Freedom Remembered

Born: May 30, 1987
Died: January 2, 2012 in Helmand, Afghanistan

Petty Officer 1st Class Chad R. Regelin of Cottonwood, California died at age 24 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Regelin was assigned as an explosive ordnance disposal technician to Marine Special Operations Company Bravo. Regelin was stationed at Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 3, San Diego, Calif. Chad was expected to be back stateside in mid February. PO 1st Class Regelin was named Sailor Of The Year last November. His parents traveled to the nation’s capitol last November to accept the award on his behalf. Regelin received the award for personally locating and destroying 24 explosive devices and preventing an insurgency attack against his team. PO Regelin served a tour of duty in Iraq and two in Afghanistan. He was stationed at Explosive Mobile Unit Three out of San Diego, Ca. His military decorations included the Bronze Star medal and Combat Action Ribbon, according to Navy Personnel Command. He joined EODMU 3 in February 2008 after completing EOD training. Chad graduated in 2005 from Anderson Union High School, then enlisted in the Navy in 2006. While in high school, he helped launch the school’s Surf Club and was named Outstanding Senior for the Anderson Cubs varsity football squad.

Burial is at Northern California Veterans Cemetery in Igo, California – Sec 4 Site 150

To be updated…

Born: July 22, 1980 in Coshocton, Ohio
Died: October 19, 2011 in Paktika, Afghanistan

Chief Petty Officer Raymond J. Border, 31, of West Lafayette, Ohio, died Oct. 19 while assessing a route in Paktika province, Afghanistan. Border, a Navy Seabee, was assigned to a provincial reconstruction team in Paktika province, Afghanistan. His home unit was Navy Mobile Construction Battalion 74 in Gulfport, Miss. Ray attended Ridgewood High School and has served as a Seabee since 1999. Among his awards are, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, which he received three times, the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Service Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, medals for expertise with a rifle and pistol, and the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation.

Burial is at Plainfield Cemetery in Plainfield, Ohio

To be updated…

Born: December 12, 1977 in Fort Bragg, North Carolina
Died: October 12, 2011 in Bali, Indonesia

Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Michael R. Tatham, 33, of University Place, Washington was involved in a fatal motorcycle accident while on rest and recuperation leave from supporting Operation Enduring Freedom in Bali, Indonesia. Tatham was assigned to a West Coast based Naval Special Warfare unit. CPO Tatham enlisted in October 2002. He graduated in April 2004 with Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL Class 248 after completing SEAL Qualification Training, and he continued advanced training after reporting to his West Coast-based SEAL team. His military awards and decorations include, the Bronze Star Medal with combat “V,” Joint Service Achievement Medal, four Navy-Marine Corps Achievement Medals including one with “V,” two Good Conduct Medals, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, three Sea Service Deployment Ribbons and NATO Service Medal, along with the expert rifle and expert pistol ribbons.

Burial is at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego, California – Sec CC21A Row 1 Site 35

To be updated…

Born: February 25, 1985
Died: October 1, 2011 in Zabul, Afghanistan

Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL) Caleb A. Nelson of Omaha, Nebraska died at age 26 after his vehicle struck an improvised explosive device while conducting a combat patrol in Zabul province, Afghanistan. Nelson was assigned to an East Coast-based Naval Special Warfare unit, Norfolk, Va. He entered the Navy in the engineering career field and graduated boot camp on October 11, 2005. He then attended service school training at Great Lakes, Ill and was rated as a Machinist’s Mate. After graduating from Navy technical training, Nelson was accepted to attend Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL Training in Coronado, Calif. He graduated SEAL Qualification Training with Class 260 in November 2006. In December 2006, he reported to his East Coast based Naval Special Warfare Unit where he served until his death in 2011. PO Nelson was a highly decorated and seasoned combat veteran. In 2009 he deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In March 2011, Petty Officer Nelson deployed again to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star with Valor, Purple Heart, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal, Sea Service Ribbon (2 awards), NATO Service Medal, Expert Rifle ribbon, and Expert Pistol ribbon.

Burial is at Voss Mohr Cemetery in Chalco, Nebraska

To be updated…

Born: July 29, 1986 in Travis County, Texas
Died: September 9, 2011 in Helmand, Afghanistan

Petty Officer Brian K. Lundy, 25, of Austin, Texas, died while conducting a dismounted patrol in Marjah, Helmand province, Afghanistan, on Sept. 9. Lundy was assigned as a hospital corpsman to 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 5, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Burial is at Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Killeen, Texas – Sec 3 Row I Site 155

To be updated…

Born: October 11, 1960
Died: September 7, 2011 in Manama, Bahrain

Cmdr. James K. Crawford, 50, of East Concord, N.Y., died Sept. 7, as a result of a non-combat related incident in Manama, Bahrain. Crawford was assigned to U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, supporting operations at the Combined Maritime Forces Coalition Coordination Center at Naval Support Activity, Bahrain. Cmdr. Crawford was commissioned in 1988 and promoted to O-5 in 2004. After serving nearly two decades with various reserve commands, Crawford began work with Naval Forces Central Command in Bahrain in March of 2010.

Burial is at Saints Peter and Paul Cemetery in Hamburg, New York

To be updated…

Born: August 21, 1952
Died: September 5, 2011 in Afghanistan

James W. Coker Sr, 59, of Mount Pleasant, S.C., was pronounced dead Sept. 5 in Kabul, Afghanistan, while on temporary assignment with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Known best as Will, he worked for Naval Facilities Engineering Command Atlantic, Norfolk, Va. He was on temporary assignment with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He worked for Naval Facilities Engineering Command Atlantic, Norfolk. He leaves his wife, Marli Coker, son, James William “Jamie” Coker, Jr., two daughters, Lisa Gregorich and Carrie Coker Hughes, three brothers, Ben C. Coker, Jr., Mack Coker and Bill Coker, three sisters, Peggy Gagne, Betty Jo Olds and Juanita Young and five grandchildren, Kamen, Haley, Bryce, Logan and Dylan.

Whispering Pines Memorial Gardens

To be updated…

Born: July 4, 1992
Died: August 11, 2011 in Helmand, Afghanistan

Hospitalman Ryley Gallinger-Long of Cornelius, Oregon is a 2010 graduate of Forest Grove High School. He was recently married and was serving his first deployment where he had been since mid July 2011. He died at age 19 while conducting a dismounted patrol in the Marjah district, Helmand province, Afghanistan.
Navy
attached to
1st Battalion
6th Marines
Regimental Combat Team 1
2nd Marine Division
II Marine Expeditionary Force
Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

Burial is at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland, Oregon – Sec EE4 Site 1736

To be updated…

Born: April 20, 1984 in Arcata, California
Died: August 6, 2011 in Wardak, Afghanistan

Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL) Jesse D. Pittman, 27, of Ukiah, Calif., died Aug. 6 in Wardak province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when his CH-47 Chinook helicopter crashed. He was assigned to a West Coast-based Naval Special Warfare unit. Jesse made it known he wanted to become a SEAL during his second summer working as a seasonal firefighter for California’s forestry department. He even trained in his off-time with an ex-SEAL to prepare. He was a hard worker who shared a love of hotrods with his father and older brother, and he did odd jobs at an automotive repair shop in his hometown to learn how to build and repair cars. Despite being a leader on his fire crew and having a good career ahead of him as a firefighter, he made it clear becoming a SEAL was his passion. He graduated from Recruit Training Command at Great Lakes, Ill., in October 2005, then reported to the Defense Information School at Fort Meade, Md. After completing that training, Pittman went on to Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training in March 2006. He graduated from SEAL training and reported to the Naval Special Warfare Advanced Training Center at Coronado, Ca. From there, he went to the Naval Special Warfare Training Center Detachment at Kodiak, Alaska, then returned to the NSW Advanced Training Center at Coronado, Ca. in January 2007. In April of the same year he reported to a West Coast-based SEAL team. His awards include, the joint service commendation medal with a “V” device for valor; two Navy commendation medals; the combat action ribbon; the Afghanistan campaign medal; the Iraq campaign medal, the Global War on Terrorism expeditionary medal; the Global War of Terrorism service medal; the good conduct medal; the national defense service medal; the sea service deployment ribbon; the rifle marksmanship medal; and the pistol marksmanship medal.

Burial is at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego, California – Sec R Site 716-D

To be updated…

Born: August 12, 1978
Died: August 6, 2011 in Wardak, Afghanistan

Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL) Jason R. Workman, 32, of Blanding, Utah died Aug. 6 in Wardak province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when his CH-47 Chinook helicopter crashed. He was assigned to an East Coast-based Naval Special Warfare unit. He enlisted in the United States Navy in August of 2003. After graduating Recruit Training Command at Great Lakes, Illinois on October, 2003, he reported to the Center for Surface Combat Systems, Virginia Beach, Virginia until January of 2004. From there, he reported to Basic Underwater Demolition SEAL Training at Coronado, California. After he graduated BUD/S in September of 2004, he reported to Naval Special Warfare Advanced Training Command at Coronado, California, where he served until March of 2005. He then reported to his East Coast based SEAL Team in August of 2005. His awards include, Bronze Star with Combat “V” device for valor, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Navy Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Presidential Unit Citation, Navy Unit Commendation, Navy Good Conduct Medal (2), National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (3), Rifle Marksmanship Medal, and Pistol Marksmanship Medal.

Burial is at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia – Sec 60 Site 9928

To be updated…