Birth: April 20, 1972 - Santa Cruz, California
Died: August 21, 2003 - Al Hillah, Iraq
Lt Jones-Huffman was assigned to temporary duty with the I Marine Expeditionary Force. He made two trips to Iraq and during the second one he was in the passenger seat of an SUV caught in a congestion of vehicles and people, about 60 miles south of Baghdad. A gunman approached him and opened fire and then escaped into a crowded market. Jones-Huffman was rushed to the Forward Resuscitation Surgical System at Camp Babylon where he was declared dead. Kylan attended Popper-Keizer School, a school for gifted children. In 1990, he graduated from York School in Monterey, where he ran track and field, played soccer, served on the student council and was a delegate to the Junior States of America. Kylan graduated in 1994 from the Naval Academy, and then earned a master’s degree in history from the University of Maryland. Kylan was released from active duty in August 2001, but stayed in the reserves. He worked for naval criminal investigations in Washington, D.C., and also taught the history of ancient Greece and Nazi Germany at the Naval Academy. His goal was to earn a doctorate and become a teacher. From his years as a gifted high school student to his time as a naval officer Kylan was described as a “go-to guy” - a person who gladly accepted any difficult challenge and tackled it. He was a specialist in Mideastern affairs when he was recalled to active duty for the war in Iraq. He was stationed in Bahrain, but was in Iraq briefing incoming civil affairs personnel trying to set up a government in the southern part of the country. As an Arabic speaker and terrorism expert, Kylan was a valuable addition to the intelligence department. He was in southern Iraq shortly after the fall of Baghdad meeting with local ethnic factions and helping local coalition forces gain an understanding of the situation. In the department, Kylan earned the nickname “The Machine” for his ability to analyze large amounts of information. He was fluent in Arabic, Farsi, French and German. Kylan taught himself Farsi while stationed in the Persian Gulf to better communicate with the Iranian navy units his ship would encounter. He wrote poetry, studied martial arts, loved Kipling, had an insatiable curiosity, and read everything he could get his hands on. In addition to pursuing his own military career, he studied poetry and had hoped to become a professor of literature. Kylan is survived by his wife Heidi, his high school sweetheart.
Burial: His remains will be cremated, with no funeral, his father said. A memorial was held at the Naval Academy Chapel, Annapolis, Maryland
Birth: March 31, 1977 - North Little Rock, Arkansas
Died: March 25, 2003 - Iraq
HM2 Johnson was assigned to Naval Medical Center, Third Marine Division Detachment, San Diego, California. He was killed in combat when shrapnel from a grenade hit him in the head while he tended a wounded soldier. Michael graduated from Parkview High School in Little Rock, Arkansas and earned a degree from the University of Central Arkansas in Conway. He had worked at the Marine Corps Recruiting Depot since June 2001, helping oversee the health care of thousands of recruits. He had recently written his mother saying that he would be all right but if he were killed he would be in heaven with God. Michael was a boisterous but serious and deeply religious man who sang hymns in his tent in Kuwait and wrote home often to comfort his worried mother.
Burial: Arkansas Veterans Cemetery, North Little Rock, Arkansas - Section B, Site 68
Born Nov. 19, 1976 in Pennsylvania
(His family moved to California when he was 6.)
Died Jan. 26, 2005 in Ar Rutbah, Iraq
John was a Navy Medic assigned to Naval Medical Clinic Hawaii, Marine Corps Units Detachment, at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, in his seventh year of Naval service. He was killed in a helicopter crash that also took the lives of 30 United States Marines during his second tour of duty in the mid-east. John served with a strong bond between him and his troops. He worried about them constantly, fretting over loosing any of them. When John had left for Iraq the previous September, he left behind his wife of four years, Melanie, who was expecting their first child. John loved music and an Elvis impersonator in Las Vegas had married him and Melanie during one of his leaves. On Christmas Eve 2004 their son was born and John witnessed the baby’s first cries on a videophone. They named their newborn son James Cash House; his middle name in honor of country singer Johnny Cash, a favorite of John’s. John had at one time thought he’d make the Navy a career, but after the birth of his son, whom he never got to hold, he had decided when he current enlistment was over in 2006 he would leave the military because combat was not an ideal profession for a him and his family. John was good-natured and had once told his family that “His parents made him out of love, the military made him a man and his wife made him whole.” Several men whom Doc House saved or treated in Iraq spoke of their admiration for him at his funeral. John never had any regrets about his service, and those who he patched up or saved will never forget him and what he sacrificed for them. Doc was survived his wife; son; parents Lawrence and Susan; sister Elizabeth and brother James.
John was buried in Mount Sinai Memorial Park in Simi Valley, California.
Born Oct. 11, 1975 in Kansas City, MO
Died Sep. 4, 2006 in Al Anbar Province, Iraq
Christopher served as a medic with the Navy Reserves, following a long history of family service to others; his grandfather and uncle were firefighters and his father a medic in the Vietnam War. Christopher grew up in Shawnee, where he achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. In 1994 he graduated from Bishop Miege High School and moved to St. Louis when his father was transferred there. He was certified as an EMT and Paramedic in 2001 and began working for the St. Louis Fire Department. Christopher loved his work and worked closely with his teammates. He really cared for the people of St. Louis. His desire to receive more experience led him to join the Navy Reserves. He deployed to Iraq with the Navy Reserve’s 24th Regiment, 4th Marine Division based at Bridgetown, Missouri, with the intent of becoming a firefighter when he returned from his tour of duty. He was killed in action while conducting combat operations. Christopher treated all wounded while deployed, regardless if they were soldiers or citizens. One of the citizens he treated was a little girl named Mariam. Her mother called out to a group of soldiers one night after an IED exploded and Christopher was there to aid the wounded. Mariam was very sick with a rare intestinal disorder and Christopher began treating her through clandestine visits, some during the middle of the night. To honor Christopher after he was killed, his fellow soldiers worked with a mission to get Mariam brought to America for treatment. Christopher was survived by his mother Maureen; two brothers and a sister. His father passed away in 2004. They are buried side-by-side at Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery in Leavenworth, Kansas.
Died: August 8, 2008 in Sangatesh, Afghanistan
Petty Officer 2nd Class Anthony Carbullido of Agat, Guam was a Navy corpsman working as an instructor at the Hospital Corps School when he was deployed to Afghanistan. Tony and his wife had been living in housing at the naval base and he had planned to move his family back to Guam after his return from Afghanistan. Tony was always the prankster but was very dedicated to his job and took it very seriously. As a youth he was kind of wild growing up. Back then he had dreams to be a doctor. Tony was on his second tour of duty and had previously been deployed to Iraq. Tony was last in Guam, where he was born and raised, in March 2008. He was killed in Afghanistan by an improvised explosive device. He was 25. Services were held at the Mount Carmel Church in the village of Agat.
Navy
Naval Hospital Corps School
Great Lakes, Illinois
Burial is at Guam Veterans Cemetery in Piti, Guam
Born Jan. 12, 1991 in the USA
Died Nov. 12, 2009 in West Pensacola, FL
United States Navy Seaman Recruit Jefferson, of Tyler, Texas. She came into the world with a thirst for knowledge. Tyler always enjoyed learning as a child and was well known for her intelligence. An honor student in school, she excelled in her studies. As a student in the International Baccalaureate Program at John Tyler High School, Tyler studied advanced French for three years and was a member of the French Club. As a senior at John Tyler High School, Tyler brought her exceptional writing skills to the University Interscholastic League journalism writing team, specializing in editorial writing. Dedicated and committed to attending after-school two-hour writing sessions several times a week, Tyler competed in the District 5A U.I.L. academic meet and won first place in editorial writing, defeating Robert E. Lee, DeSoto, Mesquite, Mesquite North and Mesquite Horn High Schools. Tyler went on to join four other John Tyler district journalism winners to compete at the Regional U.I.L. competition held at Baylor University in Waco in April 2009. Determined to succeed in life, Tyler joined the United States Navy following graduation in June 2009. She enlisted knowing her country was at war, but she felt her country needed her. She had a goal of achieving the rank of lieutenant. Tyler completed recruit training at Great Lakes Naval Station in Chicago before moving to Corry Station Naval Technical Training Center in Florida. While serving Tyler charmed others with her soft southern twang and her outgoing, warm personality. On November 12, Tyler was murdered near the naval base while she was out jogging. She was buried in Memorial Park Cemetery in Tyler, Texas.
Born June 12, 1972 in Nanitoke, PA
Died Nov. 19, 2009 near Camp Virginia in Kuwait
United States Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Brian M. Patton graduated from high school in Stockton, Illinois and earned an associate’s degree in criminal justice from criminal justice and a bachelor’s degree in finance from Indiana University in Pennsylvania. He enlisted in the Navy in July of 1993 and served in the first Gulf War onboard the USS Camden. He was honorably discharged in order to raise his eldest son. He served in the Air Force Reserves, returning to the Navy in 2007. As a civilian Brian worked as a correctional officer in the State Correctional Institution at Dallas. Brian volunteered for service in Kuwait, working as a military police officer. He deployed in March of 2009 assigned to the Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom Law and Order Detachment, which provides protective services in the war zone. Brian was home on leave from October 13-30 and traveled with his wife and youngest son to see a Notre Dame Fighting Irish Football game. Brian was a big sports fan of the Notre Dame team as well as the Chicago Cubs baseball team and the North Carolina Tar Heels. Wednesday was Brian and his wife Amy’s ninth wedding anniversary. They talked on the phone before he left in a convoy. He died shortly afterwards in a motor vehicle collision. Brian is survived by his wife; two sons; a stepson; and two brothers. His parents, Robert and Janet Makarczyk Patton, preceded him in death.
Burial: The Parrish cemetery of Saint Adalbert’s Roman Catholic Church in Newport Township, Luzerne County PA.
Born Dec. 22, 1978 in Oconomowoc, WI
Died Oct. 28, 2009 off the coast of Texas
Bret was the youngest of three children born to Rick and Judy (nee Neumann) Miller. Raised in East Troy, Wisconsin he was well known for his academic and athletic achievements. He was a National Honor Society Scholar as well as the school’s all-time leading scorer in basketball, a four-time varsity letter winner in golf and basketball, and graduated with high honors from East Troy High School in 1997. He earned an appointment to the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, where he graduated with the Class of 2001. He continued to play basketball and earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Ocean Engineering. Upon graduation from USNA in 2001, Bret discovered his love of Naval Aviation. He attended primary flight training at VT-28, followed by advanced multi-engine training at VT-31 where he earned his Wings of Gold. Following additional training at the FRS he reported to the War Eagles of VP-16 for his fleet tour. Bret earned qualifications as Patrol Plane Commander, FCF Pilot, Mission Commander and Instructor Pilot, and successfully completed two deployments. Bret was a leader and a professional in every sense; he essentially held every qualification in the T-34. On October 8, 2005, in St. John’s Lutheran Church, Elkhorn, Wisconsin, he married Brianne M. Voss. Lt. Miller was killed on October 28 while on a routine training mission in a T-34C Turbomentor. His remains were recovered 11 miles northeast of Port Aransas. Among Bret’s survivors are his wife, Brianne; son Chase; a son expected in early 2010; his parents, Rick and Judy Miller; his sister, Tara (Gary) Grocholski; and his brother, Chad (Laura) Miller. Bret is buried in Oak Ridge Cemetery, East Troy.
Born: July 30, 1971
Died: March 5, 2004 in Sabahiya, Kuwait
Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael J. Gray of Richmond, Virginia was a Manchester High School graduate. He was a former Richmond police officer and Henrico County sheriff’s deputy. He was activated for military duty on Jan. 27 2004 and was deployed to the Middle East in early February. Michael was a highly competent police officer who would look out after younger officers on the midnight shift. He was a patrol officer who worked out of the department’s Midlothian Station on North Providence Road. He was a very likable, dedicated officer and could always be trusted to do the job right. He received a Chief’s Commendation Award in October 2003 for what was described as superior work. Recipients receive the award for acts of bravery, or for making a significant contribution to law enforcement. He also worked as a Third Precinct patrol officer in Richmond from May 12, 1997, to April 1, 2001. Before joining the Richmond department, he worked as a Henrico deputy sheriff from January 1996 to May 1997. Michael had been a reservist since January 2002 and part of the DART 8 unit in Richmond for about a year. He would normally report to drills at the Yorktown Naval Weapons Station. Deeply religious, he expressed his faith in an untraditional way, with rhyme. He was known as ‘Mikey G, Rapper for Jesus.’ In one of his raps he said he was ready for death, and he spoke of his vision of heaven: “Won’t be no guns/ won’t be no knives/ Hear the best preaching that/ you ever heard in your lives.” Michael was killed at age 32 while traveling to Kuwait Navy Base when his vehicle was struck in the rear by a civilian vehicle in Kuwait. He is survived by his wife, Tisha; four daughters, Cameron, Emma, Amanda and Avery; his mother, Jean Gray; his maternal grandmother, Joyce Gray. Michael is believed to be the first Richmond-area police officer to die while deployed as part of the U.S. military effort in the Iraq region.
Navy Detachment
Deployable Ammunition Reporting Team
DART unit
Kuwait Navy Base
Burial is at Dale Memorial Park in Midlothian, Virginia
Born: April 24, 1977 in Philippines
Died: November 1, 2005, Iraq
Petty Officer 2nd Class Allan M. Cundanga Espiritu of Oxnard, California was born in the Philippines, in 1977, the eldest of three boys and his parents moved to California in 1981. He graduated from Channel Islands High School in 1995 where played junior varsity football. He loved math and sports, especially boxing and football. After a year at Oxnard College he entertained the idea of becoming a dentist, but he enlisted in the United States Navy. A petty officer second class, he served as a hospital corpsman assigned to a U.S. Marine division. Before returning to combat this year, he spent most of the summer teaching his daughters to ride their bikes. And he was very involved with the kids’ schoolwork. Whenever his children got awards at school, he always made time to attend the ceremonies, no matter what was going on at work. He passed over safer duties for front line work with a bomb squad. He died during his second tour of duty in Iraq from an improvised explosive device while conducting combat operations in the vicinity of Ar Ramadi. He was 28. He is survived by two daughters, Alissa and Melanie, from a first marriage, and a stepdaughter, Alexy.
Navy
2nd Force Service Support Group (Forward)
II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward)
Burial is at Ivy Lawn Memorial Park in Ventura, California