PROFILES: Colorado soldiers killed in Iraq

Rocky Mountain News

Originally published 10:16 p.m., March 23, 2008
Updated 10:16 p.m., March 23, 2008

At least 57 troops, and one contractor, with strong ties to Colorado have died in Iraq. Here are profiles of Coloradans whose deaths contributed to the tragic milestone of 3,000 U.S. casualties reached on Dec. 31, 2006.

Thomas Slocum, 22, Thornton

Rank: Marine Lance Cpl.

Died after an ambush near Nasiriyah, March 23, 2003.

Bio: "He had no fear," said his mother, Terry Cooper. "He was ornery and always pushing the envelope." Slocum grew up in Thornton and graduated from Skyview High School in 1998. Asked to name his favorite subject in high school, Cooper said, Slocum answered without hesitation: "Girls. Definitely girls."

Randal K. Rosacker, 21, Alamosa

Rank: Marine Cpl.

Died after an ambush in Nasiriyah, March 23, 2003.

Bio: As a boy, Rosacker explored the outdoors, returning home with his pockets filled with new friends.

"He used to catch everything in the river near our house," said his father, Navy Command Master Chief Rod Rosacker, of San Diego.

When he turned 18, the stocky football star had a U.S. flag and bald eagle tattooed on his bicep.

Randall Rehn, 36, Longmont

Rank: Army Sgt. 1st Class

Died in a bombing near Baghdad, April 3, 2003.

Bio: Rehn was the class clown — one who valued taking the proverbial pie in the face as much as giving it out. "He would pull some silly things, but you couldn't be mad at him," said his mother, JoAnn Rehn. "You'd be mad at him for maybe a minute. That was all."

Russell B. Rippetoe, 27, Arvada

Rank: Army Capt.

Died in a car bombing at a checkpoint in Haditha, April 3, 2003.

Bio: Two of Rippetoe's men were killed with him, but two survived, in part because Rippetoe ordered them to stay back as he approached the car bombers' vehicle. Not content just to be in the Army, he became a Ranger. He won many commendations, including a Purple Heart and two Bronze Stars.

Thomas F. Broomhead, 34, Cañon City

Rank: Army Sgt.

Died after an ambush in Fallujah, May 27, 2003.

Bio: Survived by his wife, Kelli, and three sons, Jacob, Zachary and Jason, Broomhead was mortally wounded when his unit was ambushed, but he refused medical help and continued to fight and rally others. "He was so encouraging to everybody else and never gave a hint he was going out," his brother said.

Barry Sanford, 46, Aurora

Rank: Army Staff Sgt.

Died in Balad from a noncombat gunshot wound July 7, 2003.

Bio: The father of two girls, Sanford was an automated logistical specialist who managed equipment inventory and supply needs. "Barry had grown into a responsible adult — a loving husband and father, serving his country so that we can be free," his former wife, Sheila, said.

Mark A. Lawton, 41, Hayden

Rank: Army Staff Sgt.

Died after an ambush in As Suaydat, Aug. 29, 2003.

Bio: When his unit left for Iraq, Lawton was one of the only soldiers who knew what to expect. "He still had nightmares from the first Gulf War. He said you come across things so horrific that you can't believe another human being could do that to another human being," said his wife, Sherri Lawton. They have two young boys.

Daniel A. Bader, 28, Colorado Springs

Rank: Army Staff Sgt.

Died when a helicopter carrying 16 troops was shot down near Fallujah, Nov. 2, 2003.

Bio: Bader was a new father who was touched by the plight of the Iraqi children. "He said the reason we needed to be over there was to help relieve the suffering of the children," said his father, Roger Bader. Leaving behind daughter Taryn was his only hesitation about going to Iraq, said his wife, Tiffany.

Michael Yashinski, 24, Monument

Rank: Army Sgt.

Died in Kirkuk, Dec. 24, 2003. Electrocuted while laying communications wire.

Bio: As a teen, he spent weekends re-enacting frontier days with the Mountain Men. But when night fell, it was time for mischief.

"He was a very vivacious, mischievous young man," said family friend Rick Davis. "There were times that we got great belly laughs out of it."

Chance Phelps, 19, Clifton

Rank: Marine Pfc.

Died after an ambush in Anbar province, April 9, 2004.

Bio: Phelps died atop a Humvee, where he had volunteered to ride, although John Phelps, his father, had warned him about the risks of being a hero. "You could tell by the look in his eye that that was exactly what he was going to do," John Phelps said. "He had the football, and he was going for the touchdown again."

Ryan Reed, 20, Colorado Springs

Rank: Army Pfc.

Died after an ambush in Baghdad, April 29, 2004.

Bio: Reed looked tough, but even with his piercings, tattoos and leather collar, it was clear to those who knew him that he was nothing but a softie. He loved children. He loved the water. He loved his wife. And he loved God. Through church, Reed connected with the love of his life, Alicia, as they both worked as youth facilitators.

Shawn M. Atkins, 20, Parker

Rank: Army Pfc.

Died from a noncombat-related injury in Baghdad, June 14, 2004.

Bio: He was just a month away from leaving Iraq and coming home to attend college. "He liked to write, and he was good at it," Jim Atkins said of his son. A fourth-generation military man, Atkins wanted to follow in the steps of the men who came before him. "He took his commitment to the Army very seriously," a family member said.

Dana N. Wilson, 26, Fountain

Rank: Army Spc.

Died after a car accident near Hillah, July 11, 2004.

Bio: Wilson was as quick with a joke as he was with a spatula, his family says. "Dana was always in the kitchen with me," said his mother, Kathy Spears, of Hudsonville, Mich. His dream was to open a restaurant when he returned from Iraq. Wilson, married with two young sons, was on his way to Kuwait to come home when he died.

Mark Engel, 21, Centennial

Rank: Marine Lance Cpl.

Died after a bombing in Anbar province, July 21, 2004.

Bio: In his short time in the Marines, Engel saw two deployments to Iraq. During his second, he was on patrol when a homemade bomb exploded, inflicting burns on 70 percent of his body. He survived for two weeks and died the day before his 22nd birthday.

Henry C. Risner, 26, Golden

Rank: Army Pfc.

Died from enemy fire in Baghdad, Aug. 18, 2004.

Bio: Risner was giving bread to children in Baghdad when gunmen attacked. "That's the exact kind of person that he was," his younger brother, Jesse, said. "He loved children, and he would do everything he could to help people who were less fortunate than himself." Risner joined the military after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Douglas E. Bascom, 25, Colorado Springs

Rank: Marine Sgt.

Died after being wounded in Anbar province, Oct. 20, 2004.

Bio: Bascom was a born leader with an independent streak.

During a seaside run on a hot day at boot camp, Bascom's drill instructor cautioned his platoon not to get wet. But the water looked inviting. "He ran right into the waves, and his whole platoon followed him because he made it look so fun," said his mother, Debra Bascom.

Andrew G. Riedel, 19, Northglenn

Rank: Marine Pfc.

Died in a car bombing in Baghdad, Oct. 30, 2004.

Bio: Riedel always planned on joining the Marines, his friends said. Before enlisting, he made a point of having as much fun as possible: He was the kind to jump out of a hot tub and roll in the snow. During charades, he was the one everyone wanted to be the mime so they could laugh at his goofy imitations.

Theodore S. Holder II, 27, Littleton

Rank: Marine Staff Sgt.

Died in a gunbattle in Fallujah, Nov. 11, 2004.

Bio: Holder was killed in action while providing machine-gun cover for an injured Marine whose ambulance had come under fire, along with one of his own men who was also injured trying to save the wounded Marine. Even after being seriously wounded, he continued to fight until he was killed in action.

Michael B. Shackelford, 25, Grand Junction

Rank: Army Staff Sgt.

Died in a gunbattle in Ramadi, Nov. 28, 2004.

Bio: At 6-feet-2, over 200 pounds and with a booming voice, Shackelford had a commanding presence, whether he was calling cadence or teaching hand-to-hand combat. He could have gone to Special Forces school when his combat team was deployed to Iraq last year but chose to accompany the soldiers he'd trained.

Gregory P. Rund, 21, Littleton

Rank: Marine Lance Cpl.

Died in a gunbattle in Anbar province, Dec. 12, 2004.

Bio: Along with a smile that shined even through the grime of Iraq, Rund's friends said he retained a sense of duty until the end, when his unit was ambushed during house-to-house fighting. "If it weren't for the actions of Lance Cpl. Rund, there would have been many more deaths that day," one of his buddies wrote.

George Geer, 27, Cortez

Rank: Army Pfc.

Died after a car bombing in Ramadi, Jan. 17, 2005.

Bio: "George knew what he was getting into when he joined the Army. He knew that some things are worth fighting for," his father, Harold, said. And after George had finished serving? "He talked about becoming a geography teacher," said his father. "He could tell you the elevation of every mountain in Colorado."

Jason Obert, 29, Fountain

Profession: Contractor.

Died after his helicopter was shot down near Baghdad, April 21, 2005.

Bio: Obert had big plans for his family and wanted to rejoin his former colleagues at the El Paso County Sheriff's Office if he could survive a year in Iraq. His work for a private security company paid well, and he hoped to build a nest egg for his wife, Jessica, and two young sons, Cameron and Tyler.

Derrick Lutters, 24, Burlington

Rank: Army Spc.

Died after a bombing in Baghdad, May 1, 2005.

Bio: Lutters always wanted to make a difference - peacefully.

When a couple of students at his former Goodland (Kan.) High School started fighting, Lutter stepped in to break it up, said his father, Chuck. He thought he could help people in Iraq, so he volunteered and was assigned to the National Guard's 891st Engineers.

Travis W. Anderson, 28, Hooper

Rank: Army Pfc.

Died after a bombing in Bayji, May 13, 2005.

Bio: Anderson was born and raised in Hooper, a small community about 20 miles north of Alamosa. His mother called him a regular farm boy who liked working the potato fields, hunting and riding horses. "He was a hard worker who was proud of what he was doing," said his mother, Barbara Anderson.

Justin Vasquez, 26, Manzanola

Rank: Army Staff Sgt.

Died in a bombing in Baghdad, June 5, 2005.

Bio: First Lt. David Minor remembered Vasquez's courage in an earlier firefight with insurgents who had ambushed their patrol. Vasquez drove his armored vehicle from the back of the formation to the front and straight into the insurgents, breaking up their attack. Vasquez left behind his wife, Riley, and 4-year-old son, Justin.

Chad B. Maynard, 19, Montrose

Rank: Marine Lance Cpl.

Died in a roadside bombing near Ramadi, June 15, 2005.

Bio: One of Maynard's teachers remembered him as a selfless young man who had always wanted to be a Marine. "He believed in values beyond himself. He wanted to serve," said Scott Rizzo, Maynard's Navy ROTC instructor at Montrose High School.

"He really believed in the Marine Corps."

Evenor C. Herrera, 22, Gypsum

Rank: Marine Lance Cpl.

Died near Ramadi, Aug. 10, 2005.

Bio: Herrera was 9 when his family came to the United States from Honduras in search of opportunity. He found that opportunity in the U.S. Marine Corps. "He said he would rather die over there as a hero and be remembered as doing something good as opposed to being here and being remembered as a nobody," said his brother, Balmore.

Larry W. Pankey Jr., 34, Morrison

Rank: Army Sgt.

Died from noncombat-related injuries suffered in Balad, Oct. 3, 2005.

Bio: Pankey died at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. He was a member of the Army Reserve's 467th Engineer Battalion of Greenwood, Miss.

Benjamin D. Hoeffner, 21, Wheat Ridge

Rank: Army Cpl.

Died in Ali Al Salem, Kuwait, Oct. 25, 2005.

Bio: Hoeffner had just returned from spending two weeks at home where he spent time with family and friends. "His life was based off of family and friends and making sure everyone around him was happy," his brother, Chris, said. "He was very loving, had a big heart for everybody." He had hoped to become a police officer.

Tyler R. MacKenzie, 20, Evans

Rank: Army Pfc.

Died after an explosion near Baghdad, Nov. 2, 2005.

Bio: MacKenzie decided to follow a family tradition when he joined the Army. "He wanted to serve his country, and he believed in the war," said his cousin Jessica MacKenzie, of Westminster. "He wanted to help the Iraqi citizens know the lifestyle we knew."

Jeremy Tamburello, 19, Denver

Rank: Marine Pfc.

Died after a roadside bombing near Rutbah, Nov. 8, 2005.

Bio: Tamburello joined the Marines to further his education but also in response to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. "He cared about people in Iraq. He cared about what happened to people in 9/11," his father, Kevin, said. "He wanted to help serve and protect America. He was a very noble and courageous young man."

Michael Parrott, 49, Timnath

Rank: Army Staff Sgt.

Died after an ambush in Khalidiya, Nov. 14, 2005.

Bio: Friends struggled to understand why Parrott, a harsh critic of the U.S.-led war in Iraq, would sign up to go there with the National Guard. But his wife, Meg Corwin, said he believed he could do some good by mentoring young American soldiers, building good- will with Iraqis and maybe even taking a bullet for a younger man.

Luis R. Reyes, 26, Aurora

Rank: Army Sgt.

Died in a bus rollover in Ali Al Salem, Kuwait, Nov. 18, 2005.

Bio: A few hours before he died, Reyes called his wife to tell her he was on his way to Iraq. "He just wanted to call me because it was one of the last opportunities he could call for a while," his wife said. "He told me, 'Christina, it's a whole other world here,' but he never said if he was scared." He left behind a young son and daughter.

Ian P. Weikel, 31, Colorado Springs

Rank: Army Capt.

Died after an explosion in Balad, April 18, 2006.

Bio: Weikel, a graduate of West Point, was described by friends as a natural leader and problem-solver who led by example. He married a fellow West Point graduate. He and his wife, Wendy, served overseas together in Europe. She was discharged back to the U.S. when they learned she was pregnant with their first child, Jonathan Troy.

Michael R. Martinez, 43, Colorado Springs

Rank: Army Maj.

Died after a helicopter crash near Tal Afar, Jan. 7, 2006.

Bio: Martinez served eight years as an enlisted soldier, then left for college and law school, returning to the Army as an officer and lawyer in 1998. He had the whole thing planned," his brother, Daniel, said in describing Martinez's career path. He left behind his wife and five children.

Gordon F. Misner II, 23, Colorado Springs

Rank: Army Sgt.

Died after a bombing in Balad, Feb. 22, 2006.

Bio: Misner's wife, Christina, said he was an excellent soldier and a loving husband. When they met in Colorado Springs, she said, Misner warmed to her infant daughter, Natashia, and soon proposed. Before long, they had two more children of their own. "He loved his children more than anything in this world," she said.

Dimitri Muscat, 21, Aurora

Rank: Army Sgt.

Died from a noncombat injury in Balad, Feb. 24, 2006.

Bio: Muscat, whose family emigrated from Russia when he was 12, joined the Army at 17 and was on his second tour in Iraq. He was good-natured off duty but serious and talented on the job. "He was always enthusiastic. He'd always keep you upbeat. He was pretty much an outstanding soldier," said Capt. William Donaldson.

Gavin B. Reinke, 32, Pueblo

Rank: Army Staff Sgt.

Died after an explosion in Baghdad, May 4, 2006.

Bio: Reinke had looked forward to an upcoming two-week leave.

"He was pretty upbeat," said his mother, Karen Reinke, of Pueblo.

"He talked about how much he was looking forward to his R&R and spending time with his wife and little girl, and not to worry about him," she said.

John S. Vaughan, 23, Edwards

Rank: Army 2nd Lt.

Died in Mosul, June 7, 2006.

Bio: Vaughan had been in Iraq about a month. His sister said she had heard from him by phone the previous Friday. He sounded really happy ... like he didn't have a care in the world," she said. In an e-mail he wrote, "For the most part, everyone in Iraq is very nice. The bad guys are very far and few between, but they are most defiantly here."

Kyle W. Powell, 21, Colorado Springs

Rank: Marine Cpl.

Died in Anbar province, Nov. 4, 2006.

Bio: Powell was assigned to the First Combat Engineer Battalion, the First Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force in Camp Pendleton, Calif. He joined the service on Sept. 15, 2003. He was a combat engineer assigned to Charlie Company. During his three years of Marine service, he earned several awards.

Christopher A. Anderson, 24, Longmont

Rank: Navy Hospitalman.

Died in Anbar province, Dec. 4, 2006.

Bio: Anderson hailed from a family of Navy men. Once he joined the Navy, he wasn't content to settle for "anything less than being at the tip of the spear," his father, Rick, said.

That meant asking for additional training as a combat medic and being assigned to the front lines.

Nicklas J. Palmer, 19, Leadville

Rank: Marine Lance Cpl.

Died as a result of sniper fire in Anbar province, Dec. 16, 2006.

Bio: Three weeks before he was killed, Palmer talked to his father by phone about his latest assignment. "He was running a .50-caliber machine gun on the back of a Humvee, and he felt like a target," Brad Palmer said. "He got into what is called a hot zone, and a sniper shot him."

David R. Staats, 30, Colorado Springs

Rank: Army Staff Sgt.

Died after an explosion in Taji, Dec. 16, 2006.

Bio: Staats' first tour in 2002 was spent in Kuwait. The next year he was sent to Iraq. He then left the military but decided to re-enlist.

"He didn't like civilian life," said his sister, Bethany Staats. "He liked the military; that was his life. It was in his blood." Staats leaves behind a wife and two children.

Seth M. Stanton, 19, Colorado Springs

Rank: Army Pfc.

Died after a bombing near Baghdad, Dec. 17, 2006.

Bio: Stanton had been in Iraq only eight weeks when he was killed. "He could have chosen to go to college. He could have chosen to get a better job, but he chose to stand in harm's way for the sake of others," said the Rev. Mel Waters, a Vietnam veteran who presided at Stanton's service.

And in Afghanistan . . .

* Army Staff Sgt. Daniel Aaron Romero, 30, Longmont. Killed near Kandahar, April 15, 2002.

* Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Danny P. Dietz, 25, Littleton. Killed near Asadabad, June 28, 2005.

* Army Staff Sgt. Christopher M. Falkel, 22, Highlands Ranch. Killed in Deh Afghan, Aug. 8, 2005.

*Air Force Sgt. Randy J.Gillespie, 44, Coaldale. Killed in Herat, July 9, 2007.

* Army Spc. Christopher F. Sitton, 21, Montrose. Killed in Kunar province, Aug. 19, 2006.

* Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Charles Luke Milam, 26, Littleton. Killed in Helmand Province, Sept. 25, 2007

Source: icasualties.org, Rocky research

FORT CARSON'S FALLEN HEROES, 2003-2008

2003

1. Pfc. Jesse A. Givens, of Springfield, Mo., May 1

2. Sgt. Richard P. Carl, of King Hill, Idaho, May 9

3. Chief Warrant Officer Hans N. Gukeisen, of Lead, S.D., May 9

4. Chief Warrant Officer Brian K. Van Dusen, of Columbus, Ohio, May 9

5. Maj. Matthew E. Schram, of Sister Bay, Wis., May 26

6. Sgt. Keman L. Mitchell, of Hilliard, Fla., May 26

7. Sgt. Tomas F. Broomhead, of Canon City, May 27

8. Staff Sgt. Michael B. Quinn, of Tampa, Fla., May 27

9. Sgt. Michael E. Dooley, of Pulaski, Va., June 8

10. Staff Sgt. Andrew R. Pokorny, of Naperville, Ill., June 13

11. Staff Sgt. William T. Latham, of Kingman, Ariz., June 18

12. Sgt. Melissa Valles, of Eagle Pass, Texas, July 9

13. Capt. Joshua T. Byers, of Sparks, Nev., July 23

14. Sgt. Taft V. Williams, of New Orleans, La., Aug. 12

15. Pfc. Vorn J. Mack, of Orangeburg, S.C., Aug. 23

16. Spc. Stephen M. Scott, of Lawton, Okla., Aug. 23

17. Spc. Ronald D. Allen, of Mitchell, Ind., Aug. 25

18. Capt. Brian R. Faunce, of Philadelphia, Pa., Sept. 18

19. Staff Sgt. Frederick L. Miller Jr., of Hagerstown, Ind., Sept. 20

20. Spc. Tamarra J. Ramos, of Quakertown, Pa., Oct. 1

21. Pvt. Benjamin L. Freeman, of Valdosta, Ga., Oct. 13

22. Spc. Jose L. Mora, of Bell Gardens, Calif., Oct. 24

23. Sgt. Ernest G. Bucklew, of Enon Valley, Pa., Nov. 2

24. Pfc. Darius T. Jennings, of Cordova, S.C., Nov. 2

25. Staff Sgt. Daniel A. Bader, of York, Neb., Nov. 2

26. Spc. Brian H. Penisten, of Fort Wayne, Ind., Nov. 2

27. Spc. James R. Wolf, of Scottsbluff, Neb., Nov. 6

28. Staff Sgt. Dale A. Panchot, of Northome, Minn., Nov. 17

29. Cpl. Gary B. Coleman, of Pikeville, Ky., Nov. 21.

30. Spc. David J. Goldberg, of Layton, Utah, Nov. 26.

31. Staff Sgt. Stephen A. Bertolino, of Orange, Calif., Nov. 29

32. Spc. Rian C. Ferguson, of Taylors, S.C., Dec. 14

33. Spc. Nathan W. Nakis, of Corvallis, Ore., Dec. 16

34. Spc. Justin W. Pollard, of Foothill Ranch, Calif., Dec. 30

* 2004

35. Capt. Eric T. Paliwoda, of Hartford, Conn., Jan. 2

36. Spc. Michael A. Diraimondo, of Simi Valley, Calif., Jan. 8

37. Spc. Christopher A. Golby, of Johnstown, Pa., Jan. 8

38. Chief Warrant Officer Ian D. Manuel, of Jacksonville, Fla., Jan. 8

39. Chief Warrant Officer Philip A. Johnson Jr., of Mobile, Ala., Jan. 8

40. Master Sgt. Kelly L. Hornbeck, of Fort Worth, Texas, Jan. 19

41. Pfc. Armando Soriano, of Houston, Texas, Feb. 1

42. Chief Warrant Officer Stephen M. Wells, of Egremont, Mass., Feb. 25

43. Chief Warrant Officer Matthew C. Laskowski, of Phoenix, Ariz., Feb. 25

44. 1st Lt. Michael R. Adams, of Seattle, Wash., March 16

45. Master Sgt. Richard L. Ferguson, of Conway, N.H., March 30

46. Staff Sgt. Gary A. Vaillant, of Trujillo, Puerto Rico, Sept. 5

47. Pfc. Jason L. Sparks, of Monroeville, Ohio, Sept. 8

48. 1st Lt. Tyler H. Brown, of Atlanta, Ga., Sept. 14

49. Spc. Robert O. Unruh, of Tucson, Ariz., Sept. 25

50. Capt. Eril L. Allton, of Houston, Texas, Sept. 26

51. Pvt. Joshua P. Titcomb, of Somerset, Ky., Sept. 28

52. Pvt. Jeungjin Kim, of Honolulu, Hawaii, Oct. 6

53. Pvt. Aaron J. Rusin, of Johnstown, Pa., Oct. 11

54. Spc. Christopher Merville, of Albuquerque, N.M., Oct. 12

55. Staff Sgt. Omer T. Hawkins, of Cherry Fork, Ohio, Oct. 4

56. Pfc. Mark Barbret, of Shelby Township, Mich., Oct. 14

57. Spc. Bradley S. Beard, of Chapel Hill, N.C., Oct. 14

58. Pfc. Stephen P. Downing, of Burkesville, Ky., Oct. 28

59. Sgt. Maurice Fortune, of Forestville, Md., Oct. 29

60. Sgt. John B. Trotter, of Marble Falls, Texas, Nov. 9

61. Pfc. Dennis J. Miller, of La Salle, Mich., Nov. 10

62. Staff Sgt. Sean P. Huey, of Fredericktown, Pa., Nov. 11

63. Capt. Luke C. Wullenwaber, of Lewiston, Idaho, Nov. 16

64. Spc. Sergio R. Diaz, of Lomita, Calif., Nov. 24

65. Pvt. Brian K. Grant, of Dallas, Texas, Nov. 26

66. Pfc. Harrison J. Meyer, of Worthington, Ohio, Nov. 26

67. Sgt. Michael B. Shakelford, of Grand Junction, Nov. 28

68. Pfc. Stephen C. Benish, of Clark, N.J., Nov. 28

69. Spc. Carl W. Lee, of Oklahoma City, Okla., Nov. 28

70. Pvt. Edwin W. Roodhouse, of San Jose, Calif., Dec. 5

71. Staff Sgt. Marvin L. Trost, of Goshen, Ind., Dec. 5

72. Staff Sgt. Kyle A. Eggers, of Euless, Texas, Dec. 5

73. Pfc. Andrew M. Ward, of Kirkland, Wash., Dec. 5

74. Sgt. First Class Todd C. Gibbs, of Angelina, Texas, Dec. 7

75. Staff Sgt. Arthur C. Williams, of Edgewater, Fla., Dec. 8

* 2005

76. Sgt. Bennie Washington, of Atlanta, Ga., Jan. 4

77. Spc. Michael Smith, of Media, Pa., Jan. 11

78. Pfc. Jesus Fonseca, of Marietta, Ga., Jan. 17

79. Staff Sgt. Thomas Vitagliano, of New Haven, Conn., Jan. 17

80. Pfc. George Greer, of Cortez, Jan. 17

81. Spc. James H. Miller, of Cincinnati, Ohio, Jan. 30

82. Spc. Michael Arciola, of Elmsford, N.Y., Feb. 5

83. Staff Sgt. Jason Hendrix, of Claremore, Okla., Feb. 5

84. Staff Sgt. Alexander Crackel, of Wilstead Bedford, United Kingdom, Feb. 24

85. Spc. Chasan Henry, of West Palm Beach, Fla., Feb. 25

86. Capt. Sean Grimes, of Southfield, Mich., March 4

87. Sgt. First Class Donald Eacho, of Black Creek, Wis., March 4

88. Spc. Wade Twyman, of Vista, Calif. March 4

89. Cpl. Steven McGowan, of Newark, Del., March 4

90. Spc. Michael Franklin, of Coudersport, Pa., March 7

91. Staff Sgt. Andrew Bossert, of Fountain City, Wis., March 7

92. Spc. Francisco G. Martinez, of Fort Worth, Texas, March 20

93. Spc. Randy Stevens, of Swartz Creek, Mich., April 16

94. Sgt. Angelo Lozada, of Brooklyn, N.Y., April 16

95. Sgt. Tromaine Toy, of Eastville, Va., April 16

96. Staff Sgt. Juan GarciaArana, of Los Angeles, Calif., April 30

97. Staff Sgt. Thor Ingraham, of Murrysville, Pa., May 8

98. Spc. Nicolas Messmer, of Franklin, Ohio, May 8

99. Sgt. Antwan Walker, of Tampa, Fla., May 18

100. Spc. Phillip Edmundson, of Wilson, N.C., June 1

101. Spc. Louis Niedermeier, of Largo, Fla., June 1

102. Sgt. First Class Neil Prince, of Baltimore, Md., June 11

103. Pfc. Anthony Kinslow, of Westerville, Ohio, June 13

104. Sgt. Larry Kuhns, of Austintown, Ohio, June 13

105. Spc. Nicholas Idalski, of Crown Point, Ind., June 21

106. Spc. Brian Vaughn, of Pell City, Ala., June 21

107. Spc. Christopher Hoskins, of Danielson, Conn., June 21

108. Spc. Omead Hossein Razini, of Los Angeles, Calif., Aug. 27

109. Pfc. James Edward Prevete, of Whitestone, N.Y., Oct. 10

110. Staff Sgt. Marshall H. Caddy, of Nags Head, N.C., Nov. 16

111. Spc. Daniel Frank Gustaferro, of Las Vegas, Nev., Jan. 7

112. Spc. Nicholas E. Wilson, of Glendale, Ariz., March 11

113. Pfc. Samuel Lee, of Anaheim, Calif., March 28

114. Sgt. Julio E. Negron, of Pompano Beach, Fla., Feb. 28

115. Spc. Lizbeth Robles, of Vega Baja, Puerto Rico, March 1

116. Pvt. Joseph L. Knott, of Yuma, Ariz., April 17

117. Spc. Ricky W. Rockholt, of Winston, Ore., April 28

118. Pfc. Robert W. Murray, of Westley, Ind., April 28

119. Sgt. Stephen P. Saxton, of Temecula, Calif., May 3

120. Sgt. Jacob M. Simpson, of Ashland, Ore., May 16

121. Spc. Joshua T. Brazee, of Sand Creek, Mich., May 23

122. Sgt. Charles T. Wilkerson, of Kansas City, Mo., May 25

123. Staff Sgt. Justin L. Vasquez, of Manzanola, June 5

124. Pfc. Brian S. Ulbrich, of Chapmanville, W. Va., June 5

125. Spc. Eric J. Poelman, of Racine, Wis., June 5

126. Sgt. Frist Class Christopher W. Phelps, of Louisville, Ky., June 23

127. Staff Sgt. Jeremy A. Brown, of Mabscot, W. Va., July 3

128. Staff Sgt. Scottie L. Bright, of Montgomery, Ala., July 5

129. Cpl. Lyle J. Cambridge, of Shiprock, N.M., July 5

130. Spc. Hoby F. Bradfield, of The Woodlands, Texas, July 9

131. Pfc. Eric P. Woods, of Omaha, Neb., July 9

132. Sgt. Timothy J. Sutton, of Springfield, Mo., July 11

133. Spc. Ronnie D. Williams, of Erlanger, Ky., July 17

134. Staff Sgt. Jason W. Montefering, of Parkson, S.D., July 24

135. Sgt. Milton M. Monzon, of Los Angeles, Calif., July 24

136. Spc. Ernest W. Dallas, of Denton, Texas, July 24

137. Pfc. Ramon A. Vallatoro, of Bakersfield, Calif., July 24

138. Spc. Robert A. Swaney, of West Jefferson, Ohio, July 30

139. Staff Sgt. Brian L. Morris, of Centreville, Mich., Aug. 22

140. Pfc. Elden D. Arcand, of White Bear Lake, Minn., Aug. 22

141. Spc. Joseph L. Martinez, of Las Vegas, Nev., Aug. 27

142. Chief Warrant Officer Dennis P. Hay, of Valdosta, Ga., Aug. 29

143. 2nd Lt. Charles R. Rubado, of Clearwater, Fla., Aug. 29

144. Cpl. Jeffery A. Williams, of Warrenville, Ill., Sept. 5

145. 1st Lt. Justin S. Smith, of Lansing, Mich., Nov. 7

146. Staff Sgt. Brian L. Freeman, of Lucedale, Mass., Nov. 7

147. Spc. Robert C. Pope, of East Islip, N.Y., Nov. 7

148. Pfc. Mario A. Reyes, of Las Cruces, N.M., Nov. 7

149. Sgt. Tyrone L. Chisholm, of Savannah, Ga., Nov. 11

150. Sgt. Dennis J. Gallardo, of St. Petersburg, Fla., Nov. 22

151. Sgt. First Class Eric P. Pearrow, of Peoria, Ill., Nov. 24

152. Cpl. Jared W. Kubasak, of Rocky Mount, Va., Dec. 12

153. Sgt. Timothy R. Boyce, of North Salt Lake, Utah, Dec. 15

* 2006

154. Maj. Douglas A. LaBouff, of California, Jan. 7

155. Maj. Michael R. Martinez, of Missouri, Jan. 7

156. 1st Lt. Joseph D. deMoors, of Jefferson, Ala., Jan. l7

157. Spc. Dustin L. Kendall, of Conway, Ark., Jan. 15

158. Cpl. Walter B. Howard, of Rochester, Mich., Feb. 2

159. Spc. Thomas J. Wilwerth, of Mastic, N.Y., Feb. 23

160. Staff Sgt. Curtis T. Howard, of Ann Arbor, Mich., Feb. 23

161. Sgt. Gordon F. Misner, of Sparks, Nev., Feb. 23

162. Sgt. Dimitri Muscat, of Aurora, Feb. 24

163. Spc. Grant A. Dampier, of Merrill, Wis., May 15

164. Staff Sgt. Maron Flint Jr., of Baltimore, Md., May 15

165. Spc. Brock L. Bucklin, of Grand Rapids, Mich., May 31

166. Cpl. Luis D. Santos, of Rialto, Calif., June 8

167. Staff Sgt. Alberto V. Sanchez, of Houston, Texas, June 24

168. Sgt. James P. Muldoon, of Bells, Texas, June 29

169. Pfc. Nicholas A. Madaras, of Wilton, Conn., Sept. 3

170. Sgt. James R. Worster, of Broadview Heights, Ohio, Sept. 18

171. Staff Sgt. Ryan Eugene Haupt, of Phoenix, Ariz., Oct. 17

172. Pfc. Nathan Joseph Frigo, of Kokomo, Ind., Oct. 17

173. Sgt. Norman Robert Taylor III, of Blythe, Calif., Oct. 17

174. Lt. Col. Eric John Kruger, of Garland, Texas, Nov. 2

175. Pfc. Albert M. Nelson, of Philadelphia, Pa., Dec. 4

176. Pfc. Roger Alfonso Suarez-Gonzales, of Miami, Fla., Dec. 5

177. Sgt. Yevegeniy Ryndych, of Brooklyn, N.Y., Dec. 6

178. Spc. Elias Elias, of Azusa, Calif., Dec. 23

179. Sgt. Jae Sik Moon, of Levittown, Pa., Dec. 25

180. Pvt. Clinton T. McCormick, Jacksonsville, Fla., Dec. 27

181. Sgt. John Michael Sullivan, of Hixson, Tn., Dec. 30

2007

182. Pfc. Ming Sun, of Cathedral City, Calif., Jan. 9

183. Pfc. Collin Ryan Shockmel, of Richwood, Texas, Jan. 16

184. Pfc. Allen Brenton Jaynes, of Chandler, Texas, Jan. 20

185. Pfc. Michael Christopher Balsley, of Hayward, Calif., Jan. 25

186. Sgt. Alexander Henry Fuller, of Centerville, Maine., Jan. 25

187. Staff Sgt. Joshua R. Hager, of Broomfield, Feb. 23

188. Pfc. Travis W. Buford, of Galveston, Texas, Feb. 23

189. Pfc. Rowan D. Walter, of Winnetka, Calif. Feb. 23

190. Sgt. Robert Michael Carr, of Warren, Ohio, March 13

191. Sgt. Joe Polo, of Opalocka, Fla. March 29

192. Pfc. Walter Freeman, Jr, of Lancaster, Calif., April 4

193. Pfc. Derek A. Gibson, of Eustis, Fla., April 4

194. Cpl. Ismael G. Solorio, of San Luis, Ariz., April 9

195. Pfc. Brian L. Holden, of Claremont, N.C., April 9

196. Pvt. Brett A. Walton, of Hillsboro, Ore., April 9

197. Ptc. Kyle Geoffrey Bohrnsen, of Phillipsburg, Mont., April 10

198. Staff Sgt. Jay Edward Martin, of Fort Lewis, Wash., April 29

199. Pfc. Brian A. Botello, of Alta, Iowa, April 29

200. Sgt. Alexander James Funcheon, of Belaire, Kan., April 29

201. Pfc. Zachary Ryan Gullett, of Hillsboro, Ohio, May 1

202. Pfc. Roy Lee Jones III, of Houston, Texas, May 10

203. Spc. Matthew Edward Baylis, of Oakdale, N.Y., May 31

204. Pfc. Justin Abel Verdeja, of La Puente, Calif. June 5

205. Sgt. Eric Lamar Snell, of Trenton, N.J., June 18

206. Pfc. Jerimiah J. Veitch, of Dibble Okla., June 21

207. Sgt. William Edward Brown, of Phil Campbell, Ala., June 32

208. Spc. Shin Woo Kim, of Fullerton, Calif., June 28

209. Pfc. Cory Hiltz, of La Verne, Calif., June 28

210. Sgt. Giann Carolo Joya-Mendoza, of North Hollywood, Calif., June 28

211. Sgt. Michael Martinez, of Chula Vista, Calif., June 28

212. Spc, Dustin Lee Workman II, of Greenwood, Neb., June 28

213. Staff Sgt. Robb Rolfing, of Milton, Maine, June 30

214. Pfc. Steven A. Davis, of Woodbridge, Va., July 4

215. Spc. Eric Anthony Lill, of Chicago, Ill., July 5

216. Pfc. Christopher David Kube, of Sterling Heights, Mich., July 14

217. Spc. Robert Daniel Varga, Monroe City, Mont., July 15

218. Spc. Justin Richard Blackwell, of Paris, Tenn., Aug. 5

219. Pfc. Jeremy Shawn Bohannon, of Bon Aqua, Tenn., Aug. 5

220. Staff Sgt. Robert R. Pirelli, of Franklin, Main, Aug. 15

221. Sgt. Edmund John Jeffers, of Daleville, Ala., Sept. 19

222. Staff Sgt. Eric Thomas Duckworth, of Plano, Texas, Oct. 10

223. Pfc. Kenneth James Iwasinski, of West Springfield, Mass., Oct. 14

224. Staff Sgt. Jarred S. Fontenot, of Port Barre, La., Oct. 18

225. Sgt. Daniel Jordan Shaw, of West Seneca, N.Y., Nov. 5

226. Spc. Brynn Joel Naylor, of Roswell, N.M., Dec. 12

2008

227. Sgt. Mikeal Miller, of Albany, Ore., Jan. 27

228. Sgt. James E. Craig, 26, of Hollywood, S.C. Jan. 28

229. Staff Sgt. Gary W. Jeffries, 37, of Roscoe, Texas, Jan. 28

230. Spc. Evan A. Marshall, 21, of Athens, Ga., Jan. 28

231. Pfc. Brandon A. Meyer, 20, of Orange, Calif., Jan. 28

232. Pvt. Joshua A.R. Young, 21, of Riddle, Ore., Jan. 28

233. Staff Sgt. Chad A. Barrett, 35, of Saltville, Va. Feb. 02

234. Staff Sgt. Michael D. Elledge, 41, of Brownsburg, Ind.

235. Cpl. Christopher C. Simpson, 23, of Hampton, Va.

Source: Fort Carson, The Gazette