Died: March 4, 2010 in Gereshk, Afghanistan
Spc. Anthony A. Paci of Rockville, Maryland died at age 30 at Gereshk, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered during a vehicle rollover.
Army
1st Battalion
17th Infantry
5th Brigade
2nd Infantry Division
Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington
Died: March 4, 2010 in Helmand, Afghanistan
Lance Cpl. Nigel K. Olsen of Orem, Utah attended Mountain View High School graduating in 2007 and later pursued some classes at Utah Valley University. As early as age three, Nigel already knew he wanted to serve in the military. After graduation from high school he realized that lifelong dream of joining the Marines. His only complaint was that once he was in the war zone, he wasn’t involved in as much of the combat as he would have preferred. It turned out that he would ultimately be right smack in the middle of battle. At home, he enjoyed playing his Xbox and sunday dinners at his mom’s house. Nigel also had a deep love for his country and a passion for reading, especially history books, often getting his reading material at the library. He died at age 21 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
Marines
4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion
4th Marine Division, Marine Forces Reserve
Camp Pendleton, California
To be updated…
Died: February 10, 2010 in Kosovo
Sgt. Terry Rishling of Fargo, North Dakota enlisted in the Guard on July 13, 2001, joining C Company, 141st Engineer Combat Battalion in Bismarck. In September 2005, he joined the Headquarters Company of the 141st in Valley City. He transferred to A Company 231st Brigade Support Battalion in September 2006. Outside of the military, his job for the past three years was at the Fargo office of Jet-Way, which does industrial cleaning of agricultural facilities. He was expected to return home in August 2010. Terry was serving in Kosovo with the Army National Guard on peacekeeping duty. He was deployed to Camp Bondsteel in Kosovo with the Multi-National Battle Group-East. Terry was trained as a combat engineer and a petroleum supply specialist. He was a team leader in the third platoon of A Company, 231st Maneuver Task Force, a unit based in Valley City, N.D. A lot of younger guys really looked up to him, and he was always willing to take the extra time and give them a hand. He died at age 38 of natural causes. He is survived by his wife, Nancy and daughters, Sophie and Courtney, and his parents, John and Gloria Rishling. He was 38.
Died March 1, 2010 in Bala Murghab, Afghanistan
Spc. Josiah D. Crumpler of Hillsborough, North Carolina is survived by his wife, Shana, and two children, Hannah and Seth, his parents, Pam Plummer Crumpler and Dennis Wayne Crumpler, brothers Micah and John, sister Joy, paternal grandmother, Joyce Pate Crumpler, aunts Candace Crim, Darlene Andrey, Christy Gandy, and an uncle Chris Plummer. Josiah died at age 27 in Bala Murghab, Afghanistan, when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms and rocket-propelled grenade fires.
Army
1st Battalion
508th Parachute Infantry Regiment
4th Brigade Combat Team
82nd Airborne Division
Fort Bragg, North Carolina
Burial will be at Evergreen Memorial Cemetery in Princeton, North Carolina
To be updated…
Born: June 29, 1986 in Santa Clara, California
Died: February 23, 2010 in Iraq
Cpl. Daniel T. O’Leary of Youngsville, North Carolina joined the Army in April of 2006 and was currently serving his second tour in Iraq and was just days away from returning home for a visit. His Awards and Decorations include, the Overseas Service Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal , Iraqi Campaign Medal -2 Stars, National Defense Services Medal ,United States Army Good Conduct Medal, United States Amy Achievement Medal, United States Army Commendation Medal and The Bronze Star. He is the son of Todd and Virginia O’Leary and Bob and Mary A. Abeyta and was married less than a year to Nikita whom he married on July 18, 2009. Dan died at age 23 in Fallujah, Iraq, of injuries sustained during a vehicle roll-over.
Army
307th Brigade Support Battalion
1st Brigade Combat Team
82nd Airborne Division
Fort Bragg, North Carolina
Burial is at Carolina Memorial Gardens in Creedmoor, North Carolina
To be updated…
Died: February 21, 2010 in Qayyarah, Iraq
Capt. Marcus R. Alford of Knoxville, Tennessee graduated from South-Doyle High School in 2000 where he was voted “wittiest senior” and was battalion commander of the ROTC. After he graduated in 2000 Alford made a point to come back and share his experience with students in the ROTC program. He then graduated from Carson-Newman College in 2004 majoring in computer information systems. Marcus was a mature young man who was enthusiastic and determined. He died at age 28 in Qayyarah, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopter had a hard landing. He leaves a son and a daughter, and was engaged to be married.
Army
1st Squadron
230th Cavalry Regiment
Louisville, Tennessee
Burial is at Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery in Knoxville, Tennessee
To be updated…
Died: February 21, 2010 in Qayyarah, Iraq
Chief Warrant Officer Billie J. Grinder of Gallatin, Tennessee was a 2002 graduate of Smyrna High School. She was a tough, but girly tomboy who rode motorcycles and gave generously to the people in her life. She sported tattoos and liked going fast and doing things that other people might consider as dangerous. But Billie had absolutely no fear. Billie joined the Tennessee Army National Guard in July of 2002 at age 17 while still in high school. She became a pilot in 2007 after completing Warrant Officer School at Ft. Rucker, Alabama. She was deployed to Iraq for her first tour in June 2009 and she was scheduled to come home within two weeks. She was currently a Pilot-In-Command (PIC) for OH-58D Kiowa Warrior. Billie Jean died at age 25 in Qayyarah, Iraq, of wounds suffered when her OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopter had a hard landing. She was preceded in death by father, Harold William Smith; maternal grandparents, Cathuel and Juan Galon Bowe; paternal grandparents, Robert and Joan Smith; and uncle, Woodford Bowe. She is survived by husband, Samuel, stepdaughters, Megan and Makayla, mother, Roxanne Davenport; stepfather, Billy Davenport; sister, Melissa, brothers, James and Robbie among others.
Army
1st Squadron
230th Cavalry Regiment
Louisville, Tennessee
To be updated…
Died: February 21, 2010 in Helmand province, Afghanistan
Lance Cpl. Matthias N. Hanson of Buffalo, Kentucky attended Greenville High School before moving to moved to Hodgenville, Kentucky in 2005 where he graduated from Larue County High School in 2008. While at Larue he was a member of the football team and the Technology Student Association. He joined the Marines in 2007 following a long family history of military service. His father had served in the Gulf War, his stepfather in Vietnam. His brother currently is serving in the Army. And the family has relatives who served in both World Wars. Matt is the son of Mary Huff and Larry, and Lowell Hanson II and Cynthia. He also has three sisters, Megan, Samantha and Erika, and two brothers, Lowell Hanson III who is currently stationed in Germany and Brendan Huff. Matt died at age 20 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
Marines
3rd Battalion
6th Marine Regiment
2nd Marine Division
II Marine Expeditionary Force
Camp Lejeune, North Carolina
Burial is at Perkins Family Cemetery in Buffalo, Kentucky
To be updated….
Born: November 13, 1979
Died: February 20, 2010 in Helmand, Afghanistan
Staff Sgt. Christopher W. Eckard of Hickory, North Carolina is the son of Eunice C. Eckard and the late Steven Eckard. He was an explosive ordnance disposal technician serving his second deployment in Afghanistan after serving three tours in Iraq in 2004, 2007 and 2008. Chris died at age 30 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He is survived by his wife and two sons, his mother, Eunice Eckard, brother, Chad, and his grandfather, Bernard Eckard. He was preceded in death by his paternal grandmother, Ruth Eckard and his maternal grandparents, Woodrow and Lucy Carico.
Marines
8th Engineer Support Battalion
2nd Marine Logistics Group
II Marine Expeditionary Force
Camp Lejeune, North Carolina
Burial is at Woodlawn Memorial Gardens in Hickory, North Carolina
To be updated…
Born: January 28, 1983 in Columbus, Indiana
Died: February 18, 2010 in Afghanistan
Sgt. Jeremy R. McQueary of Columbus, Indiana is the son of Deborah Kleinschmidt and the late Dallas McQueary and the brother of Rebecca Willison. He graduated early from Columbus East High School before enlisting in the Marine Corps in January of 2002. Jeremy’s family has a rich history of military service which played a roll in his expressing a desire at an early age to also serve at an early age. He was also inspired to help others by his father’s work as a Bartholomew County Sheriff’s reserve deputy. The death of his father in 1992, when he was nine cemented his desire to serve others. He was serving his first tour in Afghanistan. He previously had served two tours in Iraq. He received a Combat Action Ribbon and other service decorations and will receive a Purple Heart.
Marines
2nd Combat Engineer Battalion
2nd Marine Division
II Marine Expeditionary Force
Camp Lejeune, North Carolina
To be updated….
