Spc. Jason K. Edens
Born: June 6, 1989
Died: April 26, 2012 in Bethesda, Maryland
Spc. Jason K. Edens of Franklin, Tenn., died at age 22 in Bethesda, Md., of wounds sustained April 15, in Laghman province, Afghanistan, when the enemy attacked his unit with small arms fire. Edens was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 13th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Fort Bliss, Texas. His awards and decorations include the Purple Heart, North Atlantic Treaty Organization Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with a Campaign Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Combat Infantryman Badge, and the Marksmanship Qualification Badge-Expert with Rifle.
Harpeth Hills Memory Gardens
To be updated…
Spc. Benjamin H. Neal, 21, of Orfordville, Wis., died April 25 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, from injuries sustained when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C. Spc Neal was a 2009 graduate of Parkview Senior High School in Orfordville where he was a high school wrestler. He entered the military after graduating. His awards include the NATO Medal, the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Stars, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the Combat Infantryman’s Badge and the Parachutist Badge.
Spc. Manuel J. Vasquez, 22, of West Sacramento, Calif., died April 24 in Paktika province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment, 172nd Infantry Brigade, Grafenwoehr, Germany. He attended Mira Loma High School. Vasquez arrived in Afghanistan in August of 2011 and was scheduled to leave in June. He was promoted to Specialist in January 2012.
1st Lt. Jonathan P. Walsh, 28, Cobb, Ga., died April 22 in Paktia, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 504th Infantry, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C. Walsh graduated from Kennesaw State University and worked in the financial services industry before joining the Army in March 2010. Prior to joining the Army in March 2010, he worked five months as director of sales for Reliable Security LLC, a Marietta event security company. Before that, he was a consultant for two years for Zurvita, a Houston-based marketing company. He was previously employed as a credit manager for Wells Fargo Financial. In the spring of 2008, Walsh graduated with a bachelor of business administration degree in management from Kennesaw State University. In 2005, he also earned an associate of science degree from Georgia Highland College.
Pfc. Michael J. Metcalf, 22, Boynton Beach, Fla., died April 22 in Paktia, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 504th Infantry, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C. Michael attended Park Vista Community High School before leaving to enroll at the St. John Military Academy in Wisconsin. He enlisted in the United States Army after graduating.
Chief Warrant Officer Nicholas S. Johnson, 27, of San Diego, Calif., died April 19, in Helmand province, Afghanistan, when his Black Hawk (UH-60) crashed. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, Wheeler Army Airfield, Hawaii. Johnson was a 2002 graduate of Chino High School in San Bernardino County. He joined the Army in September 2003 and became a pilot in December 2008. CWO Johnson was serving his first deployment, has been posthumously awarded a Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, NATO Medal and Combat Action Badge. He had previously been awarded the Navy Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service and Expeditionary Medals, Army Service Medal and Aviator Badge.
Chief Warrant Officer Don C. Viray, 25, of Waipahu, Hawaii died April 19, in Helmand province, Afghanistan, when his Black Hawk (UH-60) crashed. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, Wheeler Army Airfield, Hawaii. His awards and decorations include the Air Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal with campaign star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Air Assault Badge and the Aviator Badge. Posthumous awards include Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, NATO Medal and the Combat Action Badge. Also killed in the helicopter crash were Chief Warrant Officer 2 Nicholas S. Johnson, 27, of San Diego; Spc. Dean R. Shaffer, 23, of Pekin, Ill.; and Spc. Chris J. Workman, 33, of Boise, Idaho.
Sgt. Dean R. Shaffer, 23, of Pekin, Ill died April 19, in Helmand province, Afghanistan, when his Black Hawk (UH-60) crashed. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, Wheeler Army Airfield, Hawaii. Sgt Dean was a 2007 graduate of Pekin Community High School where he participated in the JROTC program and graduated with the rank of Cadet Sergeant Major. He was a member of the JROTC Honor Guard, Color Guard, Drill Team, Physical Fitness Team, Academic Team, and Orienteering Team. He was the recipient of the first PCHS JROTC Career and Technical Education Award. During his high school years, Dean worked at Steak-n-Shake in Pekin for several years. He enjoyed playing video games and paintballing.
Sgt. Chris J. Workman, 33, of Boise, Idaho died April 19, in Helmand province, Afghanistan, when his Black Hawk (UH-60) crashed. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, Wheeler Army Airfield, Hawaii. Chris is a 1997 graduate of Minico High School and 2003 graduate of Idaho State University. Following graduation he worked in an escrow business in Boise. When the economy fell out of real estate, he went to work as an auto glass repairman, something he had learned from his father at their family business in Rupert. He joined the service to provide a better living for his family and was always looking for ways to better himself.
Capt. Michael C. Braden, 31, of Lock Haven, Pa., died April 18 in Bagram, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the Division Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan. He graduated from Slippery Rock University and received his Army commission in May 2003. He was assigned to Fort Riley in December 2008. He was currently serving his second deployment with the division. In 2010, he deployed for a yearlong tour to Basra, Iraq. He also deployed to Qatar for five months in 2005. His awards include a Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Medal and the Army Achievement Medal.