone around have a great time.”

Lt. Col. Raul E. Gonzalez said, “His courage, compassion and character have left an indelible mark on the men of this battalion.”

Anaya loved fishing, cooking on the grill and fighting for his country.

“He had a switch where he could go from Anaya to Anayalator,” said Sgt. Daniel Demuth. “When he got in that uniform and he flipped that switch into soldier mode, he was a force to be reckoned with.”

He is survived by his parents, Carmelo Sr. and Cheryl.

Army Spc. Israel Candelaria Mejias

Died April 5, 2009 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

28 year old Israel Mejias, of San Lorenzo, Puerto Rico; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment, 172nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Grafenwoehr, Germany; died April 5 in Balad Ruz, Iraq, of wounds sustained when a mine detonated near him during combat operations.

Dignified transfer ceremony opened

By Randall Chase

The Associated Press

DOVER, Del. — On a cold April night, under a bright moon, the body of Army Specialist Israel Candelaria Mejias arrived at Dover Air Force Base in a flag-draped aluminum case.

Mejias, of San Lorenzo, Puerto Rico, was killed by an improvised explosive device Sunday while serving in Iraq.

His return Tuesday marked the second time this week members of the media were allowed to witness a U.S. combat casualty being brought back from overseas, ending the Pentagon’s 18-year ban on such coverage.

Mejias’ body arrived shortly before 8:30 p.m. aboard a C-17 military cargo jet from Ramstein, Germany.

A little more than hour later, an eight-member team from the Army’s Old Guard in Washington, D.C., slowly walked up the rear ramp of the C-17 and into the cargo hold, where an advance team from the military mortuary at Dover stood quiet sentinel over the fallen soldier’s body.

Following the white-gloved carry team were Col. Robert Edmondson, commander of the mortuary affairs operations, chaplain Maj. Klavens Noel, and Brig. Gen. Walter Davis, director of Army aviation.

Davis and Edmondson bowed their heads as Noel recited a brief prayer. The carry team then gently picked up the case bearing the soldier’s body and carried it to a waiting vehicle for transport to the mortuary, where it will be processed and returned to the family.

Tuesday’s event took only about 12 minutes, roughly half the time needed for the dignified transfer of the body of Air Force Staff Sgt. Phillip Myers, which arrived late Sunday aboard a contract Boeing 747 and had to be lowered about 20 feet to the tarmac. Myers, 30, of Hopewell, Va., was killed by an IED in Afghanistan.

While both families consented to media coverage of the return of their loved ones, neither consented to be photographed or interviewed.

The media ban was put in place by President George H.W. Bush in 1991, during the Persian Gulf War. From the start, it was cast as a way to shield grieving families.

But critics argued the government was trying to hide the human cost of war. President Barack Obama asked for a review, resulting in a policy under which families of fallen service members will decide whether to allow media coverage of their return. If several bodies arrive on the same flight, news coverage will be allowed only for those whose families have given permission.

Mejias was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment in Task Force 3rd Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment, 172nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Grafenwoehr, Germany.

‘Always had a smile on his face’

The Associated Press

Sgt. Erick Dybvig remembered Israel Candelaria Mejias’ love of martial arts.

“I don’t think there is a guy in third platoon that hasn’t been kicked by him at some point,” his friend wrote in a letter.

Candelaria, 28, of San Lorenzo, Puerto Rico, died April 5 after a mine detonated during combat operations near Baghdad. He was assigned to Grafenwoehr, Germany.

“If there was anyone you could count on to lift your spirits, it was him. He always had a smile on his face and a joke at hand,” Dybvig said.

Capt. Daniel Godbey, who served as Candelaria’s company commander for 14 months, remembered him for the same reason.

“It didn’t matter what was going on, he always had a smile on his face, whether he was goofing around or intently focused on the task at hand.”

He is survived by his wife, Angela. Dybvig recalled that Candelaria would do anything for his wife.

“If you ever got the chance to see the two of them together, you would know how much they loved each other,” Dybvig said. “He spared no expense to make her happy and to better the lives of his family.”

Army Sgt. Eugene Williams

Died March 29, 2003 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

24 year old Eugene Williams, of Highland, N.Y.; assigned to 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.; killed in a suicide car-bombing near Najaf, Iraq.

Father of one was expecting second child in June

From wire reports

All Eugene Williams wanted was a little home cooking.

That’s what his older sister, Lori Ackert, remembers most from a letter he sent her. It arrived Saturday, March 29. “He was very optimistic — he wrote that he couldn’t wait to come home so he could cook us some good food,” she told the Poughkeepsie (N.Y.) Journal.

Just hours earlier, Williams had been among the four soldiers killed by the suicide car bomber near Najaf in south-central Iraq.

A laid-back man with a love for soulful R&B music, Williams, 24, had planned to finish a demo tape showcasing his singing. Although he aspired to fame, to family and friends in Highland, N.Y., in the Hudson River valley, it was enough that he was a good guy.

Carl Relyea, his football coach at Highland High School, said Williams easily stood out. “He was a good student and a dedicated and loyal football player. That was who he was to his teammates. I guess he continued that later in life.”

Williams was married to Brandy Delacruz Williams and lived in Hawaii. They have a 3-year-old daughter, Mya, and were expecting a second child in June.

Brandy Williams told NBC’s Today show Monday that she will tell her children their father gave his life for his country. “And even though he’s not here, he loves them with all his heart, and that he’s always going to be our hero,” she said.

She last spoke to her husband on March 15, before the first bombs fell in the war. He told her that he wouldn’t be able to call for a while but that he was mailing letters to his girls.

Army Pvt. Tyler J. Smith

Died March 21, 2008 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

22 year old Tyler Smith, of Bethel, Maine; assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.; died Mar. 21 at Forward Operating Base Falcon near Baghdad of wounds sustained when the base received indirect fire.

Maine soldier killed in Iraq

The Associated Press

BETHEL, Maine — A 22-year-old soldier from Bethel has become the latest Maine service member killed in Iraq.

The Defense Department announced Monday that Army Pvt. Tyler Smith died Friday of wounds received when his forward base near Baghdad received indirect fire. The Army would not elaborate on the circumstances, but a spokesman said indirect fire typically describes a mortar or rocket attack.

Smith, a 2004 graduate of Telstar Regional High School, was a combat engineer assigned to a unit of the 3rd Infantry Division.

A spokesman at Fort Stewart, Ga., said Smith joined the Army in December 2005 and arrived in Iraq around the end of November.

Gov. John Baldacci spoke with Smith’s parents, Martin and Wendy Smith. The governor said he will order that flags be lowered to half-staff on the day of the funeral.

“As a state, we join together and mourn the loss of another young soldier from Maine,” Baldacci said in a statement. “This is a terrible loss for his family, his friends and his community. We honor Private Smith’s sacrifice and will keep his family in our hearts and prayers.”

Members of Maine’s congressional delegation also issued statements honoring Smith’s sacrifice and mourning his loss.

Martin and Wendy Smith could not be reached for comment.

Telstar’s dean of students, Charles Raymond, remembered Tyler Smith as a “straight-shooter” who was fun-loving but responsible. “He was a leader among his peers,” Raymond said.

Smith, who excelled in industrial arts, had worked with his father in construction and was very knowledgeable about that field, the school official said.

Smith died two days before The Associated Press tally of the death toll of U.S. military forces and civilians working for the military in Iraq reached 4,000.

Army Staff Sgt. Dwayne P.R. Lewis

Died February 27, 2006 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

26 year old Dwayne Lewis, of New York City; assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y.; killed Feb. 27 when his unit was attacked by enemy forces using small-arms fire during a dismounted patrol in Baghdad.

* * * * *

Infantryman laid to rest in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Mobile Register / Associated Press

MOBILE, Ala. — The funeral of a Mobile soldier killed in Iraq will be held in New York, where he grew up.

Army Staff Sgt. Dwayne Peter Lewis, 26, was killed Feb. 27 while on patrol with his unit in Baghdad.

His wife, Sgt. April Foster Lewis, also a veteran of the Iraq war, had initially said her husband’s funeral would be held in her hometown of Mobile. But the family decided to hold services at the St. Pascal Baylon Church in St. Albans, N.Y., about 10 miles east of Brooklyn, on Sunday.

The burial will follow at Long Island National Cemetery in Farmingdale, N.Y., with full military honors.

Lewis was born on the Caribbean island of Grenada, but moved to Brooklyn with his mother when he was a small child. He later became a naturalized U.S. citizen. The couple married Jan. 5, 2003.

Lewis was a member of the 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, based at Fort Drum, N.Y.

* * * * *

Grenada native dies on patrol in Baghdad

MOBILE, Ala. — Army Staff Sgt. Dwayne Peter Lewis was killed while on patrol with his unit in Baghdad, his wife said.

Sgt. April Foster Lewis of Mobile said her husband, a native of Grenada who grew up in Brooklyn, N.Y., was killed Monday.

Military officials confirmed the death but did not immediately release details. He was a member of the 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, based at Fort Drum, N.Y.

April Foster Lewis, also an Iraq war veteran, said two soldiers came to her parents’ home at about 11 a.m. Tuesday to report his death.

Lewis, 23, said her husband was born on the Caribbean island of Grenada but moved to Brooklyn with his mother when he was a small child. She said he later became a naturalized U.S. citizen.

After their marriage on Jan. 5, 2003, she said, “he started calling Mobile his ‘home”’ because he was no longer in contact with his own family, instead visiting her family in Mobile.

His wife, who had returned to her base at Fort Bragg, N.C., to make funeral arrangements, told the Mobile Register that the funeral will be in Mobile but that arrangements were incomplete.

She said her husband had been in Iraq since August.

— Associated Press

Army Cpl. Kevin S. Mowl

Died February 25, 2008 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

22 year old Kevin Mowl, of Pittsford, N.Y.; assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.; died Feb. 25 at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., of wounds sustained in Baghdad, Iraq, on Aug. 2, 2007, when the vehicle he was in encountered an improvised explosive device.

Soldier dies 6 months after being hurt in Iraq

The Associated Press

PITTSFORD, N.Y. — A western New York soldier wounded six months ago in an explosion in Iraq has died in a military hospital in Maryland.

Army Cpl. Kevin Mowl of the Rochester suburb of Pittsford was 22 when he died Monday at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda.

Mowl suffered multiple broken bones and a head injury Aug. 2 when a roadside bomb flipped his vehicle in Baghdad. Three others died, and 11 soldiers and an interpreter were injured.

President Bush presented Mowl with a Purple Heart and a Presidential Medallion at the hospital in December.

Mowl recently suffered a serious infection after part of his feeding tube broke and perforated his intestines.

Since Mowl was injured, his family has kept a Web page chronicling his recovery. The page, which received more than 70,000 visits in six months, will include funeral plans once they are made.

Mowl was sent to Iraq in June 2006 and patrolled with Alpha Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team based at Fort Lewis, Wash.

Soldier wanted to work in conflict resolution

The Associated Press

Last year while on leave, Army Spc. Kevin S. Mowl visited the Rochester School for the Deaf, where his father was superintendent. He told the students about Iraq, his sense of purpose, and how he handed out candy to children.

Some students were thrilled to meet him in person and impressed with his sign language. “We don’t know a lot of soldiers here,” said Derrick Behm, a senior. “We are all deaf, and we can’t be soldiers. We don’t get to meet those kind of people very often.”

Mowl, 22, of Pittsford, N.Y., died Feb. 25 at the National Naval Medical Center of wounds he suffered in Baghdad on Aug. 2, 2007, when his vehicle was struck by an explosive. He was assigned to Fort Lewis.

Mowl loved to drive around in the family’s yellow Toyota Celica.

He started karate as a youngster and earned a black belt in his teens.

He wanted to become a teacher, but had picked up some Arabic and thought he could build a career out of conflict resolution, said his father, Harold Mowl Jr. “I often hear that when boys go into the Army, they come out as men. Kevin was a perfect example of that.”

He also is survived by his mother, Mary.

Army Capt. Brian M. Bunting

Died February 24, 2009 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom

29 year old Brian Bunting, of Potomac, Md.; assigned to the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, New York National Guard, Syracuse, N.Y.; died Feb. 24 in Kandahar, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. Also killed were Sgt. Schuyler B. Patch, Sgt. Scott B. Stream and Sgt. Daniel J. Thompson.

Captain remembered for dedication, personality

Tim Simpson, director of admissions at Brian “Bubba” Bunting’s high school, described him as a man dedicated to three things — family, friends and country.

“You see pictures of him with a big, goofy smile on his face, and that was Bubba 99 percent of the time,” Simpson said. “Whoever came in contact with him felt that positive energy and what a unique and special individual he was.”

Bunting, 29, of Potomac, Md., was killed Feb. 24 by a roadside bomb in Kandahar. He was a 1998 high school graduate and was assigned to Syracuse, N.Y.

Bunting graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point with a degree in civil engineering in 2002, and also played lacrosse and intramural football.

Bunting, who was on his first combat tour as a ready reservist, was stationed in Korea for two and a half years and was later stationed at Fort Knox, serving as a company executive officer and commander.

“He’s just a great guy,” said his sister-in-law, Sue Bunting. “He just made everyone feel welcome and at ease.”

He is survived by his wife, Nicki, and his son Connor, 1.

Md. lowers flags to honor soldier

The Associated Press

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Gov. Martin O’Malley has ordered that the United States and state flags be flown at half staff in memory of a Montgomery County soldier killed in Afghanistan.

O’Malley ordered the flags be lowered March 16 in memory of Army Capt. Brian M. Bunting, who grew up in Potomac.

Bunting, 29, died Feb. 24 in Kandahar, Afghanistan, while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

The Department of Defense says Bunting was killed when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle.

Bunting was a member of the Individual Ready Reserve, assigned to the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Syracuse, N.Y.

Army Cpl. Zachary R. Nordmeyer

Died February 23, 2009 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

21 year old Zachary Nordmeyer, of Indianapolis; assigned to the 5th Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Fort Wainwright, Alaska; died Feb. 23 in Balad, Iraq, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms fire. Also killed were Cpl. Michael L. Mayne and Cpl. Micheal B. Alleman.

Soldier remembered for his leadership

By Will Higgins

Indianapolis Star

Pfc. Zachary R. Nordmeyer, who died Monday in a firefight with insurgents in Iraq, was remembered as a quiet person with the makings of a leader.

A graduate of Ben Davis High School, Nordmeyer, 21, was killed while patrolling on foot near the town of Balad, about 70 miles north of Baghdad. He and other soldiers came under attack from small-arms fire.

He was the second graduate of the Ben Davis High School JROTC program to be killed in combat in Iraq.

“He was a very goal-oriented young man,” recalled Ben Davis Principal Joel McKinney, “and wanted to be in the armed forces and wanted to develop his leadership skills.”

Two other soldiers were killed in Monday’s attack: Cpl. Michael L. Mayne, 21, Burlington Flats, N.Y., and Spc. Michael B. Alleman, 31, Logan, Utah. The Pentagon released no further details about the incident.

Lt. Col. Dave Thompson, a retired Marine who runs Ben Davis’ JROTC program, taught Nordmeyer for three years and recalled his student’s transformation from follower to leader.

“There’s quiet leadership, and he was pretty strong at that early,” Thompson said. “But by his senior year, he kind of came out of his shell. He wasn’t afraid to encourage younger students to develop as cadets and do their best.”

Jim Sheads, who coached Nordmeyer in baseball one summer, recalled a boy who craved action.

“He played second base for me,” Sheads said. “He was just suited for second base — not a real strong arm, and he loved the busyness of the infield.”

Nordmeyer joined the Army in July 2007, two months out of high school, and was sent to Iraq in September for a 12-month tour.

He is the 132nd soldier, sailor or Marine with Indiana ties to die in Iraq or Afghanistan and the 12th from Indianapolis. Overall, the fighting has claimed more than 4,800 U.S. troops.

The other Ben Davis grad, 19-year-old Army Pvt. Jesse Halling, died June 7, 2003, in an attack on a military police station in Tikrit.

About 150 students at Ben Davis are in the JROTC program; about 15 a year join the military upon graduation.

Thompson, who has taught JROTC at the high school since 1999, said the deaths of Nordmeyer and Halling bring the risks of service into focus.

“It doesn’t make me question our mission, but it definitely gives me a different perspective in talking to the kids about what they’re getting into. You don’t want them going into the military without understanding the ramifications.”

Nordmeyer’s death came a day before administration officials announced U.S. combat troops would be withdrawn from Iraq by August 2010.

Violence has fallen dramatically in Iraq, and this month Nordmeyer’s brigade commander reported that troops were encountering little combat.

“They came here expecting it to be more of a fight,” Col. Burt Thompson said in a conference call from Iraq on Feb. 9.

Nordmeyer was assigned to the 5th Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division from Fort Wainwright, Alaska. Among its soldiers is Pfc. Track Palin, son of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. * * * * *

Memorial held at Wainwright for fallen soldiers

The Associated Press

FORT WAINWRIGHT, Alaska — Soldiers from Indiana, New York and Utah who were killed in Iraq were remembered at a memorial service.

The memorial at Fort Wainwright Tuesday was for Pfc. Zachary R. Nordmeyer, Cpl. Michael L. Mayne and Spc. Micheal B. Alleman. The three were killed Feb. 23 by small arms fire during an attack in Balad.

The 21-year-old Nordmeyer was from Indianapolis. He was an infantryman, as was Alleman, a 31-year-old from Logan, Utah. The 21-year-old Mayne was a cavalry scout from Burlington Flats, N.Y.

The three were assigned to Fort Wainwright’s 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry.

Speakers at the memorial included Staff Sgt. Matthew Burns, the rear detachment commander of the 5-1 Cavalry Squadron. He knew the men well.

“They were truly heroes in every sense of the word,” he said.

Several hundred people attended the ceremony, including Lt. Hans Rohr, who was in the same gun fight that claimed the lives of his three friends. Rohr wore a cast on his left hand.

“No matter how bad we have it, there are family members who lost husbands, brothers and sons,” he said. “We’ll stick together. We’ll hold up.”

Chaplain David Neetz said Alleman, a former teacher, had a special connection with Iraqi children, often giving them candy and pens to learn to write English.

“He had a very unique ability to connect with kids not only in the classroom, but in combat,” Neetz said.

Nordmeyer was remembered for his intense devotion to those closest to him. The chaplain said that when Nordmeyer’s former fiancée broke up with him in high school, Nordmeyer showered her with poetry, flowers and cards until she came back to him.

Mayne was known for having a disarming sense of humor. Burns said Mayne would often sing random songs such as “Eye of the Tiger” or Britney Spears hits to bring humor to a mundane situation.

“That was Mike Mayne in a nutshell,” he said. “But at the same time as a total professional soldier.”

Army Cpl. Zachary R. Nordmeyer remembered

The Associated Press

Lt. Col. Dave Thompson, who runs an JROTC program, taught Zachary R. Nordmeyer for three years and recalled his student’s transformation from follower to leader.

Nordmeyer, 21, of Indianapolis, was killed Feb. 23 in Balad when insurgents attacked his unit with small-arms fire. He was assigned to Fort Wainwright.

“Zach was such a good person. Zach loved me more than anything, and he would have given the shirt off his back to anyone who needed it,” said Nordmeyer’s fiancée, Christina Purdy.

Nordmeyer joined the Army in July 2007, two months out of high school, and was sent to Iraq in September for a 12-month tour.

Jim Sheads, who coached Nordmeyer in baseball one summer, recalled a boy who craved action. “He played second base for me,” Sheads said. “He was just suited for second base — not a real strong arm, and he loved the busyness of the infield.”

He is survived by his father, Michael.

Army Spc. Keisha M. Morgan

Died February 22, 2008 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

25 year old Keisha Morgan, of Washington, D.C.; assigned to the Division Special Troops Battalion, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas; died Feb. 22 in Baghdad, Iraq, of a non-combat-related cause.

Soldier who died in Iraq had just re-enlisted

The Associated Press

Diana Morgan described her daughter, Army Spc. Keisha M. Morgan, as a “very wonderful person” who liked to draw and to write poetry and planned to fulfill an ambition to become a nurse.

She had wanted to be a nurse “since she was very, very young,” her mother said.

Morgan, 25, of Washington, D.C., died Feb. 22 in Baghdad of a non-combat-related cause. Her mother said she suffered two seizures in her barracks.

She was born in Texas, where her father, Michael Morgan, was in the Army, and was raised in the District. Morgan was “very good in school,” and “teachers adored her,” her mother said. She was tall and slender, her mother said, and did some photo and runway modeling.

The Saturday before her death, she phoned her mother, saying: “Guess what I just did. I re-enlisted.” She was assigned to Fort Hood, Texas, and was on her second tour in Iraq.

Keisha Morgan “just wanted to do what she wanted to do,” and “she’d always tell me, I’m going to be OK,” her mother said. “I feel like my heart’s been broken since she’s been gone.”

Army Cpl. Chad D. Groepper

Died February 17, 2008 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

21 year old Chad Groepper, of Kingsley, Iowa; assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.; died Feb. 17 in Baqubah, Iraq, of wounds sustained when enemy forces attacked his dismounted patrol using small arms fire. Also killed was Cpl. Luke S. Runyan.

Army identifies 2 Fort Lewis soldiers killed in Iraq

The Associated Press

FORT LEWIS, Wash. — The Army has identified two Fort Lewis soldiers who were killed Feb. 17 in the Diyala province of Iraq when their patrol was attacked by small-arms fire.

Spc. Chad D. Groepper of Kingsley, Iowa, and Spc. Luke S. Runyan of Spring Grove, Pa., were both 21.

Both were members of the 2nd Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, and deployed in April 2007.

The Army released the identifications Feb. 19, a day after notifying families.

Families say that Groepper leaves behind a wife and 4-month-old daughter; Runyan leaves behind a wife and a 1-year-old daughter.

Family remember soldier’s sense of adventure

The Associated Press

Army Spc. Chad D. Groepper’s sister, Denae Erickson, laughed at the memory of how her baby brother once installed speakers in her car.

She had asked him to change the oil.

“Yeah, but doesn’t it sound great?” Groepper had asked her in return.

Groepper, 21, of Kingsley, Iowa, was killed Feb. 17 by small-arms fire in Diyala province, Iraq. He was 2004 high school graduate and was assigned to Fort Lewis, Wash.

“Chad taught us many things, but probably the most important was to never stop making things better,” said his sister.

Groepper was known to be adventurous. At his funeral, a tiny pair of his first cowboy boots were displayed. His casket was painted with racer’s flames.

“Chad was always the first one to step up and try something new,” said the Rev. John Battern. “But he had a quiet side to him, too — contemplative. He liked to think about things.”

Groepper’s family described him as having a warm personality.

“He loved working on cars, snowboarding, riding four-wheelers, anything that was high energy,” recalled his sister.

He also is survived by his wife, Stephanie, and their infant daughter, Clarissa.

Army Sgt. 1st Class Raymond J. Munden

Died February 16, 2009 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom

35 year old Raymond Munden, of Mesquite, Texas; assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.; died Feb. 16 at Forward Operating Base Tillman in Orgun-E, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit using indirect fire.

Longtime soldier was looking forward to final assignment, retirement

The Associated Press

Raymond J. Munden joined the Army in August 1991, only three months after graduating from high school. Growing up in a military family, he and his brother, Brad, both set their sights on serving their country at a young age.

Raymond joined the Army, and Brad joined the Navy.

“We both knew growing up that that’s what we wanted to do,” said Brad Munden. “He’s always had that passion.”

Munden, 35, of Mesquite, Texas, died Feb. 16 in Paktika province after insurgents attacked his unit. He was assigned to Fort Campbell.

His second tour in Afghanistan was his sixth overall, and he was hoping to work as an instructor at West Point until retirement after returning home. He also served in Somalia and Haiti.

“We were thinking he would never have to go back to war again,” said Dwaine Clark, the soldier’s stepfather.

Munden loved to play sports and participated on football and softball teams. He enjoyed spending time outdoors, especially with his family.

Munden is survived by his wife, Kelly their daughters, Sydney, 6, and Kailey, 2 and two sons from a previous marriage, Gaven, 13, and Garrett, 12.

Army Cpl. Michael T. Manibog

Died February 8, 2008 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

31 year old Michael Manibog, of Alameda, Calif.; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; died Feb. 8 in Taji, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device. Also killed were Sgt. Timothy P. Martin, Sgt. 1st Class Jerald A. Whisenhunt and Sgt. Gary D. Willett.

Four Hawaii-based soldiers killed in Iraq

The Associated Press

HONOLULU — The Army says four soldiers in the Stryker brigade based at Schofield Barracks died in Iraq after a roadside bomb hit their vehicle.

The soldiers died in the town of Taji on Feb. 8.

Two of the soldiers were from California: Spc. Michael T. Manibog, 31, of Alameda, and Sgt. Timothy P. Martin, 27, of Pixley.

Manibog and Marting both joined the Army three years ago.

Staff Sgt. Jerald A. Whisenhunt, 32, of Orrick, Mo., and Sgt. Gary D. Willett, 34, of Alamogordo, N.M., also died. Whisenhunt joined the Army in 2000 and Willett joined in 1995.

The four were assigned to the 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team in the 25th Infantry Division.

Sen. Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii, issued a statement saying the soldiers were part of “our island ohana,” or family.

“I salute these four brave soldiers for their service and sacrifice in a dangerous place far from home,” Inouye said. “We owe them a debt of gratitude that can never be repaid.”

The fatal attack was the second involving Hawaii’s Stryker brigade, which deployed in November and December with 4,000 soldiers and over 300 Stryker vehicles.

The first unit’s first combat fatality occurred Jan. 19 when Spc. Jon Michael Schoolcraft III, 26, of Wapakoneta, Ohio, died from wounds received when his Stryker vehicle struck an improvised explosive device.

The death, also in Taji, came four days after the brigade officially took over responsibility for that area of Iraq, which is northwest of Baghdad.

Soldier killed by roadside bomb remembered as a joker

The Associated Press

Erwin Rodrillo owes Michael T. Manibog for introducing him to his wife.

Rodrillo had just returned from Iraq in 2004 after his second tour, and the two went to a restaurant and bar. Rodrillo saw a pretty woman but was drunk, so he asked Manibog to forward a note to her on his behalf.

“I gave it to Mike and said, ‘Hey, Mike, I’d really appreciate it if you gave this piece of paper to the lady,’ and now we’re married,” Rodrillo said.

Manibog, 31, of Alameda, Calif., was killed Feb. 8 by a roadside bomb in Taji, Iraq. He was a 1996 high school graduate and was assigned to Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.

Carla Dorotheo, a friend, recalled a man whose voice carried across the room and someone always joking around: “I will always remember him as being the comedian of the group. He made people smile, and he cared genuinely about his friends.”

Before enlisting, he worked at a Round Table Pizza and drove RVs part-time. He is survived by a 9-year-old son, Terrell.

“He had been through hard times in life, and he wanted to make a good living for his son,” said Brenda Reyes, Manibog’s former girlfriend and the mother of his son.