Freedom Remembered

Born: July 27, 1978 in New Mexico
Died: December 31 2011 in Helmand, Afghanistan

Spc. Pernell J. Herrera of Espanola, New Mexico died at age 33 in Helmand province, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered in a non-combat incident. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 171st Aviation Regiment, Santa Fe, New Mexico. He attended Española Valley High School joined the New Mexico State Guard in May 2006. He was a part of a crew that makes sure all the communication equipment was working properly.

Burial is at Santa Fe National Cemetery in Santa Fe, New Mexico – Section 20 Site 396

To be updated…

Born: May 10, 1982 in Orange County, California
Died: December 27, 2011 in Paktia, Afghanistan

Sgt. Noah M. Korte of Lake Elsinore, California died at age 29 in Paktia, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked their unit with an improvised explosive device. They were assigned to the 720th Military Police Battalion, 89th Military Police Brigade, Fort Hood, Texas. He joined the military in May 2003 as military police and was assigned to the 720th Military Police Battalion, 89th Military Police Brigade, Fort Hood, since September 2011. Sgt Korte deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in December 2011. He also deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from September 2007 to December 2008, from March 2005 to February 2006 and from January 2004 to April 2004. His awards and decorations include, four Army Commendation Medals, two Good Conduct Medals, the Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medals with Campaign Star, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon with numeral two, Army Service Ribbon, three Overseas Service Ribbons, Driver and Mechanic Badge with operator and Driver and Mechanic Badge with Driver-Wheeled Vehicles.

Burial is at Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside, California – Sec 5 Site 1975

To be updated…

Pfc. Justin M. Whitmire, 20, of Easley, S.C., died Dec. 27, in Paktia, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 720th Military Police Battalion, 89th Military Police Brigade, Fort Hood, Texas. He is a 2010 graduate of Hillcrest High School where he was on the debate team. He joined the military in September 2010 as a health care specialist and was assigned to the 720th Military Police Battalion, 89th Military Police Brigade, Fort Hood, since September 2011. Pfc Whitmire deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in July 2011. His awards and decorations include, the National Defense Service Medal and Army Service Ribbon.

Visitation will be 4:30-8 p.m. Friday at Faith Renewed Outreach Center in Mauldin.

Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Saturday at Simpsonville First Baptist Church.
A funeral escort will be provided by the Patriot Guard.

Memorials may be made to the Faith Renewed Outreach Center Building Fund, 505 S. Main Street, Mauldin, SC 29662.

Funeral information provided by: Greenville Online and Fletcher Funeral Service.

To be updated…

Born: September 22, 1987 in Hidalgo County, Texas
Died: December 27, 2011 in Paktia, Afghanistan

Spc. Kurt W. Kern of McAllen, Texas died at age 24 in Paktia, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 720th Military Police Battalion, 89th Military Police Brigade, Fort Hood, Texas. He is a 2006 graduate of McAllen Memorial High School where he worked hard in class and played hard on the football field. He joined the military in September 2009 as military police and was assigned to the 720th Military Police Battalion, 89th Military Police Brigade, Fort Hood, since September 2011. Spc Kern deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in December 2011. His awards and decorations include, the National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon and Overseas Service Ribbon.

Burial is at Rio Grande Valley State Veterans Cemetery in Mission, Texas – Sec 34 Row H Site 222

To be updated…

Born: December 15, 1984 in Marshfield, Wisconsin
Died: December 15, 2011 in Kunar, Afghanistan

Staff Sgt. Joseph J. Altmann, 27, of Marshfield, Wis., died Dec. 25, in Kunar province Afghanistan, of injuries suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with small arms fire. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. He previously served two tours in Iraq and had just re-enlisted for another four years. He was married in February. Joe is a 2003 graduate of Columbus Catholic High School. He attended basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, MO, graduating in July 2005. He was awarded the Army Commendation Medal, 3, Army Achievement Medal, 3, Army Good Conduct Medal, 2, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Star, Iraq Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Star, 2, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officers Professional Development Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, 4, Combat Action Badge, Combat Medical Badge, Expert Field Medical Badge Combat and Special Skill Badge Basic Marksmanship Qual Badge. He also received NATO Medal, Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously.

Burial is at Gate of Heaven Cemetery

To be updated…

Born: June 9, 1990
Died: December 21, 2011 in Khowst Afghanistan

Spc. Mikayla A. Bragg of Longview, Washington died at age 21 in Khowst province, Afghanistan. She was assigned to the 201st Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Knox, Ky. Kayla is a graduate of Mark Morris High School and enlisted soon after high school in 2008 to earn money to further her education. Deployed to Afghanistan, she was scheduled to leave around Christmas, arriving back in the states in early 2012. Her awards and decorations include, the Army Commendation Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal and the War on Terrorism Service Medal.

Burial is at Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, Washington – Sec D Row C Site 7

To be updated…

Chief Warrant Officer Shan J. Satterfield, 36, a native of Alaska, served on active duty since September 1997 and has been at Joint Base Lewis-McChord base since December 2009. He had assignments in Korea and at Fort Campbell, Ky., and deployed once to Iraq and once to Afghanistan. CWO Satterfield loved to fly and was following in the military footsteps of his father, who is also a pilot. His parents both retired from the Air Force and also served in the Air Guard. Shan attended school in South Anchorage, graduating in 1997 from Dimond High, where he was on the riflery team and part of the Junior ROTC. He was among four aviator who were on a routine night training flight in reconnaissance choppers when they crashed in the southwest training area of Joint Base Lewis-McChord. His awards include, the Air Medal (two awards), Army Commendation Medal (two awards) and the Aviator Badge.

To be updated…

Born: October 1, 1986 in Comayaguela, Honduras
Died: December 12, 2011 near Tacoma, Washington

Capt. Anne M. Montgomery, 25, a native of North Dakota, had served on active duty since August 2008, arriving at Joint Base Lewis-McChord base a year prior. She was a 2008 graduate of the United States Military Academy and had not been deployed overseas. After years of home schooling and time in private schools overseas while her father worked for U.S. Agency for International Development, Montgomery received an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. She married another Army helicopter pilot, Chief Warrant Officer Aaron H. Montgomery, in May 2010. She was among four aviator who were on a routine night training flight in reconnaissance choppers when they crashed in the southwest training area of Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Her awards include the National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the Army Aviator Badge. She leaves her husband, Monty, her parents, Kurt and Kathleen Rockeman, brothers, Gus and Christian and a sister, Geneva Rockeman.

To be updated…

Chief Warrant Officer Frank A. Buoniconti, 36, of Colorado Springs, Colo., had served on active duty since July 1994, arriving at Joint Base Lewis-McChord base in early November. He previously served at Fort Bragg, N.C., and the National Training Center, in Fort Irwin, Calif. He was deployed twice to Iraq and twice to Afghanistan and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. He followed his father into the military, joining up because “he felt it was the right thing to do”. He was among four aviator who were on a routine night training flight in reconnaissance choppers when they crashed in the southwest training area of Joint Base Lewis-McChord. His awards include, the Distinguished Flying Cross, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal (six awards), Army Commendation Medal (nine awards), and the Army Commendation Medal w/”V” device and the Army Senior Aviator Badge.

To be updated…

Born: March 18, 1979 in Anoka County, Minnesota
Died: December 12, 2011 in Fort Lewis, Washington

Chief Warrant Officer Lucas Daniel Sigfrid, 32, graduated from Champlin Park High School where he wrestled all four years of school. Though he wasn’t a stand out player, he was dedicated to the sport and to the team. While other wrestlers might quit after two years if they’re not successful he stuck with the program. He attended St. Cloud State University for pilot training before joining the Army. He was among four aviator who were on a routine night training flight in reconnaissance choppers when they crashed in the southwest training area of Joint Base Lewis-McChord. His awards include, the National Defense Service Medal, and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the Army Aviator Badge.

Burial is at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis, Minnesota – Sec 17 Site 1731

To be updated…