Day is done, gone the sun
From the hills, from the lake, from the sky
All is well, safely rest
God is nigh.
Thank you for visiting the Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom/New Dawn American Heroes Memorial. We honor all U.S. military personnel who have given their lives in our two ongoing wars. The most recent 20 U.S. military deaths are shown below. See deaths by category at left, or by date at right.
Capt. Jesse A. Ozbat, 28, of, Prince George, Virginia, died May 20, 2012, in Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. Capt. Ozbat was assigned to the 168th Brigade Support Battalion, 214th Fires Brigade, Fort Sill, Oklahoma.
2nd Lt. Tobias C. Alexander, 30, of Lawton, Oklahoma, died May 20, 2012, in Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. 2nd Lt. Alexander was assigned to the 168th Brigade Support Battalion, 214th Fires Brigade, Fort Sill, Oklahoma.
Spc. Samuel T. Watts, 20, of Wheaton, Illinois, died May 19, 2012, in Bethesda, Maryland, of wounds sustained April 25 in Zharay, Afghanistan, when he was attacked with an enemy improvised explosive device. Spc. Watts was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
Sgt. Michael J. Knapp, 28, of Overland Park, Kansas, died May 18, 2012, in Asadabad, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with indirect fire. Sgt. Knapp was assigned to the 1st Battalion (Air Assault), 377th Field Artillery Regiment, 17th Fires Brigade, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.
Sgt. Jabraun S. Knox, 23, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, died May 18, 2012, in Asadabad, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with indirect fire. Sgt. Knox was assigned to the 1st Battalion (Air Assault), 377th Field Artillery Regiment, 17th Fires Brigade, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.
Sgt. Brian L. Walker, 25, of Lucerne Valley, California, died May 13, 2012, in Bowri Tana, Afghanistan, when the enemy attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device. Sgt. Walker was assigned to the 425th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska.
Petty Officer Second Class Jorge Luis Velasquez, 35, of Houston, Texas, died as a result of a non-combat related incident in Manama, Bahrain. Petty Officer Second Class Velasquez was assigned to Commander, Task Force (CTF) 56 in Bahrain, which conducts maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility.
Pfc. Richard L. McNulty III, 22, Rolla, Missouri, died May 13, 2012, in Bowri Tana, Afghanistan, when the enemy attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device. Pfc. McNulty was assigned to the 425th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska.
Staff Sgt. Israel P. Nuanes, 38, of Las Cruces, New Mexico, died May 12, 2012, in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained during an enemy attack with an improvised explosive device. Staff Sgt. Nuanes was assigned to 741st Ordnance Company, Fort Bliss, Texas, part of the 84th Ordnance Battalion, 71st Ordnance Group.
Spc. Alex Hernandez III, 21, of Round Rock, Texas, died May 12, 2012, in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Spc. Hernandez was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, Wheeler Army Airfield, Hawaii.
Sgt. Wade D. Wilson, 22, of Normangee, Texas, died May 11, 2012, while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Sgt. Wilson was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, California.
1st Lt. Alejo R. Thompson, 30, of Yuma, Arizona, died May 11, 2012, in Bagram, Afghanistan, when enemy forces attacked his unit with small-arms fire. 1st Lt. Thompson was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colorado.
Sgt. Jacob M. Schwallie, 22, of Clarksville, Tennessee, died May 7, 2012, in Ghazni province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. Sgt. Schwallie was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
Spc. Chase S. Marta, 24, of Chico, California, died May 7, 2012, in Ghazni province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. Spc. Marta was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
Pfc. Dustin D. Gross, 19, of Jeffersonville, Kentucky, died May 7, 2012, in Ghazni province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. Pfc. Gross was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
Sgt. John P. Huling, 25, of West Chester, Ohio, died May 6, 2012, while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Sgt. Huling was assigned to 7th Engineer Support Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, California.
Staff Sgt. Thomas K. Fogarty, 30, of Alameda, California, died May 6, 2012, in Ahmad-Kheyl, Afghanistan, from injuries sustained when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. Staff Sgt. Fogarty was assigned to the 3rd Battalion (Airborne), 509th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska.
Master Sgt. Gregory L. Childs, 38, Warren, Arkansas, died May 4, 2012, in Kabul, Afghanistan. Master Sgt. Childs was assigned to Defense Logistics Agency, Fort Belvoir, Virginia.
Staff Sgt. Zachary H. Hargrove, 32, of Wichita, Kansas, died May 3, 2012, in Bagram, Afghanistan. Staff Sgt. Hargrove was assigned to the 84th Explosive Ordnance Disposal, 1st Sustainment Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kansas.
2nd Lt. David E. Rylander, 23, of Stow, Ohio, died May 2, 2012, in Logar province, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. 2nd Lt. Rylander was assigned to the 7th Engineer Battalion, 10th Sustainment Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, New York.
Spc. Junot M.L. Cochilus, 34, of Charlotte, North Carolina, died May 2, 2012, in Logar province, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. Spc. Cochilus was assigned to the 7th Engineer Battalion, 10th Sustainment Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, New York.
Capt. Bruce K. Clark, 43, Spencerport, New York, died May 1, 2012, in Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan. Capt. Clark was assigned to A Company, Troop Command, William Beaumont Army Medical Center, El Paso, Texas.
Sgt. Nicholas M. Dickhut, 23, of Rochester, Minnesota, died April 30, 2012, in Zharay, Afghanistan, from wounds sustained when enemy forces attacked his unit with small arms fire. Sgt. Dickhut was assigned to the 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.
Pfc. Christian R. Sannicolas, 20, Anaheim, California, died April 28, 2012, in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device. Pfc. Sannicolas was assigned to 1st Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
Master Sgt. Scott E. Pruitt, 38, of Gautier, Mississippi, died April 28, 2012, while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Master Sgt. Pruitt was assigned to I Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, California.
Lt. Christopher E. Mosko, 28, of Pittsford, New York, died April 26, 2012, while conducting combat operations in Nawa district, Ghazni province, Afghanistan. Lt. Mosko was assigned as a Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Platoon Commander to Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force, Afghanistan. He was stationed at EOD Mobile Unit 3, San Diego, California.
Sgt. Dick A. Lee, Jr., 31, of Orange Park, Florida, died April 26, 2012, in Ghazni province, Afghanistan, from injuries sustained when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device. Sgt. Lee was assigned to 95th Military Police Battalion, 18th Military Police Brigade, 21st Theater Sustainment Command, Sembach, Germany.
Staff Sgt. Brandon F. Eggleston, 29, of Candler, North Carolina, died April 26, 2012, in Ghazni province, Afghanistan, from injuries sustained when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device. Staff Sgt. Eggleston was assigned to 4th Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
Spc. Jason K. Edens, 22, of Franklin, Tennessee, died April 26, 2012, in Bethesda, Maryland, of wounds sustained April 15 in Laghman province, Afghanistan, when the enemy attacked his unit with small arms fire. Spc. Edens was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 13th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Fort Bliss, Texas.
Spc. Benjamin H. Neal, 21, of Orfordville, Wisconsin, died April 25, 2012, in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, from injuries sustained when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. Spc Neal was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
Spc. Moises J. Gonzalez, 29, Huntington, California, died April 25, 2012, in Balkh province, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when his vehicle rolled over. Spc. Gonzalez was assigned to the 509th Combat Service Support Company, 504th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade, Fort Hood, Texas.
Staff Sgt. Andrew T. Brittonmihalo, 25, of Simi Valley, California, died April 25, 2012, in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained from small arms fire. Staff Sgt. Brittonmihalo was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.
Spc. Manuel J. Vasquez, 22, of West Sacramento, California, died April 24, 2012, in Paktika province, Afghanistan. Spc. Vasquez was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment, 172nd Infantry Brigade, Grafenwoehr, Germany.
1st Lt. Jonathan P. Walsh, 28, Cobb, Georgia, died April 22, 2012, in Paktia, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. 1st Lt. Walsh was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 504th Infantry, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
Pfc. Michael J. Metcalf, 22, Boynton Beach, Florida, died April 22, 2012, in Paktia, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. Pfc. Metcalf was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 504th Infantry, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
Staff Sgt. Joseph H. Fankhauser, 30, of Mason, Texas, died April 22, 2012, while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Staff Sgt. Fankhauser was assigned to 7th Engineer Support Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, California.
Sgt. Chris J. Workman, 33, of Boise, Idaho, died April 19, 2012, in Helmand province, Afghanistan, when his Black Hawk (UH-60) crashed. Sgt. Workman was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, Wheeler Army Airfield, Hawaii.
Chief Warrant Officer Don C. Viray, 25, of Waipahu, Hawaii, died April 19, 2012, in Helmand province, Afghanistan, when his Black Hawk (UH-60) crashed. Chief Warrant Officer Viray was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, Wheeler Army Airfield, Hawaii.
Sgt. Dean R. Shaffer, 23, of Pekin, Illinois, died April 19, 2012, in Helmand province, Afghanistan, when his Black Hawk (UH-60) crashed. Sgt. Shaffer was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, Wheeler Army Airfield, Hawaii.
"The battle is now joined on many fronts. We will not waver, we will not tire, we will not falter, and we will not fail. Peace and freedom will prevail."
—G.W. Bush
