Freedom Remembered

Born: January 16, 1988
Died: November 14, 2011 in Baghdad, Iraq

Spc. David E. Hickman of Greensboro, North Carolina died at age 23 in Baghdad, Iraq, of injuries suffered after encountering an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C. He is a 2006 graduate of Northeast Guilford High School. An accomplished black belt, he trained for several years with Mike King, who runs the Greensboro Black Belt Academy. Deployed to Iraq at the end of May 2011, he was expected to be back stateside the first of December. David joined the Army in November 2009 and got his infantry training at Fort Benning, Ga., before going to Fort Bragg for airborne school. His deployment to Iraq was his first. He was due home in December. His awards and decorations include, the National Defense Service Medal, the Iraqi Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon and the Parachutist Badge. He leaves his wife, Cali Kim Hickman, his parents, David Eugene and Veronica Hickman, a and a brother, Devon Hickman. Spc Hickman became the last American soldier to die in Iraq. The war in Iraq officially ended on December 15, 2011.

Burial is at Lakeview Memorial Park in Greensboro, North Carolina

To be updated…

Born: April 20, 1986 in Dallas County, Texas
Died: November 3, 2011 in Kirkuk, Iraq

1st Lt. Dustin D. Vincent of Mesquite, Texas died at age 25 in Kirkuk province, Iraq, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with small arms fire. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 5th Field Artillery, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan. He joined the Army in June 2009 as an artillery officer. This was his first deployment. His awards include the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal with one Campaign Star, the Global War on Terror-Service Medal, and the Army Service Ribbon. He was deployed as an advise and assist force in support of Operation New Dawn.

Burial is at Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery in Dallas, Texas – Sec 103 Site 30

To be updated…

Born: December 22, 1982 in Lake Forest, Illinois
Died: October 25 2011 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Sgt. 1st Class David G. Robinson, 28, of Winthrop Harbor, Ill., died Oct. 25 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He was assigned to the U.S. Army Support Activity, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He attended St. Joseph Catholic Academy in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Burial is at Ascension Cemetery in Libertyvillle, Illionis

To be updated…

Born: September 28, 1971 in Los Angeles, California
Died: October 23, 2011 in San Antonio, Texas

Capt. Shawn Patrick T. Charles, 40, of  Hickory, N.C., died Oct. 23 in San Antonio, Texas, from a non-combat illness. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas. He entered active duty service in January 2009 and deployed in support of Operation New Dawn in August 2011. His awards and decorations include, the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, two Army Achievement Medals, Army Good Conduct Medal, two National Defense Service Medals, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with “M” device, Army Service Ribbon, and Overseas Service Ribbon.

Burial is at Hopewell Baptist Church Cemetery in Morganton, North Carolina

To be updated…

Born: October 3, 1982 in San Bernardino County, California
Died: October 21, 2011 in Tallil, Iraq

Pfc. Steven F. Shapiro of Hidden Valley Lake, California entered active duty service in March 2010 as an M1 Armor Crewman. He was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, since July 2010. He deployed in support of Operation New Dawn earlier in 2011. His awards and decorations include an Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon and Overseas Service Ribbon. He died at age 29 in Tallil, Iraq.
Army
3rd Battalion
8th Cavalry Regiment
3rd Advise and Assist Brigade
1st Cavalry Division
Fort Hood, Texas

Burial is at Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno, California – Sec R Site 1338

To be updated…

Born: August 14, 1967
Died: October 17, 2011 in Babil, Iraq

Staff Sgt. James R. Leep Jr., 44, of Davenport, Va., died Oct. 17 in Babil province, Iraq. He was assigned to the 2nd Squadron, 183rd Cavalry Regiment, 116th Brigade Combat Team, Portsmouth, Va. He joined the National Guard in April 1986 and served on active duty from December 1987 to August 1995 as a light-wheeled vehicle mechanic. He rejoined in January 1996 and worked as a combat engineer and construction equipment supervisor. He worked full time as surface maintenance repairer technician for the Virginia National Guard at field maintenance shop #14 in Richlands. His previous deployments include Bosnia from September 2001 to April 2002, Iraq from December 2003 to March 2005, the southwest U.S. border security mission from June to August 2006, and Afghanistan from November 2008 to January 2010.

Burial is at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia – Sec 60 Site 9834

To be updated…

Born: September 23, 1973 in Alameda County, California
Died: October 10, 2011 in Doha, Qatar

Chief Warrant Officer James B. Wilke, 38, of Ione, Calif. died Oct. 10 in Doha, Qatar. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 43rd Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command, Fort Bliss, Texas. He joined the Army in June 1992 and arrived to Fort Bliss in January 2007 where he served as a Patriot Weapons System Technician with the 2nd Battalion, 43rd Air Defense Artillery, 11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade. His awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Air Force Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, and the Parachutist Badge.

To be updated…

Born: August 17, 1988 in Porter, Texas
Died: September 29, 2011 in Kirkuk, Iraq

Spc. Adrian G. Mills of Newnan, Georgia died at age 23 in Kirkuk, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his unit was attacked by insurgents using indirect fire. AJ was assigned to the 272nd Military Police Company, 519th Military Police Battalion, Fort Polk, La. Adrian graduated from Northgate High School in 2007 where he was active in the Junior Reserve Officer’s Training Corps program and took part in a flag presentation ceremony there in 2006. In 2005, as part of a JROTC project, Adrain helped transport 15,000 pounds of non-perishable items from Northgate High to Hattiesburg, Miss., following Hurricane Katrina. In 2009, Spc Mills was stationed in Heidelberg, Germany, with the 529th Military Police Company, and worked as a military policeman. During that time, he was one of more than 1,000 service members from posts and bases throughout Europe and the United States who took part in 65th anniversary ceremonies in Normandy, recalling the bravery of U.S. troops at St. Mere Eglise, the Omaha and Utah Beaches and small villages in the area in 1944. In a 2009 interview, Spc Mills spoke of “the sacrifice and courage of the soldiers who fought and died” in France. He stated, “I was honored to be a part of this.” Adrian was born to the late Timothy G. Mills, and Marie Blehschmidt. In addition to his mother, he also leaves his wife, Sandra, maternal grandmother, Gladi-ola Dowell; paternal grandparents, C.A. Mills and his wife Wanda; sister, Maegon Mills, his stepfather, Jeff Blehschmidt and many more.

Georgia National Cemetery in Canton, Georgia – Sec 1 Site 2799

To be updated…

Born: November 2, 1978 in Bayamon, Puerto Rico
Died: September 22, 2011 in Baghdad, Iraq

Sgt. Andy C. Morales, 32, of Longwood, Fla., died Sept. 22 in Baghdad, Iraq. He was assigned to the 143rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), Orlando, Fla. He leaves his wife, Mariela, his daughter, Nyobi Gonzalez, his daughter, Naira V. Caraballo-Morales, his brother, Robert Caraballo-Morales and three sisters, Glorian Caraballo-Morales, Mercian Lesser, and Jeannie Harris.

Burial is at Oaklawn Park Cemetery in Sanford, Florida

To be updated…

Born: July 14, 1981 in Hildago County, Texas
Died: September 18, 2011 in Tikrit, Iraq

Staff Sgt. Estevan Altamirano of Edcouch, Texas died at age 30 in Tikrit, Iraq, of injuries suffered in a non-combat related incident. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas. He entered active-duty service in January 2001 as an armor crewman. He deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from January 2004 through February 2005, October 2006 through January 2008, January 2009 through December 2009 and May 2011 through September 2011. His awards and decorations include, the Meritorious Service Medal, four Army Commendation Medals, four Army Achievement Medals, Valorous Unit Award, Meritorious Unit Award, three Army Good Conduct Medals, National Defense Service Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal with four campaign stars, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Non-commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, three Overseas Service Ribbons and a Combat Action Badge.

Burial is at Rio Grande Valley State Veterans Cemetery in Mission, Texas – Sec 34 Row H Site 204

To be updated…