Freedom Remembered

Born: August 29, 1976 in Ohio
Died: November 7, 2007 in Baghdad Governorate, Iraq

Capt. Benjamin D. Tiffner of Pigeon, West Virginia attended Cross Lanes Christian School where he played varsity basketball and soccer. He received part of his education at home, the last three years. Ben had wanted to be a military officer since he was a young man. He had this in the back of his mind even as he was in the process of switching from traditional school. He enrolled at the United States Military Academy at West Point and graduating in 2000. He served in Iraq from November of 2003 to March of 2004. Upon graduating from the Special Forces Qualification Course in April of 2006, he was assigned to 5th SFG(A) at Fort Campbell. His Awards and Decorations include, two Army Commendation Medals, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge, Ranger Tab, and the Special Forces Tab. His parents were missionaries, and Ben grew up in the Philippines. When they returned to the United States, his father became the director of the Camp of the Hills, a 100 acre Christian related family camp near the junction of Roane, Clay and Kanawha counties. He leaves his parents, Timothy and Judith Tiffner, sisters, Rebekah and Sarah and brothers, Joshua and Seth Tiffner. Ben died at age 31 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when he was struck by an improvised explosive device.
Army
1st Battalion
5th Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Fort Campbell, Kentucky

Burial is at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia – Sec 60 Site 8724

Born: August 29, 1986 in Placer County, California
Died: January 27, 2007 in Al Anbar, Iraq

Lance Cpl. Anthony C. Melia of Thousand Oaks, California is a 2005 graduate of Thousand Oaks High School, he was a wide receiver and defensive back on the school’s football team and he had a reputation for speed and toughness. He was so moved by the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks that he told friends and relatives he would one day join the armed forces to defend his country. He felt he had to do something. He knew the risk and was willing to take that risk to defend his family and his friends. He leaves his father, Mike Melia, and his mother, Vicki Melia, among others. He died at age 20 while conducting combat operations in Anbar province, Iraq.
Army
Battalion Landing Team
2nd Battalion
4th Marine Regiment
15th Marine Expeditionary Unit
(Special Operations Capable)
I Marine Expeditionary Force
Camp Pendleton, California

Burial is at Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks Memorial Park in Westlake Village, California

Born: August 29, 1976 in Fort Riley, Kansas
Died: August 14, 2007 in Taqqadum, Iraq

Chief Warrant Officer Jackie L. McFarlane Virginia Beach, Virginia was a 1994 graduate of Lake Taylor High School where he was a member of the track and field team. He joined the Army a few months after graduating. Jackie was high spirited, supportive and a joy to be around. He and his wife married as teenagers and celebrated their 13th anniversary in July 2007. Jackie was a part time minister at Victory Christian Faith Center and one of his most memorable sermons was about choosing words carefully and trying not to think negatively about people. He died at age 30 in Taqaddum, Iraq, of injuries sustained in a helicopter crash. Also killed were Chief Warrant Officer Christopher C. Johnson, Staff Sgt. Sean P. Fisher, Staff Sgt. Stanley B. Reynolds and Spc. Steven R. Jewell.
Army
1st Battalion
52nd Aviation Regiment
Task Force 49
Fort Wainwright, Alaska

Burial is at Woodlawn Memorial Gardens in Norfolk, Virginia

Born: August 29, 1984 in Visalia, California
Died: July 15, 2006 in Baghdad, Iraq

Spc. Manuel J. Holguin of Woodlake, California was known best by his middle name, Joaguin. When he was a small boy he, his brother, and friends would play soldiers when he was a small boy, hiking into the hills on adventures. He enjoyed sports and participated in soccer and baseball, first in youth leagues then at Woodlake High School. His smiling eyes and wide grin always melted hearts. No one was able to overcome his charming personality. Joaquin was full of life and wanted to enjoy every minute of it. He wasn’t one to sit around for long because there was too much to do, some place to go, or someone to see. He made friends easily whether it was in school, sports, or just kicking it. When he graduated in 2002, he followed up on a life-long ambition of joining the Army. He was sent to basic and advanced infantry training at Fort Benning, where he was awarded his platoon’s High Marksman Award and received his Infantryman’s blue chord. During his first tour in Iraq, he had at least two opportunities to return to the United States during his two tours of duty in Iraq, but selflessly decided to stay with his unit. He turned down his first chance to go home to allow a married man to return to his family, the second time, he didn’t want to leave his friends in the unit fighting with a man short. He eventually spent 15 months in Iraq during some of the fiercest fighting of the war. When his division was rotated out of Iraq, the Brigades colonel, the driver, and Joaquin, the gunner on the Humvee made sure they were the last of the division to leave Iraq. The colonel broke out cigars and they celebrated at the Kuwait-Iraq border Joaquin doesn’t smoke, but like he said, when the colonel asks, you don’t refuse. Even after he was extended past his original date to exit the Army, he had reservations about having to go back to Iraq, but he said he could not say no, knowing he would be letting down his buddies that were going back. He was a man with honor and convictions that drove him to do the right thing. He had no qualms about why he was in the military and what his job was. He was very proud of what he did. Joaquin was also very much about family. Family always came first to him. Whenever he was on leave, he made sure he tried to make the rounds and see everyone. At family get-togethers he would be in the middle of everything, kidding and joking with everyone. Poking fun and making us laugh. Everyone would say, he’s just like his Grandpa Pancho, feisty but lovable. He loved that comparison to his grandfather. Whenever he called home, he asked how everyone was doing and how he wished he could be there. For some of his girl cousins this sometimes proved embarrassing when their boyfriends would get a brotherly warning about appropriate behavior towards his cousins. He also was the typical big brother, giving advice, lecturing, giving gifts, but mostly giving love to his younger brother Javier. We would not have asked for a better son. He always tried to do the right thing and most of the time he did. Even when he made mistakes, he owned up to them, took his consequences, and tried to learn from them. He leaves his mother, Lydia, his father, Manuel, and a brother Javier. He was 21.
Army
2nd Battalion
6th Infantry Regiment
2nd Brigade
1st Armored Division
Baumholder, Germany

Burial is at Visalia Public Cemetery in Visalia, California

Born: August 29, 1982 in San Bernardino, California
Died: January 7, 2008 at Jalalabad Airfield, Afghanistan

Sgt. James K. Healy of Hesperia, California is a 2000 graduate of Hesperia High School where he played trumpet in the school band. He then took classes for two years at a community college before enlisting in the United States Army in 2003. He married his high school sweetheart soon after basic training. Even in his leisure, James was still doing something constructive; the talented artist always kept a sketchbook nearby and was always drawing something. He created cartoon characters and comic strips of his friends and family. He was also an avid Star Wars enthusiast. His unit was deployed to Afghanistan in August of 2007 as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. The unit had previously been deployed in Iraq. Using his natural talent, James designed a t-shirt for the 703rd and the company’s coin. He was the unofficial artist for the unit while it was fighting in Afghanistan. He designed a logo for his company and made signs that some of the soldiers hung on their doors. He leaves his wife, Shannon, son Wyatt, his parents, Timothy and Linda, and a brother, Ian. He died at age 25 at Jalalabad Airfield, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when his vehicle struck an improvised explosive device. Also killed was Maj. Michael L. Green.
Army
703rd Explosive Ordnance Detachment
Fort Knox, Kentucky

Burial is at Westminster Memorial Park in Westminster, California

Died: August 28, 2010 in Babur, Afghanistan

Spc. Andrew J. Castro of Westlake Village, California is the oldest of three boys, and attended Westlake High School where he played linebacker on the football team, wearing football jersey #45. Known best by his initials, A.J., entered the Army in June 2008 and arrived at Fort Campbell in February 2009. His Awards and Decorations include, Meritorious Unit Citation, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon and Weapons Qualification, M249 machine gun (expert). A.J. had been in Afghanistan less than a month. He leaves his father, Hector Castro, his mother, Carmen Roman, and his brothers, Ryan and Steven. He died at age 20 in Babur, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.
Army
2nd Brigade Special Troops Battalion
2nd Brigade Combat Team
101st Airborne Division (Air Assault)
Fort Campbell, Kentucky

To be updated…

Born” July 17, 1977 in Big Springs, Texas
Died: August 29, 2010 in Nangahar, Afghanistan

Capt. Ellery R. Wallace of Salt Lake City, Utah grew up in Big Spring, Texas. ‘Ray’ was a determined young man, who had a great drive to keep improving himself. He completed a bachelor’s degree at the University of Utah in sociology-criminology in 2003 and was currently working toward a master’s degree in business online. Ray worked for his uncle Brent on the family farm in Sugar City, Idaho before he started Ricks College, now Brigham Young University-Idaho. He attended Ricks College for a year prior to serving a Mormon Church mission to Ivory Coast in West Africa. Ray had a dream since childhood of following in his grandfather’s footsteps and becoming a soldier. He joined the Army in 2003. His Awards and Decorations include, Army Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal-Valor, Valorous Unit Award, National Defense Service Medal, Iraqi Campaign Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, and Combat Action Badge. He leaves his wife, Janelle, his children, Liam, Adara, Kael and Ehlana and his parents, Dewayne and Elaine Wallace and four brothers and two sisters. He died at age 33 at Nangahar, Afghanistan, of wound sustained when their military vehicle was struck by rocket propelled grenade on Aug. 28 at Nangahar, Afghanistan.
Army
1st Squadron
61st Cavalry Regiment
4th Brigade Combat Team
101st Airborne Division (Air Assault)
Fort Campbell, Kentucky

To be updated…

Born: August 29, 1984
Died: June 9, 2007 in Germany

Sgt. Jonathan R. Gilbert was an Old Town, Idaho native and member of the Cherokee Nation. ‘Rusty’ was preparing for his second Iraq tour and had already served in Mosul from 2004 to 2005 with the 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division before it reflagged as 2nd Cav in Germany. He survived a mortar attack in Iraq, and the Purple Heart is among his many decorations and medals. He volunteered to serve at a time when he knew he could go into harm’s way often. People are questioning now why we fight; Sgt. Gilbert never questioned why we fight, but he fought for the rights of people to question that fight. He loved the War Craft computer game, bowling and bar hopping with his mates. He is survived by his parents, brothers Billy and Smokey and sister Michelle. He died at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center at age 22 after he was shot during predeployment training at Grafenwöhr Training Area on May 30.

Burial is at Newport Cemetery in Newport, Washington

Born: August 29, 1986 in Bremerton, Washington
Died: Jun. 13, 2007 in Iraq

Pfc. Casey S. Carriker of Hoquiam, Washington was a graduate of Hoquiam High School and planned to go to college after getting out of the Army. He was raised in Iowa and in 2001 he and his six brothers and sisters moved to Hoquiam to be near their father graduating from Hoquiam High School in 2005. While at Hoquiam he was a member of Vocational Industrial Clubs of America and excelled in welding. He made metal arts projects for and participated in the Grays Harbor Relay for Life and was an avid runner. Casey enlisted in the Army in 2005 as a way to pay for college and to see the world. Casey had a real passion for books and reading. He died at age 20 in Kirkuk, Iraq, from injuries suffered from a non-combat related incident.
Army
2nd Battalion
35th Infantry Regiment
3rd Brigade
25th Infantry Division
Schofield Barracks, Hawaii

Burial information is unknown at this time.

Born: August 29, 1986 in Panorama City, California
Died: June 29, 2006 in San Antonio, Texas

Cpl. Ryan. J. Clark of Lancaster, California was a 2004 graduate from Antelope Valley High School. He followed his brother Sean into the Army, and was serving with the 40th Engineers when his unit was called into Iraq from Kuwait. He loved his family, baseball and hanging out at Chilis Restaurant at Ramstein. He was funny and spontaneous and when a new soldier came in to the squad, Ryan went up and introduced himself: He said, “I don’t know you, but I really like you, because now I don’t have to carry the SAW anymore,” referring to the squad automatic weapon, much heavier than an M-4 carbine. He leaves his parents, Pennie and Keith J. Clark, his brothers, Sean and Justin, stepfather Steve O’Brien. He also leaves a stepsister, Hollie and his stepmother Melissa Clark. He died June 29 at the Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio of injuries sustained June 17 when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Humvee during combat operations in Ramadi, Iraq. He was receiving treatment for third-degree burns that covered at least 75% of his body.
Army
40th Engineer Battalion
1st Brigade Combat Team
Baumholder, Germany

Burial is at Joshua Memorial Park in Lancaster, California