Freedom Remembered

Airman 1st Class Matthew R. Seidler, 24, of Westminster, Md. He was assigned to the 21st Civil Engineer Squadron, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. He died Jan. 5 in Shir ghazi, Helmand province, Afghanistan, when their vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device. He is a 2006 graduate of Westminster High School. Airman 1st Class Seidler entered active duty in November 2009 and was deployed from Peterson Air Force Base in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Burial is at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia – Sec 60 Site 10009

To be updated…

Tech. Sgt. Matthew S. Schwartz, 34, of Traverse City, Mich. He was assigned to the 90th Civil Engineer Squadron, FE Warren Air Force Base, Wyo. He died Jan. 5 in Shir ghazi, Helmand province, Afghanistan, when their vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device. The 1996 graduate of Traverse City Central High School was serving his sixth tour of duty as an explosive ordnance disposal specialist. He was based in Cheyenne, Wyoming but visited the Traverse City area often with his wife and their three young daughters. His awards and decorations include: the Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Air Force Good Conduct Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Air Force Combat Action Medal, Air Force Achievement Medal, three Bronze Stars with two oak leaf clusters and one V device (the final bronze star issued for heroism).

Memorial Gardens Cemetery

To be updated…

Senior Airman Bryan R. Bell, 23, of Erie, Pa., was assigned to the 2nd Civil Engineer Squadron, Barksdale Air Force Base, La. He died Jan. 5 in Shir ghazi, Helmand province, Afghanistan, when their vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device. Bryan is a 2006 graduate of Harbor Creek High School. He joined the Air Force in 2006 and was currently serving in Afghanistan where he had been since the beginning of November 2011. He served in the United States Air Force’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal division. A  job that was portrayed in the film, ‘The Hurt Locker’.

Funeral procession plans announced and provided by GoErie.com

Bell’s funeral is scheduled for Monday at 11 a.m. at:
Harbor Creek High School
6375 Buffalo Road

The procession is scheduled to depart the high school between 11:45 a.m. and noon. The procession will head to Depot Road, east on Route 20, west on Iroquois Avenue, north on Walbridge Road, west on Route 5 (East Lake Road), south on Nagle Road, west on Station Road and south on Shannon Road to Wintergreen Gorge Cemetery, 2601 Norcross Road.

Calling hours are scheduled on Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. in the gymnasium at Harbor Creek High School.

State police from Lawrence Park Township advise that any motorists traveling on Route 20 in Harborcreek Township or on the Bayfront Highway during the procession may experience delays.

To be updated…

Airmen 1st Class Jerome D. Miller Jr., 23, of Washington, D.C. died Oct. 13 due to a non-combat related incident in Parwan province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 459th Security Forces Squadron, Andrews Air Force Base, Md.

Burial is at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia – Sec 60 Site 9847

To be updated…

Born: June 27, 1983 in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania
Died: August 6, 2011 in Wardak, Afghanistan

Tech. Sgt. Daniel L. Zerbe, 28, of Red Lion, Penn., was assigned to the 24th Special Tactics Squadron, Pope Field, N.C. He died Aug. 6 in Wardak province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when his CH-47 Chinook helicopter crashed. Dan is a 2001 graduate of Red Lion High School. He enlisted in the United States Air Force the following August serving as a Technical Sergeant in the Pararescue Unit. He graduated from Red Lion in 2001 and immediately enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, where he served as a technical sergeant in the pararescue unit.

Burial is at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia – Sec 60 Site 9940

To be updated…

Born: September 26, 1984 in Long Beach, California
Died: August 6, 2011 in Wardak, Afghanistan

Staff Sgt. Andrew W. Harvell of Southern Pines, North Carolina, formerly of Long Beach, California is a 2002 graduate of Miliken High School where he was active on the football team all four years. He served as a combat controller, coordinating air support with troops on the ground in hostile situations. His awards include, the Bronze Star with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Purple Heart, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, and the Air Force Combat Action Medal. He died at age 26 in Wardak province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when his CH-47 Chinook helicopter crashed. He leaves his wife Krista, two sons, Hunter and Ethan, his father, John Harvell, his mother, Jane Maher, a brother, Tech. Sgt. Sean Harvell and a sister, Analese Eder.
Air Force
24th Special Tactics Squadron
Pope Field, North Carolina

Burial is at Los Angeles National Cemetery in Los Angeles, California -

To be updated…

Born: November 9, 1977
Died: August 6, 2011 in Wardak, Afghanistan

Tech. Sgt. John W. Brown, 33, of Siloam Springs, AR, was assigned to the 24th Special Tactics Squadron, Pope Field, N.C. He died Aug. 6 in Wardak province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when his CH-47 Chinook helicopter crashed. He is a 1196 graduate of Siloam Springs High School where he is remembered as a soft-spoken leader and an outstanding athlete, excelling in basketball and football. He also attended John Brown University on a swimming scholarship, as well as Florida State University. Inspired by a video of a special tactical unit at work, he was inspired to join the military. He is the son of Dan M. Brown and Elizabeth H. Newlun. He also leaves his wife, Tabitha Lynn Brown, and two brothers, Danny and Lucas Brown.

Burial is at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia – Sec 60 Site 9941

To be updated…

Born: July 11, 1986 in Landstuhl, Germany
Died: June 25, 2011 in Ormond Beach, Florida

Staff Sgt Robert S. O’Neill of Barksdale Air Force Base Shreveport, Louisiana, formerly of Florida graduated in 2005 from Flagler Palm Coast High School and immediately joined the United States Air Force for a six year enlistment. After basic training he entered a technical school for security forces. Robert became a dedicated Non-Commissioned Officer rising through the ranks to become a Staff Sergeant. Robert worked various jobs within his security field, ultimately ending in law enforcement. He is credited with saving three lives in three years and making 23 arrests of poachers and other environmental criminals. He also did a six month deployment to Iraq. He received a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration. He volunteered for blood drives, food banks, homeless shelters and handicap hunter access. Robert never stopped caring and did an outstanding job displaying character, faith and loyalty. A family statement reads: “Robert was a wonderful and considerate son, brother, nephew, cousin, uncle and friend. Robert was a hero to some, a friend to many and will be greatly missed by all”. Robert is survived by his father, Steven M. O’Neill and Catherine M. Horecky, two brothers, Christian and Daniel Reusch, niece, Christina L. Giehl; grandmother, Hilde Elbeck and uncle Marvin Elbeck all of Landstuhl, Germany; Uncle Bobby O’Neill and wife Lynne of New York, NY; aunts, Christine Pageau of Port Orange, FL and JoEllen Pearson and her husband Mike of Norfolk, VA; several cousins, nieces and a nephew. Robert was predeceased by his mother, Elisabeth D. O’Neill and brother Jens Reusch.

Burial is at Craig Flagler Palms Memorial Gardens in Flagler Beach, Florida

The above is from his obituary.

Born: February 25, 1989 in Breese, Illinois
Died: June 30, 2011 at Fort Sam Houston, Texas

Airman Megan J. Victory of Albers, Illinois, formerly of Carlyle, Illinois was currently in basic training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. She was a graduate of Carlyle High School class of 2007 and a student at Kaskaskia College where she joined the Air Force Reserves. She began basic training on May 11, 2011. Before leaving for basic training she worked at Unlimited Living Options in Breese. Megan died at age 22 at Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas. She leaves her parents, Robert R. Victory and Missy Shirley, her siblings, Christopher Brickeen, Steven Shirley, Jerrid Shirley, Kristine Shirley, Haley Shirley, Devon Victory, Jerica Victory, Ambryn Shirley, and her world revolved around being the very best sister, Kylr Shirley could ever have.

Burial is at St. Anthony Cemetery in Beckemeyer, Illinois

Born: May 31, 1978
Died: June 26, 2011 in Helmand, Afghanistan

Tech. Sgt. Daniel L. Douville of Harvey, La., died at age 33 as a result of injuries suffered from an improvised explosive device on the border of the Nad ‘Ali district of Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 96th Civil Engineer Squadron, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Daniel is a 1995 graduate of West Jefferson High School. He had been serving in the Air Force since 1997, joining the service to build a solid life for his family. He leaves his wife, LaShana, his children, Jadelynn, Ayjah-Danielle and Daniel, his parents, Gertrude and Rev. Joseph Hampton and Daniel Washington, and his siblings, Tyranique Mason, Dominique Evans, Monique Louper, Joseph Hampton and Marquice Videau.

Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Gretna, Louisiana

To be updated…