Dennis G. Jensen

Spc. Dennis G. Jensen, 21, of Vermillion, South Dakota, died August 16, 2011, in Helmand province, Afghanistan, from a non-combat related incident. Spc. Jensen was assigned to the 153rd Engineer Battalion, 196th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Lex L. Lewis

Sgt. Lex L. Lewis, 40, of Rapid City, South Dakota, died July 15, 2011, after injuries suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with small arms fire in Farah province, Afghanistan. Sgt. Lewis was assigned to 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colorado.

On July 20, 2011, Sgt. Lewis was posthumously promoted to staff sergeant.

Dale A. Goetz

Capt. Dale A. Goetz, 43, of White, South Dakota, died August 30, 2010, in the Arghandab River Valley, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. Capt. Goetz was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colorado.

Shane S. Barnard

Staff Sgt. Shane S. Barnard, 38, of Desmet, South Dakota, died May 19, 2010, in Zabul Province, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when he stepped on a secondary improvised explosive device. Staff Sgt. Barnard was assigned to the 3rd Ordnance Battalion (Explosive Ordnance Disposal), Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.

Leroy O. Webster

Staff Sgt. Leroy O. Webster, 28, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, died April 25, 2009, near Kirkuk, Iraq, after being shot while on a dismounted patrol. Staff Sgt. Webster was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

Jeremy D. Vrooman

Staff Sgt. Jeremy D. Vrooman, 28, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, died July 15, 2008, in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated while his unit was conducting combat operations in Kn’an, Iraq. Staff Sgt. Vrooman was assigned to the 2nd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Vilseck, Germany.

Estell L. Turner

Spc. Estell L. Turner, 43, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, died July 2, 2008, at the National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland, of wounds suffered on June 28 in Malikheyl, Afghanistan, when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device. Spc. Turner was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

Tanner J. O’Leary

Cpl. Tanner J. O’Leary, 23, of Eagle Butte, South Dakota, died December 9, 2007, in Musa Qal’eh, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated. O’Leary was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Zachary B. Tomczak

Staff Sgt. Zachary B. Tomczak, 24, of Huron, South Dakota, died September 25, 2007, in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms fire. Tomczak was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 325th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Gregory A. Wagner

Staff Sgt. Gregory A. Wagner, 35, of Mitchell, South Dakota, died of injuries sustained in Baghdad, Iraq, on May 8, 2006, when an improvised fire projectile struck his HMMWV during combat operation. Wagner was assigned to the Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 147th Field Artillery, Yankton, South Dakota.

Allen D. Kokesh, Jr.

Spc. Allen D. Kokesh, Jr., 21, of Yankton, South Dakota, died at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, on February 7, 2006, of injuries sustained in Baghdad, Iraq, on December 4 when an improvised explosive device detonated near his HMMWV. Kokesh was assigned to the Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 147th Field Artillery, Yankton, South Dakota.

Patrick W. Herried

Spc. Patrick W. Herried, 29, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, died in Rawah, Iraq, on February 6, 2006, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Stryker military vehicle during patrol operations. Herried was assigned to the Army’s 4th Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, Fort Wainwright, Alaska.

Jeremiah J. Boehmer

Sgt. Jeremiah J. Boehmer, 22, of Parkston, South Dakota, died in Al Husayniyah, Iraq, on February 5, 2006, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Stryker Engineer Squad Vehicle. Boehmer was assigned to the 562nd Engineer Company, 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, Fort Wainwright, Alaska.

Richard L. Schild

Sgt. 1st Class Richard L. Schild, 40, of Tabor, South Dakota, died in Baghdad, Iraq, on December 4, 2005, when improvised explosive devices detonated near his HMMWV during convoy operations. Schild was assigned to the Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 147th Field Artillery, Yankton, South Dakota.

Daniel M. Cuka

Staff Sgt. Daniel M. Cuka, 27, of Yankton, South Dakota, died in Baghdad, Iraq, on December 4, 2005, when improvised explosive devices detonated near his HMMWV during convoy operations. Cuka was assigned to the Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 147th Field Artillery, Yankton, South Dakota.

Daniel D. Bartels

Spc. Daniel D. Bartels, 22, of Huron, South Dakota, died in Mosul, Iraq, on October 19, 2005, of a non-combat related cause identified there on October 18. Bartels was assigned to the 4th Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, Fort Wainwright, Alaska.

Paul J. Pillen

Chief Warrant Officer Paul J. Pillen, 28, of Keystone, South Dakota, died in Salwa, Kuwait, on October 17, 2005, of a non-combat related cause. Pillen was assigned to the Army National Guard’s 249th Aviation, Rapid City, South Dakota.

Jason W. Montefering

Staff Sgt. Jason W. Montefering, 27, of Parkston, South Dakota, died on July 24, 2005, in Baghdad, Iraq, where an improvised explosive device detonated near his Bradley Fighting Vehicle. Montefering was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Carson, Colorado.

Gunnar D. Becker

Pfc. Gunnar D. Becker, 19, of Forestburg, South Dakota, died January 13, 2005, in Mosul, Iraq, of non-combat related injuries. Becker was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 63rd Armor Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, Vilseck, Germany.

Joseph T. Welke

Lance Cpl. Joseph T. Welke, 20, of Rapid City, South Dakota, died November 20, 2004, at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Germany, from wounds received as a result of enemy action on November 19 in Al Anbar Province, Iraq. Welke was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California.