Memoriam

[Vulture6]

This thread is to remember the fallen... and the cost.

[Vulture6]

Marines mourn fallen leatherneck
Submitted by: 1st Marine Division
Story Identification #: 2004818372
Story by Cpl. Shawn C. Rhodes



MAHMUDIYAH, Iraq (Aug. 17, 2004) -- The morning sun was beginning to heat the concrete here Aug. 17 when the Marines of Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, gathered for something they hope they never would have to do - mourn one of their friends.

Lance Cpl. Nicholas B. Morrison, a TOW gunner with the battalion, was on the streets with Combined Anti-Armor Team Blue when the shrapnel from a roadside bomb ended his life Aug. 13. The Newville, Pa. native was 23 years old.

"Morrison had a contagious love of life," said Capt. George Nunez, of Miami, Fla., and Morrison's commanding officer. "During firefights he'd help Marines next to him having trouble. He'd flash a smile or say something to comfort them."

Morrison and his brothers in CAAT Blue had been through numerous roadside bombs and firefights together. August 13 proved to be something none of them expected.

"We thought it was going to be a normal mission. It turned out to be anything but," said Lance Cpl. Brian W. Lynch, Morrison's vehicle commander, of Hamilton, Ala. "I remember (Morrison) asked me once to speak at his funeral. I told him he was crazy."

Lynch spoke of all the things he wished he could have told Morrison before he died; all the things that now must go unsaid to his friend.

"If I could tell him something right now, it would be that he was a good friend and I love him," Lynch said.

One of Morrison's friends spoke of how he believed the young leatherneck's life was more important than his death.

"Some of the greatest people live the shortest lives and I think he was one of them," said Lance Cpl. Terrance G. Kilpatrick, a TOW gunner from Cleveland, Ohio. "It's not how he died, but how he lived that he'd want us to talk about. We should remember him and celebrate his life."

After the ceremony, many Marines gazed at the upturned rifle and bayonet stuck into sandbags with the ceremonial helmet and dog tags placed on it. Some embraced and consoled each other, remembering the passing of their comrade and friend. When the nature of their jobs requires them to lose one of their friends and go back to work a minute later, the ceremony offered them the rare opportunity to come together and remember how one of their friends died - and more importantly - lived.

Morrison is survived by his mother and father.





Marines from Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, grieve for their fallen comrade during a memorial service in Mahmudiyah, Iraq, Aug. 17. Lance Cpl. Nicholas B. Morrison was 23 years old when shrapnel from a roadside bomb took his life Aug. 13. (USMC Photo by Cpl. Shawn C. Rhodes)

[Vulture6]

A Marine's Marine: Brothers-in-arms, family, friends say goodbye
Submitted by: MCAGCC
Story Identification #: 2004823231959
Story by Sgt. Jennie Haskamp


MELBOURNE BEACH, Fla. (Aug. 12, 2004) -- Torrents of rain came just minutes after the graveside services were completed here, Aug 12.

"God just opened heaven for him," said one mourner, staring up into the dark clouds shrouding the cemetery. "Now he's home."

Hundreds of mourners attended the Florida funeral and burial services of Gunnery Sgt. Elia P. Fontecchio, Kilo Company gunnery sergeant, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines.

Fontecchio, a Milford, Mass., native was killed on patrol in Iraq's Al Anbar Province Aug. 4. Along with his wife, Kinney, and his 2-and-a-half-year-old son, Elia, Fontecchio, is survived by his parents, Dennis and Cindy of Satellite Beach, Fla., as well as three sisters and their families.

At the Aug. 11 wake, friends and family waited in line for nearly an hour to pay their respects to the man who'd touched their lives in so many ways.

Amidst the tears and whispers were quiet bouts of laughter as friends and family from Massachusetts, Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, New Mexico, California and other spots across the nation shared stories about Fontecchio.

Marines who'd served with Fontecchio during his 12-year career came to pay their respects and share their stories of the man they loved as well.

"This is not OK," said longtime friend Greg Hoesing, looking at the flag-draped casket sitting in front of the church. "Elia is my friend. He was a great husband, amazing father and an outstanding Marine, and this is not OK."

Hoesing, who served alongside Fontecchio in 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines, shared stories of Fontecchio's enormous love for his wife and young son as well as his family, his friends and his Marines.

He laughed through his tears, talking about his friend's tendency to play practical jokes, and implored everyone listening to ensure they appreciate why his friend died.

"He died for your freedom and for mine," said the former Marine and bodybuilder, gripping the podium, fighting tears. "Don't let his death be in vain."

Unable to attend the services were the Marines and Sailors of 3/7 still patrolling the border Iraq shares with Syria.

They were represented in a eulogy given by Capt. Buster O'Brien, Marine Corps Warfighting Lab, Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., who served with Fontecchio in Weapons Company, 3/7, during Operation Iraqi Freedom 1.

"I'm speaking here today on behalf of Gunny's brothers in 3/7," started O'Brien, fighting back tears. "I can tell you that though there are many of them here today, the vast majority could not be here-for they are paying their respect to their beloved Gunny by going back out on patrol and doing their job the way he taught them to-with courage, competence, discipline and, when necessary, a smile."

O'Brien, like those who spoke before him at Saint Sebastian's by the Sea in Melbourne Beach, shared stories depicting "Gunny"' as an incredible mentor, teacher, father, husband, friend and Marine.

The thing that made O'Brien's speech stand out were the words, penned by Fontecchio himself, weeks before his death and given to his friend and fellow Marine in Iraq, Capt. Jeremy Graczyk.

"I loved every one of you," Fontecchio wrote in a letter to be read in the event of his death. "You will forever be my brothers in arms."

Before he finished, and fighting for composure, O'Brien addressed young Elia, sitting in the pew next to his mother.

"Elia first of all, we'll have time later on to talk about your Daddy, and we will," he said, tears flowing again. "But today please know that your Daddy was truly a courageous warrior. We were overseas in combat, and at least once a day he took out pictures of you and said, 'Come on, you gotta admit it, is he the cutest kid you've ever seen?' He was so proud of you. You were literally the pride of his existence. He will always be with you. And whenever you need anything, just call on one of Gunny's brothers-in-arms."



MELBOURNE BEACH, Fla.-A member of the Orlando, Fla., Inspector Instructor Staff reads the citation for Gunnery Sgt. Elia P. Fontecchio's Purple Heart while another stands by, ensuring the flag isn't blown from his casket before the honor guard folds it for his widow. Mourners from across the nation attended the funeral and burial services here the day before Hurricane Charley made landfall. Photo by: Sgt. Jennie Haskamp

[Vulture6]

Marines pay last respects to fallen comrades in Ramadi
Submitted by: 1st Marine Division
Story Identification #: 200482365223
Story by Cpl. Veronika R. Tuskowski


CAMP BLUE DIAMOND, Iraq (Aug. 23, 2004) -- As the sun set Friday, casting a golden light upon a rifle with two sets of dangling dog tags, Marines with Company F, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, gathered to Camp Snake Pit to say goodbye to two of their fallen brothers.

Lance Corporals Jonathon W. Collins and Caleb J. Powers were each killed by a single shot from an enemy sniper while manning different observation posts in Ar Ramadi.

"Tonight we gather in memoriam for tribute to two fallen comrades, who were struck by unseen assassins," said Lt. Col. Paul Kennedy, battalion commander. "We have come to honor these fellow Marines who answered the country's call to duty, and represented the best of our Corps."

Twenty-year-old Collins, from Oak Lawn, Ill., was killed Aug. 8 at Observation Post "Ghetto" in the heart of Ar Ramadi. Powers, 21, from Alexandra, Va., was killed Aug. 17 while manning an observation post atop a seven-story building overlooking one of Ar Ramadi's main roadways.

Collins was described as a good Marine and good man by his platoon commander, 1st Lt. Ethan C. Taranta.

"He had confidence in his abilities that bordered on cockiness," Taranta said. "But he was justified in that confidence. He was a SAW gunner and considered himself to be the best in his platoon, if not the whole company. He was very, very good at his job."

What Taranta remembers most about Collins, was his sense of humor.

"He always had a joke or a smile no matter how tired he was, or how difficult the task was,' Taranta said. "I don't think I ever talked to him, with out walking away with a smile on my face."

With a little over a month left in Iraq before returning to the states, Collins compared his experience in Iraq with the game of football.

"A couple of days before he was killed, Collins said, 'In the game, the teams score most of their points in the first two minutes and the last two minutes. And right now we are in the last two minutes. Even though we are down a handful of Marines we still need to go out there and do our job and make it out of here safe and alive,'" said his close friend, Lance Cpl. Clark H. Davidson.

After several Marines shared their feelings about Collins, Powers' platoon commander, 1st Lt. Joseph M. Denman, stepped up to the podium and shared his thoughts.

"Words fall short of describing or consoling us in the loss we have experienced in the death of Lance Corporal Powers," said Denman. "And to Third Platoon, he was more than a friend. He was our brother in arms. For he lived, sacrificed and fought at our side taking equal share in the dangers and hardships in the past six months."

Friends of Powers knew of his love for his friends, family, farming and dirt bikes.

"If you knew Lance Corporal Powers, you knew he was all about wheat and farming," said his close friend, Lance Cpl. Taylor G. Wiley. "You could make fun of him about it all the time and he would take it like a champ.

"Right before he died, Lance Corporal Powers' last words were, 'Dirt bike riding is my life,'" said Wiley. "So we all like to think at that moment when Powers went, he was happy."

Collins is survived by his parents, Jack and Angela Collins, his two sisters and an older brother.

Powers is survived by his wife, Sarah Powers, and his sister.

The battalion commander said each of these Marines would be greatly missed, and gave some words of encouragement to the mourning Marines.

"Lance Corporals Collins and Powers are watching over us now," Kennedy said. "They will measure our devotion in the remaining month against their own sacrifices. We will not let them down."


A Marine pays respects to two lance corporals who were killed recently in Ar Ramadi. The memorial service for Lance Corporals Jonathan Collins and Caleb Powers was held at Camp Snake Pit, Aug. 20. (USMC photo by Cpl. Veronika R. Tuskowski)

Staff Sgt. Jason C. Petrakos with Company F, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, salutes an upturned rifle during a memorial service held at Camp Snake Pit in Ar Ramadi, Aug. 20. Lance Corporals Jonathan Collins and Caleb Powers were killed recently by terrorist snipers while manning two different observation posts. (USMC photo by Cpl. Veronika R. Tuskowski)

[Field_Sailor]

I stand tall and salute your sacrifice.

John 15:13

There is no greater Love than this, that a Man lay down His life for His Friends!

[USMCRET6391]

The fear of death is a pretense to wisdom
And not being real wisdom it is the pretense to know the unknowing
For who is to say, that death which we fear to be the greatest evil
Might not in fact, be the greatest good?

[Field_Sailor]

The Human Toll



Names of U.S. service members who died while supporting combat operations confirmed by the Defense Department Aug. 20-26:

Marine Lance Cpl. Alexander S. Arredondo, 20, Aug. 25, Najaf, Iraq.

Army Staff Sgt. Donald N. Davis, 42, Aug. 24, Fallujah, Iraq.

Marine Lance Cpl. Jacob R. Lugo, 21, Aug. 24, Husaybah, Iraq.

Army Staff Sgt. Robert C. Thornton Jr., 35, Aug. 23, Baghdad.

Marine Cpl. Christopher Belchik, 30, Aug. 22, Babil Province, Iraq.

Army 2nd Lt. Matthew R. Stovall, 25, Aug. 22, Mosul, Iraq.

Marine Cpl. Nicanor Alvarez, 22, Aug. 21, Anbar, Iraq.

Marine Sgt. Jason Cook, 25, Aug. 21, Anbar, Iraq.

Army Pfc. Kevin A. Cuming, 22, Aug. 21, Baghdad.

Marine Lance Cpl. Seth Huston, 19, Aug. 21, Anbar, Iraq.

Marine Gunnery Sgt. Edward T. Reeder, 32, Aug. 21, Anbar, Iraq.

Marine Pfc. Nachez Washalanta, 21, Aug. 21, Anbar, Iraq.

Army Pfc. Ryan A. Martin, 22, Aug. 20, Samarra, Iraq.

Army 1st Lt. Charles L. Wilkins III, 38, Aug. 20, Samarra, Iraq.

Marine Cpl. Brad P. McCormick, 23, Aug. 19, Anbar, Iraq.

Marine Lance Cpl. Dustin R. Fitzgerald, 22, Aug. 18, Anbar, Iraq.

Marine Sgt. Richard M. Lord, 24, Aug. 18, Anbar, Iraq.

Army Spc. Jacob D. Martir, 21, Aug. 18, Sadr City, Iraq.

Marine Sgt. Harvey E. Parkerson III, 27, Aug. 18, Anbar, Iraq.

Army Pfc. Henry C. Risner, 26, Aug. 18, Baghdad.Marine Lance Cpl. Caleb J. Powers, 21, Aug. 17, Ramadi, Iraq.


U.S. service members reported captured while supporting combat operations confirmed by the Defense Department:

Army Spc. Keith M. Maupin, 20, April 9, Iraq.


Operation Iraqi Freedom casualty totals as reported by the Defense Department:

March 19, 2003-Aug. 26, 2004

Killed: 966

Wounded in action: 6,690


Aug. 20-26

Killed: 19

Wounded in action: 193


Operation Enduring Freedom casualty totals as reported by the Defense Department:


Oct. 10, 2001-Aug. 26, 2004

Killed: 135

Wounded in action: 360


Aug. 20-26

Killed: 0

Wounded in action: 4


Editor’s note: In any given week, figures for service members killed usually do not match the number of names confirmed as combat deaths. This mainly is because a lag of several days or more may occur between a death and identification of the deceased to allow for notification of next of kin and other factors. Also, the two sets of figures reflect different reporting time frames; the casualty statistics are reported daily as of 10 a.m. Washington time, while names of the deceased continue to be reported throughout the day.

May God keep you all, brothers.

[Vulture6]

Truck Company Marine given last respects
Submitted by: 1st Marine Division
Story Identification #: 200491541817
Story by Lance Cpl. Graham Paulsgrove


During a memorial ceremony at Camp Blue Diamond Sept. 9, Lance Cpl. Derek L. Gardner, motor transport operator, Truck Company, Headquarters Battalion was honored and remembered. Marines came forward to pay their respects and were often struck by the loss of their fallen brother. A vehicle-born improvised explosive device hit Gardner during a recent convoy. (Official USMC photo by SSgt. Nathaniel Garcia)


CAMP BLUE DIAMOND, Iraq (Sept. 9, 2004) -- The mood was somber and little noise was made as the Marines gathered to pay their last respects.

Marines and Sailors entered the chapel here Sept. 9 to mourn the loss of their fallen brother in arms, Lance Cpl. Derek L. Gardner, motor transport operator, Truck Company, Headquarters Battalion, 1st Marine Division.

During a supply convoy on Sept. 6, a sedan swerved underneath Gardner's 7-ton truck detonating simultaneously. The severity of the blast killed Gardner.

When Gardner, an Orange County, Calif., native, turned 18 he followed in his father's footsteps and enlisted in the Marine Corps. He turned 20 Aug. 9.

"Lance Cpl. Gardner went to a foreign land to bring freedom, to its people and to protect our great nation," said Capt. Terence M. Connelly, commanding officer, Truck Company. "In order to defend and serve his country, he left his loved ones."

Gardner's passion extended beyond his country, he was known as a hard worker and one who cared greatly about those to his left and right.

"Despite his short time in the Corps, he was a Marine fellow Marines went to for help. He led quietly yet noticeably," said Connelly. "Even before he went on his first deployment, he had earned the reputation as a hard worker who was eager to take on the difficult jobs."

For Gardner's hard work, he had been nominated for a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for professional achievement during combat operations in Operation Iraqi Freedom II.

"He laid down his life for his nation and each one of us," said Connelly. "We honor him by performing our duties in the same manner he did, with selflessness and determination."

Gardner's commanding officer reflected on a day where Gardner stood out amongst his comrades.

"He fit my picture of the typical tough young Marine," said Connelly. "He was dirty, he was tired and he was pissed off. But I could tell he loved his buddies, he loved being a truck driver and he loved being a Marine."

Gardner made the ultimate sacrifice for his country and his service will not be forgotten.

"Lance Cpl. Gardner as you knew him, Derek as I knew him, was a great friend and he was also a great Marine, and he will be missed, but not only by me but his family and friends as well," said Pfc. M. D. Hawkins, a friend of Gardner. "My heart goes out to his family for this will be a very hard time for them. I ask that you keep his family in your prayers. Pray for them all. Semper Fi Derek, we'll be missing you."

[Grimmy]

Nothing good comes free of cost. Unfortunatly, the greater the good that is strived for the greater the cost required.

[Field_Sailor]

RIP-September

Army Spc. Joseph C. Thibodeaux, 24, of Lafayette, La.; assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry

September 03, 2004
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Marine Lance Cpl. Nicholas Wilt, 23, of Tampa, Fla.; assigned to 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif.; killed Sept. 3 by enemy action in Anbar province, Iraq.


Marine 1st Lt Ronald Winchester, 25, of Rockville Center, N.Y.; assigned to 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif.; killed Sept 3 by enemy action in Anbar province, Iraq.


Marine Capt. Alan Rowe, 35, of Hagerman, Idaho; assigned to 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif.; killed Sept. 3 by enemy action in Anbar province, Iraq.


Marine Lance Cpl. Nicholas Perez, 19, of Austin, Texas; assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif.; killed Sept. 3 by enemy action in Anbar province, Iraq.

September 04, 2004
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Navy Steelworker 3rd Class (SW3) Eric L. Knott, 21, of Grand Island, Neb.; assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 4, Port Hueneme, Calif.; killed Sept. 4 when the area in which he was working was struck by enemy fire and he was struck by shrapnel in Fallujah, Iraq.

September 05, 2004
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Army Pfc. Ryan M. McCauley, 20, of Lewisville, Texas; assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas; killed Sept. 5 when his patrol came under attack by small-arms fire in Baghdad.


Army Sgt. Shawna M. Morrison, 26, of Champaign, Ill.; assigned to the 1544th Transportation Company, Illinois Army National Guard, Paris, Ill.; killed Sept. 5 during a mortar attack in Baghdad.


Army Spc. Charles R. Lamb, 23, of Casey, Ill.; assigned to the 1544th Transportation Company, Illinois Army National Guard, Paris, Ill.; killed Sept. 5 during a mortar attack in Baghdad.


Army Staff Sgt. Gary A. Vaillant, 41, of Trujillo, Puerto Rico; assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 72nd Armor, Camp Casey, Korea; killed Sept. 5 when his tank ran over an improvised explosive device in Khalidiya, Iraq.

September 06, 2004
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Army Staff Sgt. Elvis Bourdon, 36, of Youngstown, Ohio; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas ; killed Sept. 6 when his military vehicle came under attack by small-arms fire and grenades in Baghdad.


Army Spc. Brandon M. Read, 21, of Greeneville, Tenn.; assigned to the 125th Transportation Company, Lexington, Ky.; killed Sept. 6 when his convoy came under attack by enemy forces using an improvised explosive device in Qayyarah West, Iraq.


Air Force Capt. John J. Boria, 29, of Broken Arrow, Okla.; assigned to the 911th Air Refueling Squadron, Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D.; died Sept. 6 from injuries he received in an all-terrain vehicle accident in Doha, Qatar.


Army Pfc. Devin J. Grella, 21, of Medina, Ohio; assigned to the 706th Transportation Company, Army Reserve, Mansfield, Ohio; killed Sept. 6 when an improvised explosive device exploded near his convoy vehicle in Qayarrah, Iraq.


Marine Lance Cpl. Lamont N. Wilson, 20, of Lawton, Okla.; assigned to 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.; killed Sept. 6 due to enemy action in Anbar province, Iraq.


Marine Cpl. Mick R. Bekowsky, 21, of Concord, Calif.; assigned to 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.; killed Sept. 6 due to enemy action in Anbar province, Iraq.


Marine Lance Cpl. Joseph C. McCarthy, 21, of Concho, Calif.; assigned to 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.; killed Sept. 6 due to enemy action in Anbar province, Iraq.


Marine Lance Cpl. Quinn A. Keith, 21, of Page, Ariz.; assigned to 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.; killed Sept. 6 due to enemy action in Anbar province, Iraq.


Marine Lance Cpl. Derek L. Gardner, 20, of San Juan Capistrano, Calif.; assigned to Headquarters Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.; killed Sept. 6 due to enemy action in Anbar province, Iraq.


Marine Pfc. David P. Burridge, 19, of Lafayette, La.; assigned to 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.; killed Sept. 6 due to enemy action in Anbar province, Iraq.


Marine Lance Cpl. Michael J. Allred, 22, of Hyde Park, Utah; assigned to 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.; killed Sept. 6 due to enemy action in Anbar province, Iraq.


Army Spc. Tomas Garces, 19, of Weslaco, Texas; assigned to the 1836th Transportation Company, Texas Army National Guard, Fort Bliss, Texas; killed Sept. 6 when his convoy was attacked by enemy forces using an improvised explosive device in Baghdad.

September 07, 2004
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Army Spc. Yoe M. Aneiros, 20, of Newark, N.J.; assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 70th Armor, 3rd Brigade, 1st Armored Division, Fort Riley, Kan.; killed Sept. 7 when his patrol vehicle came under attack by rocket-propelled grenades in the Sadr City neighborhood of Baghdad.


Army 1st Lt. Timothy E. Price, 25, of Midlothian, Va.; assigned to the 127th Military Police Company, 709th Military Police Battalion, 18th Military Police Brigade, V Corps, Hanau, Germany; killed Sept. 7 by small-arms fire in Baghdad.


Army Spc. Chad H. Drake, 23, of Garland, Texas; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas; killed Sept. 7 when his patrol vehicle came under attack by small-arms fire in Baghdad.


Army Spc. Clarence Adams III, 28, of Richmond, Va.; assigned to the 91st Engineer Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas; died Sept. 7 of injuries sustained Sept. 6 when his Humvee hit an improvised explosive device in Baghdad.

September 08, 2004
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Army Spc. Lauro G. DeLeon Jr., 20, of Floresville, Texas; assigned to the 644th Transportation Company, Army Reserve, Beaumont, Texas; killed Sept. 8 when improvised explosive devices detonated near his convoy in Balad, Iraq.


Army Pfc. Jason L. Sparks, 19, of Monroeville City, Ohio; assigned to 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, Camp Casey, Korea; killed Sept. 8 by enemy fire in Fallujah, Iraq.


Army Sgt. James D. Faulkner, 23, of Clarksville, Ind.; assigned to the 20th Engineer Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas; killed Sept. 8 when his military vehicle hit an improvised explosive device in Baghdad.


Army Spc. Michael A. Martinez, 29, of Juan Diaz, Puerto Rico; assigned to 1st Battalion, 6th Field Artillery, based in Bamberg, Germany; killed Sept. 8 when his military vehicle rolled over in Baqubah, Iraq.

September 10, 2004
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Army Spc. Edgar P. Daclan Jr., 24, of Cypress, Calif.; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division, based in Schweinfurt, Germany; killed Sept. 10 by an improvised explosive device as his patrol was responding to indirect fire in Balad, Iraq.

September 11, 2004
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Navy Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class David A. Cedergren, 25, of South St. Paul, Minn.; assigned to the 2nd Marine Division Fleet Marine Forces Atlantic; died Sept. 11 in a non-combat-related incident near Iskandariayah, Iraq.

September 12, 2004
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Marine 1st Lt. Alexander E. Wetherbee, 27, of Fairfax, Va.; assigned to 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.; died Sept. 12 of injuries sustained in enemy action in Anbar province, Iraq.


Marine Pfc. Jason T. Poindexter, 20, of San Angelo, Texas; assigned to 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.; killed Sept. 12 by enemy action in Anbar province, Iraq.

September 13, 2004
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Army Spc. Benjamin W. Isenberg, 27, of Sheridan, Ore.; assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 162nd Infantry, Oregon Army National Guard, Corvallis, Ore.; killed Sept. 13 when his military vehicle came under attack by small-arms fire and an improvised explosive device in Taji, Iraq.


Army Staff Sgt. David J. Weisenburg, 26, of Portland, Ore.; assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 162nd Infantry, Oregon Army National Guard, Corvallis, Ore.; killed Sept. 13 when his military vehicle came under attack by small-arms fire and an improvised explosive device in Taji, Iraq.


Marine Lance Cpl. Mathew D. Puckett, 19, of Mason, Texas; assigned to 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.; killed Sept. 13 by enemy action in Anbar province, Iraq.


Marine Lance Cpl. Michael J. Halal, 22, of Glendale, Ariz.; assigned to 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.; killed Sept. 13 in a non-combat-related vehicle accident in Anbar province, Iraq.


Marine Lance Cpl. Dominic C. Brown, 19, of Austin, Texas; assigned to Headquarters Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.; killed Sept. 13 in a non-combat-related incident in Anbar province, Iraq.


Marine Cpl. Adrian V. Soltau, 21, of Milwaukee; assigned to 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.; killed Sept. 13 by enemy action in Anbar province, Iraq.


Army Staff Sgt. Guy S. Hagy Jr., 31, of Lodi, Calif.; assigned to 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas; killed Sept. 13 when an improvised explosive device detonated near his observation post in Baghdad.


Army Sgt. Carl Thomas, 29, of Phoenix.; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas; killed Sept. 13 when an improvised explosive device detonated near his observation post in Baghdad.


Marine Cpl. Jaygee Meluat, 24, of Tamuning, Guam; assigned to 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.; killed Sept. 13 by enemy action in Anbar province, Iraq.


Marine Lance Cpl. Cesar F. Machado-Olmos, 20, of Spanish Fork, Utah; assigned to 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.; killed Sept. 13 in a non-combat related vehicle accident in Anbar province, Iraq.

September 14, 2004
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Army Sgt. Jacob H. Demand, 29, of Palouse, Wash.; assigned to the 1st Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, Fort Lewis, Wash.; killed Sept. 14 when his patrol was attacked by enemy forces in Mosul, Iraq.


Marine Maj. Kevin M. Shea, 38, of Washington, D.C.; assigned to 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.; killed Sept. 14 by enemy action in Anbar province, Iraq.


Army 1st Lt. Tyler H. Brown, 26, of Atlanta; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, Camp Hovey, Tongduchon City, Korea; killed Sept. 14 when his unit was attacked by small-arms fire in Ramadi, Iraq.

September 15, 2004
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Marine Lance Cpl. Drew M. Uhles, 20, of DuQuoin, Ill.; assigned to 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif.; died Sept. 15 of injuries sustained in enemy action in Anbar province, Iraq.


Marine Lance Cpl. Gregory C. Howman, 28, of Charlotte, N.C.; assigned to 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.; killed Sept. 15 by enemy action in Anbar province, Iraq.

September 16, 2004
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Marine Cpl. Steven A. Rintamaki, 21, of Lynnwood, Wash.; assigned to 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.; killed Sept 16 by enemy action in Anbar province, Iraq.


Marine 1st Lieutenant Andrew K. Stern, 24, of Germantown, Tenn.; assigned to 1st Tank Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif.; died Sept. 16 of injuries sustained in enemy action in Anbar province, Iraq.

September 17, 2004
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Marine Cpl. Christopher S. Ebert, 21, of Mooresboro, N.C.; assigned to 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.; killed Sept. 17 by enemy action in Anbar province, Iraq.

[Vulture6]

Two Marines are gone but not forgotten
Submitted by: 1st Marine Division
Story Identification #: 2004922103819
Story by Lance Cpl. Graham Paulsgrove

A pair of dog tags hangs on each rifle belonging to two Marines who have fallen in the line of duty. Lance Cpl. Gregory Howman was killed by enemy fire Sept. 16 and Pfc. Jason Poindexter was killed by enemy fire Sept. 12. A memorial ceremony was held for the two Marines Sept. 19 at Camp Snake Pit, Iraq. (Official USMC photo by SSgt. Nathaniel Garcia)


CAMP SNAKE PIT, Iraq (Sept. 19, 2004) -- "They gave the ultimate sacrifice so others may live a better life," said Lt. Col. Randoll Newman.

Riflemen, Lance Cpl. Gregory Howman and Pfc. Jason Poindexter, with Company E, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, were killed in action while in contact with enemy insurgents.

"We come together to honor two of our fellow warriors who did their duty to the utmost and paid the ultimate sacrifice for it," said Newman, battalion commander, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. "There's probably no greater honor we can give than to forever remember that and conduct ourselves in a manner that reflects respect for that."

Howman, a Mecklenburg, N.C., native was killed Sept. 16. He is survived by his father, Gary Howman and nine siblings and was known as a fearless leader.

"He was fearless, unhesitant, willing and professional, and he died doing his job as well as any Marine has or ever will," said Cpl. Eugene Harper, a team leader with 1st Platoon, Company E, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. "He will be with us and watching over us while we are on patrol, on post, in trucks or on rooftops. He will be missed by all."

"As a leader, he was the perfect Marine," said 2nd Lt. Nathan Kurland, 1st Platoon commander with Company E, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. "He never complained about anything and he always did what he was told, even with a big goofy smile on his face. More importantly, members of 1st Platoon knew him as a friend."

Poindexter, a Green Tom, Texas, native was killed Sept. 12. He is survived by his parents, Sharon Westbrooke and Samuel Poindexter, and was known as a good man.

"I will always remember Poindexter because he had the biggest heart out of anybody I have ever known," said Lance Cpl. Brian Marren, a rifleman with Company E, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine regiment, 1st Marine Division.

"I once asked him why he joined the Marine Corps, and his answered surprised me. He didn't join for God and country, it wasn't because of 9/11, he did it simply to set a good example for his brother," said 2nd Lt. Ryan Schramel, 2nd Platoon commander with Company E, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. "That was simply the type of man Pfc. Poindexter was. He was a good man, and a damn fine Marine."

They did their job honorably, paving the way for a future of stability and freedom in Iraq, their sacrifice will not be forgotten.

"The enemy has struck our heart but has only strengthened our will to fight," said Harper. "Let us go on now, with our heads up and do our jobs because that is what they would want us to do. We owe them our best efforts to honor their sacrifice."

[Field_Sailor]

The constantly updating list of our war dead is listed here

[Vulture6]

Company C, BLT 1/4, Marine memorialized
Submitted by: 11th MEU
Story Identification #: 200410165141
Story by Cpl. Matthew S. Richards


FORWARD OPERATING BASE BAKER, Iraq (Oct. 1, 2004) -- Lance Cpl. Larry L. Wells was a warrior poet fighting for the Marine Corps and rapping in his spare time. He lived with the spirit of an ancient bard, and fought beside his fellow Marines in many intense battles. He was killed in action Aug. 6 deep in the holy Shia "Wadi al Salam" cemetery of An Najaf, Iraq.

He was the only Company C, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), Marine that died during the vicious fighting against Sadr's Mahdi Militia.

Company C paid their final tribute to him in the orange glow of the sunset here Sept. 12. Marines, soldiers, sailors and even American and Iraqi contractors took part in paying quiet respect during a solemn celebration of Wells' life among his fellow Marines.

"People say that Lance Cpl. Wells didn't die in vain, and they'll give you reasons like the cause is worthy or that we avenged his death. But I think the most important reason Wells didn't die in vain is because he didn't live in vain," said 1st Lt. Jeremy T. Sellars, Wells' platoon commander, 1st Platoon, Co. C.

Wells, a 22-year-old native of Mt. Hermon, La., was well remembered by his fellow Marines for his ability to smile, among his other talents.

"He was always making jokes and he was always happy," said Cpl. Marcus A. Cannon, Wells' team leader, 1st Platoon, Co. C.

Wells and Cannon came to know each other on their long journey aboard ship to Operation Iraqi Freedom I. Wells asked Cannon what he thought about a rap song he had written on ship.

"I didn't know him very well before that, and I guess he did that to just sort of break the ice," Cannon said. "After that we sort of hit it off and he was always singing."

The two fought together in OIF I and shared a barracks room together when they came back. Cannon remembers how Wells would be singing and writing "freestyle" rap songs to cheer up his fellow Marines in the worst of conditions.

"He was always willing to bring up the cheer of those around him that didn't seem to have it that day, and he never let it get to him no matter how long we were in one crappy place or another," Sellars said.

It didn't matter where they were. Wells was always writing his songs and sharing them with his fellow Marines. He wrote all kinds of songs to be serious and to inspire laughter.

"Even during the war, we'd be sitting in a fighting hole and he'd be writing them on a (Meal Ready-to-Eat) box," Cannon said. "They weren't always serious either. Sometimes he'd do them just to be funny."

Rapping became a common ground where the two grew to be friends.

"He was always trying to help me learn to do it," Cannon said. "He was trying to help me learn how to write the lyrics."
But Wells had a serious side also.

"He was definitely a pleasure to worth with and an honor to lead. At all times he was motivated. He'd stand right beside you, he worked and he made sure you worked," said Sgt. Phillip Ledesma, Well's squad leader, 1st Platoon, Co. C.

Wells even left that impression on his commanding officer.

"As the CO it's hard to get to know all of (my Marines) on a personal level. What I did know about Wells was that he was determined and motivated," said Capt. Matthew T. Morrissey, commanding officer, Co. C. "Those are two words that get thrown around quite a bit in the Marine Corps… probably too much. But in Wells case, they meant something."

But the friend that Cannon lost is what he remembers most.

"He was a close friend that was always there whether you needed him or not," Cannon said.

This camaraderie can be seen in part of the lyrics to one of Wells' songs that Cannon read aloud to the mourning onlookers.

"… I joined the Marine Corps; this is the country I live for
Just another band of brothers fighting for the freedom of each other
We're like brothers closer than Batman and Robin
Ya slip up and you're gonna get snuck, stowed and stuck up by all of us…"


Corporal Joey W. McBroom, 2nd Platoon, Company C, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), plants a fallen Marine's rifle during a memorial at Forward Operating Base Baker, Iraq, Sept. 12, dedicated to Lance Cpl. Larry L. Wells, a rifleman from 1st Platoon, Co. C, who died during combat operations in An Najaf, Iraq, Aug. 6. Corporals Everett A. Brown, left, Weapons Platoon, Co. C, and Jason O. McFarlane, Co. C., hold Wells' helmet and boots before adding them to the display. Photo by: Cpl. Matthew S. Richards

[Vulture6]

Gentle leader, rugby brute mourned
Submitted by: MCB Camp Pendleton
Story Identification #: 2004101165424
Story by - Brian La May

Lt. Col. Austin Renforth, Shea's best friend and rugby teammate, pauses while speaking at his funeral friday. Photo by: Lance Cpl. Samuel B. Valliere


MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (Sept. 30, 2004) -- Maj. Kevin Shea was a gentle yet commanding leader and a shining star of higher learning, according to mourners who attended his memorial here Friday and others who knew him down through the years. He also was a champion of parenting and a wrecking ball on the rugby pitch, they said.

About 250 family members, friends and co-workers turned out for Shea's send-off - one of at least three memorials for him around the globe. Shea, from Seattle, an Air Force Academy graduate and veteran of both wars in Iraq, died Sept. 14 - his 38th birthday - in a rocket attack on Camp Fallujah, where he was serving Regimental Combat Team 1 as a communications and information systems officer.

Shea, selected as a lieutenant colonel before he died, will be posthumously promoted this week when he's laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C., where he was born. He also was nominated for the Bronze Star Medal only a month before his death.

"He led from the front and he led by example," Lt. Col. Austin Renforth, a longtime Shea friend and fellow rugby player, said to the gathered mourners. He then turned to Shea's children and added, "Your father was brave, and it was an honor to fight alongside him."

A day earlier and thousands of miles away at Camp Fallujah, RCT-1 members also memorialized Shea.

"Lt. Col. Shea was a role model Marine. He was everything a Marine should be," said Lance Cpl. John H. Wells, 20, from Choctaw, Okla., and a radio operator with RCT-1.

Meanwhile, back in Annapolis, Md., where Shea taught electrical engineering and coached rugby before being sent off to war, a highly anticipated rugby match between two staunch rivals, the Naval Academy and Air Force - where Shea was a standout defensive end on the football team - has been canceled. The Navy team, ranked No. 3 in the nation, bowed out to attend Shea's memorial and interment later this week at Arlington. Players voted unanimously to forgo the game in honor of Shea, according to Maj. Jeff Nagel, who first met Shea when the two played for the Camp Pendleton Ghostriders in the early 1990s.

Shea, who already possessed a master's degree in electrical engineering, nonetheless was declared an honorary graduate by his students at the academy as a token of their esteem, Nagel said.

"It's a rare honor (bestowed for) having one of the biggest impressions of anyone here," Nagel said.

Shea also made a big impression as a Marine leader, Nagel said. He had all the raw tools - humility, compassion, intelligence, strength. But despite all those attributes, he never rested on his laurels, Nagel said.

"Kevin is one of a rare breed, whether as a rugby player or an officer," Nagel said via telephone from his office at Annapolis. "He had sheer talent, but unlike a lot of others, he was always willing to put in the time. That's why he rose to the top."

Shea's refinement in more civil circles belied his aggressiveness on the rugby field. A man well over 6 feet tall and a lean 200-plus pounds, Shea could pound carcasses with a fury few players could match.

That's why Shea was enlisted to play opposite Al Framo, a fearsome Marine suiting up for Eglin Air Force Base, in a quarterfinal round of the Military National Championships back in 1994, Nagel said.

Framo - a "complete animal" on the rugby pitch, Nagel said - was battering the Ghostriders. They needed an equalizer.

Enter Shea. Subsequently, Shea and Framo converged in an "atom smashing" collision that brought a hush over the entire pitch.

"They were spinning like tops. The game just stopped," said Nagel, adding he'd never seen such a violent collision before or since.

Shea's sheer power hints at the only criticism ruggers ever leveled against him. A few accused him of being a bit of a ball hog. Nagel disagrees, but understands why some who didn't really know Shea might view him that way.

Shea, a surprisingly swift open-field runner and a bulldozer down near pay dirt, just knew that sometimes, when the team was struggling for an offensive breakthrough, he often could provide it.

"He wasn't a great passer, but he could run through you. He was an incredible athlete," Nagel said about Shea, who played defensive end at the Air Force Academy and appeared in the 1989 Freedom Bowl.

Shea was not only one of the Corps' top ruggers, he was "a Marine's Marine" by multiple accounts, a "very humble guy" and "true warrior," Nagel said.

Shea cut his teeth in the Corps as a junior officer in force recon, the Marine Corps' vaunted special forces.

Nonetheless, he never talked himself up and wasn't given to barroom bombast, even though rugby players typically reconvene at a nearby pub after games. Shea would sometimes attend but wouldn't stay long.

"He was sociable but not gregarious," said Bill Warren, the Ghostriders' longtime manager.

But he didn't need a whole lot of face time to win folks' allegiance. People knew he was special.

"People really thought the world of that guy. They really respected him," Warren said. "He had the ability to have you follow him and get you to do things he wanted you to do without coercion. He could get people to act."

Like when he had players running on their knees during practice - a training technique he borrowed from force recon.

Shea's "ramrod frame" and force recon roots evoked fear on the pitch.

"He was ... a hardcore kind of guy. His physical presence was so imposing, but he wasn't once you knew him," said Lt. Col. Sam Pelham, who played with Shea here in the early 1990s and coached with him at the Naval Academy. "He was very kind and gentle - a pleasure to be with.

"It's such a loss for the Marine Corps and for rugby," Pelham said.

One of Shea's troops in Iraq echoed Pelham.

"Lt. Col. Shea will be missed a lot. It is going to take another great person to fill his shoes," said Lance Cpl. Chance P. Solomon, 19, a radio operator with RCT-1.

But nothing can match the loss suffered by Shea's wife, Ami, and two children (Brenna, 10, and Michael, 7) who were blessed with a model father, Nagel said.

"If I put in half the time he put in with his sons, my son will have nothing to complain about," Nagel said.

Lance Cpl. Samuel B. Valliere and Lance Cpl. Miguel Carrasco contributed to this story. E-mail LaMay at lamaybe@pendleton.usmc.mil.

[Vulture6]

Memory of fallen Marine lives on
Submitted by: 1st Marine Division
Story Identification #: 200410452756
Story by Lance Cpl. Graham Paulsgrove

Sergeant Ryan Schulze, Company F, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division pays his final respects to Pfc. Timothy Shane Folmar, a rifleman with Company F. Folmar was killed while engaging terrorist insurgents on Sept. 24. A memorial service was held Sept. 28 at Combat Outpost in his honor.
Lance Cpl. Graham Paulsgrove

COMBAT OUTPOST, Iraq (Sep. 24, 2004) -- Though his life is over, his legacy and spirit live on.

The Marines and Sailors of 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, gathered at Combat Outpost to pay their final respects to their fallen comrade, Pfc. Timothy Shane Folmar, a rifleman with Company F.

During a patrol through downtown Ar Ramadi, Iraq, Sept. 24, Folmar was hit by enemy fire during an engagement with hostile insurgents.

"We come here to seek closure and try to understand why a friend, a fellow human being has been lost," said Lt. Col. Randy Newman, commanding officer, 2/5. "We try to understand and respect the fact that he was dedicated to his duties, executed them as a Marine flawlessly and paid the ultimate sacrifice because he understood his call to duty here in Iraq."

Folmar, a Senora, Texas, native, was known through his platoon for his sense of humor work ethic and always striving to improve himself.

"Shane was a good friend, with a great personality," said Lance Cpl. Jose Osornia, a rifleman with Company F, 2/5. "He would never complain and he could always make you laugh. His platoon and company will miss him."

While Folmar's peers recalled the man, his commander remembers the Marine.

"He never complained, he never fell out and he never quit," said 2nd Lt. Robert Jones, a platoon commander with Company F, 2/5. "He never wanted to let anyone down, that was the type of Marine he was."

Folmar was killed doing his duty by advancing and engaging the enemy, and he will be remembered as a true warrior.

"When he died, this Marine was taking the fight to the enemy," said Cpl. Widener, a squad leader with Company F, 2/5. "He would never let up, he would never quit, he was a true spirited warrior. We will continue the best we can, but it will be hard to fill his place. He will be deeply missed by me, his squad and platoon."

Although he is gone, Folmar will live in hearts and minds of his brothers in arms.

"I am sure he is watching over us now, protecting us. He is gone but not forgotten," said Capt. Edward Rapisarda, company commander, Company F, 2/5. "Semper Fi, Shane Folmar."

[Field_Sailor]

.S. service members who died while supporting combat operations in Iraq, confirmed by DoD, Sept. 24-30:


Army Spc. Gregory A. Cox, 21, Sept. 27, Balad, Iraq.

Marine Pfc. Kenneth L. Sickels, 20, Sept. 27, Anbar, Iraq.

Army Sgt. 1st Class Joselito O. Villanueva, 36, Sept. 27, Balad, Iraq.

Army Capt. Eric L. Allton, 34, Sept. 26, Ramadi, Iraq.

Army Sgt. David W. Johnson, 37, Sept. 25, Baghdad.

Army Spc. Clifford L. Moxley, Jr., 51, Sept. 25, Baghdad.

Army Spc. Robert Oliver Unruh, 25, Sept. 25, Anbar, Iraq.

Marine Lance Cpl. Aaron Boyles, 24, Sept. 24, Anbar, Iraq.

Marine Pfc. Timothy Folmar, 21, Sept. 24, Anbar, Iraq.

Marine 2nd Lt. Ryan Leduc, 28, Sept. 24, Rutbah, Iraq.

Marine Lance Cpl. Ramon Mateo, 20, Sept. 24, Anbar, Iraq.

Army Staff Sgt. Lance J. Koenig, 33, Sept. 22, Tikrit, Iraq.

Marine Sgt. Benjamin K. Smith, 24, Sept. 22, Anbar, Iraq.

Army Sgt. Skipper Soram, 23, Sept. 22, Baghdad.


OIF casualty totals

Sept. 24-30

Killed: 13; Wounded in action: 119

March 19, 2003-Sept. 30, 2004

Killed: 1,049; Wounded in action: 7,532

Operation Enduring Freedom

Casualty totals

Sept. 24-30

Killed: 2; Wounded in action: 8

Oct. 10, 2001-Sept. 30, 2004

Killed: 140; Wounded in action: 376

Captured

U.S. service members reported captured while supporting combat operations confirmed by DoD:

Army Spc. Keith M. Maupin, 20, April 9, Iraq.

[Field_Sailor]

US Army Rangers:

RANGERS KILLED IN ACTION:
AFGHANISTAN

A Company 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment

Matthew A. Commons, CPL
February 18, 1981 - March 4, 2002

Bradley S. Crose, SGT
August 4, 1979 - March 4, 2002

Bradley S. Crose, SGT
August 4, 1979 - March 4, 2002

GRENADA

Sergeant Randy E. Cline
Company A, 1st Battalion (Ranger), 75th Infantry
Killed in Action October 25, 1983

Sergeant Phillip S. Grenier
Company A, 2nd Battalion (Ranger), 75th Infantry
Killed in Action October 25, 1983

Sergeant Kevin J. Lannon
Company A, 2nd Battalion (Ranger), 75th Infantry
Killed in Action October 25, 1983

Private First Class Markin R. Maynard
Company A, 1st Battalion (Ranger), 75th Infantry
Killed in Action October 25, 1983

Sergeant Mark A. Rademacher
Company A, 1st Battalion (Ranger), 75th Infantry
Killed in Action October 25, 1983

Private First Class Russell L. Robinson
Company A, 1st Battalion (Ranger), 75th Infantry
Killed in Action October 25, 1983

Sergeant Stephen E. Slater
Company A, 2nd Battalion (Ranger), 75th Infantry
Killed in Action October 25, 1983

Specialist Four Mark O. Yamane
Company A, 1st Battalion (Ranger), 75th Infantry
Killed in Action October 25, 1983

IRAQ

A Company 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment - April 03, 2003

Staff Sergeant Nino D. Livaudais

Specialist Ryan P. Long

Captain Russell B Rippetoe


REPUBLIC OF PANAMA

Staff Sergeant Larry Barnard
Company B, 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment
Killed in Action December 20, 1989


Private First Class Roy Brown, Jr.
Company A, 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment
Killed in Action December 20, 1989


Specialist Philip Lear
Company B, 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment
Killed in Action December 20, 1989


Private First Class James W. Markwell
Company C, 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment
Killed in Action December 20, 1989


Private First Class John Mark Price
Company A, 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment
Killed in Action December 20, 1989


SOMALIA

Corporal James M. Cavaco
Company B, 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment
Killed in Action: October 3, 1993


Sergeant James C. Joyce
Company B, 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment
Killed in Action: October 3, 1993


Specialist Richard W. Kowalewski
Company B, 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment
Killed in Action: October 3, 1993


Sergeant Dominick M. Pilla
Company B, 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment
Killed in Action: October 3, 1993


Sergeant Lorenzo M. Ruiz
Company B, 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment
Killed in Action: October 3, 1993


Corporal James E. Smith
Company B, 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment
Killed in Action: October 3, 1993


RANGERS KILLED IN TRAINING

Private First Class Willie J. Cobb
Company A, 2nd Battalion (Ranger), 75th Infantry
Drowning Accident: May 1, 1976


Specialist Four James E. Quick
Company B, 1st Battalion (Ranger), 75th Infantry
Parachute Accident: November 6, 1976


Command Sergeant Major Henry Caro
HHC, 1st Battalion (Ranger), 75th Infantry
Parachute Accident: November 6, 1976


Major James E. Bryan
HHC, 1st Battalion (Ranger), 75th Infantry
Aircraft Crash: September 6, 1977


Specialist Four William A. McTigue
Company A, 1st Battalion (Ranger), 75th Infantry
Live-Fire Exercise Accident: January 19, 1978

Private Michael J. Sanders
Company A, 1st Battalion (Ranger), 75th Infantry
Parachute Accident: January 25, 1980


Private Gilbert Alaniz, Jr.
Company A, 1st Battalion (Ranger), 75th Infantry
Parachute Accident: January 25, 1980


Private Second Class Kevin E. Langley
Company A, 2nd Battalion (Ranger), 75th Infantry
C-130 Crash: September 21, 1981


Private First Class Lonnie James Furr
Company A, 2nd Battalion (Ranger), 75th Infantry
C-130 Crash: September 21, 1981


Specialist Four John Phillip Critselous
Company C, HHC (attached), 2nd Battalion (Ranger), 75th Infantry
C-130 Crash: September 21, 1981


Sergeant First Class Jimmie Douglas Bynum
HHC, 2nd Battalion (Ranger), 75th Infantry
C-130 Crash: September 21, 1981


Captain Gregory Eldon Gardner
HHC, 2nd Battalion (Ranger), 75th Infantry
C-130 Crash: September 21, 1981


Lieutenant Colonel William E. Powell
HHC, 2nd Battalion (Ranger), 75th Infantry
C-130 Crash: September 21, 1981


Specialist Four Vincent S. Barclay
Company A, 1st Battalion (Ranger), 75th Infantry
Parachute Accident: February 2, 1982


Sergeant Johnny W. Danford
Company A, 1st Battalion (Ranger), 75th Infantry
Parachute Accident: February 2, 1982


Specialist Four Robert A. Fortucci
Company B, 1st Battalion (Ranger), 75th Infantry
Drowning Accident: April 14, 1982


Specialist Four William C. Hayes
Company C, 1st Battalion (Ranger), 75th Infantry
Drowning Accident: April12, 1983


Private First Class Shawn L. Lau
Company C, 1st Battalion (Ranger), 75th Infantry
Live-Fire Accident: June 8, 1983


PVT Wesley B. McDavid
Company HHC, 2nd Battalion (Ranger), 75th Infantry
Asphyxiation: May 1986


Captain Drew Harrington
Company B, 2nd Battalion (Ranger), 75th Infantry
Live-Fire Accident: December 16, 1984


Specialist Four Francis John Elder
Company C, 1st Battalion (Ranger), 75th Infantry
Drowning Accident: September 12, 1985


Specialist Four Russell D. Hobgood
Company A, 3rd Battalion (Ranger), 75th Infantry
Live-Fire Accident: November 22, 1985


Private Michael D. Rudess
Company A, 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment
Live-Fire Accident: July 7, 1986


Specialist Four Edgar Arthur Pratt, Jr.
Company A, 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment
Parachute Accident: December 5, 1986


Sergeant Frank D. Winters
Company C, 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment
Helicopter Crash: September 25, 1987


Specialist Four David W. Hughes
Company C, 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment
Tree Fall Accident: September 3, 1988


Private First Class Toby John K.P. Young
Company B, 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment
Bus Crash: January 28, 1991


Private First Class Michael K. Foley
Company C, 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment
Parachute Accident: July 11, 1991


Colonel John T. Keneally
Commander, 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment
Helicopter Crash: October 29, 1992


Lieutenant Colonel Kenneth W. Stauss
Commander, 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment
Helicopter Crash: October 29, 1992


First Sergeant Harvey L. Moore
Company C, 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment
Helicopter Crash: October 29, 1992


Sergeant Blaine A. Mishak
HHC, 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment
Helicopter Crash: October 29, 1992


Specialist Four Jeremy B. Bird
HHC, 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment
Helicopter Crash: October 29, 1992


Sergeant Jeffrey A. Palmer
Company B, 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment
Live-Fire Accident: November 18, 1992


Private First Class Christopher L. Brown
Company C, 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment
Demolition Live-Fire Accident: October 18, 1993


Specialist Four Davis Ward Benson
Company C, 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment
Results of 1991 Bus Crash: April 4, 1994


First Sergeant Glenn L. Harris
Company B, 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment
Drowning Accident: December 4, 1994


Sergeant Alphonse J. Harness
Company C, 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment
Fast Rope Accident: January 21, 1995


Private Greg M. Belletti
Company A, 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment
Drowning Accident: October 30, 1995

[Field_Sailor]

Vietnam-era Rangers

Last name First name Rank KIA Unit


Aguirre Fidel Joe SGT 03/10/69 F/75
Allen Terry Ernest SP/4 03/04/68 E/51
Angell Alan Francis SGT 07/20/68 E/51
Apellido Raymond Hugh SP/4 09/20/70 P/75
Arenas Reynaldo SP/4 12/31/68 F/52
Arnold Daniel Raymond SP/4 05/13/69 H/75
Aubain Roy Antonio CPL 01/04/69 F/51
Babb Jr. Richard Clark SGT 01/01/70 F/75
Baker Gary Paul SGT 05/11/70 L/75
Banta Michael Dean PFC 10/02/70 H/75
Baranowski Bishop Skip SP/4 07/08/69 D/151
Barber David Leon SGT 12/21/69 P/75
Bartholomew Jr. William H. SSGT 01/23/70 K/75
Basehore Jr. Harold Edward 1LT 04/23/70 G/75
Beck Jerry Don SSGT 04/06/69 O/75
Bell Arthur Frederick CPL 05/12/69 N/75
Bell William Brent 1LT 03/27/69 H/75
Bellwood Richard Roy SP/4 01/25/69 E/50
Bennett John Willie CPL 10/14/69 G/75
Bennett Harold George SSGT 12/29/64 TD33
Berger Barry Howard PFC 01/10/71 G/75
Berkson Joseph M CPT ?/?/72 LD5BDQ
Biegert Ronald Lee SP/4 03/15/70 P/75
Blackman Larry Paul SP/4 02/17/67 F/50
Blair Kenneth Ray SP/4 08/12/68 F/51
Blume Jr. Gerard James PFC 11/21/68 F/52
Bonert Ronald Joseph SGT 06/14/67 2/4TH
Boots James Allen PFC 11/13/68 F/52
Borja Juan Santos SSGT 04/28/71 N/75
Borneman Dean Allen SP/4 01/23/70 K/75
Bowman David Winslow CAPT 04/06/65 TD44
Boyle James Patrick SGT 04/17/68 F/52
Broach Earl David SP/4 08/03/70 K/75
Brock Dillard SSGT 09/10/67 TD37
Bryan Robert Lamarr SGT 07/13/70 E/75
Buccille Richard Gary SP/4 12/20/69 C/75
Burch Kenneth Eugene SGT 08/11/69 H/75
Burdette Jr. Hilburn M. SGT 07/12/70 C/75
Burke Roy Jeffrey SP/4 12/21/69 P/75
Burkhart Walter Guy CPL 11/11/69 C/75
Candrl Bruce Charles SGT 07/14/70 N/75
Capelle Gerald Carl CAPT 04/01/65 TD41
Cardona Ronald William SSGT 07/06/69 C/75
Carmody Robert J. SSGT 10/27/67 71ST
Carpenter Eddie Dean CPL 11/13/69 K/75
Carson Omer Price SGT 12/07/70 H/75
Carson Edwin Everett PFC 10/21/68 F/52
Carter David Edward SFC 08/10/69 P/75
Castagna Joseph Philip SGT 12/21/68 E/50
Celeste Raymond MAJ 11/22/65 TD37
Champion James Albert SSGT 04/24/71 L/75
Chapman Johnny Howard CPL 08/20/71 L/75
Cho Herbert Pok Dong SSGT 09/25/68 E/50
Clifton Terry W. SP/4 11/20/68 F/58
Cochran Gary Duane SGT 05/08/71 L/75
Cochrane Deverton C. SFC 06/17/70 H/75
Cohn Jr. William Paul SGT 10/21/68 F/52
Collier Steven Edward SGT 10/27/68 F/50
Collins Jr. William Elice SP/4 01/23/67 173RD
Contreros Jr. Albert D. SGT 11/20/68 F/58
Coyle Gerard PFC 10/21/68 F/52
Crikelair John Francis SGT 08/06/69 F/75
Critchfield William Rober SP/4 12/27/67 E/52
Cruz Enrique Salas SSGT 02/27/69 I/75
Cude Jr. Hershel Duane SP/4 09/18/71 L/75
Cummings Kenneth Thomas 1LT 09/04/69 D/151
Cunningham Larry La Mont SSGT 12/03/68 F/51
Daniels Curtis Ray SSGT 05/29/69 E/75
Davidson James Richard SGT 03/04/68 E/51
Davis Donald Allen SGT 05/24/70 F/75
De Vega Duane Alfred SGT 02/11/69 F/75
Dean James Howard SP/4 12/21/69 P/75
Dedman Julian Dean SSGT 04/23/69 L/75
Del Greco Jr. Victor SGT 03/02/70 N/75
Dennard Jr. Mack SGT 09/18/69 F/75
Deutsch Henry Albert CAPT 05/11/65 TD34
Dewey James Elliott CPL 04/04/67 173RD
Dickinson David Thomas SGT 12/06/67 E/52
Diers Richard Walter SGT 11/20/68 F/51
Dillard Iii James L. PFC 09/13/68 E/50
Dixon David Allen SP/4 05/15/67 1/101
Dixon Linden Brook CPL 10/27/67 71ST
Doan Lester Allan SP/4 10/21/68 F/52
Donahue John Thomas SSGT 05/22/70 L/75
Doss Jr. Luther James SSGT 04/30/70 K/75
Dowd Thomas Joseph SSGT 12/21/69 P/75
Drapp Robert George SGT 11/16/70 L/75
Dubbeld Jr. Orie John 1LT 03/03/71 TD22
Duncan James Edward SFC 03/03/71 TD22
Dunlap Wilbur Turby SFC 10/15/63 TLRTC
Dunlop Johnston SSGT 04/16/68 E/50
Dunn Ralph Gerald SGT 02/16/69 K/75
Durham Dwight Montgomery SGT 04/10/69 H/75
Edelman Irwin Leon SP/4 02/18/69 E/75
Edwards Harry Jerome SP/4 01/20/72 L/75
Elias Juan Angel SGT 05/29/68 E/52
Ellis Raymond Dean SSGT 05/11/70 L/75
Ellis Steven John PFC 06/13/71 L/75
Enczi Raymond Michael SP/4 10/31/68 F/51
England Steven Glenn SGT 02/15/71 L/75
Evans Freemon SGT 12/04/68 F/51
Evans Lonnie Dale SGT 04/10/69 E/75
Fegatelli Peter Frank SP/4 05/10/69 D/151
Finley Dickie Waine SSGT 10/21/68 2/4TH
Fitzgerald Joseph Edward SSGT 05/31/67 25-Mar
Flower Carl David SP/4 05/31/67 25-Mar
Floyd Alvin Winslow SFC 04/02/70 F/75
Fogleman George Edward CPL 05/11/70 L/75
Forrester Joel Wayne SP/4 05/19/69 G/75
Foster Steen Bruce SSGT 05/14/70 C/75
Francis William Joseph PFC 03/09/70 H/75
Francolini Joseph David SP/4 03/22/67 LD3
Frost Herbert Cornelius SSGT 06/21/69 E/75
Fuellhart Robert Howard CAPT 08/12/65 TD44
Gallardo Ray Michael ??? 02/08/72 E/50
Gallina Anthony Joseph SP/4 09/20/70 P/75
Garcia Raymond Charles SGT 07/03/68 E/51
Gavia Joseph Jess SP/4 04/24/69 G/75
Gerome Michael Anthony SGT 05/07/68 74TH
Ghahate Luther Anderson SP/4 10/21/68 2/4TH
Gold Eric Stuart SGT 01/05/69 E/20
Gomez Evelio Alfred PFC 08/19/70 K/75
Grau Antonio Ambrosio SP/4 08/30/70 K/75
Gray Dale Alan SP/4 09/20/70 P/75
Grayson Jr. Reid Ernest PFC 12/28/68 F/50
Green Joe Worth MAJ 04/01/70 TD23
Greene Calvin Arthur 1LT 12/19/67 E/20
Griffis Joseph E. SSGT 02/25/67 1/101
Griffith Tony Lee SGT 02/05/69 H/75
Grimes Ii Lloyd Harold SGT 09/25/70 L/75
Grove Robert Woodrow GSGT 02/18/65 TD37
Halbauer David Michael SSGT 10/13/65 TD44
Hammerstrom Ronald Roy SP/4 12/07/67 71ST
Hammond Keith Tait SGT 05/05/69 L/75
Hancock Gerald Quinn SGT 02/16/69 K/75
Handley Howard Brown SSGT 09/13/68 F/50
Hankins Joel Richard CPL 03/26/71 L/75
Hargrave Kenneth Lee SSGT 02/15/67 TD42
Harjo Kenneth Dewayne SP/4 11/18/69 F/75
Harland Wayne Lynn SGT 05/01/68 74TH
Harmon Daniel Lee SP/4 06/02/67 2/4TH
Harper Timothy Vaughn SSGT 02/17/71 H/75
Hathaway Steve SGT 06/23/69 2/4TH
Hayes Joseph D. SP/4 06/13/71 N/75
Hayward David Roy SP/4 03/22/71 L/75
Heard Jr. Earnest SP/4 08/07/69 F/75
Henrickson Jan Victor SGT 08/12/68 F/51
Henshaw Patrick Lee SGT 12/19/67 E/20
Henthorn Harry Thomas PFC 08/29/70 L/75
Heringhausen Jr. Arthur J. SP/4 11/20/68 F/58
Hernandez Alex James PFC 01/10/68 E/51
Hernandez Ramon Sanchez SP/4 03/04/68 E/51
Hess Kenneth Charles SGT 02/08/69 K/75
Hewitt Thomas Theodore CAPT 07/02/70 TD39
Hickman Arthur Edward SFC 12/08/65 TD11
Hilerio-Padilla Luis A. N. SGT 11/13/69 K/75
Hines John Lester SP/4 09/15/67 1/101
Hodge Thomas Wayne PFC 01/24/68 E/50
Holeman Ronald Steven PFC 07/13/69 N/75
Holland Charles James SFC 08/18/67 173RD
Holupko Lon Michael SP/4 07/10/69 H/75
House George Jonathan PFC 02/11/68 E/50
Hudson Raymond Hoyt SGT 06/15/66 173RD
Humes Frank William CPL 07/08/69 K/75
Hutton Jr. John Kendrick 1LT 08/11/67 TD21
Irving Nathaniel PFC 02/08/69 K/75
Ives David Allen SP/4 04/23/67 E/52
Jackson Little Jay SP/5 03/07/68 TD81
Jakovac John Andrew SSGT 05/31/67 25-Mar
Johnson Gary L. PFC 02/28/69 I/75
Johnson William Leroy CAPT 10/25/65 TD39
Jones Ronald Wayne SGT 01/11/70 L/75
Jones Stephen Perry SGT 10/27/67 71ST
Jones Joseph Melvin MSGT 04/16/68 E/50
Jones Jr. Lennis Goddard SSGT 11/06/69 F/75
Jonsson Ronald Bryniel SGT 03/04/68 E/51
Jordan Paul Robert SGT 01/24/69 E/20
Kaelin Charles Wray SGT 01/20/67 TD21
Kalua Jr. Solomon CPL 01/20/68 E/51
Kastendiect William Peter SP/4 04/01/70 P/75
Kelly John William S.G. CPL 02/15/70 N/75
Kelly Gregory Richard SP/4 04/06/68 F/50
Kelly Jr. Michael Joseph CPL 04/25/69 O/75
Kesselhon James Edward CPL 03/21/68 E/51
King Lyell Francis CAPT 02/18/66 TD22
Kinton Donald Ray SP/4 03/25/68 E/20
Kircher Alfred George SSGT 05/25/67 TD36
Kiscaden Michael Edward SSGT 07/01/70 C/75
Kiser David Butler SFC 06/08/66 TD41
Kleiber Jr. George L. 1LT 09/04/69 D/151
Knaus John Richard SGT 05/07/70 N/75
Knight Bryan Theotis PFC 05/11/70 L/75
Knisley Randall C. SSGT 10/18/70 TD67
Knowlton George Frank SSGT 11/19/67 F/52
Koenig Daren Lee SGT 04/06/69 O/75
Koschke Michael Edward SGT 03/20/71 P/75
La Polla John Anthony SSGT 04/15/69 O/75
Lagodzinski Roger Thomas SSGT 05/19/70 L/75
Laird Ervin Leonard SP/4 02/01/67 F/50
Laker Carl John SP/4 06/17/70 H/75
Lambert William Glenn SGT 04/20/68 E/52
Lamm Jonathan Lee SP/4 02/11/70 E/75
Lancaster Kenneth Ray SSGT 01/03/68 E/50
Largent Loel Floyd SGT 04/10/69 H/75
Larkins Charles Kenneth SP/4 02/11/69 D/151
Lattin Jr. John H. 1LT 12/15/67 F/51
Law Robert David SP/4 02/22/69 I/75
Lawrence Johnny Harold SSGT 04/04/71 P/75
Lawton Michael Eugene SGT 12/01/68 E/58
Leathers Jr. Clifford W. SP/4 06/21/67 173RD
Lee Edward Gilbert SGT 05/13/68 E/20
Lee Milan Lavoy SGT 09/19/70 F/75
Leisure Jackie Glen SSGT 05/12/68 F/52
Lento Stanley John SGT 07/24/69 H/75
Lentz Edward Martin SSGT 03/04/68 E/51
Leon Jr. Felix PFC 03/17/68 E/52
Levine Robert SFC 12/15/67 F/52
Liebnitz James Terry SP/4 02/27/69 I/75
Lindsey Daniel Hinson SGT 12/05/67 F/51
Lipsey Iii Thomas Washing SP/4 02/06/72 H/75
Lizotte Jr. Warren G. H. SP/4 02/26/69 E/75
Loehlein Jr. Robert John CPL 09/25/68 E/50
Loisel James Lee CPL 05/14/70 C/75
Loscuito Ned Natale CAPT 08/20/65 TD41
Lovett Donald Walter SP/4 12/08/65 TD11
Lynch Richard Thomas CAPT 09/10/64 TD21
Lyne Michael William SGT 01/07/70 K/75
Lytle Michael Linn PFC 10/26/69 L/75
Macken Charles Davis PFC 03/08/69 F/75
Mackey Larry Allen SP/4 10/13/70 G/75
Mahoney Jr. Harry Curtis MSGT 01/21/67 TD32
Marcy William Lincoln SGT 05/20/69 L/75
Markevitch Jr. Anthony G. SGT 04/16/69 I/75
Martin Richard Lee SP/4 02/21/71 L/75
Martinez Jim Daniel SP/4 01/10/68 E/51
Martinson Leroy Clayton SFC 12/08/68 TD43
Mason Roman Gale SGT 01/27/69 E/50
Mathern Edward Gerard PFC 09/03/70 G/75
Maurer Jeffrey Alan SP/4 06/09/72 H/75
Mayberry Donald Richard SP/4 03/01/69 F/75
Mcallister Cameron trent SSGT 09/07/69 N/75
Mcbride MORRIS RALPH CAPT 03/03/64 TLRTC
Mcchesney Iii John T. SP/4 01/23/68 F/58
Mcclatchy PERCY W. SSGT 08/13/66 1/101
Mcclellan Frank Edward SP/4 06/04/70 K/75
Mccoy JOHN LOWERY SFC 09/26/64 TD43
Mcdaniel JR. ARCHIE HUGH CPL 07/24/69 H/75
Mcdermott LEWIS E. MSGT 12/06/67 E/52
Mcfall Gary Richard SGT 09/13/68 F/50
Mcgar Brian Kent SSGT 05/31/67 25-Mar
Mckinney HUGH RUFUS CPL 02/16/69 K/75
Mclaughlin JAMES BRUCE SGT 04/16/71 L/75
Mclaughlin JR. DANIEL P. SGT 01/20/68 E/51
Mcsorley Rob George SP/4 04/08/70 L/75
Mcwilliams Roy M. CAPT 01/20/67 TD21
Mendez Sr. Theodore SSGT 07/14/69 N/75
Meredith Hubert Arthur SP/4 08/01/68 F/50
Meyer David Lee SSGT 01/11/71 G/75
Miller Donald Robert CPL 05/31/68 E/52
Miller Jr. Frank Harold CPL 09/19/70 K/75
Mills Rodney Kenneth SSGT 05/05/70 P/75
Moore Ronald Kelvin PFC 11/04/68 E/50
Moore Leon David SP/4 01/27/69 E/50
Moss Jr. Jack SP/4 08/25/70 L/75
Mulholland Arnold Lee Roy PFC 11/21/68 F/52
Munoz David SGT 05/11/70 L/75
Murphy William Joseph SGT 02/16/70 C/75
Musa Jr. Henry Alfred SFC 07/05/65 TD39
Newman Jr. Erman Milford MAJ 08/12/66 LD1
Noto Robert Joseph PFC 04/20/68 E/52
Nunez Rudolph Algar SGT 06/13/66 1ST
Oaks Robert Larry SSGT 11/11/69 M/75
O'Connor ROBERT LEE SSGT 05/11/70 L/75
Ohm David James SGT 07/20/68 E/51
Olgyay Roy Christopher SP/4 09/19/70 K/75
Olsen George Thomas SP/4 03/03/70 G/75
Osborne Jr. Elvis Weldon SGT 06/09/72 H/75
O'Sullivan CHRISTOPHER JO CAPT 05/30/65 TD39
Pacheco Jaime SP/4 05/25/72 H/75
Parr Keith Mason SGT 10/26/69 C/75
Patino Roberto Lerma SGT 10/22/70 N/75
Patrick Reese Michael CAPT 05/14/69 I/75
Peel Lawrence Ray SP/4 04/28/71 N/75
Peeples Hardy Winston CAPT 01/21/67 TD32
Piaskowski William Francis SP/4 03/14/68 E/50
Pollock Douglas Ray SGT 03/08/69 F/75
Prindle Ashton Hayward PVT 04/23/68 F/58
Pritchard Robert Bruce SSGT 05/24/70 F/75
Propson Bernard Ambrose SGT 09/05/69 I/75
Pruden Robert Joseph SSGT 11/20/69 G/75
Pruett Donovan Jess SSGT 04/03/66 1/101
Rabel Laszlo SSGT 11/13/68 74TH
Ragin William David Howsa CAPT 08/20/64 TD41
Ramos Jr. Paul Lajada SGT 05/13/70 N/75
Randall Sr. Michael Allen PFC 10/21/68 F/52
Reeves Jr. Raymond Stanley SGT 11/19/68 74TH
Reiff Michael Dean SGT 11/20/68 F/58
Reynolds Ronald Burns SSGT 05/08/69 L/75
Rightmyer Jack Lee SP/4 02/16/69 K/75
Riley Thomas Eugene SGT 06/02/68 F/58
Riley Vernon Ray SP/4 04/28/70 P/75
Ritchie Jr. Glenn Garland PFC 09/20/70 P/75
Robinson Loyd Eugene SP/4 06/11/71 C/75
Rogerson Charles Roland CPL 05/31/67 25-Mar
Roller William Eugene SSGT 09/07/70 K/75
Roossien Robert Allen SGT 05/12/69 I/75
Rosekrans Leslie Donald SP/4 12/03/68 F/51
Roth La Roy Frederich SP/4 01/07/70 K/75
Rucker John William SGT 12/14/70 C/75
Salminen Paul John SGT 07/24/69 H/75
Salter James William SSGT 01/11/70 L/75
Sanchez Charles Anthony CPL 06/13/71 L/75
Sawtelle Paul Coburn CAPT 04/16/71 L/75
Scheib Jr. Lawrence Elwood SP/4 08/29/70 L/75
Schooler Steven Thomas SP/4 11/13/69 N/75
Schooley James Daniel SGT 03/20/71 P/75
Scott Arthur Edward SGT 05/12/69 G/75
Scott Jr. Edward Earl CPL 02/22/71 C/75
Sheehan Daniel Moreland SP/4 07/17/69 H/75
Sherman Rex Marcel CPL 11/19/69 C/75
Sides Harold Erwin SGT 09/20/70 P/75
Silva Robert John PFC 11/27/69 K/75
Sinclair Gary Philip PFC 12/21/69 P/75
Sly Johnnie Rae SP/4 04/24/71 L/75
Smith James Leroy 1LT 02/15/71 L/75
Smith Neal Arthur SP/4 09/06/69 M/75
Smith Emory Morel SSGT 06/13/68 E/20
Smith Stephen Lee PFC 03/01/71 P/75
Smith Robert T SGT 04/12/69 D/151
Smith Jr. Charles Edward SP/4 08/30/69 I/75
Smolarek Kenneth James SP/4 11/27/69 K/75
Snowden Thomas Edward SGT 05/15/71 G/75
Sorick Steven Paul PFC 10/21/68 F/52
Spates Jr. William Richard SSGT 10/25/65 TD23
Spearman Jr. Gordon Keith SSGT 03/10/71 C/75
Spillane Paul Donald SFC 07/26/68 TD81
Sprinkle Thomas Thoma SP/4 07/07/68 E/52
Squier Jr. William Russell SSGT 09/13/69 C/75
Steimbach Joseph John SP/5 04/12/68 2/4TH
Stoddard Jr. Norman R. SSGT 11/16/70 L/75
Stone Byron Clark CAPT 08/20/64 TD41
Strohmaier John Richard SGT 03/12/68 E/20
Studdard Danny Gerald SGT 06/16/71 G/75
Sturgal Thomas John SGT 03/22/68 F/58
Sullens Jr. George Buster PFC 11/01/67 1/101
Sullivan Raymond Walter SP/4 01/24/69 F/50
Sweeney Joseph Edward CPL 05/29/71 N/75
Swenson Swante August 1LT 01/11/68 TD21
Thibodeau Wallate Fred SSGT 07/19/69 K/75
Thomas Ronald Gene PFC 07/14/69 N/75
Thomas Michael Francis SSGT 04/02/70 F/75
Thompson John Walter SSGT 01/03/68 74TH
Thompson Robert Charles SP/4 05/12/70 F/75
Thompson Richard Vickers 1LT 01/27/69 E/50
Thorne Kevin Garner SP/4 02/27/71 C/75
Thornhill William Joseph SGT 02/18/68 TD31
Tighe Charles Joseph LTC 04/23/67 TLRTC
Tinney Jr. Donald Warren SGT 04/14/70 F/75
Toler Jr. Robert Wilber SSGT 12/05/70 K/75
Torres David SP/4 11/17/69 H/75
Torres Jose Enrique SP/4 03/04/68 E/51
Toschik Mark Joseph 1LT 08/11/70 E/75
tremblay Alain Joseph SFC 07/07/68 74TH
trujillo Gabriel SGT 02/15/71 L/75
trumblay Leonard James SSGT 04/06/71 L/75
Tucker David Bruce MAJ 10/01/67 E/52
Turbitt Jr. Richard John SP/4 04/20/68 E/52
Turk Jon Peter CPL 10/27/67 71ST
Tyrone Willie Donald SSGT 05/30/65 TD39
Urban David Lee PFC 12/03/68 F/51
Vaughn Herbert Lee SP/4 05/25/68 E/50
Venable Elton Ray SGT 02/19/69 C/75
Volheim Michael Cory SP/4 05/29/69 E/75
Waide Donald Giles SSGT 05/07/68 74TH
Walthers Frank Daniel CPL 08/01/69 C/75
Washington Anthony Felix SSGT 11/21/68 F/52
Watts Bradley Keith PFC 09/15/68 E/51
Weidner Frederick William SGT 05/20/68 E/20
Wheeler Frederick George SFC 03/22/67 TD35
White Larry Joe CPL 06/30/69 G/75
White Jr. John Herbert SP/4 03/01/68 F/50
Whitfield Jr. Willie PFC 08/12/68 F/51
Whitten Robert Eugene SGT 05/08/68 E/52
Wilder Frank CPL 03/01/69 F/75
Willard Jr. Charles R. SP/4 01/07/70 K/75
Williams Robert Alton SSGT 10/27/67 71ST
Williams John Charles SP/4 08/11/69 H/75
Williams Harold David SSGT 08/01/69 C/75
Williams Jr. James Thomas SP/4 03/01/71 P/75
Williamson Robert Joe SGT 01/31/68 TD33
Wintermoyer Terry SP/4 11/22/65 TD37
Wray Steven Charles SP/4 04/01/71 P/75
Wright Charles Herman CPL 09/19/69 O/75
Zaporozec Julius SP/4 11/17/69 H/75

[Vulture6]

Remembering one tough Marine
Submitted by: 11th MEU
Story Identification #: 2004108135548
Story by Gunnery Sgt. Chago Zapata

Pfc. Nicholas M. Skinner, right, and his best friend Lance Cpl. Stephen T. Vincent pose for a picture in Camp Virginia, Kuwait, in early July. Photo by: Lance Cpl. Stephen T. Vincent


FORWARD OPERATING BASE ECHO, Iraq (Oct. 8, 2004) -- Not too long ago, in the month of August, a young Marine died in combat in An Najaf, Iraq. His name was Pfc Nicholas M. Skinner, a raw-boned, rough-and-tumble, corn-fed young 20-year-old from the Midwest. His friends' pictures show a cocky infectious smile, a square firmly set jaw and a Clint Eastwood-like squint to his eyes. Despite his youth, however, his friends and fellow Marines all said the same thing about him … he was one tough Marine.

Skinner was one of two Marines from Company A, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), to fall during that month-long battle where the MEU and Iraqi Security Forces fought against Muqtada al-Sadr and his rag-tag militia.

Skinner, as he was known to everyone, no nick names, no fancy stuff, just plain 'Skinner,' died of wounds received in combat sometime in the afternoon of August 26, 2004.

"He was very proud of his name," said Skinner's best friend, Lance Cpl. Stephen T. Vincent, rifleman, 3rd Fireteam, 2nd Squad, 1st Platoon, Alpha Co., BLT 1/4. "Skinner was hard, it was tough, it was what he was … to us he was always just "Skinner.'"

Vincent, a Lake Forest, Calif., native, and a member of Skinner's fireteam, first met his buddy in Recruit Training. Skinner was in Platoon 1023 and he was in 1019.

"We met during competitions between the platoons," said 19-year-old Vincent. "Later on we were rack-mates in the School of Infantry. We were pretty much together all the time for about a year. We even ended up going to the same unit."

As he looks at the ceiling Vincent's eyes gleam as his mind's eye recalls the many hours, days, weeks and months spent with his best friend.

"I knew him better than I know my own brother. I lived with Skinner, everything we did, we did together … from when I woke up in the morning to when I went to sleep at night, he was always right there," Vincent said, his eyes focused again. "Even though I'm close to my brother, we didn't hang out during the day, we didn't go through the same stuff. I trained with (Skinner), I lived with him, and he became a part of my family."

Vincent said that if you knew Skinner, if you talked to him, you'd know all he ever wanted to do was fish and hunt. Fishing and hunting was everything he was about, along with chasing women. He loved it and he'd drag Vincent along every time too, unresisting because he loved to do those things also.

"One time we were driving down the road when he suddenly slams on his brakes, backs his car up over a little bridge and pulls a bow and arrow out of his trunk," dark-haired Vincent recalls, his youthful face relaxing into a smile and losing some of its seriousness. "He shot a dogfish right there from the bridge then he walked around waist-high in the water ruining everything in his pockets, but he didn't care because he was having fun fishing. That's the way he was, he'd drop everything to go fishing or hunting."

Besides fishing and hunting, Skinner loved anything to do with fighting -- boxing, wrestling, martial arts. You name it, Vincent said.

"Skinner was a fighter. He once broke his collar bone wrestling some 300 pound guy on something like the Ultimate Fighting Championship in Iowa," Vincent said, chuckling yet again. "The guy body-slammed him but Skinner kept fighting with one arm for the rest of the fight. He beat the guy pretty bad but since the guy broke (Skinner's) shoulder, he lost."

Skinner's rough and tumble manner wasn't without company though. Another close friend of his was always there to give him some competition, Lance Cpl. Anthony J. Macklin, a 20-year-old Creston, Ohio, native and a rifleman with 3rd Fireteam, 3rd Squad, 1st Platoon.

"We were always wrestling back at the barracks, we were about the same size but he was pretty strong," Macklin said with a grimace, probably recalling a painful tussle with his buddy. "I'm definitely a better grappler now because of Skinner, I'll tell you that."

Skinner loved to fight. That was one of the things that drew him to the Corps.

"He told me he joined because he loved three things -- hunting, killing and fighting. That's what he was best at, that's what he wanted to do and he figured the Marine Corps was the best place to do it," said Vincent. "He was one of the best fighters, he fit the job to a T. He was an infantry Marine through and through, that's why he joined and because he knew the Marines were the best."

According to Vincent, Skinner didn't want to touch a computer or sit behind a desk pushing paper, he just wanted to fight.

"He represented what's best in the Marine Corps. He was always ready to go. As soon as we got the order to go out on a patrol or some sort of mission he was one of the first ones out the door and in the back of the Humvee," said blond-haired young Macklin. "He never got in trouble for not having his gear ready or for having a dirty weapon, he was always ready to do the job at hand. To be infantry that's the way you have to be, always ready for the mission."

Staff Sgt. Simon L. Sandoval, a dark-haired 28-year-old El Paso, Texas, native and platoon sergeant for 1st Platoon, recalls Skinner fondly.

"He never, ever, complained or rolled his eyeballs when I told him to do something. He was always ready to fight," Sandoval said.

"When I first picked up these young Marines I told them three things -- you don't want to be called a thief, a liar or a coward," Sandoval continued. "He was never anywhere close to being one of those. His weapon was always clean, his gear was always ready and he never had any complaints to try to get out of any field evolution or any hike."

Sandoval laughingly recalls an occurrence during workups, while they were training for boat raids, there was only one person who threw up … the platoon sergeant.

"Skinner was the only one with the guts to tease me about it," Sandoval said, still chuckling. "He was the only one with the guts to say to me 'a little weak in the stomach, huh, staff sergeant?'"

Sandoval said Skinner wasn't just brave.

"When I go see his parents I'll tell them their son was heroic, courageous," Sandoval said. "The type of guy who was never going to be put in the back of a formation, he was always going to be up front."

According to Sandoval, everyone could see that Skinner and Vincent were best friends who cared for each other a lot.

"They were inseparable they should have been just attached at the hip," Sandoval said. "Sometimes you could just look at them and say, yeah they're brothers. I liked to confuse their name on purpose sometimes."

Whenever anyone talks about Skinner, however, the conversation always leads back to one thing -- he was one tough Marine.

"My first impression of Skinner was that he looked like a tough kid. Some of the other Marines looked a bit skinny and a bit scared. Skinner always had this 'stone' face. He was a tough guy, he was always a tough guy," recalls HN Ivan G. Krimker, a corpsman for 1st Platoon. "If you didn't know him he could be intimidating. A rough and cut, looked like he took care of himself kind of guy. He didn't look like he was afraid of anything, he was pretty secure."

"I remember one time seeing him at the gym on ship punching a punching bag. He wasn't wearing any gloves or straps on his hands. He punched until his knuckles were raw and bleeding," Sandoval recalls, grimly nodding his head. "I looked at him but I didn't stop him or say anything, you could see his motivation and the intensity of his routine. I remember thinking to myself 'that's a tough kid over there.' I never really realized it until I saw him that day."

According to Sandoval, Skinner never backed down from any fight, from anybody -- not this Marine.

"I remember seeing Skinner in the chow hall and thinking that he's a pretty calm guy, but get him out in any battlefield and he was a raging bull," Sandoval said.

"I could definitely use a whole platoon full of Skinners going out to a fight. I don't have them, the raging bulls, but they're still courageous," Sandoval continued. "They each have their own personalities and I think that's what makes my platoon good."

Sandoval also recalled the young Marines' pride in being members of the Alpha Raiders. Because of that pride and in an effort to get a three-day weekend, Skinner and Vincent decided to go out and get matching Alpha Raider tattoos.

"Those tattoos they got were pretty ugly. But that was pride," Sandoval said laughing. "Those Marines were proud. After that a whole bunch of Marines from the Company went out and got tattoos, including the 1st sergeant, but they were the first ones to say we're Alpha Raiders and we're proud of it."

Vincent and Skinner were proud to be Raiders, but regardless of what unit he belonged to, Vincent said there is no one that he would rather have watching his back than Skinner. "I'm thankful for him," he said.

Eyes downcast, with his gaze far away, Macklin agreed.

"I don't have a brother, but if I did, I'd like him to be like Skinner. With him, like any family member, we'd get (mad) at each other, but the next day we'd be together out in town being stupid again," said Macklin. "I felt really close to him, if anything was wrong, he would help me out with it, anything."

According to Vincent, Skinner wanted to be a fish and game warden or to run a camp where you teach survival skills to people once he got out of the Marine Corps.

Even with all the rough edges, the rough and tumble 'got to win' attitude, and the combative warrior spirit, Skinner would bring a smile to his friends' faces with his laugh.

"I loved his laugh, he had the heartiest laugh. He didn't laugh much but when he laughed it literally shook the room," Vincent recalls. "It was a great laugh. It was more enjoyable to hear his laugh than to hear the joke that caused it."

"He was a breed of his own, my best friend and I'll always think of him as my brother. I love him and I miss him," Vincent said, his face grim but his eyes bright with unshed tears.

"I have no doubt that he's up there in heaven right now guarding the pearly gates next to Saint Peter. He's not gone, he's just detached, we'll see him again," Sandoval said with a wide smile. "When we walk up there, we're going to see Skinner and Arredondo both on each side of heaven's gate wearing their dress blues posted on guard."

"You better keep on PTing," Sandoval said, still smiling, "just because you're in heaven doesn't mean the PT stops."



(from left to right) Lance Cpl. Jeremy Rapp, Pfc. Nicholas M. Skinner, Lance Cpl. Stephen T. Vincent and Lance Cpl. Peter Brogdon, members of 3rd Fireteam, 2nd Squad, 1st Platoon, Company A, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), pose for a picture in front of the chow hall in Camp Horno, Calif., April 30, 2004. Pfc. Skinner died of wounds received in combat sometime in the afternoon of August 26, 2004. Photo by: Lance Cpl. Stephen T. Vincent

[SR-25]

October 18th, 2004

He dreamed of following in his father's footsteps and going into the movie business, so much so that part of his mission in Iraq was capturing on film what was going on there. Sadly, his film will not be finished. 26 year old Corporal William Salazar died Friday after a suicide bomb attack in the city of Qaim. News 3's Maria Silva spoke with the family, and tells us how they're remembering this brave, young man.

Corporal Salazar moved to Las Vegas from southern California three years ago. While here, he briefly lived with his aunt and uncle. His Aunt Cindy Salazar remembers him as a well mannered boy who loved his family and his country. "He says it's scary, but I'm tough. I'll be okay." Cindy Salazar reads part of the last e-mail her nephew Corporal William Salazar wrote to his father, Gus, who lives in southern California.

"I always forget your birthday, so if I am late or early, at least I tried to remember." This time, it was an early birthday wish sent just last Wednesday, two days before his father's birthday ... two days before he was killed. "He died on his dad's birthday."

For Cindy and her husband, Lou, the news of their nephew's death is still hard to believe. "When they called and told us that he was killed, it's like ... I knew he was going and I was scared and worried for him, but I never in my life thought about him being killed."

"We're going to miss him, you know? And he was just a good kid and he was happy because he joined the service." Cindy's only hope now is that no other families will ever have to go through what her family is going through. "I just wish that the war would just end, you know? There's just to many of them that have been killed or murdered, you know?"

Corporal Salazar's mother, Gloria, lives in Bullhead City, Arizona. She tells us her son was a loving and giving person. She says what she'll miss most is his beautiful smile. Corporal Salazar will be laid to rest near Los Angeles.

Nevada lawmakers are sending their condolences to the Salazar family. Governor Kenny Guinn released this statement today: "Corporal Salazar was a brave young man, and should be saluted for his courage and his sacrifice, not only for the American people, but for the Iraqi people as well." Salazar is the sixth military member with ties to Nevada killed in Iraq or Kuwait since Operation Iraqi Freedom began in 2003.

Semper Fi!