Freedom Remembered

Born: November 28, 1987, in Beloit, Wisconsin
Died: January 25, 2012 in Kandahar, Afghanistan

1st Lt. David A. Johnson of Horicon, Wis., died at age 24 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered after encountering an improvised explosive device while conducting a dismounted patrol. He was assigned to the 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. David graduated from Mayville High School. He was a 2010 graduate of The Evangel University in Springfield, Missouri where he was a well-respected student leader who served as a commander in the school’s ROTC program. Capt. Johnson was commissioned in 2010 through the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC), and he is a graduate of Evangel University, Springfield, Mo. In 2011 he attended the Infantry Basic Officer Leadership Course at Fort Benning, Ga. He arrived at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in August 2011, and was assigned to 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team. The unit deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in December. This was his first deployment. His civilian and military education includes a Bachelor of Science degree from Evangel University (2010), Infantry Basic Officer Leadership Course (2011), Combatives level 1 and 2 (2011), and the Stryker Brigade Combat Team Leaders Course (2011). His awards and decorations include, the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Star, Global War on Terror Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge and the Overseas Service Bar.

Arlington National Cemetery

To be updated…

Born: August 14, 1984
Died: January 18, 2012 in Paktika, Afghanistan

Spc. Keith D. Benson, 27, of Norwood, Mass., died Jan. 18, in Paktika province, Afghanistan. The circumstances surrounding his death are currently under investigation. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment, 172nd Infantry Brigade, Grafenwoehr, Germany. He is a 2002 graduate of Norwood High School. Serving as a medic, Keith was interested in becoming an EMT after the military.

Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne, Massachusetts

To be updated…

Born: August 30, 1977
Died: January 15, 2012 in Landstuhl, Gemany

Sgt. 1st Class Benjamin B. Wise, 34, of Little Rock, Ark., died Jan. 15 in Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Germany, of injuries sustained on Jan. 9 in Balkh province, Afghanistan, when enemy forces attacked his unit with small-arms fire. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. Ben graduated from West Side Christian High School in 1995 and entered the United States Army in November 2000 as an infantryman. Upon completion of Basic Combat Training, Advanced Individual Training and the Basic Airborne Course at Fort Benning, Ga., in 2001, he was assigned to the 520th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division at Joint Base LewisMcChord where he deployed to Iraq as a member of the Battalion Scout Platoon from 2003-2004. In 2005, Wise volunteered for the Special Forces Assessment and Selection Course and was selected to continue training as medical sergeant in the Special Forces Qualification Course. After graduating from the Special Forces Qualification Course in 2008, Wise was assigned to 3rd Bn, 1st SFG (A). During his time with the unit, he deployed once to Iraq and twice to Afghanistan. Wise’s military education includes the Warrior Leader’s Course, the Advanced Leader’s Course, the Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE) Course, the Recon and Surveillance Leadership Course and the Basic Airborne Course. Wise’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, the NATO Medal, the Army Commendation Medal (3rdAward), the Army Good Conduct Medal (3rd award), the National Defense Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal with three campaign stars, the Afghan Campaign Medal with two campaign stars, the Global War on Terror Service Medal, the Overseas Service Ribbon (2nd award), the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon with Numeral 2, the Army Service Ribbon, the Special Forces Tab, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Expert Infantryman Badge and the Parachutist Badge. He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart and Meritorious Service Medal. He was currently serving his fourth deployment in support of Overseas
Contingency Operations.

Albert G. Horton Jr. Memorial Veterans Cemetery

To be updated…

Born: May 28, 1990
Died: January 11, 2012 in Logar, Afghanistan

Pfc. Neil I. Turner of Tacoma, Washington died at age 21 in Logar province, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 41st Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Fort Bliss, Texas. He graduated from High School in 2008.

Burial is at Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, Washington – Sec 28A Site 66

To be updated…

Born: October 16, 1981 in Hampton, Virginia
Died: January 10, 2012 in Parwan, Afghanistan

Pfc. Michael W. Pyron of Hopewell, Virginia died at age 30 in Parwan province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 25th Signal Battalion, 160th Signal Brigade, 335th Signal Command Theater, East Point, Ga. He joined in the Army in May of 2010 and had been with the 335th since February 2011 serving as a radio and communications security specialist. He leaves his wife, Monika Stienen Pyron, sons, Mason Pyron and Matthew Stienen, his mother and her husband, Cheryl G. Coluccio and Frank, father and his wife, Herbert Pyron Jr. and Janet, his brothers, Jeremy Griggs, Thomas Coluccio, Christopher Griggs and Matthew Pyron, and his sisters, Samantha Coluccio and Emily Miller.

Burial is at Sunset Memorial Park Cemetery in Chester, Virginia

To be updated…

Born: November 25, 1991 in Frankfurt, Germany
Died: January 8, 2012 in Zabul, Afghanistan

Pfc. Dustin P. Napier of London, Ky., died at age 20 in Zabul province, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained from enemy small-arms fire. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Fort Wainwright, Alaska. He attended South Laurel High School graduating in 2010. During his four years in high school he participated in the ROTC program and ranked as top cadet in his senior year. Dustin had been married about three months. He joined the Army in July 2010, arriving at Fort Wainwright in November. He deployed to Afghanistan last April for a one year tour of duty in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

A.R. Dyche Memorial Park

To be updated…

Staff Sgt. Jonathan M. Metzger, 32, of Indianapolis, Ind., died Jan. 6 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enermy forces attacked their vehicle with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 81st Troop Command, Indiana National Guard, Indianapolis, Ind. SSgt Metzger was a career military man who spent eight years in the Marine Corps. He planned on a military career and was studying for the rank of master sergeant. He was currently serving a second deployment, having previously served a tour in Iraq. He was six weeks into a nine month tour in Afghanistan. His awards include, the Bronze Star Medal (2), Purple Heart, Army Good Conduct Medal, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Star, Iraq Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Star, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with M Device (2), Noncommissioned Officers Professional Development Ribbon (2), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, NATO medal, Combat Action Badge and Driver and Mechanic Badge.

The Gardens at Olive Branch Cemetery

To be updated…

Born: April 17, 1991 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Died: January 6, 2012 in Kandahar, Afghanistan

Spc. Christopher A. Patterson of Aurora, Illinois died at age 20 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enermy forces attacked their vehicle with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 81st Troop Command, Indiana National Guard, Indianapolis, Ind. He was a student at Valparaiso University. His awards include, the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with M device, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Medal, NATO Medal and Combat Action Badge.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to
Valparaiso University,
attn: SPC Christopher A. Patterson Scholarship Fund
Valparaiso University
Office of Advancement
1100 Campus Drive South
Valparaiso, IN 46383

or
West Aurora High School Music Department
attn: Christopher Patterson Memorial Fund

To be updated..

Born: March 6, 1990
Died: January 6, 2012 in Kandahar, Afghanistan

Sgt. Brian J. Leonhardt of Merrillville, Ind., died at age 21 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enermy forces attacked their vehicle with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 81st Troop Command, Indiana National Guard, Indianapolis, Ind. Brian was the sixth of eight children in his family. Three of his older brothers also served in Iraq or Afghanistan. He wanted to become a police officer when he got out of the military. His awards include, the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with M device, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Medal, NATO Medal and Combat Action Badge.

Burial is at Memory Lane Memorial Park in Schererville, Indiana – Veteran’s Section.

To be updated…

Spc. Robert J. Tauteris Jr., 44, of Hamlet, Ind., died Jan. 6 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enermy forces attacked their vehicle with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 81st Troop Command, Indiana National Guard, Indianapolis, Ind. Bobby was a 1986 graduate of North Judson San Pierre High School. He was on his second tour of duty. Spc Tauteris re-enlisted in the National Guard after his 21-year-old son, Robert III, joined up and was sent to Afghanistan. Robert III accompanied his father’s body back to the U.S. His awards include, the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal w/ Campaign Star (2), Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal w/ M device (2), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Combat Action Badge, and Driver and Mechanic Badge w/ Driver-Wheeled Vehicle (S) Clasp.

Oak Grove Cemetery

To be updated…