Many of our local young men and women have paid the Ultimate Sacrifice for our freedoms. We wish to honor them and remember them with this page listing their names and a video commemorating their lives and service to our country. It is important that we remember there are “faces and names” behind the numbers we hear on the news each night.
Eastern Washington State
Spc. Carlo E. Alfonso, 23, Spokane, Washington. Spc. Carlo E. Alfonso, died of injuries sustained when his vehicle struck an improvised explosive device in Sadr City. Died on August 26, 2008.
Army Spc. Robert T. Benson, 20, of Spokane, Washington.
Benson died in Baghdad, Iraq from a non-hostile gunshot wound. He was assigned to Company A, 1st Battalion, 35th Armored Regiment, 1st Armored Division, Smith Barracks, Germany. Died on November 4, 2003.
Marine Staff Sgt. Marvin Best, 33, of Prosser, Washington.
Best died due to hostile action in Al Anbar Province, Iraq. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, California. Died on June 20, 2004. His parents are members of Operation Thank You, Tri-Cities.
Army Staff Sgt. Chad Caldwell, 24, from Cheney, Washington. Caldwell was killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq on Wednesday. Chad was assigned to the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment based in Fort Hood, Texas. He died Wednesday, April 30, 2008.
Army 1st Lt. Jaime L. Campbell, 25, of Ephrata, Washington.
Campbell died near Tal Afar, Iraq, when her UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crashed. She was assigned to the Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 207th Aviation Regiment, Anchorage, Alaska. Died on January 7, 2006.
Spc. Joseph T. Caron, 21, of Roy, Wash., died April 11th while on patrol in the Arghandab River Valley in Kandahar Province. He was a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division, based at Fort Bragg, N.C. Caron joined the Army in 2007. He is survived by his father, mother and sister.
Marine Sgt. Jason Cook, 25, of Okanogan, Washington.
Cook died from injuries received due to enemy action in Al Anbar Province, Iraq. He was assigned to 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, California. Died on August 21, 2004.
Air Force Staff Sgt. Casey Crate, 26, of Spanaway, Washington.
Crate died in the crash of an Iraqi air force aircraft during a training mission in eastern Diyala province. He was assigned to the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Florida. Died on May 30, 2005.
Army Sgt. Jacob H. Demand, 29, of Palouse, Washington.
Demand died in Mosul, Iraq, when his patrol was attacked by enemy forces. He was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, Fort Lewis, Washington. Died on September 14, 2004
Marine Cpl. Joshua Dumaw, Spokane Valley, 23, was killed June 22,2010 in Nimruz Province, Afghanistan, where he was assigned to the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, of the II Marine Expenditionary Force. A West Valley High School graduate, Dumaw was married for just under a year, and his wife is expecting their first child.
Army Cpl. Matt Emerson, 20, Grandview, Washington.
Emerson died in Ninewah Province, Iraq, when the humvee in which he was riding rolled over and he was killed instantly. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Bliss, Texas. Died on September 18, 2007.
Army Sgt. Damien T. Ficek, 26, of Pullman, Washington.
Ficek died in Baghdad, Iraq, when his patrol was attacked by enemy forces using small arms fire. He was assigned to the Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 161st Infantry Regiment, Spokane, Washington. Died on December 30, 2004.
LCpl Joe M. Jackson USMC, of White Swan, Washington was killed Saturday April 23, 2011 in Afghanistan while returning from patrol. LCpl Jackson was a 3rd generation Marine and had been enlisted less than 2 years. He lived in White Swan and was a Gila River Native American.
SPC James Miller, 21, of Zillah died March 29, 2010, when a roadside bomb hit his vehicle. The 21-year old attended high school in Alaska, then met his wife while taking classes at Yakima Valley College. Miller was part of the 5th stryker brigade based out of Lewis-McCord near Seattle.
Army Spc. Harley D. R. Miller, 21, of Spokane, Washington.
Miller died in Bamian, Afghanistan, when his contract aircraft crashed. He was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division (Light), Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. Died on November 27, 2004.
Army Sgt. 1st Class Lawrence E. Morrison, 45, of Yakima, Washington.
Morrison died in Baghdad, Iraq, of injuries sustained earlier that day in Taji, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. He was a reservist assigned to the U.S. Army Civil and Psychological Operations Command, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Died on September 19, 2005.
Pfc. Robert Near, 21, Granger, Washington.PFC Near was assigned to the 86th Signal Battalion, Fort Huachuca, Ariz.; died Jan. 7, 2011 in Kandahar, Afghanistan, while supporting combat operations and serving as a private first class infantryman in Afghanistan.
Marine Sgt. Travis Pfister, 27, Richland, Washington
Pfister died when the helicopter he was flying in crashed while supporting combat operations in Anbar Province. He was assigned to Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 364, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.Died: February 7, 2007
Army CWO Clint J. Prather, 32, of Cheney, Washington.
Prather died in Ghazni, Afghanistan, when the CH-47 helicopter he was on crashed. He was assigned to the 5th Battalion, 159th Aviation Regiment, 12th Aviation Brigade, Giebelstadt, Germany. Died on April 6, 2005.
Marine Sgt. Yadir G. Reynoso, 27, of Wapato, Washington.
Reynoso died due to enemy action in An Najaf Province, Iraq. He was assigned to Battalion Landing Team 1/4, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, California. Died on August 5, 2004.
Army Spc. Jeremiah W. Schmunk, 21, of Richland, Washington.
Schmunk died in Baghdad, Iraq, when his vehicle came under attack by rocket propelled grenade and small arms fire. He was assigned to the Company C, 1st Battalion, 161st Infantry Regiment, 1st Calvalry, Washington National Guard, Moses Lake, Washington. Died on July 8, 2004.
Marine Lance Cpl. Dustin L. Sides, 22, of Yakima, Washington.
Sides died from hostile fire in Al Anbar Province, Iraq. He was assigned to 9th Communications Battalion, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, California. Died on May 31, 2004.
Chief Warrant Officer Benjamin Harris Todd, 29, Carthage, formerly of Colville, Wash. CWO Todd died Jan. 26 in a helicopter crash in northern Iraq
Western Washington
Sgt. 1st Class Clifford E. Beattie, 37, died of wounds sustained when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device May 22, 2011 in Bagdad, Irag.
1st Lt. Robert Bennedsen, 25, a Vashon Island native, assigned to 2nd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, Vilseck, Germany was killed July 18, 2010 in Qalat, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when insurgents attacked his unit using an improvised explosive device.
Marine SSgt. Abraham Twitchell, 28, Yelm, Washington. Died when the seven-ton truck they were riding in rolled over in a flash flood near Al Asad, Iraq. He was assigned to Marine SSG CLB-7, Twentynine Palms, California. He died April 2, 2006. His sister, Sarah is a member of Operation Thank You, Tri-Cities.
Spc. Samuel Stone,20, Port Orchard, a Washington Army National Guardsman assigned to the Bremerton-based C Company, 1st Battalion, 303rd Cavalry, was killed in Iraq May 31st when his armored security vehicle rolled over while he was on a convoy security mission
Lance Cpl. Eric L. Ward, 19, of Redmond, Wash., died Feb. 21 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
Northeastern Oregon
Marine Lance Cpl. James B. Huston, Jr., 22, of Hermiston, Oregon.
Huston died in a vehicle accident while his unit was responding to hostile action in Al Anbar Province, Iraq. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, California. Died on July 2, 2004.
Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Marc A. Lee, 28, of Hood River, Oregon.
Lee died during combat operations while on patrol in Ramadi, Iraq. Lee was an aviation ordnanceman and a member of a West Coast-based SEAL Team. Died on August 2, 2006.
Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Marcques J. Nettles, 22, of Beaverton, Oregon (formerly Pasco native).
Nettles died when the seven-ton truck he was riding in rolled over in a flash flood near Al Asad, Iraq. He was assigned to 1st Combat Logistics Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, California. Died on April 2, 2006
Army Staff Sgt. Robert A. Stever, 36, of Pendleton, Oregon.
Killed in action by enemy fire in Iraq. Stever was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Georgia. Died on April 8, 2003.
Army Sgt. 1st Class Mark C. Warren, 44, of LaGrande, Oregon.
Warren died at Kirkuk Air Base, Iraq from non-combat related injuries. He was assigned to the 3d Battalion, 116th Armor Cavalry Regiment, 116th Brigade Combat Team (Forward), LaGrande, Oregon. Died on January 31, 2005.
Army Sgt. Tane T. Baum, 30, of Pendleton, Oregon.
Baum died southwest of Deh Chopan, Afghanistan, when his CH-47 Chinook helicopter crashed. He was assigned to the Army National Guard's 113th Aviation Regiment, Pendleton, Oregon. Died on September 25, 2005.
Army Warrant Officer Adrian B. Stump, 22, of Pendleton, Oregon.
Stump died southwest of Deh Chopan, Afghanistan, when his CH-47 Chinook helicopter crashed. He was assigned to the Army National Guard's 113th Aviation Regiment, Pendleton, Oregon. Died on September 25, 2005.
OTY Recent Donations made in Memory of Fallen Heroes:
PFC. Christopher Walz, Vancouver, WA; Fisher House
SPEC, Aaron Aamot, Custer, WA; Fisher House
SSgt. John Cleaver, Marysville, WA; John Cleaver Memorial Fund for the Wounded
Paul Scholtman, Benton City, WA; Community of Christ Church
LCpl Eric Ward, Redmond, WA.; Wounded Warriors Fund
Shawn Jensen, Benton City, WA; Wounded Warriors Fund
PFC Erin McLyman, Federal Way, WA.; Pacific Continental Bank
Spec James Miller, Zillah, WA
Valley Hills Funeral Home
Sgt. Dariel Dehn, Spangle, WA; Fisher House
PFC Casey Carriker, Hoquiam, WA; Fisher House
Cpl Fender, Medical Lake, WA; Fisher House
Shawn Starkovich, Arlington, WA; Fisher House
Pvt. Michael Baloga, Everett; BECU, f und for daughter
Cpl. Kessler, Mt. Vernon; Fisher House
CWO Oswell, Lacey; Fisher House
Sgt. Bryce Howard, Vancouver; Fisher House
Spec. Matt Emerson, Grandview; American Legion Post 73
Spc. Kamka, Everett; Memorial Fund at BOA Idaho Falls
LCpl. Burris, Tacoma; Fisher House
Eddie Jeffers; Fisher House
SSgt. Coby Schwab, Puyallup; Fisher House
Cpl. Kelly Grothe, Spokane; Fisher House
Josh Givens, Kennewick; Fisher House
Cpl. Jeremiah Johnson, Vancouver, fund for his children
Sgt. James Riekena, Redmond, fund for his children
Sgt. Mickel Garrigus,Elma, Fund for family
Cpl. Darrel Morris, Spokane, Fisher House
Cpl. Adam Emul, Vancouver, Fisher House
Maj. Alan Johnson, Yakima, Community Outreach Program
Sgt. Corey Aultz, Port Orchard, Fisher House
Sgt. Travis Pfister, Richland, Fund for family
Sgt. Ross Clevenger, Kennewick, Fund for Family
Spec. Ryan Bell, Colville, Fisher House
SSgt. Casey Combs, Sumner, Fisher House
PFC Court Haugen, Wenatchee, Fisher House
SPC Samuel Stone, Port Orchard, Fisher House
1st LT. Brian Bradshaw, Steilacoom, Fisher House
PVT Aaron FairbairnAberdeen, Fisher House
CWO Douglas Vosee II, Concrete, Fisher House
1st SGT Jose Crisostomo, Spanaway, Fisher House
SPEC Dennis Williams, Federal Way, Fisher House
SPEC Joseph White, Bellevue, Fisher House
NAVY SEAL, Ryan Job, Issaquah, Camp Patriot
SSgt. Nathan WyrickEncumclaw, Account to assist family
A "Hero" is someone that does the right thing
no matter the personal outcome.
Qualities of a Hero:
Faith
Respect
Endurance
Excellence
Discretion
Observance
Motivation
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If I die before you wake...
Back home now I know you're probably sleepin'
Over here it's the middle of the day
I finally found the time to write a letter
Sittin' here a half a world away
I heard about all them folks protestin'
As if I really want this war
But that don't stop me from believin'
There's just some things worth fightin' for
CHORUS
And if I die before you wake,
I pray the world will take
A good look at what God's given us
That we could only understand,
everything is in his hands
All we need is a little faith and trust
I want you to know it ain't too high a price to pay
If I die before you wake
Tell everybody that I miss them
And I can't wait to get back home
But until then I'll serve my country
And be proud to wear this uniform
CHORUS
No it ain't too high a price to pay
If I die before you wake.
Here is the link to the video that goes with these lyrics. http://www.flashdemo.net/gallery/wake/index.htm
RECENT NEWS:
REMEMBER TO VOTE, it's what they died for!!
"To save your world you asked this man to die; Would this man, could he see you now, ask why?" .......
W.H. Auden "Epitaph for an Unknown Soldier"
WASHINGTON
OPERATION THANK YOU
For those that deny themselves the comfort and security of their homes to protect our freedom,
We are forever in your debt.
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FALLEN HEROES
Army Staff Sgt. Nathan L. Wyrick, 34, of Enumclaw, Wash., made the ultimate sacrifice on Oct. 10, 2011, in Kandahar province, Afghanistan. Nathan deployed with the 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team out of Fort Drum, N.Y
