Freedom Remembered

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…

Born: June 24, 1981 in Tennessee
Died: August 6, 2011 in Wardak, Afghanistan

Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL) Aaron C. Vaughn, 30, of Stuart, Fla., 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. Among his awards and decorations are, the Purple Heart, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal Joint Service Commendation Medal with ‘V’ for valor, two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, one with “V” for valor, the Presidential Unit Citation, two Navy Good Conduct MedalNational Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, two Navy Expert Rifleman Medal, Navy Expert Pistol Shot Medal

Burial is at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia – Sec 60 Site 9927

To be updated…

Born: July 1, 1976 in Osage, Iowa
Died: August 6, 2011 in Wardak, Afghanistan

Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL/Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist) Jon T. Tumilson, 35, of Rockford, Iowa 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 July, 1995. He graduated from Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Illinois in September, 1995. Petty Officer 1st Class Tumilson completed Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL School, Coronado California in April, 2002. He served in three West Coast based Special Warfare Units from October, 2002 to August, 2009. He served in two East Coast based Special Warfare Units from August, 2009 to August, 2011. His awards include, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (2), Presidential Unit Citation, Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Unit Commendation, Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation, Navy ‘E’ Ribbon (3), Navy Good Conduct Medal (5), National Defense Service Medal (2), Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (4) Rifle Expert Medal, and Pistol Expert Medal.

Burial is at Riverside Cemetery in Rockford, Iowa

To be updated…

Born: June 6, 1986
Died: August 6, 2011 in Wardak, Afghanistan

Cryptologist Technician (Collection) Petty Officer 1st Class (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist) Michael J. Strange, 25, of Philadelphia, Pa., 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.

Burial is at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia – Sec 60 Site 9925

To be updated…

Born: December 29, 1984
Died: August 6, 2011 in Wardak, Afghanistan

Master-at-Arms Petty Officer 1st Class (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist) John Douangdara of South Sioux City, Neb., died at age 26 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. Johnny enlisted in the United States Navy in February, 2003. After graduating Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Illinois in April, 2003, he reported to his initial service school training at Norfolk, Virginia. Upon completion of his initial training, he reported to Naval Air Station Sigonella Security Detachment, Sicily in June, 2003. In August, 2006, he reported to Public/Ordnance Safety Security Force, New London, Groton, Connecticut. He then reported to his East Coast based SEAL Team in January, 2008. His awards include, the Bronze Star with “V” device, Joint Service Commendation Medal with “V” Device, Army Commendation Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon (3), Rifle Marksmanship Medal, and the Pistol Marksmanship Medal.

Burial is at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia – Sec 60 Site 9926

To be updated…

Born: August 12, 1982 in Salt Lake City, Utah
Died: August 6, 2011 in Wardak, Afghanistan

Information Systems Technician Petty Officer 1st Class (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist/Freefall Parachutist) Jared W. Day, 28, of Taylorsville, 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 July, 2002. After graduating from Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Illinois in February, 2003, he reported for technical training at Great Lakes, Illinois until May of 2003. He then transferred to Naval Computer and Telecommunications Area Master Station Atlantic Detachment at Keflavik, Iceland and served there until July, 2004. He then reported to Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training at Coronado, California. After completion of BUD/S in 2005, he reported to a West Coast based SEAL Team from November, 2004 to November, 2007. He then reported to his East Coast based SEAL Team in November, 2007. His awards include Joint Service Commendation Medal with Combat “V” device for valor, Army Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal (2 Awards), Presidential Unit Citation, Good Conduct Medal (2), National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Navy/Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon, Rifle Marksmanship Medal, and Pistol Marksmanship Medal.

To be updated…